Blog Keyword - Midland PaperClips - fine paper, packaging and supply systems distributor

08.23.2011

Hess Print Solutions Upgrades Proofing System to GRACoL and SWOP Specifications

Hess Print Solutions, a provider of accountable print performance solutions and other value-added services for catalog, publications, education and commercial printed products, announced today that the company has upgraded its color proofing system to GRACoL and Specifications for Web Offset Publications (SWOP) standards. Accepted as industry standard guidelines for achieving accurate, high-quality color printing, the GRACoL and SWOP upgrades will ensure the company's clients get the best color reproduction possible on every print job.

GRACoL and SWOP specifications are based on using the standards for printing on sheetfed or web offset presses which enables printers and publishers to accurately proof color regardless of the printer or paper used to create the proof. SWOP is also the accepted standard in web offset publication printing for ink colors and dot gain tolerances.

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08.23.2011

RR Donnelly Significantly Expanding Its Facility in Owensville, MO

Gov. Jay Nixon announced that RR Donnelly, which currently employs approximately 340 workers at its Owensville facility, is making a capital investment of $6 million and creating 105 new jobs at the plant.

“RR Donnelly is a global corporation that could have expanded operations at any one of its plants around the world, but chose to do so in Owensville, which is excellent news for the state and local economy,” Gov. Nixon said. “We will continue to fight every single day, for every single job, to keep our state’s economy moving forward. RR Donnelly’s creation of 105 new jobs is a major plus for both our manufacturing sector and the economy in general.”

The company began manufacturing operations at the Owensville plant in 2007, where it produces textbooks and workbooks for elementary and secondary education, educational testing manuals, trade books, business-to-business catalogs, healthcare manuals, and federal and state government publications.

Substantial growth in the educational and healthcare markets has led RR Donnelly to expand the facility. Last month, it added two new printing presses and is in the process of adding three new binding lines. To staff the new machines and operating lines, RR Donnelly will hire 105 new employees by the end of this year and have invested $6 million into the local economy.

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08.23.2011

Sales of Media Tablets to Reach 195 Million Units by 2015, Causing Paper Use in Magazines to Fall by 20%

Media tablets are on pace to become a ubiquitous, mass-market, consumer product faster than any-other previously released, technological device. The powerful implications of this rapid adoption on publication paper markets is the subject of a new study The Impact of Media Tablets on Publication Paper Markets, published by RISI, the leading information provider for the global forest products industry.

The market for media tablets – consisting of tablet computers (including Apple's iPad) and electronic readers (including Amazon's Kindle) – exploded in 2010. By the end of the first year of availability, over 15 million tablet computers were in use. In North America alone, the size of the electronic reader market almost doubled, with over 10 million in use. Early-on, signs of trouble for the publication paper market became clear: In 2010, the top free app in Apple's iTunes store was iBooks; A Morgan Stanley inquiry discovered that 42% of US tablet owners will cancel their print newspaper subscription; In May of this year, Amazon.com announced that ebook sales now exceed those of printed book sales in the U.S.

"Many graphic paper producers make their living selling paper to the publishing industry, those companies will be greatly affected by media tablets," explains John Maine, RISI's Vice President World Graphic Paper and Study Team Leader. "Significant demand impacts could come as soon as 2012."

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08.23.2011

Tronox Announces TiO2 Price Increases

Tronox Incorporated, on behalf of its subsidiary companies, today announced the following price increases for all TRONOX® titanium dioxide (TiO2) grades:

Effective October 1, 2011 or as contracts allow:
    • Latin America, minimum $500 per tonne
    • Europe/Middle East/Africa 500 Euros per tonne or $700 per tonne in U.S. Dollar markets.
    • Asia Pacific $500 per tonne

In addition, effective September 1, 2011 or as contracts allow:
• North America $0.10 per pound on select laminate, specialty and plastic grades

These increases are in addition to those previously announced. Other increases may be announced locally within each region.

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08.23.2011

AGI World and Shorewood Packaging Merge to Create a Global Leader in Specialty Packaging Solutions

International Paper and Atlas Holdings today signed a definitive agreement to combine their consumer packaging solutions businesses, pending regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions. As a result of the agreement, Shorewood Packaging and AGI World, two leading global specialty packaging companies, will become AGI-Shorewood, creating one of the largest and most innovative specialty packaging businesses in the world with operations in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and Latin America.

"For more than a decade, Shorewood Packaging has been an important part of International Paper and has made many contributions to our company, particularly through leadership in innovation and creative services for customers," said Tom Kadien, senior vice president of International Paper's Consumer Packaging and IP Asia businesses. "By merging Shorewood with AGI, our employees and our customers will have many more options and opportunities in the future, and we will continue to be a strong partner in those efforts."

"We are excited about this combination, bringing together two businesses with great legacies and creating a new global leader with unparalleled capability to serve the world's premier consumer product, media and entertainment and tobacco companies," said Andrew Bursky, chairman of Atlas Holdings. "We are committed to building the new AGI-Shorewood around the needs of our customers, providing innovation, efficiency and exceptional service through an unrivaled network of global packaging and creative service facilities."

Once the transaction is complete, the new company will employ nearly 4,000 people and will operate 24 manufacturing facilities around the world. In addition, AGI-Shorewood will be a nimble supplier, strategically focused on its key consumer packaging, media and entertainment, and tobacco packaging markets, which include beauty and personal care, cosmetics and fragrance, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, consumer electronics, golf, confectionary and specialty foods and tobacco and specialty gravure.

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08.23.2011

NewPage to Initiate Downtime at Port Hawkesbury Mill

NewPage Corporation today announced that, based on its assessment of current market and economic conditions, it has decided to take downtime on both paper machines at its Port Hawkesbury mill in Nova Scotia, Canada. The downtime will begin September 10 for the mill's PM1 newsprint machine and September 16 for the PM2 supercalendered machine. NewPage will provide future updates on the mill based on an ongoing review of the situation and economic conditions during the anticipated downtime.

