Wednesday, August 29, 2012
New Owner Brokaw Mill: Will Not Make Paper
Brokaw
Development LLC announced today that it has acquired the property and assets of
the former Wausau Paper manufacturing site in Brokaw, Wisconsin. Eric J.
Spirtas, principle of newly founded Brokaw Development LLC, and president of
Niagara Worldwide LLC, based in Niagara, Wisconsin, commented, "We see
this investment as a great opportunity for the town of Brokaw, the neighboring
villages and cities, as well as Brokaw Development and Niagara. We've
established Brokaw Development as the entity that will manage site
redevelopment. Although the mill will not be restarted to make paper.
ABC: Top 25 Business Publications
The Audit Bureau of Circulations has released a list of the top 25 U.S.
business publications for the first half of the year. The list is based on
total average paid circulation and qualified nonpaid print circulation.
Topping the list are: International Fire Fighter (285,308 circ.),
published by the International Association of Fire Fighters; followed by Nursing
2012 (191,937 circ.), published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; and Motor
Age (120,332), published by Advanstar Communications.
More Newspapers Reducing Schedules, Size
The controversial changes at the New
Orleans Times-Picayune, where the publishing schedule was cut to
three days a week, may prove to be a harbinger of similar reductions at other
newspapers across the country. This week, Advance Publications announced that
it is also slashing the frequency at newspapers in New York State and
Pennsylvania.
http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2012/08/23/philadelphia-daily-newspapers-switching-to-smaller-newsprint-size/
http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2012/08/23/philadelphia-daily-newspapers-switching-to-smaller-newsprint-size/
Just four months after the Philadelphia Inquirer,
Daily News, and Philly.com were sold for $55 million (see
related story) — a fraction of their $515-million purchase price just six
years ago — the papers have announced that they will get a little slimmer this
fall.
Big Changes for "Advertising Age"
A WEEKLY trade publication covering Madison Avenue since the Hoover
administration will soon introduce its most significant redesign in years, as
part of efforts to further redirect its editorial focus in a digital world
toward analysis from breaking news.
The publication, Advertising Age, owned by Crain Communications, made its
debut in 1930 and grew to become the largest in its field. The redesign,
scheduled for the Sept. 10 issue, will be comprehensive, affecting even the
familiar oversize Ad Age format.
"Backstage" Redesigned
The niche magazine for the
performing arts community, Backstage, has redesigned its print
publication and website in an effort to stay ahead of its competition and a bit
ahead of the curve—a move that seems to be working, so far..
The
print publication will go from a tabloid size of 11.5 inches by 15 inches, to a
9 inch by 10.875-inch book. The magazine will have an increased paper quality
with a glossy interior and cover stock. According to Amato, readers were asking
for a smaller product so it could be easily transported to casting calls and
auditions.
Paperless Future for Banks?
Starting in March 2013, the government will stop issuing paper checks, including ones for Social Security, disability or other benefits. Recipients will receive payments through direct deposit into a bank account or a prepaid card, including the government's own GoDirect card, issued by Comerica Bank. By 2033, the paper check may be extinct altogether, according to a paper published by the Federal Reserve of Philadelphia.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
NS Subsidies Worry Maine Paper Industry
Plans
by the government of Nova Scotia to spend $125 million to help reopen a failed
paper mill in Cape Breton could threaten production and jobs in Maine's
struggling paper industry, officials say.
The
Canadian mill is a former NewPage Corp. facility in Port Hawkesbury. It makes
grades of magazine and catalog paper similar to those of some of Maine's
largest paper makers, including the Verso Paper Corp. facilities in Bucksport and
Jay, the Sappi Fine Paper mill in Skowhegan, the UPM-Biofore Company mill in
Madison and the NewPage mill in Rumford, which currently is operating under
bankruptcy reorganization.
Maine's
industry worries that provincial subsidies that include loans and discount
electric rates would let the Canadian mill sell its products at lower prices,
at a time when demand for magazine and catalog paper in North America is
already down.
