Paperclips Blog | IWCO Results

10.02.2012
Avery Dennison Announces 510(k) Clearance of New Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG) Transparent Film Dressing

Avery Dennison Medical Solutions, a business unit of Avery Dennison Corporation, announced today that it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its new Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG) transparent film dressing, known as BeneHold™ CHG Transparent Film Dressing. In-vitro test data demonstrate the new dressing’s antimicrobial efficacy across a broad range of bacteria and yeast commonly found in catheter-related blood stream infections.

Tests show that the dressing is appropriate for applications where the spread of infection is a concern and moisture management is required, such as the securement of IV catheters. The patent-pending CHG adhesive formulation used on the dressing is transparent to allow visualization of the access site—a critical parameter for vascular access professionals, including nurses and infection-control specialists.

In-vitro test data also show that the BeneHold CHG Transparent Film Dressing demonstrates a significant reduction in bacteria and yeast from day 1 through day 7. Additionally, the dressing is non-cytotoxic, exhibiting a grade 0 profile (ISO 10993). High antimicrobial efficacy can often be associated with cytotoxic effects, commonly due to the concentration of the antimicrobial agent present in the product.

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10.02.2012
Wausau Paper Lowers 2012 EPS Guidance

Wausau Paper said today that Paper segment earnings in both the third and fourth quarter will be impacted by lower profitability at its Brainerd, Minnesota, facility, as well as recent further weakening demand in its economically sensitive industrial product categories.

Henry C. Newell, president and chief executive officer, stated, “We made the choice to accelerate the conversion of the Brainerd mill to technical paper grades as part of our strategy to divest the print franchise. While the pace of the transition resulted in above-target cash generation, the compressed time period added complexity to the ability to position the additional capacity creating higher-than-expected margin pressure, increased product development costs and reduced operating efficiencies. Weakness in industrial end-use market demand has exacerbated the impact. With few signs of a general economic recovery, we now expect pressure on Paper segment profitability through year end.

“The Company’s Tissue segment continues to demonstrate strong operational performance, driven in part by above-market case shipment growth of 3 to 4 percent. Our expansion program, including product development activities, remains on schedule, with initial start-up of the new paper machine in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, expected in the fourth quarter. Additionally, our balance sheet is strong due to above-forecast cash generation and working capital reductions in our Paper segment."

Mr. Newell continued, “In the near-term, Paper segment profitability challenges will significantly affect second-half adjusted earnings. Consequently, we are reducing our full-year adjusted earnings guidance to $0.28 to $0.30 per share, and anticipate mid-single digit adjusted earnings per share in both the third and fourth quarters.” The Company’s previous guidance was for full-year adjusted net earnings in the $0.39 to $0.41 per share range versus prior-year adjusted net earnings of $0.33 per share.

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10.02.2012
Print magazines finally find some equilibrium

Nine months into the year, one media trend seems clear: titles may come and go, but magazines made from paper-and-ink are sticking around.

Publishers launched 155 magazines in the first three quarters of 2012, among them Fairchild Publications' men's fashion quarterly M and northeast Mississippi's new lifestyle title Mud & Magnolias. That marked a slight improvement over the 151 print titles that came to life in the same period a year ago, according to numbers released Monday from MediaFinder.com, which calls itself the largest online database of U.S. and Canadian publications.

An even more promising statistic for the period: Only 55 magazines folded, compared to a loss of 119 titles a year ago.

"We're going to have print until people work out the monetization of digital," said Trish Hagood, president of MediaFinder.com. "It's like the new normal."

Lifestyle—particularly luxury lifestyle—has been a growth category this year, with high-end freebie DuJour joining M. (Later in October, Rodale will bring Best Life back to newsstands. The men's luxury title was folded in 2009.)

Among the titles that ceased publishing was Stuff Magazine. This summer it was folded into alternative weekly The Boston Phoenix, which was renamed The Phoenix.

MediaFinder.com also counted 26 digital-only "magazine" launches, including Atlantic Media's global business website Quartz.
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10.02.2012
'USA Today' Launches $1 Mil. Ad Competition

USA Today is looking to foster creativity in print advertising with a new competition highlighting print’s versatility and potential. The 2012 USA Today Print Advertising Competition is soliciting entries from advertising agencies, marketers and nonprofits. They submit their most creative ideas for a chance to win $1 million worth of full-page print advertising in the iconic national newspaper.

Entries will be judged on the creativity and originality of the ad visual storytelling and clarity of writing, according to USA Today, which said the competition will be judged by industry execs, including Andrew Essex, CEO of Droga5; Chip Kidd, designer and writer at Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group; Sean McLaughlin, creative director at Wieden + Kennedy; Chuck Porter, chairman at Crispin Porter + Bogusky; Ty Montague, co-founder and co-CEO of the Co Collective; and Michael Wolff, the media columnist for USA Today.

Entries can be submitted beginning Oct. 8 and the contest will remain open through Nov. 26. A grand prize winner and two runners-up will be announced in January 2013.
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10.02.2012
Restructuring programme at Hallsta Paper Mill

Holmen Paper is starting work aiming to concentrate production at the mill in Hallstavik to two paper machines with strong positions in their respective product segments: MF Magazine and book paper. The result of this is that the mill’s oldest machine, PM 3, is being shut down. At the same time, there are plans to invest in energy efficiency measures that, together with the closure, will considerably reduce the mill’s future investment needs. These measures will strengthen the mills competitiveness.

“The restructuring programme will ensure that Hallsta Paper Mill continues to play an important role in the switch towards becoming a speciality paper company, a process that has been under way at Holmen Paper’s Swedish units for a long time. It will help improve our chances of growing in the areas of importance to us,” says Henrik Sjölund, head of Holmen Paper.

The aim is to close down PM 3 during the second half of 2013. The paper machine manufactures 140 000 tonnes of SC paper annually for a market with excessive overcapacity. Closure is assessed to lead to a reduction in the workforce of around 230.

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10.02.2012
EFI Expands Cloud-Based Storefront Portfolio With Acquisition of Online Print Solutions

EFI™, a world leader in customer-focused digital printing innovation, today announced that it has acquired Online Print Solutions ("OPS"), a leading innovator in the areas of web-to-print, dynamic publishing and cross-media marketing solutions. OPS brings a decade of experience developing and deploying applications developed specifically to manage the unique needs of corporate storefronts, retail sites and online design to variable data and cross-media solutions. Its customers include many commercial printers throughout North America, Europe and Asia. While financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed, the transaction is not expected to be material to EFI's 2012 results.

"We are very pleased to bring OPS into our growing web-to-print customer community and combine our world-class offerings in the market," said Marc Olin, senior vice president and general manager of EFI's Productivity Software division. "With our track-record of providing the industry's largest and most comprehensive cloud offering, EFI has seen web-to-print expand and become a standard way of doing business around the world. We see great potential in continuing to expand our offerings in web-to-print and further leverage our unique ability to provide an integrated workflow with our MIS systems and our industry-leading Fiery® controllers."

OPS software will become part of EFI's Productivity Software portfolio. EFI intends to continue to offer both Digital StoreFront® and OPS products to the market, and in the near future, integrate key OPS features and technologies supporting cross-media marketing and variable data printing into the EFI Digital StoreFront platform, as well as with EFI MIS software. EFI also plans to integrate the OPS platform into its industry-leading Fiery digital front ends, so that OPS clients may enjoy seamless connectivity to the wide range of Xerox, Ricoh, Canon, Konica Minolta, and other Fiery driven printers available on the market today. In addition, EFI plans to combine the two platforms over the coming years so that OPS and Digital StoreFront users will have an easy migration to a platform incorporating the best of both technologies. EFI will provide this new platform to all clients with current maintenance contracts on either system at that time.

