The UK Markets and Competition Authority (CMAannounced Thursday an investigation to determine whether the proposed acquisition by Amazon from iRobot Corporation -Vacuum cleaner manufacturer Roomba-worth about $1.7 billion.
Prior to the opening of the first phase of the inquiry, on a date to be determined, the CMA “invites comments on the transaction from any interested party”.
Is it a monopoly?
The British regulator wants to determine whether the proposed acquisition, announced last August by the U.S. e-commerce giant, will lead to “a substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the United Kingdom for goods or services.”
The purchase by Amazon by the also American iRobotthe largest consumer robotics company, is already under investigation in the United States as well, while in February the European Union (EU) also sent a series of questions to Jeff Bezos’ company.
If it goes ahead, this would be the fourth major acquisition of Amazon, which already snapped up grocery chain Whole Foods in 2017; movie studio MGM in 2022 and medical services company One Medical last February. EFE
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