Eastman Kodak has reached a financing deal with bondholders that could take the one-time photography giant out of bankruptcy, a person close to the matter said today.
The deal, which needs bankruptcy court approval, would provide Kodak with $US793 million in loans on the condition that it receive at least $US500 million for a patent portfolio it has been trying to sell for more than a year, the person said.
The financing is also contingent on the company selling all or a portion of its document imaging and personalised imaging businesses, which were also put up for sale, the person said.
Kodak filed for Chapter 11 protection in January in hopes of selling its intellectual property portfolio, but bids have been lower than hoped. It remains in talks for a patent sale with potential buyers, including Apple and Google.
Disposing of its intellectual property and imaging assets would mean a restructured Kodak would largely be out of the consumer business, focusing instead on its commercial imaging businesses.
Kodak had no immediate comment.
The bondholders funding Kodak's loans, which include Centerbridge Partners and a JPMorgan Chase & Co unit, beat out another contingent of second-lien bondholders that had offered financing, the person said.
Some of those second-lien holders on Monday filed court papers objecting to Kodak's request to keep exclusive control of its bankruptcy process through February 28.
The request, which needs court approval, would bar creditors from pushing competing restructuring plans.
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