Congress Faces Continuing Resolution, Sequestration and Postal Reform: Lawmakers returned to Washington, DC, this week with a packed agenda. Topping the list of priorities is hammering out final details of a stopgap spending measure to keep the government running. Amid the election-year politicking, the list of unfinished business also includes legislation to restructure the financially ailing U.S. Postal Service.
The Senate approved a postal reform bill in the spring. However, the House version, which takes a very different tack to returning the USPS to solvency, has languished.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Monday, September 10, 2012
Resolute Announces More Debt Reduction
Resolute Forest Products announces further debt reduction and repurchases additional shares:
Resolute Forest Products Inc. has announced that it would take advantage of its strong liquidity position to redeem an additional $85 million of its 10.25% senior secured notes due 2018.
Resolute also announced that it had now repurchased 3.7 million shares of its common stock under the existing $100 million share repurchase program.
Resolute Forest Products Inc. has announced that it would take advantage of its strong liquidity position to redeem an additional $85 million of its 10.25% senior secured notes due 2018.
Resolute also announced that it had now repurchased 3.7 million shares of its common stock under the existing $100 million share repurchase program.
Norske Invests in Conversion to Coated Grades
Norske Skog invests AUD 84 millions in Australia
Norske Skog will convert a machine at the Boyer mill in Australia to the production of coated grades, and close one newsprint machine at the Tasman mill in New Zealand.
Norske is investing invest AUD 84 million in the project. The Australian government is providing substantial funding.
The machine conversion project will be done over the next two years and will enable the production of coated grades among other things suitable for catalogues.
Norske Skog will convert a machine at the Boyer mill in Australia to the production of coated grades, and close one newsprint machine at the Tasman mill in New Zealand.
Norske is investing invest AUD 84 million in the project. The Australian government is providing substantial funding.
The machine conversion project will be done over the next two years and will enable the production of coated grades among other things suitable for catalogues.
PPI Top 100
The PPI Top 100 - M&As create a stir: Few surprises mark this year's Top 100 results, which has been the case for many years. International Paper (IP) continues to be ranked at the top with sales of pulp, paper, converting and merchanting (PPCM) operations reaching more than $26 billion in 2011.
DMA; Marketers are Bullish
DMA finds marketers bullish on direct and digital marketing: Despite mixed signals in the economy, more than 72% of marketers and marketing suppliers believe direct and digital marketing are well-positioned for future growth, according to a report from the Direct Marketing Association.
According to DMA's “Quarterly Business Review,” 48.8% of respondents saw their companies' direct and digital revenue grow in the second quarter, while 42.2% reported unchanged revenue.
Marketers responding said they maintained spending on direct mail and place-based/out-of-home media during the second quarter, while they cut spending on direct-response broadcast, gaming and teleservices, according to the report.
According to DMA's “Quarterly Business Review,” 48.8% of respondents saw their companies' direct and digital revenue grow in the second quarter, while 42.2% reported unchanged revenue.
Marketers responding said they maintained spending on direct mail and place-based/out-of-home media during the second quarter, while they cut spending on direct-response broadcast, gaming and teleservices, according to the report.
Quadrant HealthCom Buys IMNG
Quadrant HealthCom Buys IMNG From Elsevier:
Healthcare media company Quandrant HealthCom Inc. has purchased the International Medical News Group from Elsevier, Inc. Quadrant, which is owned by investment firm M.E. Zukerman, will use the deal to create a new company called Frontline Medical Communications under which the two entities will operate their individual brands. Combined, company revenues are now over $60 million.
By itself, Parsippany, New Jersey-based Quadrant publishes 13 medical journals, 24 websites and 10 events. In late 2009, the company bought four medical journals in the Dowden Professional Publications group from Lebhar-Friedman.
But with the IMNG deal, Quadrant greatly expands its brands and audience reach. Frontline Medical Communications will produce 29 publications in 17 market segments with a combined circulation of 700,000, say the companies. The group will also publish 125 e-newsletters, 35 websites and 14 live events.
Healthcare media company Quandrant HealthCom Inc. has purchased the International Medical News Group from Elsevier, Inc. Quadrant, which is owned by investment firm M.E. Zukerman, will use the deal to create a new company called Frontline Medical Communications under which the two entities will operate their individual brands. Combined, company revenues are now over $60 million.
