iRobot Files for Chapter 11 Amid Rising Competition and Tariff Pressures

Tech company iRobot (NASDAQ: IRBT), the maker of household vacuums and cleaning robots that include Roomba and Braava, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Sunday, less than two years after a $1.7 billion buyout by Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) fell through.

The company announced that it has expectations of being acquired by privately held Picea Robotics, its primary manufacturer, with the transaction expected to be completed by February.

"Today's announcement marks a pivotal milestone in securing iRobot's long-term future," CEO Gary Cohen said. "The transaction will strengthen our financial position and will help deliver continuity for our consumers, customers, and partners. Together, we will work to continue advancing the industry-leading Roomba robots and smart home technologies that have defined the iRobot brand for more than three decades."

Image source: Getty Images.

What does it mean for investors?

The Chapter 11 announcement is devastating for investors, who "will experience a total loss and not receive recovery on their investment," according to the company. Chapter 11 bankruptcy allows companies to continue to function under court supervision as it reorganizes its debt.

Management said that iRobot is expected to continue operations during the bankruptcy proceedings and reorganization, including functionality of its app, customer programs, and product support. The company will continue to maintain global partnerships and supply chain relationships as it undergoes reorganization, it said.

iRobot stock traded at $4.32 before the announcement, but shares fell more than 65% after markets opened this morning.

What happened to iRobot?

The company faced serious challenges this year, with the stock falling sharply in March as President Donald Trump implemented his tariff policy on many countries. The majority of iRobot's devices for the U.S. market are manufactured in Vietnam, which was subject to 46% import duties under Trump's tariff program. Costs for iRobot increased by $23 million this year. Meanwhile, sales in the U.S. dropped 33% in the third quarter from a year ago.

Revenue in the third quarter was $145.8 million, down from $193.4 million on a year-over-year basis. The company reported an operating loss of $17.7 million, following a profit of $7.3 million in the third quarter of 2024.

Management reported having $24.8 million of cash and cash equivalents at the end of the quarter, a drop from $40.6 million in Q2. iRobot owes Picea $352 million, with $91 million of that being past due, according to Barron's.

iRobot was also thwarted in January 2024 from a deal that would have seen it purchased by Amazon for $1.7 billion. Amazon, which was unable to get regulatory approval from the European Union to close the deal, sells Roombas and other iRobot devices on its website.

"We're believers in the future of consumer robotics in the home and have always been fans of iRobot's products, which delight consumers and solve problems in ways that improve their lives," Amazon senior vice president David Zapolsky said at the time. "Amazon and iRobot were excited to see what our teams could build together."

Patrick Sanders has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon. The Motley Fool recommends iRobot. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.