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

10.13.2011

Meredith to Acquire Every Day with Rachael Ray

Meredith Corporation announced today that it has reached agreement in principle with author and television personality Rachael Ray for Meredith to acquire Every Day with Rachael Raymagazine and its related digital media assets from the Reader's Digest Association. The transaction is expected to close later this fall.

The acquisition will include the very popular and award-winning magazine that's published 10 times annually and reaches an audience of 7.3 million with a ratebase of 1.7 million, as well as a robust website (www.rachaelraymag.com). Every Day with Rachael Ray has received numerous honors including being named Magazine Launch of the Year by Advertising Age, and to both Advertising Age's A-List and ADWEEK's Hot List of top titles.

"The acquisition of Every Day with Rachael Raywill further extend our leadership and deepen our reach in providing women with best-in-class food content, while offer advertisers multiple avenues to reach them," said Meredith National Media Group President Tom Harty. "We are excited to add this well-recognized franchise to our strong portfolio of national media brands."

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10.12.2011

Graphic Packaging Announces Reduction in Force and Carton Facility Closure

Graphic Packaging International, Inc., a subsidiary of Graphic Packaging Holding Company, today announced plans to institute a reduction in force and close its La Porte, Ind. carton facility.

"These very difficult decisions were studied significantly, but ultimately are necessary in light of the ongoing economic impacts being felt by our customers and consumers. These changes will help to ensure our continued success in the paperboard packaging space," said David Scheible, president and chief executive officer. "GPI continually evaluates all of our business operations and redeploys business to maximize the cost-effectiveness of our manufacturing footprint as a whole. This constant evaluation ensures we are serving our markets as efficiently as possible."

The overall reduction will affect approximately 200-220 employees. The company anticipates one-time costs of $6 million to $8 million in the fourth quarter of 2011 and the first quarter of 2012 with annual savings of $20 million to $25 million.

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10.12.2011

Grainger Announces Divestiture of Joint Venture in South Korea

Grainger, a leading broad line supplier of maintenance, repair and operating products serving businesses and institutions, today announced it has divested its 49 percent stake in MRO Korea to affiliates of its former partner, SK Networks, for $12 million, resulting in a net gain of approximately $5 million. SK Group intends to transform the MRO Korea business model into a social enterprise, focused on job creation for the underprivileged.

"We have enjoyed a good working relationship with SK Networks since 2000 and we wish them continued success as they take the business in a new direction," said Court Carruthers, President, Grainger International. "We look forward to continuing to serve businesses in South Korea, including our multinational customers, through our export business."

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10.12.2011

MagnaGlobal revises U.S. ad forecast down to 2.9% growth next year

Citing weakness in the U.S. economy, MagnaGlobal, a division of IPG Mediabrands, revised its U.S. ad spending forecast to 2.9% growth next year, down from an earlier forecast of 4.8% growth.

MagnaGlobal's forecast for U.S. ad spending growth this year remains unchanged at 1.6%.

“A slowdown in real personal consumption expenditures, manufacturing activity and ongoing problems in the labor and housing markets all contribute to our revised outlook,” MagnaGlobal said in the report.

The fastest-growing media categories next year will be online (up 11.6%), TV (up 7.1%) and outdoor (up 4.5%).

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10.12.2011

Chesapeake pack wins Design Challenge 2011

Chesapeake’s Impressions™, a unique renewable packaging range based on Billerud’s FibreForm®, won Design Challenge 2011 at the largest packaging exhibition in the Nordic countries, Pack & Emballage. The winning packaging concept was selected by the people visiting the exhibition, when asked to vote on their personal favorite.

Chesapeake has developed the FibreForm® material to offer its customers unique paperboard concepts that can provide truly dynamic 3D shapes to any pack.

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10.12.2011

Rebuild in M-real Kemi mill completed

M-real has successfully completed a rebuild at its M-real Kemi linerboard mill in Finland on schedule by 6th October 2011. The rebuild will enable further development of coated kraftliners with superior printability.

“Attractive packaging provides significant competitive advantage in retail business. As a result, brand owners as well as printers and converters are carefully examining the linerboard they use for corrugated packaging. Quality of print results combined with sustainability are the major drivers on their route to success,” says Mika Joukio, Senior Vice President and Head of M-real Consumer Packaging.

To support its customers’ businesses, M-real has invested EUR 16 million in upgrading the coating section at the mill. The M-real kraftliner range includes products suitable for flexo, offset, inkjet and screen printing.

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10.12.2011

Latvia Celebrates One Million Hectares of PEFC-Certified Forests

All state-owned public forests in Latvia are managed in compliance with PEFC's internationally recognized Sustainability Benchmarks, the Latvian State Forests (LVM) announced last month.

