Verso Corporation Expands Strategic Alternatives Considerations

Verso Corporation announced that the Strategic Alternatives Committee formed by its Board of Directors in September 2017, has, at the direction of the Board, expanded its evaluation of potential transaction alternatives to include other alternatives, including but not limited to, a potential sale or merger of the entire company. As previously announced, the Committee, with the assistance of Houlihan Lokey Capital, Inc., the company's financial advisor, has been charged with identifying and evaluating a range of potential strategic transaction alternatives to maximize value to Verso stockholders, and with recommending to the Board whether any potential transaction is in the best interests of the company and its stockholders. Click Read More below for additional information.
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American Forest & Paper Association Releases December 2017 U.S. Packaging Papers & Specialty Packaging Monthly Report

Total Packaging Papers shipments were 240,000 tons, 2.5 percent higher than December 2016. Bag & Sack shipments were up 1.3 percent year-to-date, while Food Wrapping shipments were down 6.0 percent over the same period. The operating rate for December 2017 was the second highest of the year at 92.0 percent, while the year-to-date rate was 88.6 percent. Inventories were 165,800 tons, down 4.2 percent since November 2017.
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American Forest & Paper Association Releases December 2017 Containerboard Report

Containerboard production was up 3.6 percent compared to December 2016 and up 3.1 percent year-to-date. The month-over-month average daily production was 1.8 percent higher compared to November 2017. The containerboard operating rate for December increased from 96.9 percent to 98.9 percent, 2.4 percentage points higher than December of 2016 and production for exports was 3.3 percent higher than December 2016. Year-to-date production of containerboard for exports is up 4.1 percent.
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Production disruptions impact profit negatively at BillerudKorsnas

The difficulties with production availability continued in the fourth quarter 2017 which impacted sales volumes negatively despite a very strong market. Operating profit (EBIT) for full year 2017 is calculated to be approximately MSEK 2 240 which is lower than expected but gives a margin of 10 percent. It is mainly the production facilities in Gruvön and Gävle that are affected, which impact sales negatively within business areas Consumer Board and Corrugated Solutions. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Oil Hovers Near 3-Year High as U.S. Stockpiles Forecast to Drop

Futures were little changed in New York after rising 0.4 percent on Wednesday. The American Petroleum Institute estimates stocks fell by 5.12 million barrels last week, a steeper drop than the 3.15 million forecast in a Bloomberg survey before Energy Information Administration data due Thursday. OPEC’s outlook for rival supply expanded once again, the group said in its monthly report, becoming the latest agency to boost its estimates for American production. Oil is extending its run after two consecutive annual gains as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia curb supplies. While the cuts are gradually shrinking a global surplus, OPEC said rising prices are boosting production in North America. The International Energy Agency, which releases its monthly report on Friday, may also increase its estimates for U.S. output, said Executive Director Fatih Birol. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Bonnier Lays Off 70 Employees; Shutters Five Print Titles Amid Realignment

Bonnier Corp., the Swedish-owned publisher of special-interest magazines like Field & Stream and Popular Science, has laid off 70 employees from its U.S. operation and will shutter the print editions of five titles, a spokeswoman confirmed to Folio: on Wednesday. Motorcycle titles Baggers and Dirt Rider, as well as the water sports magazines Sport Diver, Wakeboarding, and WaterSki will cease in print and continue as digital-only brands, although those titles are far from the only areas of the company affected. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Canadian Book Sales Down in 2017

Unit sales of print books fell 4% in 2017 compared to 2016 in Canada, while dollar sales dropped 3%, according to figures compiled by BookNet Canada’s sales tracking service. BookNet reported that the Canadian book industry sold approximately 51.5 million copies in 2017, for just over C$1 billion. Figures are based on a group of retailers that provide sales data to BookNet annually and account for about 85% of print sales. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Smurfit Kappa expands global network of recycling plants

Smurfit Kappa has opened a new recycling plant in Malaga, Spain, which will strengthen its recovered paper service in the region. The plant, which is expected to process over 30,000 tonnes of recovered paper annually, is perfectly positioned to meet the city’s growing recycling needs. A fleet of eco-friendly hybrid vehicles collect paper and board from households and businesses. This is then sorted at the plant and sent to the Smurfit Kappa Mengibar Containerboard Mill where it is converted into board that is used to create new packaging. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Sonoco Implementing Price Increase for All Uncoated Recycled Paperboard Products

Sonoco announced it is implementing a $50 per ton price increase for all grades of uncoated recycled paperboard (URB) in the United States and Canada, effective with shipments beginning February 19, 2018. A positive of the robust economy is solid backlogs at our mills. A challenge that the growing economy presents is inflating input costs such as we are seeing in freight, energy and a host of other paper-making consumables. Sonoco must seek to recover these inflating costs in the market,” said Palace Stepps, division vice president of sales and marketing for Sonoco’s U.S. and Canada paper and adhesives.
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Meredith’s Acquisition Of Time Inc. Receives Antitrust Clearance