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10.02.2012
Oil Trades Near One-Week High as U.S. Manufacturing Expands

Crude traded near its highest close in a week after a measure of U.S. manufacturing beat estimates and before a report forecast to show shrinking fuel inventories in the world’s biggest oil consumer.

Futures were little changed in New York today after advancing for a third day. The Institute for Supply Management’s U.S. factory index increased to 51.5 in September yesterday, exceeding the median forecast of 49.7 in a Bloomberg News survey. Crude supplies in the U.S. probably gained last week, while gasoline and diesel stockpiles dropped, according to a survey of analysts.

“Better-than-expected U.S. data has enabled the market to find some support,” said Christopher Bellew, a senior broker at Jefferies Bache Ltd. in London, who predicts prices will remain near current levels this week. “It’s a hard call where the market moves from here, but given events in the Middle East and prospects for positive U.S. economic data, any surprises are likely to be to the upside.”

Crude for November delivery was at $92.84 a barrel, up 36 cents, in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange as of 11:43 a.m. London time.

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10.02.2012
ZenithOptimedia, Nielsen release global ad spending reports

ZenithOptimedia lowered its global ad spending forecast to 3.8% growth this year, down from a June forecast of 4.3% growth, citing uncertainty in the eurozone.

Next year, global ad spending will grow by 4.6%, according to the report. In North America, ad spending will be up 3.6% next year, ZenithOptimedia projected.

The fastest-growing ad category globally next year will be Internet advertising, which is expected to increase 15.1% over this year and make up about 20% of total ad spending, according to ZenithOptimedia.

In a separate report, Nielsen said global ad spending reached $139.0 billion in the second quarter, up 2.4% over the same period last year.

The highest growth came from emerging markets, including the Middle East and Africa (up 19.6%) and Latin America (up 4.9%).

In North America, ad spending was up 2.4% in the second quarter, according to Nielsen.

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10.02.2012
Arctic Paper takes next steps towards more efficient energy solutions

Arctic Paper Munkedals AB have today acquired 50 % of Kalltorp Kraft HB. Kalltorp Kraft HB is a water energy company running two water power stations in western Sweden with a total annual output of 5 – 5,5 GWh/year. At the same time Arctic Paper Munkedals is projecting an increase of the output at the current hydro power plant located close to the mill.

The acquisition of Kalltorp and expansion of the hydro power station at the mill in Munkedal - is in line with the earlier communicated strategy of Arctic Paper SA – to increase the independence of purchased energy by increasing the internal production, says Michal Jarczynski, CEO of Arctic Paper SA, and continues:

Arctic Paper has a strong focus on modern and environmental-friendly energy generation. Already today Arctic Paper Grycksbo runs a biofuel power plant, Arctic Paper Kostrzyn runs a cogeneration gas-fired power station with efficiency over 93%.

Arctic Paper Munkedals is since many years running their own hydro electric power station close to the mill with an annual capacity of 11 – 12 GWh. The company is now projecting an increase of the output of the existing water fall with a new power station with new turbines and generators. The aim is to increase the annual output with 10 GWh/year to a total output of approximately 22 GWh/year. The cost of the project is estimated to 70 MSEK. Permissions from Swedish environmental authorities is expected to be in place during November and the project is expected to be finished a year after permission is given.

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10.02.2012
B-to-B media deals surge, valued at $235 million

M&A activity for b-to-b media jumped 118 percent in the first three quarters of this year compared to the same period last year, according to The Jordan, Edmiston Group Inc. The independent investment banking firm reports that b-to-b deals for the period totaled 24 transactions, up from 11 last year. Total deal value for the period skyrocketed to $235 million, a 526 percent increase over last year. Among the transactions in Q3 were Wicks Group’s acquisition of Northstar Travel Media from BV Investment Partners, PennWell’s acquisition of the Elsevier Public Safety Group and TheStreet’s acquisition of The Deal.

Overall, the media, information, marketing and technology sectors saw 946 transactions for the first three quarters of the year, up 49 percent. Deal value for the sectors totaled $49.4 billion, driven mostly by smaller transactions -- 91 percent of the deals were valued at less than $50 million, while 6 percent were valued at more than $100 million, including nine deals that topped $1 billion in value.

Transactions for the b-to-b online media and technology sector increased to 71 (up 31 percent). Deal value for this sector doubled to nearly $11.7 billion. Among the transactions for the sector were ALM’s acquisition of RivalEdge, Dice Holdings’ acquisition of Geeknet’s online assets and Carlyle’s $3.3 billion acquisition of Getty Images from Hellman & Friedman.

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10.02.2012
Adobe AdLens Now Integrated with Adobe SiteCatalyst

Adobe Systems Incorporated (NASDAQ:ADBE) today announced significant updates to Adobe® AdLens™, its cloud-based, media optimization technology. AdLens, the first integrated platform to manage and optimize search, display and social advertising as a unified campaign, now offers seamless data integration with Adobe SiteCatalyst®. Tapping into the industry leading analytics solution provides advertisers with a simple way of leveraging conversion metrics to make more strategic media decisions and deliver optimal return on investment (ROI). Additionally, AdLens delivers new integration with Adobe AudienceManager for targeted audience segmentation to ensure advertising campaigns reach the right people.

By incorporating SiteCatalyst into AdLens, data sets can be used for ad optimization, custom analysis and reporting in real-time. With simple deployment, SiteCatalyst customers can now achieve media optimization gains and get a complete view of how their digital ads are performing. This native integration allows SiteCatalyst customers to quickly deploy AdLens with minimal effort and no manual integration or cumbersome data feeds.

Building on its current Facebook Ads API integration with AdLens, Adobe, which has been designated a Strategic Preferred Marketing Developer (PMD), now has official access to the Facebook Exchange, which allows marketers to buy ads on Facebook via real-time bidding. The Facebook Exchange integration is a valuable extension of AdLens’ real-time bidding infrastructure. The Facebook Exchange enables marketers to reach more than 955 million1 people globally on Facebook, which allows brands to deliver the most relevant messages to a wide range of consumers.

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10.01.2012
ZenithOptimedia: U.S. Ad Forecast Up, Internet And Cable TV Rising

For the second time in less than four months, Publicis Groupe’s ZenithOptimedia has downgraded its global ad spending estimate for 2012. The latest full-year projection: close to $502 billion worldwide, up 3.8%. That’s down from its June growth forecast of 4.3%.

On a positive note, the shop upgraded its forecast for U.S. spending to nearly $161 billion, an increase of 4.3%. In June it pegged U.S. growth at just 3.6%.

ZO cited further spending cuts in the Euro Zone in response to continuing economic weakness there as the reason for the latest global spending downgrade. “Advertisers are broadly continuing to invest, despite the global economic concerns and issues,” stated Steve King, ZO’s global CEO. But King stressed that “strong return on investment” continues to be top of mind.

King noted that the U.S. “continues to deliver solid growth” that when combined with growth in developing markets, partially offsets Euro Zone spending declines. Spending in that region is expected to shrink more than 3% this year, per ZO estimates.

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10.01.2012
Magazine Employment Shrinks 29% In 10 Years

While the decline hasn’t been quite as steep as in the newspaper industry, magazine publishers have shed a substantial number of jobs over the last decade, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, which provides quarterly estimates of the number of people employed by periodical publishers, among other industries.