LVM manages a total of 1.4 million hectares of forests, of which about 25% are protected. "Our goal is to demonstrate that beyond the protected area itself, all forests managed by LVM are managed responsibly, with due consideration for the environmental, social and economic benefits they provide," said Roberts Stripnieks, Chairman of the Board of LVM, noting that LVM planted approximately 25 million young trees in 2010 to regenerate 13,500 hectares of forests.

Forest covers more than 55% of the Latvian territory making the country one of the forest-riches countries (per capita) in Europe, with about half of its forest resources owned by the state. Its forest cover has doubled during the last 50 years, and forest support the livelihoods of one in five families in Latvia.

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10.12.2011

Bookmasters Adds Color InkJet Printing with Océ JetStream Press

Bookmasters, a leading book manufacturer, now offers publishers a more cost-effective print-on-demand (POD) and short-run digital printing (SRDP) option with the addition of the Océ JetStream 1000 digital inkjet printer, supported by an in-line Muller Martini Sigma finishing system.

The quality of the Océ JetStream rivals toner-based and offset printing, but is more affordable for short runs and POD. The popularity of POD and SRDP is rising because it allows publishers to minimize return risk; cut inventory financing, obsolescence, and storage costs; save on freight and handling; and get books to market faster. By producing these savings, along with the lower unit print costs, Bookmasters’ inkjet solution raises the crossover point of digital vs. offset to the 2,000 to 4,000 unit range, a very attractive alternative for trade and scientific, technical and medical (STM) publishers.

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10.12.2011

B&N Pulls 100 DC Graphic Novels From Shelves Over Kindle Fire Deal

In what looks like the first shots of a new tablet content war, Barnes and Noble has instructed its stores to remove the physical copies of the 100 graphic novels DC Comics plans to sell exclusively through the new Amazon Kindle Fire tablet. But an L.A. Times story on the controversy reports that the “exclusive” DC/Kindle Fire agreement was likely only a limited four month deal.

The L.A. Times is reporting that DC’s agreement to sell 100 graphic novels “exclusively” through the Amazon kindle Fire was really limited to four months. Now it appears that DC Comics plans to “swallow” the loss of sales at B&N physical stores for the next four months before offering its graphic novels for sale through all digital sales channels.

A spokesperson for DC Entertainment, the parent company of DC Comics, declined to comment on the length of their “exclusive” deal with Amazon. However, DC Entertainment released a statement that said, “We are disappointed that Barnes & Noble has made the decision to remove these books off their shelves and make them unavailable to their customers.”

And in what appears to be an acknowledgement that the Amazon Kindle Fire deal will be coming to an end, DC Entertainment added that, “ we will continue to make our content available to our fans and new readers through multiple distribution channels including locally-owned comic book retailers, independent bookstores, other bookstore chains and other widespread means such as online through Amazon and through our apps on iOS and select Android powered devices as well as new and exciting devices going forward.”

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10.12.2011

Verso Paper Corp. Announces Permanent Shutdown of Three Paper Machines

Verso Paper Corp. today announced that it will permanently reduce its annual production capacity by 193,000 tons. This will be accomplished by the permanent shutdown of the No. 2 coated groundwood paper machine at its mill in Bucksport, Maine, effective October 23 and two supercalendered (SC) paper machines at its mill in Sartell, Minnesota, effective December 14.

The shutdown of the No. 2 paper machine at the Bucksport Mill will reduce Verso's annual coated groundwood capacity by 90,000 tons or approximately 10 percent. With an annual capacity after the shutdown of 925,000 tons, Verso will remain the second largest producer of coated groundwood paper in North America. The Bucksport Mill's workforce will be reduced by approximately 125 employees.

The shutdown of the No. 1 and No. 2 paper machines at the Sartell Mill will eliminate approximately 103,000 tons annually of SCA and SCB paper capacity. The Sartell Mill's workforce will be reduced by approximately 175 employees.

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10.12.2011

AbitibiBowater Changing Name to Resolute Forest Products

AbitibiBowater announced today that it will change the Company name to Resolute Forest Products as of November 7, 2011.

"We are changing our name to Resolute Forest Products to better reflect the fundamental characteristics of the Company we are today, including our determination, strength and resolve to be a profitable, sustainable organization," stated Richard Garneau, President and Chief Executive Officer. "With our competitive cost structure, diversified revenue base and strong balance sheet, we are well-positioned for the long term."

The Company identity change follows an initiative, launched in April 2011, in which employees were invited to suggest a new name for the Company. An internal selection committee and the Executive Team chose Resolute Forest Products from among approximately 1,400 employee submissions.

"This identity change serves as an opportunity to reposition the Company and to redefine ourselves with customers, shareholders and the communities in which we live and work," continued Garneau.

On November 7, 2011, the Company will begin using Resolute Forest Products and related visual identity on its marketing materials, website, signage and other communications. When communicating in French, the Company will use the name Produits forestiers Résolu. Prior to the November launch, the Company will continue to be referred to as AbitibiBowater.

