Agfa sells its consumer imaging division
Agfa just announced that it sold its consumer imaging division. The new owner are a trio are one German and two American holdings, with the Germans assuming the management. The new company, that will have about 2800 employees, will take charge of all the photo related activities of Agfa under the name of AgfaPhoto - the name change should be effective in 18 months.
Here's the press release: http://news.agfa.com/corporate/news.nsf/news/F07C0210ECC86EA9C1256EF3004D27CE?opendocument
A I the only one to consider this good news? Instead of the film divison being a small declining one in a large group, it will be the core activity of a new company, who will no doubt try to make it thrive.
Agfa sells its consumer imaging division
Well I think it's good news. It would be better if they still made sheet film.
Agfa sells its consumer imaging division
I see it as a positive step, too. Maybe the management buyout will result in them bringing back sheet film and the old enlarging papers. Well, that might be too much of a dream. ;-)
Agfa sells its consumer imaging division
Better still if they brought back APX 25!!!
Agfa sells its consumer imaging division
Unfortunately, as I miss APX 100, the more you read the press release, the bleaker it seems:
"After 6 months in 2004, sales in Consumer Imaging reached 363 million Euros, a decrease of 17.9 percent (or 15.6 percent at stable exchange rates) compared to the same period of 2003.
The sales decrease (excluding exchange rate effects) is evenly spread over the two quarters and reflects the rapidly accelerating shift from analogue to digital photography as well as increased price erosion. Turnover of film rolls is most affected, while Lab Equipment and photopaper show a more moderate decline. During the first half, Agfa's new digital minilab d-lab.1 and digital wholesale finishing lab d-ws, were launched."
Just what we need, more digital imaging...
Mike
Agfa sells its consumer imaging division
Aaaaaaaaaaakk...... there goes my favourite paper. It's a book move and they are going to gut it for the digital minilabs.
Agfa sells its consumer imaging division
The digital labs are Agfa. The consumer film [I'm not sure what that includes] will I guess get the film. They're not the same company anymore. What exactly is Agfa selling? Film? Chemicals? Agfaphoto is going to include what? They sure aren't providing much info.
Agfa sells its consumer imaging division
I've switched over to Ilford products. After they lied to me about their intentions with APX 100 in 4x5, that was it for me.
I love Agfa papers and chemicals, but I felt I had to throw my support behind a company that is truely trying to hang in there with traditional products.
FP4 and PyroCat-HD - ROCK ON!
Eric
Agfa sells its consumer imaging division
In the press release the labs are included in the Consumer Imaging section. The transfer is to management & private capital investment funds that are players in hedging.... one of which swooped in and cashed in profits of over 50 million short selling ENRON (...hmmmm I wonder how they knew).....Absolute profit credo!
The sky is falling!...... Chicken Little
Agfa sells its consumer imaging division
'Spect it's time to load up on a case of Rodinal, transfer it into glass bottles, purge with Nitrogen and seal.
They might sell off the film production to finance the buyout.
tim in san jose
430 sheets of APX100 and counting (down)