By itself, Parsippany, New Jersey-based Quadrant publishes 13 medical journals, 24 websites and 10 events. In late 2009, the company bought four medical journals in the Dowden Professional Publications group from Lebhar-Friedman.
But with the IMNG deal, Quadrant greatly expands its brands and audience reach. Frontline Medical Communications will produce 29 publications in 17 market segments with a combined circulation of 700,000, say the companies. The group will also publish 125 e-newsletters, 35 websites and 14 live events.
TV Guide Promotes Birnbaum
Debra
Birnbaum, who as TV Guide
editor-in-chief (since April 2008) "successfully steered the magazine
through some of the most challenging years of publishing," was promoted to
president/editor-in-chief on
Sept. 7.
Redesign of USA Today, Gannett Buys Mobestream
One of the nation’s biggest newspapers is
getting a comprehensive makeover, as USA Today
prepares to relaunch its print edition, Web site and mobile apps...and this week, USA Today publisher Gannett Co. announced it has acquired
Mobestream, which operates Key Ring, a mobile rewards program that will allow
Gannett to help local merchants strengthen relationships with consumers through
a variety of loyalty programs.
PIA and NAPL Will Not Merge
Printing Association End Unification Talks, to Remain Independent:
The joint Unification Task Force, formed last February to study the possible blending of Printing Industries of America and the National Association for Printing Leadership, has announced its recommendation to cease unification discussions. The two groups have decided to remain independent, but will continue their active collaboration on key programs and ongoing partnerships in the Graphic Arts Show Co., GAERF, and conferences such as the Vision 3 Summit.
The joint Unification Task Force, formed last February to study the possible blending of Printing Industries of America and the National Association for Printing Leadership, has announced its recommendation to cease unification discussions. The two groups have decided to remain independent, but will continue their active collaboration on key programs and ongoing partnerships in the Graphic Arts Show Co., GAERF, and conferences such as the Vision 3 Summit.
Kodak Announces New Management Team
Phil Faraci Out at Kodak; additional 1,000 job cuts:
Philip J. Faraci, President, is leaving the company. Perez noted that as Chief Operating Officer, Faraci played an important role in helping transform the company.
Chief Financial Officer Antoinette P. McCorvey has decided to leave the company. Rebecca A. Roof, a managing director of AlixPartners, the company’s restructuring advisory firm, will become Chief Financial Officer on an interim basis.
Laura G. Quatela, Kodak President, will assume the additional role of President, Personalized Imaging, and lead that business through its sale process.
Dolores Kruchten will become President, Document Imaging, to lead that business through its sale process.
Quatela and Dolores Kruchten are expected to remain with Kodak until the sales of their respective businesses are completed in the first half of 2013.
Philip J. Faraci, President, is leaving the company. Perez noted that as Chief Operating Officer, Faraci played an important role in helping transform the company.
Chief Financial Officer Antoinette P. McCorvey has decided to leave the company. Rebecca A. Roof, a managing director of AlixPartners, the company’s restructuring advisory firm, will become Chief Financial Officer on an interim basis.
Laura G. Quatela, Kodak President, will assume the additional role of President, Personalized Imaging, and lead that business through its sale process.
Dolores Kruchten will become President, Document Imaging, to lead that business through its sale process.
Quatela and Dolores Kruchten are expected to remain with Kodak until the sales of their respective businesses are completed in the first half of 2013.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Marubeni in Talks to Build One of World's Largest Pulp Mills
Japanese
trading house Marubeni Corp is in talks with Angara Paper to build one of the
world's largest paper pulp plants in Russia, the Nikkei reported.
The
plant is valued at about 280 billion yen ($3.58 billion), the business daily
reported.
If
the negotiations are successful, Marubeni will design, build and procure
equipment for the plant in the central Russian region of Krasnoyarsk, the paper
said.
The
plant's annual capacity is estimated to be 1.2 million tons and will be fully
functional in late 2017, the Nikkei said.
UPM Warns EU of Consequences
UPM
will move 300,000 tonnes of paper production from Finland to central Europe if
the European Union (EU) passes the proposed changes to the directive on marine
fuel sulfur content in their current form, the firm's CEO Jussi Pesonen told
the Finnish newspaper Maaseudun Tulevaisuus.