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10.11.2011

Low river curtails paper mill work

A stagnant Ouachita River has curtailed some operations at Georgia Pacific's paper mill in Crossett, Ark., and threatens to impact the Graphic Packaging paper mill in West Monroe, prompting Gov. Bobby Jindal to ask the Army Corps of Engineers to release water from the Felthensal lock and dam in Arkansas.

Because of drought conditions, the flow of the Ouachita River will slow to 100 cubic feet per second early next week, which isn't enough to allow companies like Georgia Pacific and Graphic Packaging or cities like Crossett to release treated wastewater into the river.

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10.11.2011

Pearson and the Financial Times launch "FT in education"

The Financial Times and Pearson today announced the launch of FT in education, an initiative that will make the FT’s world-class journalism more easily accessible for customers of Pearson, the world’s leading learning company.

FT in education allows Pearson’s educational publishers to search a new republishing database hosting over 100,000 FT articles, special reports and features that are highly relevant to students and professors. A new trademark licence agreement will allow Pearson to use this FT content across its products and services for the education market around the world.

John Fallon, CEO of Pearson’s international education business, said: “This collaboration will bring a richness to study in many areas, from mastering business or understanding financial markets to seeing political economy or international law in action. With Pearson’s approach to learning design, assessment programmes and contact with teachers and students, we can turn the FT’s world-class content into world-class learning.”

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10.11.2011

Customers Can Now Manage All Their Print Magazine Subscriptions on Amazon.com

Amazon.com, Inc., today announced that customers can now manage all of their print magazine subscriptions in one place, no matter where they were originally purchased. Using the Amazon Print Magazine Subscription Manager (www.amazon.com/subscriptionmanager), customers can easily make changes to their address, cancel, renew, track expiration dates, or report a problem for all their magazine subscriptions. These features have been available for subscriptions purchased on Amazon.com since 2009 and are now available for all print magazines, regardless of where they were purchased.

"Customers rave about our Print Magazine Subscription Manager because it makes something that used to be a hassle - like updating your address or reporting a missed issue - really easy," said Sean Gorman, Director of Periodicals. "We didn't want to limit the benefits of this service to Amazon magazine subscriptions, so now we've extended it to magazines purchased anywhere."

To get started, customers can visit Print Magazine Subscription Manager at www.amazon.com/subscriptionmanager. Any magazine available in the Amazon Magazines store can be added.

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10.11.2011

Consumer Magazine Ad Pages Fall 5.6 Percent in Third Quarter 2011

After showing growth for the first six months of 2011, consumer magazine ad pages fell 5.6 percent in the third quarter compared to the same period in 2010, according to newly released figures from Publishers Information Bureau.

That setback in the third quarter was enough to erase year-to-date gains, with ad pages now down 1.1 percent for the first nine months of the year. Prior to third quarter 2011, consumer magazine ad pages as a whole had grown for five consecutive quarters.

Half of the 12 advertising categories tracked by PIB posted page declines (including Food & Food Products, down 16.2 percent and Home Furnishing & Supplies down 11.8 percent) while half the categories were up (Finance, Insurance and Real Estate was the big winner, up 15.5 percent in ad pages).

Advertising revenue dropped 1.5 percent to $4.71 billion in the third quarter but grew 2.1 percent to $14.35 billion for the first nine months of the year, although PIB calculates using full rate card pricing and doesn't account for discounting.

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10.11.2011

Kimberly-Clark Becomes First U.S. Branded Consumer Tissue Maker to Adopt Forest Stewardship Council's Sustainable Fiber Sourcing Standards

Kimberly-Clark Corporation today announced it is the first U.S. tissue maker to offer branded consumer tissue products that meet the rigorous sustainable sourcing requirements of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Kimberly-Clark's Kleenex brand facial tissue and Scott Naturals brand products sold in North America now include fiber sourced from suppliers who have been independently certified to follow the highest standards in forestry management while also protecting high conservation-value forests and habitat. Consumers can now identify FSC-certified Kleenex and Scott brand products by the FSC label on every package.

"This action is a major milestone in K-C's sustainability journey and a significant step forward in the consumer adoption of FSC-certified fiber for bathroom tissue, facial tissue and paper towels," said Suhas Apte, vice president - global sustainability. "K-C's commitment to FSC certification for its Kleenex and Scott Naturals brands will grow the demand for sustainably sourced fiber and will encourage more suppliers to practice responsible forest management."

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10.11.2011

Magazine Advertising Revenues Hold Steady Though Third Quarter 2011

Total magazine rate-card-reported print advertising revenue for the first nine months of 2011 closed at $14,354,822,025, posting a +2.1% increase versus the same period in 2010, according to Publishers Information Bureau (PIB). Ad pages during the first three quarters totaled 117,567.04, at -1.1% compared to January through September, 2010. During the third quarter of 2011, PIB revenue closed at $4,716,981,184, a -1.5% dip against the same period last year. PIB recorded 38,152.38 ad pages in Q3, a loss of -5.6% compared to July through September, of 2010.

