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01.31.2013
Ahlstrom Corporation 2012: Strategic transformation progressing; financial performance still weak

Continuing operations January-December 2012 compared with January-December 2011

•Net sales EUR 1,010.8 million (EUR 1,025.8 million).
•Operating profit EUR 18.6 million (EUR 2.1 million).
•Operating profit excluding non-recurring items EUR 17.9 million (EUR 29.6 million).
•Operating margin excluding non-recurring items 1.8% (2.9%).
•Profit before taxes EUR -5.7 million (EUR -22.3 million).

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01.31.2013
1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. Reports Continued Positive Trends in Top and Bottom-Line Growth for Its Fiscal 2013 Second Quarter

1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc., the world's leading florist and gift shop, today reported revenues from continuing operations of $253.0 million for its fiscal 2013 second quarter ended December 30, 2012, compared with revenues from continuing operations of $239.8 million in the prior year period. The Company said the 5.5 percent increase, or $13.2 million, reflected growth across all three of its business segments, driven primarily by its Gourmet Food and Gift Baskets segment, which grew 8.9 percent, or $11.6 million, to $142.7 million compared with $131.1 million in the prior year period.

Gross profit margin for the quarter was 41.3 percent compared with 41.8 percent in the prior year period, primarily reflecting product mix associated with strong wholesale gift basket growth in the Company's Gourmet Food and Gift Baskets segment. Operating expenses as a percent of revenue improved 60 basis points to 31.0 percent compared with 31.6 percent in the prior year period. The improved operating expense ratio primarily reflects the increased revenues for the quarter as well as the Company's continued focus on improving leverage across its business platform.

Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations for the quarter increased 3.6 percent to $31.8 million compared with Adjusted EBITDA of $30.7 million in the prior year period. Net income from continuing operations was $16.0 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, compared with adjusted net income from continuing operations of $14.3 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, in the prior year period.

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01.31.2013
O-I Reports Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2012 Results

Owens-Illinois, Inc. today reported financial results for the full year and fourth quarter ending December 31, 2012.
Highlights
• Full year 2012 earnings from continuing operations attributable to the Company were $1.12 per share (diluted), compared with a loss of $3.06 per share in 2011. Excluding certain items management considers not representative of ongoing operations, adjusted earnings[1] (non-GAAP) were $2.64 per share in 2012, compared with $2.43 per share in 2011. Full year 2012 adjusted earnings were up nearly 9 percent despite substantial foreign currency headwinds.
• Fourth quarter 2012 adjusted earnings were $0.40 per share, compared with $0.48 per share in the same period of 2011. As expected, adjusted earnings were dampened by lower segment operating profit, primarily in Europe. This decrease was partially offset by a lower effective tax rate.
• O-I generated $290 million in free cash flow[2] (non-GAAP) for the full year 2012, up more than 30 percent from 2011. The increase was driven by growth in earnings and improvements in working capital management. The Company's leverage ratio improved to 2.67 times EBITDA at year end 2012, compared to 2.88 times EBITDA at the end of prior year.
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01.31.2013
RR Donnelley Recognized With NASSCOM Award for Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion

R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company today announced that its operations in India have been recognized with the NASSCOM Award for Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion as the Best Business Process Outsourcing Company in the less than 5,000 employees category.

NASSCOM, India's National Association of Software and Services Companies, recognized RR Donnelley at its Diversity & Inclusion Summit 2013 held recently in Bangalore.

"We are very proud that our diversity and inclusion practices have been recognized with this prestigious award," said Dan Knotts, RR Donnelley's Chief Operating Officer. "Thousands of companies' submissions were evaluated with regard to how their policies and practices promote inclusion and enable employees to contribute to the success of their enterprises at all levels. We believe that creating an environment which values our employees' diverse talents and experiences helps us to offer the best possible service to our customers."

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01.31.2013
Quincy printing companies merge

The owners of Royal Printing and Modern Printing have announced plans to merge their two companies.

Dan Asbury of Royal Printing and Kevin Curran of Modern Printing are combining the two long-time Quincy companies into one production facility.

Beginning February 1, the two companies will continue to do business as Royal Printing. Asbury, who bought Royal in 2001, said the climate was right to make the move.

“The industry has evolved into more than just printing stationery, brochures and business forms,” Asbury said. “Technology keeps advancing and now many customers need more color and faster turn-around, for short runs as well as larger quantities. Kevin and I realized if we worked together we’d be able to more efficiently handle the needs and demands of all our customers.”

Curran, who with Dave Rees bought Modern Printing in 2000, says both businesses have seen steady growth over the years.

“We’ve been very fortunate by staying ahead of the curve in the shift to digital printing and this joint venture enables us to combine the best of our equipment and manpower, which will keep us growing for years to come.”

Over the next several days and weeks, Modern Printing will gradually move to the Royal Printing facility on Ellington Road. Asbury and Curran will work together managing the combined operation while Rees will step aside as a partner and instead concentrate on his family business, Rees Construction.
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01.31.2013
Time Inc. Laying Off Six Percent of 8,000 Staff

The rumored and significant cuts at Time Inc. have begun today. According to an internal memo from CEO Laura Lang, about six percent of the company's 8,000 employees will be let go—close to 500 people.

According to the memo, the cuts are impacting a variety of areas throughout the company, both domestically and internationally.

"With the significant and ongoing changes in our industry, we must continue to transform our company into one that is leaner, more nimble ad more innately multi-platform. To make this change, we need to operate as smartly and efficiently as possible to create room for critical investments and new initiatives," says Lang in the memo, the full copy of which is below.

The company has not had a round of layoffs of this size since 2008 when then-CEO Ann Moore unleashed a wave of cuts of just about the same size. About 600 employees were let go, accompanying a major restructuring that organized brands under three main groups: News, Style & Entertainment and Lifestyle.

Today's cuts come just ahead of Time Warner's 4Q and full-year 2012 earnings call, scheduled for February 6th. For the first nine months of 2012, revenues slipped 6 percent in the publishing group compared to the same period in 2011. Operating income dropped 38 percent.

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01.30.2013
Avery Dennison Announces Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2012 Results

Avery Dennison Corporation today announced preliminary, unaudited fourth quarter and full-year 2012 results. All non-GAAP financial measures referenced in this document are reconciled to GAAP in the attached tables. Unless otherwise indicated, the discussion of the company’s results is focused on its continuing operations, and comparisons are to the same period in the prior year.

“Avery Dennison delivered strong earnings improvement in 2012,” said Dean Scarborough, Avery Dennison chairman, president and CEO. “Both Pressure-sensitive Materials and Retail Branding and Information Solutions delivered solid sales growth and expanded margins, and we returned $346 million of cash to shareholders through share repurchases and an increased dividend.

