Kodak Buying Design2Launch

Eastman Kodak Co. (EK) has agreed to acquire Design2Launch Inc., a Stamford, Conn.-based maker of software for marketers and advertisers. No financial terms were disclosed for the deal, which is expected to close within a month. Design2Launch has raised around $3 million in VC funding since 2002, from Endeavor Capital Management, CommonAngels, 1to1 Ventures and Next Generation Ventures.

PRESS RELEASE

Kodak today announced its intent to acquire Design2Launch, Inc. developer of a collaborative end-to-end digital workflow solution for marketing and creative teams in the pharmaceutical, food & beverage, automotive, and consumer package marketplaces. Design2Launch is a proven player in the rapidly expanding corporate solutions software market and is a pioneer of “Graphic Lifecycle Management.”  Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The Design2Launch System is a suite of integrated modules created to save time and money at every step of the graphics creation process, from project initiation, collaboration and revision, through to approval and into production.  Design2Launch, a privately held company formed in 2000, is based in Stamford, Conn.

“Kodak's strength in workflow is one of our greatest competitive assets, and we are committed to investing in and growing our capabilities to better serve our customers,” said Philip J. Faraci, President and Chief Operating Officer, Eastman Kodak Company. “Design2Launch is a proven player in the rapidly expanding corporate solutions software market and, when completed, this acquisition will enable us to broaden our portfolio of solutions and open new markets within the changing graphic communications marketplace.” 

Designed for marketing, creative, advertising, production, R&D, legal, and packaging professionals, major modules of Design2Launch include:

• Visual Asset Manager (VAM), a browser-based, comprehensive digital asset management system which supports all types of digital files, managing both works in progress and finalized branded assets
• Dynamic Digital Workflow, an easy-to-configure, rules-based system that supports both template and ad hoc workflows
• Routing & Collaboration, a tool for routing and tracking all annotations, reviews, and approvals
• Soft Proofing, based on KODAK MATCHPRINT Virtual Proofing Software for color managed remote proofing
• File Transfer Manager, to help users distribute large files between remote locations quickly, securely, and efficiently
• Project Management and Tracking, which provides automated real-time monitoring and reporting of all types of projects, to maximize resource utilization

Design2Launch is led by the brother and sister team of Alison Malloy, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Ron Malloy, Chief Strategy Officer.

“Design2Launch users can expect to receive the same high level of service and support we have always provided,” said Alison Malloy. “In addition, our customers will also have the opportunity to capitalize on important new benefits,” added Ron Malloy.  “We will leverage the worldwide strength of Kodak to increase local support for global brands, and further leverage Kodak's expertise in workflow automation, color and image management to expand the breadth of our corporate solutions.”

The transaction is subject to acceptance by minority shareholders of Design2Launch and customary conditions to closing.  The parties anticipate the transaction will be consummated within 30 days. 

Kodak's Graphic Communications Group is the only graphic arts and printing industry supplier to provide both digital and conventional production solutions within a unified workflow.  Kodak's portfolio of workflow software solutions includes the industry leading KODAK PRINERGY Workflow System, which has more than 40,000 installations at graphic communications service providers around the world.

Kodak announced in February that it would launch KODAK COLORFLOW Software at Drupa 2008.  The COLORFLOW System is a single software solution that delivers integrated color control across all devices in the production environment: monitors, scanner, halftone and inkjet proofers, as well as digital and conventional presses.

Kodak's unified workflow approach includes a wide range of portal products that use the Internet to facilitate e-commerce, collaboration, digital asset management, online job submission, and monitor proofing.  Kodak also offers industry leading software tools for file creation and management in the production environment.

With expertise in visualization and workflow management for brand owners and their agencies, the addition of Design2Launch to Kodak's product portfolio will help Kodak to more tightly integrate brand owners, marketing services, and print service providers.

KODAK Products are backed by KODAK Service and Support. KODAK Service and Support is made up of more than 3,000 professionals reaching more than 120 countries. It is a leading multi-vendor integrated services provider, delivering consulting, installation, maintenance and support services for the commercial printing, graphic communications, document imaging and data storage industries. KODAK Service and Support professionals are uniquely qualified to provide services that control costs, maximize productivity, and minimize business risk.

About Kodak

As the world's foremost imaging innovator, Kodak helps consumers, businesses, and creative professionals unleash the power of pictures and printing to enrich their lives.

To learn more, visit http://www.kodak.com, and our blogs: 1000words.kodak.com, and 1000nerds.kodak.com.

Editor's Note: Kodak corporate news releases are now offered via RSS feeds. To subscribe, visit www.kodak.com/go/RSS and look for the RSS symbol. In addition, Kodak podcasts are viewable at www.kodak.com/go/podcasts. Podcasts may be downloaded for viewing on iTunes, Quicktime, or other PC-based media players. Users may also subscribe to Kodak podcasts via the iTunes store by typing “Kodak Close Up” in the search field at the top of the iTunes Store window.

For more information about Kodak's Graphic Communications Group, visit www.graphics.kodak.com. For downloading photos from Kodak's image library, visit: www.kodak.com/go/gcg_images.