Catalyst Paper Reports Q2 Results

http://www.paperage.com/2013news/07_29_2013catalyst_paper_earnings.html

Catalyst Paper reported a net loss of $28.0 million ($1.93 per common share) for the second quarter of 2013, a period heavily impacted by maintenance downtime. Before specific items, the net loss was $18.1 million. Specific items in Q2 included a $2.1 million gain on the sale of the Elk Falls industrial site, a non-cash loss on the mandatory redemption of Exit Notes of $2.3 million and a $9.6 million non-cash loss on the effect of foreign exchange on our US dollar denominated debt. This compares with the Q1 net loss of $9.8 million ($0.89 per common share) and $11.6 million net loss before specific items.

Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation (EBITDA) and EBITDA before restructuring costs in the second quarter were negative $0.6 million and negative $0.5 million respectively.
Revenues of $263.4 million for the quarter were up from the prior quarter, reflecting higher sales volumes for specialty uncoated, newsprint and directory, higher transaction prices for newsprint and pulp, as well as the effect of the weaker Canadian dollar. Pulp sales volume was up over the same quarter of 2012 as was the transaction price.

Glatfelter Reports Q2 Results

http://www.paperage.com/2013news/07_30_2013glatfelter_earnings.html

Glatfelter today reported second-quarter 2013 net income of $0.9 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, and adjusted earnings of $5.1 million, or $0.12 per diluted share. These results compare with second-quarter 2012 net income of $13.4 million or $0.31 per diluted share and adjusted earnings in the prior year quarter of $5.3 million or $0.12 per diluted share.

Consolidated net sales for the second quarter of 2013 totaled $426.0 million, a quarterly record and a 10.7 percent increase compared with $384.7 million in the second quarter of 2012 reflecting organic growth of 3.1 percent and acquisition growth of 7.2 percent.

Wausau Reports Q2 Results

http://www.paperage.com/2013news/07_29_2013wausau_paper_earnings.html

Due to the completed sale and the first-quarter closure of its former manufacturing facility in Brainerd, Minnesota, financial performance of the former Paper segment, including an after-tax impairment charge of approximately $40.1 million as a result of the second-quarter sale, is reported as discontinued operations.

Including a loss of $0.81 per share from discontinued operations, net of tax, the 2013 second quarter net loss was $1.11 per share.
On a reported basis, the second quarter 2013 results from continuing operations was a net loss of $0.30 per share.
Results of continuing operations reflect the impact of the start-up of the new Harrodsburg manufacturing and converting capabilities, as well as manufacturing and inventory transition in support of the new products related to the $220 million Tissue expansion project.

Kruger Products Names VP

http://www.paperage.com/2013news/07_30_2013kruger_products_rob_latter.html

Latter first joined Kruger Inc. in 1997 as Sales Manager for the Kruger Packaging Division. In 2001, Latter took on the position of Vice President, AFH Division. He remained in this role before returning to the Packaging business as Vice President in 2007.

MeadWestvaco Reports Q2 Results

http://www.meadwestvaco.com/index.htm

MeadWestvaco Corporation, a global leader in packaging and packaging solutions, reported a modest sales increase for the second quarter of 2013, but lower earnings primarily due to the previously announced outage at the company's paperboard mill in Covington, Virginia. The company generated good revenue growth in many targeted packaging markets, especially food, beverage, healthcare and personal care, as well as in specialty chemicals. Results also benefited from the contributions of the Brazilian pine chemicals business, Resitec, and the Indian industrial packaging materials business, Ruby Macons, and from improved pricing for industrial packaging solutions in Brazil. These benefits were partially offset by lower forestland sales and unfavorable foreign currency exchange during the quarter.

Great Northern Paper/Cate Street Agrees to Pay Taxes

http://bangordailynews.com/2013/07/26/news/penobscot/cate-street-promises-to-square-outstanding-property-taxes-with-towns/

The Katahdin region's largest taxpayer has agreed to pay $1.25 million in overdue property taxes to East Millinocket and Millinocket by mid-August, officials said Friday.

Cate Street Capital leaders committed to paying the $900,000 in property taxes the company owes for the 2012-13 fiscal year during a meeting on Monday, Millinocket Town Manager Peggy Daigle said.

NewPage Debuts Anthem Plus

http://www.newpagecorp.com/wps/portal/corporate/home/!ut/p/c5/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3ifAG8jD28TI3cLY0djA08zPx8T_5BQYwN3Q_1wkA6zeFd3Mz9fH1NDA_dQHzMDz2CDUNNA3zBDC2MTiLwBDuBooO_nkZ-bql-QnZ3m6KioCAAzqV6s/dl3/d3/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/

NewPage Corporation announced today Anthem Plus, the all-new, all-American economy coated paper built to perform in virtually every print application.

Paperless Society? IDC Says Not So Fast

http://www.zdnet.com/paperless-society-idc-says-not-so-fast-7000018677/

Summary: The world is printing a bit less, but not by much. Mobile device printing and emerging markets are forecast to hold the market at about 3 trillion printed pages a year.

