Unloading the Luggage

Brown-Forman Corp. (Louisville, Ky.), known primarily for its liquor and wine products –Jack Daniel's, Early Times, Southern Comfort, Finlandia, Bolla, Fetzer and others –will sell luggage-leather retailer Hartmann Inc. (Lebanon, Tenn.), the last piece of its consumer durables division, to Clarion Capital Partners (New York).

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Hartmann, established in 1877, is one of the oldest makers of premium luggage, manufactures upscale brief cases, wheeled luggage, wallets, garment bags, personal leather goods and other accessories. The company's products are distributed and sold through high-end department stores and luggage shops in the U.S. and internationally plus its own retail and outlet stores. It had sales of $32 million in 2006.

Brown-Forman at one time owned a portfolio of products including silver, fine china and crystal as well as suitcases. It owned the Lenox Group (Eden Prairie, Minn.) from 1983-2005. A British jewelry business called Brooks & Bentley was sold a few months ago for an undisclosed price.