According to the BLS, the total size of the magazine industry workforce shrank from 156,212 in March 2002 to 111,126 in March 2012, the most recent month for which data are available -- a 29% drop over 10 years.

In addition, the number of establishments involved in publishing periodicals has declined from a peak of 9,232 in the third quarter of 2007 to 8,003 in the first quarter of 2012, for a 13.3% drop in five years, also per BLS.

Employment statistics from individual publishers are broadly in line with these results, judging by figures from publicly traded companies, which may be used -- with caution -- as proxies for the industry overall.
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10.01.2012
FutureMark Paper Group Sets Course for Leadership in Environmental Paper

FutureMark® Paper Group launched today as the umbrella group for two recycled paper producers previously operating as Manistique Papers and FutureMark Paper Company. Guided by an unwavering commitment to sustainability, FutureMark Paper Group is now the leading North American provider of responsibly made high-recycled paper for books, magazines, catalogs, retail inserts, business papers, commercial printing applications and packaging.

FutureMark Paper Group aligns the executive management, business development, marketing and operational functions of FutureMark Paper Company and Manistique Papers. FutureMark Paper Group’s uncoated recycled papers will be made at its FutureMark Manistique facility. The FutureMark Alsip facility will produce the group’s coated recycled papers. Industry veteran Steve Silver will serve as FutureMark Paper Group’s President and CEO, overseeing both manufacturing facilities.

“In addition to sharing a senior management team and board of advisors, our two recycled mills share a strong history of innovation,” says Silver. “Combining the unique production capabilities of these two mills creates a platform for faster growth and enables us to achieve operational synergies that otherwise wouldn’t be possible. We’re joining forces at a great time in the market to take advantage of the momentum behind environmental paper.”

FutureMark Paper Group is strategically aligning the talents of its Manistique and Alsip teams to accelerate product development, spark innovation and enhance the business value it delivers to customers.
Process innovation and product development – By cross-pollinating best practices in operations, predictive maintenance and new technology between the two mills, FutureMark Paper Group will accelerate development of high-quality products and lower the environmental impact of its manufacturing activities.
Sales and marketing integration – Sales and marketing resources are now realigned to better serve the group’s green customer base with a unified brand and complementary products.
Transportation optimization – The group is optimizing paper transportation routes between its two manufacturing facilities andtheir suppliers and customers to speed delivery and decrease its transportation footprint.

While FutureMark Paper Group’s Alsip and Manistique facilities will work closely in the marketplace to achieve synergies and bring new value to customers, each operation is financially and legally independent, owned by separate investment funds managed by The Watermill Group, a strategy-driven private investment firm.

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10.01.2012
Oil Declines From One-Week High as China Manufacturing Weakens

Oil slipped from the highest close in a week in New York as manufacturing contracted unexpectedly in China, raising speculation that fuel demand may decline in the world’s second-biggest crude consumer.

Futures slid as much as 1 percent after capping the biggest quarterly gain since December on Sept. 28. China’s Purchasing Managers’ Index was 49.8 in September, the government said today. That compares with the median forecast of 50.1 in a Bloomberg survey. An index from HSBC Holdings Plc and Markit Economics showed an 11th contraction. Data released later today will probably show U.S. output shrank a fourth month.

“All indicators point towards a controlled and orderly landing of the Chinese economy,” said Michael Poulsen, an analyst at Global Risk Management in Middelfart, Denmark, who predicts Brent crude will average $112 a barrel this quarter. “On average, we see prices ending the year at roughly the same level as now, but there are some wild cards.”

Crude for November delivery fell as much as 93 cents to $91.26 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange and was at $91.97 at 10:33 a.m. London time.

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10.01.2012
American Greetings Announces Second Quarter Earnings

American Greetings Corporation today announced its results for the second fiscal quarter ended August 24, 2012.

For the second quarter of fiscal 2013, the Company reported total revenue of $393.8 million, a pre-tax loss of $6.1 million and a net loss of $4.3 million or 13 cents per share (all per-share amounts assume dilution).

The Company announced, on June 7, 2012, the acquisition of assets of Clinton Cards, including approximately 400 stores and related overhead as well as the Clinton Cards and related brands. As a result of the acquisition, the Company recognized during the second quarter of fiscal 2013 a revenue increase of approximately $39.9 million from the operations of the Clintons retail stores, reflected in the Company's new Retail Operations segment. This revenue increase was offset partially by the revenue reduction of approximately $13.5 million from inter-segment sales eliminations, reflected in the Company's International Segment, resulting in a net increase in consolidated revenue of approximately $26.3 million in the quarter. The sales being eliminated would have been third party sales in the prior year quarter.

Also as a result of the acquisition, the Company incurred, during the second quarter, pre-tax transaction costs and fees of approximately $3.9 million (after-tax of approximately $2.4 million or 7 cents per share) and pre-tax costs of approximately $2.3 million (after-tax of approximately $1.4 million or 4 cents per share) associated with impairment of the acquired Clinton Cards senior secured debt. The Company also recognized a reduction in pre-tax income of approximately $7.4 million (after-tax of approximately $5.6 million or 16 cents per share) as a result of inter-segment profit eliminations. The Company recognized a loss of $5.1 million (after-tax of approximately $3.1 million or 9 cents per share) from the operation of its retail stores. The total consolidated net reduction in pre-tax income associated with the acquisition and operation of the Clintons retail stores was approximately $18.7 million (after-tax of approximately $12.4 million or 37 cents per share).

In addition, revenue was reduced by $4.4 million as a result of scan-based trading conversions that occurred during the current-year's second quarter. The impact of scan-based trading conversions on pre-tax income was $3.6 million (after-tax of approximately $2.2 million or 7 cents per share). Also included within these results was a pre-tax benefit of $3.2 million (after-tax of approximately $1.9 million or 6 cents per share) from a gain on the sale of a portion of a legacy minority investment.

For the second quarter of the prior fiscal year 2012, the Company reported total revenue of approximately $370.2 million, pre-tax income of approximately $25.0 million, and net income of approximately $14.5 million or 35 cents per share. Revenue was reduced by approximately $0.6 million as a result of scan-based trading conversions that occurred during the quarter. The impact of scan-based trading conversions on pre-tax income was approximately $0.7 million (after-tax of approximately $0.4 million or 1 cent per share). Included within these results was a pre-tax benefit from the sale of certain minor characters in our intellectual property portfolio of approximately $4.5 million (after-tax of approximately $2.8 million or 7 cents per share).

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10.01.2012
RR Donnelley Awarded New Multi-Year Print Management Agreement by Guideposts

R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company today announced that it has been awarded a new multi-year multi-million dollar enterprise-wide print management agreement by Guideposts, a leading nonprofit organization whose products and services inspire, encourage and uplift. Its flagship magazine title, Guideposts, has a paid circulation of two million and it annually sells more than 5.7 million books direct to consumers and through retail channels.

Under the terms of the agreement RR Donnelley will provide comprehensive magazine, book, direct response, forms, labels and other production and print management services as well as premedia, book fulfillment and other logistics services.

"Millions of people regard Guideposts as a trusted partner," said Dave Teitler, Senior Vice President at Guideposts. "We look for the same spirit of collaboration in our supply chain and found that RR Donnelley's end-to-end solution offers exceptional value."

"We are very proud to have earned Guideposts' trust and to have the opportunity to serve them across the enterprise with comprehensive print management services," stated John Paloian, RR Donnelley's Chief Operating Officer. "Our unique production, service and print management offering allows us to optimize value for customers while also enabling them to take advantage of industry-leading innovations."

