Direct-mail company Focus Direct, part of Market Partners, is closing its San Antonio production facility. Work is being diverted to larger facilities in Iowa and Virginia.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Next Issue Media's New Plan
Next Issue Media Launches Unlimited Digital Mag Access Plan: Next Issue Media has rolled out a new digital newsstand subscription plan and app for tablet magazines that allows customers to pay a flat monthly fee for unlimited access to a collection of, so far, 32 titles from 5 publishers, including Time and Hearst.
Heidelberg Expands Print Offerings
Heidelberg Expands Grand-Format and Cut-Sheet Digital Printing Offerings: Print media service providers today face a dynamic and challenging market characterized by shorter run lengths and customer demand for high-quality, flexible, low-cost solutions.
Publishers' Pinterest Interest
Pinterest: This online pin board is attracting serious attention among publishers as a significant source of traffic and “the next big thing” in social media.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
72% of U.S. Recovered Paper Exports to China
While US exports of recovered paper declined in January from December by 3%, China's January buying represented almost 72% of total exports, according to figures from the US Dept of Commerce, Bureau of Census.
China in January purchased 1.3 million tonnes of US recovered paper. The total exports for the month was 1.8 million.
India was the No. 2 largest destination for US recovered paper, with 7% of total exports and 121,161 tonnes.
China First in Forest Industry Growth
http://www.deloitte.com/view/en_GX/global/about/index.htm
According to the 2012 Global forest, paper, and packaging sector outlook launched today by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited's Global Manufacturing Industry group, China is expected to lead the sector in growth for 2012 due to increasing demand in the Asia Pacific region.
For the pulp and paper subsector, forecasts are positive; as such, pulp plants are under construction in Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay. Lower production costs, availability of raw material, and shorter growing time for trees are key drivers for the increase in pulp production in South America.
A DMA Win in Sales Tax Battles
http://www.btobonline.com/article/20120403/DIRECT03/304039992/dma-scores-internet-sales-tax-win-in-colorado
A U.S. District Court judge in Colorado has issued an injunction against the state's director of the department of revenue, blocking any enforcement of Colorado's law that requires out-of-state e-commerce businesses to report residents' purchases to the state so that it can collect sales tax.
52 Magazine Launches in 2012
52 Magazine Launches, 12 Closures in Q12012: 2012 started off strong with 52 new titles launched and only 12 folds, according to online database MediaFinder.com.
ASME Announces Finalists
ASME Announces 2012 National Magazine Awards Finalists: The American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME) today announced the finalists for the 2012 National Magazine Awards, known familiarly as the Ellies. With six, New York is tied for most nominations.
Bloomsbury Buys Fairchild
Fairchild Fashion Media Sells Book Division to Bloomsbury: Fairchild Fashion Media, the trade group within Condé Nast that publishes Women's Wear Daily, Style.com and Footwear News, among others, has sold its book division, Fairchild Books, to the U.S. subsidiary of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc for $6.5 million.
QuadDirect Adds Press-Plus
QuadDirect Advances In-line Direct Mail Production with 12-unit, Double-Web Press: QuadDirect, a division of Quad/Graphics, is completing installation of a new “Press-Plus” solution for in-line direct mail production that promises higher response rates and improved ROI.
RRD Invests in Real Valuable
R.R. Donnelley Invests in Maker of iPad App for Catalog Shopping: R. R. Donnelley & Sons announced that it has taken an equity stake in San Francisco-based Real Valuable Corp., maker of the CoffeeTable iPad catalog shopping app.
Egmont Launches New Title
Southernprint to produce new Egmont girls magazine: Egmont has launched a new monthly magazine, Monster High, a brand extension of the successful doll brand that has sold more than 5m dolls worldwide.
Heidelberg Cutting Capacity 15%
Heidelberg to slash 1,500 jobs and cut capacity by 15%: Heidelberg has concluded a consultation with its employees that will see its worldwide headcount slashed by more than 1,500 come 2014.
Monday, April 2, 2012
AF&PA Issues Annual Study
AF&PA Releases Paper, Paperboard, and Pulp Capacity Survey: The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) today released the 52nd Annual Survey of Paper, Paperboard and Pulp Capacity, reporting that U.S. paper and paperboard capacity decline slowed to 1.4% in 2011 to a level of 89.7 million short tons.
