Progress at NewPage Port Hawkesbury Mill

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local/2012-02-28/article-2910939/NewPage-workers-ready-to-negotiate/1

Progress is continuing to be made in the sale of the NewPage Port Hawkesbury supercalendered paper mill, with the union preparing to go to the negotiating table with the prospective buyer.

Steve MacDougall, recording secretary for Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Local 972, confirmed Tuesday the union is finalizing dates for negotiations this month with Pacific West Commercial Corp., headed by Ron Stern.

 

Forbes Media Names Executives

Forbes Media promotes two executives: Meredith Kopit Levien has been promoted to chief revenue officer at Forbes Media, said Mike Perlis, president and CEO of Forbes Media. Mark Howard has also been promoted to SVP of digital advertising strategy.

Quad/Graphics Reports Q4 and 2011 Results

Quad/Graphics Reports Sales Declines, Net Loss: Quad’s net sales for the fourth quarter of 2011 were $1.31 billion, down from $1.39 billion for the same period in 2010. It recorded a net loss of $6.8 million for the quarter, compared to net earnings of $26.5 million in the four quarter of 2010. For the full-year 2011, net sales were $4.67 billion, compared to pro forma net sales of $4.76 billion for the previous year. Quad’s net loss of $46.6 million was an improvement over its net loss of $250 million for fiscal 2010.

Heidelberg Presents Linoprint

Heidelberg Presents Entire Digital Print Portfolio Under the Name Linoprint: At the forthcoming drupa - from May 3 to 16, 2012 in Düsseldorf - Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) will be launching its complete range of digital print solutions for commercial and packaging printing under the name Heidelberg Linoprint.

RRD Sells $450 Million in Notes

New Issue-RR Donnelley sells $450 mln in notes:
R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co on Tuesday sold $450 million of senior unsecured notes, said IFR, a Thomson Reuters service.

European Woodfree Shipments Fall

CEPIFINE has reported that European coated woodfree paper shipments declined -3.2% in January as compared to the same month last year.  Demand decreased -2.2% and exports fell -6.6%. Uncoated woodfree shipments for the month were down -4.2%, demand fell -0.5% and exports declined -25.4%.

NewPage Names Director, Mill Operations

http://www.dailypress.net/page/content.detail/id/535063/Leadership-changes-at-NewPage.html?nav=5003

NewPage announced Greg Maule has been promoted to senior director, Manufacturing Operations and will oversee all NewPage mill operations, effective immediately. Maule was previously the mill manager for the Escanaba operations. Roger Rouleau will replace Mr. Maule as mill manager, Escanaba.

IP to Increase Pulp Pricing

International Paper (IP) informed customers that it will increase prices on three key grades of market pulp by $20-35/tonne depending on grade and region, effective March 1 until further notice, industry contacts said today.

Global Ad Spending Expected to Rise

Global ad spending to accelerate this year: Global advertising expenditures are expected to grow by 4.9% this year, to $465.5 billion, following 3.8% growth in 2011, according to research and consulting company Strategy Analytics.

16 M Tablet Publications Downloaded

Adobe: 16 Million Tablet Publications Downloaded in Last 12 Months: Adobe has released some insights gleaned from data it's been collecting from many of the tablet publications that use its Digital Publishing Suite. 68% of readers worldwide pay for digital magazines and newspapers. Within that 68%, 15% opt for single-copy purchases, 26% buy subscriptions and 27% go for print/digital bundles.

Creel Secures Publishing Contract from CSPS

Creel Secures Exclusive Publishing Contract from The Christian Science Publishing Society: LAS VEGAS—Feb. 28, 2012—Creel Printing has been selected as the exclusive publishing partner for The Christian Science Publishing Society (CSPS). Creel will handle production, versioning and distribution of the CSPS’s entire print lineup—including the print and digital editions of The Christian Science Monitor.

European SC & Coated Mechanical Shipments Up in January

EURO-GRAPH reported shipments of Supercalendered paper shipments increased +8.7% in January as compared to the same month last year.  Demand rose +12.8%.  Exports declined -9.6%.  Coated mechanical paper shipments rose slightly by +0.7% in January.  Demand fell -5.9%.  Exports jumped +25.8%. 

