EASTMAN KODAK MAY BE HEADED DOWN THE CRAPPER

By Bob Walsh

 

 

Eastman Kodak announced today that they are in serious cash trouble.  They may be forced to cut back on pension payouts.  Their traditional products and services relate to "wet" photography which is almost a dead art form.  They still have a significant amount of intellectual property and their name and branding is worth something.  They all have a significant but not overwhelming presence in electronic information processing and retrieval.  It may not be enough.  They have about $500 million in short-term debt and about $200 million in pension obligations.

I went on a tour of the George Eastman House back in Rochester, NY about 11 or 12 years back.  It was a great experience.  

I also remember when the Great Yellow Father was a "widows and orphans" stock.  Safe and Solid.  The brand and "trade dress" was known around the world.  That was then.  This is now.  (I also remember when they quit processing Kodachrome a few years back.  The 35mm transparency is pretty much dead.)  

I would hate (will hate?) to see them go, but nothing lasts forever.  Except herpes.