Tuesday, October 9, 2012

NewPage Files Amended Plan

NewPage Files Amended Joint Chapter 11 Plan And Disclosure Statement:
NewPage Corporation announced that it has filed an amended Joint Chapter 11 Plan (the "Plan") and Disclosure Statement with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
"The filing of our amended Plan of Reorganization and Disclosure Statement is an important step toward exiting bankruptcy this year with a strong balance sheet," said Jay Epstein, senior vice president and chief financial officer of NewPage.

Verso Biomass Project Nears Completion

Contractors are working diligently to get an upgraded biomass system finished by the end of the month at Verso Paper's mill in Bucksport.
The $42 million project includes refitting the No. 8 boiler to burn only natural wood products and the installation of a new 25-megawatt turbine. It's part of Verso's 2009 diversification strategy to establish energy production as a crucial part of the company's portfolio.

Drought Brings Hard Choices to Catalyst Crofton

Catalyst Paper is trying to find a balance between aiding a salmon run and having to shut down its operations.
Continuing dry conditions have created the possibility that the company will run out of water about Oct. 31, curtailing or halting operations, said Brian Houle, environmental manager at Crofton mill.

NewPage Expanding Focus on Uncoated Freesheet

NewPage Corporation (NewPage) today announced that it is strengthening its commitment to the uncoated freesheet market segment and broadening its reach for its Ideal products.
Ideal attributes include a 92 brightness, brilliant blue-white shade, excellent ink holdout and optimal opacity. Ideal meets the exacting needs of any print application while remaining within a tight budget. It is recommended for end use such as annual reports, brochures, catalogs, coupons, direct mail, financial documents, newsletters and manuals.

U.S. Top Global Wood Pellets Exporter

http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/business/978540-464/wood-pellets-becoming-a-major-us-export.html
Wood pellets for burning are a high-profile alternative energy source in New England, but a new report shows that it’s the Southeast which is turning them into a big export commodity.
A report by Wood Resources International released Tuesday said that the U.S. surpassed Canada this year as the world’s leading exporter of wood pellets for fuel, largely because of exports to Europe, where biomass heat and power are a much larger part of the energy picture. Finland, for example, produces 20 percent of its total energy from wood, while Austria is not far behind.

Environ. Cert. News: Cost of Narrowing Choices / PEFC Wins NGO Case

Forest certification is becoming an important tool in balancing resource sustainability and economic viability, but there is growing confusion in the marketplace over certification standards and eco labels. According to a new report by the American Consumer Institute (ACI) Center for Citizen Research, that confusion could be driving up prices by as much as 15 to 20 percent for consumers who are willing to pay more for sustainable wood and paper products but may not actually be getting something that is better for the environment.
The ACI report titled The Monopolization of Forest Certification: Do Disparate Standards Increase Consumer Costs and Undermine Sustainability? – reveals the consequences of a reliance on an FSC-only approach, with a vast majority of US certified timber coming from other certification programs. 
The Board of Appeal of Stichting Milieukeur (SMK) has rejected an appeal filed by a coalition of NGOs and confirmed that PEFC International conforms to the Dutch Procurement criteria. This rejection comes one year after the Dutch Timber Procurement Assessment Committee (TPAC) rejected an objection filed by the NGOs as unsubstantiated, ending an exhaustive four year process that confirmed at every stage that PEFC delivers sustainability as defined in the Dutch criteria.

Report on WE Paper & Paperboard Released

New Market Research Report: Paper & Paperboard in Western Europe:
Paper & Paperboard in Western Europe industry profile provides top-line qualitative and quantitative summary information including:
* Market consumption volumes decreased with a CARC of -1.9% between 2007-2011, to reach a total of 77.2 million metric tonnes in 2011.
* The performance of the market is forecast to accelerate, with an anticipated CAGR of 1.6% for the five-year period 2011 - 2016, which is expected to drive the market to a value of $74.6 billion by the end of 2016.

Biomass Magazine Offered to Industry

Free Offer: Biomass Magazine:
Biomass Magazine is a monthly publication tailored to serve companies and organizations engaged in producing or utilizing biomass power and heat, advanced biofuels, biogas, wood pellets and biobased chemicals.