Meredith Corporation announced that early termination of the waiting period has been granted under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvement Act of 1976 applicable to its acquisition of Time Inc. As a result, Meredith plans to complete the transaction – first announced on November 26, 2017 – within the next 30 days, subject to satisfaction of the other terms and conditions of the tender offer. Meredith also announced that it intends to offer, subject to market and other customary conditions, up to $1.4 billion in aggregate principal of new senior unsecured 8-year notes (the "Notes"). Meredith intends to use the net proceeds of the proposed offering to fund a portion of its proposed acquisition of Time Inc.; to repay existing Meredith and Time Inc. indebtedness and credit facilities; and pay other fees and expenses related to Meredith's acquisition of Time Inc. and the related refinancing. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Off-Set Printing: A Technology for Speed and Flexibility that Picks Up Where Digital Leaves Off

Andrea Tonin, Innovation Director, makes a case for why off-set printing may be the new choice for brands to get packaging on store shelves with speed and agility. Off-set printing first gained widespread use in the newspaper industry over 100 years ago, thanks to its fast turnaround of large printing quantities. Today brands need to respond almost as quickly as news outlets to put the latest packaging designs in front of consumers. Getting new packaging to store shelves faster is the rationale behind Amcor’s recent investment in EB off-set print technology. Advancements in off-set technology for packaging offer excellent print quality, flexibility in order size and faster speed to market. It’s the latest technique to consider for promotions, editions and even designing current events into packaging – going from artwork to print in a matter of hours or days instead of weeks. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Oil Trades Near Three-Year High as OPEC Members Reassure on Cuts

Futures were little changed in New York after rising 4.7 percent last week. The curbs have contributed to stability in the market and should remain, Iraqi Oil Minister Jabbar al-Luaibi said Saturday. Yet, Brent crude at $70 a barrel may be giving fresh stimulus to U.S. shale-oil drillers to boost output, according to the International Energy Agency. Oil has extended gains after a second annual advance as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies curb supply to drain a global glut. Though they have said the historic deal will run until the end of this year, OPEC is “very likely to cut short” the pact if markets become balanced, JP Morgan Securities said in a report. Click Read More below for additional information.
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EXPERA’S RESIN-GARD™ Saturating Papers

Expera Specialty Solutions product brand, Resin-Gard™, represents its advanced line of saturating papers engineered to achieve uniform saturant (resin or latex) pickup required by manufacturers to meet finished product performance requirements. Resin-Gard™ offers dimensional stability, engineered strength, and surface properties that meet specific processing needs, providing customers with a comprehensive line of quality products. “Resin-Gard™ provides the market with multiple application possibilities,” said Jeff Murphy, Director of Sales and Marketing for Expera Specialty Solutions. “From building and construction and home décor, to recreation and filter medium, the possibilities are endless.” Click Read More below for additional information.
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Market launch for Sappi’s Fusion Uncoated Announced

Sappi expands its container board product range and with Fusion Uncoated, offers an uncoated fresh fibre liner in the corrugated board market. With the development of Sappi’s Fusion Uncoated, a fully bleached fresh fibre liner, the specialist paper manufacturer is continuing to expand its product offering for the high-volume corrugated board market. Fusion Uncoated is based on the paper concept for the already very successful Fusion Topliner. In contrast to the double-coated Fusion Topliner, Fusion Uncoated has a natural, uncoated surface. Ideal applications include corrugated board and carton packaging, requiring a high white appearance for the topliner, inner liner and fluting. "Sappi's core expertise lies in the production of fresh fibre papers,” says Bernd Gelder, Product Group Manager for Containerboard at Sappi. “This makes the development of Fusion Uncoated a logical next step in our ambition to create an ever more appealing container board portfolio. We can now offer an uncoated surface with a natural look for the premium corrugated board sector. Fusion Uncoated is wood-free and impresses with its high whiteness and strength values." Click Read More below for additional information.
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UPM Biofuels receives Uruguay’s first RSB sustainability certification for biofuel feedstock

UPM Biofuels has received a sustainability certificate for the cultivation of the Brassica carinata crop - a new feedstock for biofuel production - in Uruguay. The RSB (The Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials) certification in biofuel feedstock production complements UPM Biofuels' existing sustainability certifications like ISCC (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) and RSB certifications for its UPM BioVerno biofuel production. "RSB certification acknowledges our strong commitment to sustainability in all operations, now also in biofuel feedstock production with local farmers. This is also the first RSB certificate in Uruguay and creates new sustainable practices for agriculture," says Liisa Ranta, Manager, Sustainability, UPM Biofuels Development.
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Irving Paper mill employee treated in hospital after butane detected

