Global buyout firms including The Carlyle Group Inc. (NasdaqGS:CG) and KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE:KKR) have shown preliminary interest in a potential takeover of Samsonite International S.A. (SEHK:1910), 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, LP and CVC Capital Partners Limited, the people said, asking not to be identified because the deliberations are private.

China-focused DCP Investments (DCP Capital Partners), a minority shareholder in Samsonite, is also evaluating co-investing 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. Samsonite?s shares erased losses following the Bloomberg News report, jumping as much as 2.3% after the mid-day trading break in Hong Kong.

They?d fallen 1.9% in the morning session. 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. Samsonite has been weighing its options after receiving takeover interest from private equity firms, Bloomberg News reported in late February.

Some buyout firms have been considering acquiring the company and relisting it elsewhere later, people familiar with the matter said at the time.