January through September 2011 vs. 2010
“We are encouraged to see the continuous investment in magazines into 2011, with two-thirds of our measured categories up year to date,” said Andrew Jung, MPA’s Chief Marketing Officer. “The Finance category was fueled by spending increases by auto and home insurance providers as well as credit card lenders, while luxury items provided most of the growth in the Apparel & Accessories category.”

Three sectors exhibited a double-digit increase in print ad revenues, driven by advertising for the following products categories:

Toiletries & Cosmetics: hair products , cosmetics and other beauty aids
Apparel & Accessories: footwear, jewelry, watches
Financial, Insurance & Real Estate: banks; personal finance consultancies; insurance firms

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10.11.2011

Industry Outlook Identifies Positive Aspects of Print’s Long-Term Future

Ron Davis, Printing Industries of America vice president and chief economist, has released a financial report focusing on the long-term future of print and print markets. The report explores how leveraging multiple functions of print can increase the longevity and viability of a printer’s success in the marketplace.

The report breaks down print products and services into three different categories:

• Print intended to inform or communicate factual and editorial information such a magazines, newspapers, books, and reports.
• Print providing product logistics to manufactured products—packaging, labels, wrappers, and product user manuals.
• Print intended to market, promote, or sell various products, services, political candidates, positions, or ideas—marketing and promotional print such as catalogs, direct mail, and brochures.

Of the three functions, only one—print logistics—is not subject to competition and substitution by digital media. Conversely, print’s “inform or communicate” function is subject to the highest risk of substitution from digital media. Print as a marketing, promotion and sales media appears to be in the middle.

In the future, based on projections from the last 10 years, while the number of printing plants is reduced, surviving plants in the marketing and logistics function will see substantial growth in shipments while surviving plants specializing in the information experience sales declines.

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10.11.2011

Sappi Announces Strategy Update to Position Group for the Future

Sappi today announced a strategy update that will position the global pulp, paper and cellulose-based solutions group for the future.

Dealing with the current tough market conditions and the declining trend in demand for graphic paper in its major markets, Sappi has indicated for some time that it was taking decisive action to reposition itself for improved performance.

Sappi's strategy involves four key themes, namely: continuing to optimise our better performing businesses, fixing our underperforming businesses, investing for future growth in higher margin businesses, including chemical cellulose, and achieving this within the reality of the group's liquidity and balance sheet.

We aim to generate at least 60% of operating profit from these higher margin growth businesses within 3 to 5 years, achieving real growth in the revenue line and asset base and exceeding our minimum ROCE target of 12%.

It is clear that there is a declining demand trend for graphic paper in our major markets but we see opportunities in these businesses, which are currently the backbone of the group, to generate reasonable net profits and strong cashflows for many years.

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10.11.2011

Crude Oil Drops From Two-Week High in New York Before Vote on Europe Debt

Oil fell from its highest in more than two weeks in New York before a government vote in Slovakia on the euro area’s bailout fund that may endanger a recovery in the region’s economy.

Futures slipped as much as 1.3 percent and European equities fell after European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said the region’s debt crisis has “reached a systemic dimension.” Crude climbed 2.9 percent yesterday after German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicholas Sarkozy said they will deliver a plan to recapitalize the region’s banks by Nov. 3. An Energy Department report Oct. 13 may show U.S. crude supplies rose last week.

“Oil is on the weaker side on somewhat weaker equities,” said Eugen Weinberg, the Frankfurt-based head of commodities research at Commerzbank AG. “There is probably also some profit-taking after strong gains yesterday, when comments from Sarkozy and Merkel showed light at the end of the tunnel for the euro zone.”

Crude for November delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange fell as much as $1.14 to $84.27 a barrel and was at $84.94 at 11:10 a.m. London time. The contract yesterday gained 2.9 percent to $85.41, the highest close since Sept. 21. Prices are down 7.1 percent this year.

Brent oil for November settlement declined 0.6 percent to $108.29 on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. The European benchmark contract was at a premium of $23.35 to New York crude, compared with a record of $26.87 on Sept. 6.

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10.10.2011

MWV Named to Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for Eighth Straight Year

MeadWestvaco Corp. today announced it is listed on the 2011 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) for the eighth consecutive year. The DJSI World recognizes the world's leading companies in the areas of economic, environmental and social performance, and evaluates organizations based on their commitment to and success in integrating sustainability into core business objectives and performance. In addition to being among the 342 companies listed on the world index, the global packaging company was the only company in its category to be listed on the North American index.

MWV maintained its best-in-class score in the Social Dimension of the index criteria based on the strength of programs to engage stakeholders in critical projects and establish standards of conduct for all suppliers. The company also has an industry-leading Code of Conduct for employees, and scored above its peers for environmental policies and management systems. These scores demonstrate and support the company's every day commitment to sustainability. MWV realizes the value and impact of its daily actions and makes responsible decisions to sustain the world by researching renewable materials, building sustainable products and creating work environments that encourage a lighter footprint.