“We also took actions that position us well for significant profit growth in 2013, even in a soft economic environment,” Scarborough said. “We remain committed to delivering on our long-term goals, including double-digit earnings growth and higher returns.”

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01.30.2013
MWV Reports Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2012 Results

MeadWestvaco Corporation, a global leader in packaging and packaging solutions announced that total sales in the fourth quarter of 2012 increased 4 percent to $1.33 billion compared to fourth quarter of 2011. Excluding the effect of unfavorable foreign currency exchange, sales grew 6 percent due to increased volume of higher value products across most of the company’s targeted packaging and specialty chemicals markets, as well as from higher land sales. During the quarter, the company had gains from its commercial excellence and innovation initiatives that resulted in volume and market share growth in medical dispensers, fragrance sprayers, beverage multi-packs, aseptic liquid packaging, targeted food packaging and new chemical formulations for adhesives and oilfield drilling markets. The company also benefited from the acquisitions of Polytop (caps and closures), Ruby Macons Ltd. (corrugated packaging materials) and Resitec (specialty chemicals).

Pretax income from the company’s business segments increased 29 percent to $132 million in the fourth quarter of 2012 compared to $102 million in the fourth quarter of 2011. The performance was driven by increased profits in the Food & Beverage and Community Development and Land Management segments, and by strong earnings in the Specialty Chemicals segment, while profits declined in the Home, Health and Beauty segment. Income from continuing operations was $17 million or $0.10 per share in the fourth quarter of 2012 compared to a loss of $7 million or $0.04 per share in the fourth quarter of 2011. Excluding special items, income from continuing operations in the fourth quarter of 2012 was $13 million or $0.07 per share versus $5 million or $0.03 per share in the fourth quarter of 2011.

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01.30.2013
UPS Announces Withdrawal of Offer for TNT Express

United Parcel Service, Inc. today announced the withdrawal of its Offer for TNT Express (NYSE Euronext: TNTE).

As anticipated, the European Commission (EC) has issued a formal decision prohibiting the proposed acquisition of TNT Express. As a result of the prohibition by the EC, the Offer Condition relating to EU Competition Clearance will not be fulfilled and the acquisition of TNT Express by UPS will not be completed. Given this outcome, UPS and TNT Express entered a separate agreement to terminate the Merger Protocol.

UPS proposed significant and tangible remedies designed to address the EC's concerns with the transaction concerning the competitive landscape in Europe. UPS believes that the combined company would have been transformative for the logistics industry, bringing meaningful benefits to consumers and customers around the world, while supporting much needed growth in Europe in particular.

While UPS is disappointed in the EC's decision, the company's focus is on the continued execution of its growth strategy.

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01.30.2013
Silgan Announces 2012 Earnings

Silgan Holdings Inc., a leading supplier of rigid packaging for shelf-stable food and other consumer goods products, today reported full year 2012 net income of $151.3 million, or $2.17 per diluted share, as compared to full year 2011 net income of $193.2 million, or $2.75 per diluted share. Adjusted net income per diluted share was $2.70 for the full year 2012, after adjustments increasing net income per diluted share by $0.53. Adjusted net income per diluted share was $2.63 for the full year 2011, after a net adjustment reducing net income per diluted share by $0.12. A reconciliation of net income per diluted share to “adjusted net income per diluted share,” a Non-GAAP financial measure used by the Company, which adjusts net income per diluted share for certain items, can be found in Tables A and B at the back of this press release.

The Company delivered net cash provided by operating activities of $351.7 million in 2012 and free cash flow of $303.7 million in 2012 as compared to free cash flow of $152.9 million in 2011. Free cash flow in 2012 benefited from a reduction in inventory of $56.8 million, other working capital improvements and a planned decrease in capital expenditures. The Company is providing a reconciliation in Table C of this press release of net cash provided by operating activities to “free cash flow,” a Non-GAAP financial measure, which adjusts net cash provided by operating activities for capital expenditures, voluntary contributions to domestic pension benefit plans and changes in outstanding checks.

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01.30.2013
Sappi Fine Paper North America Underscores the Print Experience with 2013 Printers of the Year Call for Entries

Today, Sappi Fine Paper North America announced its call for entries for the 2013 North American Printers of the Year awards, a competition that recognizes print excellence and innovation across 10 categories for work produced on Sappi papers. Since 1999, the Sappi Printers of the Year Awards program has been regarded as the world's most respected accolade of excellence in the printing industry.

In addition to industry-wide recognition, award-winning printers may receive up to $20,000 in design support and 5,000 lbs of paper towards marketing and brand initiatives. Selected printers will also gain increased visibility with current and potential clients by being featured on their own page in Sappi's Printers of the Year Online Resource, a unique database tool for designers, print buyers and corporations.

"In today's marketplace, even with the growth of digital and social media, we see print as a more vital medium to the marketing mix than ever before," said Patti Groh , Director of Marketing Communications, Sappi Fine Paper North America. "With each Printers of the Year competition, Sappi recognizes entrants that have raised the bar with their strategic and creative uses of print, and we strive to promote and support those who understand the impact that high-quality print has as a communications tool."

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01.30.2013
China Paper Producers' Heavy Reliance on Recycled Paper Pushes Recovery Efforts

Fueled by escalating paper and cardboard demand, China's recovered paper production has seen rapid growth in recent years. Consumption jumped from 7.6 million tons in 1994 to 71 million tons in 2011, China Paper Association figures show.

Asian countries, especially fiber-short countries like China and India, will remain heavily dependent on recovered paper and account for a large share of the demand growth in the future, predicts Hannah Zhao, a Resource Information Systems Inc. economist on recovered paper.

In 2011, China used 56.6 million tons of recycled fiber-based pulp, accounting for 62 percent of the total pulp consumption in China. About 38 percent of the recovered paper was recycled domestically.

Niu Qingming, vice-president of China Paper Association, believes China should regard the recovered paper sector as part of its efforts to build a resource-conserving, environment-friendly society, and carry out more favorable policies to support it.

"Recycled paper has been vital in sustaining our paper industry and society," Niu says.

Recovered paper has become the main raw material of China's paper-making industry. In 2010, two thirds of the top 30 paper enterprises in China utilized recovered paper to produce paper, according to Niu.

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01.30.2013
Consumer confidence in January falls to 14-month low

A report released Tuesday by The Conference Board showed that confidence among U.S. consumers fell in January to its lowest point since November 2011.

