A number of big-name buyout firms including Carlyle Group, CVC Capital Partners and KKR have all shown preliminary interest in striking a take-private deal to acquire Hong Kong-listed luggage maker Samsonite International, according to a report by Bloomberg.
The report cites people familiar with the matter as confirming that other private equity firms including Bain Capital, and DCP Capital Partners, which is already a minority shareholder in the business, are also interested in converting with other bidders to complete a deal.
According to Bloomberg’s sources, should Samsonite decide to progress with a plan to go private, some of the interested parties may consider teaming up to form an acquisition consortium.
Talks are reportedly at an early stage and there is no guarantee that a deal will be agreed, according to the sources.
Shares in Samsonite, which has a market value of about HKD43bn ($5.5bn), surged by as much as 18% on 27 February when Bloomberg first reported that the company was considering its options, and have risen by a further 10% since.