Irving Paper, Irving Wallboard plant and J.D. Irving Ltd. offices on Bayside Drive all remained closed Thursday night, but employees could be back to work on Friday, based on preliminary air quality tests at the mill, said Keith. "Employees will return to these work sites when two separate tests have determined we meet the safe, regulated exposure levels," she said. "Employee safety is our top priority and a responsibility that we take very seriously." "The evacuation of the mill and [air quality] testing was underway prior to the employee reporting to hospital," said Keith. The company is maintaining contact with the employee and co-operating fully with WorksafeNB, she added. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Spot truckload rates surge to start New Year

Amid extreme weather and tight capacity, national average spot truckload rates saw double-digit increases during the week ending Jan. 6, according to DAT Solutions, which operates the DAT network of load boards. The number of available loads increased 27%, in line with expectations when a full workweek follows a holiday-shortened one. However, the number of trucks posted to DAT load boards was up just 7.4% and the imbalance pushed load-to-truck ratios up for all three equipment types. In the van market, load posts jumped 26% but truck posts were up only 6%, as many truckers were still taking time off. The national average van rate was $2.30/mile, up 19 cents compared to the previous week. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Domtar Announces Price Increase on Sheets and Rolls

Effective with shipments February 12, 2018 the price for the following products will increase by 3%-6%: • Cougar® Rolls and Sheets • Lynx® Opaque Ultra Rolls and Sheets • Husky® Opaque Offset Rolls and Sheets • EarthChoice® Opaque Offset 30% Rolls and Sheets • Domtar Reply Card Rolls and Sheets • EarthChoice® Colors Opaque Text and Cover • EarthChoice® Colors Multipurpose • EarthChoice® Colors Index, Tag and Vellum Bristol • EarthChoice® Hots Text and Cover • EarthChoice® Tradebook • ci2000® • EarthChoice® Envelope including colors • Engineering Laser Bond • Enterprise Postal Advantage™ • Laser Forms Bond including processed rolls and box forms • White Wove Envelope • Domtar Bagstock • Domtar Tablet • Brown Kraft Envelope • Domtar Ink Jet products including processed rolls • Business Papers products including Xerox® Vitality and all Domtar mill and private label brands • Xerox® Bold and Xerox® Revolution products. Price increases apply to all pack types; rolls, folio and cut size. All current standard differentials and upcharges remain in effect.
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Resolute Forest Products Praises Canada’s Filing at WTO

Resolute Forest Products Inc. expressed praise for Wednesday's filing by the Government of Canada at the World Trade Organization (WTO). Canada launched a wide-ranging complaint against the United States, challenging a host of measures inconsistent with its WTO obligations. Resolute applauds the Canadian action, standing up for Canadian jobs and families, the company's customers and business partners in the United States, and the international rule of law. "Resolute has been a victim of this pattern of behavior by the United States Department of Commerce. We are repeatedly confronting the same discredited protectionist policies when we fairly sell paper and lumber to American consumers who need and want these products," stated Richard Garneau, president and chief executive officer. Click Read More below for additional information.
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UPM recognised as a Water Efficiency Frontrunner in China

UPM has been recognised as a Water Efficiency Frontrunner in Jiangsu Province and China at large. As a frontrunner, UPM will serve as a benchmark for the industry and lead the promotion of water efficiency in China. In total, 11 companies received the highest recognition nationwide. UPM is the first, and only, company to obtain the highest recognition in Jiangsu Province. "Located next to Shanghai, Jiangsu is an important industrial base; with an economy of 7.6 trillion Chinese Yuan (EUR 972 billion) the province has second highest GDP in China, right after Guangdong. Jiangsu also has the strictest water and air emission permit limits in China", says Lisheng Jin, Environmental Manager, UPM Changshu Mill. "When putting this recognition in this context, we can be extremely proud of our achievement," he continues. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Oil prices ease from 3-year highs after Brent crude rockets above $70 a barrel

Brent crude oil hit a more than three-year high on Thursday, breaking through the psychologically important $70 a barrel level for the first time since December 2014. Oil futures failed to hold the gains, selling off as the close of trading approached, with analysts warning that the market might have little room left to run. Oil prices have been supported by stronger-than-expected demand fueled by worldwide economic growth, ongoing output limits by OPEC and Russia and a series of global events that have stoked geopolitical tension. Click Read More below for additional information.
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U.S. Newspaper, Book Printers Buying Canadian Uncoated Groundwood Are Up in Arms

