The FTC is investigating the takeover of iRobot and One Medical by Amazon. These agreements may not be concluded for a very long time. They may never see the light of day.
Amazon’s takeover of iRobot and One Medical may take longer than expected. Indeed, the two acquisitions are being closely scrutinized by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), according to Politico and The Wall Street Journal. Announced just a month apart, the two deals are valued at $1.7 billion and $3.9 billion, respectively, and could completely change two markets at once.
FTC investigates takeover of Amazon iRobot and One Medical
One Medical’s parent company, 1Life Healthcare, said the US Federal Trade Commission is investigating this alleged Amazon acquisition, The Journal reports. On the same day, Politico reported that the commission had also initiated a full review of Amazon’s proposed takeover of iRobot. A formal investigation is more than likely, given the detailed questions the FTC sent to both companies, according to the newspaper.
These transactions may not be completed for a very long time.
Amazon and iRobot are rumored to be preparing for a “potentially lengthy [and] painstaking investigation.”A Politico source said the latter was “very broad”and aimed at determining whether the deal would give the US giant an unfair advantage in the connected device and retail markets.
At a minimum, the FTC could force Amazon to delay these deals for a year. For an e-commerce specialist, the worst-case scenario would be litigation by the Commission. Early in the year, NVIDIA dropped its $40 billion bid to buy ARM after the FTC sued the founder for stifling competition in several markets.
They may never even see the light of day
In any case, Amazon will not have a smooth road. FTC Chair Lina Khan is not known to be an outspoken fan of the company. Specifically, she signed an op-ed against the American giant titled “The Amazon Antitrust Paradox “.