柯达申请破产保护

Eastman Kodak, the company that invented the hand-held camera, has filed for bankruptcy¹ protection with a US court.

伊士曼柯达——发明手持式相机的公司——向美国一家法院申请破产保护。

Despite efforts to refocus the business, Kodak has failed to stem declining profitability
Kodak said in a statement that its business would keep going as normal for customers.

It said it had already arranged a $950m (£615m) credit facility from Citigroup.

The 132-year-old photography firm has struggled to keep up with competitors who were quicker to adapt to the digital era.

Kodak described the process as a business reorganisation, and said only its US subsidiaries will be affected².

"The board of directors and the entire senior management team unanimously（全体一致地） believe that this is a necessary step and the right thing to do for the future of Kodak," said Antonio M. Perez, Kodak's chairman and chief executive.

Since becoming chief executive, Mr Perez has steered³ Kodak away from its traditional market in camera to focus on home and commercial printers.

However, the firm has failed to stem its falling profitability.

In its 1980s heyday⁴（全盛期） the company employed 145,000 people in locations throughout the world. Now Kodak employs 19,000 workers.