Roomba maker's sale to Chinese manufacturer approved by US bankruptcy judge

Reuters
2026.01.22 18:20
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A U.S. bankruptcy judge has approved the sale of iRobot, the maker of Roomba, to Chinese manufacturer Picea Robotics, following the company's bankruptcy filing in December due to competition and tariffs. The sale requires further clearance from U.S. regulators, particularly concerning national security risks related to data collection by Roomba vacuums. iRobot, which entered Chapter 11 with $190 million in debt, will pay all junior creditors in full, while existing equity shares will be wiped out. Amazon's previous bid to acquire iRobot was blocked by antitrust concerns.