Stora Enso Reports Q2 Results

Stora Enso's Non-Recurring Items in Second Quarter 2012:
Stora Enso will record non-recurring items with a positive net impact of approximately EUR 45 million on operating profit and a positive impact of approximately EUR 10 million on financial items in its second quarter 2012 results.

Twin Rivers Gets Madawaska Tax Break

http://www.sjvalley-times.com/view/full_story/19286531/article-Madawaska-offers-valuation-reduction-to-Twin-Rivers?instance=latest_articles

Madawaska town selectmen voted unanimously on Monday evening, July 9, to offer a reduction in property valuation to Twin Rivers Paper Company totaling $25 million, according to Donald Chasse, chair of the town's board of selectmen.
Since August of last year, the company, which owns the paper manufacturing facilities in Madawaska and Edmundston, New Brunswick, has been trying to lower its property taxes by having its property valuation adjusted downwards.

UPM Selling Timberlands

UPM has signed a contract with funds advised by Latifundium to sell them about 7,200 hectares of forest land in Finland. The estates are located in Ilomantsi, Pihtipudas and Tervo. The contract covers a long term wood purchase and forest management agreement.

White Birch to Reopen Stadacona

White Birch Paper Company today announced that it plans to reopen the Stadacona newsprint mill in Quebec City on August 2nd, which has been closed since December 9th, 2011. The announcement comes after several months of joint efforts with the Government of Quebec and the Syndicat canadien des communications, de l'énergie et du papier (SCEP) Unionized employees, to obtain a sustainable operating plan.

Appleton & Hicks Call Off Deal

Appleton Papers Inc. ("Appleton") and Hicks Acquisition Company II, Inc. (HACII) (HKAC), a special purpose acquisition company sponsored by Thomas O. Hicks, announced they have agreed to discontinue their proposed business combination.

Separately, it was reported that Appleton Papers Inc. announced has terminated its previously announced consent solicitation with respect its 10.50% Senior Secured Notes due 2015 (the "Senior Notes") and its 11.25% Second Lien Notes due 2015 (the "Second Lien Notes" and, together with the Senior Notes, the "Notes") and will not accept any consents provided by any of holders of the Notes.

CEP Locals Reach Agreement with Domtar

CEP Locals in Dryden reach tentative agreements with Domtar:
Three new tentative agreements were reached Wednesday covering over 500 members from CEP Locals 105-1, 105-3 and 324 at Domtar‘s Pulp Mill and Woodlands Operations in Dryden, Ontario.
Stephen Boon, CEP national representative stated, “after almost 40 days of fairly challenging negotiations over the last 9 months, we are pleased to have finally reached new tentative agreements with Domtar that we are able to bring back and recommend to our Mill and Woodlands Members in Dryden and Ear Falls.”

2016 Print Market Forecast at $845 Billion

http://eon.businesswire.com/news/eon/20120712006006/en/digital-print/packaging/print

The global market for print, and printed packaging, was valued at $791 billion in 2011 and is forecasted to be worth $845 billion by 2016 according to Smithers Pira...As print buyers become ever more creative with integrated promotional campaigns, providers of printed media must broaden their horizons to retain market share.
Printed media still plays a vital role in communication with customers in B2B and B2C markets, but today’s print buyers are looking for far more than this from their solution providers.

Global Ad Spend Improving

Global Ad Spend Improving; Online Sees Greatest Rise: Nielsen finds global spending on advertising is on the rise thanks to a lift in consumer confidence and brands "looking to reconnect." Global Internet ad spend outpaces other media with double-digit growth.
Magazines saw a minor decline compared to last year, but newspapers grew 3.1% globally. In Latin America and Asia Pacific, both media grew—7.6% and 10.3%, respectively in Latin America, and 3.6% and 5.4%, respectively in Asia Pacific. North America saw nominal declines in print ad spend (-2.1% and -5.0% respectively).

Printing Industries Urges Vote on Postal Reform

Printing Industries Urges U.S. House of Representatives to Vote on Postal Reform: Responding to media reports that the U.S. House is unlikely to vote on postal reform legislation this summer, Printing Industries of America today warned of the disastrous consequences this delay would pose to the printing and graphic communications industry.