Alpac Increases NBSK Price

Alberta-Pacific announced late today that its NBHK pulp price will increase $30-35/tonne in North America and Asia, effective March 1 until further notice.

Smart Papers Closes Ohio PM

http://www.middletownjournal.com/news/middletown-news/layoffs-continue-at-smart-papers-1333882.html

SMART Papers continued layoffs Friday as it winds down its paper mill business here.

In spite of the layoffs, executives of the city’s last running paper mill said they are still aggressively looking for buyers.

SMART this week shut its single paper machine down on Friday.

Standard Register Reports 2011 Revenue

Standard Register Reports a $648.1 Million Revenue for 2011: Standard Register today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2011. The Company reported revenue of $161.4 million and a net loss of $95.5 million, or $3.28 per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2011.

Penton's Technology Media to Go Digital

Penton's technology media group to go all-digital: Penton Media's technology media group announced that it will cease printing its magazines, which will become entirely digital brands beginning in May.

FT Group Digital & Subscription Revenues Up

Digital, Subscription Revenues Ever More Important for FT Group:
Since 2007, the Financial Times Group has grown its digital business from a quarter of overall revenues to almost half, says Pearson in its 2011 financials. While traditional lines of business are flat or down, the group is placing a premium on digital and subscription revenues.

2012 Ad Spend to "Significantly" Improve

Report: US advertising spend to "significantly" improve in 2012: Total U.S. advertising spend is expected to increase 2.7% to $152.1 billion in 2012, according to a forecast conducted by research firm Strategy Analytics. A Strategy Analytics statement described the jump as "significant improvement."

St. Mary's Paper Workers "Prepare for Worst"

http://www.saultstar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3479978
The cone of silence has descended upon the court-appointed receiver's sales process, nobody is willing to confirm whether its new ownership, or liquidation, for the Sault Ste. Marie specialty paper manufacturer and silence speaks volumes to the union.

M-real Stops UWF Production at Gohrsmuhle Mill

http://www.paperage.com/2012news/02_24_2012mreal_gohrsmuhle_mill.html
M-real announced that it has decided to discontinue uncoated fine paper and "unprofitable" speciality paper production at its Gohrsmuhle mill in Germany.
As a result of the measure, M-real’s annual uncoated fine paper capacity will be reduced by approximately 120,000 tonnes and speciality paper capacity by 70,000 tonnes.

Domtar & Appleton Sign $3B Deal

Domtar signs $3B, 15-year supply deal with Appleton to provide uncoated base paper for thermal, carbonless, and other specialty papers: Appleton and Domtar Corporation today announced a tentative agreement in which Domtar would supply Appleton with most of the uncoated base paper the company needs to produce its thermal, carbonless, and other specialty paper products. T

Resolute Wins Cease Trade Decision

Resolute succeeds in obtaining cease trade decision:
AbitibiBowater Inc., doing business as Resolute Forest Products, has announced that the Bureau de décision et de révision (Québec) has accepted, with immediate effect, the company’s application to cease trade Fibrek Inc.‘s private placement of 32,320,000 special warrants to Mercer International Inc. Fibrek announced they will appeal the decision.

Quad/Graphics Awarded All Rite Aid Insert Work

Quad/Graphics Lands All of Rite Aid’s Print and Digital Insert Work: Quad/Graphics Inc. will become the exclusive printer of retail inserts for Rite Aid Corp. under a new multiyear agreement that also includes producing digital online editions of Rite Aid’s weekly newspaper circular promotions.

Asset International Launches New Title

Asset International to launch 'Philanthropy Management' magazine: Asset International, a b-to-b financial publisher, plans to launch a new quarterly print publication, Philanthropy Management, next month.

January Global Pulp Deliveries Fall

Global pulp deliveries fell by 12.9% to 3.535 million tonnes in January, down from a revised 4.059 million tonnes the previous month, according to Pulp and Paper Products Council data. Shipments were 3.1% higher than the year-earlier period, up from 3.428 million tonnes in January 2011.