The Conference Board’s index decreased to 58.6, down from a revised 66.7 in December. The figure was lower than forecast; Bloomberg predicted a median of 64.

The drop in confidence coincides with the 2% payroll tax increase used to fund Social Security.

“The thing that’s particularly troubling is the sizable decline in expectations,” Guy Lebas, chief fixed-income strategist at Janney Montgomery Scott LLC told Bloomberg. “As those expectations deteriorate, it doesn’t bode particularly well for day-to-day consumer spending.”

The 8.1-point slump from December to January is the biggest since August 2011, and parallels other measures of consumer confidence. The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index dropped in the week ended Jan. 20 to the lowest level since early October and the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan preliminary index of consumer sentiment dropped in January to its lowest point since December 2011.
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01.30.2013
Portucel informs on results for the year 2012

With turnover totalling 1.5 billion euros, the Portucel group recorded in 2012 its highest ever figures for output and paper sales, consolidating its position as Europe's leading manufacturer of uncoated woodfree (UWF) printing and writing paper. The Group's growing turnover has been achieved thanks to strong performance in paper operations, and also to positive returns from the energy sector.

Operating results stood at € 286.2 million, up by 7.5% on 2011, having been favourably influenced by the reversal of provisions of approximately € 15 million, as well as by a reduction in the value of depreciation over the period, due to the normal life cycle of industrial assets.

The Group recorded a financial loss of € 16.3 million, in line with that recorded in 2011. This was due essentially to a significant reduction in deposit interest rates over the year, which to a certain extent countered the effect of the reduction in the Group's net debt, and to the negative result from currency hedges.

As a result, the Group closed the financial year of 2012 with a consolidated net profit of € 211.2 million, representing an improvement of 7.6% in relation to the previous year.

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01.30.2013
Oil Rises to Four-Month High as Home Prices Advance

Oil in New York rose to a four-month high after home prices in 20 U.S. cities climbed by the most in more than six years, signaling that the country’s economic rebound is accelerating.

Futures advanced 1.2 percent after the S&P/Case-Shiller index of property values increased 5.5 percent in November from the same month in 2011, the biggest year-over-year gain since August 2006. Prices also increased as Egypt’s defense chief warned that political unrest could bring about the “collapse” of the state.

“We’re pricing in a lot of economic optimism,” said Mike Wittner, head of oil-market research for the Americas at Societe Generale SA in New York. “The underlying macroeconomic picture looks solid and that’s good for demand.”

Crude oil for March delivery rose $1.13 to $97.57 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, the highest settlement since Sept. 14.

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01.30.2013
Amazon.com Announces Fourth Quarter Sales up 22% to $21.27 Billion

Amazon.com, Inc. today announced financial results for its fourth quarter ended December 31, 2012.

Operating cash flow increased 7% to $4.18 billion for the trailing twelve months, compared with $3.90 billion for the trailing twelve months ended December 31, 2011. Free cash flow decreased 81% to $395 million for the trailing twelve months, compared with $2.09 billion for the trailing twelve months ended December 31, 2011. Free cash flow for the trailing twelve months ended December 31, 2012 includes fourth quarter cash outflows for purchases of corporate office space and property in Seattle, Washington, of $1.4 billion.

Net sales increased 22% to $21.27 billion in the fourth quarter, compared with $17.43 billion in fourth quarter 2011. Excluding the $178 million unfavorable impact from year-over-year changes in foreign exchange rates throughout the quarter, net sales grew 23% compared with fourth quarter 2011.

Operating income increased 56% to $405 million in the fourth quarter, compared with $260 million in fourth quarter 2011. The favorable impact from year-over-year changes in foreign exchange rates throughout the quarter on operating income was $2 million.

Net income decreased 45% to $97 million in the fourth quarter, or $0.21 per diluted share, compared with $177 million, or $0.38 per diluted share, in fourth quarter 2011.

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01.30.2013
Buckeye's Second Quarter FY 2013 Results

Buckeye Technologies Inc. today announced second quarter net sales of $204.3 million and adjusted net income* of $23.6 million. Adjusted EPS* of $0.60 compared to $0.69 in 2Q-FY12 and $0.62 in 1Q-FY13. Net insurance recovery in 2Q-FY13 was $0.04 per share less than expected.

Net sales for the quarter were down $17.1 million or 8% compared to the year ago quarter. While shipment volume was up 6% year over year, product mix was unfavorable as we shipped about 12,000 tons into the viscose staple fiber market during the quarter as a result of weak demand in some of our high-end markets, particularly from the European tire cord market. The sale of the Merfin Systems converting business in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 accounted for $4.3 million of this reduction in net sales.

Adjusted operating income* of $36.4 million was down $6.7 million compared to the year ago quarter, largely due to unfavorable product mix, in spite of a $6.8 million net insurance benefit related to the June steam drum failure outage at Foley.

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01.29.2013
RR Donnelley Expands Its International Safety and Environmental Certifications

R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company today announced that it has further expanded its international platform's safety and environmental certifications as its facility in Douai, France has achieved ISO 14001 certification as defined by the International Standards Organization (ISO) and OHSAS 18001 certification as set by the Occupational Health & Safety Advisory Services (OHSAS) organization.

The ISO 14001 framework establishes the criteria for an environmental management system and provides assurance that an organization's environmental impact is being measured and improved. OHSAS 18001 is the latest certification specification and demonstrates a commitment to implement, maintain and continually improve the management of a health and safety system. These certifications complement Douai's ISO 9001, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification certifications.

"This achievement reflects our continuing commitment to best practices in both safety and environmental systems," said Dan Knotts, RR Donnelley's Chief Operating Officer. "We regard safety as the first measure of operational excellence and work to embrace processes that contribute to sustainability."

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01.29.2013
Double A Buys Alizay Pulp and Paper Mill from French Government

Thailand pulp and paper producer Double A said that it has acquired the Alizay pulp and paper mill located in northern France from the French government agency, Conceil General l’Eure.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The former owner, Metsa Board, on Jan. 23 sold the Alizay mill to Conceil General l'Eure for EUR 22 million.

"This investment will open opportunities for Double A in Europe," said Mr. Thirawit Leetavorn, Senior Executive Vice President for Double A.

"Paper from Alizay will enhance our brand strength and allow Double A to be responsive to our customers’ needs,” Mr. Leetavorn added.

According to Double A, the Alizay mill will use two types of fiber for paper production — a virgin short fiber from the company's KHAN-NA1 tree plantations in Thailand, and recycled fiber which will be used for the production of Double A's "Evolve" paper brand.