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10.01.2012
Report: Investcorp puts SourceMedia up for sale

Private equity company Investcorp is putting b-to-b media company SourceMedia up for sale, according to a report in peHUB.

SourceMedia publishes American Banker, On Wall Street and The Bond Buyer, among several other print publications.

The report in peHUB, a website owned by Thomson Reuters that covers the M&A field, quoted a source as saying that SourceMedia's EBITDA has been falling and is now around $10 million. Another source was quoted as saying that the company will fetch around five-to-six-times EBITDA.

Investcorp acquired SourceMedia, known at the time as Thomson Media, for $350 million in 2004.

Since taking charge in 2010, SourceMedia CEO Doug Manoni has added several new groups at the company, including digital, marketing services, research and training, in an effort to balance digital-oriented revenue against the company's still-significant exposure to print advertising.

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09.28.2012
Walgreen Co. Reports Fiscal 2012 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results

Walgreen Co. today announced earnings and sales results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2012 ended Aug. 31.

Net earnings determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for the fiscal 2012 fourth quarter were $353 million or 39 cents per diluted share, compared with $792 million or 87 cents per diluted share in the year-ago quarter.

Adjusted fiscal 2012 fourth quarter net earnings were $553 million or 63 cents per diluted share, compared with adjusted net earnings of $599 million or 66 cents per diluted share in the year-ago quarter. This year’s adjusted fourth quarter results exclude the negative impacts of 9 cents per diluted share related to the company’s transaction with Alliance Boots GmbH, 10 cents per diluted share from the quarter’s LIFO provision and 5 cents per diluted share in acquisition-related amortization costs. The company intends to account for its 45 percent investment in Alliance Boots using the equity method of accounting on a one-month lag basis. Because the closing of this investment occurred within one month of the company’s fiscal year end, the results of operations of Alliance Boots GmbH are not reflected in the company’s reported net earnings for the fiscal quarter or year ended Aug. 31, 2012.

Last year’s adjusted fourth quarter results exclude an after-tax gain of 30 cents per diluted share associated with the company’s sale of its pharmacy benefits management business, Walgreens Health Initiatives, Inc. (WHI), and the negative impacts of 4 cents per diluted share from the quarter’s LIFO provision and 5 cents per diluted share in acquisition-related amortization costs.

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09.28.2012
Quad/Graphics Expands and Extends Agreement to Print and Distribute USA WEEKEND

Quad/Graphics, Inc., announced today that it has expanded and extended its agreement with Gannett Co., Inc., to print copies of USA WEEKEND, a Sunday magazine inserted into 700+ newspapers weekly. The new, longer-term multiyear agreement will include additional incremental print volume beginning in 2016, as well as additional freight, logistics and distribution services volume.

“USA WEEKEND has an impressive reach and impact with a circulation of more than 22 million copies,” said Joel Quadracci, Chairman, President & CEO. “Under this new agreement, Quad/Graphics will continue to print the major portion of those copies, using a new manufacturing plan that optimizes all the strengths of our industry-leading gravure printing network. We are picking up additional future volume and we look forward to a growing service relationship with Gannett.”

J. Austin Ryan, Senior Vice President of Operations for Gannett Publishing Services, said the new agreement with Quad/Graphics offers multiple improvements to the manufacturing and distribution model. “Quad configured a new and improved services platform that will provide significant savings in time and money for us,” Ryan said. “We appreciate Quad/Graphics partnering with us to improve this aspect of our business.”

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09.28.2012
Mag Bag: Digital Will Raise Total Magazine Revs

Magazines’ digital advertising is paying off, according to an eMarketer report, which says they will lift overall magazine revenues in coming years, despite decreases on the print side. Magazines may finally be “over the hump” in their transition from print to digital publishing.

However, on the print side, the picture isn’t exactly cheery, as eMarketer predicts that total print ad revenues will decrease from $15.19 billion this year to $15.13 billion in 2013, $15.09 billion in 2014, and $15.05 billion in 2014. But digital ad revenues will more than offset these declines, rising from $3.14 billion in 2012 to $3.52 billion in 2013, $3.77 billion in 2014, and $3.96 billion in 2015.

Thanks to digital advertising’s growing contribution, total magazine ad revenues will increase from $18.3 billion in 2012 to $18.6 billion in 2013, $18.8 billion in 2014, and $19 billion in 2015, per the same eMarketer forecast. (These figures don’t include new circulation revenues from digital subscriptions, which are also growing fast.)

Looking at digital advertising’s proportional contribution to magazines’ bottom line, its share of total ad revenues will increase from 17% in 2012 to nearly 21% in 2015, while print ads’ share will shrink commensurately.
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09.28.2012
More Declines Predicted For Newspapers

All the trend lines for newspaper advertising are pointing down, and the latest forecast from eMarketer does nothing to dispel this gloomy picture.

According to the research firm’s most recent report, total ad revenues for newspapers will decline from $22.5 billion in 2012 to $21.5 billion in 2013, $21 billion in 2014, $20.63 billion in 2015, and $20.4 billion in 2016, for a 9.5% drop over the next four years.

The drop is due to continuing declines in print advertising, which eMarketer sees falling steadily from $19.1 billion this year to $16.4 billion in 2016 -- a 14.7% drop.

Separately, newspapers’ digital ad revenues will continue to experience modest growth, but not enough to offset losses on the print side. Here, eMarketer sees total digital ad revenues edging up from $3.4 billion in 2012 to $4 billion in 2016, for a 17.6% increase in four years.

The forecast is yet another piece of bad news for an industry under siege since the middle of the last decade. According to the Newspaper Association of America, total newspaper ad revenues -- including print and digital -- plunged from $49 billion in 2006 to $24 billion in 2011, for a 51.5% decline in just five years.
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09.28.2012
Iggesund Mill to streamline its organisation

Holmen’s paperboard mill in Iggesund is to make its operations more efficient, with employee numbers being cut from 900 to 800. The intention is for the cuts to be made through normal personnel turnover (retirement) over a two-year period.

“We are active in a market that is subject to fierce competition and that is under immense cost pressure. High-quality products and high productivity are our competitive weapons, but we also need to constantly review our costs,” says Björn Kvick, President of Iggesund Paperboard.

The cuts will be made through various initiatives such as reviewing the sheeting and wood chipping operations. SEK 2.3 billion has recently been invested at the mill in a new recovery boiler, laying the foundations for maintaining the company’s competitive edge in the future.

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09.28.2012
Eaten by software: British Publisher to trim print titles

UBM, the $1.5 billion British targeted media company that traces its lineage back to Samuel Morse's Journal of Commerce, staged a further retreat from print offerings this week after having closed and sold several titles in recent years. According to a report in the Daily Telegraph, it is putting up several titles for sale at an asking price of around $400 million.

The company, which publishes close to a hundred publications serving the health, technology, and transportation industries, has experienced a decrease in print margins and, as a result, focuses on trade shows and conferences for revenues. It operates some 300 of them globally in diverse markets such as furniture, jewelry, hospitality, and even spying. Its Black Hat cyber-security show draws attendees who not only don't wear name tags, but often don't reveal what organizations they represent.

The company did not name any specific publications that might be for sale. Its titles include Property Week, Travel Trade Gazette, Music Week, and Farmers Guardian.

