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Polaroid

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Polaroid Corporation 1996

Executive Summary

Polaroid faces several business risks in March of 1996 that will affect its financing policy. Traditionally a one-product-line company, Polaroid still derives 90% of its revenues from photographic products.
Although the company enjoys a monopoly on instant chemical photography, digital imaging technologies pose a substantial threat. It is not clear how fast these technologies will develop or displace conventional photography, but it is clear that Polaroid will not have a monopoly in these markets. And the growth of quick "one-hour" photo development processing could make instant photography less appealing to consumers.

Further, an increasing portion of Polaroid's revenues come from outside the United States. Many of the sales are in developing countries: Russia alone accounted for almost 9% of 1995 sales. Polaroid does not have a large installed base in these countries, and the Polaroid brand name may not be as strong as in the United States. Although Polaroid uses international lines of credit and possibly other hedging techniques to reduce currency risk, doing business in developing nations poses an increased market risk.

The growth in international business is a logical move for Polaroid given that U.S. sales are flat and net margins of foreign sales have been higher than domestic margins for the past three years.

The increased risk and the possibility that the company will need additional funds to develop or acquire new technologies in the near future mean that Polaroid must maintain a strong enough balance sheet to provide a cushion for future financing needs.
Polaroid’s current capital structure should be improved to ensure a minimum BBB rating and to avoid market perceptions of the company as a cash cow with limited growth opportunities. The company should reverse direction and emphasize growth

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