The decision was based on a combination of factors, including unfavorable exchange rates between the U.S. and Canadian dollars and high utility and shipping costs, which have rendered its Port Hawkesbury mill operations unprofitable for more than a year.

The company is announcing its decision now in order to mitigate the potential impact on customers and already has taken into consideration the planned downtime for future scheduling. NewPage expects to fulfill certain pre-existing orders for its supercalendered papers from its mill in Duluth, Minnesota, but does not produce newsprint from any other mill location and therefore will be unable to serve these customers during the downtime.

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08.23.2011

Gap Inc. Details Global Commitments to Sustainability and Supply Chain

Gap Inc. today released its fifth Social and Environmental Responsibility report, a comprehensive update on its supply chain operations, environmental programs and community investment efforts from 2009 to 2010.

"Gap Inc. takes seriously the importance of being a responsible company," Gap Inc. Chairman and CEO Glenn Murphy said today. “For nearly 20 years, we’ve worked to address some of the major challenges facing our industry and to operate our business in line with our value to do what’s right. While we’re not perfect, we’re proud of the progress made."

"To achieve lasting change, we need all apparel brands to commit to making ongoing improvements in the lives of garment workers and to the environment,” Murphy added.

Reducing the environmental impact of the company’s operations remains a top priority in the years ahead. Gap Inc. reported that 100 percent of its branded denim is made in compliance with the company’s Water Quality System, ensuring the wastewater from the laundries is properly treated before being discharged. In this report, the company also committed to reducing the absolute greenhouse gas emissions from its operations in the United States by 20 percent by 2015, when compared to 2008 levels. This follows an earlier 20 percent decrease in greenhouse gas emissions from 2003 to 2008.

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08.22.2011

American Printer to cease publication

Katherine O’Brien Editor-in-Chief at American Printer wrote on the American Printer website, "American Printer has published its last issue. There won’t be a September issue. Penton, our parent company, stuck with us through some mighty lean months, but ultimately, there was no foreseeable model to achieve profitability."

The history of the American printing industry is in the pages of Inland/American Printer.

In her farewell letter, O’Brien provides a footnote with the history of the publication:

Published under the auspices of Henry O. Shepard’s printing company, INLAND PRINTER debuted in October 1883. A few years later, Shepard created the Inland Printer Co. to keep his printing plant and publishing activities separate. In addition to publishing the magazine, the Inland Printer Co. produced technical books for the trade and operated the Inland Printer Technical School.

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08.22.2011

AbitibiBowater Gets $7.5 Million Rebate

Ontario has approved an initial rebate for Abibow of over $7.5 million based on the facility’s consumption for the 2010-2011 fiscal year. The approval was announced by Thunder Bay Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro.

“This program is the latest in a series of programs aimed at supporting our large industrial users. Combined with our Industrial Conservation Initiative, it will save the local AbiBow operation millions per year on a go-forward basis,” said Mauro.

Mauro Announces McGuinty Government Helping AbiBow to Keep Energy Costs Down, Protect Jobs

Ontario is helping AbitibiBowater pulp and paper mill in Thunder Bay reduce its electricity costs, stay competitive and protect approximately 500 jobs.

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08.22.2011

Aeropostale Reports Results for Second Quarter

Aeropostale, Inc., a mall-based specialty retailer of casual apparel for young women and men, today reported results for the second quarter of fiscal 2011, and provided guidance for the third quarter of fiscal 2011.

Diluted net earnings per share for the second quarter were $0.04 per diluted share, which included a non-recurring pre-tax benefit to the Company's gross profit of $8.7 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, resulting from the resolution of a dispute with one of the Company's merchandise vendors, surrounding prior period allowances. The Company reported net earnings of $0.46 per diluted share in the second quarter last year.

For the second quarter of fiscal 2011 net sales decreased 5% to $468.2 million, from $494.7 million in the year ago period. Same store sales for the second quarter decreased 14%, compared to a same store sales increase of 4% last year. Year to date net sales decreased 2% to $937.4 million, from $958.3 million in the year ago period. Year to date, same store sales decreased 10%, compared to a same store sales increase of 5% in the year ago period.

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08.22.2011

Brent Crude Slides as Libyan Rebels Enter Tripoli; Premium to U.S. Narrows

Brent crude fell in London, narrowing its record premium to the main U.S. oil grade, as investors bet that Libyan production may recover after rebels entered the capital city of Tripoli in a push to force out Muammar Qaddafi.

The European benchmark contract tumbled more than 3 percent amid speculation Qaddafi’s regime is crumbling, while New York crude erased declines. Libya’s output dropped to 100,000 barrels a day last month, a Bloomberg News survey showed. That’s less than 10 percent of the 1.6 million barrels the nation pumped before the uprising started in February.

“If the rebels continue to gain control as more liquidity comes into the oil market we could see prices fall more,” said Torbjoern Kjus, a senior analyst at DnB NOR ASA in Oslo who predicts Brent will stabilize at about $100 a barrel. “We have no idea right now how much the oilfields and infrastructure have been damaged. But all the incentives are there for western companies and countries to get production back as quickly as possible.”

Brent oil for October settlement dropped as much as $3.47 to $105.15 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange, and was at $106.39 at 10:26 a.m. London time. The contract was at a premium of $23.62 to West Texas Intermediate, the main U.S. grade, compared with a record $26.21 at settlement on Aug. 19.

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08.22.2011

The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. Announces Second Quarter Fiscal 2011 Results

The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. today reported results for the second quarter of fiscal 2011 ended July 30, 2011.

Second Quarter Highlights: Comparable store sales decreased 1.5%. Gross margin rate was 37.2% of net sales compared with 38.0% in the prior year period. Operating loss totaled $11.8 million, compared with an operating loss of $6.4 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2010.