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09.28.2012
AAA Fuel Gage & Exchange Rates

AAA’s Fuel Gage Report as of 9/28/12
National Unleaded Regular:
Current Average - $3.787/gallon
Month Ago Average - $3.804/gallon
Year Ago Average - $3.465/gallon
Highest Recorded Average - $4.114/gallon on 7/17/08
Diesel:
Current Average - $4.086/gallon
Month Ago Average - $4.063/gallon
Year Ago Average - $3.846/gallon
Highest Recorded Average - $4.845/gallon on 7/17/08

Current Exchange Rates as of 9/28/12
American Dollar to Canadian Dollar = 1.019566
American Dollar to Chinese Yuan = 0.159090
American Dollar to Euro = 1.292288
American Dollar to Japanese Yen = 0.012882
American Dollar to Mexican Peso = 0.077839

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09.28.2012
Oil Poised for Strongest Quarter This Year on Economic Optimism

Oil climbed for a second day in New York and headed for the biggest quarterly gain this year before a report forecast to show personal spending rose in the U.S., signaling an economic recovery that may boost fuel demand.

Futures advanced as much as 0.9 percent after increasing 2.1 percent yesterday, the most in eight weeks. U.S. household purchases probably climbed 0.5 percent last month, up from 0.4 percent in July, according to a Bloomberg survey before Commerce Department data today. Oil has rebounded since closing below $90 a barrel for the first time in almost two months on Sept. 26. It surged yesterday as Spain pledged to cut its deficit to ease Europe’s debt crisis.

“Things are looking more positive with Spain, but we are not out of the woods yet,” said Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank A/S in Copenhagen, who expects Brent crude to average $105 to $110 a barrel in the fourth quarter. “I think the rally we are seeing will run out of steam as the fundamental factors don’t stack up.”

Crude for November delivery gained as much as 86 cents to $92.71 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange and was at $92.49 at 10:34 a.m. London time.

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09.28.2012
Nova Scotia court approves sale of NewPage paper mill to Pacific West Commercial

After a year of legal wrangling, the $33-million sale of the former NewPage Port Hawkesbury paper mill to Vancouver-based Pacific West Commercial Corp. was officially sanctioned Thursday by the Nova Scotia Supreme Court.

"We're hopeful that everything is in place," George Kinsman, a spokesman for court-appointed monitor Ernst & Young, said outside the Halifax courtroom. "We are ready to go."

However, the sale wasn't expected to close until late Friday when the province, company officials and a battery of lawyers sign the closing documents in Halifax and Toronto.

As well, the Nova Scotia Utility Review Board has to sign off on an amended discount power rate agreement with Nova Scotia Power Inc., which was also expected by Friday.

"That's the last piece of prime document that people are waiting for," said Kinsman.

Given all of the procedural steps that have yet to fall into place, the court also granted approval to extend the sale process to Oct. 5 if there are any last-minute glitches.

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09.28.2012
Weyerhaeuser makes breakthrough in thermoplastic composites

Weyerhaeuser Company, a global leader in cellulose fiber technology and sustainable forestry, today announced the launch of a proprietary, patent-pending form of thermoplastic composite that uses sustainably sourced cellulose fiber as a reinforcement additive.

Called THRIVE™ composites, the product will initially be used in household goods and automotive parts. In addition, THRIVE can be used in a variety of composite plastic applications, including office furniture, kitchenware, small and large consumer appliances, and other industrial goods. THRIVE composites offer several advantages over materials reinforced with short glass fibers or natural fibers such as sisal, hemp and kenaf. The product is available in masterbatch form for custom compounders and ready-to-mold thermoplastic pellets for molders.

"THRIVE composites are economical and widely available, and they are low mass yet demonstrate excellent tensile strength and flexural properties," said Don Atkinson, vice president, marketing and new products for Weyerhaeuser's Cellulose Fibers business. "These composites can improve molding cycle times up to 40 percent. Products made with THRIVE require less energy to produce and can reduce wear and tear on processing equipment when compared with those containing abrasive short glass fibers. These substantial benefits create significant advantages for companies looking to reduce their carbon footprints while enhancing performance and productivity."

THRIVE composites are currently available as cellulose blended with polypropylene with both high and low melt flow indices. Because cellulose fibers are compatible with various "workhorse" polymers, Weyerhaeuser plans to expand the THRIVE line of products beyond polypropylene to a range of hydrocarbon and nonhydrocarbon polymers.

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09.28.2012
Discover Financial Services Reports Third Quarter Net Income of $627 Million

Discover Financial Services today reported net income of $627 million or $1.21 per diluted share for the third quarter of 2012, as compared to $649 million or $1.18 per share for the third quarter of 2011. The company’s return on equity was 28%. Strong year-over-year revenue growth and lower charge-offs were offset by lower loan loss reserve releases and increased legal expense due to accruals associated with the recently concluded Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) regulatory matter.

Third Quarter Highlights
Total loans grew $5.1 billion, or 9%, from the prior year to $59.2 billion.

Credit card loans grew $1.9 billion, or 4%, to $48.1 billion and Discover card sales volume increased 4% from the prior year.

Credit card loan delinquencies and net charge-offs reached historic lows with a delinquency rate for loans over 30 days past due of 1.81% and a net charge-off rate of 2.43%.

Payment Services pretax income was up 31% from the prior year to $49 million. Transaction volume for the segment was $50.3 billion in the quarter, an increase of 13% from the prior year.

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09.27.2012
Postal Service Statement on Sept 30 Retiree Health Benefits Prefunding Payment

For the second time in two months, the U.S. Postal Service will not make a mandated payment to prefund retiree health benefits. Absent legislative action, the Postal Service is unable to make a scheduled $5.6 billion payment to the U.S. Treasury on Sept. 30. As was the case with the default of a similar $5.5 billion payment due August 1, customers can be confident in the continued regular operations of the Postal Service. We will continue to deliver the mail and pay our employees and suppliers. Postal Service retirees and employees will also continue to receive their health benefits. The health care for current retirees is paid from the Postal Service’s general operating budget and is not affected by the Postal Service’s inability to make the accelerated payments mandated by Congress as part of a 2006 law.

Comprehensive reform of the laws governing the Postal Service is urgently needed in order for the Postal Service to fully implement its five-year business plan and return to long-term financial stability. The Postal Service continues to encourage comprehensive legislative action in this Congress.
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09.27.2012
UPM Produces the First Newsprint to Carry the EU Ecolabel

UPM has positioned itself as the frontrunner in the sustainable transformation of the paper industry by obtaining the first EU Ecolabel for newsprint. UPM News and UPM EcoBasic have obtained the EU Ecolabel after fulfilling strict criteria that include requirements related to energy and chemical use, forest sustainability (origin of wood), and production-related emissions to water and air.

UPM News and UPM EcoBasic are the first newsprints in Europe to receive the EU Ecolabel since the criteria were approved in July 2012. They are produced with at least 70% recovered fibres with the balance of fibres from PEFC or FSC certified sources. The EU Ecolabel for newsprint further certifies that the energy use, chemicals used as well as emissions and waste management comply with strict benchmark standards.

“UPM aspires to deliver products that have minimal environmental impact. The EU Ecolabels help our customers to choose the most environmentally responsible products available on the market. The label also shows that UPM is committed to its European customers,” states Wolfgang Bucher, Vice-President of Newspaper Publishers, UPM Paper.

UPM’s EU ecolabelled newsprint paper is produced in seven different paper mills; Kaipola (Finland), Ettringen, Schongau, Schwedt (Germany), Steyrermühl (Austria), Shotton (UK), and Chapelle (France).

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09.27.2012
New York Magazine Tries Manhattan Hand-Delivery to Counter Postal Cutbacks

New York magazine is trying to remedy rising postal costs and slower postal deliveries by distributing many subscriber copies by hand -- at least for Manhattan subscribers with doormen.

