Burgo Closing Italy’s Last Newsprint Mill

Burgo to close Italy’s last newsprint mill

Burgo Group recently announced the suspension of production at Mantova mill starting February 9th, 2013.
Current production capacity of the plant is 150,000 tons/year of newsprint.
The decision is due to the unsustainable impact of energy costs in Italy. Additional causes are European newsprint market overcapacity and raw materials costs.
Burgo Group will evaluate developments of the competitive scenario before taking any decision about the industrial future of the plant.
188 employees are affected by the closure.
Since the closure of Cartiera Verde Romanello mill in February last year, Mantua has been the only facility producing newsprint in Italy, according to EUWID.

China's Graphic Paper Demand Growing

China's graphic paper demand expected to grow during next decade

The end-use structures in China are dramatically different than those of other world regions

China will continue to experience healthy graphic (printing, writing, & newsprint) paper demand growth over the next decade despite some markets in China already starting to mature. According to a new study released today by RISI, the leading information provider for the global forest products industry, healthy economic activity and improved standards of living in China will support demand even as some markets such as newsprint experience displacement by electronic technology. China's Influence on World Graphic Paper Markets in the Coming Decade analyzes China's end use structure to determine how it will affect future graphic paper market growth.

BC Commits $5 Million to Forest Industry

British Columbia promotes $5 million fund for forestry contractors:
The province of British Columbia set in motion a $5 million fund to provide financial protection for forestry contractors, as well as announcing tax relief on previous compensation payments.
“Our promise to logging contractors was to guarantee they receive payment for work performed, and to ensure fair tax treatment on earlier compensation,” said Premier Christy Clark. “Today we’re honouring those commitments.”
The compensation fund will strengthen payment protection for those who contract their services to forest sector companies. Logging contractors who provide services to licensees, but are not paid because of licensee insolvency, can now access this compensation fund to better protect their financial interests.

Tribune Names Officers

http://corporate.tribune.com/pressroom/?p=5103

Tribune Company today announced that its Board of Directors has elected Bruce Karsh as Chairman of the Board and Peter Liguori as Chief Executive Officer.  The appointments are effective immediately.  The company also announced that former Chief Executive Officer Eddy Hartenstein will continue to serve as Publisher of the Los Angeles Times and CEO of the Los Angeles Times Media Group, and will act as special advisor to the Office of the CEO.

Since 1995, Karsh has served as President and co-founder of Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., formerly Oaktree Capital Management, LLC, a Los Angeles-based investment management firm. 
Liguori most recently served as Chief Operating Officer of Discovery Communications.  Before joining Discovery in 2009, he served as Chairman of Entertainment for the Fox Broadcasting Company.  Prior to assuming that position in 2005, Liguori was president and CEO of News Corp.’s FX Networks since 1998.

47% Direct Marketers to HIre in Q1

Nearly half of digital and direct marketers will hire in the first quarter: Forty-seven percent of digital and direct agencies and marketing companies plan to add staff in the first quarter, according to Bernhart Associates' “Quarterly Digital and Direct Marketing Hiring Report.”

Survey: Marketers to Up Big Data Spending

Survey: Marketers to ramp up Big Data spending: Marketers plan to increase their investments in data-related marketing initiatives this year, with a heavy emphasis on hiring, according to a report from Infogroup Targeting Services and Yesmail interactive.

Jordan, Edmiston: Robust M&A Market Ahead

Jordan, Edmiston forecasts robust M&A market: Media merger and acquisition activity will be strong over the next 24 months, according to the third annual “Media Growth Survey Report” from media investment bank Jordan, Edmiston Group and Econsultancy, a digital publishing and training company.
The survey found three out of four executives from companies with more than $50 million in revenue expect to make an acquisition during this period.