Pacific West's Port Hawkesbury Story Continues
A lawyer for Nova Scotia's Richmond County argues the prospective buyer of the idle NewPage paper mill can't change a tax agreement through court action. Bruce Clarke said in Nova Scotia Supreme Court today that only the provincial legislature has the right to amend a tax agreement set out in legislation.
The prospective owners of the idle Port Hawkesbury paper mill say they have made three offers for a new tax deal with Richmond County and none have been accepted.
The impasse has reached the courts.
On Tuesday, a Nova Scotia Supreme Court judge will rule on whether the company has the right to break the existing tax agreement reached in 2006.
Creditor protection period has been extended for another month – until September 28, 2012.
Nova Scotia Supreme Court justice John Murphy refused to approve $2 million in spending requested to restart the idle mill. The request was filed yesterday after business hours, which did not give time for other stakeholders to respond. Pacific West Commerical Corp. was willing to put up $500,000 and was requesting $1.5 million from the provincial funds used to keep the mill operating. Justice Murphy said, ”I’m not satisfied the circumstances justify the extent of the exemption (of required notice).”
Chinese July RCP Imports Up, Pulp Drops
China's
total recovered paper (RCP) imports climbed 0.2% to nearly 2.352 million tonnes
in July, up from some 2.346 million tonnes in June, according to data from
China Customs.
July's
figure was 9.6% higher than the 2.146 million tonnes recorded in the same month
of 2011.
China's
total pulp imports dropped 11.7% in July compared to the previous month, to
nearly 1.196 million tonnes, according to data from China Customs.
Poor
demand drove down imports of both bleached softwood and hardwood kraft pulp, as
it had in June, amid the country's economic downturn. The former fell 11.0% to
498,696 tonnnes and the latter plummeted 13.6% to 392,293 tonnes.
July's
intake was nonetheless 24.0% higher than the 964,440 tonnes recorded in July
2011.
Catalyst Paper Names New Board
Catalyst Paper announces a new board of directors:
Catalyst Paper has announced that the following individuals have been selected by certain of the senior secured and unsecured noteholders in accordance with the terms of the Court-sanctioned second amended Plan of Arrangement to form the new Board of Directors on the company’s emergence from creditor protection.
Catalyst Paper has announced that the following individuals have been selected by certain of the senior secured and unsecured noteholders in accordance with the terms of the Court-sanctioned second amended Plan of Arrangement to form the new Board of Directors on the company’s emergence from creditor protection.
Stora Enso Successfully Completes Bonds
Stora Enso Successfully Completes Tap of Two Five-year SEK Bonds: Stora Enso has today successfully tapped its two five-year bonds due in June 2017. Both bonds are issued under Stora Enso’s EMTN (Euro Medium Term Note) programme.
The SEK 1 350 million bond that pays a floating coupon of three-month Stibor plus 390 basis points was tapped with SEK 850 million of new notes issued with a yield of Stibor + 3.70% at a price of 100.866. The settlement date of the transaction is 3 September 2012. Following the tap, a total of SEK 2 200 million of the bond is outstanding.
The SEK 1 350 million bond that pays a floating coupon of three-month Stibor plus 390 basis points was tapped with SEK 850 million of new notes issued with a yield of Stibor + 3.70% at a price of 100.866. The settlement date of the transaction is 3 September 2012. Following the tap, a total of SEK 2 200 million of the bond is outstanding.
Newspapers Seek Injunction Against USPS
The US newspaper industry has taken to the
law courts in an attempt to block a key US Postal Service direct mail contract,
which was approved by regulators last week.
The Newspaper Association of America,
representing around 2,000 local and community newspapers across the country,
filed on Friday for an emergency injunction on the new USPS contract with
Michigan-based direct marketing giant Valassis.
