Market unconvinced by Kodak plans

Kodaks announcement of its plan to reach sales of 9.6bn ($16bn) by 2006 and 12bn by 2010 was overshadowed by a dive in its share price and the first cut in its dividend for more than a century.

The firm has placed the commercial print sector at the heart of its growth strategy and told an investors meeting that in the long term it would build new businesses in markets such as workflow management.

However, its share price fell to a 20-year low after it cut its dividend in a bid to reduce spending.

As announced last month (PrintWeek, 28 August), Kodak has appointed HP veteran James Langley as president of its new commercial printing business, which includes Encad and its KPG and NexPress joint ventures. Langley has also become a senior vice president of the group.

Kodak also said it could spend up to 1.8bn on investments and acquisitions to meet the 9.6bn revenue target.