AgfaPhoto

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This article is about the now-bankrupt photographic company, formed from the 2004 sell-off of Agfa-Gevaert's consumer imaging division. For information on its former parent, see Agfa-Gevaert.
Agfamatic 50 manufactured in 1972
Agfamatic 50 manufactured in 1972

AgfaPhoto GmbH was a European photographic company, formed in 2004 when Agfa-Gevaert sold their Consumer Imaging division. Agfa (the former parent company, which merged with film manufacturer Gevaert in 1964) had for many years been well-known as a producer of consumer-oriented photographic products including films, photographic papers and cameras. However, within a year of the sell-off, AgfaPhoto had filed for bankruptcy.[1]

The various product brands are now being licenced to various companies by a holding firm known as AgfaPhoto Holding GmbH. Minilab service and chemicals are now sold by A&O Imaging Solutions, and AgfaPhoto Vista Brand Film is sold by Lupus Imaging & Media.

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[edit] Management buyout

In 2004, Agfa-Gevaert announced that it had reached a definitive agreement to divest the whole of its Consumer Imaging business in a management buyout for a purchase price of €175.5 million. The divestment covered the whole of its Consumer Imaging business, including film, finishing products, and lab equipment, grouped in a new company - AgfaPhoto GmbH, as well as the related lease portfolio, in a management buyout. The targeted closing date of the transaction was November 1, 2004.

The transaction resulted in a non-cash book loss to Agfa-Gevaert of €430 million, but was cash positive to the extent of €260 million. While the trading environment for both HealthCare and Graphic System divisions improved considerably, the group's half year results were heavily affected by the expected book loss on the divestiture of Consumer Imaging.

[edit] Agfa and AgfaPhoto photographic products

[edit] Agfa Cameras

Agfa Optima 335 Sensor
Agfa Optima 335 Sensor
Agfa Agfamatic 300 Sensor
Agfa Agfamatic 300 Sensor
Various Agfa Movex Normal 8 home movie cameras
Various Agfa Movex Normal 8 home movie cameras

Agfa produced a range of cameras which included:

[edit] Agfa Consumer and Professional Films

Black & White films :

  • Isopan ISS (Super Special)
  • Isopan F - Portrait film
  • Isopan F
  • Isopan Ultra
  • Isopan Super Special
  • Isopan Fine Grain
  • Isopan Record
  • Agfa Vario-XL (C-41 process chromogenic film)
  • Dia-Direct (reversal film)
  • Scala (reversal film)

Colour Reversal (slide) films :

  • Agfacolor Neue
  • Agfa CT18
  • Agfachrome 50 S / 50 L
  • RSX series

Colour Negative films :

  • Agfacolor Negative
  • Agfacolor CN17
  • Agfa CNS
  • Agfacolor Pcket Special
  • Agfa Optima
  • Agfa Portrait
  • Agfa Ultra

[edit] Agfa Papers

Agfa photographic papers were of very high quality and included brands such as:

  • Brovira
  • Portiga Rapid
  • Lupex

[edit] References

  1. ^ AgfaPhoto files for insolvency, dpreview.com. Article dated 2005-05-27, retrieved 2007-03-04.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links