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10.10.2011

Tembec sells its already closed Pine Falls, Manitoba mill property and assets

Tembec announced today that Pine Falls Development Corporation (PFDC) has acquired the Tembec Pine Falls, Manitoba mill property and assets. PFDC is an investment project of NRI Global Inc., a company that acquires and manages assets throughout North America.

The site is being sold for nominal net proceeds and the transaction will not impact the Company’s financial results as its carrying value had been reduced when the newsprint mill located on site was permanently idled.

The Tembec Pine Falls facility ceased production in September 2009. Permanent closure was announced in 2010.

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10.10.2011

Tembec looking to invest $100 million to expand pulp production in Temsicaming

Forest products producer Tembec Inc. announced plans Thursday that could lead to a further $100-million investment to expand its pulp facility in Temiscaming, Que., by 2015.

Chief executive James Lopez told a New York investor conference that the second phase of changes at its key facility would add 30,000 tonnes of annual capacity of specialty dissolving pulp.

"It's under study and not yet approved, however all the signs are looking very, very positive for that project," he said.

The expansion would add 10 megawatts of electricity that would be sold to Hydro-Quebec, would generate $41 million of annual pre-tax operating earnings (EBITDA) and have a 2.4-year payback.

Funding is to come entirely from cash flow generated from operations.

Timing of the expansion will be tied to the company's performance and could be advanced if profits soar ahead of expectation.

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10.10.2011

Sonoco-Alcore(R) Opens State-Of-The-Art Paper Core Facility in Grünsfeld

Sonoco-Alcore S.a.r.l., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sonoco, one of the largest diversified global packaging companies, today announced the opening of its new paper tube and core manufacturing facility in Grünsfeld, Germany. The new Grünsfeld plant will focus its production on M-Core(TM) wide-ply paper mill cores used in the high-end segment of the paper industry.

"Investment in this new facility is primarily about responding to the changing market needs in the European paper industry," said Adam Wood, vice president of Sonoco-Alcore. "European printing houses have evolved, using wider printing presses and increased running speeds, which means traditional paper mill cores must evolve also."

"With the Grünsfeld facility, we have invested in bringing this technology to Germany, meeting the needs of Central European paper mills and allowing our customers to better supply print houses with a cost-effective, quality product."

Sonoco-Alcore developed wide-ply paper technology and the M-Core Series to produce a core with improved properties such as increased dynamic strength and e-modulus, meeting the requirements of new printing machines.

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10.10.2011

Limited Brands Reports September 2011 Sales

Limited Brands, Inc. reported a comparable store sales increase of 11 percent for the five weeks ended Oct. 1, 2011, compared to the five weeks ended Oct. 2, 2010. The company reported net sales of $818.6 million for the five weeks ended Oct. 1, 2011, compared to net sales of $735.8 million last year.

The company reported a comparable store sales increase of 11 percent for the 35 weeks ended Oct. 1, 2011, compared to the 35 weeks ended Oct. 2, 2010. The company reported net sales of $6.196 billion for the 35 weeks ended Oct. 1, 2011, compared to sales of $5.540 billion last year.

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10.10.2011

Target Reports September Sales Results

Target Corporation today reported that its net retail sales for the five weeks ended October 1, 2011 were $5,923 million, an increase of 6.5 percent from $5,562 million for the five weeks ended October 2, 2010. On this same basis, September comparable-store sales increased 5.3 percent.

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10.10.2011

Gap Inc. Reports September Sales

Gap Inc. today reported that September 2011 net sales remained flat compared with last year.

Net sales for the five-week period ended October 1, 2011 were $1.35 billion compared with net sales of $1.34 billion for the five-week period ended October 2, 2010. The company’s comparable sales for September 2011, which include the associated comparable online sales, were down 4 percent compared with a 1 percent decrease for September 2010.

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10.10.2011

Macy's, Inc. Same-Store Sales up 4.9% in September

Macy's, Inc. today reported total sales of $2.298 billion for the five weeks ended Oct. 1, 2011, an increase of 5.3 percent compared with total sales of $2.181 billion in the five weeks ended Oct. 2, 2010. On a same-store basis, Macy's, Inc. sales were up 4.9 percent in September.

For the year to date, Macy's, Inc.'s sales totaled $15.840 billion, up 6.1 percent from total sales of $14.928 billion in the first 35 weeks of 2010. On a same-store basis, Macy's, Inc.'s year-to-date sales were up 5.6 percent.

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10.10.2011

Nordstrom Reports September Sales

Nordstrom, Inc. today reported a 10.7 percent increase in same-store sales for the five-week period ended October 1, 2011 compared with the five-week period ended October 2, 2010. Preliminary total retail sales of $943 million for September 2011 increased 16.3 percent compared with total retail sales of $810 million for the same period in fiscal 2010.

