According to a European Commission filing on Thursday, EU antitrust regulators will decide by July 6 whether to approve Amazon.com Inc.’s (AMZN.O) $1.7 billion acquisition of iRobot Corp (IRBT.O).
Last August, Amazon announced the takeover, expanding its smart device portfolio to include Alexa voice assistant, smart thermostats, security devices, wall-mounted smart displays, and Astro, a canine-like robot.
The EU competition enforcer can clear the deal with or without remedies following its preliminary evaluation or begin a four-month inquiry if it has substantial concerns.
“We’re working cooperatively with the relevant regulators in their review of this merger,” an Amazon representative stated.
The US Federal Trade Commission and the UK competition agency also review the agreement.
Big Tech acquiring smaller rivals, especially those with large amounts of user data, worries regulators on both sides of the Atlantic, who often need remedies before allowing such acquisitions.
Amazon will maintain iRobot goods compatible with other voice assistants and supply them to other sellers.
Amazon’s devices unit generates a small portion of revenue. In addition, critics claim the iRobot acquisition poses a privacy risk by giving the firm more personal home data.
