<p>杰拉尔德·拉特纳发起了一项大胆的收购计划，试图买回他在三十多年前因臭名昭著的失言而毁掉的英国珠宝帝国的分支。</p>
<p>这位 76 岁的商人正在寻求从美国上市公司西格内特珠宝收购 H Samuel 和 Ernest Jones 连锁店，并计划在失去对这些业务的控制权后重新担任董事长。</p>
<p>拉特纳先生已向这些品牌的股东发起呼吁，作为收购亏损的英国分支的一部分，他表示自夏季以来一直在追求这一目标。</p>
<p>这些品牌曾是拉特纳集团的一部分，拉特纳先生在一次演讲中宣称其产品是 “完全的垃圾”，因此被迫退出该公司。</p>
<p>拉特纳先生还提到，该公司的某些耳环 “比马克斯与斯宾塞的虾三明治还便宜——但我必须说，这个三明治可能比耳环更耐用”。</p>
<p>这一事件催生了 “做拉特纳” 的说法，意指犯下灾难性的失误。</p>
<p>拉特纳先生表示，他试图收购西格内特的英国分部——该分部曾是拉特纳集团，后来更名——因为他声称其美国所有者 “做错了一切”。</p>
<p>为了发起他的收购，拉特纳先生表示他通过一家在纽约的银行与西格内特的首席执行官取得了联系，该银行代表他行事。</p>
<p>他现在直接向公司的股东发起呼吁，拉特纳先生希望他们开始质疑为什么美国所有者不出售这个亏损的部门。</p>
<p>拉特纳先生告诉《每日电讯报》：“我们对股东施加压力的原因仅仅是因为他们在英国的表现非常糟糕，他们一直在关闭商店，去年他们出售了最好的商店。”</p>
<p>“所以我们认为他们对英国并不真正感兴趣。我们接触他们是因为认为对股东来说，摆脱这个部门是有利的。”</p>
<p>西格内特于 2008 年将其主要上市地点从伦敦迁至纽约，市值超过 37 亿美元（28 亿英镑）。</p>
<p>虽然其美国业务表现良好，但英国分部的业绩不佳，税前亏损从 48.3 万英镑上升至 140 万英镑，账目显示。</p>
<p>拉特纳先生表示：“他们做错了一切。当我在美国有商店时，我没有销售任何我在英国销售的产品。他们说同样的语言，仅此而已。一切都不同。每个产品都不同。购买方式也不同。</p>
<p>“美国人试图做的就是犯下经典错误，试图将一种模式跨越大西洋。这个方法从来没有成功过，也永远不会成功。第一条规则是，你必须完全不同地经营业务，以适应当地市场。”</p>
<p>拉特纳先生表示，他将彻底改革商店的产品，销售更多低价商品，并补充道：“我会提供极具性价比的商品。”</p>
<p>他得到了一个主要由英国投资者组成的财团的支持，其中有一位美国投资者。他表示他们已经准备好了资金。</p>
<p>拉特纳先生补充道：“我曾经有 2500 家商店。我有美国业务，我有拉特纳，我有手表——这是一件更大的事情。所以我回来的想法与当初完全不同。</p>
<p>“但我非常希望能让这个业务重新振作起来。这将是一次美妙的经历。我会很喜欢。”</p>
<p>西格内特已被联系以发表评论。</p>

西格内特珠宝

<p>杰拉尔德·拉特纳（Gerald Ratner），76 岁，正试图收购他曾因臭名昭著的失言而毁掉的珠宝帝国的英国分部。他的目标是从西格内特珠宝（Signet Jewelers）收购 H Samuel 和 Ernest Jones 连锁店，并成为董事长。拉特纳向股东呼吁，批评美国所有者对英国分部的管理不善。他计划对业务进行改革，以更好地适应当地市场，并得到了一个投资者财团的支持</p>