Year-to-date same-store sales increased 7.4 percent compared with the same period in fiscal 2010. Preliminary year-to-date total retail sales of $6.58 billion increased 12.8 percent compared with total retail sales of $5.83 billion for the same period in fiscal 2010.

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10.10.2011

Kohl's Corporation Reports September Comparable Store Sales

Kohl's Corporation reported today that for the five-week month ended October 1, 2011 total sales increased 5.8 percent and comparable store sales increased 4.1 percent over the five-week month ended October 2, 2010. Year to date, total sales increased 3.3 percent and comparable store sales increased 1.5 percent.

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10.10.2011

Saks Incorporated Announces September Comparable Store Sales

Retailer Saks Incorporated today announced that owned sales totaled $275.0 million for the five weeks ended October 1, 2011 compared to $256.4 million for the five weeks ended October 2, 2010, a 7.3% increase. Comparable store sales increased 9.3% for the month.

On a year-to-date basis, for the eight months ended October 1, 2011, owned sales totaled $1,814.8 million compared to $1,655.9 million for the prior year eight months ended October 2, 2010, a 9.6% increase. Comparable store sales increased 11.5% for the eight months.

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10.10.2011

J. C. Penney Company, Inc. Reports September Sales results

J. C. Penney Company, Inc. reported today that its comparable store sales for the five-week period ended Oct. 1, 2011, decreased 0.6 percent, compared to a 5.1 percent increase in the same period last year. Total Company sales decreased 3.6 percent for the month. While sales overall were softer than anticipated in September, children's apparel and women's accessories were the better performing merchandise divisions this month. The southeast region was the top performing geographic region in September.

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10.10.2011

The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. Announces September Sales

The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. today announced comparable store sales for the five weeks ended October 1, 2011 decreased 3.6%. Total sales decreased 4.1% to $286.9 million for the five weeks compared with $299.2 million for the prior year period.

Year-to-date comparable store sales decreased 2.1%. Year-to-date total sales decreased 2.7% to $1,709.4 million compared with $1,756.3 million for the same period last year.

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10.10.2011

Oil Rises a Fourth Day as Europe Pledges to Contain Debt, U.S. Gains Jobs

Oil climbed for a fourth day in New York as investors bet that fuel demand may increase after a pledge by European leaders to contain the region’s sovereign- debt crisis.

Futures rose as much as 2.1 percent after the biggest weekly gain in seven months. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy gave themselves three weeks to stamp out the European crisis, causing the euro to gain against the dollar. U.S. employers added more workers in September than forecast, a report showed Oct. 7. OPEC is likely to keep oil output targets unchanged when it meets in December, Mohammad Ali Khatibi, an Iranian representative to the group, said yesterday.

Crude is rising on “high hopes for an imminent Eurozone bailout,” Andrey Kryuchenkov, a London-based analyst at VTB Capital, said in an e-mail. “Policymakers in the EU have few options and no one wants 2008 all over again.”

Crude for November delivery advanced as much as $1.74 to $84.72 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange and was at $84.56 at 11:24 a.m. in London. West Texas Intermediate last week gained 4.8 percent, the biggest gain since the five days ended March 4. Prices are down 8.2 percent this year.

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10.10.2011

Hanley Wood to shutter two magazines

Hanley Wood CEO Frank Anton confirmed the construction industry media company is shuttering Building Products and Big Builder. The two magazines will cease publishing with their final scheduled issues this year. As a result of the closures, five positions were also eliminated.

Additionally, Anton confirmed that Hanley Wood will no longer develop eBuild.com, an online directory of building products. The site, however, will continue to appear online.

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10.10.2011

New Wood Fiber-Based Durable Tag Lets Growers and Retailers Replace Plastic

Monadnock Paper Mills, Inc. announces the launch of Monadnock EnviTM Durable Tag. Created as a replacement for HDPE, styrene and PLA plastics, this new durable, wood fiber-based substrate is designed for outdoor/weatherproof use in a wide variety of horticultural applications including tag, label, pot wrap and signage.

Envi Durable Tag is Forest Stewardship CouncilTM (FSC®) certified (Co18866 www.fsc.org). The FSC label ensures responsible use of forest resources as certified by the Rainforest AllianceTM.

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10.10.2011

Sonoco Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Tegrant Corporation

Sonoco, one of the largest diversified global packaging companies, today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Tegrant Corporation, a leading provider of highly engineered protective, temperature-assured and retail security packaging solutions, from Metalmark Capital for $550 million in cash. The final consideration is subject to a normal adjustment of net working capital.

According to Harris E. DeLoach, Jr., Sonoco chairman and chief executive officer, the acquisition of Tegrant is the largest in Sonoco's history and will create a North American leader in multimaterial protective packaging. Tegrant is projected to generate 2011 sales of approximately $440 million. When combined, Sonoco is projected to generate sales of approximately $5.0 billion in 2012. The transaction is expected to be accretive to Sonoco's 2012 pro forma earnings by approximately $.10 per diluted share, including estimated adjustments for purchase accounting and approximately $11 million of expected synergies, when fully realized.

