JD.com’s bid for Europe’s Ceconomy clears German hurdle but EU subsidy probe looms
Other member states have also put the deal under scrutiny, including an ongoing foreign investment clearance process in Austria and Spain
Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com’s €2.2 billion (US$2.5 billion) bid to acquire Europe’s largest electronics retailer Ceconomy has received the green light from German authorities as China and the European Union engage in high-stakes trade talks.
Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy approved the deal after a review of its potential impact on the country’s public order and security, subject to conditions that the Chinese tech giant would ensure the personal data of Ceconomy’s customers in Germany remained protected, a spokesman said in a statement on Tuesday.
The conditions would also grant Berlin “strong monitoring and control rights, as well as the ability to revoke the approval in the event of violations”, the ministry spokesman said.
JD.com said it welcomed the German ministry’s approval, describing it as “an important milestone” towards completion of the deal. “Subject to the fulfilment of further customary regulatory closing conditions, we expect the offer to be closed in the second half of 2026,” a company spokesperson said on Tuesday.