You may not know it, but a number of iconic American companies are no longer American. They’ve been bought up by foreign conglomerates, and as a result, the jobs and money that used to flow into our economy are now going elsewhere. Here’s a list of some of the most famous ones. Are you surprised by any of them?
Club Med
Original Headquarters: Paris, France
Purchased By: Fosun Group
Country: China
Club Med began as a vacation agency back in 1950. After establishing a budget tent colony in Majorca, Gerard Blitz established the firm. The travel agency has made a name for itself as a provider of all-inclusive vacations. Club Med offers vacations on almost every continent.
In Salerno, Italy, the original Club Med was established with extremely basic resort communities. Members lived in straw huts on the sand, with access to shared showers and urinals. Club Med has obviously progressed since then, since it now has luxurious villas. In 2013, the Chinese corporation Fosun Group acquired the majority of Club Med’s shares.
Cerruti
Original Headquarters: Paris, France
Purchased By: Trinity Ltd.
Country: China
Luxury denim, sportswear, watches, leather goods, perfumes, and accessories can all be found at Cerruti 1881’s online store. In 1967, in Paris, France, Nino Cerutti established the company. After growing into a major player in the fashion industry, Cerruti was acquired by Trinity Ltd. of Hong Kong just before its parent company went bankrupt.
Waiting for a ruling from a Hong Kong court on whether or not the luxury label will also be liquidated, the status of the brand is still unknown. Until such a time as that decision is made, Cerruti 1881 will continue operating under its existing licenses.
The Dreyfuss Group
Original Headquarters: London, England
Purchased By: International Volant Limited
Country: China
The Dreyfuss Group is a storied company that has been servicing timepieces since the early 20th century. The organization’s offices may be found on London’s Regent Street; it was founded in the mid-1950s. In 1993, a new firm called International Volant Limited bought the Dreyfuss Group, which had been in business for decades.
The owner of IVL is the renowned Chinese watchmaker and precious metals trader China Haidian. There are several sub-brands under the parent firm, and many of them produce watches. Though now controlled by a Chinese company, the Dreyfuss Group has maintained its London headquarters.
Inter Milan
Original Headquarters: Milan, Italy
Purchased By: Suning Holdings
Country: China
Inter Milan is an Italian soccer club that has been around since 1908. It plays in San Siro Stadium, the largest stadium in Italian soccer, with a capacity of roughly 76,000. Suning Holdings Group Co., a privately held Chinese firm with over 300,000 people and annual revenue of $104.45 billion, is the F.C.’s owner.
Suning Holdings was the unlisted section of Suning Group, and it was created in 1990 by Zhang Jindong. There is a 31.05 percent stake held by LionRock Capital, and a 0.37 percent stake held by Pirelli. The remaining 0.03 percent of shareholders consists of unidentified individuals.
Tommee Tippee
Original Headquarters: Newcastle-upon-Tyne, U.K.
Purchased By: Ping An Insurance
Country: China
Tommee Tippee is a company that provides various baby supplies, such as those used for changing diapers, nursing, and bottle feeding. Mayborn Group operates out of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom, where Tommee Tippee is headquartered. Ping An Insurance, a Chinese insurer, owns a subsidiary called Mayborn Group.
Tommee Tippee is the world’s fifth largest infant care firm, making it a significant acquisition for Ping An. More than 1,200 people are employed by the infant care firm, who operate in factories in China, Morocco, and Mansfield. Almost all of T.T.’s bottles are manufactured in China, as one might assume.
Miss Sixty
Original Headquarters: Italy
Purchased By: Trendy International Group
Country: China
Miss Sixty was established in 1991 and is an Italian label founded by Wicky Hassan. The jeans and accessories from Miss Sixty are well-known. Two years later, the Chinese firm Trendy International Group acquired Miss Sixty. Since its founding in 1999, Trendy International has grown to become the parent company of many well-known labels, such as Trendiano, Five Plus, and Ochirly.
In addition to having a presence in over 3,000 different locations, the fashion conglomerate has a global footprint that includes approximately 300 different cities. In order to bring SuperGroup Plc’s SuperDry brand to the Chinese market, it partnered with fashion label Trendy International.
London Taxis International
Original Headquarters: Coventry, U.K.
Purchased By: Geely U.K. Ltd.
Country: China
Geely Automobile, a Chinese automaker, established London Taxis International as a subsidiary in 2013. Before closing shop in 2014, London Cabs International produced taxis worldwide. The London Taxi Company is the predecessor to London Taxis International.
The London Electric Vehicle Company Limited (LEVC) is the new name for L.T.I. The firm was saved from bankruptcy in 2013 by Chinese conglomerate Geely, which also oversaw the construction of a new $300 million facility in Coventry the following year. Despite several brand and ownership changes, L.T.I. has found success, especially in the relatively narrow market of producing electric taxicabs.
Gieves & Hawkes
Original Headquarters: London, England
Purchased By: Trinity Ltd.
Country: China
As with many other record labels, the collapse of Trinity Ltd. has impacted the once-proud British label Gieves & Hawkes. It has been reported that the Savile Row tailoring establishment Gieves & Hawkes would be closing for good. The Chinese parent company, Trinity Group, was forced into insolvency, and RMS, the company in charge of the sale process, looked for new owners for Trinity’s affiliates.
There have been no takers, and the company’s future is uncertain despite its 251-year history. It now operates 45 outlets in 25 different locations. It would be unfortunate to lose Gieves & Hawkes, one of the oldest custom tailoring enterprises in the world.
SMPC
Original Headquarters: Manila, Philippines
Purchased By: DMCI Holdings
Country: China, Philippines
DMCI Holdings, Inc. owns the Philippines-based mining firm SMPC. In 2015, SMPC (Semirara Mining & Power Corporation) accounted for 92% of the country’s coal output. In 2007, SMPC launched its international expansion into the countries of India, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Thailand.
Isidro Consunji, a Chinese-Filipino businessman, established DMCI Holdings, which owns DMCI Homes. DCMI was formed in the middle of the 1990s to bring together a number of different construction firms and associated enterprises. DCMI has been a public business since 1995, and it generates annual revenues in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Sunseeker
Original Headquarters: Poole, U.K.
Purchased By: Wanda Group
Country: China
Motor boats from Sunseeker International are known for their speed and performance. Since its founding in the late ’60s, the company has been known as “Poole Power Boats,” after its home base in England. In the middle of the 1980s, the company formally known as Sunseeker International changed its name. Four James Bond films, including Quantum of Solace, have featured boats built by Sunseeker.
In 2013, Sunseeker was purchased by China’s Wanda Group, a massive entertainment, and commercial property company, for $495 million. CEO Phil Popham put an end to suspicions that Wanda was shopping the brand around in 2018 by denying the company had any plans to do so.
Addax Petroleum
Original Headquarters: France
Purchased By: Sinopec Group
Country: China
In the middle of the 1990s, AOG spawned Addax Petroleum. Since 2009, Addax has operated under the Sinopec Group, a Chinese oil conglomerate. They are the number one oil refiner in Asia and the third largest in the world. The North Sea, the Middle East, and Africa make up the vast majority of Addax’s assets.
In the two years following China’s acquisition of Addax, the business increased its daily oil output to 140,000 barrels. Despite setbacks (including the 2017 arrests of the company’s chief legal officer and chief executive officer in Switzerland), annual revenue has averaged over a billion dollars.
Triple H Coal
Original Headquarters: Jacksboro, Tennessee
Purchased By: TPI
Country: China
According to MarketWatch, China “dug into American coal mines” with this deal. In Campbell County, Tennessee, you’ll find Triple H Coal. It has rights to 125 square kilometers of land and the coal beneath it. TPI, a Chinese firm, acquired Triple H Coal in 2011.
TPI was able to make this transaction thanks to financing from the Questmark Mining Rights Investment Fund. In fact, TPI is hardly the only Chinese firm eyeing U.S. coal holdings. Besides China Coal and China Coal Solution, Datang, Shenhua, Huadian, Qinfa Group, and China Coal are also vying to purchase American coal mining operations.
Ray-Ban
Original Headquarters: Rochester, New York
Purchased By: EssilorLuxottica
Country: France and Italy
In 1936, Bausch & Lomb, a prominent manufacturer of eyeglasses, came up with the idea for Ray-Ban (B&L). B & L has produced Ray-Bans in a wide variety of styles and sizes over the years. First and foremost, aviator sunglasses, have expanded beyond their original function as pilot uniform accessories. It would be foolish not to answer the door when chance knocks.
According to reports, Italian eyewear industry behemoth Luxottica Group offered B&L $640 million to acquire the Ray-Ban brand in 1999. One of the most popular brands of sunglasses in the world was sold by a New York firm after they accepted an offer for exclusive licensing rights.
SeaWorld
Original Headquarters: Orlando, Florida
Purchased By: Zhonghong Zhuoye Group Co.
Country: China
If you’ve ever wanted to view marine animals up close and personal, SeaWorld is the place to go. Before the Blackstone Group bought the marine park in 2009, Busch Entertainment Group was in charge of all of the parks throughout the world and how they were run. In 2017, not quite a decade later, the parks were sold again.
This time it was through a public sale, and the Chinese company Zhonghong Zhuoye Group Co. bought a sizable stake. Two years later, Zhonghong Zhuoye Group Co. had more ownership problems after it failed on its financing and was forced to sell its stake in SeaWorld.
Oreo
Original Headquarters: New York City, New York
Purchased By: 3G Capital and Berkshire Hathaway
Country: Brazil
Oreos. For many people, cookies as we know them today owe a great deal to the biscuit, a popular snack among kids all around the country. Oreos and its parent company, Kraft Heinz, haven’t been wholly owned by American investors for a few years now, which might come as a surprise to some of you.
Three years after changing its name to Mondelez International in 2010, food industry giants Kraft and Heinz combined in 2015. Heinz was held at the time of the merger by both Berkshire Hathaway and the Brazilian investment firm 3G Capital, hence the resulting company, Kraft Heinz, is partially Brazilian.
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!
Original Headquarters: Baltimore, Maryland
Purchased By: Unilever
Country: England
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter! is a spreadable butter-like alternative that was developed in 1979 by the J.H. Filbert firm in Maryland. This product has done all necessary to trick diners into believing they were eating butter when in reality, they were not.
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter! outsold margarine in the United States by the early 2000s and was still doing well. The unique ranch once held by J.H. Filbert was, however, no longer in American hands. Unilever completed the acquisition of the business in its entirety, including all of its assets, about two decades earlier, in 1986.
NextVR Inc
Original Headquarters: Newport, California
Purchased By: CITIC Group Corp
Country: China
For decades, virtual reality has topped the list of most wanted technologies. NextVR is already participating in meetings with the industry’s major players, while other startups are still working on their strategies to get into the market. How come? This is due to the fact that a wealthy foreign investor poured a lot of money into the company while it was young.
The foreign investor was Beijing-based CITIC Group Corp, which placed a $20 million stake in NextVR. The virtual reality (VR) startup was acquired by Apple in the year 2020, but the transaction set the tech giant back $100 million.
Sara Lee
Original Headquarters: Downers Grove, Illinois
Purchased By: Grupo Bimbo
Country: Mexico
Since before World War II, Americans have included Sara Lee in their plans for supper. Since its inception in 1939 in Illinois, the firm that makes baked products has been owned exclusively by Americans. In 2010, however, things changed drastically when Grupo Bimbo of Mexico spent $959 million to acquire Sara Lee’s fresh bread business.