More on Resolute/Fibrek
Steelhead will refrain from tendering Fibrek shares to AbitibiBowater:
Following the announcement made on March 31, 2012 by Steelhead Partners, LLC and its affiliates, Fibrek Inc. understands that Steelhead, the second largest shareholder of AbitibiBowater, intends not to tender any of its Fibrek shares to the unsolicited insider bid made by AbitibiBowater Inc. (doing business as Resolute Forest Products) until the minimum tender condition contained in the Abitibi bid has been met.
Following the announcement made on March 31, 2012 by Steelhead Partners, LLC and its affiliates, Fibrek Inc. understands that Steelhead, the second largest shareholder of AbitibiBowater, intends not to tender any of its Fibrek shares to the unsolicited insider bid made by AbitibiBowater Inc. (doing business as Resolute Forest Products) until the minimum tender condition contained in the Abitibi bid has been met.
Resolute Extends Offer for Fibrek
Resolute reduces minimum tender condition and extends its offer for Fibrek:
AbitibiBowater Inc., doing business as Resolute Forest Products, has announced that it has reduced to 59,502,822 shares the minimum tender condition of its offer to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Fibrek Inc.
AbitibiBowater Inc., doing business as Resolute Forest Products, has announced that it has reduced to 59,502,822 shares the minimum tender condition of its offer to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Fibrek Inc.
St. Mary's Sold
http://www.northernontariobusiness.com/Around-the-North/120326/St--Marys-sale-approved.aspx
The sale of shuttered St. Marys Paper, which produced Supercalendered paper, in Sault Ste. Marie has been approved by an Ontario court.
On March 26, authorization was given for the sale to numbered company 2319839 Ontario Inc., which has been described by manager and receiver Ernst & Young as “a consortium of companies including an auctioneer, a real estate development company, a metals recycling company and a forest products company.”
“The receiver understands that the purchaser may potentially seek to redevelop the mill into a biomass facility with a cogeneration plant while liquidating the mill assets,” reads Ernst & Young's report.
NewPage Invests in Mill
NewPage is investing $15.8 million in capital
improvements to its Luke, MD coated freesheet paper mill.
Appleton to Begin Cuts in May
Appleton Papers Inc. will start cutting staff at its West Carrollton plant in May, according to a filing with the state of Ohio.
The Wisconsin papermaker, which said earlier this year it would be ending paper production in West Carrollton and cut 330 jobs, will start the local layoffs on May 20 or within 14 days after that date.
MPA Develops Metrics
MPA announced it has developed voluntary tablet metrics guidelines. Among the guidelines are five metrics: total consumer paid digital issues, total number of tablet readers per issue, total number of sessions per issue, total time spent per reader per issue and average number of sessions per reader per issue.
Hudson News/Comag Deal
Hudson News Takes Minority Stake in Comag: According to several sources, Hudson News president James Cohen is taking a minority stake in Comag Marketing Group. will remain in his position as well.
The deal signals another major shift in the magagzine newsstand supply chain, bringing once disparate players closer together.
The deal signals another major shift in the magagzine newsstand supply chain, bringing once disparate players closer together.
New USPS Option for Direct Mailers
The U.S. Postal Service plans to allow direct mailers to include logos, trademarks, brand images and other kinds of marketing designs in the printed postage information area of their mail pieces.
Postmaster General Lays Out Vision
Postmaster General Lays Out Vision for Mailing Industry at Postal Forum: In a keynote address to open the National Postal Forum, Patrick R. Donahoe, Postmaster General and CEO of the U.S. Postal Service, today discussed the transformative power of technology and innovation in the mailing industry.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Canadian Government Continues Support of Industry
The Forest Products Association of Canada said that it is pleased that the Government of Canada has decided to maintain spending on programs aimed at transforming the forest sector.
The "Jobs and Growth" budget from Minister of Finance, Jim Flaherty, includes $105 million over two years for forestry innovation and market development.
China Imposes Duties
China has ratified five-year antidumping duties on imports of photographic paper and board from the European Union, the US and Japan. The China's Ministry of Commerce made the final ruling last week, announcing that duties ranging from 16.2% to 28.8% are to be collected as of March 23.
UPM Re-elects Chairman
http://www.upm.com/en/Pages/default.aspx
At the organisation meeting of UPM-Kymmene Corporation's Board of Directors, Mr Björn Wahlroos was re-elected as Chairman, and Mr Berndt Brunow was re-elected as Deputy Chairman.