In
May, EU authorities agreed to amend the sulfur directive, which limits the
sulfur content of marine fuels. Under the amended rules, the limit will fall
from 1.0% to 0.1% in the North Sea, the English Channel and the Baltic as of
2015. A sulfur limit of 0.5% will be mandatory in other EU waters by 2020.
IP in Talks to Buy West Coast Paper, India
An initial round of negotiations
between the Memphis-based International
Paper and West Coast Paper was held recently where valuations and future
expansion plans for the plant located in Dandelli, Karnataka, were discussed.
Ilim Group Investing $580 Million
Ilim
Group is investing this year more than $580 million to complete modernizing and
expanding their mills. This was announced by Ilim Group CEO Paul Herbert at the
media briefing held at the APEC CEO Summit in Vladivostok.
Canada Invests $1.2 Million in Bioproducts Sector
Canada funds $1.2 million to develop wheat and flax opportunities in Manitoba including Prairie Pulp & Paper straw paper: Farmers and the Canadian bioproducts sector are getting a boost from the Harper Government. Member of Parliament Joyce Bateman (Winnipeg South Centre), on behalf Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, announced support of over $1.2 million for two innovative initiatives that will create new opportunities for Manitoba wheat and flax growers.
Finnish Forest Industry H1 2012
Forest industry in January-June 2012: Difficult market conditions led to weaker forest industry ...:
Forest industry production volumes decreased or remained unchanged in a challenging operating environment during the first half of 2012. The industry's cost-competitiveness must be safeguarded in difficult economic times.
Finland produced 5.2 million tonnes of paper and paperboard in January-June 2012. Production volumes were down 10% from the previous year. Consumption of graphic paper grades remained low in the main market area of Europe because of the eurozone crisis, and this had an impact on Finnish production volumes. Paper export volumes decreased 12% in January-May, while paperboard exports were down 8.5%. Paper and paperboard prices remained stable in comparison to the corresponding period of 2011.
Forest industry production volumes decreased or remained unchanged in a challenging operating environment during the first half of 2012. The industry's cost-competitiveness must be safeguarded in difficult economic times.
Finland produced 5.2 million tonnes of paper and paperboard in January-June 2012. Production volumes were down 10% from the previous year. Consumption of graphic paper grades remained low in the main market area of Europe because of the eurozone crisis, and this had an impact on Finnish production volumes. Paper export volumes decreased 12% in January-May, while paperboard exports were down 8.5%. Paper and paperboard prices remained stable in comparison to the corresponding period of 2011.
Power of Print Ads in China
First-ever
data from GfK StarchMetrix and Sinomonitor measuring consumer recall of
magazine advertisements in China reveal that ads in the cameras/photography,
telephone equipment and face makeup categories generate the highest consumer
readership scores.
The new syndicated print ad measurement data were gathered from online panels of approximately 10,000 consumers in June and July of 2012 by GfK StarchMetrix, a global leader in gauging print advertising effectiveness, in partnership with Sinomonitor, a leading consumer and media research company in China. The study, conducted in seven cities, encompassed 1,249 print ads across 42 magazine titles.
The new syndicated print ad measurement data were gathered from online panels of approximately 10,000 consumers in June and July of 2012 by GfK StarchMetrix, a global leader in gauging print advertising effectiveness, in partnership with Sinomonitor, a leading consumer and media research company in China. The study, conducted in seven cities, encompassed 1,249 print ads across 42 magazine titles.
"The Economist" Formula for Success
In
a time of acute financial struggle for most media houses, weekly newspaper The
Economist announced record profits and record circulation for last year. In
the group's 2012 annual report, editorial events was cited by
numerous managing directors as an important part of the publication's strategy.
This
is a closer look at The Economist Group's event strategy: how it fosters
audience engagement, generates millions in revenue, and attracts new readers.
Mobile Ad Revenue 2012 Forecast: $2.6 Billion
EMarketer projects mobile ad revenue will hit $2.6 billion this year: U.S. mobile advertising revenue will reach $2.6 billion this year, up 74% over last year, according to eMarketer. By 2014, U.S. mobile ad revenue will top $6.6 billion, the research firm forecast.
Transcontinental Reports Q3 Results
Transcontinental Increases Revenues by 8%: Transcontinental's Inc. revenues grew 8% in the third quarter, from $479.4 million to $517.0 million. This growth was driven primarily by the acquisition of Quad/Graphics Canada, Inc. and Redux Media, among others, the volume generated from new printing contracts and the launches of new community newspapers in Quebec.
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