Polaroid Corporation, 1996
In late march 1996, Ralph Norwood, the recently appointed treasurer of Polaroid Corporation, reflected on several matters of concern about the firm’s debt policy that would require his attention in the coming months. One immediate concern was Polaroid’s outstanding $ 150-million, 7.25 percent notes, which were due to mature in January 1997. Investment bankers, keenly interested in garnering advisory and underwriting business from Polaroid, had sought to present proposals for refunding the issue. However, Norwood felt that any refunding decision should be part of a larger review of the firm's financial policies. Accordingly he undertook a review of the firm's overall debt policy, focusing primarily on the mix of debt and equity and on the maturity structure of the debt. He also sought to consider issues of control, the establishment of any special advisory relationship, and the use of new financial instruments.
In recent years Polaroid's share price had traded in a narrow range, reflecting small sales and earnings growth. However, a new plan to plan to exploit aggressively the existing Polaroid brand, introduce product extensions, and enter new emerging market (shut as Russia) had been proposed to spur the firm's performance. The restructuring plan was spearheaded by Gray T. DiCamillo, the first outsider appointed chief executive officer (CEO) in the firm's history. DiCamillo had only recently joined the firm in November 1995. Norwood believed the plan would reinvigorate the company without materially increasing its operating risk. With important changes in the works, Norwood felt it essential that his financial policies afford Polaroid the necessary funding and flexibility to pursue the initiatives of the new CEO.