Amazon and iRobot, two leading companies in the consumer robotics market, have mutually agreed to cancel their planned merger, which was announced in August 2022.
The deal, valued at $2.5 billion, would have given Amazon access to iRobot’s popular products, such as the Roomba vacuum cleaner and the Braava mop, and enabled iRobot to benefit from Amazon’s resources and scale.
However, the deal faced significant opposition from regulators, who raised concerns about the potential impact on competition, innovation, and consumer choice in the fast-growing robotics sector. The companies said they were disappointed by the outcome, but expressed their respect and admiration for each other’s work and vision.
As part of the termination agreement, Amazon will pay iRobot a $250 million break-up fee, and the companies will continue to operate independently and pursue their own goals. Both Amazon and iRobot reaffirmed their commitment to creating smart and helpful robots that enhance the lives of their customers around the world.
iRobot is a global consumer robot company that designs and builds thoughtful robots and intelligent home innovations that make life better. iRobot introduced the first Roomba robot vacuum in 2002. Today, iRobot is a global enterprise that has sold more than 50 million robots worldwide. iRobot’s product portfolio features technologies and advanced concepts in cleaning, mapping and navigation. Working from this portfolio, iRobot engineers are building robots and smart home devices to help consumers make their homes easier to maintain and healthier places to live.
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