Papermakers; Wood Pulp Could be Replaced

http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/News/2012/February/cellulose-nanomaterial-paper-environment.asp 

New nanocellulose material (made up of units of cellulose, a biopolymer) may soon help paper products producers cut costs by serving as a replacement for wood pulp, the Royal Society of Chemistry reported on Feb. 21. The new material would allow producers to increase the filler content in their paper, cutting their production costs by about 3%. Producers would also cut their paper’s carbon footprint by at least 15% and reduce the energy used to dry the paper by 30%.

AF&PA on Biomassed Product Procurement

http://www.afandpa.org/pressreleases.aspx?id=2458

AF&PA President and CEO Donna Harman released the following statement today in response to President Obama’s memorandum directing the federal government to increase procurement of biobased products. “The forest products industry is a leader in sustainability and makes renewable, recyclable biobased products that provide over 900,000 U.S. jobs supporting families and communities in mostly rural areas across our country..."

AF&PA Submits Boiler MACT Comments to EPA

http://www.afandpa.org/pressreleases.aspx?id=2459

The American Forest & Paper Association today submitted comments on the Boiler MACT rules to the EPA.  The Boiler MACT rules also include the Commercial and Industrial Solid Waste Incineration rule, Non-Hazardous Secondary Materials rule and Boiler GACT rule. 

Fibrek Reports Q4 Loss

Fibrek reports a net loss of $79.9 million in 4th quarter:

Fibrek is reporting a net loss of $79.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, compared with net earnings of $2.6 million for the corresponding period of 2010.

Hearst Digital Media Expands ELLE Partnership

Hearst Digital Media Expands ELLE Partnership with Style Coalition:
In addition to a new portfolio of magazines, Hearst also inherited ELLE’s partnership with the Style Coalition blog network during its 2011 Hachette acquisition. Hearst Digital Media will expand this partnership to include Hearst’s 28 digital properties; its ad team will also sell Style Coalition display advertising, in addition to using SC resources to create custom programs for marketing clients.

Dirt Rag Wins Aveda Environmental Award

http://www.foliomag.com/2012/dirt-rag-wins-2012-aveda-environmental-award-magazines

Aveda and the Green America Better Paper Project named the winners of the 2012 Aveda Environmental Award for Magazines. Dirt Rag, a mountain biking magazine, earned this year’s top spot. Kansas City’s green living publication Greenability landed the runner-up nod, and GRIT completes the top trio as finalist. The award recognizes the best in sustainable publishing practices in the consumer and b-to-b sectors.

NAPL and PIA Discuss Unification

NAPL and PIA Form Task Force to Explore Unification: At a meeting held prior to the Vision 3 conference a group of industry leaders convened to explore opportunities to unify NAPL and PIA.

HP Reports FY Q1 Results

HP Net Profit Drops 44%: HP today announced financial results for its first fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2012. For the quarter, net revenue of $30.0 billion was down 7% from the prior-year period, and down 8% when adjusted for the effects of currency.

PPPC Reports NA January Numbers

The PPPC reported that coated mechanical paper shipments declined by -3.2% in January as compared to the same month last year.  Demand fell -4.2% and imports were up +6.4% The operating rate was 89%.  Coated woodfree shipments decreased -1.3% in January.  Demand was down -10.6% and imports fell -32.6%. The operating rate was 87%.  SC-A/SC-A+ shipments decreased -21.8%, demand declined -19.3% and imports fell -20.5%.

RRD Reports Q4 Net Loss

RR Donnelley Records a Net Loss as Demand Softens: R.R. Donnelley & Sons reported a fourth-quarter net loss of $326.7 million on net sales of $2.7 billion. That compares to net earnings of $27 million on net sales of $2.7 billion in the fourth quarter of 2010.

Customer Titles in Top 100 Up 9.5% H2/H1 2011

Men's lifestyle mags hit in latest ABCs: Magazines showed a small overall decline in circulation in the second half of 2011 while customer titles dominated the top 10, according to figures published by the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC). Tesco, Asda and National Trust were the top three magazines.

Demand for print remained relatively stable.