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10.10.2011

International Paper Hall of Fame welcomes newest members

APPLETON — Doing what's right for the planet also can be good for business, said John Williams, the president and chief executive officer of Domtar Corp.

Williams gave the keynote address during Thursday induction of the newest members of the International Paper Hall of Fame, housed at the Paper Discovery Center in Appleton.

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10.10.2011

Sappi plans SA job cuts as part of restructuring

APaper and packaging group Sappi will cut a “significant” number of jobs in South Africa as it restructures its operations to adapt to changing customer needs and to match its assets to profitable markets, the group announced on Friday.

Sappi already closed the 47-year-old Adamas mill in Port Elizabeth and said it was implementing further cost reductions at both administrative and production levels.

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10.10.2011

Tembec sells already closed Pine Falls, Man. mill property and assets

MONTREAL - Tembec has sold its shut down newsprint mill and property at Pine Falls, Man. to a private investment firm.

Financial terms of the sale, announced Friday, were not disclosed.

The buyer is NRI Global Inc., a Buffalo, N.Y. private company that specializes in dismantling industrial sites and manages assets throughout North America.

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10.10.2011

MWV Named to Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for Eighth Straight Year

ICHMOND, Va., Oct 07, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- MeadWestvaco Corp today announced it is listed on the 2011 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) for the eighth consecutive year. The DJSI World recognizes the world's leading companies in the areas of economic, environmental and social performance, and evaluates organizations based on their commitment to and success in integrating sustainability into core business objectives and performance. In addition to being among the 342 companies listed on the world index, the global packaging company was the only company in its category to be listed on the North American index.

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10.07.2011

New biomass plant to be built in Berlin, NH

BERLIN, N.H.—Groundbreaking is getting under way for a new biomass power plant in a hard-pressed area of northern New Hampshire.

A ceremony marking the start of construction by Cate Street Capital is scheduled for Thursday morning at the site of the $275 million plant. The Berlin property was formerly part of the Fraser Paper's pulp mill, which closed in 2006. The new plant's slated to generate power by late 2013.

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10.07.2011

Commercial Paper Market Falls Below $1 Trillion, Fed Says

Oct. 6 (Bloomberg) -- The market for corporate borrowing through short-term IOUs fell below $1 trillion for the first time since Feb. 2 as investors cut holdings of bank debt on mounting concern Europe’s fiscal crisis is spreading.

The seasonally adjusted amount of U.S. commercial paper outstanding dropped by $22.2 billion to $985.4 billion in the week ended Oct. 5, the 12th consecutive decrease, the Federal Reserve said today on its website. It’s the longest stretch of declines since the period ended Jan. 19 and the lowest level since the market touched $988.3 billion Jan. 26, according to Fed data compiled by Bloomberg.

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10.07.2011

Record-busting PACK EXPO shows off

PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2011 was one for the record books. The event's square footage, exhibitors and attendees topped figures for the previous Las Vegas-based PACK EXPO in 2009 by double digits across the board. Thanks to the bustling activity, show attendees departed the Las Vegas Convention Center with a bright outlook of the packaging industry's future.

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10.07.2011

Packaging design tops agenda for live packaging debate as industry experts speak out

The recent news that food labelling confuses people, coupled with plans announced this week by the government who are due to begin a public consultation before the end of the year on whether to introduce plain packaging for cigarettes, has added extra heat to a live packaging debate, which will be focusing on packaging design.

The BIG Packaging debate will be taking place on the 6 October at 3.15pm, at the PACKAGING INNOVATIONS London Show, which is being held at The Business Design Centre, Islington London. Comments already being released by the panellists ahead of the debate, suggest emotions will run high.

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10.06.2011

Mattel Announces Sustainable Sourcing Principles

Mattel, Inc., today announced the launch of new sustainable sourcing principles to guide the company's procurement of paper and wood fiber used in its packaging and products.

Mattel's new principles focus on three fundamental steps to advance sustainability, including maximizing post-consumer recycled content, where possible; avoiding virgin fiber from controversial sources; and seeking to increase the percentage of fiber that is certified by a credible third party.

"We are committed to advancing the use of sustainably sourced paper and wood fiber across our business, beginning with packaging," said Lisa Marie Bongiovanni, vice president corporate affairs at Mattel, who also oversees the company's sustainability initiatives. "In developing these sourcing principles and setting goals, we applied a thoughtful and rigorous approach in evaluating our supply chain and identifying meaningful opportunities for continuous improvement."

Throughout the process to develop the sustainable sourcing principles, Mattel sought input from stakeholders throughout its supply chain and the environmental community. Earlier this year, Mattel directed its suppliers to exit known controversial sources.