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01.29.2013
Baton Rouge 'Advocate' May Have Buyer

Just a few months after the New OrleansTimes-Picayune cut its publication schedule to three days a week, Baton Rouge’s The Advocate-- which benefited from The Times-Picayune cut in the form of increased readership -- has received an expression of interest from a potential unidentified buyer, according to owner Capital City Press.

Over the last year, the Advocate’s daily weekday circulation has increased from 76,263 in March 2012 to around 98,000 today, according to the newspaper.

Much of this growth is attributed to increased demand in nearby New Orleans, where residents have been without a daily newspaper since The Times-Picayune reduced its publication schedule to three days a week in October 2012. The Advocate launched a daily New Orleans edition to fill this void.

The potential buyer is not interested in buying WBRZ-TV, a local ABC affiliate also owned by the family that owns Capital City Press, The Advocate reports.

Advance Publications' decision to cut The Times-Picayune's publication schedule, as well as the schedules of three other newspapers in Alabama, met a storm of protest when it was announced in May 2012. Local civic leaders, businesspeople and celebrities formed the "Times-Picayune Citizens' Group," which set itself a mission to “ensure the continuation of the delivery of a high quality, seven-day-a-week newspaper, with access to the entire community.”
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01.29.2013
Oil at Four-Month High as Durable Goods Orders Increase

Oil advanced to a four-month high in New York as orders for durable goods in the U.S. jumped, adding to economic optimism, and gasoline gained on the announcement that a New Jersey refinery will close.

Prices rose after the Commerce Department said orders increased 4.6 percent in December. Gasoline climbed to a three- month high after Hess Corp. (HES) said it will shut the Port Reading, New Jersey, plant at the end of February.

“The durable goods number is very good and it bodes well for energy demand,” said Phil Flynn, senior market analyst at the Price Futures Group in Chicago. “Gasoline is the strong market right now, and it’s been supportive for oil.”

West Texas Intermediate crude for March delivery rose 56 cents to settle at $96.44 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Trading volume was 21 percent below the 100-day average at 3:22 p.m. WTI completed its seventh straight weekly gain, the longest run in almost four years, last week.

Brent for March gained 20 cents to settle at $113.48 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange.

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01.29.2013
American Eagle Outfitters to Launch First Store in Mexico

American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. confirmed today the opening of its first company owned and operated store in Mexico City. The store will open February 20th, 2013 and will be located in the Perisur?s shopping center, a mall located in the south part of Mexico City. Aligning with its strategy plan to fortify and expand in North America; AEO plans to open a series of vertically owned and operated stores in Mexico. Each AEO store will include an Aerie presence either in shop-in-shop or side-by-side form.

In 2012, American Eagle Outfitters successfully licensed stores in Japan, Israel and Poland and continues to grow its presence in the Middle East. American Eagle Outfitters is currently present in 13 countries and ships online to 77 countries internationally.

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01.29.2013
International Paper Reports Fourth-Quarter and 2012 Earnings

International Paper reported preliminary full-year 2012 net earnings attributable to common shareholders totaling $794 million ($1.80 per share) compared with $1.3 billion ($3.03 per share) in full-year 2011. In the fourth quarter of 2012, the company reported net earnings of $235 million ($0.53 per share) compared with $281 million ($0.65 per share) in the fourth quarter of 2011. Amounts in all periods include special items and non-operating pension expense.

Full-year 2012 Operating Earnings were $1.2 billion ($2.65 per share) compared with $1.4 billion ($3.12 per share) in 2011. Operating Earnings in the fourth quarter of 2012 totaled $305 million ($0.69 per share) compared with $319 million ($0.73 per share) in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Annual sales totaled $27.8 billion in 2012 compared with $26.0 billion in 2011. Quarterly net sales were $7.1 billion in the fourth quarter compared with $6.4 billion in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Full-year 2012 business segment operating profits were $2.0 billion compared with $2.2 billion in 2011. Business segment operating profits in the fourth quarter were $528 million compared with $577 million in 2011, both of which included special items.

Industrial Packaging operating profits in the fourth quarter of 2012 were $368 million ($336 million including special items) compared with $342 million ($255 million including special items) in the third quarter of 2012. The profit increase in North America was the result of improved pricing, partially offset by higher planned outage-related maintenance expenses and input costs. Profits for the segment also benefited from seasonally higher sales volumes in Europe and an insurance settlement related to the earthquake that occurred in Northern Italy.

Printing Papers operating profits were $147 million (before and after special items) in the fourth quarter of 2012 versus $201 million ($202 million including special items) in the third quarter of 2012. North American operations were impacted by higher planned outage-related maintenance expenses, seasonally lower sales and lower average sales price for paper, particularly in export markets. Europe's results were stronger quarter over quarter mainly from lower planned maintenance expenses.

Consumer Packaging operating profits were $39 million ($41 million including special items) in the fourth quarter of 2012 compared with $67 million (before and after special items) in the third quarter of 2012. Earnings were impacted by higher outage-related maintenance expenses and lower average sales price primarily due to mix, along with cost associated with the start-up of the coated paper machine in China.

xpedx, the company's North American distribution business, reported operating profits of $11 million ($4 million including special items) in the fourth quarter of 2012 compared with $24 million ($15 million including special items) in the third quarter of 2012, reflecting higher operating expenses in the fourth quarter.

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01.29.2013
Potlatch Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2012 Results

Potlatch Corporation today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2012.

Q4 2012 Financial Summary
•Total consolidated revenues for the quarter were $143.3 million, compared to $109.9 million in Q4 2011 and $151.9 million in Q3 2012.
•Net income for the quarter was $13.9 million, or $0.34 per diluted common share, compared to a net loss of $1.5 million, or a loss of $0.04 per diluted common share, in Q4 2011 and net income of $18.6 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, in Q3 2012.
•EBITDDA was $36.4 million for Q4 2012, compared to $7.8 million in Q4 2011 and $37.0 million in Q3 2012.

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01.28.2013
U.S. Printing-Writing Paper Shipments Fell in December 2012

The American Forest & Paper Association in its December 2012 U.S. Printing-Writing Paper Report said that total printing-writing paper shipments decreased 9 percent in December compared to December 2011.

For the year of 2012, printing-writing and related paper shipments were 4.6 percent below the 2011 level. All four of the major printing-writing grades posted decreases compared to last December, with inventory levels increasing in November, led by double-digit increases in mechanical grade papers.

