A private equity firm based in Germany has acquired the Swedish medium format camera manufacturer Hasselblad
Author: Olivier Laurent
30 Jun 2011 Tags: HasselbladBusiness
Ventizz, a private equity firm that "specialises in funding growth in companies across various high-tech industry sectors," has acquired a 100% stake in Hasselblad, gaining full control of the medium format camera maker. Previously, the firmed was owned by the Hong Kong-based Shriro Group.
The new ownership will not lead to any "major structural or key management changes," says Ventizz in a statement. However, according to Ad Hoc News in Germany, the private equity firm is planning to invest in an "appropriate growth strategy," with the goal of developing new market segments and "Hasselblad cameras that appeal to a wider group of ambitious photographers."
"After eight years of ownership by the Hong Kong-based Shriro group, Hasselblad is now moving back to its European roots," says Dr. Larry Hansen, Hasselblad's chairman and CEO. "Ventizz has a very impressive funding pedigree in the technology marketplace and our joint focus now will be on both maintaining our market-leading position with ongoing, advanced high-end camera products and also on exploiting the potential we see in brand new markets."
No financial details of the transaction have been disclosed.
BJP understands that Shriro will continue to distribute Hasselblad's cameras in Asia.
For more information, visit www.hasselblad.com and www.ventizz.com.
Does exploiting brand new markets also imply focussing on the starting professional and/or highly advanced amateur?
"Hasselblad cameras that appeal to a wider group of ambitious photographers."
So does this mean that they'll start to make "affordable" cameras for the enthusiast?
There's a market for enthusiasts/hobbyists and I hope Hasselblad knows that. Canon and Nikon has been exploiting that for years now.
Hoping that the ditigal backs for the V-system become affordable, $14.000 to $16.000 still is expensive to upgrade my old Hassy..
Yes they mean amateur photographers I can't see them gunning for Nikon or Canon I think they want some of Leica's pie.
Leica has produced very impressive results by selling high end enthusiasts cameras at high prices.
The thing is can Hasselblad make uber-cool cameras at high prices that will sell? Some Germans obviously think so.
I'd like to see digital backs for the System V cameras be a tangible stepping stone to an H4D system by cutting the price in half. I can't say I know what it costs to make one but from what I've read about them they do well for a limited scope of photography.
And if you're going to pay today's price for a digital back, you might as well just get an H4D-31 or 645D and have more integration and versatility. So where is the incentive to get one, I wonder.
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