RR Donnelley Awarded Contract by Chrysler

RR Donnelley Awarded Print Management Agreement by Chrysler: 

Chrysler Group has awarded RR Donnelley a multi-million and multi-year print management contract.  RRD will provide services that include on-site premedia resources and sourcing support, commercial printing, direct mail, logistics, labels and forms.

Publishers Clearing House Buys Liquid Wireless

Publishers Clearing House Buys Mobile Lead-Gen Provider Liquid Wireless: Publishers Clearing House, known for its big sweepstakes-driven direct marketing tactics, has acquired Liquid Wireless, a Portland, Maine-based mobile marketing company. Terms of the deal were not released, but it gives PCH an instant, turnkey mobile strategy, from campaign generation to activity tracking through post-conversion.

Increase in M&A Expected for 2012

Bullish M&A forecast for new year: Almost 60% of senior executives in the media and marketing industries said they expect to seek an acquisition this year, according to the “2012 Mergers and Acquisitions Prospects for Media, Marketing Services and Related Technology Firms” survey conducted in November by AdMedia Partners. That figure is up from 40% in last year's survey.

PIB Reports 2011 Ad Revenue & Pages

http://www.magazine.org/advertising/revenue/by_ad_category/pib-4q-2011.aspx

The Publishers Information Bureau released 2011 results today, reporting that advertising revenue for the year increased slightly by $8 million to $20,086,199,882 as compared to 2010.  Ad pages fell -3.1% to 164,225.  While in the first quarter revenue was up 6% and pages 2.5%, as compared to the same period last year, and in the second quarter revenue rose 2.4% and pages 0.3%, the rest of the year saw a decline; in Q3, revenue fell -1.5% and pages -5.6% and in Q4, revenue decreased -5% and pages -8%.  Nine of twelve categories tracked by the PIB had losses for the year.  Three areas did better; Financial, Insurance and Real Estate grew by double digits, with ad revenue up 19.4% and ad pages rising 12.7%.  For the Toiletries & Cosmetics category, revenue was up 9.5% and pages 3.8%.  Apparel & Accessories had a revenue gain of 9.7% and an increase in pages of 5.5%.

Resolute Forest Products Reaffirms Offer

http://www.paperage.com/2012news/01_10_2012resolute_fibrek.html

Resolute Forest Products (AbitibiBowater) has announced that is would issue a notice of variation to the offer circular and other ancillary documentation in connection with its outstanding offer to acquire Fibrek Inc.  The company said the documents would describe certain changes with the sole purpose of addressing comments from the SEC.  CEO Richard Garneau said the action “does not change our firm belief that the offer we announced on November 28^th presents Fibrek’s shareholders with a compelling opportunity.  The fact that three of their largest individual shareholders, representing approximately 46% of the outstanding shares, have agreed to tender their shares to our offer supports that belief.”

Second NBSK Producer Lowers Price

Resolute Forest Products announced a $20 per metric tonne decrease in its price for NBSK pulp in North America, effective with January shipments.  Canfor reported it was lowering their price yesterday.

No Help from Nova Scotia for Port Hawkesbury Pension

Ron Stern of Stern Partners, the final bidder in the sale of the NewPage Port Hawkesbury Supercalendered paper mill, has indicated that the firm cannot assume the costs of the pension plan for the union workers and run the facility profitably.  The successful sale of the property is contingent on coming to an agreement with the workers on this matter, among other stipulations.  Now, the Premier of Nova Scotia, Darrell Dexter, has said that the province, which has spent ~C$15 million so far to keep the condition of the mill such that it can be restarted quickly, cannot cover the pension plan liabilities. 

Standard Register Installs 4 HP Indigo Digital Presses

Standard Register Installs Four HP Indigo Digital Presses: PALO ALTO, CA—Jan. 10, 2012—Standard Register, a leading U.S. provider of communications management solutions, has installed four HP Indigo digital presses to produce color-critical, personalized collateral for a broad base of clients.

Magazines Find New Way to Sell Back Issues

Tablets Helping Publishers Sell Back Issues: When Apple launched the tablet, single copies were the only way most magazines were available, and the consumer backlash was brutal. But now, single issues have turned out to be a good way of selling back copies of magazines.

Kodak Simplifies Its Business Structure

Kodak Simplifies Its Business Structure to Accelerate Digital Transformation: ROCHESTER, NY—Jan. 10, 2012—Eastman Kodak announced the creation of a new and simpler business structure designed to increase productivity, reduce cost and accelerate its transformation into a digital company that delivers sustainable.

