NewPage Port Hawkesbury granted extension:
In court this morning, Justice John Murphy approved another extension to NewPage Port Hawkesbury‘s period of creditor protection.
But the judge expressed concern about possible delays getting the purchase deal with Pacific West Commercial Corp. done by September.
This extension is for 2 more months.
NewPage Port Hawkesbury will return to court on August 1.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
AF&PA Reports April Paper & Board Production
http://www.afandpa.org/
US
paper and board production in April declined 2.5% vs April 2011 production and was down year-to-date by 1.2%, based on American Forest & Paper
Association figures.
The
April decline resulted from a 3.2% drop in paper production and 2% fall in
paperboard production.
Year-to-date,
uncoated mechanical paper production was down 16.2% and coated papers down 5%.
US
mills year-to-date ran at an average of 91.2%, in line with the 2011 average.
Catalyst Asks Goverment for Support
Kevin J. Clarke, president and CEO of Catalyst Paper is asking Victoria and Ottawa for it's support. "
Catalyst
delivers 7,000 jobs in B.C., and has a $2 billion impact a year." The company is asking the B.C. government to
support North Cowichan's efforts to achieve a competitive industrial tax rate, to make
available $30 million over five years to support new hiring and high-tech
training programs at Catalyst mills. It's asking Victoria for support in ensuring certainty in BC Hydro rates and to eliminate the $8 million per year risk to Catalyst
operations and Ottawa to return to Catalyst the $5.5 million each month in HST credits
that are normally returned to the company but that are now frozen under CCAA.
Verso Still Assessing Sartell Damage
The
future of a paper mill that's one of the main employers and taxpayers in the
central Minnesota town of Sartell was unclear Tuesday as firefighters spent a
second day trying to extinguish a fire that killed one worker and injured four.
The
fire broke out Monday with an explosion in a warehouse at the Verso Paper Corp.
mill. The warehouse held nearly 4,000 rolls of paper, each weighing hundreds of
pounds. Firefighters Tuesday still were trying to get to the burning rolls at
the back of the building.
The
building is unstable and structural beams are resting on top of paper rolls,
Fire Chief Ken Heim said. "We have a massive challenge ahead of us,"
Heim said during a news conference.
However,
Heim also said he didn't think the rest of the plant was damaged.
The
plant is so important to the area that Gov. Mark Dayton visited the site
Tuesday.
New York Magazine & Dwell Partner
http://www.foliomag.com/2012/new-york-and-dwell-partner-upcoming-print-publication-event
In
a collaboration that will play out in person and in print, New York
and Dwell
partner to bring design to a greater audience. The partnership aims to expand
both Dwell’s and New York’s footprints in the New York City
design scene, as well as to aid the American Institute of Architects [AIA] in
reaching the consumer market.
Magazine Readership by Young People Actually Up
It’s
a fairly common assumption that millennials don’t read print media because
they’re all too busy browsing blogs, clicking on Facebook links, and watching
YouTube videos to crack open a physical magazine. Well, a new study from Condé
Nast says young people's magazine readership is actually the highest it's been
in decades.
Consumer Magazine Readership Declines
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/175861/magazine-print-readership-declines-digital-grows.html
Consumer magazines’ print readership declined
over the last year, but the losses were partly offset by growth in digital
readership, according to GfK MRI, which recently released the second wave of
its revised Survey of The American Consumer, amended to include more questions
about digital reading.
In the period from September 2011-April 2012,
the total average print audience of 190 major titles tracked by GfK MRI came to
just over 1.2 billion, down 2.7% from 1.24 billion for the same period in 2011.
When print and digital editions are considered together, the figure sank 2.6%
from just under 1.25 billion to just under 1.22 billion.
Sycamore Partners Buys Talbots
Talbots Inc., a clothing brand known for
classically styled apparel for middle-age women, has agreed to be acquired by
an affiliate of the private equity firm Sycamore
Partners, the two companies said Thursday.
In
the press release issued Thursday, the companies said that the current
transaction is valued at about $369 million when debt is included. The
transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of this year.
USPS; New Branding Program for Marketers
USPS Launching Mailing Permit Branding Program for Marketers: In response to customer requests, the U.S. Postal Service is announcing the launch of the “Picture Permit Imprint Indicia” program for commercial mailers.
