The European Commission said on 12 October it had opened an in-depth investigation into Austrian furniture retailer XXXLutz's proposed acquisition of German rival Porta, a deal first announced in January 2025.
Regulatory approvals and timing
The Commission's preliminary concerns centre on furniture retail, particularly discount stores, in Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, where the two are among the few chains with full-range networks. It also flagged XXXLutz's buying power through its purchasing group GIGA International, which could affect manufacturers in those countries and possibly Poland. XXXLutz notified the deal in early September and the Commission has until the end of February 2027 to decide; it may require remedies. A separate investigation opened in July into whether the companies implemented the deal before clearance could lead to fines of up to 10% of worldwide turnover; both deny wrongdoing.
Market context
XXXLutz, based in Wels, Austria, operates more than 1,800 stores across Europe under brands including XXXLutz, Mömax, Möbelix, Roller, Poco and Home24. Porta has more than 140 stores in Germany and runs Asko in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. German furniture industry associations have opposed the deal.
