The Austrian Ministry of Economic Affairs has approved Chinese online giant JD.com's acquisition of Ceconomy, the German parent company of MediaMarkt. Minister Wolfgang Hattmansdorfer confirmed the deal, which values the Dusseldorf-based firm at 2.2 billion euros.
The approval includes conditions regarding customer data, logistics chains, and security-related personnel decisions. While the European Commission reportedly agreed to the transaction recently, an official decision from Brussels is expected by November 4, 2026.
If finalized, JD.com will gain access to over 1,000 stores and plans to delist Ceconomy from the stock exchange. The move impacts 48,000 employees, including 17,000 in Germany, as CEO Remko Rijnders prepares for the transition under the new Chinese ownership.