Additional key findings include:

December shipments of coated free sheet (CFS) papers decreased 7 percent when compared to December 2011 and were down 3 percent for the year in 2012. Year-to-date imports of CFS through November were down 12 percent compared to the 11-month period in 2011.
Uncoated free sheet (UFS) papers shipments decreased 7 percent compared to December. Annual purchases of UFS papers for the year were down 4 percent compared to 2011. Year-to-date UFS imports are up 4 percent in 2012 compared to same 11 months in 2011.
December uncoated mechanical (UM) paper shipments decreased 27 percent when compared to December 2011, with annual shipments 17 percent below 2011 levels.
December shipments of coated mechanical (CM) papers decreased 10 percent compared to December 2011 and 5 percent for the year.

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01.28.2013
Barnes & Noble’s e-book unit will offer more textbooks

Nook Media LLC, the digital content arm of bookseller Barnes & Noble Inc., is preparing to expand its digital textbook offerings after completion of an $89.5 million investment from textbook publisher Pearson PLC.

Barnes & Noble, No. 32 in the Internet Retailer Top 500 guide, announced the Pearson investment in December and the deal closed on Wednesday. Pearson now owns 5% of Nook Media, with Microsoft Corp. holding 16.8% and Barnes & Noble the remaining 78.2%. Pearson could increase its stake another 5%, if certain conditions are met, which Barnes & Noble has not disclosed.

Nook Media is a joint venture between Barnes & Noble and Microsoft announced in April 2012. Microsoft made a $300 million investment in Barnes & Noble’s digital reading and college business in exchange for a stake in the subsidiary company.

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01.28.2013
Fortress Paper Provides Update on Fortress Specialty Cellulose Mill

Fortress Paper Ltd. announces that the cogeneration project at its Fortress Specialty Cellulose Mill is nearing completion, with engineering and procurement completed and overall construction progress continuing and currently at approximately 94%. However, commissioning and start-up activities have incurred delays as a result of various factors, including unforeseen piping related delays, reduced manpower availability and minor scope of work adjustments. As a result, the Company now expects delivery of power to commence late in the first quarter or early in the second quarter of 2013, and anticipates additional costs in the 10-20% range for the overall cogeneration project. Hydro Quebec is aware of the postponement and the Company anticipates delivery of power pursuant to the power purchase agreement in the normal course.

The Fortress Specialty Cellulose Mill continues to ramp-up its production of dissolving pulp. Despite promising operating results in November and December 2012, the mill has encountered challenging ramp-up issues which are intrinsic to a dissolving pulp mill ramp-up. The Company expects that the implementation of its comprehensive "Operating Excellence" program will improve operating efficiency and productivity in the near future.

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01.28.2013
EuroGraph Publishes Monthly Statistics of the European Graphic Papers Industry

Total European shipments of Graphic Papers for December were down 11.3% from December 2011 and were down 4.6% for the full year.

Total European shipments of Newsprint for December were down 14.4% from December 2011 and were down 4.7% for the full year.

Total European shipments of SC-Magazine grades for December were down 9.7% from December 2011 and were down 5.0% for the full year.

Total European shipments of Coated Mechanical Reels for December were down 13.1% from December 2011 and were down 7.3% for the full year.

Total European shipments of Uncoated Mechanical for December were down 6.9% from December 2011 and were down 3.1% for the full year.

Total European shipments of Coated Woodfree for December were down 9.6% from December 2011 and were down 2.9% for the full year.

Total European shipments of Uncoated Woodfree for December were down 8.8% from December 2011 and were down 3.3% for the full year.

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01.28.2013
Oil Trades Near Highest Level in Four Months on Economic Outlook

Oil traded near the highest level in four months in New York after posting the longest run of weekly gains since April 2009, lifted by speculation that a global economic recovery will boost fuel demand.

West Texas Intermediate crude was little changed after climbing for a seventh week. Chinese industrial companies’ profits rose for a fourth month in December, the National Bureau of Statistics in Beijing said yesterday. U.S. government reports today may show durable goods orders and pending homes sales rose last month, according to Bloomberg News surveys. The market is “well supplied,” Abdalla El-Badri, secretary-general of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, said today.

“Prices have been moving upwards from continued better economic data from the world’s two largest consumers, U.S. and China,” said Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank A/S in Copenhagen. “Continued improved data is required to sustain these higher levels as there remains enough uncertainty within the euro zone for prices to fall.”

Crude for March delivery was unchanged at $95.88 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange at 11:19 a.m. London time.

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01.25.2013
RR Donnelley closing Appleton-area plant

Chicago-based printing giant RR Donnelley will close its printing facility at W6545 Quality Drive in Greenville before the end of April.

The company said in a WARN notice filed with the state Department of Workforce Development on Monday the move will affect 47 jobs.

The company said changing market conditions is behind its decision to close the Greenville plant.

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01.25.2013
Kimberly-Clark Announces Year-End 2012 Results

Kimberly-Clark Corporation today reported year-end 2012 results and provided its 2013 outlook and related key planning assumptions.

Executive Summary
•Fourth quarter 2012 net sales of $5.3 billion increased 3 percent compared to the year-ago period. Organic sales rose 5 percent, highlighted by a 9 percent increase in K-C International. Organic sales exclude the impact of changes in foreign currency rates and lost sales as a result of pulp and tissue restructuring actions.
•Diluted net income per share for the fourth quarter of 2012 was $0.68 versus $1.01 in 2011. Full-year diluted net income per share was $4.42 in 2012 and $3.99 in 2011.
•Fourth quarter adjusted earnings per share were $1.37 in 2012 compared to $1.28 in the prior year. The improvement in fourth quarter adjusted earnings per share was driven by organic sales growth and cost savings, partially offset by increased marketing, research and general spending and a higher level of expense in other (income) and expense, net.
•Full-year adjusted earnings per share were $5.25 in 2012 compared to $4.80 in 2011 and the company's previous guidance of $5.15 to $5.25. Fourth quarter and full-year adjusted earnings per share in both periods exclude costs for pulp and tissue restructuring actions. Fourth quarter adjusted earnings per share in 2012 also exclude costs for the European strategic changes announced in October of 2012. Full-year adjusted earnings per share in 2011 also exclude a business tax charge related to a law change in Colombia.
•Cash provided by operations in the fourth quarter of 2012 was an all-time record $1,119 million, up 116 percent compared to the prior year.

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01.25.2013
Huhtamaki Leads Industry by Adopting 100% Use of PEFC Certified Board Ahead of New EU Timber Regulations

As one of the world’s leading packaging and disposables manufacturers, Huhtamaki UK Ltd., has continued its pro-active commitment to the environment by taking the necessary steps to implement the sole use of PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) certified paperboard throughout its UK manufacturing.

