Otto Group ⋅ Corporate Communications ⋅ Werner-Otto-Straße 1-7 ⋅ D-22179 Hamburg Phone +49 (0) 40 64 61 4010 ⋅ Fax +49 (0) 40 64 61 4490 www.ottogroup.com Local court of Hamburg, Trade register A 62 024, General Partner: Verwaltungsgesellschaft Otto mbH, Hamburg, AG Hamburg, Trade register B 13 762 represented by: Hans-Otto Schrader (Chairman) · Dr. Rainer Hillebrand (Vice-Chairman) · Alexander Birken · Neela Montgomery · Hanjo Schneider · Jürgen Schulte-Laggenbeck · Dr. Winfried Zimmermann Supervisory Board: Dr. Michael Otto (Chairman)

Press release

Beijing/Hamburg, 12. November 2015

Connecting the world’s leading e-commerce markets, Europe and China: Otto Group and JD.com in joint venture deal

The Otto Group and leading Chinese online marketplace JD.com have embarked on

a joint venture that incorporates Otto’s subsidiary, Zitra GmbH. The purpose of this

venture is to increase international e-commerce between Europe and China, with

Zitra™ acting as an independent full-service provider to connect international

brands with the leading marketplaces.

Operating out of Germany, Zitra™ will serve as an intermediary for international brands

looking to expand their sales on JD.com and further top online marketplaces, worldwide

and will provide services including third-partner operation, marketing strategies, IT system

handling, logistics, and post-sale services. China has established itself as the biggest e-

commerce market in the world and is expected to generate €522 billion in sales in 2015,

and so this partnership represents a coup within international online trading. By entering

into this partnership with JD.com, the Otto Group gains direct access to the Chinese

market and, in turn, sets the stage for JD.com’s success within the European market.

Hanjo Schneider, Member of the Executive Board, Services Otto Group and Head of the

Supervisory Board of Hermes Europe GmbH, said: “We are thrilled to enter into this

partnership with JD.com to help foreign brands take advantage of the enormous demand

for high-quality international products in China’s e-commerce market. By providing an

integrated e-commerce marketing solution, we look forward to helping international brands

gain traction and accelerate their sales in China.”

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Haoyu Shen, CEO of JD Mall, added: “As a leading global online retailer, Otto Group is the

ideal partner to help more international brands reach consumers through marketing on the

JD.com marketplace platform. We are seeing tremendous demand for imported products,

and this new venture will help further expand our range of products for Chinese

consumers.”

THE PARTNERSHIP WITH ZITRA™

By partnering up with Zitra™, JD.com invests a two digit million Euro amount and will

benefit from having an established European-based partner and access to the Otto

Group’s vast client portfolio. As an independent full-service provider, Zitra™ will connect

brands not only with JD.com but also with other marketplaces worldwide and implement

the onboarding processes by providing all IT, management and fulfillment services.

Philipp Kraft, Managing Director of Zitra™, said: “The rapidly changing B2B retail market

continues to offer great opportunities for vertical online sales, which we strive to cater for.

We are, therefore, delighted to have gained another top player in addition to the Otto

Group, as a partner.”

For all cross-border logistics between Europe and China, Zitra™ will utilize the

infrastructure of the Hermes Group, the Otto Group’s services segment. This comprises

full customs-clearance service, real-time duty and tax quotes, and full track and trace. By

leaving these tasks to Zitra™, brands will be provided with a full service. The fulfillment

service covers international order management, B2B and B2C inbound and outbound

logistics, efficient returns handling, and cash-flow-optimization services.

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About the Otto Group Founded in Germany in 1949, the Otto Group is a globally operating retail and services group with around 54,000 employees. The Group includes 123 major companies and is present in over 20 countries in Europe, North and South America, and Asia. Its business activities are grouped into three segments: multichannel retail, financial services and service. In the 2014/15 financial year (to 28 February), the Otto Group generated a turnover of €12.1 billion. It is the world’s second-largest online retailer in the end-consumer (B2C) business and Europe’s largest online retailer in the end-consumer B2C fashion and lifestyle business. E-commerce, catalogue sales and over-the-counter retail form the three pillars of the Otto Group’s multichannel retail strategy. Its worldwide corporate activities, numerous strategic partnerships and joint ventures provide the Otto Group with excellent opportunities to transfer know-how and leverage areas of synergy potential. Group companies operate largely independently, guaranteeing flexibility, customer proximity and optimum target-group appeal in their respective national markets. For further information on the Otto Group, visit www.ottogroup.com.

About Zitra™ Zitra GmbH is a subsidiary of Hermes Europe and a member of the Otto Group. It was founded to connect brands with upcoming sales channels. Zitra™ is a platform independent service provider for brands and retailers. Zitra™ enables brands to sell directly on international online marketplaces and on retail concession floors. For this purpose, Zitra™ provides IT, management and fulfillment infrastructure as one-stop solution.

About JD.com, Inc. JD.com, Inc. is China's leading online direct sales company and the country's largest internet company by revenue. The company strives to offer consumers the best online shopping experience. Through its content-rich and user-friendly website, JD.com, and mobile applications, JD.com offers a wide selection of authentic products at competitive prices and delivers products in a speedy and reliable manner. The company believes it has the largest fulfillment infrastructure of any e-commerce company in China. JD.com operated seven fulfillment centers and a total of 166 warehouses in 44 cities, as well as 4,142 delivery stations and pick-up stations in 2,043 counties and districts across China, staffed by its own employees. JD.com is a member of the NASDAQ100.

Press contacts:

Thomas Voigt, +49 40 6461 4010, thomas.voigt@ottogroup.com

Robert Hägelen, +49 40 6461 3129, robert.haegelen@ottogroup.com