Whether you choose to believe it or not, the enormous agreement turned out to be beneficial for all parties. Sara Lee redirected its almost $1 billion in proceeds from Grupo Bimbo’s acquisition of the company to its frozen desserts and meat divisions.
Woolrich
Original Headquarters: Pennsylvania
Purchased By: W.P. Lavori
Country: Italy
Woolrich’s history as a garment manufacturer dates back to before the Civil War in the United States. Production at its Pennsylvania site really began almost two centuries ago. Even President Lincoln’s Union army uniforms were repaired by this firm. But, obviously, that’s not how it is anymore.
Woolrich was purchased by the Italian company W.P. Lavori in 2016, just before the company was 200 years old. Most of the company’s goods are now manufactured in China and Southeast Asia, and its flagship Pennsylvania facility began the process of shutting permanently in 2018.
Brooklyn Nets
Original Headquarters: New Jersey
Purchased By: Joseph C. Tsai
Country: Taiwan/Canada
A few years ago, when the Brooklyn Nets signed Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to contracts for over $300 million, it sent shockwaves across the basketball world. These transactions, now seen as complete wastes of time and money, would not have been feasible without the wealth of the team’s then-owner, Russian-Israeli billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov.
In 2010, Prokhorov bought the Nets from American benefactor Bruce Rather, marking the end of 42 years of American ownership of the New Jersey-based organization. When Taiwanese-Canadian entrepreneur and Alibaba Group co-founder Joseph C. Tsai bought the Nets in the fall of 2019, he marked yet another transition in the team’s ownership.
Vaseline
Original Headquarters: Perth Amboy, New Jersey
Purchased By: Unilever
Country: England
Robert Augustus Chesebrough, a scientist originally from Brooklyn, New York, established The Chesebrough Manufacturing Company in 1859. A little more than a decade after he founded the firm, Robert developed the product today known as Vaseline.
Believe it or not, he got the idea after observing oil workers using refined rod wax to soothe the pain of burns and rashes. Before Unilever acquired the brand in 1987 from its previous owner, the newly merged Chesebrough-Ponds, the petroleum jelly known as Vaseline had been held by Americans for more than eighty years.
Oscar Mayer
Original Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois
Purchased By: 3G Capital and Berkshire Hathaway
Country: Brazil
Back when you were a kid, the letters O-S-C-A-R probably spelled out the name of your bologna. Its name was most likely spelled M-A-Y-E-R. Since before the turn of the century, Oscar Mayer wieners and several other types of meat have been a staple in the diets of American children.
The meat firm, on the other hand, is not nearly as American as it was in the past. The Kraft Heinz Company, under which are the subsidiaries 3G Capital of Brazil and Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, owns Oscar Mayer and all of its goods, including the popular Lunchable brand.
French’s
Original Headquarters: Rochester, New York
Purchased By: Reckitt Benckiser
Country: England
For many years, French’s was owned by a British company, but in 2017, McCormick & Company reintroduced French’s to the United States. This historic American brand has been accompanying meals in the United States dating back to 1904. While expanding and extending its range, this brand remained in British ownership for the remaining years of the 20th century.
The original R.T. French Company manufactured mustard back in 1904, and J. & J. Colman of the United Kingdom purchased French’s around twenty years later in 1926. Unlike other brands on this list, French’s has come home– McCormick & Company reintroduced it to the United States in 2017.
Pocket Gems Inc
Original Headquarters: San Francisco, California
Purchased By: Tencent
Country: China
Once upon a time, before smartphones became the powerful computing devices they are today, mobile gamers could only compete with their pals in a game of Snakes or try to advance as far as possible in one of the few memory-based games available. However, that was then and this is today. One of the most lucrative businesses nowadays is mobile gaming.
Pocket Gems Inc. of San Francisco has been making waves in the mobile gaming sector for quite some time, but even seasoned pros in the field occasionally need a financial injection. Tencent, headquartered in Shenzhen, China, invested an additional $90 million into Pocket Gems Inc., bringing its total investment in the firm to $20 million.
Fisker Automotive Inc
Original Headquarters: Anaheim, California
Purchased By: Wanxiang
Country: China
America has maintained its position as a leading global automaker by using some of the industry’s brightest minds to develop ever-bettering vehicle designs. The world’s attention has shifted to “going electric,” and American electric vehicle businesses like Fisker Automotive have taken use of the expertise of its in-house technologists to once again come out on top.
The one catch is that Fisker Automotive, headquartered in Anaheim, is no longer owned by Americans. Fisker, which had produced an environmentally friendly premium electric vehicle, went bankrupt in 2014 before being acquired by the Wanxiang Group of China. Chinese business revived Fisker’s electric Karma for new generation of electric vehicle drivers.
Chips Ahoy!
Original Headquarters: New York City, New York
Purchased By: 3G Capital and Berkshire Hathaway
Country: Brazil
Those Chips Ahoy! In 1963, cookies first appeared on store shelves, and now, you can buy them in approximately 100 different nations across the world. These sweets, which are created by Nabisco and are similar to Oreos, have a reputation for being as American as a cookie can be; yet, they are not what they appear to be.
The Chips Ahoy! brand has changed hands throughout the years, and is now held by Mondelz International, a division of Kraft Heinz that is in turn controlled by Berkshire Hathaway and the Brazilian investment firm 3G Capital.
Eureka Brand
Original Headquarters: Medford, Massachusetts
Purchased By: Midea Group
Country: China
With roots dating back to 1909 when the company was established in Detroit, Michigan, Eureka brand appliances have been a mainstay in American households for almost a century, ensuring that households throughout the country are always spotless. And it all started with the company’s innovative and reasonably priced products.
Nearly seven decades passed before Swedish company AB Electrolux purchased the American company Eureka. Even though Eureka isn’t as well-known as Whirlpool, it nonetheless does rather well in foreign markets. Due to its success, China’s Midea Group purchased Eureka, taking the brand overseas.
American Idol
Original Headquarters: Los Angeles, California
Purchased By: Fremantle
Country: England
Whether or not you enjoy talent-based reality shows, you’ve probably heard of American Idol by this point. Running since the early 2000s, the series has given scores of talented Americans a leg up in the music industry and a chance to realize their “American Dreams.”
Contrary to popular belief, American Idol was not created in the United States. American Idol may have originated in the United States and be shot there, but it is owned by a British company. London-based FremantleMedia is the show’s owner. Fremantle is a division of the German media behemoth Bertelsmann if you’re really digging for details.
Hot Pockets
Original Headquarters: Arlington, Virginia
Purchased By: Nestlé
Country: Switzerland
Do you need lunch quickly and don’t have time to cook something fancy? Maybe you’re on the run and in need of a pastry sandwich. If that’s the case, Hot Pockets are just what you need. Chef America Inc. was established by brothers David and Paul Merage, who came up with the Tastywich, a calzone-like food.
Hot Pockets were renamed Stuffed Pastries in 1983. Hot Pockets dominated the filled food market for the following two decades. In spite of competition from Pizza Pops and Pizza Pockets, they managed to stay in business. Hot Pocket hasn’t been US-owned since Q1 2002 when Nestlé acquired Chef America.
Zulily Inc
Original Headquarters: Seattle, Washington
Purchased By: Alibaba Group
Country: China
Whether you’re searching for a new pair of trousers for casual Friday or a toy for the little one’s birthday, the Seattle-based e-commerce startup Zulily offers it all — kinda. Zulily doesn’t really carry any stock but ships from fulfillment centers comparable to firms like Amazon.
Zulily is a Seattle-based ecommerce company that was founded in 2010. The company has been doing well, but foreign investors have slowly been chipping away at the percentage of the American-owned company. In 2015, Alibaba Group acquired an additional 4.8 million shares of the company, increasing their ownership to 9.8%.
Kraft Mac & Cheese
Original Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois
Purchased By: Brazilian 3G Capital and Berkshire Hathaway
Country: Brazil
For decades, high school and college students across North America have relied on Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, or Kraft Dinner (as they say up north). Although it is far from being the most nutritious cuisine available, it is quite simple to prepare and very inexpensive.
Fun fact: of the 365 million boxes of Kraft Mac and Cheese sold annually, approximately 25% are consumed by Canadians. Currently, Canada’s go-to quick-cook pasta is owned by Brazilian investment firm 3G Capital, which in 2013 paid $23 billion to purchase the Kraft Heinz Company from Berkshire Hathaway.
Mochi Media Inc
Original Headquarters: San Francisco, California
Purchased By: Shanda Games Ltd
Country: China
Mochi Media was once a thriving video game publisher, boasting 15,000 games and 40 thousand publisher websites. However, the company was dissolved in 2014 after it was unable to overcome its financial difficulties. The root of these difficulties can be traced back to the company’s parent business, Shanda Games Ltd., which was based in Shanghai, China.
Although Mochi Media had its headquarters in San Francisco, California, it was ultimately owned by Shanda Games Ltd. – a company based in Shanghai, China. This posed a number of problems for Mochi Media when it came to financial difficulty. Firstly, the cultural divide made communication difficult between employees and management.
EIG Global Energy Partners
Original Headquarters: EIG Global Energy Partners
Purchased By: China Investment Corp
Country: China
The energy sector sees more foreign investors and owners than practically any other sector. EIG Global Energy Partners was barely surviving after years of success due to the economic crisis of 2007–2008. (as much of a thread as a multi-billion-dollar company could hang on by). Then came China Investment Group to the rescue.
And all it cost was a perhaps negligible interest in the firm (the exact proportion is unknown). China Investment Corp. has recently made a significant investment in a number of major multinational corporations, including EIG, Shanduka Group of South Africa, and Thames Water of the United Kingdom.
Klondike
Original Headquarters: Mansfield, Ohio
Purchased By: Unilever
Country: England
The Isaly Dairy Company, based in Ohio, revolutionized the ice cream bar market with the introduction of the Klondike in 1922. Stickless ice cream treats were a hit in Ohio and Pennsylvania during the following fifty years, but they didn’t catch on elsewhere.
After Henry Clarke, the proprietor of Clabir Company, made an irresistible offer to Isaly in 1976, Klondike became a household brand across the country. While Clarke was the owner of Klondike, annual revenues grew from less than $1 million to more than $60 million. In 1993, Unilever, a company based in the United Kingdom, bought Klondike and gave it a brand new home.
Ritz
Original Headquarters: New York City, New York
Purchased By: 3G Capital and Berkshire Hathaway
Country: Brazil
Although the Jackson Cracker Firm was the first to manufacture a product that was comparable to what is now known as Ritz crackers, it wasn’t until 1919, when Nabisco purchased the cracker company situated in Michigan, that it had a platform large enough to make itself recognized all over the world.
Mondelēz International, a corporation with its headquarters in the United States, just acquired Nabisco. However, Mondelez is a part of the Kraft Heinz Company and hence falls under its umbrella. A Brazilian firm that holds a minority stake in the business is known as 3G Capital.
Popsicle
Original Headquarters: Oakland, California
Purchased By: Unilever
Country: England
It’s no secret that many iconic American companies are now owned by foreign entities. What may be surprising, however, is the sheer number of brands that have been bought up and are now no longer American-owned. Popsicle, for example, was created by 11-year-old Francis Epperson in Oakland and sold to the Joe Lowe company in 1925.