Speaking of the initiative, John Young, UK Foodservice Sales & Marketing Director, Huhtamaki UK Ltd. said: “Huhtamaki is dedicated in its efforts to manufacturing foodservice disposables that are made using paperboard sourced from suppliers who promote good forestry practice. We are proud to demonstrate our support for the high ecological, social and ethical standards required for sustainable forest management, and ahead of the soon-to-be implemented legislation – the 2013 European Timber Regulations – we are delighted that 100% of the paperboard used within our PEFC certified UK manufacturing plant is from PEFC certified sources.”

All paper cups and food containers manufactured by Huhtamaki UK are now made from PEFC certified board, so customers can buy with confidence from the industry’s leading supplier of disposable paper products to the UK high street.
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01.25.2013
Mag Bag: Fashion Magazines Get March Boost

Fashion magazines are seeing a big uptick in ad pages for their March issues, according to Media Industry Newsletter, which recently revealed figures showing double-digit percentage increases at many big titles.

MIN reports thatVogue will have 457 ad pages in March 2013 -- up 3.5% from the previous year -- while InStyle’s March issue will have 361 ad pages, up 4%. People Style Watch is up 27% to 172 ad pages. Elle’s March issue is up 7% over 2012, to 338 ad pages, Marie Claire’s ad pages for March are up 15% over last year to 207, while Cosmopolitanincreased 13% to 130 pages. Harper’s Bazaar jumped 21% to 330 ad pages. W is up 3% to 210 ad pages, and Teen Vogue jumped 30% to 124 ad pages.

This follows a strong February for many of the same titles, with Elle’s ad pages increasing 32% compared to the same month in 2012, Allure up 31%, Vogue’s up 21%, andInStyle up 9.3%.

These results are building on a strong 2012. According to the Publishers Information Bureau, total ad pages for the year were up 18.5% at Allure, 6% atElle, 11.1% at Harper’s Bazaar, 5.4% at InStyle, 11.9% at Marie Claire, 3.8% at People StyleWatch, and 3.7% at Vogue. These figures compare favorably with an overall 8.2% decline for all consumer mags tracked by PIB.
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01.25.2013
Deluxe Reports Fourth Quarter 2012 Financial Results

Deluxe Corporation announced its financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2012.

Fourth Quarter 2012 Highlights:
• Revenue for the quarter was $387.6 million compared to $366.4 million during the fourth quarter of 2011. Revenue increased 5.8% compared to 2011, driven by 11.2% growth in Small Business Services, which included the impact of the OrangeSoda, Inc. acquisition in the second quarter. Marketing solutions and other services revenue, which also included the impact of the OrangeSoda, Inc. acquisition, increased 26.4% compared to 2011 and represented 22.5% of consolidated revenue, up from 18.8% in the fourth quarter of 2011.
• Gross margin was 64.5 percent of revenue, the same as in 2011. Increased delivery rates, material costs and performance based compensation expense in 2012 were offset by favorable impacts from price increases and the Company’s continued cost reduction initiatives.

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01.25.2013
AAA Fuel Gage & Exchange Rates

AAA Fuel Gage 1/25/13
National Unleaded Regular:
Current Average - $3.331/gallon
Month Ago Average - $3.247/gallon
Year Ago Average - $3.379/gallon
Highest Recorded Average - $4.114/gallon on 7/17/08
Diesel:
Current Average - $3.903/gallon
Month Ago Average - $3.914/gallon
Year Ago Average - $3.864/gallon
Highest Recorded Average - $4.845/gallon on 7/17/08

Current Exchange Rates as of 1/25/13
American Dollar to Canadian Dollar = 0.995038
American Dollar to Chinese Yuan = 0.160641
American Dollar to Euro = 1.343897
American Dollar to Japanese Yen = 0.010993
American Dollar to Mexican Peso = 0.079072

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01.25.2013
WTI Crude Poised for Longest Run of Weekly Gains Since 2009

Crude headed for a seventh weekly advance in New York, the longest run of gains in almost four years, amid signs of global economic growth and concern that oil facilities in North Africa are vulnerable to militant attacks.

West Texas Intermediate crude advanced as much as 0.6 percent as German business confidence rose for a third month in January. The European Central Bank said 278 banks will hand back 137.2 billion euros ($184.4 billion) of its three-year loans next week at the first opportunity for early repayment. The U.K., German and Dutch governments yesterday urged their citizens to leave the Libyan city of Benghazi, citing a threat to Westerners.

“Global risk sentiment remains fairly upbeat,” said Andrey Kryuchenkov, a commodities analyst at VTB Capital in London, who predicts WTI will trade from $93 to $97 a barrel over the next month.

Crude for March delivery gained as much as 54 cents to $96.49 a barrel and was at $96.40 in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange at 11:29 a.m. London time. Futures climbed 0.8 percent to $95.95 yesterday and are up 0.9 percent this week.

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01.25.2013
Weyerhaeuser Reports Fourth Quarter, Full Year Results

Weyerhaeuser Company today reported net earnings of $143 million, or 26 cents per diluted share, for the fourth quarter. This compares with net earnings of $65 million, or 12 cents per diluted share, and net earnings before special items of $77 million, or 14 cents per diluted share, for the same period last year. Net sales for the fourth quarter of 2012 totaled $2.0 billion, compared with net sales of $1.6 billion for the fourth quarter of 2011.

For the full year 2012, Weyerhaeuser reported net earnings of $385 million, or 71 cents per diluted share, on net sales of $7.1 billion. This compares with net earnings of $331 million, or 61 cents per diluted share, on net sales from continuing operations of $6.2 billion for the full year 2011.

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01.25.2013
EFI Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2012 Results

Electronics For Imaging, Inc., a world leader in customer-focused digital printing innovation, today announced its results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2012.

For the quarter ended December 31, 2012, the Company reported record revenue of $174.1 million, up 7% compared to fourth quarter 2011 revenue of $163.1 million. Fourth quarter 2012 non-GAAP net income was $19.8 million or $0.42 per diluted share compared to non-GAAP net income of $16.6 million or $0.36 per diluted share for the same period in 2011, up 19% and 17%, respectively. GAAP net income was $56.6 million or $1.19 per diluted share, compared to $11.5 million or $0.25 per diluted share for the same period in 2011, up 393% and 376%, respectively.

For the twelve months ended December 31, 2012, the Company reported revenue of $652.1 million, up 10% year-over-year compared to $591.6 million for the same period in 2011. Non-GAAP net income was $61.5 million or $1.29 per diluted share, compared to non-GAAP net income of $53.1 million or $1.12 per diluted share for the same period in 2011, up 16% and 15%, respectively. GAAP net income was $83.3million or $1.74 per diluted share, compared to GAAP net income of $27.5 million or $0.58 per diluted share for the same period in 2011, up 203% and 200%, respectively.