Quad/Graphics & Time Inc.: $900 Million+ Deal

Quad/Graphics $900 Million-Plus Agreement with Time Inc.'s Magazines: New, multi-year agreement covers 19 titles and represents a 35% increase in Quad/Graphics' incremental volume over the term Quad/Graphics, Inc. (QUAD), announced today that it has reached a new, $900 million-plus agreement with Time Inc. that significantly extends and expands its magazine print work for the venerable New York publisher. Under the multi-year agreement, Quad/Graphics will handle more than 85% of the print work for 19 titles that are among the most popular magazines in America.

2016 Global Publishing Worth $273 Billion

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/08/4891292/global-publishing-industry-to.html 
The global publishing industry is predicted to be worth $273 billion by 2016 for an increase of nearly 12% since 2011, according to a report available at ReportLinker.com.

MPA: Brands Advertising on Magazine Platforms Up 57%

http://www.magazine.org/industry-news/press-releases/mpa-press-releases/mpa/footprint 
New data released from MPA, the Association of Magazine Media, provide a more complete picture of the strength of magazines across platforms.  The findings reveal a 57% spike in the number of brands advertising on magazine media platforms (tablet, online and print) since 2010, and strong consumer engagement.   Additionally, the data show year-over-year growth in the combined print and online magazine audience.

Millennial Media Names CMO

http://adage.com/article/people-players/people-move-mollie-spilman-named-cmo-millennial-media/237650/
Millennial Media has appointed Mollie Spilman to the newly created role of executive vice president and CMO. Ms. Spilman joins Millennial Media from Yahoo, where she served as chief marketing officer. Prior to her role as CMO, she served as the senior vice president of B-to-B marketing, senior vice president of commerce and Yahoo's head of marketing for the Americas.

Q3 Media Industry Deals up 42%

Value of media industry deals up 42% in Q3: New York—The number of media deals in the third quarter fell to 381, a decline of 5% from the second quarter, according to a report by media investment bank Berkery, Noyes & Co. However, transaction value grew 42%, to $23.2 billion,  the highest value recorded in the past seven quarters.

Penton Launches Trusts & Estates Plus

Penton Launches App for Niche Wealth and Estate Management Market:
Penton has just launched a new app called Trusts & Estates Plus that targets subscribers of the magazine of the same name, as well as the company's new Wealthmanagement.com site. The app will cost $329 per year for new subscribers, which also provides access to Wealthmanagement.com and other digital products.

'USA Today Using comScore to Track

'USA Today' adopts comScore viewability metrics: Gannett Co. announced it will implement comScore's viewable impression measurement for ad campaigns running on USAToday.com.

The Nation & National Review Partner for Ad Sales

The Nation and National Review Partner for Ad Sales:
If you forget politics for a second, the readership of The Nation and National Review are actually quite similar—"opinion leaders" inside and outside the beltway. That similarity drove the two magazines together to create the "Purple Network"—a combined sales effort that marries the red of the National Review and the blue of The Nation, as well as their rate bases and a steeply discounted ad buy. 

Popular Science Creates Digital Bellyband

Popular Science Creates Digital Bellyband for Its Tablet Edition:
The bellyband—an advertising device that's about as traditional as you can get—is getting the digital treatment at Popular Science. The November issue of the magazine's Mag+ tablet version will feature a digital bellyband that readers have to engage before they're able to access the contents.

AIM & Restore Media Become Partners

AIM Partners With Restore Media: Active Interest Media (AIM) and Restore Media have agreed to partner in production of their historic home and building brands, the companies announced today.
AIM bought consumer publications Old House Journal and New Old House from Restore Media in 2007. Those two brands, as well as Restore's two professional titles, Period Homes and Traditional Building, are involved in the current deal.

WSJ Names VP-Global Marketing, Ad Sales

'WSJ' names Lawrence VP-global marketing, advertising sales: The Wall Street Journal has appointed Nina Lawrence VP-global marketing, advertising sales.
In addition to leading the Journal's global sales team, Lawrence will oversee the upcoming expansion of the company's creative and custom advertising capabilities.

Pearson CEO Steps Down

Pearson Plc (PSON) Chief Executive Officer Marjorie Scardino will step down after 16 years and be replaced by the head of its international education business, spurring speculation the company may sell the Financial Times newspaper.
John Fallon, 50, will replace Scardino, 65, starting January 2013, the London-based company said today.

Variety Sold to Penske Media

Variety Sold to Penske Media:
Entertainment news source Variety has been sold by Reed Elsevier to digital media and publishing company Penske Media Corporation (PMC). The deal is estimated to be for about $25 million, the Los Angeles Times reports.