A preliminary determination on Jan. 9 by the U.S. Department of Commerce to impose countervailing duties (CVD) ranging from 4.43% to 9.93% has U.S. newspaper, book and commercial printers that buy imported Canadian uncoated groundwood paper seeing red. That's because it will deliver a severe blow to their bottom lines due to what amounts to an average countervailing duty of 6.53%. In its investigation, the Commerce Department calculated a preliminary subsidy rate of 6.09% for Catalyst Paper, 9.93% for Kruger Trois-Rivieres, and 4.42% for Resolute Forest Products Canada. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Sun Chemical Introduces New SunCure Aspire UV Offset Inks for Luxury Folding Carton Applications

Sun Chemical has launched a new UV offset ink that was developed to make sophisticated graphics look stunning and vibrant on high-end luxury folding cartons while at the same time providing the longer-term shelf appeal brand owners require. The new ink system, SunCure® Aspire UV, has been formulated to exhibit immense color transparency to help create vivid color graphic effects on metallized, lenticular and holographic board stocks frequently used for pharmaceutical, perfume, liquor, cosmetic and POP applications. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Sam’s Club Shares Changes to Club Fleet

Sam’s Club, a division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. announced changes to the business unit’s U.S. real estate portfolio, with the closure of 63 clubs around the country. The company will convert up to 12 of the impacted clubs to eCommerce fulfillment centers in a move that will speed delivery of online orders, with the balance of the facilities closing over the next few weeks. Currently, Walmart and Sam’s Club operate more than 5,400 locations across the U.S.; after the actions announced today the company will have 597 clubs. The action was taken after a thorough performance review. “Transforming our business means managing our real estate portfolio and Walmart needs a strong fleet of Sam’s Clubs that are fit for the future,” said John Furner, president and CEO of Sam’s Club. “We know this is difficult news for our associates and we are working to place as many of them as possible at nearby locations. Our focus today has been on those associates and their communities, and communicating with them.” Sam’s Club Shares Changes to Club Fleet
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Meredith Corporation Extends Tender Offer To Acquire Time Inc.

Meredith Corporation announced that it has extended its previously announced tender offer to purchase all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Time Inc. for $18.50 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at $2.8 billion. The Offer will now expire one minute after 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on January 25, 2018, per terms of the merger agreement, unless further extended. All other terms and conditions of the Offer remain unchanged. Computershare Trust Company, N.A., the depository for the Offer, has advised Meredith that as of the close of business (Eastern Time) on January 10, 2018, approximately 59,024,324 shares of common stock of Time (not including 4,812,404 shares tendered by notice of guaranteed delivery for which shares have not yet been delivered) have been validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Offer, representing approximately 58.7% of the outstanding shares of common stock of Time. Click Read More below for additional information.
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AF&PA Targets Trade, Transportation, Paper-Options Safeguards and Regulatory Reform Among Top 2018 Advocacy Priorities

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) announced its top 2018 advocacy priorities that include free and fair trade, transportation efficiencies, regulatory process reforms and government policies that respect market dynamics for paper-based products. The association will pursue them as it supports the pulp, paper, packaging and wood products industry’s ability to grow the economy and create American manufacturing jobs. “Enactment of historic comprehensive tax reform sets a welcome stage for AF&PA to focus on key 2018 advocacy priorities that will further our industry’s ability boost the economy and create jobs and opportunity for all Americans,” said AF&PA President and CEO Donna Harman. “Free and fair trade policy, efficient transportation measures, systemic regulatory process reforms and policies that respect market place competition and consumer choice for paper-based products rank high on our list. We are eager to continue working with the Administration and Congress and state governments to advance shared goals that will open the door for our companies to invest, innovate and compete at home and around the globe. With more than 900,000 employees in rural and urban communities across 45 states, we are one of the largest manufacturing sectors in the nation with an ability to thrive with the support of forward-thinking public policy.” Click Read More below for additional information.
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Bertelsmann Expands Global Network of Start-ups

Bertelsmann has further expanded its global network of start-up investments. Last year, the international media, services and education group made more than 70 investments worldwide, through the funds bundled in its Bertelsmann Investments division. At the same time, the company completed a number of exits, and profits from the disposal of these investments – most notably by the Bertelsmann Asia Investments (BAI) fund in China – made an appreciable contribution to Group net income. Overall, at the end of the year Bertelsmann had holdings in more than 160 innovative start-ups and investment funds. Thomas Rabe, Chairman and CEO of Bertelsmann, said: “Investments in young digital companies with innovative business models play an important role in the implementation of our strategy. With these investments, we ensure the transfer of knowledge, about digital trends that support us in the transformation, as well as about promising markets. We have massively expanded our network of start-up holdings in recent years, especially in our strategic growth regions of China, India and Brazil, and have repeatedly demonstrated that we are an ideal partner for innovative founders who want to expand their activities.” Click Read More below for additional information.
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Oil rises 1% to 3-year high, settling at $63.57, after US crude stockpiles fall