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08.22.2011

Nippon Paper Group to Use Wood Rubble from the Great East Japan Earthquake as Fuel at Ishinomaki Mill

The Ishinomaki Mill (Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture) of Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. (President: Yoshio Haga), the main company of the Nippon Paper Group, has started in-house power generation at its N1 turbine, attached to biomass Boiler 1, which commenced continuous and full-scale operation on August 20. In association with that, the Group has decided to incinerate wood rubble (hereinafter "rubble") from the Great East Japan Earthquake at the Ishinomaki Mill, at the request of the governor of Miyagi Prefecture, and at the same time to use it as fuel to generate power.

Boiler 1 at the Ishinomaki Mill, which started full-scale operation, uses wood waste as fuel. Through consultation with Miyagi Prefecture, the Group has decided to break up rubble in the Ishinomaki area (Ishinomaki, Higashimatsushima, and Onagawa) and burn it in the boiler as fuel. The Group has already been bringing in rubble to the Ishinomaki Mill on a trial basis since August 22. Once an agreement is concluded with Miyagi Prefecture, the Group plans to use 120,000 tons of rubble per year as fuel. Part of the electricity, up to 40,000 kilowatts (electricity for 100,000 households), generated at the Ishinomaki Mill is supplied to Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc. The Group started electric power transmission on August 21.

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08.22.2011

Pactiv to Open Mexico City Facility

Pactiv Foodservice/Food Packaging, North America’s largest supplier of packaging for the food service industry, announced its intention to open a new multi-million dollar facility in Mexico City to better service the growing Mexican market.

Pactiv Foodservice/Food Packaging already has facilities in Guadalajara and Monterrey supplying Cups, Foam Trays, Clear Plastic Containers and Cutlery to the Mexican market. The proposed new facility will offer a full range of paper, foam and plastic cups and tableware providing a more comprehensive and complete product offering.

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08.22.2011

Green Mail Delivery Saves Postal Service Millions

Delivering more than 40 percent of the world’s mail and reaching every business and residential address in America six days a week requires the dependable, ubiquitous vehicle fleet of the U.S. Postal Service. The world’s largest civilian fleet delivers more than 167 billion pieces of mail to more than 150 million addresses, along 230,000 routes, logging 4 million miles a day, with 215,000 postal vehicles, of which more than 44,000 are alternative fuel-capable.

“The Postal Service’s fleet of alternative fuel-capable vehicles is the nation’s largest green fleet, and uses a variety of alternative fuels including electricity, ethanol, compressed natural gas, liquid propane and bio-diesel,” said Dean Granholm, vice president, Delivery and Post Office Operations. “These vehicles allow us to deliver mail in a more environmentally responsible way.”

From fiscal year (FY) 2009 to FY 2010, USPS replaced nearly 6,600 older gasoline-powered vehicles with more fuel-efficient vehicles and increased use of alternative fuels in postal vehicles to 2.2 million gasoline gallon equivalent (GGE), a 9-percent increase.

“Green mail delivery methods helped the Postal Service increase alternative fuel use 133 percent from an FY 2005 baseline, well ahead of the goal of 10 percent by 2015,” said Thomas Day, chief sustainability officer. “The Postal Service has a long, proud tradition of testing and using more efficient methods of transportation, including the first electric delivery vehicle, in 1899. It’s all part of the Postal Service’s leaner, greener, smarter, faster sustainability call to action.”

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08.22.2011

Vertis Communications Picked by Orchard Supply Hardware as Exclusive Provider of Ad Inserts

Vertis Communications, a results-driven marketing communications company that delivers inventive advertising, direct marketing and interactive solutions to prominent brands across North America, today announced that Orchard Supply Hardware, a home and garden retailer with locations throughout the state of California, named the company its exclusive print provider of high-quality advertising inserts and special product booklets featuring seasonal inventory and special offers.

Under the new three-year agreement, which extends a 15 year partnership between the two companies, Vertis will manage Orchard Supply Hardware’s advertising inserts program from its local Sacramento facility. Vertis will also optimize the retailer’s distribution strategy through multichannel delivery ensuring total market coverage and maximizing its position as one of the premier home improvement retailers in the region. Through bold, superior-quality advertising inserts that publicize special incentives and product promotions, Vertis will drive traffic to Orchard Supply Hardware’s 89 retail locations and deliver increased consumer response. In addition, Vertis will increase the return on Orchard Supply Hardware’s marketing investment though its proprietary logistics services that maximize delivery costs of printed material, enabling the retailer to quickly reach consumers with time-sensitive promotional announcements and up-to-date product information.

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08.22.2011

Gap Inc. Reports Second Quarter Earnings

Gap Inc. today reported that net sales for the second quarter of fiscal year 2011, which ended July 30, 2011, increased 2 percent to $3.39 billion compared with $3.32 billion for the second quarter last year. Net income decreased 19 percent to $189 million compared with $234 million for the second quarter last year. Second quarter diluted earnings per share was $0.35 compared with $0.36 last year.

Second Quarter Financial and Business Highlights: Net sales increased 2 percent to $3.39 billion compared with last year. Net sales for the Gap Inc. Direct division increased 20 percent to $309 million compared with last year. Operating expenses were flat to last year and decreased 50 basis points as a percentage of net sales. Returned $880 million to shareholders, with $820 million in share repurchases and $60 million in dividends, underscoring the company’s continued commitment to return cash to shareholders. Opened 300th redesigned Old Navy store, focused on improving customer shopping experiences and part of the brand’s ongoing strategy to improve top line sales performance. Announced plans to expand Athleta stores to the New York, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Minneapolis, and Philadelphia markets. Athleta last week opened its doors in Manhattan’s Upper East and Upper West Side neighborhoods.

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08.22.2011

Tembec Reaches Settlement with Employees at its Matane, Quebec Pulp Mill

Tembec reached a settlement with its Matane high-yield pulp mill employees who, last night, voted to end the strike. Employees will return to work gradually as of August 22 and operations are expected to resume on September 11. Production at this plant has been suspended since May 10, 2011.

