This article only represents the author's own views.

Logistics has become a hot topic in China these days, forming a crucial plank in the herculean task of moving billions of products purchased online each year from factories where they are produced to their final buyers. The rush to build up such logistics networks has been highly profitable for some, while leaving others in the complex chain of facilities and services out in the cold.

That latter group of “less respected” companies includes China Logistics Property Holdings Co. Ltd. (1589.HK), which has just disclosed it could soon receive a takeover offer from JD Logistics (2618.HK), the recently-listed logistics arm of e-commerce giant JD.com. China Logistics is essentially a real estate company that was operating a network of warehouses in 38 logistics parks throughout China at the end of June, according to its latest interim report issued a couple of weeks ago.