Crude oil prices rose but backed away from multi-year highs on Wednesday after U.S. government data showed an increase in fuel inventories and a falloff in refining activity. A broad, global market rally, including stocks, has also been fueling investment into crude oil futures, but analysts warned of possible overheating. U.S. crude inventories fell 4.9 million barrels last week, more than the 3.9-million decline forecast, but bigger-than-expected builds in gasoline and fuel stocks offset that drawdown, the Energy Information Administration reported. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Crown and Eklo Water Bring First Flavored Water Packed in Cans to Brazil

Increasing consumer preference for healthy, convenient, zero-calorie beverages are expected to drive revenue growth of the Brazil flavored water market by 7.3% CAGR through 2024. In response, Eklo Water, based in Rio de Janeiro, has partnered with Crown Embalagens Metálicas da Amazônia S.A. (Crown Brazil), a subsidiary of Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCK) (Crown) (www.crowncork.com), to introduce the first flavored water to be packed in aluminum beverage cans to the Brazilian market. “It is clear that Brazilians want healthy, flavorful alternatives to teas, soft drinks and sugary beverages,” said Fabio Nono, Co-Owner of Eklo Water. “Our flavored water meets that demand and sleek style beverage cans are the perfect format to market them in. While we originally launched the drink in cartons, we transitioned to sleek style beverage cans as we are seeing consumers display an increased preference for package attributes such as portability, eye-catching design and overall durability.” Click Read More below for additional information.
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FPAC Statement on Uncoated Groundwood Duties

The US Department of Commerce imposed unwarranted countervailing duties up to 9.93% on imported Canadian uncoated groundwood paper (newsprint). Forest Products Association of Canada strongly believes that these duties are completely unjustified and protectionist in nature. We call on the federal government to stand with us and the over 4,500 hard-working Canadians from British Columbia to Newfoundland and Labrador who could be impacted by this frivolous trade action. As it has with the softwood lumber dispute, this trade action will bring real harm to U.S. workers and businesses, impacting over 600,000 American jobs. We applaud the leadership of the many Democratic and Republican U.S. Senators, and the publishers of over one thousand small and medium-sized U.S. newspapers who have demanded that Washington not impose countervailing and anti-dumping duties on Canadian newsprint. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Forest Sector Applauds Canada’s Filing at WTO to Fight For Jobs and Communities Affected by U.S. Duties

Wednesday, 1/10/18, the Government of Canada launched a complaint against the United States challenging Washington’s use of anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties. Canada said U.S. procedures broke the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Anti-Dumping Agreement, the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, and the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes. “These rates tabled last night by the U.S. on uncoated groundwood paper represent the third action that stands to hurt hard working men and women in our mill communities across Canada,” says Derek Nighbor, CEO, Forest Products Association of Canada. “These duties are unwarranted and without merit and we 100% support the federal government’s “WTO filing” position. Canada and the U.S. share a longstanding and important relationship, but in the face of these unfounded trade actions it’s important that our government defends Canada’s interests”.
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Label printers world wide use the flexibility and productivity of new Gallus Labelmaster

At the beginning of December last year, Heidelberg China and Gallus Shanghai jointly organized in the Print Media Center in Shanghai a launch event for the Gallus Labelmaster in China. Around 160 guests from label print shops in China and Region Asia as well as media journalists attended the event. They were able to watch live demos of the Gallus Labelmaster in label production and experienced a new height in leading label printing. “We are extremely optimistic about the future development of packaging and label printing in China”, explains Benny Huang, CEO of Heidelberg China. “In recent years, with an increasing middle class and accelerating urbanization processes, there are more and more specific requirements on packaging and label. It is our duty to continue providing high quality products and services for packaging and label print shops in China.” Asia has become the fastest growing label market in the world. It is expected that by 2019, the Asian label market will have increased by 5.5%, in which the growth rate of self-adhesive labels will reach 6.3%. “Owing to the higher cost of raw materials and labor today, print shops are paying more attention to productivity”, describes Teddy Jiang, General Manager of Gallus Shanghai. “At the same time, influenced by consumers and branding goods manufacturers, packaging and label printing is moving towards short run, multiple orders and product diversification.“ Click Read More below for additional information.
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Mohawk Partners with Lawton Connect to Redefine the Scratch Off Printing Market

