PPPC Reports NA January Numbers

The PPPC reported that coated mechanical paper shipments declined by -3.2% in January as compared to the same month last year.  Demand fell -4.2% and imports were up +6.4% The operating rate was 89%.  Coated woodfree shipments decreased -1.3% in January.  Demand was down -10.6% and imports fell -32.6%. The operating rate was 87%.  SC-A/SC-A+ shipments decreased -21.8%, demand declined -19.3% and imports fell -20.5%.

RRD Reports Q4 Net Loss

RR Donnelley Records a Net Loss as Demand Softens: R.R. Donnelley & Sons reported a fourth-quarter net loss of $326.7 million on net sales of $2.7 billion. That compares to net earnings of $27 million on net sales of $2.7 billion in the fourth quarter of 2010.

Customer Titles in Top 100 Up 9.5% H2/H1 2011

Men's lifestyle mags hit in latest ABCs: Magazines showed a small overall decline in circulation in the second half of 2011 while customer titles dominated the top 10, according to figures published by the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC). Tesco, Asda and National Trust were the top three magazines.

Demand for print remained relatively stable.

Publishers Seek More Control of On-Line Ads

Real-Time Advertising Bidding Offers Publisher Control: As publishers attempt to make online advertising a profitable and engaging business model, real time bidding on Web inventory by prospective clients is becoming more prevalent. Conde Nast launched a private Web ad exchange with AdMeld for select clients in late 2011, and now smaller publishers are getting in the game.

AF&PA Reports January P&W Shipments

http://www.statmill.org/detailedpressrelease.asp?rid=227&pid=JAN2012

According to the American Forest & Paper Association’s January 2012 Printing-Writing Paper Report, total printing-writing paper shipments decreased 3% in January compared to January 2011. All four major printing-writing grades posted decreases compared to last January.

Catalyst Paper Names Chair

http://www.catalystpaper.com/media/news/community/catalyst-paper-announces-changes-board-directors-0

Catalyst Paper Corporation announced today that its Board of Directors has elected Jeffrey Marshall as Chair of the Board to replace Benjamin Duster.  

Flambeau River Faces EPA Requirements

http://www.wjfw.com/stories.html?sku=20120217181018

The Environmental Protection Agency is enforcing new regulations which could force Flambeau River Papers in Park Falls, WI to shut down. The mill has an annual capacity of 150,000 st of uncoated freesheet.

 

Wood Fiber Costs Declined in Q4

Wood fiber costs for pulp manufacturers declined in the 4Q/11 as pulp prices fell
Global demand for pulp has declined and pulp prices fell during the second half of 2011.
As a consequence, prices for wood fiber, the highest cost component when producing pulp, were down throughout the world, as reported by the Wood Resource Quarterly. The Global Wood Fiber Indices for softwood and hardwood fiber declined 3.5% from the 3Q/11.

2011 European Paper Production Down -2%

Paper production in Europe decreases by close to 2 per cent

After the recovery in 2010 following the previous financial downturn, the indications are that paper and board production by CEPI member countries fell in 2011 by close to 2% as the momentum of the revival was affected by the economic slowdown, particularly in the second half of the year. 

Quad to Close Sale to Transcontinental

Quad Expects to Close the Sale of Its Canadian Operations: Quad/Graphics Inc. today announced that it has been authorized by Canada’s Competition Bureau to complete the sale of its Canadian operations to Transcontinental Inc. The company expects to close the transaction in the next several weeks.

Transcontinental Announces $400 Million CAD

Transcontinental Puts in Place a New $400 Million Credit Facility: Transcontinental Inc. announced that it has put in place a new $400 million (CAD) five-year unsecured revolving credit facility that expires in February 2017.

USPS Releases New Plan

USPS releases new business plan: The U.S. Postal Service today released an important update to its business plan for returning to profitability and long-term financial stability. While fundamentally consistent with the approach advanced by the Postal Service over the past year, the plan released today incorporates important refinements of financial projections and recommended legislative reforms.

Third Avenue Sells Last of Catalyst Paper Shares

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/16/4269115/third-avenue-management-completes.html

Third Avenue Management LLC ("TAM") today announced that on behalf of Third Avenue International Value Fund, other affiliated funds, and separately managed client accounts (collectively, the "Client Accounts"), it has completed the sale of 105,105,509, or 27.52%, of the outstanding common shares ("Shares") of Catalyst Paper Corporation ("Catalyst").  

Update on St. Mary's Paper

http://www.saultstar.com/PrintArticle.aspx?e=3472387

It remains uncertain whether negotiations have been initiated toward salvaging bankrupt St. Marys Paper Corp.

Speculation had Ernst & Young, court-appointed receivers for the cash-strapped Sault Ste. Marie specialty paper manufacturer, making a Tuesday sales process recommendation to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial Division) in Toronto.

Nobody has been able to confirm such an appearance took place there has been no posting on the receiver's restructuring website, but Sault Ste. Marie MPP David Orazietti, who announced the appearance in a Monday release, believes it did take place.

Transcontinental Chaiman Steps Down

http://www.piworld.com/article/r-mi-marcoux-steps-down-chairman-transcontinental-printing-company/1

The annual TC Transcontinental shareholders’ meeting was highlighted by the tribute paid to Rémi Marcoux, outgoing chairman of the board and founder, and the election of his daughter, Isabelle Marcoux, as chair of the board. Marcoux will remain on the board as a director.

USPS Report; $0.50 Stamp?

http://www.piworld.com/article/usps-releases-path-financial-stability-plan-mentions-50-cent-first-class-stamp/1

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) released an important update to its business plan for returning to profitability and long-term financial stability. While fundamentally consistent with the approach advanced by the Postal Service over the past year, the plan released today incorporates important refinements of financial projections and recommended legislative reforms. 

Legislative change allowing single-piece First-Class Mail stamp to increase to $0.50 could yield approximately $1billion of incremental contribution.

187 Million Magazine Readers; 46% Read Exclusively in Print

Many Consumers Just Prefer Reading the Printed Versions of Magazines: There are almost 187 million magazine reading adults in the U.S. -- and almost half (46%) are interacting with their favorite magazines exclusively in print.

Pitney Bowes: Email Opening Rate Down 30%

Email opening rates diminishing, says Pitney Bowes: The print equipment and cross-media specialist has produced a white paper entitled Why some customers are just not that into you – a survey conducted with more than 5,000 consumers across the UK, France, Germany and the US. Pitney Bowes UK managing director said that just 24% of emails, when sent as a solo communication, will be opened. This is down from 30% in 2010.

Artic Increases Coated & Uncoated Paper Prices

http://www.paperage.com/2012news/02_16_2012arctic_paper_price.html

Arctic Paper said that it will increase pricing on all of its Uncoated Woodfree and Coated Woodfree paper grades, both in sheets and reels, by 5-6%.

The price increase will be implemented for all markets and deliveries effective March 15, 2012.

Arctic Paper has four paper mills in Europe with a total capacity of is 825,000 metric tonnes of paper per year.

Update on Fibrek / Resolute Fight

Fibrek fighting for the rights of its shareholders to accept Mercer’s superior offer:
Fibrek Inc. announced today that a hearing before the Bureau de décision et de révision (Québec), the administrative tribunal with statutory jurisdiction in securities law and regulatory matters in the Province of Québec, will be held on February 17 and 20, 2012 to consider the application filed by AbitibiBowater Inc. (doing business as Resolute Forest Products) for an order to cease trade the superior offer proposed by Mercer International Inc. to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Fibrek and the private placement of 32,320,000 special warrants to Mercer for gross proceeds of $32,320,000.