This program provides new advertising opportunities for commercial mail customers by allowing them to use corporate logos, product visuals or other brand images in the permit indicia space on their mail.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Verso's Sartell PM 3 Appears Intact After Fire
Verso Mill's Main Paper Machine Intact After Blast: The Verso Paper Corp. operation in Sartell (MN), which has been producing paper for 105 years, was indefinitely idled by Monday’s fire that resulted in the death of 50-year-old employee and injuries to several others. But even as hot spots continued to pop up Tuesday, it was apparent the vast majority of the damage was contained to part of the paper warehouse.
Robert
Mundy, a senior vice president and chief financial officer for Memphis-based
Verso, said he was aware of preliminary reports that the paper-making capacity
of the plant’s No. 3 coated paper machine was intact. His company has been
unable to verify that, because the building was still considered unsafe, but it
sounded encouraging.
Derailment Causes Spill Bucksport, ME
The
Maine Department of Environmental Protection is estimating that 4,000 to 6,000
gallons of a chemical used to make coated paper (at Verso's Bucksport mill) spilled into the Penobscot
River when several train tanker cars derailed in Bucksport on Friday.
And
while the chemical is not believed to be hazardous, DEP officials said
department staff will monitor the site to determine if any harm to wildlife or
aquatic life results from the spill.
Four
cars in a 31-car train derailed Friday night on a stretch of Pan Am Railways
track near the Bucksport/Orrington town line.
China's Imports of Pulp, RCP Fall in April
China's total pulp imports dropped 13.8% in April compared to the
previous month, to around 1.406 million tonnes, according to data from
China Customs.
China's total recovered paper (RCP) imports fell 10.2% to nearly 2.628
million tonnes in April, down from some 2.928 million tonnes in March,
according to the same source.
Norpac Mill; Less Newsprint, More Book Paper
At Norpac, which is jointly owned by Weyerhaeuser and Japan-based Nippon
Paper Products, one of North America's largest
newsprint mills, books and other paper products are gradually taking over the
business as newspaper circulation falls and dailies shrink in size and number
of pages.
Newsprint sales are now less than half of
Norpac's business, down from 75% a decade ago. Newsprint
sales domestically and in Japan have fallen 5% to 10% since 2002.
CP Rail Service Strike Ends
After tabling back-to-work legislation in the House of Commons,
federal Labour Minister Lisa Raitt says she wants to see Canadian Pacific
Railway trains moving again by Thursday.
But transportation and commodity experts say it could take quite
a while for CP's rail service to get back to normal once the strike is brought
to an end.
The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) today welcomed the
government's action.
AF&PA Statement; Court Review on Forest Roads
http://whattheythink.com/news/58273-afpa-response-solicitor-generals-brief-forest-roads/?printmode
American Forest & Paper Association
President and CEO Donna Harman issued the following statement today in response
to the Solicitor General’s position that U.S. Supreme Court review of the Ninth
Circuit decision on forest roads permitting is not necessary.
Glatfelter Authorizes Share Repurchase Program
Glatfelter authorizes $25 million share repurchase program:
Glatfelter's board of directors authorized a share repurchase program for up to $25 million of its outstanding common stock, the Spring Grove-based paper mill said Tuesday.
Glatfelter's board of directors authorized a share repurchase program for up to $25 million of its outstanding common stock, the Spring Grove-based paper mill said Tuesday.
SFI Awards Grant
SFI awards $32,000 research grant to protect water resources in the boreal forest:
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) announced that the Forest Ecosystem Science Co-operative Inc. will receive a $32,000 grant to support graduate research activities to test current forest management practices in the Boreal Forest and develop best practice recommendations for protecting water resources.
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) announced that the Forest Ecosystem Science Co-operative Inc. will receive a $32,000 grant to support graduate research activities to test current forest management practices in the Boreal Forest and develop best practice recommendations for protecting water resources.
Hearst's Official Launch of HGTV
Following
two successful test issues in October 2011 and January 2012, the June/July
issue of HGTV hits newsstands nationwide today. The issue
will also be available for download on Zinio, B&N Nook, Kindle and Apple
Newsstand this week.