Quad/Graphics Buys Share of Manipal
Quad/Graphics Purchases Minority Interest in Manipal Technologies: Quad/Graphics Inc., a global provider of print and related multichannel solutions, has entered into a strategic partnership with Manipal Technologies, India’s largest print services and end-to-end business solutions provider.
RRD Closing IL Plant
R.R. Donnelley to Lay Off 207 Workers, Close Plant in Mendota, IL: MENDOTA, IL—March 29, 2012—According to a story in the Chicago Tribune and AP reports, R.R. Donnelley plans to close its printing plant in Mendota, IL, and lay off its 207 employees by the end of May.
PRC Approves USPS Discount
PRC Approves Sequel to USPS’s QR Code Promo: The Postal Regulatory Commission has approved the U.S. Postal Service’s request to offer a discount to merchants who use a QR code in their catalog mailings and other direct pieces this summer. The USPS will offer the 2-percent discount to mailers in July and August, and merchants who want to qualify for the discount can register beginning May 1.
Flint Raises Prices
Flint Raises Prices on Spot-Color Inks, Varnishes and Pressroom Chemistry: Flint Group North America has announced an 8-percent price increase on spot-color inks and overprint varnishes used in sheetfed and heatset applications. In addition, it is instituting price increases of $0.75 to $1.25 on press washes used in sheeted and offset web applications, effective April 1.
Possehl Purchases manroland UK
Possehl Purchases manroland Great Britain’s Web Business: On 8th March 2012, Possehl & Co. mbH, the owner of manroland web systems GmbH, purchased the business and assets of manroland Great Britain’s web division from MRGB Realisations Limited, formerly manroland Great Britain Limited.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Port Hawkesbury Mill Gets Extension
Port Hawkesbury mill gets 60 day extension to creditor protection period:
The NewPage Port Hawkesbury (Supercalendered paper) mill was granted another extension for its creditor protection period by the Nova Scotia Supreme Court today. This extension is for 60 days.
The NewPage Port Hawkesbury (Supercalendered paper) mill was granted another extension for its creditor protection period by the Nova Scotia Supreme Court today. This extension is for 60 days.
Resolute's Amos Union Votes No
Amos employees say ‘no’ to concessions, Resolute issues ultimatum:
The unionized employees at Resolute Forest Products‘ Amos Division in Quebec said ‘no’ to Resolute’s demand for concessions. The Amos division produces newsprint and employs about 160.
The unionized employees at Resolute Forest Products‘ Amos Division in Quebec said ‘no’ to Resolute’s demand for concessions. The Amos division produces newsprint and employs about 160.
Verso Announces Exchange Offer
http://www.versopaper.com/newsarchive.aspx
Verso Paper Corp. announced today that two of its wholly owned subsidiaries, Verso Paper Holdings LLC and Verso Paper Inc. (collectively, the "Issuers"), have launched an offer to issue up to $180.2 million aggregate principal amount of a new series of 9.75% secured notes due 2019 (the "New Notes") in exchange for any and all of the Issuers' outstanding $180.2 million aggregate principal amount of senior secured floating-rate notes due 2014 (the "Old Notes").
M-real Changes Name
The Annual General Meeting of M-real Corporation held today 28 March 2012 decided to change the company's business name to Metsä Board Corporation, amended the field of business of the company to more accurately correspond to the current business operations.
Hearst Acquires 20% of Stylus
http://www.pubexec.com/Publishing Executive
Hearst Corporation today announced that it has acquired a 20 percent stake in Stylus Media Group, which provides business intelligence to consumer companies. The announcement was made jointly by Frank A. Bennack, Jr., CEO of Hearst Corporation, and Marc Worth, CEO and founder of Stylus. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Digital Circulation Grows
http://adage.com/article/mediaworks/magazines-digital-circulation-doubles/233771/
Digital circulation soared to an estimated 3.29 million in the second half of 2012 from 1.46 million in the year-earlier period, a 125% increase, according to publishers' reports with the Audit Bureau.
Despite all that growth, however, digital remains about 1% of magazines' total paid and verified circulation.
Sears Selling Cataloguer?
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/lands_end_game_5p3ePLWUD0sqSpTPERJGeM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Business
As reported by The New York Post, Eddie Lampert, chairman of Sears Holdings, has quietly been shopping Dodgeville Wis. mail-order catalog Land's End to potential buyers.
