To assess goodwill for impairment, the Company performs an assessment of the carrying value of its reporting units on an annual basis or when events and changes in circumstances occur that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of the Company's reporting units below their carrying value. If the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the Company would record an impairment charge to earnings to the extent the carrying amount of the reporting unit goodwill exceeds its implied fair value. The Company estimates the fair value of its reporting units through internal analyses and external valuations, which utilize income and market valuation approaches through the application of capitalized earnings, discounted cash flow and market comparable methods. These valuation techniques are based on a number of estimates and assumptions, including the projected future operating results of the reporting unit, discount rate, long-term growth rate and appropriate market comparables.

The Company's assessments of impairment of long-lived assets, including goodwill and purchased intangible assets, and its periodic review of the remaining useful lives of its long-lived assets are an integral part of the Company's ongoing strategic review of the business and operations, and are also performed in conjunction with the Company's periodic restructuring actions. Therefore, future changes in the Company's strategy, the ongoing digital substitution, the continuing shift from overnight photofinishing to onsite processing and other changes in the operations of the Company could impact the projected future operating results that are inherent in the Company's estimates of fair value, resulting in impairments in the future. Additionally, other changes in the estimates and assumptions, including the discount rate and expected long-term growth rate, which drive the valuation techniques employed to estimate the fair value of long-lived assets and goodwill could change and, therefore, impact the assessments of impairment in the future.

In performing the annual assessment of goodwill for impairment, the Company determined that no material reporting units' carrying values were close to exceeding their respective fair values. See "Goodwill" under Note 1, "Significant Accounting Policies."

INVESTMENTS IN EQUITY SECURITIES
Kodak holds minority interests in certain publicly traded and privately held companies having operations or technology within its strategic areas of focus. The Company's policy is to record an impairment charge on these investments when they experience declines in value that are considered to be other-than-temporary. Poor operating results of the investees or adverse changes in market conditions in the future may cause losses or an inability of the Company to recover its carrying value in these underlying investments. The remaining carrying value of the Company's investments in these equity securities is $25 million at December 31, 2003.

INCOME TAXES
The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce its net deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. At December 31, 2003, the Company has deferred tax assets for its net operating loss and foreign tax credit carryforwards of $258 million and $137 million, respectively, relating to which the Company has a valuation allowance of $45 million and $56 million, respectively. The Company has considered future market growth, forecasted earnings, future taxable income, the mix of earnings in the jurisdictions in which the Company operates, and prudent and feasible tax planning strategies in determining the need for these valuation allowances. If Kodak were to determine that it would not be able to realize a portion of its net deferred tax asset in the future for which there is currently no valuation allowance, an adjustment to the net deferred tax assets would be charged to earnings in the period such determination was made. Conversely, if the Company were to make a determination that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets for which there is currently a valuation allowance would be realized, the related valuation allowance would be reduced and a benefit to earnings would be recorded.

The Company's effective tax rate considers the impact of undistributed earnings of subsidiary companies outside of the U.S. Deferred taxes have not been provided for the potential remittance of such undistributed earnings, as it is the Company's policy to permanently reinvest its retained earnings. However, from time to time and to the extent that the Company can repatriate overseas earnings on a tax-free basis, the Company's foreign subsidiaries will pay dividends to the U.S. Material changes in the Company's working capital and long-term investment requirements could impact the decisions made by management with respect to the level and source of future remittances and, as a result, the Company's effective tax rate. See Note 15, "Income Taxes."

The Company operates within multiple taxing jurisdictions and is subject to audit in these jurisdictions. These audits can involve complex issues, which may require an extended period of time for resolution. Although management believes that adequate provision has been made for such issues, there is the possibility that the ultimate resolution of such issues could have an adverse effect on the earnings of the Company. Conversely, if these issues are resolved favorably in the future, the related provisions would be reduced, thus having a positive impact on earnings.

WARRANTY OBLIGATIONS
Management estimates expected product failure rates, material usage and service costs in the development of its warranty obligations. In the event that the actual results of these items differ from the estimates, an adjustment to the warranty obligation would be recorded.

PENSION AND POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS
Kodak's defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit costs and obligations are dependent on assumptions used by actuaries in calculating such amounts. These assumptions, which are reviewed annually by the Company, include the discount rate, long-term expected rate of return on plan assets, salary growth, healthcare cost trend rate and other economic and demographic factors. The Company bases the discount rate assumption for its significant plans on the estimated rate at which annuity contracts could be purchased to discharge the pension benefit obligation. In estimating that rate, the Company looks to the AA-rated corporate longterm bond yield rate in the respective country as of the last day of the year in the Company's reporting period as a guide. The long-term expected rate of return on plan assets is based on a combination of formal asset and liability studies, historical results of the portfolio, and management's expectation as to future returns that are expected to be realized over the estimated remaining life of the plan liabilities that will be funded with the plan assets. The salary growth assumptions are determined based on the Company's long-term actual experience and future and near-term outlook. The healthcare cost trend rate assumptions are based on historical cost and payment data, the near-term outlook, and an assessment of the likely long-term trends.