最貴的奢侈手機Vertu品牌被中國收購

The Chinese smartphone family, long known by its average-quality and inexpensive devices, is all set to welcome a new member. Only, the new entrant is a cut above the rest as its major customers are nattily dressed businesspeople who sport customized gadgets handcrafted with sapphire crystal screens and high-end leather.

中國的智能手機產品，以其性價比優勢爲人熟知，現在，中國智能手機產品這個大家庭又迎來一位新成員。有一點不同的是，這位新成員的客戶主要是那些穿着西裝革履的高端商務人士，配備該品牌由藍寶石水晶、高級皮質雕刻製作的手機。

The United Kingdom-based luxury smartphone vendor Vertu Co Ltd was sold by its Swedish owner EQT Holdings AB to a group of unknown investors in Hong Kong.

總部設在英國，由瑞典投資集團殷拓EQT所有的智能手機奢侈品牌Vertu（威圖）有限公司，日前已被香港某投資集團收購。

EQT said the ownership change was completed in mid-October. Details of the transaction, including the amount, were not disclosed.

EQT集團表示，Vertu（威圖）在10月中便已易主，但交易的諸多細節，如成交額等信息未予披露。

The private equity firm acquired Vertu from Nokia in 2012 for more than 200 million euros ($220 million). The phone maker subsequently changed its operating system from Symbian to Google Inc's Android and launched a range of new products.

2012年，瑞典的投資集團殷拓EQT以逾2億歐元的價格從諾基亞手中收購了Vertu。手機制造商隨後便放棄其塞班操作系統，加入谷歌的安卓系統陣營，並推出了系列新產品。

However, the price of Vertu devices far exceeds the flagship devices sold by Apple Inc or Samsung Electronics Co Ltd. Prices for a Vertu phone easily reach 50,000 yuan ($7,900) in China, compared to 7,788-yuan price tag for the most expensive model of the iPhone 6S Plus selling in the country. Vertu provides 24-hour worldwide concierge service to its phone users to access "money-can't-buy" events and experiences.

但是，Vertu的手機價格遠遠超過了蘋果、三星等手機。在中國，一部普通Vertu手機的價格高達5萬，而時下熱銷中國最貴的iPhone 6S Plus也才7788元。此外，Vertu不僅僅是一部手機，它能爲用戶提供24小時的全球貴賓服務，讓用戶體驗到用錢都難買到的私人服務。

The company runs retail outlets in high-end shopping malls in cities including Beijing and Shanghai. Chinese shoppers' zeal for luxury products has been driving Vertu's expansion.

該公司門店主要集中於北京、上海等城市的高端商場。中國消費者對奢侈品的購買慾推動了Vertu的擴展。

Vertu, which was originally started by Nokia in 1998, will need to find a new chief executive following the change in ownership.

Vertu，由諾基亞於1998年創建，隨着此次所有權的變更，需要一位新的執行總官。

Massimiliano Pogliani, the company's chief executive for three years, is believed to have stepped down from his post.

時任三年Vertu首席執行官的MassimilianoPogliani表示，是時候將接力棒交給新團隊了。

It was also not immediately clear as to how the ownership change would affect Vertu's operations. Hong Kong-based investment company Godin Holdings, a key investor in Vertu, did not reply to e-mails sent by China Daily seeking comments.

Vertu所有權變化對公司的影響也不會立即明確顯現。總部位於香港的投資公司戈丁控股公司， Vertu的一個主要投資公司，沒有答覆中國日報尋求意見的電子郵件。

Vertu's Hong Kong office said the company would issue a statement regarding the ownership and leadership changes on Wednesday. But no statement was made by Wednesday evening.

Vertu的香港公司表示，公司會在週三發出關於Vertu所有權和領導權變更的聲明。但是，週三晚上並沒有相關聲明發布。

Hong Kong investors have showed a rare interest in buying overseas smartphone makers lately.

香港投資商最近已經表現出收購海外智能手機的極大興趣。

REX Global Entertainment Holdings Ltd, a Hong Kong-listed firm, paid $100 million for 64.9 percent stake in Russian smartphone maker Yota Devices last week.

REX環球娛樂集團有限公司，是一家香港上市公司，上週支付 1億美元收購了俄羅斯的智能手機制造商Yota公司64.9％的股份。

TZ Wong, a senior analyst at Singapore-based research company Canalys, said Vertu is facing strong headwinds because of its pricing strategy.

黃，新加坡一家調研公司的資深分析師表示，Vertu由於其定價策略正面臨強大的瓶頸。

"The previous owner chose a good timing to exit as Vertu is facing expansion pressures," he said. "The company may shift its focus to China and other Asian markets after the takeover."

他分析到，“Vertu的前老闆在面臨公司擴展壓力時，選擇了一個恰當的時機退出”，“目前該公司被收購後，其市場重心可能會轉投中國和其他亞洲市場。”