Mohawk, family owned paper makers since 1931, have entered into a strategic partnership with commercial printer Lawton Connect, family owned since 1900, to form Mr. Scratch Off LLC. This partnership has been formed around the introduction of an innovative new technology using HP Indigo printing to produce the first 4-color, scratch off printed products in the world. Currently, printing for scratch off products uses single or multi-color printed images which are covered by a single-color fixed shape, applied with a flexographic press. This new capability allows both the scratch off area and the image beneath to be a multi-color print and fully variable from piece to piece; all using high resolution, HP Indigo printing. Click Read More below for additional information.
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In First Week On Sale, ‘Fire and Fury’ Sells Fewer Than 30,000 Copies

Customers that couldn't get a physical copy of Michael Wolff's Fire and Fury were in good company. According to figures from NPD BookScan, the hottest book of the year sold 28,567 print copies in the three days it was available for sale last week (ended January 7). BookScan covers 80- 85% of all print sales, excluding those through libraries. Although the figure is surprisingly low for a book that has captured the attention of the media and the President in such striking fashion, that number was still enough to make the White House tell-all the top-selling title in the country last week. John Sargent, CEO of Holt parent company Macmillan, told the Wall Street Journal that Fire and Fury had a 150,000-copy first printing. The discrepancy between the announced first printing and last week's sales is likely, in part, the result of Holt moving the book's publication date up, from January 9 to January 5. Shipments of the book that were timed to hit stores early this week may have been on the road over the weekend. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Survey Shows Paper Preferred for Information Credibility, Reading Pleasure

While the digital revolution is changing the way people learn, work, pay and play, print is still a preferred choice for many aspects of American life. New research shows that the perception of information credibility increases with print, and that people find reading on paper more enjoyable than reading on digital devices. In 2017, Two Sides North America commissioned a survey of more than 2,000 adults in the United States to find out how print and paper are viewed in a digital world. Two Sides is an independent nonprofit organization created to promote the sustainability of print and paper. Its members, including Domtar, span the print and paper value chain, including forestry, pulp, paper, inks and chemicals, pre-press, press, finishing, publishing, printing, envelopes and postal operators. Phil Riebel, president of Two Sides North America, spoke about the survey’s key findings and explored how digital and print play complementary roles in the ways consumers live. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Meredith Corporation Launches “Hungry Girl” Magazine In Collaboration With Lisa Lillien

Meredith Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of Hungry Girl magazine. The spring issue will be on newsstands January 16th and carry a $9.99 cover price. This magazine was created under the vision of Lisa Lillien, the creator of the Hungry Girl brand and founder of hungry-girl.com. Lillien, a leader in the better-for-you food space, is the author of twelve bestselling cookbooks, six of which debuted at #1 on the New York Times Best Sellers list. Nearly 3 million email subscribers and social media followers eagerly await Hungry Girl's recipes, food finds, and tips & tricks each weekday. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Nordstrom Reports November and December Combined Sales

Nordstrom, Inc. announced an increase in its net sales of 2.5 percent and an increase in comparable sales of 1.2 percent for the nine weeks ended December 30, 2017, compared with the same period last year. This reflected an improvement in Nordstrom full-line and Nordstrom Rack stores relative to year-to-date sales trends and continued growth in e-commerce at Nordstrom.com and Nordstromrack.com/HauteLook. In the Nordstrom brand, including U.S. and Canada full-line stores and Nordstrom.com, net sales when combined with Trunk Club, increased 0.7 percent and comparable sales increased 1.0 percent. In the Nordstrom Rack brand, which consists of Nordstrom Rack stores and Nordstromrack.com/HauteLook, net sales increased 8.2 percent and comparable sales increased 2.9 percent. Click Read More below for additional information.
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ITA International Trade Administration : Preliminary Determination in the Countervailing Duty Investigation of Imports of Uncoated Groundwood Paper from Canada

• Commerce has calculated a preliminary subsidy rate of 6.09 percent for mandatory respondent Catalyst Paper Corporation (Catalyst), 9.93 percent for mandatory respondent Kruger Trois-Rivieres L.P. (Kruger), 4.42 percent for mandatory respondent Resolute FP Canada Inc. (Resolute) and 0.65 percent for voluntary respondent White Birch Paper Canada Company NSULC (White Birch). All other producers/exporters in Canada have been assigned a preliminary subsidy rate of 6.53 percent. • As a result of the preliminary affirmative determination, Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to require cash deposits based on these preliminary rates. • The merchandise covered by this investigation is certain paper that has not been coated on either side and with 50 percent or more of the cellulose fiber content consisting of groundwood pulp, including groundwood pulp made from recycled paper, weighing not more than 90 grams per square meter. Groundwood pulp includes all forms of pulp produced from a mechanical pulping process, such as thermo-mechanical process (TMP), chemi-thermo mechanical process (CTMP), bleached chemi-thermo mechanical process (BCTMP) or any other mechanical pulping process. The scope includes paper shipped in any form, including but not limited to both rolls and sheets. Certain uncoated groundwood paper includes but is not limited to standard newsprint, high bright newsprint, book publishing, directory, and printing and writing papers. The scope includes paper that is white, off-white, cream, or colored. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Norpac praises Commerce move to slap duties on Canadian papermakers