Publishers Seek More Control of On-Line Ads

Real-Time Advertising Bidding Offers Publisher Control: As publishers attempt to make online advertising a profitable and engaging business model, real time bidding on Web inventory by prospective clients is becoming more prevalent. Conde Nast launched a private Web ad exchange with AdMeld for select clients in late 2011, and now smaller publishers are getting in the game.

AF&PA Reports January P&W Shipments

http://www.statmill.org/detailedpressrelease.asp?rid=227&pid=JAN2012

According to the American Forest & Paper Association’s January 2012 Printing-Writing Paper Report, total printing-writing paper shipments decreased 3% in January compared to January 2011. All four major printing-writing grades posted decreases compared to last January.

Catalyst Paper Names Chair

http://www.catalystpaper.com/media/news/community/catalyst-paper-announces-changes-board-directors-0

Catalyst Paper Corporation announced today that its Board of Directors has elected Jeffrey Marshall as Chair of the Board to replace Benjamin Duster.  

Flambeau River Faces EPA Requirements

http://www.wjfw.com/stories.html?sku=20120217181018

The Environmental Protection Agency is enforcing new regulations which could force Flambeau River Papers in Park Falls, WI to shut down. The mill has an annual capacity of 150,000 st of uncoated freesheet.

 

Wood Fiber Costs Declined in Q4

Wood fiber costs for pulp manufacturers declined in the 4Q/11 as pulp prices fell
Global demand for pulp has declined and pulp prices fell during the second half of 2011.
As a consequence, prices for wood fiber, the highest cost component when producing pulp, were down throughout the world, as reported by the Wood Resource Quarterly. The Global Wood Fiber Indices for softwood and hardwood fiber declined 3.5% from the 3Q/11.

2011 European Paper Production Down -2%

Paper production in Europe decreases by close to 2 per cent

After the recovery in 2010 following the previous financial downturn, the indications are that paper and board production by CEPI member countries fell in 2011 by close to 2% as the momentum of the revival was affected by the economic slowdown, particularly in the second half of the year. 

Quad to Close Sale to Transcontinental

Quad Expects to Close the Sale of Its Canadian Operations: Quad/Graphics Inc. today announced that it has been authorized by Canada’s Competition Bureau to complete the sale of its Canadian operations to Transcontinental Inc. The company expects to close the transaction in the next several weeks.

Transcontinental Announces $400 Million CAD

Transcontinental Puts in Place a New $400 Million Credit Facility: Transcontinental Inc. announced that it has put in place a new $400 million (CAD) five-year unsecured revolving credit facility that expires in February 2017.

USPS Releases New Plan

USPS releases new business plan: The U.S. Postal Service today released an important update to its business plan for returning to profitability and long-term financial stability. While fundamentally consistent with the approach advanced by the Postal Service over the past year, the plan released today incorporates important refinements of financial projections and recommended legislative reforms.

Third Avenue Sells Last of Catalyst Paper Shares

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/16/4269115/third-avenue-management-completes.html

Third Avenue Management LLC ("TAM") today announced that on behalf of Third Avenue International Value Fund, other affiliated funds, and separately managed client accounts (collectively, the "Client Accounts"), it has completed the sale of 105,105,509, or 27.52%, of the outstanding common shares ("Shares") of Catalyst Paper Corporation ("Catalyst").  

Update on St. Mary's Paper

http://www.saultstar.com/PrintArticle.aspx?e=3472387

It remains uncertain whether negotiations have been initiated toward salvaging bankrupt St. Marys Paper Corp.

Speculation had Ernst & Young, court-appointed receivers for the cash-strapped Sault Ste. Marie specialty paper manufacturer, making a Tuesday sales process recommendation to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial Division) in Toronto.

Nobody has been able to confirm such an appearance took place there has been no posting on the receiver's restructuring website, but Sault Ste. Marie MPP David Orazietti, who announced the appearance in a Monday release, believes it did take place.

Transcontinental Chaiman Steps Down

http://www.piworld.com/article/r-mi-marcoux-steps-down-chairman-transcontinental-printing-company/1

The annual TC Transcontinental shareholders’ meeting was highlighted by the tribute paid to Rémi Marcoux, outgoing chairman of the board and founder, and the election of his daughter, Isabelle Marcoux, as chair of the board. Marcoux will remain on the board as a director.

