Paper and Print Supply Chain News

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

New Page Won't Build Bio-Refinery

New Page drops plans for bio-refinery in Wi...:
Four years ago, the U.S. Energy Department awarded a $30 million grant for the bio-refinery. The project was originally sought by Stora Enso, a previous owner of the Wisconsin Rapids mill.

IP Closing 4 Temple-Inland Plants

International Paper closing four plants as result of Temple-Inland merger:
International Paper Co. is shutting down four plants across the country in the next two months and eliminating a total of 215 jobs.

IP Announces Uncoated Paper Increase

http://www.internationalpaper.com/

International Paper announced to customers a $2/cwt or 3-4% price increase on uncoated freesheet imaging papers effective May 21, 2012.

Another Coated Increase

FutureMark has announced a $2.00/cwt increase on its coated mechanical paper, effective July 1.

Verso Announces Exchange Offer

http://www.versopaper.com/

Verso Paper Corp. announced today that two of its wholly owned subsidiaries, Verso Paper Holdings LLC and Verso Paper Inc. (together, the "Issuers"), have launched an exchange offer and consent solicitation for their outstanding 11⅜% senior subordinated notes due 2016 (the "Old Subordinated Notes"). In addition, the Issuers have amended certain terms of the existing exchange offer and consent solicitation for their second priority senior secured floating rate notes due 2014 (the "Old Secured Floating Rate Notes").

NBSK Downtime Reported

Two major North American market pulp producers, Resolute Forest Products and Domtar, have annual maintenance closures at their northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) mills in Ontario this month that will trim 29,000 tonnes of output.

Nippon Relocating Headquarters

http://www.paperage.com/2012news/04_25_2012nippon_paper_group.html

Nippon Paper Group, Inc. said that it has decided to relocate its headquarters and the headquarters of major Group companies.

In addition, the company today decided to review its existing holding company system, and transform its business structure using the Group’s comprehensive strength.

DS Smith Buying SCA Packaging, France

SCA has accepted DS Smith´s offer to acquire its packaging operations
SCA has accepted DS Smith´s formal offer to acquire the packaging operations in France following consultations with appropriate works councils. The agreed purchase price amounts to EUR 1.7bn on a debt free basis.

Meredith Reports FY Q3 Results

Meredith's National Media Group Profits Down: Meredith Corporation released its fiscal third quarter results today and the overall picture is a mixed one for its National Media Group. Revenues were flat at $268 million compared with the same period the previous year, but profits were down 23% to $37 million.

Forrester: B2B to Grow 6.8%

http://www.btobonline.com/article/20120425/STRATEGY06/304259996/forrester-says-b-to-b-marketers-will-increase-budgets-6-8-this-year

B2b marketers will increase their marketing budgets by an average of 6.8% this year, according to a report from Forrester Research.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Resolute/Fibrek Fight Continues

The Fibrek Inc. Board of Directors continues to recommend that shareholders TENDER to the superior $1.40 offer made by Mercer International Inc., which will be open for acceptance until 11:59 on April 27, 2012. As of April 11, almost 25% of Fibrek shares had already been tendered to Mercer's superior offer, representing approximately half of Fibrek's minority shareholders.

Separately, it was reported that AbitibiBowater Inc., doing business as Resolute Forest Products, today announced that it has taken up and accepted for payment 2,664,351 additional shares of Fibrek Inc... Resolute holds approximately 48.8% of the currently outstanding Fibrek shares.

Brazil Sets Duties on LWC

Brazilian authorities today confirmed anti-dumping duties against lightweight coated (LWC) with basis weights of 50-72 g/m² imported from the USA, Finland, Sweden, Belgium, Canada and Germany. The request was made by Brazil's sole local LWC producer Stora Enso.The U.S. imports very little coated mechanical to Brazil.

Google Closes Subsciption Model

http://www.foliomag.com/2012/google-folds-paid-content-service-one-pass

After only a year and some change, Google folded its paid content platform One Pass. According to reports, Google made the decision public on its blog.

One Pass launched in early 2011, shortly after Apple announced its subscription model. The service appeared to be another option for publishers who did not want to play by Apple’s subscription rules.

Stora Enso Reports Q1 Results

Stora Enso profit falls on pricing pressure:
Finnish paper company Stora Enso reported a 43% fall in quarterly core operating profit due to pricing pressure and weaker demand for its graphic paper.
Europe's largest papermaker reported a core operating profit of 147 million euros ($193 million), down from last year's 258 million but above the market's average forecast of 139 million.

Study Shows Consumers Value Mail

Consumers Value Physical Mail, Even In This Digital Era: A survey conducted by Nielsen confirms consumers value physical mail, even in this digital era, and that marketing messages delivered via envelope get openend.

Print & Packaging May Be Recovering

Print and packaging sector 'showing early signs of recovery':
In the print and packaging sector the number of firms in difficulty fell by a massive 73% in the first quarter of 2012 compared to an overall drop of 17% across all sectors.
All other manufacturing businesses saw distress levels fall by 49%.

Monday, April 23, 2012

PPPC Reports SC Ships

The Pulp & Paper Products Council reported that North American SC-A/A+ paper shipments fell -23.2% in March, as compared to the previous month and -19.9% for the first quarter. Demand declined -23.4% for the month and -21.1% for Q1. Imports decreased -24.8% in March and -27.2% for the quarter. The operating rate for all Supercalendered paper was 98% in March.