Thursday, May 24, 2012

Condé Nast Launches New Title

http://www.adweek.com/print/140739

Fairchild Fashion Media, the Condé Nast division responsible for publishing Women’s Wear Daily, is relaunching men’s fashion title M as a quarterly magazine beginning this fall. The original M, which launched in 1983, was helmed by Jane Lane and, later, by onetime Adweek editor Clay Felker. M shuttered in 1992, a casualty of the recession at the time.

People on the Move

People on the Move | 5.24.12: Martha Stewart will now serve as non-executive chairman of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and other changes in publishing industry jobs.

Unknowns of App Advertising

The State of App Advertising: In the heyday of print advertising, the rules seemed simpler. Competition from television, radio, and other forms advertising was a factor, but each medium was distinct—with its own attributes, value propositions, and measurements. The Web changed all that. Along with the suicidal dilemma of free editorial content, the Web brought in a whole new (and volatile) system of measuring success.

NRF Annouces Tax Campaign


NRF launched a 60-day effort to convince Congress to take action on what they call sales tax fairness; " As retailers are all-too-well aware, online merchants are not required to collect sales tax on the majority of their sales..."

HP Annouces Job Cuts, Q2 Results

HP to Cut 27,000 Jobs: HP today outlined plans for a multi-year productivity initiative designed to simplify business processes, advance innovation and deliver better results for customers, employees and shareholders.The restructuring is expected to generate annualized savings in the range of $3.0 to $3.5 billion exiting fiscal year 2014, of which the majority will be reinvested back into the company.
HP today announced financial results for its second fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2012. For the quarter, net revenue of $30.7 billion was down 3% year over year both as reported and when adjusted for the effects of currency.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

AbitibiBowater Makes Name Change Official

Resolute Forest Products is AbitibiBowater’s new official name:
At AbitibiBowater‘s annual general meeting today, stockholders have approved renaming the company to “Resolute Forest Products” effective tomorrow – May 24, 2012.
As part of this change, stockholders also agreed to change the company’s common stock ticker symbol from ABH to RFP on both the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange, also effective May 24, 2012.

Resolute Seeks Repurchase of 10% of Shares

Resolute Forest Products wants to repurchase shares:
AbitibiBowater Inc., doing business as Resolute Forest Products, has announced that its Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to 10% of the company’s common stock for an aggregate purchase price of up to US$100 million. The repurchase program will be funded using the company’s available cash.

Catalyst Paper Meeting with Creditors

Catalyst Paper creditors meeting today:
The meeting of Catalyst Paper‘s secured and unsecured creditors is being held this morning in Vancouver. The creditors will be discussing Catalyst Paper’s proposed Plan of Arrangement under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act.

Newsprint Ships Up; More Closures Expected


North American newsprint shipments in April were 1.7% higher than a year ago, which trimmed the average decline in volumes in the first four months of the year to 1.3%, according to the Pulp and Paper Products Council (PPPC). Mill operating rates averaged 91% compared with 93% in April 2011.
RISI today announced a high risk of closure for over 7 million total tonnes of global newsprint capacityover the next 5 years; 2 million tonnes in North America alone.

New Measuring Tools for Publishers


The magazine industry now has more avenues when it comes to quantifying its total reach—both the Audit Bureau of Circulations, and media research company GfK MRI, have introduced new tools for publishers that can help provide a clearer picture of who readers are, and how many of them exist. 

Facebook Not to Issue Paper Certificates


Facebook investors hoping for a tangible marker of their ownership stake are out of luck. The company won't be offering paper stock certificates, despite earlier indications that it planned to make them available.

LA Looks at Plastic Bag Ban

http://www.scpr.org/news/2012/05/22/32525/la-bag-ban-big-whale-environmental-groups-plastics/
Of the 75 communities across the country that have prohibited plastic bags, two-thirds of them are in California. Los Angeles might be next; this week, its city council could push a ban on single-use bags forward.

For Gov. & Barnes & Noble; New Venture

GPO / Barnes & Noble to Sell Federal eBooks: Government Printing Office (GPO) has signed an agreement with Barnes & Noble to sell Federal eBooks.

2012 Print Forum; Focus on ROI

Integrated Print Forum to Help Printers Increase Their New Media ROI: Printers of the 21st century recognize that expanding service offerings to new communication media and becoming an integrated print provider for customers is the future of print. The 2012 Integrated Print Forum will provide insights on how to effectively integrate print into the marketing mix and increase printers’ ROI.

