Kodak plans to outsource digital camera production, distribution to Singapore-based Flextronics

Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, N.Y., USA, announced an agreement in which Singapore-based Flextronics International Ltd., will manufacture and distribute Kodak consumer digital cameras and will manage certain camera design and development functions. Under the agreement, Kodak will divest its entire digital camera manufacturing requirements to Flextronics, including assembly, production, and testing. Flextronics will also manage the operations and logistics services for Kodak's digital still cameras. Kodak says it will continue to develop the high-level system design, product look and feel and user experience, and will conduct advanced research and development for its digital still cameras. Kodak will also retain its intellectual property.

Upon closing of the transaction, Flextronics will acquire a significant portion of the Kodak Digital Product Center Japan Ltd. in China and Yokohama, Japan, and associated camera design functions and its employees and the digital camera manufacturing, assembly and warehousing requirements and related employees of Kodak Electronics Products Shanghai Co. Ltd. in China. Greg Westbrook, president of Flextronics' Consumer Digital market segment, is a former Kodak executive responsible for Kodak's Digital Capture business.

"This is another move in Kodak's overall strategy to further drive improvements for profitability and efficiency in the operating model of our consumer digital business," said John Blake Jr., general manager, Digital Capture & Devices, Consumer Digital Imaging Group and vice president, Eastman Kodak Co. "By partnering with Flextronics, Kodak will streamline our digital camera operations. This agreement will bring our camera products to market more quickly, with greater predictability, flexibility, and cost efficiency while maintaining the innovative ease-of-use for which the Kodak brand is renowned."

Kodak will retain all intellectual property and patents as part of the transaction as well as Kodak trademarks, Kodak trade names, Kodak customers, customer information and customer relationships, Kodak feature specifications, Kodak digital camera designs and Kodak digital camera technologies. Under the agreement, approximately 550 Kodak personnel are expected to be transferred to Flextronics facilities.

The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals. The agreement does not require shareholder approval from either company. Closing is expected to occur after all required approvals have been obtained and certain other conditions are satisfied, which is anticipated to be during Kodak's third quarter of 2006.