The settlement covers a 7-year agreement that will expire in October 2016.

The plant in Matane employs 143 people, of which 99 are unionized and ships to customers in North America, Europe and Asia. Its production capacity is 250,000 tonnes per annum.

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08.22.2011

Barnes & Noble Announces Strategic Investment Made by Liberty Media

Barnes & Noble, Inc., the world’s largest bookseller, today announced that Liberty Media has invested an aggregate of $204 million in the Company through the purchase of newly issued convertible preferred stock.

Under the terms of the strategic investment, Liberty purchased preferred stock, convertible into approximately 12 million shares or 16.6% (after giving effect to the issuance) of the Company's common stock at a price of $17 per share, and with a dividend rate of 7.75% per annum to be paid quarterly. The investment, which was approved by Barnes & Noble’s board of directors following a recommendation made by its Special Committee, closed today. In light of Liberty’s investment, the parties have ceased discussions regarding Liberty’s previously announced acquisition proposal.

Leonard Riggio, Chairman of Barnes & Noble said, “We could not have found a better strategic investor than Liberty Media. Their investment is a strong endorsement of our overall business and the additional capital will further fuel the explosive growth of our digital strategy.”

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08.22.2011

United States Postal Service Drops Request for Exigent Rate Increase in 2012

It appears the United States Postal Service has had a change of heart. After issuing a request to the Postal Regulatory Commission in July to raise postal rates in January 2012 over 4 percent (considered an exigent increase) to combat revenue loss due to economic conditions and the continual transition to digital, the USPS is no longer seeking the rate increase.

Postmaster General Pat Donahoe shared with the Mailers Technical Advisory Committee on August 17 the USPS would “pursue that case only to get the PRC to clarify its position on when such exigent rates increases are allowed”, according to anonymous blogger Dead Tree Edition.

The rate hike would have been on top of the usual increases outlined by the Consumer Price Index.

In preparation for the expected loss of $8 billion in the 2011 fiscal year, as well as to begin the process of eliminating 220,000 employees by 2015, the USPS began negotiations with the National Association of Letter Carriers today.

In a prepared statement from USPS, chief HR officer and EVP Anthony Vegliante says, “Wages and benefits for all employees represent nearly 80 percent of our costs. To remain solvent, we must negotiate contracts that address our total labor costs and enable us to downsize quickly to adjust to America’s changing mailing needs while being fair to our customers and employees.”

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08.22.2011

Kruger Products invests US$316 M in state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment as part of its North American growth strategy

Kruger Products L.P. (KPLP) today announced that it will continue to expand its presence in the North American tissue market by implementing new state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment at its Memphis, Tennessee mill. The US$316 million investment will increase the Company’s production capacity by 18 percent, or 60,000 metric tonnes per year of additional products to be distributed for the most part in U.S. markets.

The expansion project is an integral part of KPLP's long term strategic development plan. “The proximity of our Memphis Mill to growing U.S. markets will further strengthen our competitive position in North America, which will benefit all our establishments in both Canada and the U.S.,” said Mario Gosselin, Chief Operating Officer for Kruger Products L.P.

Since the Kruger Company acquired its tissue mills in 1997, it has made significant investments of over CAN$450 million in its four Canadian mills, including CAN$230 million to modernize its Crabtree (QC) facility, which allowed Kruger Products to remain a leader in the Canadian market. The new investment announced today will not only help consolidate this leading position, but it will give Kruger Products the latitude it needs to develop its activities at the North American level.

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08.19.2011

Nova Scotia to reduce clearcutting by 50% over next five years

PORT HAWKESBURY, NS, Aug. 17, 2011 (Chronicleherald.ca) - The province Tuesday produced its plan to reduce clearcutting by 50 per cent over five years.

A forest industry group and environmentalists, however, swiftly attacked the government for not providing a thorough definition of what clearcutting is and what will replace the method now used in an estimated 95 per cent of harvesting operations in Nova Scotia.

The declaration was wrapped up in the province's Natural Resources Strategy and Action Plan, which is touted as a new direction for the mining and forestry industries along with provincial parks.

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08.18.2011

EFI and Xerox Bring the Full Power of the Web to Print Providers

EFI today announced it has teamed with Xerox Corporation to provide customers worldwide with the EFI Digital StoreFront™ (DSF) Web-to-Print solution, giving print providers a new front door to their business. Available first in the United States, Xerox Corporation's direct sales team and channel partners are now offering the award-winning solution.

DSF is one of the leading Web-to-Print products for the printing industry, with more than 3,000 printing sites worldwide. DSF is used by both commercial printing establishments as well as in-plants, providing a digital on-ramp for customers to connect with their preferred print provider. The solution eases print job specification and file handling for the customer while automating workflow at the printer. With DSF, printers can provide proactive job status via the Web and customers are given better visibility into the production process via online job tracking. With integration with XMPie®, a Xerox Company, customers have a powerful variable data printing and cross-media personalization tool available as an optional module.

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08.18.2011

Temple-Inland Provides Update on Bogalusa Paper Mill

Temple-Inland Inc. today provided an update on the shutdown of its Bogalusa, Louisiana paper mill following an operational issue at the mill and its waste-water treatment facility.

Predictive testing for Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) indicated that the Bogalusa mill would exceed its maximum daily permit levels for discharge to the Pearl River from the mill's waste-water treatment facility. The Company believes that this exceedance may have depleted the oxygen level in part of the river below that necessary to sustain a healthy fish population and resulted in a fish kill.

On Saturday, August 13, 2011, upon receiving the results of predictive testing, Temple-Inland immediately shut down the mill. The Company promptly informed the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) of the situation and began taking corrective actions to restore the water quality of the River.

