HONG KONG: Global buyout firms including Carlyle Group Inc and KKR & Co have shown preliminary interest in a potential takeover of Samsonite International SA, according to people familiar with the matter.
Other private equity firms making early assessments on a potential bid for the Hong Kong-listed luggage maker include Bain Capital and CVC Capital Partners, the people said, asking not to be identified because the deliberations are private.
China-focused DCP Capital Partners, a minority shareholder in Samsonite, is also evaluating coinvesting with other bidders, the people said.
The investment funds may consider teaming up and forming a consortium if Samsonite decides to move forward with a plan to go private, the people said, adding that more bidders could emerge.
The fragmented ownership structure of Samsonite, which has headquarters in Massachusetts and Luxembourg, may create some hurdles for any take-private deal as it would take only a few opponents to block a plan, the people said.
Talks are preliminary and the parties may decide against pursuing a deal, the people said. Representatives for the buyout firms declined to comment. A Samsonite representative didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. — Bloomberg
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