After a test than began in May, sparked by concerns that post-office cutbacks would only continue to worsen, New York is now rolling out hand delivery to doorman buildings and commercial addresses in Manhattan. "Hand delivery means you'll get New York on Monday mornings -- earlier than is possible by U.S. Mail," New York explained in a letter to some subscribers.

The cost is competitive with the post office or cheaper, a New York spokeswoman said in an email. "It also gives us experience in this arena, in preparation for future USPS changes that may be more onerous."

Once the rollout is complete, New York will be hand-delivering nearly 60,000 subscriber and complimentary copies to Manhattan addresses, the spokeswoman said, calling that about 60% of the magazine's file in Manhattan.

Hand delivery, of course, will only partly address the problems created by reduced postal services and higher postage fees. New York magazine averaged paid and verified circulation of 405,149 in the first half of the year, the majority outside Manhattan, according to its report with the Audit Bureau of Circulations.

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09.27.2012
Web and other non-store holiday sales will increase 15% to 17% this year

As research firms began taking their first sneak peeks into the holiday sales stocking, it is looking like the web and other non-store sales will once again outpace total holiday retail sales growth.

A new holiday spending forecast from Deloitte LLP predicts that non-store holiday sales will increase 15% to 17% this year compared with 2011. Web retailers will account for nearly three-quarters of non-store sales, with the rest coming from catalogs and interactive TV merchants, Deloitte says.

The Deloitte projection is in line with what research firm eMarketer predicted earlier this month. It forecast online shoppers in the United States will spend $54.47 billion this holiday season, up 16.8% from $46.63 billion last year.

That sales growth is significantly larger than the 3.5% to 4% Deloitte forecasts for total retail sales growth for November through January (excluding motor vehicles and gasoline). Deloitte expects total holiday sales to increase more slowly than last year’s total retail holiday sales, which grew 5.9% over 2010.

"Non-store sales continue to outpace overall growth, but increasingly influence consumers' experience with the retail store, from trip planning, to in-store product research, and post-purchase reviews and sharing," says Alison Paul, vice chairman, Deloitte LLP and retail and distribution sector leader. "This holiday season, retailers' most lucrative customers may be the ones they engage across physical and virtual storefronts."

Mobile will matter—even, or perhaps especially, in stores—this holiday season, Deloitte says. Mobile-influenced retail store sales such as product research, price comparison or mobile app use will account for 5.1% of retail store sales over the holidays, Deloitte predicts.

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09.27.2012
Ennis, Inc. Reports Results for the Three Months and Six Months Ended August 31, 2012

Ennis, Inc., today reported financial results for the three and six months ended August 31, 2012.

Our consolidated net sales were $138.3 million for the second quarter ended August 31, 2012 compared to $130.4 million for the second quarter ended August 31, 2011, or an increase of 6.1%. Print sales increased 24.3% for the quarter, from $69.2 million to $86.0 million. Apparel sales for the quarter declined by 14.5% (down 4.5% on units and down 10% on price) from $61.2 million to $52.3 million. Our consolidated gross profit margin ("margin") decreased from 26.1% to 24.5% for the quarters ended August 31, 2011 and August 31, 2012, respectively. Our print segment margin increased from 28.6% to 30.7%, while our apparel segment margin, which continues to be impacted by higher cotton costs, decreased from 23.4% to 14.4% for the quarter. As a result, our net earnings decreased from $9.7 million, or 7.4% of net sales, for the quarter ended August 31, 2011 to $7.6 million, or 5.5% of net sales, for the quarter ended August 31, 2012. Diluted earnings per share decreased from $0.37 to $0.29 for the quarters ended August 31, 2011 and August 31, 2012, respectively.

For the six month period, net sales increased from $273.6 million to $280.9 million, or 2.7%. Print sales for the six month period were $173.4 million, compared to $136.3 million for the same period last year, an increase of $37.1 million, or 27.2%. Apparel sales for the six month period were $107.5 million, compared to $137.3 million for the same period last year, or a decrease of 21.7% (down 14.7% on units and down 7% on price). Overall our margin decreased from 27.0% to 22.1% for the six months ended August 31, 2011 and 2012, respectively. Our print margin increased during the period from 28.7% to 29.3%, while our apparel margin decreased from 25.3% to 10.6%, again due to higher cotton costs. Net earnings for the period decreased from $21.1 million, or 7.7% of net sales, for the six months ended August 31, 2011 to $11.5 million, or 4.1% of net sales, for the six months ended August 31, 2012. Diluted earnings per share decreased from $0.81 to $0.44 for the six months ended August 31, 2011 and 2012, respectively.

During the second quarter, the Company generated $15.7 million in EBITDA (a non-GAAP financial measure calculated as net earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) compared to $19.0 million for the comparable quarter last year. For the six month period ended August 31, 2012, the Company generated $25.7 million of EBITDA compared to $40.9 million for the comparable period last year.

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09.27.2012
Oil Recovers From 8-Week Low After U.S. Inventories Drop

Oil rebounded from the lowest close in almost two months after U.S. crude inventories declined and as investors speculated that recent losses were excessive.

Futures rose as much as 0.6 percent in New York after falling close to technical-support levels. Prices slid 1.5 percent yesterday, the seventh decline in eight days, over concern that the European debt crisis may worsen and derail the global economy. Spaniards held protests and Greek police fired tear gas when a general strike turned violent. U.S. crude inventories slid 2.45 million barrels to 365.2 million last week, the Energy Department said. Analysts polled by Bloomberg had forecast a gain of 1.9 million barrels.

“The inventories surprised the market and stabilized prices,” Thina Saltvedt, an analyst at Nordea Bank AB, said by telephone from Oslo. “Now it’s a waiting game, as the turbulence in Spain and Greece is dampening risk appetite.”

Oil for November delivery gained as much as 57 cents to $90.55 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange and was at $90.24 at 10:39 a.m. London time. The contract yesterday fell $1.39 to $89.98, the lowest close since Aug. 2.

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09.27.2012
VSS predicts b-to-b media will grow 4.9% this year

The b-to-b media sector will grow 4.9% to $26.60 billion this year, according to the “VSS Communications Industry Forecast” released by Veronis Suhler Stevenson. The increase in the sector is being driven by a turnaround in live and virtual events as well as gains in Web and mobile platforms, according to VSS.

VSS projected that the b-to-b media sector will post a compound annual growth rate of 5% from 2011 to 2016, when it will reach $34.03 billion. Between 2006 and 2011, CAGR for b-to-b media was essentially flat.

VSS said the Business & Professional Information & Services sector will grow 7.2% to $204.40 billion this year. The sector will post a 7% CAGR from 2011 to 2016, fueled by growth in business and professional services related to economic, financial, marketing, and scientific and technical Information, as well as technology services, VSS said.

Overall communications industry spending in the U.S. is expected to rise 5.2% this year to $1.18 trillion. It will grow at a 5.2% CAGR from 2011 to 2016.

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09.27.2012
Study: Two-thirds of b-to-b marketers will commit to content marketing next year

Most b-to-b marketers are ramping up their content marketing efforts, according to a new study by BtoB magazine. The study, Content Marketing: Ready for Prime Time, reports that 66 percent of b-to-b marketers plan to be “very” or “fully” committed to content marketing next year, leading to a whole new group of competitors, or partners, for b-to-b publishers. The new research also found that 34 percent of b-to-b marketers today are already “very” or “fully” engaged with content marketing (last year, the number was 18 percent).