2011-16 Local Media Ad Spending
2011-2016 Local Media Ad Spend: Digital Strong, Traditional Flat: Local media industry adviser BIA/Kelsey expects strong growth (12.7%) in the digital segment of local media advertising through 2016. The firm expects traditional local media to grow from $111.5 billion to $112.7 billion in 2016.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
European Woodfree Ships Fall
http://www.cepifine.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15&Itemid=16
CEPIFINE reported February coated woodfree paper shipments declined -5.3% as compared to the same month last year. Year-to-date, shipments fell -5.8%. Demand was down -4.2% for the month and -5.1% for the year. Exports decreased -7.9% in February and -7.3% Y-t-D.
U.S. Paper Recovery Reaches 66.8%
http://www.afandpa.org/
The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) today announced the 2011 recovery rate of paper consumed in the U.S., which has reached a record-high 66.8%. The level of paper recovery for recycling achieved in 2011 is nearly double the industry benchmark of 33.5 percent set in 1990, the year the industry established its first recovery goal.
China's RCP and Pulp Imports Grow
China's total recovered paper (RCP) imports climbed 42.7% to around 2.531 million tonnes in February, up from some 1.774 million tonnes the previous month, China's total pulp imports jumped 32.5% in February from the previous month to nearly 1.554 million tonnes, Imports of BSK pulp are up 10.8% year-to-date, 2012/2011.
Battle for Fibrek Goes On
Battle for Fibrek: Quebec Court of Appeal sides with Resolute:
The Quebec Court of Appeal has sided with Resolute Forest Products and has overturned a lower court ruling that had helped its rival in its attempt to acquire control of Fibrek Inc.
The Court has reinstated the cease trade order on Fibrek Inc.’s private placement of 32,320,000 special warrants to Mercer International Inc. The court’s ruling could be appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada.
The Quebec Court of Appeal has sided with Resolute Forest Products and has overturned a lower court ruling that had helped its rival in its attempt to acquire control of Fibrek Inc.
The Court has reinstated the cease trade order on Fibrek Inc.’s private placement of 32,320,000 special warrants to Mercer International Inc. The court’s ruling could be appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada.
Forbes Retools ForbesLife
Forbes Retools Its Luxury Spinoff ForbesLife: Starting with its March issue, Forbes has relaunched its 22-year old luxury lifestyle offshoot ForbesLife and, for the first time, is selling the title as a standalone at newsstands.
40% of B-t-B Media Revenue in Events
The Event Stars of Magazine Media: Business-to-business media revenue hit $26.49 billion last year, with revenue from trade shows, events and conferences rising to 40% of that total, according to American Business Media.
Haymarket Sells Racer Magazine
Haymarket Sells Majority Stake in Racer Magazine: Haymarket Media has sold its majority stake in Racer Magazine back to its original founding management team of Paul Pfanner and Bill Sparks.
Global Ad Spend Forecast Up 4.8%
Global Ad Spend Expected to Grow 4.8% in 2012; US Growth Steady at 3.6%: ZenithOptimedia predicts global ad expenditure will grow 4.8% in 2012. The global media services group now expects ad expenditure to grow 5.3% in 2013 and 6.1% in 2014.
Valpak to Hire 100 Veterans by 2013
Valpak Announces Plans to Hire 100 Veterans by 2013: Valpak, a leader in local print and digital coupons, announced a commitment to hire 100 veterans by the end of 2013.
USPS Reports February Loss
USPS' losses mount in February: The U.S. Postal Service reported a loss of $1.1 billion for the month of February, the fifth month of its fiscal year, raising its year-to-date losses to $5.6 billion.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
EURO-GRAPH Reports February Numbers
Total European shipments of coated mechanical paper fell -2.5% in February, as compared to the same month last year. Demand was down -3.9%, but exports rose by +2.9%. Shipments of Supercalendered paper increased 0.9% and demand was up 4.5%. Exports declined -14.6%.
St.Mary's May Never Restart
http://www.saultstar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3514164
St. Marys Paper is expected to be approved for sale in a on Monday morning.
A union representative for the papermaker's 300 workers expects the buyer, 2319839 Ontario Inc. won't restart operations, but instead will strip raw iron, special metals and electric motors from the century-old Supercalendered paper mill.
