the United States. 2011 - Present In June 2011, Samsonite raised US$1.25 billion in an initial public offering in Hong Kong. In August 2012 Samsonite paid $35 million in cash to buy the high-end luggage brand Hartmann, which was founded in 1877. In June 2014, Samsonite agreed to buy technical outdoor backpack brand Gregory Mountain Products from Black Diamond, Inc., for US$85.0 million in cash. In March 2016, Samsonite agreed to buy luxury baggage maker Tumi for $1.8 billion in its largest ever acquisition. In April 2017, Samsonite agreed to acquire eBags for $105 million in cash. eBags generated $158.5 million in sales in 2016, up 23.5% from $128.3 million in 2015. Entry into the toy market Beginning in 1961, Samsonite manufactured and distributed Lego building toys for the North American market under license from the Danish parent firm. A licensing dispute ended the arrangement in the U.S. in 1972, but Samsonite remained the distributor in Canada until 1986. Albert H. Reckler, then head of Military and export sales for the luggage division, brought the idea of manufacturing and selling Lego in the U.S. to Samsonite. He and Stan A. Clamage were instrumental in establishing the Lego brand in the United States. This was part of an overall company expansion into toy manufacturing in the 1960s that was abandoned in the 1970s. Production Forty percent of all Samsonite hard luggage is manufactured at its plant in Nashik, India. Samsonite has two assembly plants in Hungary. Samsonite currently has a Better Business Organization rating of 'F', primarily because of Customer Service. Brands American Tourister eBags Gregory Mountain Product Hartmann Luggage High Sierra Kamiliant Lipault Samsonite Tumi Inc. Competitors Delsey Red Oxx Manufacturing VIP Industries References External links Companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange Luggage brands Companies based in Bristol County, Massachusetts Mansfield, Massachusetts Manufacturing companies established in 1910 Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2009 1910 establishments in Colorado Luggage manufacturers 2011 initial public offerings