New US Hasselblad Bron Inc.: Bron Imaging Group and Hasselblad USA agreement to merge American Operations

New US Hasselblad Bron Inc

Hasselblad USA Inc. (www.hasselbladusa.com), the U.S. distributor of Hasselblad professional camera systems and Bron Imaging Group Inc., (www.bronimaging.com), distributor of professional photographic equipment (Broncolor, Kobold, Visatec) recently announced  (April 24, 2012) an agreement through which the two companies will merge their operations in the U.S., effective immediately, creating a combined company known as Hasselblad Bron Inc. The new Hasselblad Bron Inc. will relocate to a single facility during the summer of 2012.

The combined company will leverage the strengths of two of the professional photo industry’s leading distributors, and allow the sales, marketing and customer support divisions to provide higher levels of service. The transaction will combine Hasselblad USA and Bron Imaging’s distribution channels and sales forces. Additionally, customer support, repair operations, marketing and administration will be combined into a single operation. The partnership is an expansion of an existing two-year marketing relationship between the companies, through which the companies worked closely together to develop their brands in the professional photography market.

Under terms of the merger, Hasselblad Bron Inc., will be a single entity providing support for all of the brands of the combined company. Michael Hejtmanek, current President of Bron Imaging Group, will lead the new company as President and CEO of Hasselblad Bron, Inc. "Our goal is to provide photographers with the world’s best cameras, lighting and other photography gear,” said Hejtmanek. “Joining forces to create Hasselblad Bron Inc. allows us to create a larger customer service organization to accomplish our mission of providing an exceptional level of products and support for our highly valued customers.”

The merger will only impact the two American organizations of Bron Imaging Group U.S. and Hasselblad USA, Inc. Hasselblad AB (Sweden), Bron Elektronik AG (Switzerland) and other related suppliers will remain independent companies.

Kodak: Chapter 11 Business Reorganization

Eastman Kodak Company announced today that it and its U.S. subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions for chapter 11 business reorganization in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.

The business reorganization is intended to bolster liquidity in the U.S. and abroad, monetize non-strategic intellectual property, fairly resolve legacy liabilities, and enable the Company to focus on its most valuable business lines. The Company has made pioneering investments in digital and materials deposition technologies in recent years, generating approximately 75% of its revenue from digital businesses in 2011.

Kodak has obtained a fully-committed, $950 million debtor-in-possession credit facility with an 18-month maturity from Citigroup to enhance liquidity and working capital. The credit facility is subject to Court approval and other conditions precedent. The Company believes that it has sufficient liquidity to operate its business during chapter 11, and to continue the flow of goods and services to its customers in the ordinary course.

Kodak expects to pay employee wages and benefits and continue customer programs. Subsidiaries outside of the U.S. are not subject to proceedings and will honor all obligations to suppliers, whenever incurred. Kodak and its U.S. subsidiaries will honor all post-petition obligations to suppliers in the ordinary course.

“Kodak is taking a significant step toward enabling our enterprise to complete its transformation,” said Antonio M. Perez, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “At the same time as we have created our digital business, we have also already effectively exited certain traditional operations, closing 13 manufacturing plants and 130 processing labs, and reducing our workforce by 47,000 since 2003. Now we must complete the transformation by further addressing our cost structure and effectively monetizing non-core IP assets. We look forward to working with our stakeholders to emerge a lean, world-class, digital imaging and materials science company.”

“After considering the advantages of chapter 11 at this time, the Board of Directors and the entire senior management team unanimously believe that this is a necessary step and the right thing to do for the future of Kodak,” Mr. Perez continued. “Our goal is to maximize value for stakeholders, including our employees, retirees, creditors, and pension trustees. We are also committed to working with our valued customers.

“Chapter 11 gives us the best opportunities to maximize the value in two critical parts of our technology portfolio: our digital capture patents, which are essential for a wide range of mobile and other consumer electronic devices that capture digital images and have generated over $3 billion of licensing revenues since 2003; and our breakthrough printing and deposition technologies, which give Kodak a competitive advantage in our growing digital businesses.”

Mr. Perez concluded, “The Board of Directors, the senior management team and I would like to underscore our appreciation for the hard work and loyalty of our employees. Kodak exemplifies a culture of collaboration and innovation. Our employees embody that culture and are essential to our future success.”

Kodak has taken this step after preliminary discussions with key constituencies and intends to work toward a consensual reorganization in the best interests of its stakeholders. Kodak expects to complete its U.S.-based restructuring during 2013.

The Company and its Board of Directors are being advised by Lazard, FTI Consulting Inc. and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP. In addition, Dominic DiNapoli, Vice Chairman of FTI Consulting, will serve as Chief Restructuring Officer to support the management team as to restructuring matters during the chapter 11 case.

