UK Watchdog OKs Amazon’s $1.7B Buy Of Roomba-Maker iRobot

On Friday, the competition regulator of Britain approved Amazon.com Inc’s acquisition of iRobot for $1.7 billion, which is the manufacturer of the Roomba vacuum cleaner.

Reuters reported that the CMA found no competition issues in the UK related to the deal.

“We’re pleased with the UK Competition and Markets Authority’s decision and are committed to supporting regulatory bodies in their work,” a spokesperson for Amazon said. “We look forward to similar decisions from other regulators soon.”

Related: UK Watchdog Probes Amazon’s $1.7B iRobot Acquisition

The CMA initiated a “Phase 1” investigation into Amazon’s acquisition of smart-home devices in August 2020, which includes the Alexa voice assistant, smart thermostats, security devices, wall-mounted smart displays, and a canine-like robot named Astro. The probe was launched in April.

Regulators on both sides of the Atlantic are cautious about Big Tech acquiring smaller competitors, particularly those with access to significant amounts of user data, and typically require concessions before approving such transactions.

“It marks a significant milestone, and both companies are continuing to work cooperatively with other relevant regulators in their review of the merger,” iRobot Chief Executive Colin Angle said in a statement.