The world is printing less, but the paperless society remains largely a myth as page volume from printers was 2.98 trillion 2012, down 1.5 percent from 3.03 trillion in 2011, according to IDC data.
IDC's stats provide a nice reality check on the status of printing. Sure, you can cover New York City 237 times with the volume of pages printed, but digital workflows are making a dent. IDC is projecting that global page volume will remain flat for 2013 to 2017.
Printer vendors maintain that the explosion of digital content means more printing. However, developed markets are printing less and page volume is being held flat by growth in emerging markets. Incremental page volume is also starting to come from mobile devices.

Global Market for Folding Cartons Growing 5.1% Annually

http://www.paperage.com/2013news/07_30_2013folding_cartons_survey_smithers_pira.html

The global market for folding cartons is growing by 5.1% annually, and will reach $184 billion by 2018, according to a major new study by Smithers Pira. Market growth will be led by increased demand for health care products, cigarettes, dry foods and frozen/chilled foods, especially in the emerging economies.

The Future of Folding Cartons to 2018, a new report from Smithers Pira, outlines the shape of the industry globally by end-use sector, region and country, through extensive primary research. With strategic forecasts to 2018, plus details of key market drivers and opportunities, it analyses major drivers and trends shaping the industry, and provides exclusive exploration of end-use markets and current and future worldwide demand.

China's Imports RCP and Pulp Fall, June & YTD

China's recovered paper (RCP) imports fell sharply last month, dropping 18.9% from May to just below 2.267 million tonnes in June, according to data from China Customs.
Mixed paper intake saw the worst decline, plummeting 22.7% to 392,531 tonnes. The grade is the prime target of the Chinese government's intensified inspections under the Green Fence policy.
Both suppliers and buyers have stayed away from trading the grade, especially tonnage imported from Europe and the USA.
June's figure was 3.2% lower than the 2.346 million tonnes recorded in June 2012.
Total RCP imports in the first half of this year came in at almost 14.924 million tonnes, down 0.7% from the year-earlier period. 

China's total pulp imports plummeted 16.0% in June compared to the previous month, falling to 1.287 million tonnes, according to data from China Customs.

The June plunge was due to poor pulp demand stemming from the stagnant domestic paper and board market, with intake of bleached softwood and hardwood kraft pulp (BSK and BHK) both taking a hit.
BSK imports fell 15.2% to 499,326 tonnes, while BHK dropped 14.8% to 496,995 tonnes.
The drop for other grades was also massive between May and June. Unbleached softwood kraft pulp declined 19.8% to 36, 927 tonnes. Semi-chemical pulp fell more significantly, down 38.4% to 95,186 tonnes.
June's total pulp import figure was 4.9% lower than the 1.354 million tonnes recorded in the same month of 2012.
Pulp imports for the first six months came to just 8.251 million tonnes, a decrease of 4.2% from the preceding year.

Chinese Imports Paper & Paperboard Falls

http://www.forwardbi.com/qzdata/detail/244/20120726-75a5ddccd5eb614c.html

According to statistics from Forward Data Monitoring Center: the import volume of paper and paperboard slightly decreased in June. China imported 0.29 million tons of paper and paperboard in June 2012, with a year-on-year decrease of 3.3% and a month-on-month decrease of 6.4%. The total import volume in the first half year this year was 1.59 million tons, down 5.2% over the same period of years.

RRD Reports Q2 Results

http://www.piworld.com/article/rr-donnelley-reports-q2-2013-results-net-sales-up-from-q2-2012/1

Net sales in the quarter were $2.6 billion, up $43.0 million, or 1.7%, from the second quarter of 2012 due to the impact of 2012 acquisitions and volume growth in the U.S. Print and Related Services segment. After adjusting for the impact of acquisitions, changes in foreign exchange rates and pass-through paper sales, organic sales declined 0.8% from the second quarter of 2012 due to price erosion in both segments and volume declines in the International segment, partially offset by volume growth in the U.S. Print and Related Services segment. Operating income in the second quarter of 2013 was $173.2 million, which was impacted by restructuring and impairment charges and acquisition-related expenses totaling $19.9 million, compared to operating income in the second quarter of 2012 of $163.9 million, which included restructuring and impairment charges and acquisition-related expenses totaling $34.5 million.

Second-quarter 2013 net earnings attributable to common shareholders was $65.4 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, compared to net earnings of $88.8 million, or $0.49 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2012. Second-quarter 2013 net earnings attributable to common shareholders included $25.4 million in pre-tax charges for restructuring, impairment (non-cash) and acquisition-related expenses and losses on investments, while in the second quarter of 2012, net earnings attributable to common shareholders included $38.6 million in pre-tax charges for restructuring, impairment (non-cash), acquisition-related expenses and a loss on an investment, which were offset by the recognition of previously unrecognized tax benefits ($26.1 million, non-cash). Additional details regarding the nature of these and other items are included in the attached schedules.