Temple-Inland's Chairman and CEO Doyle R. Simons said, "The health of the Pearl River and surrounding communities are our utmost concerns. Temple-Inland has a strong environmental record and we sincerely regret this incident, which is contrary to our culture of good community stewardship as both an employer and a resident of Bogalusa and the State of Louisiana.

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08.18.2011

Limited Brands Reports Second Quarter 2011 Earnings

Adjusted earnings per share for the second quarter ended July 30, 2011, were $0.48 compared to $0.36 for the quarter ended July 31, 2010, which exclude certain significant items in both years as detailed below. Second quarter adjusted operating income was $307.0 million compared to operating income of $236.5 million last year, and adjusted net income was $150.7 million compared to $120.6 million last year.

The company reported a comparable store sales increase of 9 percent for the second quarter ended July 30, 2011, compared to the second quarter ended July 31, 2010. The company reported net sales of $2.458 billion for the second quarter ended July 30, 2011, compared to sales of $2.243 billion last year.

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08.18.2011

Publisher Spending Flat on Manufacturing/Production Technology

The good news: Publishers aren't cutting manufacturing and production budgets as much as they did last year. The bad news: They aren't exactly investing in magazine manufacturing and production, either.

Sixty-one percent of respondents to the 2011 FOLIO: Manufacturing and Production Trends Survey (conducted by Readex Research) say investment in the manufacturing and production department is flat, compared to 12 percent who saw a decrease (an improvement on 26 percent who saw cuts last year) and 14 percent who say spending increased (up from 10 percent who said the same last year).

However, most respondents say their company invested less than $10,000 in new production technology last year. The majority of respondents (59 percent) also said their companies use in-house resources for pre-press, while 14 percent outsource completely and 15 percent use a combinational of internal and external resources (62 percent of respondents say art directors are involved in production, down from 68 percent in 2010).

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08.18.2011

Powerflute Oyj interim report for the six months ended 30 June 2011

Powerflute Oyj, the packaging and paper group today announces its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2011.

HIGHLIGHTS: Revenues from continuing operations increased by 15% to €58.3m (2010: €50.9m). EBITDA from continuing operations improved to €9.0m (2010: €2.2m). Operating profit from continuing operations improved to €6.9m (2010: €0.2m). Earnings per share from continuing operations improved to 1.6 cents (2010: 0.8 cents loss).

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08.17.2011

Target Corporation Announces Second Quarter 2011 Financial Results

Target Corporation today reported net earnings of $704 million for the quarter ended July 30, 2011, compared with $679 million in the quarter ended July 31, 2010. Earnings per share in the second quarter increased 11.5 percent to $1.03 from $0.92 in the same period a year ago.

As the company first reported in its sales release on August 4, 2011, Target's sales increased 5.1 percent in the second quarter to $15.9 billion in 2011 from $15.1 billion in 2010, due to a 3.9 percent increase in comparable-store sales and the contribution from new stores. Segment earnings before interest expense and income taxes (EBIT) were $1,147 million in the second quarter of 2011, an increase of 4.6 percent from $1,096 million in 2010.

Second quarter 2011 EBITDA and EBIT margin rates were 10.3 percent and 7.2 percent, respectively, compared with 10.5 percent and 7.2 percent in 2010. Second quarter gross margin rate declined to 31.6 percent in 2011 from 32.0 percent in 2010, due to the impact of the company's integrated growth strategies. The company's second quarter selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expense rate improved to 21.3 percent in 2011, compared with 21.5 percent in 2010.

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08.17.2011

Chico's FAS to Acquire Boston Proper

Chico's FAS, Inc. announced today a definitive agreement to acquire Boston Proper Inc., a Boca Raton, Florida based privately held direct-to-consumer retailer of distinctive women's apparel and accessories. The $205 million transaction funded from available cash balances is expected to be immediately accretive to Chico's earnings in its first full year of operations before giving any consideration to potential synergies. Synergy opportunities include marketing, circulation and sourcing among others.

Commenting on the acquisition, Chico's FAS CEO and President David Dyer said, "Boston Proper has grown and thrived by offering women daring, modern fashion with a sensual feel through compelling catalogs, direct marketing campaigns and its on-line channel. Boston Proper's brand focus is highly complementary to our existing brands' customer experience, adds significant volume to our direct-to-consumer channel and provides us new opportunities to grow market share. Boston Proper's talented management team can now accelerate its strategic initiatives to grow revenues and profitability by leveraging our capabilities."

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08.17.2011

Chico's FAS, Inc. Reports a 47% Increase in Second Quarter Earnings Per Share of $0.25 vs. $0.17

Chico's FAS, Inc. today announced its financial results for the fiscal 2011 second quarter and six months ended July 30, 2011.

The Company reported an increase of 47% in earnings per share with net income totaling $43.4 million, or $0.25 per diluted share for the second quarter compared to net income of $30.5 million, or $0.17 per diluted share for the same period last year.

For the six months ended July 30, 2011, the Company reported an increase of 38% in earnings per share with net income totaling $89.3 million or $0.51 per diluted share, compared to net income of $65.9 million, or $0.37 per diluted share reported for the same period last year.

Net sales for the quarter increased 18.5% to $551.4 million from $465.4 million in last year's second quarter. Consolidated comparable sales increased 12.8% for the quarter following a 7.6% increase for the same period last year reflecting our compelling fashion offering and effective merchandising and marketing. The Chico's/Soma Intimates brands' comparable sales increased 11.9% following a 5.5% increase for the same period last year, and the White House | Black Market ("WH|BM") brand's comparable sales increased 14.9% following a 12.5% increase for the same period last year.

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08.17.2011

USPS Proposes to Revise Standards on Folded Self-Mailers and Unenveloped Mailpieces

As published in the Federal Register yesterday, The Postal Service proposes to revise the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) to provide standards for creating folded self-mailers (FSM) and other unenveloped mailpieces such as forms, statements, and official notices that will improve processing of these pieces on automated Postal processing equipment.