“Digital platforms ushered in a whole new class of content that is now taking hold in the b-to-b space,” John DiStefano, research director for BtoB, told ABM. “At the same time, it's transforming media companies' marketing services outreach. Editorial shares readership with marketing content—the two are often indistinguishable, in fact—and b-to-b publishers need to offer marketing services that provide thought leadership, brand awareness, customer relations, prospecting and of course, sales.”

The data in the recently released report is based on 425 interviews with U.S. b-to-b marketers. The study takes a look at the current state of content marketing adoption, trends, key marketing goals and the most difficult challenges marketers face.
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09.27.2012
Sonoco Launches Family of New Insulated Pallet Shippers

ThermoSafe Brands, a unit of Sonoco, has launched a family of new temperature-assured polyurethane-insulated pallet shippers for use in the United States and Europe for the bulk distribution of pharmaceuticals and other biotechnology products.

According to Vicki Arthur, vice president of Sonoco's Protective Packaging division, a leading North American provider of protective packaging solutions, the ThermoSafe® SPS Series Pallet Shippers are designed to provide off-the-shelf convenience and easy assembly, meeting the unique needs of high-value life science products.

"ThermoSafe's new insulated pallet shippers use Sonoco's patented SonoPost® components, which provide structural stability and air flow for top and bottom refrigerants – a first in the industry," said Arthur. "These proven temperature-assurance shippers have fewer packing components with self-supporting panels that can be assembled in 15 minutes or less. They are ideal for third-party logistics and bulk shipments of biologic products and can use the same configuration for all seasons."

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09.27.2012
Sappi Alfeld Mill to refocus production

Sappi Alfeld Mill to refocus production to meet strong growth in demand from the Release Liner and Flexpack paper markets. Coated paper production to be moved to other Sappi Mills in Europe.

In response to strong growth and positive market forecasts for the packaging market, Sappi Fine Paper Europe has begun the process of converting its Sappi Alfeld Mill in Germany to focus exclusively on producing one-sided coated paper for packaging, labels and technical applications. The project will take 12 months to complete.

At the same time, Sappi will actively manage its graphic paper capacity by transferring the current coated paper production of the Sappi Alfeld Mill to other Sappi Mills in Europe in close consultation with these customers. This action will further improve Sappi’s cost position in coated woodfree paper in Europe and elsewhere.

The strong growth and improved margins in this market are due to the growth in the demand for paper packaging and a lack of standardisation; high degree of customisation; and the long qualification times imposed by customers. Sappi has also been successful in the development of innovative and sustainable solutions for this market in close co-operation with end-use customers and converters.

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09.26.2012
Why Small Businesses Still Need Paper in a Digital World

At one time, experts predicted we’d gradually move toward a paper-free world. But the modern small business is far from it. According to The Economist, in the past 30 years, worldwide paper consumption has gone up by 50 percent. Even though some things can be converted to a digital format, printed communication still excels as a marketing tool.

Why are we using more paper than ever? We have more to print. With access to so much information, 24 hours a day, we are constantly finding things we need to have in front of us. This is especially prevalent among small businesses, where workers have an ongoing need to print, copy and share presentations and meeting agendas with multiple people.

As a marketing tool, printed communications have been proven to be just as effective as ever. An eye-catching presentation to a client can be one of the things that seal a deal for a crucial sale.

So, paper is here to stay, for the time being. How small businesses deal with paper is an important matter. Here are ten tips to help better market your business and increase office efficiency:
¦Have at least one color device. ¦Show your clients how important they are by using color ink, quality paper and overall good presentation materials. ¦Be creative and use imagery to convey a point or key message. ¦Use a spot color in a “black and white” piece – it lightens things up. ¦Invest in a multi-function printer (MFP). ¦Scan important documents. ¦Enable security. ¦Utilize double-sided printing. ¦Pay attention to printer features. ¦Don’t cut corners on supplies.
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09.26.2012
Verso Paper Corp. Awards First Verso Forest Certification Grant To Sustainable Resource Institute (SRI) Inc.

Verso Paper Corp. today announced that Sustainable Resources Institute (SRI) Inc. will be the first recipient of a Verso Forest Certification Grant. The two-year grant will enable SRI to target the owners of small, private non-industrial properties (2,400 acres or less) in Michigan and help them achieve certification at an affordable cost. Third-party certification to credible forest management standards advances responsible management practices that keep U.S. forests vibrant and healthy. SRI's first-year goal to certify an additional 15,000 acres has the potential to add up to 35,000 tons of certified fiber in the marketplace.

"We launched the Verso Forest Certification Grant program to increase certified fiber and certified acreage on lands near Verso's three paper mills," said Verso Senior Vice President of Manufacturing and Energy Lyle Fellows. "SRI's grant proposal demonstrated not only a solid plan to help us advance this goal, but also strong partnerships with the Michigan Master Logger Certification program, the Michigan Association of Timbermen and others that provide a strong foundation for success."

"The start-up funds provided by the Verso Forest Certification Grant will help us reach out to landowners who already have responsible forest management plans and offer them a more accessible path to affordable certification," said SRI Executive Director Don Peterson. "We're anxious to get underway and are committed to seeking additional funding from other sources to make sure we're able to continue the terrific certification opportunities that Verso's initial two-year funding provides."

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09.26.2012
The environmental cost of data centres, Does this cast doubt on e-billing initiatives?

Jeff Rothschild’s machines at Facebook had a problem he knew he had to solve immediately. They were about to melt.

The company had been packing a 40-by-60-foot rental space here with racks of computer servers that were needed to store and process information from members’ accounts. The electricity pouring into the computers was overheating Ethernet sockets and other crucial components.

Thinking fast, Mr. Rothschild, the company’s engineering chief, took some employees on an expedition to buy every fan they could find — “We cleaned out all of the Walgreens in the area,” he said — to blast cool air at the equipment and prevent the Web site from going down.

That was in early 2006, when Facebook had a quaint 10 million or so users and the one main server site. Today, the information generated by nearly one billion people requires outsize versions of these facilities, called data centers, with rows and rows of servers spread over hundreds of thousands of square feet, and all with industrial cooling systems.

They are a mere fraction of the tens of thousands of data centers that now exist to support the overall explosion of digital information. Stupendous amounts of data are set in motion each day as, with an innocuous click or tap, people download movies on iTunes, check credit card balances through Visa’s Web site, send Yahoo e-mail with files attached, buy products on Amazon, post on Twitter or read newspapers online.

A yearlong examination by The New York Times has revealed that this foundation of the information industry is sharply at odds with its image of sleek efficiency and environmental friendliness.

Most data centers, by design, consume vast amounts of energy in an incongruously wasteful manner, interviews and documents show. Online companies typically run their facilities at maximum capacity around the clock, whatever the demand. As a result, data centers can waste 90 percent or more of the electricity they pull off the grid, The Times found.

To guard against a power failure, they further rely on banks of generators that emit diesel exhaust. The pollution from data centers has increasingly been cited by the authorities for violating clean air regulations, documents show. In Silicon Valley, many data centers appear on the state government’s Toxic Air Contaminant Inventory, a roster of the area’s top stationary diesel polluters.

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09.26.2012
Tetra Pak invests €25 million in Turkish packaging material plant

Plant technology upgrade in Izmir enables local production and export of innovative packages, including Tetra Gemina® Aseptic and Tetra Prisma® Aseptic

Tetra Pak marking its 40th year of operations in Turkey, inaugurates a new laminator at its packaging material factory in Izmir, Turkey. The new VT laminator will increase production capacity by 20%, delivering innovative packages with shorter lead time to customers in the Turkey and Caucasus, and enabling export to the region.

