China’s biggest online retailer JD.com is said to be in talks about a potential bid for parcel delivery company Evri.
The British firm, which was formerly known as Hermes, drafted in advisers earlier this year to explore its options, including a possible sale of the business that could value it around £2bn.
Evri’s private equity owner Advent took out a dividend of £762m from the business two years after its acquisition and has saddled it with a debt pile of more than £1bn.
JD.com is now thought to be in the second stage of bidding after tabling a non-binding offer last month, Reuters reported.
The Chinese firm joins Polish parcel locker firm InPost and ecommerce giant Alibaba Group’s logistics arm, Cainiao.
However, people close to the matter said the companies’ interest may or may not result in a final offer.
Apollo Global Management is thought to be also be through to the second stage.
JD.com’s interest in the UK delivery firm comes as the group was involved in a bidding war with Waterstones owner Elliott earlier this year to take Currys private. Both firms were unsuccessful.