Kodak to Modify Deal for Bell & Howell Unit

Antitrust regulators said Eastman Kodak Co. has agreed to restructure its purchase of Bell & Howell Co.’s imaging unit to address competition concerns in the market for high-speed document scanners. The Justice Department said Kodak would abandon purchase of the document-scanner segment of the business, including the Copiscan and 8000Plus series machines, but still acquire the remaining operations of Bell & Howell Imaging Co. “The deal as originally proposed would have led to a loss of important head-to-head competition for high-speed document scanners, resulting in higher prices for customers and reduced product innovation,” the Justice Department said. In announcing the deal in October, Rochester, N.Y.-based Kodak said it would pay about $150 million in cash to Skokie, Ill.-based Bell & Howell for the imaging unit. Kodak had no immediate comment on a new price for the acquisition. Kodak shares fell 8 cents to close at $44.74, and Bell & Howell fell 39 cents to close at $21.43, both on the NYSE.