However, Good Humor bought Popsicle in 1989 and it has been a subsidiary of Unilever since then. This trend is not limited to small businesses or startups – even major corporations such as Kraft Heinz are now partially owned by European investors.
Ben & Jerry’s
Original Headquarters: South Burlington, Vermont
Purchased By: Unilever
Country: England
The ice cream company has been a pop-culture staple for decades, with references in countless movies and TV shows. Even the origin story is sweet, with best friends Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield opening their own parlor in 1978. But what many people don’t know is that Ben & Jerry’s was bought by London-based conglomerate Unilever in 2000.
The deal was struck for $326 million, with Unilever being the highest bidder out of three different companies looking to make the takeover. The purchase helped to boost Unilever’s portfolio. While some Ben & Jerry’s fans were upset about the acquisition, others saw it as a positive move for the brand.
Burger King
Original Headquarters: Miami, Florida
Purchased By: Restaurant Brands International
Country: Canada
Burger King is an American fast food institution, but it’s no longer American-owned. Purchased by Canadian company Restaurant Brands International in 2014, BK is now a part of the global market. While its headquarters are still in Miami, Florida, Burger King’s reach extends far beyond U.S. borders.
This shift in ownership has caused some to lament the loss of an iconic “American” brand, while others see it as a natural progression in an increasingly globalized world. Some saw it as a sign of America’s diminishing influence on the world stage, while others viewed it as a natural progression in an increasingly interconnected world.
Trader Joe’s
Original Headquarters: Monrovia, California
Purchased By: Theo Albrecht
Country: Germany
When Trader Joe’s first opened its doors in 1967, it was considered a small, specialty grocery store. It stocked hard-to-find and unusual foods, which helped it stand out from the competition. The store was so successful that it is still open today. However, the original owner, Joe Coulombe, sold the business in 1979. The new owner was Theo Albrecht of Aldi Nord supermarket chain.
Although Trader Joe’s has remained a popular grocery store over the years, it is no longer American-owned. Theo Albrecht is a German billionaire and the owner of the Aldi Nord supermarket chain. He purchased Trader Joe’s in 1979 for an undisclosed amount.
American Apparel
Original Headquarters: Los Angeles, California
Purchased By: Gildan Activewear
Country: Canada
When American Apparel filed for bankruptcy in 2015, many consumers were worried about the future of the “Made in USA – Sweatshop-free” brand. Purchased by Canadian company Gildan Activewear in 2017, some shoppers might be surprised to learn that American Apparel is still operational, albeit under a new name.
Though some aspects of the company have changed, such as manufacturing now taking place in Canada rather than the United States, American Apparel still aims to produce high-quality clothing while maintaining its ethical standards. For the shopper looking for American-made clothing without supporting sweatshops, American Apparel is still a great option.
7-Eleven
Original Headquarters: Dallas, Texas
Purchased By: Seven & i Holdings
Country: Japan
It’s hard to imagine a world without 7-Eleven, but for a time, that’s exactly what America was facing. The company started in 1927 as Southland Ice and had humble beginnings selling eggs, bread, and milk to customers. It wasn’t until Jefferson Green changed the name to 7-Eleven and expanded his range that the business really took off.
However, the 1987 financial crash left 7-Eleven in debt. Japanese company Ito-Yokado bought it out and it has been part of Seven & i Holdings ever since. 7-Eleven may not be an American company anymore, but it’s still beloved by customers around the world.
Sunglass Hut
Original Headquarters: Miami, Florida
Purchased By: Luxottica Group
Country: Italy
Sunglass Hut is a well-known eyewear company that was founded in Miami, Florida. Purchased by the Luxottica Group in 2001, it has since expanded to include stores in India, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and more. Although it originated in the United States, Sunglass Hut is now part of an Italian company.
The Luxottica Group purchased Sunglass Hut for $653 million in 2001. Since then, the company has expanded significantly. It now has stores in India, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and more. In addition to its original location in Miami, Florida, Sunglass Hut is now part of an Italian company
Holiday Inn
Original Headquarters: Memphis, Tennessee
Purchased By: Intercontinental Hotels
Country: England
It’s hard to believe that a company as well-known as Holiday Inn was once just a small motel on the way from Memphis to Nashville. Purchased by the Intercontinental Hotels Group in the late ’80s, Holiday Inn has continued to grow and is now owned by IHG worldwide.
Although it may be hard to imagine an American company being bought out by an English company, it goes to show that even well-established businesses can be vulnerable to foreign investment. Despite this, Holiday Inn has remained a successful chain of hotels, thanks to its convenient locations and affordable prices.
Hellman’s
Original Headquarters: New York City
Purchased By: Unilever
Country: England
In 2000, the Hellman’s mayonnaise brand was purchased by Unilever for $20.3 billion. The brand, which was started in 1905 by German-born Richard Hellmann, had been sold alone by Hellman since 1932. Hellman’s mayonnaise is a staple in most American households, and the man responsible for that is German-born Richard Hellmann.
He came up with the recipe for the condiment back in 1905, putting a twist on the French version and bringing it into the American market. Customers at his delicatessen loved it so much that he decided to sell it alone. By 1932, he had sold to Best Foods – where it stayed for another 70 years.
Smithfield
Original Headquarters: Smithfield, VA
Purchased By: WH Group
Country: Hong Kong
Smithfield Foods was founded by Joseph W. Luter and his son back in 1936 and has been a leading producer of pork products ever since. In 2013, however, WH Group bought Smithfield for a record-breaking $4.72 billion dollars, making it the most expensive acquisition made by a Chinese company in America at that time.
While the company’s main headquarters remain located in Virginia, it is now run from Luohe City in Henan province, China. The company’s new ownership has allowed it to tap into the Chinese market, which is the world’s largest market for pork.
Ironman
Original Headquarters: Tampa Bay, Florida
Purchased By: Dalian Wanda Group
Country: China
Ironman is a name that is synonymous with endurance and toughness. It’s an event that has been around for over four decades, testing the limits of athletes all over the world. But what many people don’t know is that Ironman isn’t an American company anymore. In fact, it hasn’t been since 2015 when it was purchased by the Dalian Wanda Group.
This Chinese corporation has a net worth of over $30 billion and is known for its investments in various businesses – including entertainment, real estate, and sports. With Ironman under its belt, Wanda now has a significant stake in the endurance sports market.
Forbes
Original Headquarters: Jersey City, New Jersey
Purchased By: Integrated Whale Media
Country: China
Forbes, one of the most iconic and longest-running magazines in American history, is no longer an American company. Purchased by a Hong Kong-based company in 2014, it has been bought and sold a number of times since its inception 102 years ago.
Although readers may not have noticed any changes after the latest purchase, the magazine is now owned by a Chinese company. While Forbes may have changed hands, its legacy remains unchanged. The magazine is still known for its rankings of companies and celebrities, as well as popular lists like 30 Under 30 and World’s Most Powerful 100 Women.
Dirt Devil
Original Headquarters: Charlotte, North Carolina
Purchased By: Techtronic Industries
Country: China
Techtronic Industries purchased Dirt Devil in 2003, and while the vacuum cleaner manufacturer still has its headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, it is no longer an American company. This shift in ownership has caused some concern among consumers who are worried about their products being made in China and whether or not they will continue to be supported by the same warranty service.
So far, there have been no major changes in Dirt Devil’s operations since the purchase went through, but it will be interesting to see how things play out over time.
Good Humor
Original Headquarters: Youngstown, Ohio
Purchased By: Unilever
Country: England
Even though Good Humor is now owned by a British-Dutch company, it still retains a strong consumer base across the generations. The brand expanded to include many more products, and while it may not be 100% American anymore, it’s still loved by many.
When Unilever bought Good Humor back in 1961, there was no stopping the company as it expanded to most of America. The ice cream brand became known among baby boomers for its delicious flavors and 100-year history. It was a sad day when the company lost its American identity, but thankfully it didn’t lose its popularity. These days, you can find Good Humor products all over the world.
Purina
Original Headquarters: Nashville, Tennessee
Purchased By: Bridgestone
Country: Japan
It’s no secret that American companies are being bought up by foreign investors at an alarming rate. Nestle, a Swiss company, is one such example. In 2001, they purchased Purina, an American pet food company. This decision was made in order to merge Nestle’s original pet food company with Purina.
The brand continues to be a staple in many homes across the globe, not just in America. It’s important to remember that even though these companies may have new ownership, their roots are still firmly planted in America. We should take pride in knowing that our country has produced some of the best and most successful businesses in the world.
Firestone
Original Headquarters: Nashville, Tennessee
Purchased By: Bridgestone
Country: Japan
Bridgestone, the world’s largest tire manufacturer, purchased Firestone in 1988. This was an important acquisition for Bridgestone because it made them the second-largest tire manufacturer in the country. While this takeover was initially met with resistance by Firestone employees and shareholders, the deal has since been hailed as a success.
When Bridgestone purchased Firestone in 1988, it helped the Japanese company become the second-largest tire manufacturer in America. At the time of the purchase, there was some initial backlash from both employees and shareholders of Firestone. However, over time the deal has been seen as a success.
Gerber
Original Headquarters: Florham Park, New Jersey
Purchased By: Nestle
Country: Switzerland
The acquisition was a smart move on Nestle’s part; as a market, baby food is notoriously profitable. And as a brand, Gerber has been around for almost a century. It’s no wonder Nestle decided to buy them – they’re an established player in an ever-growing industry.
Since the purchase, there have been some big changes at Gerber headquarters. The company is now based out of Switzerland instead of Florham Park, New Jersey (where it was originally founded). This may not seem like a big deal to some people, but it’s indicative of the larger trend of American companies moving their operations overseas to take advantage of cheaper labor costs and fewer regulations.
Citgo
Original Headquarters: Houston, Texas
Purchased By: Petróleos de Venezuela
Country: Venezuela
Citgo was founded in Bartlesville, Oklahoma in 1910, becoming a popular refiner and marketer of fuels and other products. In 1986, Venezuelan company Petróleos de Venezuela purchased 50% of Citgo, making it the parent company for the brand. While it has had its share of difficulties over the years, it has never ceased to exist as an American company.
However, in 2010 President Hugo Chavez announced plans to sell Citgo, calling it “bad business” and blaming falling profits. The sale never happened and bonds were sold instead. An economic depression in 2013 saw it offered to Russia as collateral for a debt, with its future becoming deeply uncertain.
General Electric
Original Headquarters: Boston, MA
Purchased By: Haier (Appliances division only)
Country: China
The company has had to make some tough decisions in order to stay afloat, and selling its Appliances division to Haier was one of them. While this move may seem like a blow to American manufacturing, it’s important to remember that GE is still a massive corporation with interests in many other industries.
So even though the Appliances division is now Chinese-owned, that doesn’t mean all of GE is. As for Haier, the company seems excited about its new acquisition. This seems like good news for American workers employed by GE Appliances – they should be able to keep their jobs and continue producing quality appliances for consumers across the country.
Motorola
Original Headquarters: Schaumburg, Illinois
Purchased By: Lenovo
Country: China
It’s no secret that American companies are being bought up by Chinese businesses. What may come as a surprise, however, is the identity of some of these companies. One such company is Motorola, which was founded in Schaumburg, Illinois in 1928. The business enjoyed success with its flip phones and other products before it was sold to Google in 2012.