How Catalogs Drive Your Business

http://www.retailonlineintegration.com/article/how-catalogs-drive-your-business/1

The printed catalog is the main driver of traffic to the web. However, with all of the other touchpoints available to consumers today, how do we really know the impact of catalog mailings on web sales? And why do we give so much credit to the print catalog? 
While the internet has become the preferred way to place an order, consumers still prefer to shop from a print catalog. That's why it's important to understand the difference between sales that come through the web vs. sales that are generated from the web. Catalogers frequently say that more than 70 percent of their business is coming from the web. What they really mean is that 70 percent of their orders are coming through the web, not from the web. Perhaps 15 percent to 20 percent of their orders are coming from the web; the majority of their orders that came over the web were driven by a print catalog.

Bloomberg Media Names CEO

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/atlantic-medias-justin-smith-named-ceo-of-bloomberg-media-group_b189854

The Bloomberg Media Group, which includs Bloomberg TV and Bloomberg BusinessWeek, has named Justin Smith CEO.

Smith joins Bloomberg from Atlantic Media, where he was president from 2010-2013. Atlantic Media includes The Atlantic magazine, National Journal and Quartz. Smith officially joins
Bloomberg September 16, and will report to Bloomberg LP CEO Dan Doctoroff.
With the addition of Smith, Andrew Lack has been named chairman of Bloomberg Media. Lack, the former president of NBC News, has served as CEO of Bloomberg Media since 2008.

McGraw-Hill Financial Reports Q2 Results

http://investor.mhfi.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=96562&p=irol-newsArticle&id=1841001

McGraw Hill Financial, Inc. (NYSE: MHFI) today reported second quarter 2013 results with revenue of $1.25 billion, an increase of 17% compared to the same period last year. Net income and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations were $250 million and $0.90, respectively.

Excluding the impact of one-time costs related to the Growth and Value Plan, adjusted net income from continuing operations increased 28% to $257 million, and adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations increased 31% to $0.92.

Pearson Reports 2013 Interim Results

http://www.pearson.com/news/2013/july/pearson-2013-half-year-results.html 
Sales up 5% at constant exchange rates (2% underlying growth) to £2.8bn.

Good growth in Education (up 3%) led by North America (up 5%) and developing markets.
FT Group sales broadly level with resilient content and subscription revenue offset by weak advertising.
Penguin Random House merger completed on 1 July 2013; strong growth at Penguin (up 14%) in the first half.
Adjusted operating profit £50m lower at £137m, including £37m of gross restructuring charges and, in addition, investments to support new product launches in the second half.
Adjusted earnings per share down 4.9p to 9.9p including restructuring charges.
Interim dividend up 7% to 16p.

Hour Media Buys Publishing Assets

http://www.foliomag.com/2013/hour-media-buys-publishing-assets-american-public-media-group#.UfgdF1OYyKw

Hour Media LLC, a regional media company serving the Detroit market, has purchased Greenspring Media Group, the publishing division of American Public Media Group. Greenspring, based in Minneapolis, publishes 14 magazines, visitor guides and other custom publications for the Minnesota and Twin Cities regions, including the 58,000-circ Minnesota Monthly. Also included in the deal are the brands' associated websites and a group of eight local events. APMG is positioning the sale as an opportunity to emphasize its public radio programming, which includes American Public Media, Southern California Public Radio and Minnesota Public Radio.
 Terms of the deal were not released but APMG, which classifies itself as a non-profit parent of the for-profit Greenspring, notes in its June 30, 2012 financial statement that it carried forward an $8.6 million net loss associated with the group.

Apollo to Acquire Management Services Business from Pitney Bowes

http://whattheythink.com/news/64674-apollo-global-management-acquire-management-services-business-pitney-bowes/

Funds affiliated with Apollo Global Management, LLC (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, “Apollo”) and Pitney Bowes Inc. today announced a definitive agreement under which Apollo will acquire Pitney Bowes Management Services (“PBMS” ) for approximately $400 million in cash. The transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2013. Until then, Pitney Bowes will continue to operate PBMS.

Omnicom/Publicis Merger: What Direct Marketers Need to Know

http://www.dmnews.com/12-things-direct-marketers-need-to-know-about-the-omnicom-publicis-merger/article/305239/

12 Things Direct Marketers Need to Know about the Omnicom-Publicis Merger

CEOs John Wren and Maurice Lévy dropped a bombshell on the agency world this past Sunday by announcing the merger of marketing behemoths Omnicom Group and Publicis Groupe to form Publicis Omnicom Group. The announcement led to an explosion of questions regarding what this union will mean for the marketing industry and how will the fused conglomerates harness Big Data for their clients. And just like with Big Data, it's vital for marketers to sift through the surge of information surrounding the mergerand find the key insights of how this partnership will affect them personally. Here are 12 ways our industry experts predict this merger will affect direct marketers in particular.