<p>Gerald Ratner has launched an audacious bid to buy back the UK arm of the jewellery empire he ruined with his infamous gaffe more than three decades ago.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>杰拉尔德·拉特纳发起了一项大胆的收购计划，试图买回他在三十多年前因臭名昭著的失言而毁掉的英国珠宝帝国的分支。</p>
</div><p>The businessman, 76, is seeking to acquire the H Samuel and Ernest Jones chains from US-listed Signet Jewelers and install himself as chairman after he lost control of the businesses in the early 90s.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>这位 76 岁的商人正在寻求从美国上市公司西格内特珠宝收购 H Samuel 和 Ernest Jones 连锁店，并计划在失去对这些业务的控制权后重新担任董事长。</p>
</div><p>Mr Ratner has launched an appeal to the shareholders behind the brands as part of a bid to purchase the loss-making UK arms, which he said he has been pursuing since the summer.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>拉特纳先生已向这些品牌的股东发起呼吁，作为收购亏损的英国分支的一部分，他表示自夏季以来一直在追求这一目标。</p>
</div><p>The brands were once part of Ratners Group, the firm that Mr Ratner was forced to exit after he declared their products were “total c--p” in a speech at the Institute of Directors.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>这些品牌曾是拉特纳集团的一部分，拉特纳先生在一次演讲中宣称其产品是 “完全的垃圾”，因此被迫退出该公司。</p>
</div><p>Mr Ratner also remarked that some of the firm’s earrings were “cheaper than a prawn sandwich at Marks &amp; Spencer – but I have to say, the sandwich will probably last longer than the earrings”.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>拉特纳先生还提到，该公司的某些耳环 “比马克斯与斯宾塞的虾三明治还便宜——但我必须说，这个三明治可能比耳环更耐用”。</p>
</div><p>The fallout gave rise to the phrase “to do a Ratner”, which means to make a disastrous own goal.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>这一事件催生了 “做拉特纳” 的说法，意指犯下灾难性的失误。</p>
</div><p>Mr Ratner said he was attempting to acquire the UK division of Signet – which was formerly Ratners Group before it was rebranded – because he claimed its American owners were “doing everything wrong”.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>拉特纳先生表示，他试图收购西格内特的英国分部——该分部曾是拉特纳集团，后来更名——因为他声称其美国所有者 “做错了一切”。</p>
</div><p>To launch his bid, Mr Ratner said he has been in touch with Signet’s chief executive via a bank in New York that is acting on his behalf.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>为了发起他的收购，拉特纳先生表示他通过一家在纽约的银行与西格内特的首席执行官取得了联系，该银行代表他行事。</p>
</div><p>He is now launching an appeal directly to the company’s shareholders, who Mr Ratner hopes will start questioning why the US owners do not sell the loss-making division.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>他现在直接向公司的股东发起呼吁，拉特纳先生希望他们开始质疑为什么美国所有者不出售这个亏损的部门。</p>
</div><p>Mr Ratner told The Telegraph: “The reason we’re putting pressure on the shareholders is simply because of the fact that they’re doing so badly in the UK, they’re closing shops all the time and last year they sold their best shops.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>拉特纳先生告诉《每日电讯报》：“我们对股东施加压力的原因仅仅是因为他们在英国的表现非常糟糕，他们一直在关闭商店，去年他们出售了最好的商店。”</p>
</div><p>“So we took the view that they’re not really interested in the UK. We approached them thinking that it’s in the interests of shareholders to just get rid of it.”</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>“所以我们认为他们对英国并不真正感兴趣。我们接触他们是因为认为对股东来说，摆脱这个部门是有利的。”</p>
</div><p>Signet, which moved its primary listing from London to New York in 2008, is worth more than $3.7bn (£2.8bn).</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>西格内特于 2008 年将其主要上市地点从伦敦迁至纽约，市值超过 37 亿美元（28 亿英镑）。</p>
</div><p>While its US business is successful, the UK division is underperforming with losses before tax rising from £483,000 to £1.4m in the year to February, accounts show.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>虽然其美国业务表现良好，但英国分部的业绩不佳，税前亏损从 48.3 万英镑上升至 140 万英镑，账目显示。</p>
</div><p>Mr Ratner said: “They’re getting everything wrong. When I had shops in America, I didn’t sell anything that I sold in the UK. They speak the same language, that’s about it. Everything is different. Every product is different. The way they buy is different.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>拉特纳先生表示：“他们做错了一切。当我在美国有商店时，我没有销售任何我在英国销售的产品。他们说同样的语言，仅此而已。一切都不同。每个产品都不同。购买方式也不同。</p>
</div><p>“What the Americans have tried to do is make the classic mistake and try to transport a formula across the Atlantic. It has never worked and it never will work. The first rule is that you’ve got to run businesses totally differently to suit the local market.”</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>“美国人试图做的就是犯下经典错误，试图将一种模式跨越大西洋。这个方法从来没有成功过，也永远不会成功。第一条规则是，你必须完全不同地经营业务，以适应当地市场。”</p>
</div><p>Mr Ratner said he would overhaul the shop’s offerings to sell more lower-priced goods, adding: “I would offer fantastic value for money.”</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>拉特纳先生表示，他将彻底改革商店的产品，销售更多低价商品，并补充道：“我会提供极具性价比的商品。”</p>
</div><p>He is backed by a consortium of investors who are primarily British, with one American. He said they have the funds lined up.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>他得到了一个主要由英国投资者组成的财团的支持，其中有一位美国投资者。他表示他们已经准备好了资金。</p>
</div><p>Mr Ratner added: “I did have 2,500 shops. I had the American business, I had Ratners, I had watches – and it was a much bigger thing. So it’s nothing like the idea that I’m coming back exactly as it was.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>拉特纳先生补充道：“我曾经有 2500 家商店。我有美国业务，我有拉特纳，我有手表——这是一件更大的事情。所以我回来的想法与当初完全不同。</p>
</div><p>“But I would very much like to try and get that business back on its feet. It would be a wonderful experience. I’d love it.”</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>“但我非常希望能让这个业务重新振作起来。这将是一次美妙的经历。我会很喜欢。”</p>
</div><p>Signet was contacted for comment.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>西格内特已被联系以发表评论。</p>
</div>

Gerald Ratner 计划收购他曾经毁掉的珠宝帝国