USPS Report; $0.50 Stamp?

http://www.piworld.com/article/usps-releases-path-financial-stability-plan-mentions-50-cent-first-class-stamp/1

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) released an important update to its business plan for returning to profitability and long-term financial stability. While fundamentally consistent with the approach advanced by the Postal Service over the past year, the plan released today incorporates important refinements of financial projections and recommended legislative reforms. 

Legislative change allowing single-piece First-Class Mail stamp to increase to $0.50 could yield approximately $1billion of incremental contribution.

187 Million Magazine Readers; 46% Read Exclusively in Print

Many Consumers Just Prefer Reading the Printed Versions of Magazines: There are almost 187 million magazine reading adults in the U.S. -- and almost half (46%) are interacting with their favorite magazines exclusively in print.

Pitney Bowes: Email Opening Rate Down 30%

Email opening rates diminishing, says Pitney Bowes: The print equipment and cross-media specialist has produced a white paper entitled Why some customers are just not that into you – a survey conducted with more than 5,000 consumers across the UK, France, Germany and the US. Pitney Bowes UK managing director said that just 24% of emails, when sent as a solo communication, will be opened. This is down from 30% in 2010.

Artic Increases Coated & Uncoated Paper Prices

http://www.paperage.com/2012news/02_16_2012arctic_paper_price.html

Arctic Paper said that it will increase pricing on all of its Uncoated Woodfree and Coated Woodfree paper grades, both in sheets and reels, by 5-6%.

The price increase will be implemented for all markets and deliveries effective March 15, 2012.

Arctic Paper has four paper mills in Europe with a total capacity of is 825,000 metric tonnes of paper per year.

Update on Fibrek / Resolute Fight

Fibrek fighting for the rights of its shareholders to accept Mercer’s superior offer:
Fibrek Inc. announced today that a hearing before the Bureau de décision et de révision (Québec), the administrative tribunal with statutory jurisdiction in securities law and regulatory matters in the Province of Québec, will be held on February 17 and 20, 2012 to consider the application filed by AbitibiBowater Inc. (doing business as Resolute Forest Products) for an order to cease trade the superior offer proposed by Mercer International Inc. to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Fibrek and the private placement of 32,320,000 special warrants to Mercer for gross proceeds of $32,320,000.

Valassis Reports Q4 and 2011 Results

Valassis Reports Revenue Declines for Fourth Quarter, Full Year:
Fourth-quarter 2011 revenues were $595.3 million, a decrease of 5.7% from the prior-year quarter. Full-year 2011 revenues were $2.24 billion, a decrease of 4.2% from full-year 2010.

Larger Format for Spin Magazine

http://www.adweek.com/print/138326

As alternative music magazine Spin figures out how to be a music magazine for the digital future, it's taking a page from the past.

On Feb. 28, the March/April issue will hit newsstands, now bimonthly considerably larger and heavier than before, with thicker paper stock and a 9.5” x 12” trim size that will allow more attention to photography and design.

6 B-toB Marketers on 2012 Outlook

http://www.audiencedevelopment.com/2012/b+b+and+consumer+circ+outlook+2012

If the contributions by the following six audience developers are any indication, 2012 is going to be a breakout year for publishers.  Paid print and digital content bundles will be a key focus, as will HTML5 and e-commerce partnerships. In b-to-b, BPA’s new rules for auditing digital distribution could have profound effects on overall circulation growth for that market.

Reed Business Information 2011 Results

Reed Business Information’s Adjusted Operating Profit Spikes in 2011:Reed Elsevier’s U.S. b-to-b content division Reed Business Information [RBI] had a strong 2011. Revenue was down slightly at $1.08 billion, falling three percent from 2010’s $1.12 billion.

F+W Buys The Martha Pullen Company

F+W Buys The Martha Pullen Company: F+W Media has morphed a joint venture with Hoffman Media into a full-on acquisition, buying Hoffman's Martha Pullen Company, which serves the sewing and craft markets. Key to the deal was Martha Pullen's e-commerce and fulfillment operations.

