The investigation aims to determine whether JD.com has received favorable financing, tax breaks, or state aid from the Chinese government. The EU Commission’s assessment is that any state aid could have given the company a competitive advantage, allowing it to make a higher bid for Ceconomy than would otherwise have been commercially justified. The deal is valued at 2.2 billion euros.
In a statement, the EU Commission explains that a statement of objections is a standard procedural step in which the companies concerned are formally informed of the Commission’s concerns. JD.com is now given the opportunity to respond to the objections and to offer commitments to address the concerns. The Commission has set October 2nd as the final date to decide whether to approve the deal.
JD.com expects a positive outcome
JD.com states that it views the Commission’s letter as a normal step in the regulatory process and maintains its previous timeline. The company commented on the news, stating that it remains convinced that the transaction supports Europe’s overall goals regarding innovation and competitiveness, and that it expects a positive outcome to the process during the second half of 2026.
The acquisition of Ceconomy is a central part of JD.com’s strategy to expand into the European market and challenge established players such as Amazon. After previous attempts to acquire British retail chains ended without agreement, the Chinese group recently chose to launch the marketplace Joybuy in six European countries. The purchase of Ceconomy would give JD.com access to an extensive European distribution network. However, the company previously told Ehandel.se that it will wait with decisions on whether to use the stores as local e-commerce warehouses until the approval process is fully completed.