iRobot Corporation

On June 22, 2023, news outlets reported that the European Commission (“EC”) was planning a full-scale investigation into iRobot’s August 2022 merger with Amazon.com, Inc. On this news, iRobot’s stock price fell $4.12, or 8.3%, to close at $45.41 per share on June 22, 2023, thereby injuring investors.

Then, on November 27, 2023, the EC announced that it had “informed Amazon of its preliminary view that its proposed acquisition of iRobot may restrict competition in the market” for robot vacuum cleaner (“RVC”) products. Specifically, the EC stated its concern “that Amazon may restrict competition in the European Economic Area (‘EEA’)-wide and/or national markets for RVCs, by hampering rival RVC suppliers’ ability to effectively compete.” On this news, iRobot’s stock price fell $7.13, or 17.2%, to close at $34.35 per share on November 27, 2023.

Then, on January 10, 2024, it was reported that Amazon did not offer concessions to the EC regarding concerns about the Merger. On this news, iRobot’s stock price fell $7.33, or 19.8%, to close at $29.75 per share on January 10, 2023.

Then, on January 18, 2024, the Wall Street Journal reported that “[t]he European Union’s competition watchdog intends to block Amazon’s $1.7 billion bid to purchase Roomba maker iRobot,” citing “people familiar with the matter.” Additionally, on January 19, 2024, Bloomberg reported that the US Federal Trade Commission was also planning to block the Merger. On this news, iRobot’s stock price fell $6.36, or 26.9%, to close at $17.26 per share on January 19, 2024.

Then, on January 29, 2024, Amazon and iRobot announced that they would be terminating the Merger. iRobot also disclosed that its Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors would be resigning, and that it planning to cut approximately 31% of its workforce. On this news, iRobot’s stock price fell $1.49, or 8.8%, to close at $15.50 per share on January 29, 2024, thereby injuring investors further.