October 9, 2026 – According to media reports citing people familiar with the matter, JD.com has refined its remedial package to address the European Commission’s regulatory concerns over its $2.5 billion (about 16.8 billion yuan) acquisition of German electronics retailer Ceconomy. The transaction is now expected to win EU approval, with the European Commission set to announce its final decision by November 4.
The deal began in July 2025, when JD.com launched a voluntary public cash offer for Ceconomy through its wholly owned German subsidiary. Upon completion, JD.com will hold approximately 85.2 percent of Ceconomy’s shares.
Ceconomy is one of Europe’s leading consumer electronics retailers and Germany’s fourth-largest online retail platform. Spun off from Metro Group in 2017, it owns the MediaMarkt and Saturn retail chains, operates in 11 European countries, and serves more than 43 million members through over 1,000 stores.
The acquisition is a key step in JD.com’s deeper localization in Europe. The company has already entered the European market with its omnichannel brand Ochama in the Netherlands and its Joybuy online stores in several countries.
Once completed, the deal would give JD.com access to Ceconomy’s established offline store network, user base, and online platforms, while JD.com’s logistics and digital capabilities could help upgrade Ceconomy’s operations.
The transaction has already cleared regulatory reviews in Germany, France, and Italy, with Italy imposing data-segregation conditions.
The main obstacle has come from the EU’s Foreign Subsidies Regulation, which entered into force in 2023. The European Commission has been examining whether JD.com benefited from Chinese policy support that gave it an unfair advantage in the acquisition.
In response, JD.com first proposed remedial measures in August and further optimized them in late September, committing to open its European logistics and technical capabilities to competitors on fair and non-discriminatory terms.
The review has also triggered cross-border regulatory friction. China has stated that the EU’s investigation constitutes improper extraterritorial jurisdiction, prohibited domestic entities from assisting the probe, and said it would take countermeasures if necessary.
