AbitibiBowater Makes Name Change Official

Resolute Forest Products is AbitibiBowater’s new official name:
At AbitibiBowater‘s annual general meeting today, stockholders have approved renaming the company to “Resolute Forest Products” effective tomorrow – May 24, 2012.

As part of this change, stockholders also agreed to change the company’s common stock ticker symbol from ABH to RFP on both the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange, also effective May 24, 2012.

Resolute Seeks Repurchase of 10% of Shares

Resolute Forest Products wants to repurchase shares:
AbitibiBowater Inc., doing business as Resolute Forest Products, has announced that its Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to 10% of the company’s common stock for an aggregate purchase price of up to US$100 million. The repurchase program will be funded using the company’s available cash.

Catalyst Paper Meeting with Creditors

Catalyst Paper creditors meeting today:
The meeting of Catalyst Paper‘s secured and unsecured creditors is being held this morning in Vancouver. The creditors will be discussing Catalyst Paper’s proposed Plan of Arrangement under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act.

Newsprint Ships Up; More Closures Expected

North American newsprint shipments in April were 1.7% higher than a year ago, which trimmed the average decline in volumes in the first four months of the year to 1.3%, according to the Pulp and Paper Products Council (PPPC). Mill operating rates averaged 91% compared with 93% in April 2011.

RISI today announced a high risk of closure for over 7 million total tonnes of global newsprint capacityover the next 5 years; 2 million tonnes in North America alone.

New Measuring Tools for Publishers

http://www.foliomag.com/2012/abc-gfk-mri-step-audience-measurement-efforts

The magazine industry now has more avenues when it comes to quantifying its total reach—both the Audit Bureau of Circulations, and media research company GfK MRI, have introduced new tools for publishers that can help provide a clearer picture of who readers are, and how many of them exist. 

Facebook Not to Issue Paper Certificates

http://money.cnn.com/2012/05/22/technology/facebook-paper-stock-certificates/?hpt=hp_t2

Facebook investors hoping for a tangible marker of their ownership stake are out of luck. The company won't be offering paper stock certificates, despite earlier indications that it planned to make them available.

LA Looks at Plastic Bag Ban

http://www.scpr.org/news/2012/05/22/32525/la-bag-ban-big-whale-environmental-groups-plastics/

Of the 75 communities across the country that have prohibited plastic bags, two-thirds of them are in California. Los Angeles might be next; this week, its city council could push a ban on single-use bags forward.

For Gov. & Barnes & Noble; New Venture

GPO / Barnes & Noble to Sell Federal eBooks: Government Printing Office (GPO) has signed an agreement with Barnes & Noble to sell Federal eBooks.

2012 Print Forum; Focus on ROI

Integrated Print Forum to Help Printers Increase Their New Media ROI: Printers of the 21st century recognize that expanding service offerings to new communication media and becoming an integrated print provider for customers is the future of print. The 2012 Integrated Print Forum will provide insights on how to effectively integrate print into the marketing mix and increase printers’ ROI.

Commerce Dept. Revises Commercial Print Ships Data

Commerce Department Revises Years of US Commercial Printing Shipments Data; Downward Revisions from 2009 Through 2012 (Economics & Research Center):
On Friday, May 18, the Commerce Department issued its annual revisions to manufacturer shipments. The revisions reached back all the way to 2001, with minor revisions to seasonality and little change to annual shipments. Starting with 2009, however, there were significant downward revisions.