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01.25.2013
Coupon Facts Report Indicates Marketers Continue Steady use of Coupons

Valassis, a leader in intelligent media delivery, released today the annual topline report of U.S. coupon trends prepared by its subsidiary, NCH Marketing Services Inc., providing retailers and marketers with redemption response insights for manufacturer coupons that are offered to consumers. The findings include that consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers issued a steady flow of coupons in 2012, distributing 305 billion coupons to consumers, the same quantity as the year prior, although the marketing objectives were substantially different for those coupons.

Consumers' expectations for value in their purchasing decisions remained strong throughout 2012. NCH's August 2012 Consumer Survey found that 79.8% of consumers regularly shop using CPG coupons, very similar to the 80.6% prior year result, and well above the 63.6% who reported regularly using coupons in the pre-recession 2007 study.

Additionally, the BIGinsight Monthly Consumer Survey in December 2012 found that 53.7% of consumers continued to focus more on needs than wants while shopping. Those results are very similar to the 52.1% in December 2011 and 52.7% in December 2010 who also said they focus more on needs than wants. These surveys confirm that a strong value-oriented mindset has persisted for a large segment of the population despite some improvements in overall consumer confidence measures and unemployment rates in 2012.

While consumer desire for saving with coupons continued, and the quantity of coupons made available to them was the same, CPG marketers have made other strategic shifts, including which products are promoted with coupons, how consumers receive coupons and various tactical offer-level changes, all of which affected industry redemption volume.

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01.24.2013
Xerox Reports Fourth-Quarter Earnings

Xerox announced today fourth-quarter 2012 results that include adjusted earnings per share of 30 cents. As planned, the company’s fourth-quarter earnings include 5 cents of restructuring. Adjusted EPS excludes 4 cents related to amortization of intangibles, resulting in GAAP EPS of 26 cents.

In the fourth quarter, total revenue of $5.9 billion was down 1 percent or flat in constant currency. Revenue from the company’s services business was up 7 percent and represented 52 percent of total revenue. Revenue from the company’s document technology business, which represents 42 percent of revenue, was down 8 percent as economic and market conditions continued to put pressure on sales of document systems, supplies and related service.

Fourth-quarter operating margin was up 0.3 points to 10.3 percent. Gross margin was 31.5 percent, and selling, administrative and general expenses were 18.5 percent of revenue.

The company generated $1.8 billion in cash from operations during the fourth quarter, which includes $269 million of net cash from the sale of certain finance receivables.

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01.24.2013
UPM Signs Agreement on the Sale of Assets of UPM Stracel in France

UPM has signed an agreement on the sale of assets and part of the land of the UPM Stracel paper mill site with Blue Paper SAS, the joint venture company of VPK Packaging Group NV and Klingele Papierwerke.

The transaction is expected to be closed during March 2013 once all legal and administrative conditions will be fulfilled.

UPM stopped the production of coated magazine paper on the mill on 4th January 2013.
Blue Paper SAS will convert the mill to produce recycled fibre-based fluting and test-liner. The production is expected to start after completing investments in September 2013. Blue Paper SAS will create 130 new jobs at the mill that will be offered to former Stracel employees.

The sale of Stracel was part of UPM’s plan to adjust its magazine paper and newsprint paper capacity to match the needs of its global customer base originally announced in August 2011.

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01.24.2013
Global Ad Spend Remains Strong, TV Dominates

Global advertising had a strong first nine months of 2012, with television advertising still holding the biggest share of advertising dollars and outperforming overall global growth.

Nielsen says ad spending rose 3.3% from January to September last year, with TV advertising up 4.3% during the period.

Third-quarter TV advertising growth soared, lifting the pace over the first six months of the year, when TV growth was 3.1%. In North America alone, there was high double-digit growth, up 13.6% in the third quarter -- from Olympic and political advertising, according to some analysis.

Although other new media platforms are growing, TV continues to dominate in overall global advertising with a 61.8 share. Newspapers remain second at a 19.7 share; magazines, 7.9 share; radio, 5.2; Internet, 2.7; outdoor, 2.6, and cinema advertising, 0.3.

Nielsen says the two most improving media from the same period a year ago were the Internet, at 7.7% and cinema, at 9.2%.

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01.24.2013
Publishers Get Smart Innovation with new Augmented Reality Service from Fry Communications

Fry Communications brings another smart innovation to publishers and marketers by offering Augmented Reality (AR) services through Layar.

By integrating AR, publishers are able to bring interactivity to the printed page through the reader’s smartphone, allowing traditional magazine pages to include content for videos, social media, and e-commerce. This extra layer of content increases engagement with readers, enlarges the reach of the publisher through the social media feeds, and provides a way for publishers to generate revenue by selling feature-rich ads with amazing direct lead generation capabilities.

Publishers of shopping guides particularly benefit from the “Buy Now” feature. By making content shoppable with the addition of a single button, publishers make their page a point of sale for extra revenue for the advertiser or featured product.

Fry offers these services through Layar, the world’s largest augmented reality and interactive print platform. Layar provides a comprehensive and solid product offering of AR content creation and delivery services to meet a variety of publisher needs and price points. For example, Layar Creator puts AR content creation firmly in the hands of the publisher at an accessible price.
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01.24.2013
Oil Trades Near One-Week Low on U.S. Supplies, Seaway Pipeline

Oil traded near the lowest level in a week in New York after U.S. crude stockpiles gained and capacity on the Seaway pipeline was reduced.

West Texas Intermediate was little changed after dropping yesterday by the most in a month. Crude supplies rose by 3.2 million barrels last week, the biggest increase in six weeks, the industry-funded American Petroleum Institute said. An Energy Department report today may show inventories climbed by 2.2 million barrels, according to a Bloomberg News survey. London- traded Brent’s premium to WTI widened yesterday after Enterprise Products Partners LP (EPD) said capacity was limited on the Seaway link, curbing shipments from Cushing, Oklahoma, the delivery point for New York futures.

“The market could resume its move lower should the Energy Department report this afternoon confirm robust gains in U.S. crude inventories,” Andrey Kryuchenkov, an analyst at VTB Capital in London, said in an e-mail. Prices may decline to $93 a barrel, he said.

WTI crude for March delivery was at $95.43 a barrel, up 20 cents, in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange at 11:57 a.m. London time. The contract dropped $1.45 yesterday, the most since Dec. 21, to the lowest closing level since Jan. 16.

