NewPage Settles with Government

http://bangordailynews.com/2013/03/26/business/rumford-mill-owner-to-pay-3-million-to-settle-allegations-it-manipulated-energy-market/

NewPage’s Rumford mill in Maine to pay $3 million to settle federal allegations it manipulated regional energy market.

Rumford Paper Co., which operates the paper mill in town, has agreed to pay more than $3 million to settle allegations brought by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that it profited from manipulating New England's energy market.

In the consent agreement published Friday, Rumford Paper, which is a subsidiary of Ohio-based NewPage Corp., agreed to a total fine of $10 million and return of more than $3 million in payments FERC maintains the Rumford mill received fraudulently through the manipulation of an electricity program administered by ISO-New England that compensated large industrial electricity users for reducing their electricity consumption during peak demand hours.
However, because NewPage filed for bankruptcy in September 2011, FERC has agreed to accept a cash payment of slightly more than $3 million to settle the case.

Maryland's Special Deal for NewPage

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/blog/bal-bmg-bill-ending-paper-mill-subsidies-revived-20130325,0,4556595.story

Maryland ‘black liquor bill’ resurrected in legislate after special deal for NewPage mill.

Some Annapolis lawmakers have gotten in the Easter spirit a little early. A bill that would curtail millions in renewable-energy subsidies for mostly out-of-state paper mills comes to the Senate floor Monday, after being killed last week and then revived with a special deal for Maryland's only paper-making plant.

The bill, SB684, pushed by environmentalists, would phase out the ability of paper facilities to cash in on Maryland's renewable energy law by burning "black liquor," a tarry byproduct of the pulping process, and other wood waste to power their operations.
Under the 2004 law, paper mills collectively received $3.8 million in 2011 by selling "renewable energy" credits to companies supplying power to Maryland's households and businesses. The state's electricity customers.

Newton Falls Assets to be Liquidated

http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20130326/NEWS05/703269882

The sale of the Newton Falls paper mill as an intact operation has failed and the assets will be liquidated in the latest turn of events surrounding the plant.

Scotia Investments Vice President Robert G. Patzelt wrote in an email that the special bid received at the end of an auction Thursday for the entirety of the mill's equipment was terminated during finalization of the details.
"The owners are disappointed with this development as they put tremendous time and effort into selling the entire mill which was seen to be in the best interest of all the stakeholders and especially the mill and the community," Mr. Patzelt wrote. "Ideally, we wanted the mill to be sold as a going concern, or, in its current state of being ready to be reopened by another party."

Port Townsend President Resigns

http://www.ptleader.com/main.asp?SectionID=36&SubSectionID=55&ArticleID=33252

After coming to work at Port Townsend Paper Corp. in 2008, President Roger Loney has resigned.

According to a March 26 release from Dale Stahl, executive chairman of the Port Townsend Holdings Company, Loney intends to pursue other business interests and spend more time on the East Coast with his family. He committed to three to five years when he initially joined the mill as a mill manager, according to the release.

Domtar Closes Kamloops Pulp Line

http://www.kamloopsnews.ca/article/20130322/KAMLOOPS0101/303229990/-1/KAMLOOPS/domtars-a-line-closes-monday

After months of waiting, Domtar's A-line pulp machine will shut down at the end of the work day Monday, union and corporate officials have confirmed.
By the time the dust completely settles later this spring, the number of layoffs will be the biggest in the Kamloops operation's history, said Doug Cumming.

http://www.kamloopsnews.ca/article/20130325/KAMLOOPS0101/130329958/-1/kamloops01/domtar-hoping-for-tax-break

Domtar to seek property tax break as Kamloops, BC, pulp mill shuts down line.

Domtar is taking stock of its reduced Kamloops operation to have its taxable property reassessed.

With Monday's shutdown of the A-line, Domtar's operation is shrinking and so, too, should its tax bill, said spokeswoman Bonnie Skene.

Sustainability Top Purchase Criterion For Packaging

http://www.cnbc.com/id/100593005

An independent research study commissioned by the Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI), a business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), revealed 65 percent of decision makers at Fortune 500 consumer product companies view packaging sustainability as a high priority. The survey was conducted by MindClick in January and February and included packaging decision makers from major consumer packaged goods companies.