USPS Redesigning Processing Network

USPS Redesigning Mail Processing Network Based on Area Hubs: The Postal Service is looking to reduce the size of its Area Mail Processing (AMP) plant network from around 461 facilities to under 200 over the next few years, and is expected to complete closure reviews in the next two weeks.

USPS to Begin Consoidating Before PRC or Congress Act

http://www.apwu.org/news/webart/2012/12-007-article12meeting-120215.htm

In a meeting with the APWU on Feb. 13, postal officials notified the APWU that they plan to begin consolidating mail processing facilities as soon as the moratorium on consolidations ends. The moratorium is set to expire on May 15..does not intend to await an advisory opinion by the PRC..

nor does the USPS intend to await action by Congress to address the Postal Service’s financial crisis. 

NA Pulp & Paper Industry 2011 Cap Spending Up 46.5%

As reported in a PPI Pulp & Paper Survey of 20 major North American manufacturers, industry capital spending was up $4 billion in 2011 over 2010, an increase of 46.5%. In the U.S., capital spending was up 47.8% (120% 2011/2009) and in Canada it jumped 90.2%. The focus of the spending was on replacing higher-cost capacity, machine conversions, energy cost reductions, quality enhancements and environmental improvements.

Churchill Downs Buys Bluff Media

http://www.foliomag.com/node/38503/print

Bluff Media has been acquired by horse racing and entertainment company Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) for an undisclosed amount.

Active Interest Media & Source Interlink Strike Deal

http://www.foliomag.com/2012/active-interest-media-buys-marine-group-assets-from-source-interlink
Active Interest Media, the enthusiast publisher with titles and events in the healthy living, home buying, marine and outdoor markets, has taken over the marine group from Source Interlink Media in an asset deal.

Consolidated Graphics Reports Quarterly Results

Consolidated Graphics Reports a 5.1 Percent Revenue Decrease:

Revenue for the December quarter was $283.9 million, a $15.2 million or 5.1% decrease compared to the prior year quarter. Adjusted Operating Income for the December 2011 quarter was $20.6 million or 7.2%, compared to $30.2 million or 10.1% of revenue last year. Adjusted Net Income was $12.6 million, compared to Adjusted Net Income of $18.7 million for the prior year quarter.

Resolute Applies to Stop Mercer's Fibrek Offer

http://www.paperage.com/2012news/02_14_2012resolute_cease_trade.html

AbitibiBowater Inc., doing business as Resolute Forest Products,  announced that it applied to the Bureau de decision et de revision (Quebec), the administrative tribunal with statutory jurisdiction in securities law and regulatory matters in Quebec, for an order to cease trade the proposed offer by Mercer International Inc. to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Fibrek Inc. Fibrek and Mercer announced the offer on February 10.

China's 2011 RCP Imports Up 12%, Pulp Jumps 26.2%

China's total recovered paper (RCP) imports increased 18.5% in December as compared to the same month last year. Imports were up 12% for the whole of 2011 as compared to 2010.

Chinese BSK pulp imports increased 10.6% in December as compared to the same month last year and 45.9% for the whole of 2011 over 2010. Total pulp imports were up 23.6% for the month and 26.2% for the year.

NewPage Seeks Changes in DIP Agreement

http://investors.newpagecorp.com/index.php?s=43&item=209

NewPage Corporation ("NewPage") announced today that it is seeking to amend its Amended and Restated Superpriority Debtor-In-Possession Credit and Guaranty Agreement dated as of September 23, 2011 (the "DIP Credit Agreement"; capitalized terms referenced below are defined in the DIP Credit Agreement).  

UPM Adds Sheeter to Mill in China

UPM plans to add a new sheeter that can handle up to 100,000 tonnes/yr of paper at its mill in Changshu city, Jiangsu province. The unit will come online around the end of this year, and is planned to process copy paper, according to a contact from the company. This will allow the mill's cut-size paper capacity to reach around 400,000 tonnes/yr. The site houses two paper units producing some 800,000 tonnes/yr of coated and uncoated fine paper.