Just two years later, Lenovo – a Chinese company – purchased Motorola for $2.9 billion. Google didn’t make anything from the sale, as they originally bought Motorola for $12.5 billion in 2012 before selling it for just $2.9 billion two years later – taking a $10 billion loss in the process.
IBM (PC Division)
Original Headquarters: Armonk, New York
Purchased By: Lenovo
Country: China
IBM has always been a leader in the technology industry, and its sale to Lenovo only solidified that position. Since the acquisition, Lenovo has grown to become one of the largest technology companies in the world. IBM still retains a stake in Lenovo, and both companies continue to work together on new projects.
Despite selling its PC division, IBM remains a strong presence in the technology industry. They have continued to develop new and innovative products, and their partnership with Lenovo has allowed them to expand into new markets. IBM is a company that is constantly evolving, and it will undoubtedly remain a force to be reckoned with for many years to come.
Legendary Entertainment Group
Original Headquarters: Burbank, CA
Purchased By: Dalian Wanda Group
Country: China
Since the deal was made four years ago, there has been some concern about how much American ownership is left in these big-budget productions. The worry is that as time goes on and Dalian Wanda continues to expand their Chinese businesses, less and less of these films will be considered American.
On one hand it’s great that jobs are being created and money is being put back into the American economy. But on the other hand it’s a little worrisome to see such a large chunk of our entertainment industry fall into foreign hands. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the coming years and if more studios get bought up by overseas investors.
Hoover US
Original Headquarters: Ohio
Purchased By: Techtronic Industries
Country: China
When Hoover was founded in 1908, it was an American company through and through. Based in Ohio, the company manufactured appliances for local residents and grew steadily over the years. However, in 2006 Hoover was purchased by Techtronic Industries, a Chinese company with over 30,000 employees.
While Hoover still has a North Carolina headquarters, its parent company is run from Hong Kong. Despite the change of ownership, Hoover has managed to maintain its good reputation as a reliable appliance brand. Thanks to its new Chinese parent company, Hoover has access to greater resources and a wider market.
Frigidaire
Original Headquarters: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Purchased By: Electrolux
Country: Sweden
Even though the company is now Swedish-owned, Frigidaire still manufactures many of its products in the United States. In fact, the company employs over 11,000 people in America and operates 19 manufacturing plants across the country. And while it may not be “American” anymore, it’s still one of the biggest names in home appliances.
A company like Frigidaire – which was once so American it could have been called “The Guardian Frigerator Company” – is now owned by a Swedish company and manufactures most of its products overseas. The global economy is constantly changing, and with it come new challenges for American companies.
Strategic Hotels and Resorts
Original Headquarters: Chicago, IL
Purchased By: Anbang Insurance Group
Country: China
It’s no secret that American companies are being bought out by Chinese investors, but what may come as a surprise is some of the iconic brands that have been sold. One such company is Strategic Hotels & Resorts Inc, which was founded in 1997 by real estate investor and philanthropist Laurence S. Geller.
In 2016, the company was bought out by Anbang Insurance Group for a reported $6.5 million, but the initial deal fell through and they ended up buying it for $1 million less due to one of their properties being forbidden from being sold by the US government.
Alka-Seltzer
Original Headquarters: Elkhart, Indiana
Purchased By: Bayer
Country: Germany
Alka-Seltzer is one such company that was purchased by Bayer in 1978 and has remained under German ownership ever since. While the brand has remained popular over the years, some changes have been made to its production and marketing.
Alka-Seltzer has been a mainstay in the pharmaceutical industry for decades, and even though it is now owned by a German company, it continues to produce and sell its products all over the world. However, because Bayer is a massive corporation with interests in many different industries, Alka-Seltzer’s advertising campaigns have changed since it was acquired.
The Chrysler Building
Original Headquarters: New York City, NY
Purchased By: SIGNA Group
Country: Austria
The Chrysler Building is a New York City institution, but it hasn’t been owned by an American company for some time. The Abu Dhabi Investment Council paid $800 million for majority ownership back in 2008, but they ended up selling to Austrian company SIGNA and New York’s RFR for little over $150 million just over a decade later.
The loss was catastrophic, making headlines in financial outlets the world over. The Chrysler Building has long been a staple of the New York skyline, but its sale to an Austrian company in 2019 made headlines around the world.
General Motors
Original Headquarters: Detroit, MI
Purchased By: Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp
Country: China
When most people think of General Motors, they likely think of Detroit, Michigan as the company’s birthplace and longtime home. However, that is no longer the case. GM has been bought out by Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp and is now headquartered in China.
This move signals a larger trend of American companies moving their operations overseas to take advantage of cheaper labor costs and to escape stringent regulations from the US government. While this may be good for the bottom line, it’s bad news for American workers who are losing jobs to foreign countries.
Spotify
Original Headquarters: New York, NY
Purchased By: Tencent Holdings Ltd
Country: China
It’s hard to believe that a company as big as Spotify was once just a small startup. Founded in 2006, the streaming music service has come a long way in the last twelve years. And while it originated in Sweden, Spotify has had its share of international travel over the years.
In 2017, Tencent Holdings and Spotify bought a stake in each other of roughly 10%. This joint venture helped Spotify crack into the Chinese market, while Tencent expanded its already large portfolio. It was a partnership of convenience for Spotify, who wasn’t strong enough at that point to dive into the Chinese market alone.
The Waldorf Astoria Hotel
Original Headquarters: New York, NY
Purchased By: Anbang Insurance Group
Country: China
Anbang is just one of many Chinese companies that have been investing in American businesses. While some people may be worried about this trend, others see it as a positive sign for the economy. The purchase of the Waldorf-Astoria by Anbang Insurance Group was not only a landmark event for the hotel industry, but also for American business as a whole.
Anbang is just one of many Chinese companies that have been investing in American businesses in recent years. Some people see this trend as a positive sign for the economy, while others are concerned about the implications it has for America’s sovereignty.
Tesla
Original Headquarters: Palo Alto, CA
Purchased By: Tencent Holdings Ltd
Country: China
Founded in 2003 by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning, Tesla Motors became a publicly traded company in 2010. The company has always been at the forefront of electric car technology and has made some impressive advancements in that area.
In 2019, however, things changed when Tencent Holdings Ltd., a Chinese investment holding company, purchased a 5% stake in the automaker for $1.8 billion. This may not seem like a lot, but it’s important to note that Tencent is not just any old company – it’s the world’s largest video game company and one of the largest social media companies. So what does this mean for Tesla?
Snapchat
Original Headquarters: Los Angeles, CA
Purchased By: Tencent Holdings Ltd
Country: China
It’s no secret that Snapchat is a popular app. What may come as a surprise, however, is the company’s Chinese connection. In 2017, Tencent Holdings Ltd., one of China’s largest tech companies, purchased a 10% stake in Snapchat for over $2 billion. This move gave Tencent access to Snapchat’s technology and user base, while also helping Snapchat expand into the Chinese market.
Since then, both companies have continued to work together. Tencent has used its expertise in augmented reality (AR) to help develop Snapchat’s AR features further. And Snapchat has helped introduce Tencent to Western users and businesses.
Ingram Micro
Original Headquarters: Irvine, CA
Purchased By: HNA Technology Co. Ltd
Country: China
Ingram has seen some big changes since it was bought out by the Chinese company. For starters, they’ve moved their headquarters from Irvine, CA to Hangzhou, China. This has caused quite a bit of uproar among employees and customers alike who are worried about how this will impact the quality and service of Ingram products.
Additionally, there have been layoffs as the new Chinese owners try to consolidate operations and cut costs. So far, it seems that Tianjin Tianhai Investment is looking to make Ingram more profitable by expanding into new markets.
Fidelity & Guaranty Life
Original Headquarters: Des Moines, IA
Purchased By: Anbang Insurance Group (Failed Acquisition)
Country: China
When Fidelity and Guaranty Life Insurance Company was bought out by the Chinese Anbang Insurance Group, it created a lot of concern among its customers. The company has been in business since 1892 and was an American staple, so to have it purchased by a foreign company caused a lot of unease.
Fortunately, after much deliberation, the deal fell through and F&G remains an American company. Harbinger Group, which is based in New York City, announced in February of 2014 that it had agreed to sell Fidelity and Guaranty Life Insurance Company to the Anbang Insurance Group for $1.6 billion.
Universal Music Group
Original Headquarters: Santa Monica, CA
Purchased By: Vivendi/Tencent
Country: France/China
With the advent of streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music, album sales have taken a nosedive, and artists are finding it harder than ever to make a living. But even within this tumultuous landscape, some deals are more shocking than others.
In early 2020, Chinese company Tencent bought a 10% stake in Universal for $33.4 billion, making it one of the largest shareholders in the world’s largest record label. This deal has sparked an outcry among many music fans who see it as an invasion of American culture by a foreign company.
WeWork
Original Headquarters: New York, NY
Purchased By: Legend Holdings Corp
Country: China
WeWork is a company that has been around for 10 years, and during that time, it has managed to capitalize on the trend of shared workspaces. However, in 2016, the company needed some extra capital, and Beijing-based company Legend Holdings Corp came to the rescue with over $430 million.
CEO of Legend’s Hony Capital John Zhao said that the investment was both strategic and obvious. As a result of WeWork’s need for extra capital, Beijing-based company Legend Holdings Corp poured over $430 million into WeWork as a “new partner.” The CEO of Legend’s Hony Capital John Zhao said that the investment was both strategic and obvious.
Segway Inc
Original Headquarters: Bedford, NH
Purchased By: Ninebot Inc
Country: China
Segways were once a popular way to get around, but when Ninebot bought Segway in 2015, things changed. Ninebot was able to push the technology to try and make Segway a bigger presence in the robotics and technology industry.
In 2018, plans to move production out of New Hampshire to China were announced, but it was later said that the majority of production would stay in Bedford. While the company is still technically American, it is no longer the same as it once was. While the company may be based in China, Segway is still an American company at heart.
John Hancock Life Insurance
Original Headquarters: Boston, Mass
Purchased By: Manulife Financial
Country: Canada
John Hancock Financial was founded in 1862 and has been a staple of the American financial landscape for over 150 years. However, in 2004, the company was purchased by Manulife Financial and became a Canadian business. While Manulife could have easily done away with the John Hancock name, they chose to keep it and continue operations under the original moniker.
Today, Manulife is headquartered in Toronto and employs over 34,000 people. John Hancock Financial started out as a life insurance company in Boston, Mass back in 1862. In 2004, however, the company was purchased by Manulife Financial and became a subsidiary of the Canadian business.
Sotheby’s
Original Headquarters: New York, NY
Purchased By: Taikang Life Insurance Co Ltd
Country: China
Sotheby’s, a luxury art broker founded in London in 1744, was purchased by Chinese life insurance company Taikang Life in 2016. In 2019, the company was bought by French-Israeli titan Patrick Drahi. It’s unclear what happened to Taikang’s 13.5% stake or if they’re still in partnership with Drahi.
When Sotheby’s was first established in 1744, it was located in London. The company soon expanded and set up shop in New York City before opening locations all over the world. In 2016, Chinese life insurance company Taikang Life announced that they had become the majority shareholder of Sotheby’s.