West Fraser Raising Pulp Price
West Fraser followed Canfor Pulp, Domtar, Resolute Forest Products and Tembec in announcing an increase of $30/metric tonne for NBSK pulp, effective April 1.
Variety For Sale
Variety Goes on the Block: Reed Business Information [RBI] today announced that is putting Variety up for sale. The company has spent the last three years divesting its U.S. magazine properties.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Resolute Paper Raises NBSK Prices
Resolute Forest Products announced an increase of $30/tonne on NBSK pulp, effective April 1.
Nippon Restarts LWC Machine
The Nippon Paper Group has restarted another machine at its Ishinomaki mill in Japan.
Ishinomaki is the last facility in the country still dealing with machine damage from the catastrophic tsunami and earthquake of March 2011. PM 6, a 272,000 tonne/yr lightweight coated (LWC) paper unit, started back up on March 9. PM 5, which can produce 150,000 tonnes/yr of LWC, came back online on February 22.
White Birch Union Approves Offer
White Birch employees vote ‘Yes’ to accept final offer:
The vote by the unionized workers of the Stadacona mill yesterday was 79% in favour of accepting White Birch Paper Company‘s final offer. The offer includes significant concessions, but also gives the workers a chance that their newsprint mill may reopen.
The vote by the unionized workers of the Stadacona mill yesterday was 79% in favour of accepting White Birch Paper Company‘s final offer. The offer includes significant concessions, but also gives the workers a chance that their newsprint mill may reopen.
Norske Skog Sells Follum Mill & Operations in Chile
http://www.pulpapernews.com/2012/03/norske-skog-sells-follum-to-viken-skog
Norske Skog divests its operations in Chile:
Norske Skog has entered into an agreement to sell the Follum, which the company had closed, to Viken Skog.
Separately, Norske Skog announced the sale of Norske Skog Bio Bio in Chile to Group BO, a consortium of Chilean investors, for USD 56 million.
Norske Skog divests its operations in Chile:
Norske Skog has entered into an agreement to sell the Follum, which the company had closed, to Viken Skog.
Separately, Norske Skog announced the sale of Norske Skog Bio Bio in Chile to Group BO, a consortium of Chilean investors, for USD 56 million.
ABC Endorses New Consolidated Media Report
ABC board endorses new Consolidated Media Report format for business publishers: The Audit Bureau of Circulations board has endorsed a new Consolidated Media Report format for business magazine publishers. The CMR enables publishers to include data from such brand extensions as newsletters, trade shows and websites to help quantify the reach of the brand.
Access Intelligence Buys LeadsCon
Access Intelligence Acquires LeadsCon, Daily Deals Summit: Access Intelligence, owner of FOLIO: publisher Red 7 Media, announced today it has acquired LeadsCon.
Flint Group Raising Prices
Flint Group Announces April 1st Price Increases: Continuing raw materials cost increases as well as other operations and logistical cost increases in 2012 requires Flint Group to increase prices of solvent based packaging inks and all packaging and narrow web white inks in North America effective 1 April 2012.
Trouble for USPS Reform Bill
Backlash Against USPS Mail Plant Closures Threatens Reform Bill: The massive political backlash against U.S. Postal Service plans to reduce the size of its mail processing network by 50 percent has reached fever pitch, threatening to completely block any postal reform legislation.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Quad Establishes Media Solutions Services Group
Quad Graphics Establishes Media Solutions Services Group:
Quad Graphics Inc. announces the formation of Media Solutions, a services group dedicated to helping marketers and publishers more efficiently and effectively integrate print and new media channels.
Quad Graphics Inc. announces the formation of Media Solutions, a services group dedicated to helping marketers and publishers more efficiently and effectively integrate print and new media channels.
RRD 8% Dividend Yield
R.R. Donnelley Prints Everything -- Including an 8% Dividend Yield -- Except Profits:
As investors, we're all increasingly accustomed to modern companies - created in recent years to capitalize on things like the Internet, global trade and the use of myriad technologies that replace much of what workers formerly did.
As investors, we're all increasingly accustomed to modern companies - created in recent years to capitalize on things like the Internet, global trade and the use of myriad technologies that replace much of what workers formerly did.
eBook Sales Reaching Plateau
Are eBook Sales Reaching a Plateau?: The once-exploding sales growth of eBooks has slowed dramatically, according to research from RR Bowker.
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