iRobot, the maker of Roomba, is facing significant financial difficulties after a proposed $1.7 billion acquisition by Amazon fell through in January 2024 due to regulatory concerns. The company recently announced that talks with its last potential buyer have also collapsed, as the offered price was substantially lower than its current stock value. This news led to a 33 percent drop in iRobot's stock. Facing intense competition from brands like Shark and struggling to keep pace with advancements in robot vacuum technology, iRobot has also encountered revenue problems and debt issues. A $200 million loan taken in July 2023 was contingent on the Amazon deal. Without new funding, iRobot warns it may have to drastically reduce or halt operations, potentially leading to bankruptcy.

💰 iRobot正面临严峻的财务危机，此前与亚马逊的17亿美元收购计划因监管问题告吹。公司近期披露，与最后一位潜在买家的谈判也已破裂，对方提出的收购价格远低于当前股价。

📉 这一系列打击导致iRobot股价大幅下跌33%。公司在声明中表示，目前未与任何其他潜在交易方进行深入谈判，战略性资产审查的结果尚不确定，无法保证任何交易或成果的达成。

⚔️ iRobot在竞争激烈的机器人吸尘器市场上面临着来自Shark等品牌的强大挑战。同时，其产品在技术创新方面也显得滞后，未能跟上激光导航、拖地和自动集尘等新功能的发展。

⚠️ 公司在过去几年中一直面临收入问题和债务压力，去年7月曾获得2亿美元贷款以维持运营，但前提是完成与亚马逊的交易。若无法迅速获得新的资金支持，iRobot可能被迫大幅缩减甚至停止运营，并面临破产保护的风险。

Is this the beginning of the end for Roomba?

According to the robot vacuum maker, iRobot, it's a real possibility.

iRobot was banking on a $1.7 billion acquisition deal from Amazon, which fell apart due to regulatory issues in January 2024. Since then, iRobot has been looking for a buyer to solve its financial woes.

On Monday, iRobot shared in a regulatory filing with the SEC that talks with the last remaining potential buyer have fallen through, as CNBC reported. The company says the bidder offered a "significantly lower" price per share than what the Roomba maker's stocks currently trade at.

iRobot's stock dropped 33 percent on this news.

“We currently are not in advanced negotiations with any alternative counterparties to a potential sale or strategic transaction,” iRobot wrote in a regulatory filing with the SEC. “As such, there remains no assurance that our review of strategic alternatives will result in any transaction or outcome.”

While Roombas were once synonymous with robot vacuums in general, in recent years, the company has faced steeper competition from competing brands like Shark. Mashable shopping reporters have found Roombas often lag behind rival vacuums in testing. Robot vacuums have also evolved considerably, and new flagship robot vacuums now offer smart laser mapping, mopping, and self-cleaning. But over the past few years, iRobot has struggled to keep up with the competition.

iRobot has also faced considerable revenue problems in recent years and has struggled to pay debts. 

In July 2023, iRobot took out a $200 million loan to keep operations afloat, with the expectation that the company would soon be acquired by Amazon. Now, iRobot needs to find new funding, and fast, or the company says it "may be forced to significantly curtail or cease operations and would likely see bankruptcy protection."

This latest news isn't a total surprise.

When the company shared its financials in March, iRobot warned that it could be out of business within 12 months. And it seems not much has changed since March, aside from the fact that we are now much closer to that 12-month mark.