In this proposed rule, the Postal Service defines letter-sized FSM, provides detailed standards about the basic elements of all FSM letter-sized pieces, and introduces ``panels'' as a basic element for constructing FSMs. Additionally, optional creative elements that are currently found in FSM designs, but are not defined in the DMM, are added. Comments must be received on or before Sept. 14, 2011.

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08.17.2011

RR Donnelley Acquires LibreDigital; Extends e-Reader Services Into Book, Magazine and Newspaper Segments

R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company today announced that it has acquired Austin, TX-based LibreDigital, a leading provider of digital content distribution, e-reading software, content conversion, data analytics and business intelligence services to book, magazine and newspaper publishers as well as to e-reader device providers.

"Through acquisitions and new product development we continue to extend RR Donnelley's reach across the breadth of the supply chain," said Thomas J. Quinlan III, the company's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Adding LibreDigital's proven, innovative capabilities to our digital content creation and delivery platform will enable us to offer our publishing, retail, e-reader provider and other customers an even broader selection of services."

LibreDigital (www.libredigital.com) is a pioneer of digital replicas for books and periodicals and today supports the e-reading supply chain with electronic preparation, distribution and engagement services. LibreDigital is a leading provider of e-content to more than 40 e-commerce sites, including those of leading tablet providers. LibreDigital's platform also enables publishers to market and sell digital content direct to the end consumer. Customers include leading publishers as well as manufacturers and marketers of standalone, tablet and mobile e-reading devices.

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08.17.2011

Staples, Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2011 Performance

Staples, Inc. announced today the results for its second quarter ended July 30, 2011. Total company sales for the second quarter of 2011 increased 5.2 percent to $5.8 billion compared to the second quarter of 2010. Net income for the second quarter of 2011 increased 36 percent year over year to $176 million, and diluted earnings per share, on a GAAP basis, increased 39 percent to $0.25 from $0.18 in the second quarter of 2010.

Adjusted diluted earnings per share of $0.22 for the second quarter of 2011 increased 10 percent compared to adjusted diluted earnings per share of $0.20 achieved in the second quarter of 2010. These adjusted results exclude a $21 million cash tax refund during the second quarter of 2011 and pre-tax integration and restructuring expense of $22 million during the second quarter of 2010.

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08.17.2011

Mohawk Fine Papers Acquires Bravo Solutions

Mohawk Fine Papers Inc. announced today that it finalized the acquisition of Bravo Solutions, Inc. of Elmira, New York.

Bravo is a leading supplier of specialty synthetic and paper substrates for digital printing. The acquisition includes all brands and certain assets, including manufacturing capacity for converted products, which will remain in Elmira.

Bravo substrates are designed and engineered for both dry toner presses as well as HP Indigo presses. Mohawk plans to fully integrate the Bravo portfolio, including pressure sensitive, synthetic substrates, integrated products, embedded card sheets and magnetic materials, into the existing Mohawk digital product offering creating the most extensive portfolio of digital substrates in the world.

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08.17.2011

The Cincinnati Enquirer signs letter of intent to launch bold, new newspaper format

Gannett Co., Inc. today announced that it has signed a letter of intent with The Columbus Dispatch for the possible printing of The Cincinnati Enquirer and The Kentucky Enquirer in a new, more compact, easy-to-use format. The change would begin in the fourth quarter of 2012.

"We are committed to serving the greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky communities - and providing consumers with the best news and information anywhere, anytime. We are also committed to listening to our customers and responding to their ever changing needs. As a result of research we've done and the feedback we've received from readers and advertisers, we have signed a letter of intent with The Columbus Dispatch to print The Enquirer in a new compact format that would be brighter, more engaging and easier to read," said Margaret Buchanan, president and publisher of The Cincinnati Enquirer.

"While covering the same amount of news as the previous format, this new approach would enhance the user experience by allowing for a fuller use of color and photographs and improved readability. By better serving our readers, we would continue to provide advertisers a trusted environment with which to engage their consumers."

Dimensions of the newly formatted Enquirer would be 10 ½ inches by 14 ½ inches and all of the current content in The Enquirer would remain in the redesigned newspaper, if the agreement is finalized. In addition, The Enquirer's production facility would close fourth quarter, 2012.

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08.17.2011

Abercrombie & Fitch Reports Second Quarter 2011 Results

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. today reported unaudited results which reflected net income of $32.0 million and net income per diluted share of $0.35 for the thirteen weeks ended July 30, 2011, compared to net income of $19.5 million and net income per diluted share of $0.22 for the thirteen weeks ended July 31, 2010. Net income for the thirteen weeks ended July 31, 2010, included a charge of $0.02 per diluted share associated with store closures.

Net sales for the thirteen weeks ended July 30, 2011 increased 23% to $916.8 million from $745.8 million for the thirteen weeks ended July 31, 2010. U.S. sales, including direct-to-consumer sales, increased 12% to $684.9 million. International sales, including direct-to-consumer sales, increased 74% to $231.9 million. Total Company direct-to-consumer sales, including shipping and handling, increased 28% to $102.1 million.

Total comparable store sales for the quarter increased 9%. By brand, comparable store sales increased 5% for Abercrombie & Fitch, 7% for abercrombie kids, and 12% for Hollister Co. Total sales by brand were $383.4 million for Abercrombie & Fitch, $83.3 million for abercrombie kids and $434.2 million for Hollister Co.

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08.17.2011

U.S. Containerboard Production for July 2011 rose over June 2011

The American Forest & Paper Association released its July 2011 U. S. Containerboard Statistics Report today. Containerboard production rose 4.6% when compared to June 2011, and the month over month average daily production was up 1.2%. The containerboard operating rate for July 2011 was down slightly, 0.6 point over July 2010 to 98.1% but it gained 1.2 points over June’s operating rate.

Additional key findings from the report include: Linerboard production posted gain over last year; Medium also showed an increase over June 2011.

