BRUSSELS — European Union regulators are moving to formally charge Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com in connection with its $2.5 billion proposed takeover of German electronics retailer Ceconomy, according to sources with knowledge of the situation. The charges center on concerns about unfair subsidies.
The formal notice, referred to as a “statement of grounds” under the EU’s Foreign Subsidies Regulation, functions similarly to a charge sheet used in EU merger reviews. Through this process, regulators lay out their specific concerns, which companies must then respond to — or risk having the deal blocked entirely.
JD.com pushed back on any alarm over the development, describing the statement of grounds as a standard part of the regulatory process. The company said it still anticipates a favorable outcome before the end of 2026.