Gartner: Companies Increasing Digital Maketing 9%

http://www.dmnews.com/digital-commands-25-of-marketing-budgets/article/286160/

Companies will be increasing their digital marketing budgets by 9% on average in 2013, fueled by increased investments in corporate websites and digital advertising, according to a new report from Gartner. A survey of 250 marketers working in financial services, retail, technology, media, and healthcare revealed that companies devote an average of 25% of their marketing budgets to digital pursuits. Gartner predicts the percentage will continue to rise because companies find digital more cost-effective than traditional techniques. Asked what digital disciplines were most essential to their current success, marketers named company websites, social media, and digital advertising.

RDA Gets Approval for Bankruptcy Financing Agreement

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/196692/rda-gets-approval-for-bankruptcy-financing-agreeme.html#axzz2Om2dYzT

RDA Holding Co., which owns The Reader’s Digest Association, has received approval for a key part of its bankruptcy reorganization: the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York has approved a plan that will raise $105 million to fund ongoing operations as part of a “debtor-in-possession” financing agreement.

Along with the financing agreement, the court also granted approval to measures to help RDA continue its business operations, including authority to pay employees and freelancers on normal schedules. 
The company filed its reorganization plan and disclosure statement on Thursday, March 21, and is due back in court April 25 for a hearing to consider approval of the disclosure statement.

Glassdoor Names Top Ten Retail CEOs

http://risnews.edgl.com/retail-insight-blog/Top-6-Highest-Rated-Retail-CEOs85493?rssid=Article85493

Jeff Bezos, Amazon: Coming in at 16 with a 93% approval rating is Amazon’s Jeff Bezos.  

Blake Nordstrom, Nordstrom: Next on the list is Blake Nordstrom at 29 with a 90% approval rating. Glenn Murphy, The Gap: At 39 on the list is Glenn Murphy of the Gap with an 83% approval rating and a big year-over-year jump of 13 points. Top company characteristics include being diversity and a fair and fun work environment with a passion for fashion. Employee discounts are a huge plus and so is scheduling flexibility.

Frank Blake, The Home Depot: Frank Blake is 40 on the list with an approval rating of 82%. Teamwork, camaraderie and profit sharing are strong company traits.  

Sharon Turney, Victoria’s Secret: Next on the list is Sharon Turney of Victoria’s Secret at 42 with an 82% approval rating.
Ed Crenshaw, Publix: Last on the list is Ed Crenshaw of Publix at 48 with an 82% approval rating.

Hearst's SF Chronicle Adds Paywall

http://www.sfgate.com/business/prweb/article/The-San-Francisco-Chronicle-Introduces-4381952.php

The San Francisco Chronicle, the Bay Area’s most-read source of local and national news, has launched the all-new SFChronicle.com, a premium news website available by subscription.
SFChronicle.com is an extension of the newspaper’s award-winning, in-depth coverage that readers have come to expect from the Bay Area’s leading news source..
SFChronicle.com is available as part of a digital package for only $12.00 a month. Most Chronicle print subscribers will have access to SFChronicle.com as part of their subscriptions.

Bertelsmann Reports 2012 Results

http://www.bertelsmann.com/Press.html

Bertelsmann has made good progress in reshaping the Group, and for the ongoing process can rely on strong financials for 2012: growth in revenues, a stable operating EBIT, and a slight increase in Group profit. In the years ahead, Bertelsmann is targeting for continued organic and acquisition growth. First steps are the planned combination of Random House and Penguin as one of the world's leading book publishers; the complete ownership of the music rights company BMG; and the establishment and expansion of new, mainly digital, businesses in sectors and regions with high-growth potential.

Associated Press Wins Copyright Suit

Associated Press Wins Suit in Internet Copyright, Fair Use Case:
Publishers can rest easy knowing that their content online will be protected—for now. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York has ruled in favor of the Associated Press in its copyright infringement suit against San Francisco-based Meltwater News, a self-described commercial media-monitoring service.
At the heart of the case was the assertion by Meltwater News that content published and freely available on the Internet can be scraped, compiled and commercially resold under fair-use laws.