Wednesday, January 4, 2012

The Sarcasm Report v.148

Buy Kodak now or forever be priced out.

Eastman Kodak Co. (EK)

Last Trade: 0.47
Trade Time: 4:01PM EST
Change: Down 0.1845 (28.19%)

January 4, 2012
Kodak prepares for Chapter 11 filing: report

Kodak warned in November that it might not survive 2012 if it was unable to secure $500 million in new debt or sell its patents. The company's cash had been shrinking as sales of its consumer products have failed to keep up with its heavy cost base, which includes employees and offices around the globe.

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13 comments:

  1. Stagflationary MarkJanuary 4, 2012 at 2:22 PM

    I don't have it in me to do 4 sarcasm reports in a row but apparently 2012 will be full of them.

    Rickards: China’s Slowdown Will Be Worse Than You Think

    Worse than I think? Is that even possible? I'm pretty darned bearish on China and have been since 2007.

    Here's the crazy part. I'm trying to adjust to the new reality but it is tough.

    1. Read article.
    2. Realize that it will be worse than I think.
    3. Adjust my thinking.
    4. Go to Step 1.

    I'm caught in a loop. No matter how many times I do this the slowdown in China will be worse than I think it will be. And it is getting worse each time!!

    It's like some sort of Chinese Murphy's Law Curse. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  2. mabJanuary 4, 2012 at 3:36 PM

    Mark,

    Investors get to pick their poison:

    Kodachromed vs. Polaroid(ed)!

    Bankers and lawyers get fees regardless.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polaroid_Corporation

    The above wiki is an interesting read........ patent battles with Kodak, multiple bankruptcies, private equity, corporate fraud, Lady Gaga (no joke!).

    ReplyDelete
  3. mabJanuary 4, 2012 at 3:43 PM

    Mark,

    Here's a little more "color" on the private (in)equity company that purchased Polaroid:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petters_Group_Worldwide

    From the above wikilink:

    On September 24, 2008, its headquarters and the homes of its top executives and some associated businesses were raided by the FBI. Wiretaps based on information gleaned from a confidential co-conspirator are alleged to detail the existence of a $2 billion investment fraud.

    On October 13, 2008, Petters Group Worldwide filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.[5]
    On December 2, 2009, Tom Petters was convicted on all counts related to this Ponzi scheme.[6]
    On April 8, 2010, Thomas J. Petters was sentenced to 50 years in federal prison for all counts related to running the Ponzi Scheme. [7]
    In early November 2010, the Hennepin County attorney's office filed drug possession charges against former Petters Group General Counsel David Baer, based on a safe full of illegal drugs under his office desk allegedly found by federal agents during the Sept. 24, 2008 raid

    Soylent Green is people and private equity is ............

    ReplyDelete
  4. Stagflationary MarkJanuary 4, 2012 at 5:51 PM

    mab,

    I am shocked that there was corporate fraud involved. Shocked I tell you. Other than where I once worked and in some of my relatively minor investments, I've never heard of such a thing!

    I think the only real way to prevent corporation evil-doing, at least from a sarcastic and/or Soylent perspective, is to remove law and order and allow the free markets to sort it out.

    How can truly free markets be and/or taste bad? It's people!! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  5. friedJanuary 4, 2012 at 7:20 PM

    "remove law and order and allow the free markets to sort it out."




    Johnny Sachs and Tony Soprano would agree...it's the Jersey way and it made them rich.

    ReplyDelete
  6. friedJanuary 4, 2012 at 7:23 PM

    You know, as soon as I typed that I realized something...if we could get the GOP candidates to stop using the words "regulate" or "deregulate" and instead say "let's get rid of law and order and allow the free markets to sort it out" some folks might understand what is being done.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Stagflationary MarkJanuary 5, 2012 at 2:20 AM

    fried,

    If you listen to fools, the mob rules.

    ReplyDelete
  8. nanuteJanuary 5, 2012 at 3:36 AM

    Mark, I hate to admit it, but if there were a futures market for mob rules, I'd be very bullish.

    ReplyDelete
  9. mabJanuary 5, 2012 at 4:47 AM

    Mark,

    Some of these corporate evil doers aren't all bad. CONsider Tom Petters, the head of the private (in)equity firm that bought Polaroid. He was quite a philanthropist! And it seems his philanthropy earned him a lot of community recognition (spots on prestigious baords and all). A cynic would likely point out that he was generous with "other people's" money. But that could just be sour grapes. Who can say for sure? ;)

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Petters

    ReplyDelete
  10. Mr SlipperyJanuary 5, 2012 at 7:40 AM

    Maybe Kodak and Sears can merge into some kind of hybrid business that takes quality photos of your appliances.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Stagflationary MarkJanuary 5, 2012 at 1:56 PM

    nanute,

    Mark, I hate to admit it, but if there were a futures market for mob rules, I'd be very bullish.

    There has been too much violence. Too much pain. But I have an honorable compromise. Just walk away.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Stagflationary MarkJanuary 5, 2012 at 1:59 PM

    mab,

    Some of these corporate evil doers aren't all bad.

    That implies...

    They can con some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but they can not con all of the people all of the time. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Stagflationary MarkJanuary 5, 2012 at 2:02 PM

    Mr Slippery,

    Maybe Kodak and Sears can merge into some kind of hybrid business that takes quality photos of your appliances.

    Hahaha!

    Perhaps Kodak, Sears, and General Motors should merge into a fuel efficient mega-hybrid business.

    ReplyDelete