iRobot Stock Plummets as Acquisition Efforts Collapse
iRobot's shares cratered more than 30% after the Roomba maker disclosed failed sale negotiations, marking a dramatic reversal from its earlier $1.7 billion Amazon deal that regulators blocked in January. The company now faces existential questions as its last potential buyer walked away, leaving only a $200 million lifeline from Carlyle Group.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy's criticism of regulators underscores the deal's strategic importance—iRobot lacks the scale to compete against rivals flooding the smart home market. With no active acquisition talks and offers below market value, the firm's warning of "substantial doubt" about its future appears increasingly prescient.