Commerce Dept. Revises Commercial Print Ships Data

Commerce Department Revises Years of US Commercial Printing Shipments Data; Downward Revisions from 2009 Through 2012 (Economics & Research Center):
On Friday, May 18, the Commerce Department issued its annual revisions to manufacturer shipments. The revisions reached back all the way to 2001, with minor revisions to seasonality and little change to annual shipments. Starting with 2009, however, there were significant downward revisions.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

RR Donnelley Buying EDGAR Online

RR Donnelley to Acquire EDGAR Online, a Provider of Financial Data and Analytics: R. R. Donnelley & Sons and EDGAR Online have signed a definitive agreement for RR Donnelley to acquire EDGAR Online, a leading provider of disclosure management services, financial data and enterprise risk analytics software and solutions for both corporate and investment professionals. The deal is valued at approximately $70.5 million. The transaction is expected to close during the third quarter of 2012.

Manistique Owner Completes Equity Offer


A partnership sponsored by The Watermill Group completed a $4 million equity offering.
Watermill-MPI Partners, L.P. attracted 42 unspecified investors, according to the related SEC filing.

Union Hopes for Second Chance with Kruger


The union representing workers at a troubled Kruger newsprint mill in western Newfoundland says it is hoping to arrange a second vote on pension reform that might keep Corner Brook Pulp and Paper running.

Quad/Graphics' Depew Under Sale Contract

Former Quad/Graphics building is under contract for purchase:
Quad/Graphics’ former plant in Depew may soon have a new owner.
The 850,000-square-foot facility is under contract to a prospective buyer, said Richard Schechter, senior director with Pyramid Brokerage Co.’s Buffalo office. Pyramid has marketed the property for sale.

Forbes Launches New Title


Forbes Media plans to debut Forbes Brazil, which will be published in Portuguese, in July. The publisher is launching the new magazine, its 22nd international edition, in partnership with BPP LTDA, which is also publishes Billboard Brazil.

RDA Asking Bondholders to Accept Offer


Reader’s Digest Association CEO Robert Guth is asking bondholders to take a 5% haircut on its senior debt. Nearly $60.7 million has been earmarked for the tender offer. The company said yesterday that it was giving bondholders until June 14 to decide whether to accept the take-it-or-leave-it offer on senior secured notes due in 2017.
The publisher of the iconic Reader’s Digest, which is published in 78 countries, is using proceeds from its recent sale of Allrecipes.com for $175 million to pay off the bondholders.

DMA Not Looking for New CEO


Linda Woolley, named last week as acting president-CEO of the Direct Marketing Association following the resignation of Larry Kimmel, may be in that role for quite a while. Woolley told BtoB that there is no official search process in place to seek a permanent operational head for DMA.

'House Beautiful' First with Print to Pinterest

'House Beautiful' becomes first Pinterest-enabled print magazine: 'House Beautiful' readers can now pin images directly from the print magazine to Pinterest using a new solution from Digimarc Corporation.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Files for Bankruptcy

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Officially Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Inc filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday after the struggling textbook publisher agreed with its creditors to eliminate about $3.1 billion of debt.

Monday, May 21, 2012

NA April Coated Mechanical Demand Up

As reported by the Pulp & Paper Products Council, April North American coated mechanical shipments fell -1.1%, demand was up +3.6% and imports declined -8.8%. The operating rate was 86%. Coated woodfree shipments decreased -1.4%, demand was down -1.1% and imports rose +6.5%. The operating rate was 84%. North American SC-A/SC-A+ shipments fell -16.3%, demand declined -22.3% and imports decreased -38.3%. The operating rate for all Supercalendered paper was 100%.

St. Mary's Fate


A month ago St Mary’s Paper mill has been officially purchased by Ontario-based Riversedge Development Inc. through an Ontario court approved receivership process.
Over the course of this year, the Riversedge team will be undertaking a number of activities to prepare the former St. Marys Paper property for redevelopment.
The first step will be the decommissioning of the mill.


 

Port Hawkesbury Update; Lawsuit & Power Agreement


Amec Americas Ltd. of Dartmouth is suing NewPage Port Hawkesbury Corp. and Nova Scotia Power Inc. for $1,522,490.72 it alleges it is owed for unpaid design, engineering and construction management work on a controversial $208-million biomass project.