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08.17.2011

Oil Climbs in New York as U.S. Fuel Supply Drop Signals Increased Demand

Oil advanced from a two-day low in New York as investors bet that shrinking fuel stockpiles in the U.S. indicate demand will increase in the world’s biggest crude- consuming nation.

Futures rose as much as 1.3 percent before an Energy Department report today that may say crude and gasoline stockpiles fell last week. The industry-funded American Petroleum Institute said yesterday gasoline supplies slid the most in almost five months. Inventories typically shrink in summer amid the May-to-September peak driving season.

“It’s clearly the inventories supporting prices today,” Thina Saltvedt, an analyst at Nordea Bank AB in Oslo who expects the price of North Sea Brent oil to be capped at $118 a barrel this quarter, said by phone. “It would be interesting to look at the demand figures later today.”

Crude for September delivery rose as much as $1.16 to $87.81 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, and was at $87.63 at 11:50 a.m. London time. The contract yesterday slipped 1.4 percent to $86.65. Prices have risen 16 percent in the past year.

Brent for October settlement climbed $1.12, or 1 percent, to $110.23 a barrel on the ICE Futures Europe exchange in London. It lost 71 cents to $109.13 yesterday. The September contract, which expired yesterday, fell 0.4 percent to $109.47.

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08.17.2011

Brown Printing Receives Five Gold Ink Awards Including Top Honors in the Specialty Magazines Category

Brown Printing has received five Gold Ink Awards in the annual competition including the top honor in the Specialty Magazines category for the second year in a row.

Brown took home Gold in the Specialty Magazines category for their work on Transworld Snowboarding’s 2011 Photo Annual and Bronze in the Consumer Catalog category for Macy’s: Guide to Finding Your Magic. Brown also received two Pewters in the Specialty Magazines category for Hearst’s Esquire: Big Black Book and Time’s Sports Illustrated 2011 Swimsuit Issue as well as a third pewter in the Consumer Magazine Category for Condé Nast’s W.

The awards, billed as “the industry's most prestigious print competition,” attracted more than 1,000 entries in a multitude of different categories. Pieces were judged by production managers and directors on the quality of printing, technical difficulty and overall visual effectiveness.

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08.17.2011

Hearst Magazines International to Launch Middle East Edition of Good Housekeeping this November

Good Housekeeping, the world’s most trusted magazine brand, is scheduled to launch in the Middle East this November, today announced Duncan Edwards, president & CEO of Hearst Magazines International (HMI). Good Housekeeping Middle East will be published in partnership with ITP Publishing Group, the Middle East's leading consumer and business magazine publisher, with whom HMI already partners to publish Cosmopolitan, Esquire and Harper’s Bazaar in the region.

Since its debut in 1885, Good Housekeeping has strived to inform, educate, entertain, and advocate for readers looking for practical strategies and solutions. One of the most enduring and respected American brands, Good Housekeeping has 10 international editions, in addition to its U.S. flagship, having most recently launched in Ukraine in December 2007. The magazine is published in six languages, with distribution in more than 18 countries, and is also scheduled to launch a South African edition this October.

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08.17.2011

Holmen Interim report January-June 2011

Profit after tax for January–June 2011 was SEK 672 million (January–June 2010: SEK 312 million). Earnings per share amounted to SEK 8.0 (3.7). Return on equity totalled 8.1 per cent (3.8). Operating profit amounted to SEK 1 050 million (588). The improvement is explained by higher prices for newsprint and paperboard, while higher costs for wood and recovered paper had an adverse impact on the result. Operating profit decreased by SEK 66 million to SEK 492 million compared to the first quarter as a consequence of lower operating profit in Holmen Skog and seasonally lower operating profit for Holmen Energi. Demand for newsprint in Europe rose somewhat in the first six months, but was slightly lower for paperboard compared to the same period last year. The market for sawn timber remained weak.

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08.17.2011

Mayr-Melnhof Karton AG Half-year Results 2011

The Mayr-Melnhof Group was able to close the first half-year 2011 with a significant increase of sales and results despite a normalization and the successive slow-down in demand dynamics as well as an increase in raw material costs. The Group’s operating margin came up to 9.4 % (1st half of 2010: 9.0 %).

We succeeded in keeping business volumes at a high level in both segments, despite an increasing running down of our customers’ stocks due to well-stocked supply chains. Largest direct challenge was dealing with the continuous rise in costs, which besides fibers included to an increasing extent other direct costs. While in the first quarter of 2011 we were still able to achieve a sufficient compensation, in the second quarter this was no longer possible to a full extent.

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08.17.2011

Twin Rivers Paper Company Reaffirms Sustainability Commitment

Twin Rivers Paper Company supports its commitment to sustainability by launching Twin Rivers® Offset 100, a printing paper containing 100% post-consumer fiber. Additionally, the company released its new Environmental Philosophy & Practices Overview brochure which highlights key components of its environmental platform. Responding to market demand for higher levels of post-consumer fiber, Twin Rivers Offset 100 fills a void in the market for environmentally friendly printing papers with high recycled content. Available in a basis weight range of 35-50 lb. (25 x 38), Twin Rivers Offset 100 is a versatile paper used in multi-purpose printing applications including manuals, tradebooks, direct mail, financial documents and government printing projects.

“We are excited about producing a category-leading environmental paper. With curb-side mixed source collection, debris and contamination are a challenge for papermakers. Our operations team worked hard to offer customers a clean, printable product with 100% post-consumer fiber,” said Jim Gehrman, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “In developing Twin Rivers Offset 100, we incorporated our customers’ requirements for high levels of post-consumer fiber with their functional needs for a reliable, flexible offset paper to be used in a range of commercial printing and publishing applications.”

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08.16.2011

BBC Worldwide sells magazine division to Exponent in £121m deal

The BBC has sold its consumer magazines division via a licensing and sales agreement to private equity firm Exponent.

