连结:https://goo.gl/qTwzJ6
原文:Ridley has announced that it has taken over the reins at fellow Belgian brand
Eddy Merckx Cycles. Despite a 37-year history of making accomplished road
bikes in steel, aluminium and carbon the brand has never been as successful
as the cyclist it was named after.
After founding the brand in 1980, Merckx sold his majority share in the
company in 2008 after he learned that his son Axel did not want to take it on.
The company gradually became less profitable until 2016, when a new buyer
gave it a much-needed injection of capital, yet even that wasn’t enough to
the brand’s fortunes.
Last year saw the brand in dire straights as it recorded a €5.7 million
loss, yet the future now looks bright as Ridley CEO, Jochim Aerts, talks of
renewed investment and development in the company.
‘The synergy between the two Belgian brands will help the Belgian cycling
industry reach new heights,’ said Aerts.
‘This brand has so much history and means so much to the Belgian cycling
industry. Eddy Merckx and Ridley are the most famous Belgian bicycle brands
and can now work together - this acquisition creates a kind of
cross-fertilisation of the two brands which will beneficial for both parties.
'Belgium is known for its unique cycling culture thanks to riders like Eddy
Merckx, so this merger means that Belgium, now more than ever, is at the
centre of the world when it comes to cycling.’
Ridley has a presence in the WorldTour with its relationship with Lotto
Soudal, something that is lacking for the Eddy Merckx brand.
Such exposure often justifies the hefty expenditure but a brand needs to be
in a position to commit to a team to begin with.
The Merckx bikes will now be able to benefit from the information gathered in
the top level races when developing new frames.
‘We are delighted that Ridley shares our vision for the future of the Merckx
brand,’ said Bart van Muylder, owner of Eddy Merckx Cycles.
‘We felt it was our responsibility to keep this Belgian asset in Belgian
hands. Ridley, with its motto "We are Belgium", its global distribution and
presence in the WorldTour peloton, is the ideal company to continue the
tribute to Eddy Merckx.’
简单翻译:RIDLEY买下了同样出身自比利时的Eddy Merckx，这间37年历史的公司
在1980年创立，而Eddy Merckx本人在2008年将持有股份全数售出，因为儿子并
没有继承父业的意愿。
而这间公司在之后获利情况并不佳，即使在2016年有新的买家提供公司急需的资金，
依然无法让这间公司起死回生。
去年这间公司亏损达五百七十万欧元，但对于RIDLEY来说，这间公司的未来仍然看好
RIDLEY和世界级车队Lotto Soudal有着合作的关系，而这正是EDDY所缺乏的，如此一来
EDDY可以在设计车架上，获得来自从世界上最顶级的赛事蒐集到的资讯。
我们觉得这是我们的责任将这个比利时的企业留在比利时，RIDLEY的座右铭"WE ARE
Belgium"这间在世界的自行车赛事贡献卓卓的企业，是最适合让EDDY成就继续发光发热
的企业。