In a victory for Norpac — and potential blow to local newspapers — the U.S. Department of Commerce announced Tuesday that it will start imposing preliminary antidumping and countervailing duties on Canadian paper producers. The move comes in response to a petition filed in August in which the Longview papermaker alleged that Canadian paper manufacturers hold an unfair advantage over domestic producers. Norpac claimed that Canadian paper companies benefit from 65 different subsidies that add up to hundreds of millions of dollars. The federal and provincial subsidies include government grants, tax breaks, subsidized loans, raw materials at below-market costs and cheap subsidized electricity, according to Norpac. A Commerce investigation found that Canadian uncoated groundwood paper — the same product used to print newspapers — was subsidized by an average of 6.53 percent, Norpac said Tuesday. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Brent crude oil tops $68 a barrel — its highest since 2015

Oil rose further above $68 a barrel briefly on Tuesday, touching its highest since May 2015, supported by OPEC-led production cuts and expectations U.S. crude inventories fell for an eighth week. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia are keeping supply limits in place in 2018, a second year of restraint, to reduce a price-denting glut of oil held in inventories. OPEC is cutting output by even more than it promised [OPEC/O] and the restraint is reducing oil stocks globally, a trend most visible in the United States, the world's largest and most transparent oil market. Click Read More below for additional information.
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F+W Dismisses Top Execs Amid Layoffs

In a dramatic changing of the guard at the niche magazine publisher, F+W Media has dismissed its CEO, COO, and CTO, Folio: has learned. The company’s board of directors revealed Monday its decision to part ways with CEO Tom Beusse, COO Joe Seibert, and CTO Joe Romello, installing Greg Osberg, CEO of media consulting firm Revlyst, as F+W’s interim CEO while a replacement is sought. After determining that a change was needed, Osberg tells Folio:, ownership decided to bring him on—as well as a team of consultants from business advisory firm FTI Consulting—in a move that’s less an indictment of existing management’s strategic plan, but rather indicative of a desire to expedite the company’s necessary transformation. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Hearst Completes Acquisition of Rodale Inc. Magazine Media Brands

Hearst announced today that it has completed its transaction with Rodale to acquire the company’s global health and wellness brands. In addition to the U.S. editions and digital expressions, the newly-acquired brands publish 62 print editions and 57 websites in 31 countries. The acquisition adds complementary health and wellness titles to Hearst’s diversified portfolio of magazine brands, encompassing 20 titles in the U.S. and nearly 300 editions and websites around the world. The announcement was made by Hearst President and CEO Steven R. Swartz and Hearst Magazines President David Carey. Terms were not disclosed. Concurrent with the close, Penguin Random House purchased the assets of Rodale Books.
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Hammer Packaging Celebrates New Rapida 106 With Visit From Koenig & Bauer’s President and CEO Claus Bolza-Schünemann

The red carpet was rolled out as Jim Hammer, president of Hammer Packaging, and his executive team and employees were honored to welcome Koenig & Bauer president and CEO Claus Bolza-Schünemann who arrived from Germany to its headquarters in Rochester, NY. Bolza-Schünemann was especially interested to inspect the new KBA Rapida 106 41-inch eight-color press on Hammer’s pressroom floor, which was installed in July 2017, and how its unique features are assisting Hammer and its customers. With the installation of its new 41-inch KBA eight-color press at its modern two-story headquarters set in an expansive wooded suburban office park near the campus of Rochester Institute of Technology, Hammer is working hand-and-hand with its customers on how it is pioneering a new generation of offset printing. This new configuration is yet another unique layout to its portfolio of presses, says the company, and is making Hammer truly one-of-a-kind. This latest press represents the newest technology available with the fastest press speeds in the world. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Klabin is included in the WWF Environmental Index

For the third time in a row Klabin has been included in the Environmental Paper Company Index 2017 (EPCI), published every two years by WWF. EPCI is based on voluntary disclosure by companies of more than 50 indicators that measure the environmental performance and changes in them over time with regard to Responsible Fiber Supply, Clean Production and Environmental Management System reports. Klabin achieved a high level of performance by reaching a score of 100% on Responsible Fiber Supply, and a 6% increase in the Clean Production indicator compared to the previous measurement, while maintaining its score above 50% in Environmental Management reports. All the indicators considered the operations of the company’s 18 current production units (17 in Brazil and one in Argentina), compared to 14 units the company had in the previous edition. The company’s results and inclusion in the Index underscore sustainability as the foundation of Klabin’s business management, being the link in the continuous creation of value, which prioritizes a balance between the economical, social and environmental spheres. Click Read More below for additional information.
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PRH Buys Rodale Books Assets