F+W Buys World Tea Media

F+W Buys World Tea Media: F+W Media, a Blue Ash, Ohio-based media company serving enthusiasts in about 20 verticals including antiques and collectibles, crafts, writing and horticulture, has acquired World Tea Media, organizer of the World Tea Expo.

A New Model for Ladies’ Home Journal

Ladies’ Home Journal to Move to Reader-Produced Content Model: In a new twist on the user generated content model, Meredith’s Ladies’ Home Journal is turning over editorial reins to its readers. As of its March issue, almost every story featured in the magazine will include some audience contribution.

European Demand for Uncoated Grades Falls

As reported by CEPIFINR, European coated woodfree (freesheet) paper shipments for November declined -1.2% as compared to the same month last year.  Demand was down -3.9% and exports fell -9.9%.  Year-to-date, shipments decreased -4.8% as compared to the same period in 2010, demand was down -6.8% and exports fell -7.8%.  Uncoated woodfree paper shipments for November declined -5.5%, demand decreased -6.6% and exports fell -7.3%.  Year-to-date, shipments were down -2.7%, and demand decreased -6.3%, but exports jumped +7.4%.

Verso Renewable Energy Project Completed

http://www.paperage.com/2012news/01_09_2012verso_paper_energy.html

Verso’s $45 million renewable energy project at its coated freesheet mill in Quinnesec, Michgan has been concluded.  The plan included design upgrades to the facility’s existing combination boiler, a new biomass handling system and a new turbine generator.  The project will now allow the mill to use renewable biofuel for more than 95% of its on-site electricity generation.

Canfor Reports Another Cut in NBSK Pulp Pricing

Canfor is lowering the price of January shipments of NBSK pulp in the U.S. by $20 per metric tonne.

Bowater Mersy Newsprint Mill Stays Closed

Bowater Mersey extends shut down until Jan 16:
Bowater Mersey had extended its shut down until January 16.
The Nova Scotia mill has been shut down since Christmas.

White Birch Paper Proposal to Union

White Birch Paper Company presents global proposal to union employees of idled Stadacona Mill:
White Birch Paper Company has announced that it has presented a global proposal to the employees of the idled Stadacona mill in Quebec City.

Following a thorough analysis of the mill’s cost structure, White Birch’s proposal represents the final opportunity to implement the savings necessary for Stadacona to avoid permanent closure in light of significant manufacturing cost disadvantages, as well as the ongoing deterioration of economic conditions in the newsprint industry.

Vistaprint Buying Webs, Inc.

Vistaprint Agrees to Acquire Webs, Inc.: Vistaprint N.V., a leading online provider of professional marketing products and services to micro businesses, and Webs, Inc., the popular, do-it-yourself suite of websites, Facebook Pages and mobile presence solutions for small businesses, today announced the companies have entered into a definitive agreement in which Vistaprint will acquire Webs for $117.5 million payable at closing. The consideration will be paid through a combination of cash and restricted shares.

USPS Gives New Payment Options to Major Direct Mailers

USPS to offer credit billing to direct mailers: Washington, D.C.—The U.S. Postal Service has been granted permission to allow postage credit billing to direct mailers rather than requiring postage prepayment.

Ron Stern, Stern Partners Comments on NewPage Port Hawkesbury SC Mill

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local/2012-01-05/article-2855999/NewPage-could-be-in-production-by-late-spring,-says-bidder/1

As reported yesterday, Stern Partner’s Pacific West Commercial was selected as the final bidder in the sale of the NewPage Post Hawkesbury mill.  The facility has the capacity to produce approximately a quarter of the Supercalendered paper used in the U.S.  Ron Stern, president of Stern Partners, had an interview with the Cape Breton Post, the newspaper serving the region in which the mill is located.  He confirmed, as reported yesterday, that energy and labor cost negotiations are key to restarting: “There’s good reason to do it [restart] as soon as possible…It’s a terrific machine, the physical plant there is really world-class. It’s probably as good a machine as there is in North America…hopefully we can come up with a plan that also makes it very competitive.”  Stern said it will be necessary to operate it at the lowest cost possible. That will include working with Nova Scotia Power in reviewing the mill’s operations to see how it can reduce its electricity costs, which amounted to $100 million last year.  The company is not willing to take on unfunded pension liabilities for the mill’s four plans: “The economics don’t work ... the cost to the mill of funding over $100 million in unfunded pension liabilities would just overwhelm it, it would more than set off most of the gains we’re trying to make.”  Regarding fiber, he said “Talks with the province regarding access to Crown lands are going well.” Natural Resources Minister Charlie Parker said Wednesday the company could potentially be given access to less land than the 600,000 hectares that NewPage managed.