Fibrek Inc. ("Fibrek" or the "Company") announced today that Mercer International Inc. ("Mercer") has extended the expiry date of its superior offer to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Fibrek to April 16, 2012.
Monday, April 9, 2012
NFL Magazine Shuttered
NFL Magazine Is No More: NFL magazine, launched last year, is closing. The April issue will be final issue.
Inc. Names Editor
Schurenberg named editor of 'Inc.': Mansueto Ventures has named Erick Schurenberg the new editor of Inc. Previously the editor of Inc.com, Schurenberg succeeds Jane Berentson, who is now the brand's international editor and will move to London.
Goldstone Returns as Hanley Wood CEO
Peter Goldstone Returns to Hanley Wood As CEO: Hanley Wood's CEO Frank Anton is transitioning into a chairman role, the company announced today. Former Hanley Wood president Peter Goldstone, is returning to the company as CEO.
Bonnier Launches Titles Through Pulse
Bonnier Launches 20 Titles Through Pulse: After a six-month trial run between Popular Science and content aggregation app Pulse scored a subscriber bonanza, Bonnier has decided to launch 19 more titles through it.
Cuts for Quad/Graphics CEO
Reduced Bonuses Lead to Compensation Cut for Quad/Graphics CEO Quadracci: Smaller cash bonus payouts contributed to a drop in overall compensation for Quad/Graphics Inc. chairman, president and CEO Joel Quadracci, according to a new federal regulatory filing. Quadracci’s overall compensation dipped about 25 percent to about $4.2 million in 2011.
CEO Confidence Increases
CEO Confidence Increases: The Conference Board Measure of CEO Confidence, which had improved in the fourth quarter, increased further in the first quarter of 2012. The Measure now reads 63, up from 49 last quarter (a reading of more than 50 points reflects more positive than negative responses).
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Verso Raises Coated & Supercalendered Price
Verso Paper, plans to increase the price of its coated freesheet, coated mechanical and supercalendered papers by $30-60/ton (on all grades, basis weights and finishes), effective May 1.
Fibrek Files for Expedited Process
Fibrek Inc. announced today that it has filed a motion with the Supreme Court of Canada seeking permission for an expedited process to hear both an application for leave to appeal and the appeal itself, if leave is granted, of the Québec Court of Appeal's decision to maintain the cease trade order of the proposed private placement of 32,320,000 special warrants to purchase common shares of Fibrek to Mercer International Inc.
NewPage Names Specialty Papers Managers
| NewPage Corporation has promoted three individuals to new management positions in its specialty papers business. Dawn Soucek has been promoted to Business Innovation Manager for NewPage specialty papers. Sandra Trzebiatowski has been named Commercial Manager, Specialty. Audra Franz has been promoted to NewPage Stevens Point Mill Controller. |
LA City Council Committee Bans Plastic & Paper Bags
The Los Angeles City Council's Energy and Environment Committee today voted to advance an ordinance banning all paper and plastic retail bags in the City of Los Angeles over the course of a year, a move that ironically pushes consumers toward more resource-intensive alternatives.
Mark Daniels, of Hilex Poly, said:
"The proposed policy will have no real impact on litter, instead it will only force residents to purchase less environmentally-friendly alternatives like reusable bags, nearly all of which are not recyclable, are less sanitary, are made in China using foreign oil, and often contain heavy metals."
Ripon Printers Buys Sells Printing
Ripon Printers, a leading printer of catalogs, publications, manuals, and soft-cover educational products, acquired certain business interests and assets of the Sells Printing Co. LLC on March 27, 2012. The combined annual sales of the two companies total approximately $55 million.
Online Retailers Still Waiting for Congress
Online sales tax still tops the agenda for major retailers: Laws have already been enacted in California, New York, Illinois, Connecticut, North Carolina, Arkansas and Rhode Island and legislation is being proposed in Florida, Kansas, Indiana, Michigan and other states. Scott Stanzel, Amazon's head of corporate communications says the company wants Congress to act as quickly as possible “to provide businesses with predictability and consistency.”
February Commercial Printing Shipments
February US Commercial Printing Shipments Flat with 2011 (Economics & Research Center):
February 2012 printing shipments were reported by the Commerce Department as flat with 2011, at $6.358 billion in current US dollars.
February 2012 printing shipments were reported by the Commerce Department as flat with 2011, at $6.358 billion in current US dollars.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Verso Completes Tender Offer
http://www.paperage.com/2012news/04_04_2012verso_paper_tender_offer.html
Verso Paper Corp. announced today the completion of the tender offer (the “Tender Offer”) of two of its subsidiaries, Verso Paper Holdings LLC and Verso Paper Inc. (together, the "Issuers") to purchase any and all of the Issuers’ outstanding 11.5% senior secured notes due 2014 (the "Notes").
Catalyst Faces $73.5 Million Shortfall
Catalyst Paper has a $73.5 million deficit in their pension plan:
Catalyst Paper has a $73.5 million shortfall in its pension plan.
Currently, the principal creditors of Catalyst Paper have until April 23 to agree on a restructuring plan. If they can not agree to a restructuring plan, Catalyst Paper will accept an already-negotiated “stalking horse bid” from its secured bondholders to buy the company.
Catalyst Paper has a $73.5 million shortfall in its pension plan.
Currently, the principal creditors of Catalyst Paper have until April 23 to agree on a restructuring plan. If they can not agree to a restructuring plan, Catalyst Paper will accept an already-negotiated “stalking horse bid” from its secured bondholders to buy the company.
Focus Direct Closing Plant
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.
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.
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