最贵的奢侈手机Vertu品牌被中国收购

The Chinese smartphone family, long known by itsaverage-quality and inexpensive devices, is all setto welcome a new member. Only, the new entrant isa cut above the rest as its major customers arenattily dressed businesspeople who sportcustomized gadgets handcrafted with sapphirecrystal screens and high-end leather.

中国的智能手机产品，以其性价比优势为人熟知，现在，中国智能手机产品这个大家庭又迎来一位新成员。有一点不同的是，这位新成员的客户主要是那些穿着西装革履的高端商务人士，配备该品牌由蓝宝石水晶、高级皮质雕刻制作的手机。

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

总部设在英国，由瑞典投资集团殷拓EQT所有的智能手机奢侈品牌Vertu(威图)有限公司，日前已被香港某投资集团收购。

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

EQT集团表示，Vertu(威图)在10月中便已易主，但交易的诸多细节，如成交额等信息未予披露。

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 toGoogle Inc's Android and launched a range of new products.

2012年，瑞典的投资集团殷拓EQT以逾2亿欧元的价格从诺基亚手中收购了Vertu。手机制造商随后便放弃其塞班操作系统，加入谷歌的安卓系统阵营，并推出了系列新产品。

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

但是，Vertu的手机价格远远超过了苹果、三星等手机。在中国，一部普通Vertu手机的价格高达5万，而时下热销中国最贵的iPhone 6S Plus也才7788元。此外，Vertu不仅仅是一部手机，它能为用户提供24小时的全球贵宾服务，让用户体验到用钱都难买到的私人服务。

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

该公司门店主要集中于北京、上海等城市的高端商场。中国消费者对奢侈品的购买欲推动了Vertu的扩展。

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

Vertu，由诺基亚于1998年创建，随着此次所有权的变更，需要一位新的执行总官。

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

时任三年Vertu首席执行官的MassimilianoPogliani表示，是时候将接力棒交给新团队了。

It was also not immediately clear as to how the ownership change would affect Vertu'soperations. 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所有权变化对公司的影响也不会立即明确显现。总部位于香港的投资公司戈丁控股公司， Vertu的一个主要投资公司，没有答复中国日报寻求意见的电子邮件。

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

Vertu的香港公司表示，公司会在周三发出关于Vertu所有权和领导权变更的声明。但是，周三晚上并没有相关声明发布。

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

香港投资商最近已经表现出收购海外智能手机的极大兴趣。

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

REX环球娱乐集团有限公司，是一家香港上市公司，上周支付 1亿美元收购了俄罗斯的智能手机制造商Yota公司64.9%的股份。

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

黄，新加坡一家调研公司的资深分析师表示，Vertu由于其定价策略正面临强大的瓶颈。

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

他分析到，“Vertu的前老板在面临公司扩展压力时，选择了一个恰当的时机退出，“目前该公司被收购后，其市场重心可能会转投中国和其他亚洲市场。