The deal, which comprises more than 30 magazines, is expected to be ratified by the Office of Fair Trading in the autumn whereupon staff will transfer to a new company set up by Exponent.

The arrangement includes the outright sale of magazines "less closely aligned" to BBC programming, such as Olive and Gardens Illustrated, as well as Radio Times.

However BBC and BBC programme branded titles such as Gardeners' World will be licensed under terms that, while ownership will transfer to Exponent, some editorial control will be retained by BBC Worldwide division BBC Magazines.

For key BBC brands, such as the magazines for Top Gear as well as Lonely Planet and Good Food, the new Exponent-owned business will act as a contract publisher.

The acquisition includes BBC Magazines' interest in subscriptions fulfilment business Dovetail - a joint venture with Dennis Publishing - as well as its share in distribution company Frontline. Additionally Exponent will acquire Origin Publishing in which the BBC has a minority share.

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08.16.2011

Saks Incorporated Announces Results for the Second Quarter and Six Months Ended July 30, 2011

Retailer Saks Incorporated today announced results for the second quarter and six months ended July 30, 2011.

For the second quarter ended July 30, 2011, the Company recorded a net loss of $8.4 million, or $.05 per diluted share. Those results included after-tax charges totaling $0.8 million comprised of: a pension and related benefit charge, a write-down of a third party receivable, and an asset impairment charge totaling $1.8 million and the reversal of approximately $1.0 million in state income tax reserves deemed no longer necessary.

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08.16.2011

Walmart announces FY12 second quarter EPS from continuing operations of $1.09

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. today reported financial results for the second quarter ended July 31, 2011. Net sales for the second quarter of fiscal year 2012 were $108.6 billion, an increase of 5.5 percent from $103.0 billion in last year's second quarter. Net sales for the quarter included a currency exchange rate benefit of $2.3 billion.

Income from continuing operations attributable to Walmart for the quarter was $3.8 billion, up 5.7 percent from last year. Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to Walmart (EPS) for the second quarter of fiscal year 2012 were $1.09. In comparison, last year's EPS was $0.97.

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08.16.2011

Paper Lunch Bags for the Enviro-student

It’s time for the kids to head back into the classroom after a long afternoons playing in the pool (or maybe playing X-Box in the cooler air-conditioned comfort of the living room, eh?). As millions of children are excited to see friends they haven’t seen all summer, environmentally-conscious Moms are making sure that the nutritious lunches they packed for them are being carried in strong & durable paper lunch bags.

Why paper lunch bags? They are a small easy step to a greener earth because paper is a renewable, sustainable resource that can be recycled and are easier for the kiddos to carry around. With all the books and sports equipment students have to carry around the last thing they want to lug around is a plastic or metal lunchbox. And then what if they forget and leave it at school over the weekend, pee-yoo! With paper lunch bags the can simply crumple it up and put it in the paper recycling container, and with our new more environmentally-aware youth, they know what to do and they do it without a second thought.

Duro’s Paper lunch bags are available in 5lb and 8lb sizes and in white, Kraft or Recycled paper. The paper lunch bags are packaged for store resale in 50- and 100-count quantities and also have display options of end-cap cartons and point-of-purchase cartons that can be customized with you companies logo of back-to-school promotionary message.

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08.16.2011

Crude Oil Futures Decline as Investors Speculate Global Economy Is Slowing

Oil dropped from the highest in almost two weeks in New York after Germany’s economy all but stagnated in the second quarter, heightening concern that fuel consumption will diminish.

Futures slid as much as 1.5 percent today as Germany’s Federal Statistics Office said gross domestic product, adjusted for seasonal effects, rose 0.1 percent from the first quarter. Growth across Europe slowed more than economists forecast. A report today may show U.S. housing starts and building permits fell in July. The Energy Department may say tomorrow U.S. crude oil stockpiles declined to a five-month low.

“The overall picture is that worldwide economic activity is slowing down a bit, and of course that’s bearish for oil,” said Sintje Diek, an analyst at HSH Nordbank in Hamburg who correctly predicted that Brent prices would fall to $100 this summer. “There are fears the recovery in the euro zone will be very sluggish because of the debt crisis. Maybe we’ll see lower prices than $100.”

Crude for September delivery declined as much as $1.32 to $86.56 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange and was at $86.89 at 11:55 a.m. London time. The contract yesterday gained 2.9 percent to $87.88, the highest settlement since Aug. 3. Prices have risen 15 percent in the past year.

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08.16.2011

RR Donnelley Expands CustomPoint(R) Solutions Group With Acquisition of Sequence Personal

R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company today announced that it has acquired New York-based Sequence Personal, an innovative provider of proprietary software that enables readers to select relevant content to be digitally produced as specialized publications. Focused originally on the creation of individualized medical journals with targeted advertising, Sequence's technologies have expanded to enable custom publishing across a broad variety of verticals. For example, its ANTHOLOGY offering provides consumers a wide array of choices for individualizing content. Publishers and other organizations can take advantage of Sequence's applications to increase revenues by allowing advertisers to select unique ad selection criteria for more targeted delivery.

Sequence will become a part of RR Donnelley's CustomPoint Solutions Group, which provides collaborative strategies for originating creative and editorial content, multichannel marketing, proven e-subscription models, self-serve direct marketing and custom publishing.

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08.16.2011

The Home Depot Announces Second Quarter Results

The Home Depot®, the world's largest home improvement retailer, today reported second quarter of fiscal 2011 net earnings of $1.4 billion, or $0.86 per diluted share, compared with net earnings of $1.2 billion, or $0.72 per diluted share, in the same period of fiscal 2010. For the second quarter of fiscal 2011, diluted earnings per share increased 19.4 percent from the prior year.

Sales for the second quarter totaled $20.2 billion, a 4.2 percent increase from the second quarter of fiscal 2010. Comparable store sales for the second quarter were positive 4.3 percent, and comp sales for U.S. stores were positive 3.5 percent.

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