The new laminator, which begins production in January 2013, boosts production capacity from 5 billion packs to approximately 6 billion. It is capable of laminating all types and sizes of Tetra Pak packages, including Tetra Prisma® Aseptic, Tetra Gemina® Aseptic and Tetra Brik® Aseptic packages with Helicap caps.

Tetra Pak Turkey & Caucasus Managing Director Francis Goodenday said: “In an increasingly competitive world, Tetra Pak recognizes the need to offer our customers the very best products, technology and service. This investment will enable us to meet our customers’ needs in a continuously growing, dynamic market by providing them with faster lead times, innovative packages and all the advantages of local supply and support.”
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09.26.2012
SKG to acquire Orange County Container Group

Smurfit Kappa Group plc announces that it has agreed to acquire Orange County Container Group for a total cash consideration of US$340 million (c. €260 million).

OCCG is a private corrugated and containerboard manufacturer with operations in Northern Mexico and the Southern United States (“US”). OCCG employs 2,800 people (2,000 of whom are employed in Mexico), and is expected to generate US$53 million of EBITDA for the full year (“FY”) 2012. OCCG’s strong strategic fit with SKG’s existing businesses is expected to deliver at least US$14 million of synergies by the end of year 2.

The US$340 million cash consideration will be funded from the Group's existing cash resources. It is anticipated that the Transaction will complete in the fourth quarter of 2012 subject to customary completion conditions and regulatory approval, and is expected to be EPS accretive on completion.

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09.26.2012
Pactiv Canada Acquires Interplast Packaging, Inc.

Pactiv LLC announced today that Pactiv Canada Inc. has acquired the assets of Interplast Packaging, Inc. (http://www.interplast.net). Based in Terrebonne, Quebec, Canada, Interplast produces custom-labeled Recycled PET (RPET) egg cartons for customers throughout North America.

“Interplast’s family of RPET cartons enhances our existing line of molded fiber egg cartons and offers an environmental and sustainable alternative, particularly for packers and retailers of premium label eggs,” said Pactiv President and CEO, John McGrath. “Much like we have done in other food packaging segments, Pactiv will now be able to offer solutions in multiple materials to the egg packaging market, providing this customer base with the opportunity for increased value.”

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09.26.2012
Consumer Confidence Index increases in September

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which had declined in August, improved in September to 70.3 -- up from 61.3 in August.

The Expectations Index increased to 83.7 from 71.1. The Present Situation Index rose to 50.2 from 46.5 last month.

"The Consumer Confidence Index rebounded in September and is back to levels seen earlier this year (71.6 in February 2012),” said Lynn Franco, director of economic indicators at The Conference Board. “Consumers were more positive in their assessment of current conditions, in particular the job market, and considerably more optimistic about the short-term outlook for business conditions, employment and their financial situation. Despite continuing economic uncertainty, consumers are slightly more optimistic than they have been in several months."

Consumers' appraisal of present-day conditions improved in September. Those claiming business conditions are "good" edged up to 15.5% from 15.3%, while those saying business conditions are "bad" declined to 33.3% from 34.3%. Consumers' assessment of the labor market was also more upbeat. Those stating jobs are "plentiful" rose to 8.3% from 7.2%, while those claiming jobs are "hard to get" edged down to 39.9% from 40.6%.

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09.26.2012
ICSC: Holiday chain store sales to rise 3%

A holiday preview report released Tuesday by the International Council of Shopping Centers said that sales are forecasted to rise 3% during the traditional November-December 2012 holiday period.

Additionally, ICSC said it anticipates that the other two measures of U.S. industry holiday sales – shopping-center sales and GAFO-store sales – will increase slightly as well.

However, the group cautioned that this year’s season comes with a bit more uncertainty than usual because of the increased crosscurrents—a softening in the economy, improving housing prices and markets, rising gasoline prices, a presidential election and the looming $500 billion in automatic spending cuts to the federal budget and tax increases slated for January 1, 2013.
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09.26.2012
Digital Gains May Balance Print Losses For Mags

For years traditional media have been complaining that the migration of time and audiences to the Web was forcing companies to trade offline dollars for (as Jeff Zucker famously said) “digital dimes.” The CPMs for print and TV were and usually still are multiples higher than for digital. But leaner organizations and new business models may help old media learn new tricks in the end. Tablets will be lynchpin of revenue growth. According to a new report from eMarketer, magazine publishers will see their digital revenues climb sufficiently to offset most but not all the losses from a declining print ad economy.

The new report projects that in 2012, magazine ad revenue will see print income decline 3.14% to $14.19 billion and see digital ad revenue increase 15.5% to $3.14 billon. The overall drop for magazines will net out to -2.6%. But that gap will narrow in coming years. Even as print ad revenue bottoms out around 2015 and 2016 to just over $15 billion, continued double digit increases in digital revenues will keep the magazine industry growing at just under 1% a year. eMarketer figures include b2b, consumer, local and Sunday magazines.

eMarketer analysts see tablets as one of the best opportunities for magazine brands to recapture the lost income from print. The company projects that more than half of Internet users will use tablets by 2015, 133.5 million. Monetizing tablet audiences is the industry’s biggest challenge and opportunity in coming years to making up for print declines, the research firm says. Citing Pew Internet & American Life research, the report suggests that a minority of tablet users are willing to pay regularly for content. Convincing advertisers to move more of their budget into tablets is a critical necessity for magazines.

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09.26.2012
Metso to relocate and rebuild paper machine for Chinese Shandong Chenming Paper for increased production

Metso will supply Chenming Jilin, part of Shandong Chenming Paper Holdings Ltd., with the relocation and rebuild of a paper machine for the company’s new mill site in Jilin Province, China. The value of the order will not be disclosed. A typical market value of this type of a relocation and rebuild project ranges from EUR 10 to 20 million.

“The main target of the project is to increase production by improving the efficiency of the paper making line and by increasing the drying capacity of the paper machine,” says Metso’s Sales Manager Jukka Vuorela.

A paper machine of Chenming Jilin will be relocated within Jilin City from the current mill site to the company’s new mill site. Metso will supervise the dismantling and packing of the paper machine line and supervise the installation and start-up of the relocated equipment. Metso’s delivery will also include a rebuild of the relocated PM 12. The start-up of the relocated and rebuilt machine is scheduled for the second half of 2013.

The order is included in Metso’s Pulp, Paper and Power third quarter 2012 orders received.

The paper machine to be relocated is the 6.95-m-wide (wire) PM 12 paper machine. The modernization will include forming and drying section modifications and a press section rebuild with a new SymBelt shoe press. Originally the PM 12 produces coated wood-containing LWC (light weight coated) paper grades and after the rebuild the target is to also produce other new paper grades.

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09.26.2012
Metsä Group’s tissue and cooking paper business area to begin statutory negotiations in Finland

Metsä Tissue, Metsä Group’s tissue and cooking paper business, is to commence statutory negotiations in its Finnish units. The negotiations are part of company-wide organisational restructuring targeted to improve profitability.

The statutory negotiations announced today will concern white-collar personnel in Finland, excluding frontline sales teams. Roughly 150 employees will be involved in the process and the maximum headcount reduction is not expected to exceed 40. Metsä Tissue’s Finnish offices are based in Espoo and Mänttä.

“Increasing competition and continuous tightening of EU regulation pose additional challenges for Metsä Tissue. Additionally, the Finnish government’s stricter national adaptation of EU directives concerning areas such as waste taxation and landfill regulations is a major threat to our competitiveness. By restructuring and reorganising our operations, we aim to secure our future competitiveness on the growing tissue and cooking paper market,” says Metsä Tissue’s CEO Mika Joukio.

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