Kodak exits bankruptcy with new focus on business imaging

Kodak exits bankruptcy

After a year and a half of trials and tribulations, Kodak is finally in the clear -- it just exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Now that the company has finished offloading its document and personal imaging groups, it's free to pursue a recently court-approved reorganization plan that focuses solely on business products like movie film and packaging. The resulting firm is a far cry from the camera giant that we once knew, but we may hear about its work in the future. Kodak promises more details of "what's next," and it tells the AP that it's working on technology like printable touchscreen layers and smart packaging.

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Via: Wall Street Journal

Source: Kodak

Coda files for bankruptcy, hopes to sell its EV assets for $25 million

Coda files for bankruptcy, hopes to sell its assets for $25 million

We can't say we were enthused with Coda Automotive's ho-hum EV design, and we know the public wasn't, either. Still, it's hard not to lament the company's fate now that its parent, Coda Holdings, is declaring Chapter 11 bankruptcy and getting out of the car market. The firm has had enough of production delays and slow adoption, and now it's planning to sell its Automotive division through an auction that should net at least $25 million. What's left of Coda will focus on energy storage, if and when it emerges from bankruptcy -- not nearly as exciting a field, but likely more profitable. While the exit was far from unexpected, it reminds us that the modern EV business is more often defined by its casualties than its winners.

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Via: Bloomberg

Source: Coda Automotive

Kodak expects to exit bankruptcy in Q3 2013

Kodak expects to exit bankruptcy in Q3 2013

Now with a patent sale, new financing and asset offloads under its belt, Kodak's homing in on when it might emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. In January, the imaging giant predicted it might finally exit its financial default by mid-2013, and now it's filed paperwork with a New York court indicating it's on track to meet that goal sometime during its third quarter this year. In addition to the timeline update, the Plan of Reorganization and Disclosure Statement outlines how the firm's debts have been settled and its future plans, which place heavy emphasis on its commercial imaging business. A hearing for the document and associated strategy is anticipated to be scheduled in mid-June, and creditors will arrange a vote afterwards to decide if everything's to their liking. Kodak's certainly not out of the woods just yet, but it's plodding steadily towards the clearing.

[Image credit: Viktor Nagornyy, Flickr]

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Source: Kodak

Court approves Kodak financing, could exit bankruptcy by mid-2013

Court approves Kodak financing, could exit bankruptcy by mid2013

When Kodak filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy a year ago, the company promised to re-emerge stronger than ever a year later. While that scenario has yet to play out, the gears do seem to be turning: US bankruptcy court Judge Allan Gropper today approved Kodak's bid to borrow up to $844 million from Centerbridge Partners LP. That approval's still conditional, mind you, on the completion of Kodak's recent digital imaging patent fire sale (at "no less than $500 million"). Should that all pan out, the company plans to emerge from bankruptcy by "mid-2013," no doubt worse for wear but better than a few years back.

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Kodak Receives Court Approval of Financing Agreement

Court's Decision is Major Step toward Emergence

ROCHESTER, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In a significant step toward its emergence from Chapter 11, Eastman Kodak Company today received approval from U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Allan Gropper of the Southern District of New York for the company's previously announced commitment from the Steering Committee of the Second Lien Noteholders Committee for interim and exit financing. This financing, which authorizes Kodak to borrow up to $844 million, strengthens Kodak's position to successfully execute its remaining reorganization objectives, finalize its Plan of Reorganization, and emerge from Chapter 11 in mid-2013.

"Taken together, these accomplishments, along with other recent developments, such as the resolution of certain of our legacy liabilities, demonstrate the tangible and meaningful progress Kodak is making as it moves through the final phase of its restructuring."
"The Court's approval of this financing commitment puts Kodak in a strong position to emerge from Chapter 11. This agreement, in conjunction with the recently approved sale and licensing of our digital imaging patent portfolio, lays the financial foundation for our Plan of Reorganization and a successful emergence from Chapter 11 as a profitable and sustainable company," said Antonio M. Perez, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Taken together, these accomplishments, along with other recent developments, such as the resolution of certain of our legacy liabilities, demonstrate the tangible and meaningful progress Kodak is making as it moves through the final phase of its restructuring."

