Kodak Alaris sold to US private equity firm.

[adan]

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Lest we forget:

- Kodak gave the marketing rights for its consumer film photography products to the Pension fund for its UK employees, when it went bankrupt in 2012. In lieu of cash Kodak did not have.
- Kodak Alaris was created to manage and operate that business for the pensioners, while Kodak made and wholesaled the film to KA.
- KAs proceeds became too thin a reed for the pensioners' needs, so it was adopted by a UK goverment pension protection plan in 2020.
- The UK government has now determined that KA is in better shape and a "going concern(?)," so it has sold it on to Kingswood Capital of California.

I have no clue exactly what that means for Kodak-branded films and related products, in terms of availability, lineup, cost, etc. Although I assume Eastman Kodak at Eastman Business Park - Rochester will still be the original source. Just a different middle-man.

Anyway, just a heads-up in case of additional future events.

https://www.dpreview.com/news/4062330467/kodak-photo-businesses-sold-to-private-equity

[Marc B-C]

My wife funded that deal for Kinsgwood

Edited August 11, 2024 by Marc B-C

[Anbaric]

Interesting firm to do business with. I hope the Kodak pensioners had good lawyers, and don't find that it is they who owe Kingswood money rather than the other way round. And that Kodak prices are not hiked further into the stratosphere (though I know which way I'd bet). Now that Fuji sell rebadged Kodak emulsions instead of their own, do they deal with Alaris or directly with Eastman Kodak?

https://twitter.com/sindap/status/1778421273313395175

Edited August 11, 2024 by Anbaric

[Bobonli]

It's a soap opera-esque saga to keep track of what's going on with the film and chemicals.

[earleygallery]

Thankfully it’s the marketing company rather than the manufacturer but what it means for consumers and the pensioners who knows?! 

[Danner]

Looks like some vulture-capitalist are are about to milk Kodak film/chems to death.  Expect rapid price increases and dwindling number of SKUs to be available.

My prediction...

[Marc B-C]

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On 8/11/2024 at 11:03 AM, Marc B-C said:

My wife funded that deal for Kinsgwood

@adan I was not joking.

[BernardC]

21 hours ago, Danner said:

Looks like some vulture-capitalist are are about to milk Kodak film/chems to death.

As Adan pointed-pout, that's been happening for a dozen years already, and the people in charge before 2012 weren't any better. Still, it's a small blessing that any part of Kodak survives at all.

[TomB_tx]

Makes me hope Harman continues to develop/improve Phoenix color negative film.

I still like shooting slide film, and E100 is nice, but lower volume films are surely at risk.

[adan]

On 8/17/2024 at 11:29 AM, Marc B-C said:

@adan I was not joking.

I know - I just found it an amusing coincidence. 👍