Verso Reports 2011 & Q4 Results

http://www.versopaper.com/

Verso reported net sales for 2011 were up 7.3% to $1.7 billion versus $1.6 billion for 2010. Approximately $83 million in "special item" costs, such as costs related to the shutting down of three paper machines, debt refinancing and goodwill impairments, were tacked on to a pre-item loss of about $54 million. New product development costs were about $5 million for the year. In all, Verso recorded a net loss of $137 million. 

H2 11 Decline for Global Pulp Price

global pulp price plummets 20%: Wood Resource Quarterly (WRQ) has said that global pulp price fell by around 20% in the second half of last year.

Magazines & Creative Use of Personalization

http://adage.com/print/233084

Trying to answer the digital era's increasing demands for personalization, magazines are pushing further into ads that address readers individually.

The March issue of Harper's Bazaar, for example, arrived at 300,000 subscribers' homes accompanied by a full-page flier greeting subscribers by name and urging them to visit specific Neiman Marcus stores within 50 miles.

January Commercial Printing Ships Fall

January US Commercial Printing Shipments Down -2.4% Compared to 2011 (Economics & Research Center):
The year started with a mild thud in January, with current dollar printing shipments at $6.4 billion, down -$160 million, or -2.4% compared to the prior year.

Top Magazine Industry Deals

The Top Magazine Industry Deals of 2011: While not a blockbuster year for magazine media M&A, 2011 did have its share of big deals, as well as some that clearly signaled where publishers were placing their bets on future revenues. Hearst’s purchase of the Hachette brands was the biggest strictly magazine deal of the year.

Hearst Completes Acqusition

Lagardere SCA’s Magazine Portfolio: Hearst Corp. finally completed its $919 million acquisition of Lagerdere SCA’s nearly 100 magazines outside the French market in December 2011 when it closed on its deal to buy the Hachette China operations. The full transaction, which had been undergoing regulatory approval in 15 different countries, was initiated in late 2010.

Bloomberg Businessweek’s Site Redesign

Behind Bloomberg Businessweek’s Site Redesign: After relaunching its print product two years ago, Bloomberg Businessweek recently debuted a redesigned website to reflect the changes readers are seeing in print.

J.C. Penney Invests in MSLO

16 Percent Stake In MSLO: After initiating a search for investors and potential partners with Blackstone Advisory Partners in May 2011, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia announced that retailer J.C. Penney invested $38.5 million in the multi-brand company, and will hold a 16.6% stake.

Bonnier Buys Hunting Expos

Hunting Expos: Bonnier Corporation, publisher of magazines including Field & Stream and Outdoor Life, purchased four hunting expos from Mequon, Wisconsin-based Target Communications for an undisclosed sum.