Chinese tech giant JD.com is responding to new hurdles in its acquisition of Ceconomy by refiling its application for the transaction in Austria. "The application will be resubmitted within the coming weeks," a spokesperson said on Monday. The Austrian Ministry of Economic Affairs had previously stated that the review application had been withdrawn effective April 10. Against this backdrop, the specific intentions of the companies involved are currently unclear. The Ministry also expressed irritation over statements from the company suggesting that the authority was blocking a mutual solution. In its statement, the Ministry maintained it has been highly cooperative and remains in ongoing discussions. No further details were provided, with the Ministry citing strict legal confidentiality requirements regarding the proceedings.

Ceconomy stated on Friday that it was uncertain if or when foreign investment control clearance would be granted in Austria. A spokesperson for JD.com subsequently pointed to extensive commitments made to Austrian authorities, covering aspects such as locations, jobs, and data protection. Ceconomy operates 50 MediaMarkt stores in the Alpine republic.

When assets are sold to non-European entities, the Austrian state examines whether the transaction could jeopardize security or public order. This primarily concerns critical infrastructure. Corresponding approval from the federal government in Germany is still pending, though Ceconomy expects it to be granted shortly.

(Reporting by Alexandra Schwarz-Goerlich and Matthias Inverardi, edited by Philipp Krach. For inquiries, please contact our editorial team at berlin.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com (for politics and economics) or frankfurt.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com (for corporate and markets).)