Top 5 Magazines in June
According to FOLIO: sister publication min, the lower-than-par monthly report of 154 titles for the first half is not a surprising one. The year has been like that. June demonstrated -6.45 percent and the overall differential for year-to-date 2012 versus 2011 was -6.10 percent.
Direct Mail Yields Better Return for Charities
Direct Mail Motivating More Online Donations: Donors are more than three times more likely to give an online gift in response to a direct mail appeal than an e-appeal, according to a new national study.
USPS Continues Cost Cutting Steps
After in-depth discussions between NPMHU and management officials at the headquarters level, the Postal Service is offering financial incentives during a new round of retirement and separation opportunities for most Mail Handlers.
Salesforce Buys Buddy Media
Reports: Salesforce to Acquire Buddy Media for More Than $800 Million: In a deal said to be worth over $800 million, CRM provider and cloud computing company Salesforce will purchase social media software provider Buddy Media. Buddy Media is used throughout the magazine industry, with major players such as Rodale and Hearst signed on to its services. Prevention tapped Buddy to add sweepstakes and newsletter registration to its Facebook page, while Hearst partnered with the company to produce branded social media applications (“sapplets”) for several of its titles.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Marubeni to Buy Gavilon for $3.6 Billion
http://www.marubeni.com/news/2012/120529e.html
Marubeni
Corp. said Tuesday it will buy Gavilon Group LLC, the U.S.'s third-biggest
grain handler, for $3.6 billion excluding debt, in a deal that will make it one
of the world's largest grain traders.
Marubeni previously reported Q4 2011 results; the consolidated net income Apr.2011-Mar. 2012
was at a historical high, up 26% from the same period last year. Revenue rose 19%.
Marubeni previously reported Q4 2011 results; the consolidated net income Apr.2011-Mar. 2012
was at a historical high, up 26% from the same period last year. Revenue rose 19%.
EURO-GRAPH Reports April Shipments
As reported by EURO-GRAPH, European shipments of coated mechanical paper in April fell -8.3% as compared to the same month last year. Demand declined -9.7% and exports were down -3.1%. Shipments for coated woodfree paper fell -2.4%, demand rose +0.5% and exports decreased -10.3%. Shipments of Supercalendered paper fell -7.5%, demand declined -2.5% and exports were down -27.4%.
UPM Sells Albbruck Mill
UPM SELLS CLOSED ALBBRUCK PAPER MILL TO KARL UNTERNEHMENSGRUPPE, GERMANY: UPM and Karl Unternehmensgruppe, Innernzell, Germany have reached an agreement on the sale of the Papierfabrik Albbruck GmbH. The closing of the deal is planned to be effective by the beginning of August 2012. The contract parties have agreed not to disclose the value of the transaction.
Fire at Verso's Sartell Mill
Firefighters make their way across the scene Monday to fight a fire at the Verso Paper plant in Sartell. / Kimm Anderson, kanderson@stcloudtimes.com
Sartell police and fire officials received a
call at 11:21 a.m. reporting an explosion at the mill, according to Sartell
City Administrator Patti Gartland. By 11:42 a.m. heavy black smoke was pouring
out of the center part of the mill and flames were visible on the roof.
Port Hawkesbury Backup Plan Negotiated
A
backup plan to sell off the assets of NewPage Port Hawkesbury is being
negotiated in case the going-concern sale to Pacific West Commercial Corp.
falls through, according to a new report by the monitor handling the sale. But people with a stake in seeing the mill
eventually reopen shouldn’t be alarmed, Mathew Harris of Ernst & Young said
Monday, as it was part of the plan all along and the current sales process is
“well on its way” to being successfully completed.
New ISO Standards for Packaging
New ISO world standards on packaging and environment
Thursday May 24th, 2012 marks the beginning of a new era in global manufacturing and distribution, where the environmental aspects of packaging throughout the supply and recycle chain will already be taken into account in the packaging design process.
Thursday May 24th, 2012 marks the beginning of a new era in global manufacturing and distribution, where the environmental aspects of packaging throughout the supply and recycle chain will already be taken into account in the packaging design process.
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