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10.05.2011

Crude Oil Declines to One-Year Low as Investors Lose Confidence in Economy

Oil fell to a one-year low for a third day in New York amid concern that fuel demand will drop as investors lose confidence in the U.S. and European economies. Brent settled below $100 for the first time since February.

U.S. futures declined 2.5 percent after European policy makers indicated they may renegotiate terms of Greece’s bailout. Prices pared an intraday loss after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke signaled he may not be finished with attempts to stimulate the economy and as Saudi Arabian security forces were wounded during unrest in the kingdom.

“Fears of recession are driving us lower,” said Gene McGillian, an analyst and broker at Tradition Energy in Stamford, Connecticut. “Until we see some positive signals of the economic front, the market should move lower. We now have to find the next support level, which should be near $70.”

Crude for November delivery decreased $1.94 to $75.67 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, the lowest settlement since Sept. 23, 2010. Futures have fallen 7.9 percent in the past three sessions.

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10.05.2011

API: Lower Fox Law Firm Ignores Facts In Blatant Attempt to Mislead Wisconsin Citizens

A law firm representing one of the polluters in the Lower Fox River clean-up litigation has mischaracterized a decision made last week by Federal Judge William Griesbach, Appleton Papers Inc. (API) said today.

“Menasha is not spending a dime to clean up the river, but they have no problem hiring lawyers to pretend the company has no responsibility for the pollution they created”
API spokeswoman Katherine Querard said Judge Griesbach has not concluded litigation regarding the Lower Fox River clean-up and he did not place the $950 million clean-up burden solely upon the NCR Corp. and API.

In a press release issued yesterday, the law firm of Hunnsucker Goodstein & Nelson PC -- defense counsel for the Menasha Corp. in the Lower Fox River litigation -- said that a September 30 ruling by Judge Griesbach effectively meant that all clean up costs must be borne by NCR and API.

In fact, the ultimate financial liabilities to be apportioned among all the responsible parties – including Menasha – are still to be determined. Judge Griesbach issued a denial of a technical motion (concerning the right to appeal a partial judgment) and ruled that private parties can now press a claim for Natural Resource Damages under a certain section of CERCLA. The case continues on a schedule as determined by Judge Griesbach with trial set to resume in February.

The Menasha Corp. is one of the companies identified by the US Government as a responsible party for polluting the Lower Fox River. The company has not spent one dollar repairing any damage to Wisconsin’s Natural Resources. The Federal and Wisconsin government agencies overseeing the clean-up effort continue to press parties to contribute to the cost of the clean-up.

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10.05.2011

Allen Press Wins Prestigious Printing Awards in 2011

Allen Press, Inc., printer and publishing services provider, has won coveted awards in 2011in three prestigious regional and national printing competitions, where excellence in print quality as well as overall impact and degree of difficulty in technique are judged.

PIA MidAmerica, the regional trade group of the Printing and Imaging Association, bestowed the “Best of Category” award for three publications, recognizing each in their category in the company’s division. The winning pieces were American Art 24:3, a University of Chicago Press publication for the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Orchids 79:7, a publication of the American Orchid Society and the Arabian Horse Times 2011 Calendar, from Arabian Horse Times, Inc. Allen Press’ accomplishments were honored at a banquet this spring in Kansas City.

The company won two Gold Ink Awards, given by industry publications, Printing Impressions, Publishing Executive and Book Business. A Bronze award was given for Gems & Gemology 46:4, a publication of the Gemological Institute of America and a Pewter award was received for Shadows of Minidoka, a retrospective of art and collections of artist Roger Shimomura and published by the Lawrence Art Center, Lawrence, Kansas.

Sappi Fine Paper North America honored the company with a Bronze for its Printer of the Year Award for Gems & Gemology 46:4. Both Gems & Gemology and Shadows of Minidoka were printed on Sappi paper. This competition received more than 2,100 entries in North America with only 54 garnering this prize, given in nine categories.

These competitions, sponsored by printing and graphic arts industry magazines, graphic arts trade associations, and paper companies, offer printers an opportunity to show their best works alongside other printers, and all are judged by a panel of highly regarded print professionals.

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10.05.2011

ZenithOptimedia revises global ad forecast down to 3.6%

ZenithOptimedia revised its global ad spending forecast to a 3.6% increase for the year, down from its July forecast of 4.1%, citing a slowdown in economic growth and recent market turmoil.

ZenithOptimedia also revised its global ad spending forecast for next year down slightly to 5.3% growth, from its earlier forecast of 5.9% growth.

In the U.S., ZenithOptimedia projected ad spending will grow 2.2% this year, a slight increase over its July forecast of 2.1% growth.

“The slowdown in economic recovery in the developed markets, coupled with rising fears of a double-dip recession, have caused some advertisers to trim back budget increases planned for the end of 2011; but there has been no sign of the canceled campaigns and sharp budget cuts that signaled the beginning of the last advertising downturn in 2008,” ZenithOptimedia said in its report.

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