The previously announced financing includes new money term loans of $455 million, as well as term loans of up to $375 million issued to holders of senior secured notes participating in the new money term loans in a dollar-for-dollar exchange for amounts outstanding under the company's pre-petition second lien notes. The financing is predicated on certain conditions, including the successful completion of the sale of Kodak's digital imaging patent portfolio for no less than $500 million. The Bankruptcy Court recently approved the sale of this portfolio for $527 million, and the completion of this sale is expected in February 2013.

Upon meeting certain additional conditions, the approved financing also provides Kodak the option of converting up to $644 million of the loans into exit financing due five years after emergence. The additional conditions include the consummation of a Plan of Reorganization by September 30, 2013, the resolution of the company's U.K. pension obligations, and the successful completion of all or a portion of the sales of Kodak's Document Imaging and Personalized Imaging businesses, as detailed in the agreement. Kodak continues to make progress toward these objectives.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SAFE HARBOR PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995

This document includes "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning the Company's plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events, future revenue or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs, plans or business trends, and other information that is not historical information. When used in this document, the words "estimates," "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "plans," "intends," "believes," "forecasts," or future or conditional verbs, such as "will," "should," "could," or "may," and variations of such words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, management's examination of historical operating trends and data are based upon the Company's expectations and various assumptions. Future events or results may differ from those anticipated or expressed in these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, among others, the risks and uncertainties described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K under Item 1A of Part 1, in the Company's most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q under Item 1A of Part II and those described in filings made by the Company with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York and in other filings the Company makes with the SEC from time to time, as well as the following: the Company's ability to successfully emerge from chapter 11 as a profitable sustainable company, the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern, the Company's ability to obtain Bankruptcy Court approval with respect to motions in the chapter 11 cases, the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to prosecute, develop and consummate one or more plans of reorganization with respect to the chapter 11 cases, Bankruptcy Court rulings in the chapter 11 cases and the outcome of the cases in general, the length of time the Company will operate under the chapter 11 cases, risks associated with third party motions in the chapter 11 cases, which may interfere with the Company's ability to develop and consummate one or more plans of reorganization once such plans are developed, the potential adverse effects of the chapter 11 proceedings on the Company's liquidity, results of operations, brand or business prospects, the ability to execute the Company's business and restructuring plan, increased legal costs related to the Bankruptcy Filing and other litigation, our ability to raise sufficient proceeds from the sale of non-core assets and the monetization of our digital imaging patent portfolios within our plan, the Company's ability to generate or raise cash and maintain a cash balance sufficient to fund continued investments, capital needs, restructuring payments and service its debt and financing arrangements, the Company's ability to manage contracts that are critical to its operation, to obtain and maintain appropriate terms with customers, suppliers and service providers, to maintain product reliability and quality, to effectively anticipate technology trends and develop and market new products, solutions and technologies, to retain key executives, managers and employees, our ability to successfully license and enforce our intellectual property rights and the ability of the Company's non-U.S. subsidiaries to continue to operate their businesses in the normal course and without court supervision. There may be other factors that may cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf apply only as of the date of this document and are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements included in this report. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

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Via: TechCrunch

Atari files for bankruptcy, hopes to survive by selling off Pong and other assets

Atari files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy aims to sell assets including brand logos, gaming history

Atari Inc. has filed for bankruptcy protection, looking to separate from its not-so-profitable French owners and pitch for independent funding. In the process, the elder statesman of gaming has secured $5.25 million of debtor-in-possession financing and will aim to sell assets, including its famous logo (which is already licensed out) and games like Pong, Asteroid and Tempest, in the next 90 to 120 days. In the last few years, Atari Inc. has shifted its focus from traditional retail gaming to digital titles and licensing, with mobile platforms proving especially lucrative for the parent company, Atari SA. The gaming arm is aiming for a return to former glory and, it hopes, the chance to go another 40 years.