The Barclays Center
Original Headquarters: Brooklyn, NY
Purchased By: Joseph Tsai
Country: Taiwan/Canada
It was announced in 2019 that the Taiwanese-Canadian businessman Joseph Tsai completed the purchase of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. The chairman of the Alibaba Group also bought the Brooklyn Nets NBA team. The arena is now home to not only world-class sporting events but concerts and other forms of entertainment as well.
Joseph Tsai’s acquisition of the Barclays Center and Brooklyn Nets brings new life to both venues. He has already begun making changes, with a commitment to providing an exciting experience for fans. With his business background and passion for sports, it will be interesting to see how he takes these businesses further.
Brookstone Inc
Original Headquarters: Peterborough, NH
Purchased By: Sanpower Group Corp; General Electric Capital Corp; Sailing Capital Management Co Ltd
Country: China
Efforts by Chinese companies to buy up American businesses are nothing new, but what makes Brookstone’s case unique is that it was purchased not out of some strategic plan or long-term vision, but out of sheer financial desperation. As of 2018, there were 34 locations in America.
However, the company fell on hard times in 2014 when it was forced to file for bankruptcy under Chapter 11. Thankfully, Chinese companies Sailing Capital and Sanpower came forward and bought it for $173 million. This purchase and a large injection of cash saved the company from going under completely. Brookstone came out of bankruptcy in July 2014.
Dairy Farmers of America Inc
Original Headquarters: Kansas City, KS
Purchased By: Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group Co Ltd
Country: China
It’s no secret that China has been on the rise for a number of years now. What may come as more of a surprise is the extent to which Chinese companies are buying up American businesses. One such case is the Dairy Farmers of America, which was purchased by Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group in 2014.
This move was made in an effort to combat milk shortages in China caused by a New Zealand drought. While DFA is still technically American, it’s now owned by a Chinese company and operates primarily within China.
Fab.com Inc
Original Headquarters: New York, NY
Purchased By: Tencent Holdings Ltd and Partners
Country: China
Fab.com was once a thriving American online design company, but after being purchased by Tencent Holdings Ltd in 2013, the company soon moved its headquarters to China. Purchased for $1 billion, Fab hoped to utilize Tencent’s resources to help them expand into Asian markets.
However, two years later in 2015, PCH International bought Fab and relaunched it as a wellness brand specializing in yoga gear. Although Fab is no longer an American company, it serves as a reminder of the importance of risk-taking when it comes to business ventures.
The Cleveland Cavaliers
Original Headquarters: Cleveland, OH
Purchased By: Investor Group led by Jianhua Huang
Country: China
When the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team was purchased by Jianhua Huang, a Chinese businessman, in 2019, it marked a shift in American business. Huang is not the first investor from overseas to purchase an American company, but his investment in the Cavaliers is one of many examples of Chinese investors buying up businesses and properties in America.
While there have been instances of foreign ownership of American companies throughout history, the recent trend of Chinese investors buying up businesses and properties in America is raising eyebrows. Jianhua Huang, the businessman who bought a 15% stake in the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team in 2019, is only one example among many.
Riot Games Inc
Original Headquarters: Los Angeles, CA
Purchased By: Tencent Holdings Ltd
Country: China
Tencent’s purchase of Riot Games was not without controversy. The company is known for its heavy-handed approach to business, which has led to clashes with developers in the past. For example, it owns nearly half of Epic Games (creators of Fortnite) and has used that ownership to pressure Epic into delaying the release of games in China or modifying them to be more compliant with government censorship laws.
Some people were concerned that Tencent would try to do the same thing to Riot Games and interfere with its creative process. The company continues to make League of Legends and other games as it sees fit and does not seem willing to compromise its principles in order to placate Tencent.
Uber Technologies Inc
Original Headquarters: San Francisco, CA
Purchased By: Baidu Inc
Country: China
It’s no secret that Uber has had a rocky past. From sexual harassment allegations to protests against the company, it seems like there’s always something new making headlines. But even amidst all the controversy, Uber remains one of the most successful startups in recent history.
Baidu Inc., often referred to as simply Baidu, is a Chinese technology company founded in 2000. It’s best known for its search engine, which is the largest in China and also operates in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. In 2014, Baidu made a big investment in Uber – over $600 million – with the goal of helping Uber expand into China.
OmniVision Technologies Inc
Original Headquarters: Santa Clara, CA
Purchased By: Will Semiconductor Co. Ltd.
Country: China
In April of 2019, it was revealed that OmniVision Technologies Inc., a Santa Clara-based company, had been purchased by Shanghai-based Will Semiconductor Co. Ltd. for over $2.1 billion. The deal, which went undisclosed until a year later, has left many people wondering what will become of the once American business now that it is under Chinese ownership.
OmniVision first became involved with Chinese investors in 2015 when several Chinese companies banded together to pay $1.9 billion for the California-based business. Will Semiconductor Co. Ltd., while not a well-known company, is nonetheless part of the Chinese investment landscape and has made several other acquisitions in recent years.
Baby Trend Inc
Original Headquarters: Fontana, CA
Purchased By: Alpha Group
Country: China
In the case of Baby Trend Inc, their original headquarters in Fontana, CA was moved to Canton, China after being purchased by Alpha Group. As for their name, they continue to go by Baby Trend Inc despite now being a Chinese-owned company.
This globalization of businesses can be seen all over America, with more and more companies changing hands or moving their base of operations to other countries. Even though the business is now owned by a Chinese company, it continues to operate under the Baby Trend name and produce baby products for consumers around the world.
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Original Headquarters: Houston, TX
Purchased By: Concord Medical Services
Country: China
In 2012 the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Proton Therapy Center was acquired by Beijing-based company Concord Medical services. And while the purchase didn’t directly affect the University’s ownership stakes, it did boost Concord’s profile.
“Proton treatment has become a widely accepted method of radiation therapy,” said Dr. Jianyu Yang, Concord Medical chairman, and CEO. “Concord Medical plans to build and operate two proton centers in China. This transaction will enable us to gain valuable experience and knowledge of the operations of a proton therapy center from the world leader in proton therapy cancer care.”
Hilton Hotels
Original Headquarters: McLean, VA
Purchased By: HNA Group Co Ltd
Country: China
The hospitality chain was founded in 1919 by Conrad “Nicky” Hilton and has since expanded to 586 hotels in 85 countries. In 2016, China’s aviation and shipping titan HNA Group paid $6.5 billion for a 25% stake in the hospitality chain, becoming the biggest shareholder.
Since then, Hilton has come under fire for several decisions made by its new Chinese owners that conflict with American interests and values. For example, in 2017 it was revealed that HNA Group had ties to the Chinese government and had been using Hilton properties to host Chinese officials on business trips. This led to calls for a boycott of Hilton by American politicians and consumers.
Starplex Cinemas
Original Headquarters: Dallas, TX
Purchased By: Dalian Wanda Group Corp Ltd
Country: China
Starplex, with its just 34 theaters across the United States, could never compete with AMC’s dominance in the business. Thus, many Americans never visited a Starplex cinema due to the lack of availability.
In 2015, AMC Theaters paid $175 million to acquire the company and rebrand many of the theaters as AMC Classics. As was previously mentioned, Dalian Wanda Group Corp Ltd. owns a sizable stake in AMC. Soon after AMC took over the last of Starplex’s cinemas in 2017, the firm was absorbed by AMC and Dalian, becoming just another gear in the machine.
California Grapes International Inc
Original Headquarters: San Jose, CA
Purchased By: China Food Services Corp
Country: China
California Grapes International, Inc. was a local company until it was purchased by China Food Services Corp. California Grapes, which specialized in wine distribution before the transaction (which occurred years ago and was never revealed), is now a forgotten name in the industry.
The mission of China Food Services Corp is “to advertise, distribute, and sell food and drinks throughout Asia and the Middle East,” as stated on the company’s website. It is the only owner and operator of Golden Dragon Food & Beverage Import & Export Company of Hong Kong, Ltd. In 1992, the business had its start.
Fisher Price
Original Headquarters: East Aurora, NY
Purchased By: Mattel
Country: China
The toy manufacturer Fisher-Price has been in operation since 1930. The corporation may have its headquarters in the United States, but it has a number of contracts with companies based in other countries. It operates eleven different plants around the country of China.
Mattel, which had acquired Fisher-Price in 1993, made news in 2007 when it recalled one million toys manufactured in China. Because of the potential dangers of lead exposure to the company’s target demographic of young children, a large recall was issued for toys produced in some factories.
Hush Puppies
Original Headquarters: Rockford, Michigan
Purchased By: Wolverine World Wide
Country: China, Vietnam, Brazil
Hush Puppies were first sold to the public in 1958. Wolverine World Wide owns the company and distributes and licenses the shoes over 120 countries, including the Americas. What this really implies is that the shoes are produced in factories all around the world. In the mid-1990s, when the firm was on the verge of collapse, I was rescued by Chairman Geoffrey Bloom.
While the company’s headquarters and manufacturing facility are both in Michigan, production of Hush Puppies shoes is typically more cost-effective in other nations. Scotchgard, leather protection used during tanning to boost resistance to scuffs, stains, and water, is often credited as the secret to Hush Puppies’ legendary durability.
Gillette
Original Headquarters: Boston, Massachusetts
Purchased By: Procter & Gamble
Country: Poland, Brazil, Mexico, China
Gillette is one of the most popular razor brands in America, and some of its blades are made there. Chinese, Mexican, Polish, and Brazilian factories produce the razor heads, but the handles, cartridges, and razors are all imported. Gillette still has a factory in Boston, and it has had that plant in Massachusetts since the early 1900s.
According to the company’s website, however, razor sales have surged, prompting the firm to grow to meet the demand. Gillette opened a factory in Shanghai in 1992 to try and control 100% of the Chinese razor market. This opened the door for Gillette to meet the annual demand for a billion razors.
Barbie
Original Headquarters: Hawthorne, CA
Purchased By: Mattel
Country: China
In 1959, Ruth Handler created the first Barbie, which began a successful line of dolls. Even 61 years after her introduction, Mattel, Inc. (the corporation that owns Barbie) reports healthy yearly sales of 58 million Barbies. More than a hundred dolls would be produced per minute at such rate.
Every year, Mattel earns something in the neighborhood of $1.5 billion in net revenue. Truth be told, American Barbies don’t exist. In 1959, when Mattel was still trying to get back on its feet after WWII, it launched its first Barbie facility in Japan. At present, it operates four manufacturing facilities, two in China and two each in Malaysia and Indonesia.
Huffy
Original Headquarters: Dayton, OH
Purchased By: Russell Corporation
Country: China, Mexico, Taiwan
In Dayton, Ohio, Huffy was established over a century ago. Royce Union, American Sports Design Co., Gen-X Sports, and Huffy Bicycle Co. are just some of the many companies owned by the corporation, which acts as a distributor for bicycles. George Huffman, the company’s founder, originally utilized a childhood nickname for the business.
Huffy shut down its two U.S. bicycle plants at the end of 1999 because it was cheaper to make bikes overseas. The company sends work to six factories in China, as well as one in Mexico and one in Taiwan. It once operated factories in Celina, Ohio, before exporting those jobs.
Oakley Sunglasses
Headquarters Original: Lake Forest, CA
Purchased By: Italy
Country: China
James Jannard, an entrepreneur, spent $300 to launch Oakley, which has since become one of the most recognizable names in the history of high-end sunglasses. Oakley is a brand of eyewear that is owned by Luxottica, which has its headquarters in Milan, Italy; however, Oakley’s headquarters are located in Lake Forest, California.