More information about Kodak’s Chapter 11 filing is available on the Internet at: www.kodaktransforms.com. 

Kodak will be filing monthly operating reports with the Bankruptcy Court and also plans to post these monthly operating reports on the Investor Relations section of Kodak.com. The Company will continue to file quarterly and annual reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which will also be available in the Investor Relations section of Kodak.com.

This document includes “forward–looking statements” as that term is defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

(c)2012 Eastman Kodak Company

MEI launches Skip' s Network

New resource center want to provide business support and referrals for every area of business in the photography industry

Marketing Essentials International Inc. (MEI) announces Skip’s Network, a resource center for recommended business assistance in virtually every area of business in the photography industry.

“I’ve spent my entire adult life in the photographic community. As a result, I’ve been fortunate enough to work with some of the most talented and creative people in business today,” said Skip Cohen, president of MEI. “The companies and people listed in Skip’s Network comprise a wide variety of backgrounds and are involved in all aspects of design, management and support. From communication experts to specialists in marketing, finance and overseas manufacturing, the professionals listed in Skip’s Network are unmatched in their diversity, skill set and integrity.”

The president of MEI expectes that Skip’s Network will be constantly growing and expanding to cover a wide range of business, marketing and manufacturing areas of expertise. This resource center is designed to help those in the photographic industry find the best possible business support to meet the needs of their company and projects. Each of the individuals or companies listed in Skip’s Network operates independently. Contact information is provided for each company listed on Skip’s Network.

And if there is a desired skill set not listed yet on Skip’s Network, contact Skip Cohen at Skip[a]mei500.com for possible business contacts.

About Marketing Essentials International

Nikon Pro remporte le Prix APA 2009

L'APA (Association of Publishing Agencies), comme son nom l'indique, est un groupement international d'agences de presses. Son but est notamment d'établir des codes de pratiques, de bonnes conduites afin de renforcer la légitimité auprès du public. Elle entend également favoriser le développement de la presse spécialisée. L'APA finance des recherches, lance et met sur pied des projets afin de fournir à ses membres de nouvelles opportunités commerciales. Chaque année l'APA remet des prix destinés à récompenser des membres pour la qualité de leur travail. Pour la cinquième année consécutive, le magazine de Nikon à destination de ses clients, Nikon Pro, est primé face à 350 autres postulants.

L'APA note que : « La publication spécialisée montre un visage plus attrayant et ce, dans le monde entier. En effet, les clients se tournent de plus en plus vers des magazines pour relever un certain nombre de défis internationaux. Cette utilisation plus intensive entraîne forcément une rigueur accrue, les mêmes clients exigeant des performances et de la fiabilité avec, à terme, un retour sensible sur leur investissement. Nikon Pro tient ses promesses sur tous ces plans ».

« Diffusé dans 27 pays et cinq langues, Nikon Pro informe les clients de Nikon sur les nouveautés en matière de matériel et de techniques, renforçant le message que la marque d'appareil photo reste le leader mondial des technologies d'imagerie. Ce message est corroboré par des images saisissantes prises par des photographes professionnels avec des appareils Nikon. Le lecteur visualise ainsi différentes démonstrations en situation réelle. Sur l'ensemble des personnes interrogées, 92 % ont déclaré que le magazine les valorisait, tandis que 84 % ont précisé qu'il reflétait réellement la marque. En ce qui concerne son impact sur les ventes, 71 % ont recours à Nikon Pro pour dénicher de nouvelles idées d'achat et 47 % des photographes professionnels ont acheté un produit ou service Nikon présenté dans le magazine ».

« Ce magazine est une excellente source d'information et d'inspiration pour tous les photographes. Il contient de nombreux renseignements très divers et, naturellement, les images sont remarquables. Un gagnant évident ». Nikon Pro avait déjà remporté le Prix APA de la publication internationale de l'année en 2004, 2006 et 2008, le Prix APA de la communication spécialisée de l'année 2005 et le Prix APA du magazine spécialisé de l'année 2004.

Hermes acquires part Leica Camera AG

Hermès acquires 31.5 % of the share capital of Leica Camera AG On 22nd of November 2000, Hermès International has launched a friendly tender offer for 30 % of the share capital of Leica Camera AG running until 20th of December 2000. The proposed price was 12.50 Euro per share, representing a 30 % premium on the average stock market price in the last three months preceding the offer. At the closing of the offer, Hermès International announces that it has acquired 31.5% (30 % on a fully diluted basis) of the share capital of Leica Camera AG for a total investment of 17.7 million Euro. The press release note "Hermès International and Leica Camera AG welcome the decision of the shareholders who have tendered their shares and allowed the success of this operation. "