Samsonite International will acquire Tumi Holdings in an all cash transaction, valuing Tumi at an equity value of $1.8 billion.

Samsonite intends to fund the transaction through committed bank financing. Morgan Stanley, HSBC, SunTrust and MUFJ arranged the committed financing.

“This is a transformational acquisition for Samsonite. It will meaningfully expand our presence in the highly attractive premium segment of the global business bags, travel luggage and accessories market,” said Ramesh Tainwala, CEO of Samsonite. “Tumi is a perfect strategic fit for our business. The brand is beloved by millions of loyal customers for its high quality and durable premium business and luggage products. We are excited about the tremendous opportunities this combination provides us to further diversify our product and customer portfolios. In particular, we will expand Tumi’s presence in Asia and Europe, while strengthening its business in North America by leveraging our expertise in global distribution, sourcing, product design and technical innovation, especially in the area of lightweight hardside luggage.”

Tumi CEO Jerome Griffith said, “This is an exciting day for Tumi and all the travelers around the world who count on us. The team at Samsonite has a long and successful track record when it comes to acquisitions and we know they will be excellent stewards of the Tumi brand. Samsonite will bring Tumi to new and growing markets, while still maintaining the high quality Tumi is known for. This is a compelling transaction that delivers substantial and immediate cash value to our shareholders. Further, we are excited for our employees to benefit from opportunities presented by being part of a larger and more diversified global company. Samsonite has successfully grown many unique brands and we look forward to the next chapter in Tumi’s great history as part of the Samsonite family.”