iRobot to Be Bought by Key Supplier in Court-Supervised Deal

iRobot, the company best known for making Roomba robot vacuums, is going through a major change. The company announced that it will be bought by one of its most important partners, a company called Picea. This will happen through a court-supervised process known as Chapter 11, which is often used to help companies fix financial problems while staying in business.

Even though the words “Chapter 11” can sound alarming, iRobot says this does not mean it is shutting down. Instead, the company will keep operating while the court reviews and approves the deal. iRobot expects the process to be completed by February 2026.

Picea is not a new or unfamiliar partner. It already manufactures many of iRobot’s products and has also lent money to the company in the past. Under the agreement, Picea will take full ownership of iRobot. This change will help iRobot reduce its debt and give it a stronger financial foundation so it can focus on building new robots and smart home products.

For customers, iRobot says very little will change. Roomba robot vacuums will continue to work as usual, the iRobot app will stay online, and customer support will remain available. The company also plans to keep paying its employees and suppliers throughout the process. In other words, iRobot wants customers to know that it is still open for business.

Once the deal is finalized, iRobot will no longer be a public company. Its stock will be removed from the Nasdaq stock market, and the company will become privately owned by Picea. While this is a big shift, iRobot’s leaders say it will allow them to focus more on innovation instead of financial stress.

However, the news is not good for people who own iRobot stock. If the court approves the plan, current shareholders will lose their investment and will not receive new shares. This kind of outcome is common when companies reorganize under Chapter 11 because debts are paid before shareholders.

Picea says it plans to support iRobot’s future by investing in new technology and product development. The company already has thousands of employees around the world and has helped produce millions of robotic vacuums. By combining iRobot’s design and research with Picea’s manufacturing experience, both companies believe iRobot can continue to play a major role in smart home robotics.

For now, the message from iRobot is simple: the company is changing ownership, but its robots, services, and mission are staying the same.