Twenty years after its inception in 1975, the firm held its first public offering (IPO) and raised $230 million. It broadened its product portfolio by beginning to sell chin guards and ski goggles as well as its previous offerings. A year after selling Oakley to Luxottica, in 2007, its creator launched Red Digital Cinema.
Converse
Headquarters in: Boston, MA
Purchased By: Nike
Country: China
High-top canvas sneakers from Converse are a popular brand. Established in 1908, the firm shifted its focus from fashion footwear to military footwear during WWII. It brought back with it some of those characteristics to use in its new collections. Since 2003, Nike has controlled the Converse brand.
Since Nike operates several factories worldwide, it seems to reason that Converse will do the same in China. Converse went bankrupt in 2001, which meant that its shoes were no longer made in America and that it was no longer a single company. Converse now operates manufacturing facilities in Indonesia, Vietnam, India, and China.
Nike
Original Headquarters: Beaverton, OR
Purchased By: N/A
Country: Vietnam, China, Indonesia, Japan, Brazil, Sri Lanka
The sports apparel manufacturer Nike has several international production facilities. China is the world’s second-largest producer of Nikes, responsible for one in five pairs. Nike and the Chinese government have signed 180 contracts with factories in China, guaranteeing work for over 210,000 people.
Vietnam is the primary manufacturer, however there are other facilities in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Japan, and Brazil. As a result, both Nike and Adidas have reduced the amount of production they have in China. One third of Nike shoes sold in 2012 were manufactured in China. As of right now, 19% of Nikes are manufactured there.
Levi’s
Original Headquarters: San Francisco, CA
Purchased By: N/A
Country: Italy, Japan, China, USA
Levi’s Jeans is a massive denim store in the United States, with millions of pairs of jeans and jackets sold every year. The annual net sales for Levi’s are reported to be $5.76 billion. Cowboys, farmers, and industrial workers weren’t the only ones who bought the business’s products throughout the ’60s; the company gained popularity as a result.
In the early 1970s, the company became public, by which time it was doing business in fifty different nations. More than ninety-nine percent of Levi’s jeans are produced in nations other than the United States, including Japan, Italy, and China. Their 501 Jeans are produced in a facility in North Carolina, but that’s about it.
American Girl
Original Headquarters: El Segundo, CA
Purchased By: Mattel
Country: China
Popular across the United States, vintage American Girl dolls may fetch thousands of dollars at auction. The Pleasant Company, which manufactured American Girl dolls, was established in 1986 by Pleasant Rowland. Dolls may be ordered through the postal service at first. Once Mattel acquired Pleasant Company in 1998, more stores began stocking its toys.
The production level was raised along with the rising demand. In recent years, Germany has been the primary producer of the dolls. All of their books are printed in the good ol’ Badger State. All of the dolls’ extras (purses, caps, etc.) come from China. Dolls and their accompanying accessories are manufactured and assembled in Wisconsin.
Chevrolet
Originals Headquarters: Detroit, MI
Purchased By: General Motors
Country: N/A
One of the “Big Three” automakers, Chevrolet is proud to be built in the USA. The vehicles are assembled in world-famous plants in Detroit, Michigan, although many of the components are produced in China. More than half of Chevrolet’s components are manufactured outside of the United States. The Chevrolet Silverado, for instance, uses 46% domestically produced components.
Fifty-one percent of the Chevrolet Colorado is built in the USA. All but nine nations have Chevy dealerships. Although Chevrolet vehicles were sold in South Korea under the Daewoo Motors brand name until 2011, they are very well-liked there. The Chevrolet Corvette is the company’s flagship model and the epitome of “American-made” automobiles.
Radio Flyer
Original Headquarters: Chicago, IL
Purchased By: Hasbro
Country: China
The Chicago-based Radio Flyer Company produces children’s toys. While most known for its bright red wagon, it also produces a variety of other toys, including toy horses, bicycles, tricycles, and ride-on. The firm has been in operation for almost a century, and its offices have never moved from the original site.
In an interview from 2004, the toymaker proudly declared itself a “Chicago brand.” Scooters, tricycles, and all other Radio Flyer toys are manufactured in China. However, its red plastic wagon is produced in Wisconsin. In honor of its 80th year in business, Radio Flyer also produced the largest wagon ever.
Craftsman
Original Headquarters: New Britain, CT
Purchased By: Sears
Country: China, Taiwan
Lowe’s, Sears, Home Depot, Walmart, and just about wherever else you can get home improvement supplies will have Craftsman tools. Besides its American plants, Craftsman also makes some of its wares in Taiwan and China. The decision was made by Sears, the company’s parent.
Apex Tool Group, which contracts with Craftsman, currently manufactures sockets, wrenches, and ratchets in Taiwan and China. Western Forge, a different tool manufacturing firm, is also under contract with Craftsman. Tools from Western Forge are 100% made in the USA. So, in general, manufacturing occurs on both continents.
Samsonite
Original Headquarters: Mansfield, MA
Purchased By: CVC Capital Partners
Country: China, Hungary, India
Samsonite is a luggage company that’s been around since 1910. Jesse Shwayder established it in Denver, Colorado. After 91 years in the West, it was sold and relocated to the East Coast. Samsonite’s headquarters have relocated to Mansfield, MA. The majority of Samsonite’s production occurs in Asia and Europe.
It operates factories in China, India, and Hungary. About 40% of Samsonite’s hard baggage comes from their manufacturing in Nashik, India. The firm enjoys widespread renown in China, not simply as a manufacturer but also as a retailer. It uses contract manufacturers in Shanghai to sell two-thirds of its products in China.
Dell
Original Headquarters: Round Rock, TX
Purchased By: N/A
Country: China, Malaysia, Brazil, Ireland
Dell is a multinational corporation and one of the leading computer manufacturers in the world. This corporation, created in the 1980s and now controlled by Michael Dell, has separated its PC production. All of its servers are assembled in Austin. Before outsourcing, it assembled its laptops in the United States.
They now have laptop assembly plants in Mexico, Brazil, Malaysia, China, and Ireland. Its factory in Limerick, Ireland is custom-built to each customer’s specifications and received a great deal of attention since it first debuted in 2000. In terms of square footage, at 40 000 square feet, the factory is among the largest in all of Ireland.
Black & Decker
Original Headquarters: New Britain, CT
Purchased By: Sears
Country: China
To improve one’s house, one might turn to Black & Decker, a company that produces a wide variety of equipment and accessories. It has been in operation for well over a century, and its headquarters remain in Maryland. Revenue for the year was $11.41 billion, the business said. Production is handled in both the United States and China.
Across the United States, it operates 30 manufacturing facilities in states like Missouri, Connecticut, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Production is mostly located in China. A few can be found throughout Europe as well. The corporation employs 16,600 Americans and has for “175 years,” per its website.
Ford
Headquarters in: Detroit, MI
Purchased By: N/A
Country: International
Ford Motor Company was formed in the United States, but it has since expanded across the world. Like Chevy, it’s American-made and keeps Detroit manufacturers going year-round. Ford, on the other hand, has factories in almost every country and produces certain components there.
Ford vehicles are manufactured in China and then sent to Detroit, Michigan, where they are put together. For its automobiles and trucks, Ford relies on one hundred different vendors for components. It receives its broadcasts from Germany. To the tune of ninety percent, Fords may be assembled in the USA. Some are far higher than the others, though.
G.I. Joe
Original Headquarters: Pawtucket, RI
Purchased By: Hasbro
Country: China, Taiwan
First titled “America’s Movable Fighting Man,” the show focused on the American military. Hasbro owns G.I. Joe, which has spawned movies, TV series, and video games. When G.I. Joe was first released, it was immediately recognized as a classic and was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 2004.
In 2017, it was inducted into the Pop Culture Hall of Fame. Hasbro’s headquarters are in Rhode Island, and the majority of the company’s toys are produced in American factories. It also has factories in Taiwan and Hong Kong. It would appear that G.I. Joe action figurines are popular in China.
Monopoly
Original Headquarters: Pawtucket, RI
Purchased By: Hasbro
Country: Canada, China, Taiwan
The well-known board game Monopoly is another another Hasbro creation. Hasbro sold the game’s manufacturing facility to a Belgian company called Cartamundi. The same people are still employed at Cartamundi. While the American manufacturing facilities did create the original Monopoly, there are also facilities in China and India.
Hasbro planned to decrease its Chinese production by half. They are considering India as a potential production site because of the low cost of labor there. The toymaker claims that by the end of 2020, it will have reduced output by half. The Guangdong province of China is now home to the majority of its factories.
American Eagle Outfitters
Original Headquarters: Pittsburgh, PA
Purchased By: Retail Ventures, Inc.
Country: China
Despite the “American” in its name, much of the clothing sold at American Eagle is actually manufactured in other countries and is aimed at teens and young adults. As China, Vietnam, and India have all been major centers for cotton production since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, they are the three most likely locations for its factories.
Even American Eagle’s influence is extensive. There are locations all over the world, including in the United States (in virtually every shopping mall), Mexico, Canada, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, and China. As of the end of 2017, American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. operated over a thousand retail locations worldwide.
American Tourister
Original Headquarters: Providence, RI
Purchased By: Samsonite
Country: China
Samsonite is the owner of the American Tourister baggage line. Established almost a century ago, it has since been acquired by a larger corporation and now follows the latter’s industrial strategies. Subcontracted factories in China produce Samsonite for the company. In addition to assembly sites in Nashik, India, and Budapest, Hungary, the American Tourister is produced in China.
In response to a growing labor scarcity in the United States, Samsonite decided to relocate its production operations abroad. Astrum International, headquartered in the Middle East, has acquired Samsonite. Even though American Tourister products are manufactured elsewhere, the company’s headquarters remain in Rhode Island, where the company was established.
Campbell’s Soup
Original Headquarters: Camden, NJ
Purchased By: N/A
Country: China
Campbell’s Soup is headquartered in New Jersey, although it has production facilities all around the world. Campbell’s maintains production facilities in a dozen different nations, including China, Canada, the United States, and a few more. Snack food powerhouses Snyder-Lance, Pepperidge Farm, Late July Snacks, Baptista’s Bakery, Arnott’s Biscuits, and Bolthouse Farms are all owned by Campbell’s.
Its soup is sold in every region of the world, but China is its largest market, with that country consuming 355 billion servings annually. Although Chicken Noodle would seem like the most obvious choice, the company’s Mexican-Style Chicken Tortilla is really the most sought-after product in every region.
American Standard
Original Headquarters: Piscataway, NJ
Purchased By: Samsonite
Country: China
While the vast majority of American Standard goods are produced in Mexico, a small number are manufactured in China. The components of American Standard faucets are manufactured in China, while the final product is assembled in Mexico. The parent company, American Standard Brands, also distributes products under the Crane, Fiat, Showerite, Sanymetal, and other names.
It’s one of the more recent entries on this list, having been created in 2008 and having its headquarters in New Jersey. American Standard was created in the late 1960s in Piscataway, New Jersey, making it a bit older than its parent corporation.
Estee Lauder
Original Headquarters: New York, NY
Purchased By: N/A
Country: China
Estee Lauder and her husband Joseph started the company in New York City in 1946. It’s still based in the General Motors Building and has $11.6 billion in assets and $4.4 billion in equity. The firm was an early adopter of the “prestige cosmetics” market niche.