More Than Half of Online Ads Fail
http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/more-half-online-ads-fail-viewability-standard-143149
The online ad industry’s Making Measurement Make Sense
[1] (3MS) initiative calls for a new
viewability metric that would only measure when 50 percent of an ad is in view
for at least one second. The problem is, fewer than half of online ads meet
that standard, according to a forthcoming study due out Tuesday.
Meredith Names Senior VP Digital
Meredith Corp. has made a big bet on digital,
and now it’s hired an industry vet to take advantage of it. Carolyn Bekkedahl
was named senior vp of digital sales, a new position for Allrecipes.com, the
giant food site that Meredith
bought from Reader’s Digest Association [1]
earlier in the year; and the rest of the Meredith Women’s Network.
Social Media Enhances Magazine Use for Millennials
Study Reveals Link Between Magazines and Social Among Millenials: In a new study produced by the MPA, the Association of Magazine Media, and research firm GfK MRI, data reveals that Millennial magazine media readers aged 18 to 34 believe that technology has improved their experience of accessing various media—including magazines.
Action Codes Gain Traction
Action Codes Continue to Gain Traction in Magazines: QR codes and their ilk continue to rise in usage by publishers, according to a study out today by mobile marketing and technology services company Nellymoser. In the second quarter, the top 100 magazines by circulation featured a variety of mobile action codes in 2,200 instances, a 61 percent jump over the first quarter this year.
BuzzMedia Adds Four Acquisitions
BuzzMedia Continues Expansion with Four Acquisitions: BuzzMedia has added four more websites to its network of pop culture and music sites. Under the Gun Review, Alter the Press!, PropertyofZack and Punknews.org will be combined with existing property AbsolutePunk to create a new punk rock vertical called AbsoluteVoices.
Influence Graphics, One of Fastest Growing Private Companies
Influence Graphics is on Inc. Mag's List of Fastest Growing Private Companies in US: Influence Graphics, a leading digital printing company in the New York City area, has once again been named to the Inc. Magazine list of the 5,000 fastest growing private companies in America.
EPA to Review Pulp Mill Clean Air Standard
EPA to Review Pulp Mill Clean Air Standard After 17-year Delay: After a 17-year delay, the Environmental Protection Agency will review Clean Air Act rules designed to reduce dangerous pollution from so-called “kraft” pulp mills under a proposed consent decree announced today by the agency and the Center for Biological Diversity, Greenpeace and Port Townsend Airwatchers.
Kraft pulp mills use chemicals to dissolve wood chips into fibers used to make paper products. The EPA has not reviewed kraft pulp mill emission-control standards, called “New Source Performance Standards,” for more than 25 years. The Clean Air Act requires such reviews every eight years to ensure that the industry uses up-to-date pollution-control technology.
Kraft pulp mills use chemicals to dissolve wood chips into fibers used to make paper products. The EPA has not reviewed kraft pulp mill emission-control standards, called “New Source Performance Standards,” for more than 25 years. The Clean Air Act requires such reviews every eight years to ensure that the industry uses up-to-date pollution-control technology.
Going Green Two Sides: ecoEnvelopes Save Cost
Going Green Two Sides Fast Fact #21 (Going Green):
We have spoken of ecoEnvelopes (that is, a single envelope that can be used for two-directional mail) before—Sprint notably began developing and using them earlier this year—and now Florida Garden Magazine has been using them for subscription renewals. Via PrintMediaCentr, “Gale Ward of ecoEnvelopes says the simple switch from using two envelopes in a mailing to one can have huge cost savings for a business. Savings typically range from 15–50% over the cost of two envelopes.”
We have spoken of ecoEnvelopes (that is, a single envelope that can be used for two-directional mail) before—Sprint notably began developing and using them earlier this year—and now Florida Garden Magazine has been using them for subscription renewals. Via PrintMediaCentr, “Gale Ward of ecoEnvelopes says the simple switch from using two envelopes in a mailing to one can have huge cost savings for a business. Savings typically range from 15–50% over the cost of two envelopes.”
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