Amazon calls off bid to buy robot vacuum cleaner iRobot amid scrutiny in the US and Europe

LONDON (AP) — Amazon has called off its proposed acquisition of iRobot, with the ecommerce giant blaming “undue and disproportionate regulatory hurdles.” The companies said in joint statement Monday that they “entered into a mutual agreement to terminate their announced acquisition agreement.” The deal was facing antitrust scrutiny on both sides of the Atlantic. Both companies said they were disappointed that the deal couldn’t go ahead. Amazon announced in 2022 that it would buy Bedford, Massachusetts-based iRobot for $1.7 billion, but the value of the deal fell 15% after the company incurred new debt.