In terms of customer base, Estee Lauder is one of the most prominent brands in the world. It has development labs up and running in China. It manufactures its wares at plants located in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Switzerland, and Belgium. The company’s namesake and namesake creator, Estee Lauder, was once the world’s wealthiest self-made woman.
J.M. Smucker Company
Original Headquarters: Orrville, OH
Purchased By: N/A
Country: China
In the United States, the J.M. Smucker Company is famous for its jelly, which has helped make the company a household name. Short for “Smucker’s,” the company revealed in 2012 that it had purchased a non-controlling minority stake in the Chinese firm Seamild Tech Development Company.
Smuckers has deep roots in the Canadian manufacturing sector, in addition to its China operations. Nonetheless, it has closed its factory in Quebec. In 2013, it shut down the factory in order to concentrate more of its operations within the United States. Its original home base of Orrville, Ohio, remains the site of its current headquarters.
Tommy Hilfiger
Original Headquarters: New York, NY
Purchased By: PVH Corp.
Country: The Netherlands
Tommy Hilfiger is a widely recognized label that produces casual wear for both men and women. Even though the firm is now worth billions of dollars, it started out as the namesake designer’s one store, which he launched with $150 he had saved.
It was founded in the 1980s, and since then it has expanded to sell clothing, accessories, and home items in more than 2,000 locations throughout the world. While PVH Corp. acquired the firm and installed Daniel Grieder as CEO in 2010, Tommy Hilfiger continues to serve as the brand’s primary designer.
Arrow Shirts
Original Headquarters: Leominster, Massachusetts
Purchased By: PVC
Country: Multinational
From its humble beginnings in Massachusetts, the popular clothing firm Arrow Shirts has grown into a global empire, licensing its products around the globe to countries in Europe and Asia. The Arrow’s success in the Indian market has contributed to the company’s rapid expansion thanks to the additional money it has generated.
Philips-Van Heusen Company is the proud owner of Arrow. Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, IZD, True & Co., Olga, Geoffrey Beene, and Van Heusen are just some of the well-known brands owned by PVH Corp. The PVH company employs thousands of people and has several manufacturing facilities throughout the globe.
Schwinn
Original Headquarters: Vancouver, Washington
Purchased By: Huffy
Country: China (Made In)
Schwinn is a name that will long be linked to American bicycles, but the brand’s parent corporation is less American now than it once was. The manufacturer of Schwinn bicycles, Pacific Cycle, was acquired by the Canadian firm Dorel Industries. In 2004, the deal was finalized. Huffy is the new owner of Schwinn.
Active.com deemed Schwinn one of the “greatest names” in the history of “American business,” so Huffy’s sale of the name for $60 million shocked the Internet. Financial difficulties in the mid-1990s caused Huffy to move production of its bicycles from the United States to China, where the company now produces the vast majority of its bicycles.
Rawlings
Original Headquarters: Town and Country, Missouri
Purchased By: Seidler Equity Partners
Country: China (Made In)
Rawlings, located in St. Louis, Missouri, has become a household name in American sports. The Major League Baseball and Seidler Equity Partners are the current owners. Rawlings is a popular choice among Major League Baseball players and it’s hard to see the sport without them.
Even though the brand is commonly associated with American sports, many of its items are manufactured in other countries. It is manufactured at a Chinese plant. Each Rawlings baseball features a stamp indicating whether or whether it was manufactured in the United States for Major League Baseball or China for Minor League Baseball.
Etch A Sketch
Original Headquarters: Bryan, Ohio
Purchased By: Spin Master
Country: Canada
The Etch a Sketch, one of the most iconic toys in American culture, was created by a Frenchman called Andre Cassagnes. Although Ohio Art didn’t begin selling its mechanical drawing toy until 1960, it had been in development since 1955. Ohio Art has been the leading provider for many years.
“In 2016, it transferred ownership of the Etch A Sketch brand to Spin Master, a Canadian firm. CNBC reports that since Ohio Art brought the Etch A Sketch to the market more than seventy years ago, 100 million units have been sold, making Spin Master the proud owner of this wildly popular product.
Medtronic
Original Headquarters: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Purchased By: Cardinal Health
Country: Ireland
In the field of medicine, Medtronic is most well-known for revolutionizing the pacemaker market with their miniaturized, battery-operated device. Medtronic also offers insulin pumps and treatments for diabetes. The corporation has headquarters in Fridley, Minnesota, the same state in which it was formed in 1949. But the company’s headquarters are in Dublin, Ireland, making it an Irish enterprise.
Company subsidiaries, such as Mazor Robotics, contribute to the global distribution of the parent company’s medical device products. The corporation just received a shakeup in its leadership. Geoffrey S. Martha was named CEO in 2020, positioning himself as the leader of the $30 billion business.
McDermott
Original Headquarters: Houston, Texas
Purchased By: Merged to Form McDermott International
Country: Panama
McDermott International started established in Houston, Texas, 98 years ago. For many years, the firm was run by a single family, and throughout that time, it grew to become one of Houston’s most recognizable institutions. The firm has about $10 billion in assets and over $6.7 billion in annual income.
McDermott’s main office has been located in Panama for the past two decades. The EPC firm is active on a global scale. Its reach spans the Middle East, the Caspian Sea, the Pacific Rim, Central America, and beyond. The oil and gas corporation is based in Panama, although its headquarters are in Houston’s Energy Corridor.
Seagate
Original Headquarters: Fremont, California
Purchased By: Veritas Software
Country: Ireland
Information storage firm Seagate Technology was created in 1979 by a group of tech industry pioneers. Starting their Internet business at the same time the Internet was created gave Seagate a big head start, and today the company has an annual revenue of $10.51 billion.
Incorporated in Dublin under the name Shugart Technology in 2010, the firm changed its name in 2014. While the company’s operations are based in Fremont, California, the incorporation of the business occurs in Ireland due to the favorable tax climate there. Seagate acquired Samsung’s HDD division a year after relocating its headquarters to Ireland.
Carrier
Original Headquarters: Newark, New Jersey
Purchased By: United Technologies Corp.
Country: Multinational
Newark, New Jersey serves as the home base for Carrier Global. The business eventually established its new headquarters in Palm Beach, Florida. It has remained true to its beginnings as an HVAC producer and distributor since its founding in 1915, but the company has also branched out into the food service and commercial refrigeration industries.
In 2017, Carrier broke ground on a brand new plant in Shanghai’s Baoshan Industrial Zone, furthering the company’s commitment to living up to the “Global” portion of its name. In 1979, United bought Carrier for a short time before spinning it off as its own separate firm.
Actavis/Allergan
Original Headquarters: Troy Hills, New Jersey
Purchased By: Teva Pharmaceuticals
Country: Israel
Allergen is a drug company that is best known for making Botox (in addition to other medical therapies and products). Allergan purchased Actavis in 2015 and sold its “generic business” to Teva the following year. Teva Pharmaceuticals was founded in Israel and has its headquarters in Tel Aviv.
Allergan was sold to AbbVie Inc., although Actavis would continue to be controlled by Israel. Actavis is doing well after its sale to Teva. In the present day, the firm is a $23 billion behemoth with 40 production sites. Actavis is one of the most famous brands in the world, with a commercial presence in 100 different countries.
Brach’s
Original Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois
Purchased By: Barry Callebaut
Country: Switzerland
For those with a sweet craving, Brach’s needs no introduction. The Illinois-based candy manufacturer produces a wide variety of sweet treats. Since its foundation by Emil Brach in 1904, the firm has undergone many mergers.
In 1980, it was purchased by Bertram Johnson, and in 1985, it was acquired by Ferrara, where it amalgamated to form what is now known as Ferrara Candy Company. The Swiss firm Barry Callebaut currently owns Brach’s. It was Callebaut who made the decision in 2004 to relocate the confectionery company’s original headquarters to Dallas.
Morgan Stanley
Original Headquarters: New York City, New York
Purchased By: MUFG Bank
Country: Japan
In 2008, the Japanese financial institution MUFG made public statements that it was placing a significant wager on Morgan Stanley. To purchase 9.9 percent of Morgan Stanley’s common shares, Mitsubishi UFG forked over $3 billion, or about $25.25 per share.
The bank, which now seems to be everywhere in the United States, would strengthen its connections to MUFG two years later. Morgan Stanley and MUFG partnered to develop two brokerage firms, one of which, Morgan Stanley Securities, was majority-owned by MUFG. Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities was the other, and it is still owned by Morgan Stanley today.
Lowe’s
Original Headquarters: North Wilkesboro, North Carolina
Purchased By: N/A
Country: Multinational (Made In)
The American department store Lowe’s is present in virtually every sizable metropolis throughout the country. It began as a dry goods store but has grown to become the second largest hardware company in the country, behind only Home Depot. It’s grown into a multibillion-dollar empire.
The vast majority of the company’s 106 suppliers are based in the United States. Canada, China, South Korea, and Taiwan are home to a large but still minority share. Lowe’s stores have 40,000 items in stock at all times (with hundreds of thousands more in warehouses), so it seems reasonable that the company would have to increase production to meet demand.
PG&E
Original Headquarters: San Francisco, California
Purchased By: N/A
Country: America
The Pacific Gas & Electric Company serves 5.2 million residential customers from its headquarters in San Francisco, California. PG & E provides power to roughly two-thirds of the state of California, from Santa Barbara to Bakersfield. As an added perk, half of the company’s gas comes from sources that don’t produce greenhouse gases.
Except for its business dealings with China Mobile International Infrastructure, PG & E has no international connections. Since its recent bankruptcy, Pacific Gas Company has been experiencing financial difficulties. It completed its restructure in July 2020, leaving Chapter 11 and the courts in its rearview mirror.
Mondelez International
Original Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois
Purchased By: Kraft Foods
Country: Canada
One of the world’s leading snack manufacturers, Mondelez International, Inc. generates about $26 billion in annual sales. Mondelez operates in 160 different countries through its many subsidiaries, which include well-known brands like as Cadbury, Nabisco, Freia, and more.
The Chicago-based firm also has factories in a number of other countries. Mondelez claims to have spent “hundreds of millions” expanding and modernizing its “global production facilities.” In spite of its humble beginnings as National Dairy Products Corporation, the corporation has steadily expanded over the years to become the massive, international behemoth that it is today.
Fender Stratocaster
Original Headquarters: Corona, California
Purchased By: Servco Pacific
Country: China (Made In)
Famous guitarists like Jimi Hendrix and Elvis Presley favored Fender Stratocasters. The Player Stratocaster is the entry-level Stratocaster model, and having one is a costly statement of commitment to music. While other Fenders, like the American Ultra HSS and the Acoustasonic, may cost upwards of $700, the Player is available for less than $600.
The newest models of the Player are manufactured in China, and there are a number of videos on YouTube that show people comparing the quality of Chinese-made Players to that of American-made Players (we’ll let you decide). Fender has already moved to manufacture outside of the United States, in the 1980s.
Under Armour
Original Headquarters: Baltimore, Maryland
Purchased By: N/A
Country: Asia (Made In)
Under Armour claims to be an American firm despite the British-sounding spelling of “armour.” Founded by Kevin Plank in 1996, Under Armour has evolved to be one of the leading suppliers of American sportswear and footwear. The company’s headquarters may be situated in Baltimore (though it was founded in Washington, D.C.).
