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Biden Regulators Say They’re ‘Pleased’ By Merger Block That Gutted US Company
Daily Caller ^ | February 01, 2024 8:38 PM ET | JARED STOKES - CONTRIBUTOR

Posted on 02/02/2024 6:10:20 AM PST by Red Badger

Following a recent announcement that Amazon and iRobot have terminated their $1.4 billion merger agreement, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Associate Director for Merger Analysis Nathan Soderstrom released a statement expressing the Biden regulators’ pleasure at the dissolution.

“We are pleased that Amazon and iRobot have abandoned their proposed transaction…The Commission’s investigation revealed significant concerns about the transaction’s potential competitive effects,” Soderstrom said in the statement.

U.S. federal lawmakers, including Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, previously called on the FTC to block the merger in a joint letter.

“iRobot is a powerful market incumbent, and Amazon, given its vast resources, history of producing smart vacuums…and powerful platform, is an extraordinarily significant ‘potential entrant’ into the market: Amazon’s ability to acquire iRobot would cause substantially less competition,” the lawmakers wrote.

The companies attributed the FTC’s opposition to the European Union (EU) in a press release, saying that “Amazon’s proposed acquisition of iRobot has no path to regulatory approval in the [EU] preventing Amazon and iRobot from moving forward together—a loss for consumers, competition, and innovation.” iRobot, who primarily manufactures vacuums, disclosed that as a result of the merger block they are forced to lay off approximately 350 employees (31% of the company’s workforce).

On Monday Amazon responded to the merger’s termination.

“We’re disappointed that Amazon’s acquisition of iRobot could not proceed,” said David Zapolsky, Amazon SVP and General Counsel. “Undue and disproportionate regulatory hurdles discourage entrepreneurs, who should be able to see acquisition as one path to success, and that hurts both consumers and competition—the very things that regulators say they’re trying to protect.”


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; Politics/Elections; US: Massachusetts
KEYWORDS: amazon; bidenvoters; davidzapolsky; elizabethwarren; europeanunion; ftc; irobot; jeffbezos; massachusetts; nathansoderstrom; thatsucks; vacuumcleaners

1 posted on 02/02/2024 6:10:20 AM PST by Red Badger
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To: Red Badger

Another disaster of Biden’s making, in his war on home appliances. Biden hates the everyday homeowner.


2 posted on 02/02/2024 6:22:40 AM PST by caver
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To: caver

I have concluded that Sloe Joe hates America!


3 posted on 02/02/2024 6:41:45 AM PST by Taxman ((SAVE AMERICA! VOTE REPUBLICAN IN 2024! SAVE AMERICA!))
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To: Red Badger
Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, previously called on the FTC to block the merger in a joint letter.

Shouldn't they be relocating to a New State tomorrow since their own Senator is publicly against their business???
4 posted on 02/02/2024 6:43:43 AM PST by eyeamok
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To: eyeamok

They probably contributed to her campaign......


5 posted on 02/02/2024 6:45:54 AM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal qs are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: Taxman

“I have concluded that Sloe Joe hates America!”

But he LOVES Rehobeth beach... if you’ve been there you would understand... it’s Delaware’s version of P-town out on Cape Caaad.


6 posted on 02/02/2024 6:49:48 AM PST by Clutch Martin ("The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right." )
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To: Red Badger

“The White House is like a subway. You have to put in coins to open the gates.” Quoth Johnny Chung


7 posted on 02/02/2024 6:51:35 AM PST by Fresh Wind (Nothing says "democracy" like trying to throw your opponent in jail.)
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To: Red Badger

Celebrating the loss of 350 jobs, no less.


8 posted on 02/02/2024 7:01:37 AM PST by Timber Rattler ("To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace." --George Washington)
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To: Clutch Martin
But he LOVES Rehobeth beach... if you’ve been there you would understand... it’s Delaware’s version of P-town out on Cape Caaad.

Ah, so it's like one of those LGBTQ+-friendly beach towns, only more for the pedophile crowd?

9 posted on 02/02/2024 7:10:46 AM PST by Charles Martel (Progressives are the crab grass in the lawn of life.)
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To: Clutch Martin

Never been to Rehobeth beach. Have no desire to go, either.

HST, Sloe Joe and his family and FRiends are insulated FRom reality — they do not have to suffer the consequences of their actions like the rest of us do. So, Rehobeth is one of his hideaways - to escape reality?

What makes Provincetown so special that Delaware has to have its own “copy” of it?

I haven’t been to P-town and have no desire to go there, either.


10 posted on 02/02/2024 7:15:29 AM PST by Taxman ((SAVE AMERICA! VOTE REPUBLICAN IN 2024! SAVE AMERICA!))
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To: Red Badger

More F-ing Bull S^^T!

It is hard to tell if they are communists or fascists.


11 posted on 02/02/2024 8:02:22 AM PST by Agatsu77
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; Bockscar; BraveMan; cardinal4; ...

12 posted on 02/02/2024 9:52:04 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Putin should skip ahead to where he kills himself in the bunker.)
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To: Taxman

I did a lot of tower work in and around both areas. Trust me, it ain’t a normal family vacay spot


13 posted on 02/02/2024 2:47:56 PM PST by Clutch Martin ("The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right." )
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To: Clutch Martin

Thanks for your report! It would appear that I did not miss anything!


14 posted on 02/02/2024 9:55:12 PM PST by Taxman ((SAVE AMERICA! VOTE REPUBLICAN IN 2024! SAVE AMERICA!))
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