Under a proposed arrangement with Nova Scotia Power, the mill will pay for all incremental costs associated with the mill being on the NSP system, and contribute to the utility’s fixed costs.
The private utility would also take a stake in the mill and be paid for electricity via dividends.
Marc Dube, the mill’s proposed restructuring manager said that 315 people will be hired for the mill, including some who will carry out capital improvements at the mill.




FPAC; Vision 2020 for Forest Product Industry


The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) is today unveiling a new industry-led vision that outlines where the forest industry sees itself by the year 2020.  Through its accompanying goals, the vision will challenge companies, governments and other partners to find innovative ways to further transform the sector to reach its potential.
Under the brand of "Canada's Natural Advantage", the FPAC vision states that "by 2020, the Canadian forest products industry will power Canada's new economy by being green, innovative and open to the world.  It is a place to grow and prosper."

WE Paper Demand Declines

Paper demand falls across Western Europe:
Using latest figures from IMF, Eurograph and ZenithOptimedia the report shows demand for coated, wood-containing paper used in books and newsprint fell by 8% in Q1 of 2012 compared with the same period last year. Total European demand for magazine paper also declined by 4%.
Magazine SC paper was the only product to experience a rise in demand, increasing by 3%, while Western Europe deliveries showed a slight increase of 1%.

USPS Offering Summer Discounts


For the second summer in a row, the U.S. Postal Service is offering discounts for summer mailings that use QR codes.
The postal service giving mailers a 2% discount, down from the 3% offered to participating mailers for the past two years.
During July and August, the discounts will apply to standard and first class letters, flats and cards that include a two-dimensional barcode or other media that can be read or scanned by a mobile device, according to the USPS. These codes can go directly to smartphone users’ personal URLS, according to the USPS.

Standard Register Receives NYSE Notice

Standard Register Receives Continued Listing Standards Notice from NYSE: Standard Register today announced that on May 14, 2012, the Company was notified by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) that it was not in compliance with the NYSE’s continued listing standard that requires that the average closing price of a listed company’s common stock not fall below $1.00 per share for any consecutive 30-trading-day period.

Friday, May 18, 2012

NewPage Sheet Increase

Effective with deliveries 7/1/12, NewPage is increasing the price for coated sheet products, Anthem/Fortune/Gusto the following: 60# & 70# text weight $3.00 cwt, all cover stock and greater than 70# text weights $2.00 cwt.

Resolute Now Owns 74.56% of Fibrek

Resolute now owns 74.56% of Fibrek:
Resolute is planning to carry out a second step transaction to acquire the Fibrek shares not deposited in the offer. 

Kruger To Reassess Viability of Corner Brook P&P

Kruger to reassess viability of Corner Brook operation after vote doesn’t go their way:
One of the four pension plan groups at Corner Brook Pulp and Paper voted against giving Kruger 10 years, instead of 5, to repay the shortfall in their pension plans. The pension relief measures were a crucial element in Kruger’s strategy for the mill to improve its competitiveness and secure its future.

EU Ecolabel Awarded to UPM Mill

EU Ecolabel awarded to UPM Plattling mill
All UPM paper products produced at UPM Plattling mill in Germany have now been granted the EU Ecolabel. "The EU Ecolabel is a proof of our products’ excellent overall environmental performance and thus low environmental impact,” says Päivi Rissanen, UPM's Environmental Director for Paper Business Group.

USPS Details Mobile Incentive Program

USPS details mobile promotion for direct mailers: The U.S. Postal Service's upcoming 2-D barcode incentive program for direct mailers has been simplified from last summer's inaugural promotion, with new marketer requirements based on mobile best practices.

USPS Moves Ahead With Consolidation Plan

Postal Service Moves Forward with Location Consolidation Plan: Despite a bill partially designed to stop this effort, the United States Post Service will move forward with its 9-month modified consolidation plan. The first step will consolidate 48 locations this summer, with larger-scale consolidation to follow at the start of 2013.

70% of Consumers Welcome Mobile Ads

Study: 70% of consumers welcome mobile ads: Convenience and mobile advertising are key drivers of mobile shopping, said Joe Laszlo, senior director of the Interactive Advertising Bureau's Mobile Marketing Center of Excellence.

April Industrial Production Rebounds

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-05-16/u-dot-s-dot-april-industrial-production-and-capacity-report-text
Industrial production increased 1.1 percent in April. Output is now reported to have fallen 0.6 percent in March and to have moved up 0.4 percent in February; previously, industrial production was estimated to have been unchanged in both months.