German antitrust regulators have approved the acquisition of the parent company of MediaMarkt and Saturn by Chinese investors. The Federal Cartel Office announced the clearance on Thursday, giving the green light for JD.com’s acquisition of Ceconomy AG.
“JD.com has previously had only a minor presence in Germany” stated Andreas Mundt, head of the Federal Cartel Office. “Consequently, the merger presents few points of contact concerning competition and raises no antitrust concerns.
Ceconomy, headquartered in Düsseldorf, specializes in consumer electronics and home appliances. The company operates primarily through its well-known brands, MediaMarkt and Saturn, maintaining a nationwide network of retail stores alongside a significant online presence. JD.com, based in Beijing, is China’s largest retailer by revenue and is particularly active in online retail and e-commerce logistics.
The Federal Cartel Office emphasized that its responsibility is limited to assessing the competitive effects of mergers. Security policy considerations fall under the purview of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and are subject to separate foreign trade law review.