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01.24.2013
TC Transcontinental Broadens Internal and External Scope of its Paper Purchasing Policy

Already known in the industry for its forward-looking environmental strategy, TC Transcontinental is proud to announce that it is broadening the internal and external scope of its Paper Purchasing Policy by stipulating, among other things, that recycled or certified papers be used for its printing and own publishing activities. As part of TC Transcontinental's commitment to continual improvement, the Corporation has updated its policy and reiterates its commitment to encouraging its customers to choose certified papers when recycled paper is unavailable, so that by working together we can significantly diminish environmental and social impacts.

Out of a wish to be transparent and to make customers and consumers more aware of high conservation value forest and responsible forest management, TC Transcontinental now plans, for instance, to systematically place the chain-of-custody logo on all TC Media publications. The organization will now also include messages to encourage consumers to recycle its products, aiming to increase the availability of paper containing recycled post-consumer fibre. The first steps in this direction and initial measures to ensure all of its publications display the certified paper logo have already been implemented. TC Transcontinental also reviewed the procurement standards for its photocopiers, printers, official documents, etc., to ensure that papers from recycled or certified sources are used.

Furthermore, the Corporation has decided to give preference to suppliers who monitor and promote the continuous reduction of environmental impacts and to strongly encourage them to share their information on air and water contaminants and landfill usage.

Its new paper purchasing policy will enable TC Transcontinental to more accurately measure the results of its ongoing efforts and to share them with customers and investors, stakeholders and organizations interested in its sustainability efforts. TC Transcontinental drew on the expertise of environmental organization Canopy in updating the Paper Purchasing Policy, as part of their ongoing collaboration to protect Canada's boreal forests and high conservation value forests globally.

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01.24.2013
Rayonier Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2012 Results

Rayonier today reported fourth quarter net income of $76 million, or 59 cents per share, compared to $56 million, or 45 cents per share, in the prior year period. The 2011 results included a $4 million increase in a disposition reserve for a closed mill site. Excluding this item, 2011 fourth quarter pro forma net income was $60 million, or 48 cents per share.

Full year 2012 net income totaled $279 million, or $2.17 per share, compared to $276 million, or $2.20 per share, in 2011. In addition to the disposition reserve, the full year 2011 results also included a $16 million tax benefit from the reversal of a reserve relating to the taxability of the 2009 alternative fuel mixture credit (AFMC). Excluding these items, full year 2011 pro forma net income was $264 million, or $2.11 per share.

Cash provided by operating activities was $446 million for 2012 compared to $432 million for 2011. Full year cash available for distribution (CAD)1 was $304 million versus $287 million in 2011.

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01.24.2013
Meredith Delivers Strong Fiscal 2013 Second Quarter And First Half Results

Meredith Corporation, the leading media and marketing company serving American women, today reported fiscal 2013 second quarter earnings per share of $0.79, including a previously announced special charge of $0.10 per share. Total Company revenues rose 10 percent to $361 million, including an 18 percent increase in advertising revenues to $217 million.

Excluding the special charge, earnings per share grew 27 percent from the prior-year period to a record $0.89, and operating profit margin increased more than a full percentage point to 18 percent.

For the first six months of fiscal 2013, Meredith's earnings per share were $1.34. Total Company revenues increased 9 percent to $715 million, including a 15 percent increase in advertising revenues. Excluding the special charge, earnings per share rose 22 percent from the prior-year period to $1.44.

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01.24.2013
Grainger Reports Record Results for Year Ended December 31, 2012

Grainger today reported record results for the year ended December 31, 2012. Sales of $9.0 billion increased 11 percent versus $8.1 billion in 2011. Net earnings of $690 million increased 5 percent versus $658 million in 2011. Earnings per share of $9.52 increased 5 percent versus $9.07 in 2011.

For the full year, the company generated $816 million in operating cash flow versus $746 million in 2011. Capital expenditures for the year were $250 million versus $197 million in 2011, driven primarily by investments to expand the distribution center network in North America. The company also used cash to fund two acquisitions. For the full year, Grainger bought back approximately 1.7 million shares of stock for $341 million and has 5.3 million shares remaining under the current repurchase authorization. Dividends paid in 2012 totaled $220 million. For the full year, Grainger returned $561 million in cash to shareholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases.

Sales for the 2012 fourth quarter of $2.2 billion increased 7 percent versus $2.1 billion in the 2011 fourth quarter. Net earnings of $156 million increased 5 percent versus $148 million in 2011. Fourth quarter earnings per share of $2.17 increased 6 percent versus $2.04 in 2011.

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01.23.2013
Sun Chemical Publishes 2012 Sustainability Report

Sun Chemical released its 2012 Sustainability Report, which showcases Sun Chemical’s leadership in eco-efficiency through established data-driven metrics, as well as examples of how raw material suppliers are contributing to the company’s environmental footprint.

The report describes a balanced scorecard approach that Sun Chemical uses to assess suppliers’ environmental performance and provides details about questionnaires that were sent to suppliers asking about their sustainability policies, carbon footprint emissions, the potential impact on deforestation, etc.

The report cites two case study examples of raw material suppliers who published sustainability reports and described their contributions and practices to eco-efficiency.

The report shows data collected every year since 2005 from approximately 170 Sun Chemical sites in over 25 countries. The key sustainability metrics measured in the data include: energy consumption/conservation at production and non-production sites, the energy carbon footprint at the production sites, process waste reduction, water consumption, materials safety, and employee safety.

“Our sustainability policy pushes us as a company to improve the eco-efficiency of our processes and products,” Andrzejewski said. “Our R&D efforts are a pivotal part of this process as we provide our customers with solutions that will be both eco-friendly and save them money. These data-driven sustainability reports have played a key role in helping our customers achieve many of their eco-efficiency goals.”

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01.23.2013
International Paper shutting down one of three Augusta machines

International Paper on Tuesday announced that it will eliminate 75 positions at its Augusta mill when it shuts down one of its three paperboard production lines next month.

The move is prompted by a global slowdown in demand, said Greg Gibson, the vice president of International Paper’s coated paperboard business.

“The projected growth of global coated paperboard supply, coupled with slower growth in the demand for our products, has
made it necessary to permanently reduce our manufacturing footprint,” Gibson said.

The paperboard production machine, running since the 1960s, is the smallest in the system, which includes sister plants in Riegelwood, N.C., and Texarkana, Texas. It produces about 140,000 tons of coated paperboard annually, which is used to make folding cartons and packaging liners.

The shutdown will reduce the capacity of the Mike Padgett Highway mill by about 20 percent, said Samantha Hood, the company’s communications manager.
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