[Photo Credit: Marc Grimm]

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Iconic Brand Seeks to Restructure and Secure Independent Capital for Future
Growth

Today Atari Inc., Atari Interactive Inc., Humongous, Inc. and California US Holdings, Inc. (collectively, the "Companies") filed petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the United States
Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern
District of New York. With this move, the U.S.-based Atari operations seek to
separate from the structural financial encumbrances of their French parent
holding company, Atari S.A. (formerly Infogrames S.A.) and secure independent
capital for future growth, primarily in the areas of digital and mobile games.

Within the next 90-120 days, the Companies expect to effectuate a sale of all,
or substantially all, of their assets in a "sale free and clear" under section
363 of the Bankruptcy Code or to confirm plans of reorganization that accomplish
substantially the same result. These assets include not only one of the most
widely recognized brand logos, which is familiar to 90% of Americans, according
to a recent survey, but also legendary game titles including Pong, Asteroids,
Centipede, Missile Command, Battlezone and Tempest. Other recognized brands
include Test Drive, Backyard Sportsand Humongous.

Under current management, Atari Inc. has shifted its business from traditional
retail games to digital games and licensing with an increased focus on
developing mobile games based on some of Atari's most iconic and enduring
franchises. With these moves, the company has added new revenue models,
including digital download and advertising. As a result, Atari Inc. has become a
growth engine for Atari S.A., which in turn has reported consecutive annual
profits in 2011 and 2012.

The company has recently launched a slew of chart-topping titles for iOS and
Android mobile platforms, including Atari Greatest Hits, Outlaw, Breakout and
Asteroids Gunner. The company has previously announced upcoming mobile and
tablet games based upon the popular Rollercoaster Tycoon franchise and Atari
Casino.

The Chapter 11 process constitutes the most strategic option for Atari's U.S.
operations, as they look to preserve their inherent value and unlock revenue
potential unrealized while under the control of Atari S.A. During this period,
the company expects to conduct its normal business operations.

The U.S. companies are also seeking approval to obtain $5.25 million in
debtor-in-possession financing from one or more funds managed by Tenor Capital
Management, a firm specializing in convertible arbitrage and special situations.
Each unit has filed a number of traditional "first-day" pleadings, which are
intended to minimize any disruption of their day-to-day operations.

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Via: Bloomberg

A123 Systems becomes America’s latest EV battery maker to file for bankruptcy

A123 Systems becomes America's latest EV battery maker to file for bankruptcy

Having been riddled with setbacks, including a major recall of faulty batteries supplied to Fisker Automotive, Michigan's favorite EV battery maker A123 Systems has filed for bankruptcy. It has also announced the sale of its main business units to rival Johnson Controls in a deal pegged at $125 million -- a sad fraction of the billion dollars it raised since it launched in 2001 (not least from government grants). It seems that neither fresh lithium ion innovations nor a potential deal with Chinese investors were able to keep the company out of the red, which leaves A123 on the road to nowhere -- right behind that other DoE-sponsored hopeful, Ener1.

Continue reading A123 Systems becomes America's latest EV battery maker to file for bankruptcy

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A123 Systems becomes America's latest EV battery maker to file for bankruptcy originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Oct 2012 06:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kodak to sell the film business that made it so famous

Kodak selling film business

Kodak is selling off its renowned film arm in order to revive its moribund fortunes. It'll join sales of the company's patent portfolio, online gallery, commercial scanning, photo kiosk and theme park businesses so it can concentrate on a not-yet successful printer enterprise. It needs to raise more than $660 million to pay back creditors before it can emerge from Chapter 11, which it aims to do early next year -- but not in any form that we're likely to recognize.

[Image Credit: MercerFilm]

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Kodak to sell the film business that made it so famous originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Aug 2012 05:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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