Customers enter the JD-running X-mart, a cashier-free supermarket, in north China's Tianjin, June 29, 2018. Operated by China's e-commerce giant JD.com, such supermarkets use technologies including the Internet of Things (IOT), artificial intelligence (AI) and biometrics to create an unmanned shopping experience. (Xinhua/Li Ran)

The logistics unit of Chinese e-commerce company JD.com Inc has held early discussions with banks about a potential overseas IPO that could raise $8 billion to $10 billion, two people with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

JD Logistics is targeting a valuation of at least $30 billion, according to the people, who declined to be identified as the information is confidential.

The unit is expected to select banks for the IPO in the second quarter of next year and will use the funds for warehouse expansion and potential acquisition purposes, one person said.

The float could take place in the second half of 2020, the people said.

JD.com, the second-largest Chinese e-commerce company after Alibaba, declined to comment.

The listing could happen in Hong Kong or New York, although the timetable and venue have not been finalized and the numbers are subject to changes, the people said.

JD.com spun off its logistics unit into a standalone entity in 2017, and it then opened up the latter's delivery and warehousing services to third-party companies.

In 2018, the division raised $2.5 billion in a funding round from investors including Hillhouse Capital Group, Sequoia Capital China, China Merchants Group, Tencent Holdings and China Life Insurance.

The company's valuation reached about $13.5 billion after the fundraising.

As of September 30, 2019, JD Logistics operated more than 650 warehouses, which covered an aggregate gross floor area of approximately 16 million square meters.

The company is among the top players in China in terms of warehousing space.

Reuters - Global Times