Kodak Completes Pension Reversion Process, Delivering Over $1 Billion to Strengthen Balance Sheet, Fully Fund New Benefit Plan, and Accelerate Growth
Rhea-AI Impact
(High)
Rhea-AI Sentiment
(Neutral)
Tags
Key Terms
term loansfinancial
Term loans are long-term bank or lender loans with a set repayment schedule and fixed end date, similar to a mortgage or car loan for a business. They matter to investors because they create predictable interest payments and principal obligations that affect a company’s cash flow, credit risk and capacity to fund growth or return money to shareholders; heavier or expensive term loans can raise default risk and reduce future flexibility.
excise taxfinancial
An excise tax is a government charge levied on specific goods or activities—often applied per unit or as a percentage of price for items like fuel, tobacco, alcohol, or certain services—similar to a per-item toll added at the point of sale. It matters to investors because excise taxes raise costs for producers and consumers, can shrink profit margins or reduce demand, and therefore may affect a company’s revenues, pricing strategy and valuation.
defined benefit planfinancial
A defined benefit plan is a retirement program that guarantees workers a specific monthly payment after they retire, with the employer responsible for funding whatever is needed to meet that promise. Investors care because these plans create long-term payment obligations that can affect a company’s cash flow and balance sheet—similar to a homeowner having a fixed mortgage the household must cover regardless of income swings.
cash balance planfinancial
A cash balance plan is a type of employer-funded retirement program that promises each employee a specific “account” balance at retirement, which grows each year with pay credits and a guaranteed interest credit. Think of it as the company promising a guaranteed savings account for each worker rather than a vague future pension check. Investors watch these plans because they create long-term obligations and cash flow demands for the company, can affect reported liabilities and funding volatility, and therefore influence financial health and valuation.
8-Kregulatory
An 8-K is a public report companies must file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to disclose major events or changes that shareholders should know about, such as leadership changes, mergers, financial surprises, or legal developments. It matters to investors because it acts like a breaking-news alert for a company’s health and prospects—providing timely facts that can affect stock value and investment decisions.
Reduces Term Loan Balance to $200 Million and Substantially Lowers Interest Payments
Fulfills All Retirement Obligations to U.S. Pension Plan Participants
ROCHESTER, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE: KODK) announced today that it has completed the reversion process for the $1.023 billion in excess pension assets held in the company-funded Kodak Retirement Income Plan (“KRIP”), the final step in the previously disclosed KRIP transition.
Approximately $767 million of the excess assets reverted to the company, including $609 million in cash and non-cash assets valued at $158 million, significantly strengthening Kodak’s balance sheet and positioning it for future growth. Approximately $312 million of those cash proceeds have been used to pre-pay Kodak’s term loans, reducing the balance to $200 million. Kodak is now in a net-positive cash position, with a cash balance exceeding $300 million after accounting for the excise tax due on the reverted assets.
All pension obligations to KRIP participants have been fully settled, and Kodak has directed $251 million of investment assets and $5 million of cash to fully fund a new defined benefit plan for current U.S.-based employees called the Kodak Cash Balance Plan (“KCBP”). KCBP will provide substantially the same benefits as those under the cash balance feature of KRIP for the foreseeable future without additional cash cost to the company.
“Thanks to the rigorous planning and diligent execution of our team and advisors, we continue to strengthen our financial foundation, which allows us to continue focusing on operations while also fulfilling our commitment to safeguarding the retirement benefits of our plan beneficiaries,” said Jim Continenza, Kodak’s Executive Chairman and CEO. “As part of our long-term plan, this transaction reduces our debt and ongoing interest expense, freeing us to devote our energies to unlocking the full potential of our company and creating value for our employees, shareholders and customers.”
For more information, please refer to Kodak’s 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on December 2, 2025.
About Kodak
Kodak (NYSE: KODK) is a leading global manufacturer focused on commercial print and advanced materials & chemicals. With 79,000 worldwide patents earned over 130 years of R&D, we believe in the power of technology and science to enhance what the world sees and creates. Our innovative, award-winning products, combined with our customer-first approach, make us the partner of choice for commercial printers worldwide. Kodak is committed to environmental stewardship, including industry leadership in developing sustainable solutions for print. For additional information on Kodak, visit us at kodak.com, or follow us on X @Kodak and LinkedIn.
