Amazon skips concessions to EU on iRobot deal

Amazon won’t offer concessions to the European Commission in a bid to garner approval for its planned $1.4 billion takeover of robot vacuum cleaner maker iRobot, according to two people with knowledge of the matter.

The companies have until the end of the day on Wednesday to make an offer to tackle European Union objections that Amazon could hamper rival vacuum cleaners’ sales on Amazon’s online marketplace, which regulators said is a particularly important sales channel for the product.

Amazon could make more profit by selling more iRobot models than rivals on its marketplace, the Commission said in November. The ultimate result could lead to “higher prices, lower quality and less innovation for customers,” it said.

There’s a final deadline of February 14 for the EU to clear the deal unconditionally or veto it.

An Amazon spokesperson declined to comment. The Commission’s press office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

iRobot’s chief executive officer Colin Angle said in a statement that the company “continues to work cooperatively with the [European Commission] and other regulators in their review of the merger … We remain excited about the opportunity to work together with Amazon to continue innovating, bringing valuable products to customers and making their lives easier.”

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is also investigating and is concerned about the deal, POLITICO reported last year. The United Kingdom cleared it unconditionally in June.