Despite Under Armour’s American base of operations, the vast majority of its items are manufactured in other countries. Almost the majority of its wares are produced by contract manufacturers. Vietnam, Malaysia, Jordan, and China account for 55% of all Under Armour production. In the meanwhile, 70% of sales are made within North America (primarily the U.S. and Canada).
Trump Collection
Original Headquarters: New York City, New York
Purchased By: The Trump Organization
Country: China (Made In)
The Trump Organization owns Donald Trump’s clothing label, The Trump Signature Collection. Despite the brand’s apparent American origin, the majority of the collection is manufactured in China. TTO may own it, but the products it produces are made nowhere near the United States.
There is a “imported” label or a stamp indicating that the Trump Collection suit was manufactured in Bangladesh or China. Ivanka Trump’s apparel brand is another American label that goes overseas for production. Her labels say “imported” for almost 800 pairs of shoes, bags, scarves, and gowns. The moral of the tale is to read the labels carefully.
Batesville Casket Company
Original Headquarters: Batesville, Indiana
Purchased By: Hillenbrand, Inc.
Country: Mexico (Made In)
It was the Batesville Casket Company that first began to profit from the funeral care industry. The company’s original headquarters were established in Batesville, Indiana, in 1884, and the location has remained unchanged since. Currently, 3,460 people are employed by BCC, the vast majority of them are factory workers.
One of Batesville’s American factories is in Vicksburg, Mississippi, while two others are in Manchester, Tennessee, and Batesville, Indiana. Batesville has expanded to Chihuahua, Mexico, where it manufactures a portion of its caskets. The company has expanded internationally in part to compete with foreign rivals that provide lower-priced caskets manufactured in inferior labor conditions.
AT&T
Original Headquarters: Dallas, Texas
Purchased By: N/A
Country: Asia (Made In)
AT&T’s international connections come from where they make their products. Singapore, China, Hong Kong, and Thailand are common locations for manufacturing the worldwide company’s phones and other technology. Phones from these factories are labeled “Custom Made” to reveal their foreign of origin.
Many of AT&T’s profits come from its telecommunications, television, and technology operations. It has recently grown further into wireless video, although its communications division remains its most lucrative. It is currently unknown if AT&T’s development of wireless video as a revenue-grower would lead to an increase in devices manufactured in Asia.
Microsoft
Original Headquarters: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Purchased By: N/A
Country: Asia (Made In)
Microsoft is likely to be mentioned at least once in the top ten most iconic American corporations when people are asked to name them. The Albuquerque-born business has become a global powerhouse because of its cutting-edge innovations and cutting-edge technologies.
From the early 2000s to the middle of the next decade, Microsoft had its goods manufactured in China. In the wake of Apple’s lead, Google swiftly relocated all of its overseas production to Thailand and Vietnam. A tech magazine put it best when it said the two “could not get out of China soon enough.”
Rexnord
Original Headquarters: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Purchased By: RBS Global Inc.
Country: America
Rexnord is one of the oldest firms in America, having been established in 1891. The company, which is headquartered in Milwaukee, provides nearly all of the components that are required to maintain a machine operational. These components include power transmission gear drives, couplings, bearings, industrial chains, brakes, and more.
Rexnord is one of the oldest firms in America, having been established in 1891. The company, which is headquartered in Milwaukee, provides nearly all of the components that are required to maintain a machine operational. These components include power transmission gear drives, couplings, bearings, industrial chains, brakes, and more.
QVC
Original Headquarters: West Chester, Pennsylvania
Purchased By: Qurate Retail Group
Country: China (Made In)
Over 350 million people have access to QVC’s broadcasts, giving the company a potential market of $8 billion. The shopping channel has turned several people into multimillionaires by selling virtually everything imaginable. It’s not simple to sell on QVC, but if you succeed, you may make a lot of money.
China is responsible for the production of a significant portion of QVC’s goods. Users of the QVC Community’s message boards frequently discuss which sellers’ products are made in China. It is difficult to choose just a few products from the firm that are created in the United States, as one customer put it.
University of California
Original Headquarters: Oakland, California
Purchased By: N/A
Country: Multinational
In the sunny state of California, there are 10 campuses of the University of California, which are home to more than a quarter of a million students. Only 22,700 people work in the classroom, whereas 154,900 people work in administration. There are six “Public Ivies” under the University of California system.
It is estimated that UC has assets of around $140 billion as of the summer of 2020. Students can major in one of more than 150 different areas of study at this university. While UC is not a corporation like the others on this list, it does receive foreign funding, as do many other American colleges.
Illinois Tool Works
Original Headquarters: Glenview, Illinois
Purchased By: N/A
Country: Multinational (Made In)
When it comes to tools, Illinois Tool Works has you covered from unique items to designed components. The company’s annual sales is about $14 billion, and its subsidiary brands include Instron and the Hobart Corporation. This industrial giant started off as a little storefront in Glenview, Illinois, but has now expanded to a global presence with plants all around the world.
ITW employs more than 45,000 workers and conducts business in 53 countries worldwide. It has 18,000 patent applications and patents in force. Through its seven divisions of operations, the worldwide brand controls 85 affiliates (of which automotive OEM is the largest).
Verizon
Original Headquarters: New York City, New York
Purchased By: AT&T (Partially)
Country: Multinational (Made In)
Verizon is the largest wireless provider in the United States. In the late 1990s, a merger between Bell Atlantic and the British firm Vodafone resulted in the formation of the current corporation, which has 120,9 million customers and counting. Bell Atlantic expanded quickly from its humble beginnings as a little American telephone business.
Verizon Communications’ wireless networks are a major contributor to the company’s multi-billion dollar annual income. The firm regularly competes head-to-head with AT&T. Verizon, like many other companies on this list, has its headquarters in New York City yet is incorporated in Delaware.
Sotheby’s
Original Headquarters: London, England
Purchased By: Patrick Drahi
Country: Israeli
Sotheby’s began in London in 1744, long before the United States existed as a nation, although its current headquarters may be located in New York. The British-founded American MNC is one of the world’s major art, collectibles, jewels, and antique dealers. Sotheby’s obviously wouldn’t have been as successful as it has been if it had focused just on the American market.
Patrick Drahi, an Israeli-French billionaire, owns the company. It now operates at eighty sites across forty countries, with England still being a substantial market. All sales at Sotheby’s are subject to a 10% commission. The broker’s annual salary is $400 million, so it’s a tempting option.
Harvey Nichols
Original Headquarters: London, England
Purchased By: Dickson Concepts
Country: Hong Kong
Despite having its roots in London, England, Harvey Nichols has become one of the most well-known and respected British department shops all over the world. The high-end department store has a wide variety of upscale brands for both sexes, including cosmetics, gourmet foods, wines, and trendy accessories.
The Hong Kong-based luxury goods business Dickson Concepts is the new owner of the department store Harvey Nichols. Despite a global retail downturn in 2020, the department store nevertheless managed to generate a 22.5 percent profit owing to brisk business in both Taiwan and China.
MG Rover
Original Headquarters: Birmingham, U.K.
Purchased By: SAIC Motor Company
Country: China
MG Rover Group was, for a time, England’s only remaining privately held automaker. Its parent company, BMW, gave up some of its assets to the Phoenix Consortium in 2000, allowing the latter to form a new automaker with headquarters in Birmingham. Up until 2005, the firm manufactured vehicles such as the MG ZT.
The organization’s current headquarters are in London, however it is a SAIC subsidiary. SAIC Motor, a state-owned Chinese corporation headquartered in Shanghai, owns SAIC Motor U.K. The departure of MG Rover was mourned by many Britons since it signaled the end of the country’s production of automobiles.
Rio Tinto
Original Headquarters: London, England
Purchased By: Aluminum Corporation of China (11%)
Country: China
Rio Tinto is a global mining company with origins in England. The company has been around for over 150 years and is now owned by the Aluminum Corporation of China, who holds 11% of the company. Rio Tinto is the second largest mining and metals corporation in the world and brings in $63.5 billion in revenue annually.
In 2009, ACC purchased 11% of Rio Tinto for $14 billion. At the time it was the largest foreign investment that China had ever made. In 2010, after a lot of deliberation, it was announced that Rio Tinto would be keeping its headquarters in London.
Kent & Curwen
Original Headquarters: London, England
Purchased By: Trinity Ltd.
Country: China
This men’s clothing store has been in operation since its founding in London in 1926, spanning over a century of commerce. The firm originally rose to prominence when it began selling neckties to students at Cambridge and Oxford. The firm didn’t start to thrive until the 1930s when it released the first cricket sweater.
Trinity Ltd., a Hong Kong corporation, has acquired Kent & Curwen. Trinity Ltd. filed for bankruptcy in 2021 after racking up losses in the tens of millions. After RSM Hong Kong and R&H Services were recruited to liquidate Trinity Group, K & C was forced to halt operations in the United Kingdom.
Delphi Corp
Original Headquarters: Detroit, Michigan (G.M.)
Purchased By: Aptiv P.L.C.
Country: Ireland
Delphi was once part of General Motors, but since being separated into its own corporation, it has been divesting itself of its traditional automobile operations. There are now Delphi Technologies and Aptiv in lieu of the defunct Delphi Automotive System. BorgWarner bought Delphi Technologies and now owns 84% of the company, which trades on the NYSE.
When compared to that, Aptiv is no longer a domestic firm. Aptiv is a multinational corporation with headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, with annual sales of close to $13.1 billion. When it comes to transportation and automotive electronics, the provider in question is unrivaled on a global scale.
Alliance HealthCare Services Inc
Original Headquarters: Irvine, California
Purchased By: Akumin Corp.
Country: Canada
When it comes to medical outsourcing, few companies can compare to Alliance Healthcare Services. It is owned by Toronto, Canada-based Akumin Corp., and is headquartered in Irvin, CA. In 2021, Akumin purchased the radiology and oncology firm for $820 million. Akumin operates in both the United States and Canada.
It has 95 imaging facilities across the United States and is thus the top provider of fixed-site, standalone diagnostic centers in the country. Alliance was formerly owned by Chinese firm Tahoe Investment Group, which paid $178 million for the business in 2012 before Akumin acquired it. It’s clear that Tahoe made a lot of money off the resale of Alliance.
Volvo
Original Headquarters: Gothenburg, Sweden
Purchased By: Geely Automobile
Country: China
Millions of Americans regularly traverse the country in station wagons, SUVs, and sedans manufactured by Volvo U.S.A. Marketing and Swedish design and tradition are the company’s primary selling points. Volvo U.S.A. is well-known, yet the Swedish parent firm is based in Gothenburg. Although its roots are in Sweden, Volvo is now owned by a Chinese business.
Prior to being acquired by Geely Automobile, a significant Chinese carmaker, Volvo was owned by Ford from 1999 to 2010 as part of its Premier Auto brand. Volvo has maintained its status as a reliable manufacturer of family automobiles despite a change in ownership.
What started as a list of American companies that are no longer considered American has turned into a discussion on what it means to be an American. While some people may argue that these companies have betrayed America by moving their headquarters overseas, others would say that they are simply taking advantage of global opportunities. No matter where you stand on the issue, one thing is for sure – the definition of “American” is changing. Are there any other examples of American companies that have moved their headquarters overseas? Let us know in the comments below!
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