LONDON (AP) — Britain’s antitrust watchdog gave the green light Friday for Amazon’s purchase of robot vacuum maker iRobot, but the $1.7 billion deal remains under review in the United States and the UK. European Union.
Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority said it decided not to expand its initial investigation, concluding the deal would not result in a “substantial lessening of competition” in the country.
Amazon was satisfied with the resolution
“We expect similar decisions from other regulators soon,” the company said in a statement.
Consumer groups have raised concerns that Amazon’s purchase of iRobot — a Bedford, Massachusetts firm that makes the popular Roomba robot vacuum cleaners — will increase the e-commerce giant’s dominance in the smart home sector.
The US Federal Trade Commission is still reviewing the acquisition for fear that Amazon will increase its market power. The European Union began reviewing the purchase agreement this month.