After completing its purchase of Rodale Inc. last week, the Hearst Corp., which announced the deal in October, quickly turned around and sold Rodale's trade book publishing assets to Penguin Random House. Terms of the acquisition, which involves more than 2,000 backlist titles and 100 frontlist books, were not disclosed. With the purchase, Rodale Books’ adult nonfiction titles will be released under the Rodale Books imprint. It will become part of the Crown Publishing Group, and will be an imprint of its Illustrated and Lifestyle division, comprised of the Harmony, Ten Speed Press, and Clarkson Potter publishing programs, overseen by Aaron Wehner, senior v-p of the unit’s imprints. Diana Baroni, v-p and editorial director of Harmony Books, will oversee Rodale Books. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Barnes & Noble Customers Donate Approximately 1.6 Million Books to Children in Need Through Holiday Book Drive

Barnes & Noble, Inc. announced that it collected approximately 1.6 million books during its 2017 Holiday Book Drive program. The books are being donated to more than 650 local charities across the country that provide services to children. The donation was made possible through the generous support of Barnes & Noble customers, who purchased books for donation at Barnes & Noble bookstores nationwide between November 1, 2017, and January 1, 2018. Community partners are distributing the books collected to hospitals, schools, literacy organizations and social service organizations. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Target Raises Q4 Guidance on Stronger-than-Expected Holiday Sales

Target Corporation announced that its comparable sales in the combined November/December period grew 3.4 percent, compared with the expected range of 0 to 2 percent. Comparable sales across all of the Company's core merchandise categories – Home, Apparel, Food & Beverage, Hardlines and Essentials – were positive and accelerated from the third quarter, reflecting strong traffic growth, positive store comps and continued strength in digital sales. Target now expects 2017 will be the fourth consecutive year in which its digital sales grow more than 25 percent. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Rick Cheetham and Bill Kopp Join Allen Press as Sales Executives

Cheetham joins Allen Press with more than 30 years of experience selling magazine, catalog, insert and direct mail printing to the association, publication and retail markets while Kopp joins Allen Press with over 20 years of experience in B2B business development, serving clients in print, marketing, healthcare and technology. “We are very excited to add Rick and Bill to the Allen Press team and expand our sales presence to new markets,” says Maria Preston-Cargill, Allen Press Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing. “Both Rick and Bill have invaluable knowledge in sales and print which I believe will serve our current and future clients well.” Click Read More below for additional information.
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OPEC Doesn’t Want Brent Over $60 a Barrel, Says Iran’s Oil Minister

“Members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries are not keen on increased Brent crude prices above $60 a barrel because of shale oil," Iran Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said, according to the ministry’s news service Shana. Prices have climbed in recent days because of production cuts and increased demand for petroleum products due to cold weather, he said. U.S. output will rise by at least 830,000 barrels a day this year, JBC Energy GmbH said Tuesday in a note. That could cause U.S. crude prices to “cool” in the first half, the Vienna-based researcher said. The U.S. pumped about 9.34 million barrels a day last year, according to Department of Energy data compiled by Bloomberg. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Preliminary information on Metsä Board’s sales and profitability in the fourth quarter of 2017

Due to suspected information security breach Metsä Board Corporation announces preliminary information on sales and profitability in the fourth quarter of 2017. In the fourth quarter of 2017, sales were approximately EUR 451 million, comparable operating result was approximately EUR 54 million and earnings per share were approximately EUR 0.12. Figures are based on preliminary unaudited information. Metsä Board Corporation will publish its 2017 Financial statements bulletin on 8 February 2018.
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For Holt, Unexpected Demand for ‘Fire and Fury’ Proves a Challenge

Intense demand for the book has caught its publisher, Henry Holt, off guard as the Macmillan imprint scrambles to get copies into the marketplace. Gauging a book's traction in the marketplace and setting its print run is, arguably, one of the trickiest aspects of the publishing process. And Holt, in this instance, got it very wrong. Fire and Fury, which became a hot commodity last week after bombshell comments it contained from former (and current) White House staffers were released early by the media, is currently out-of-stock at the major chains, Amazon and independent bookstores. It's available in limited supply at most libraries. Amazon said in a statement that "due to a last-minute change in the release date [of the book] and heightened interest, we are working with the publisher to fulfill print book orders as quickly as possible." The book is currently #1 in all major formats at the retailer (print, e-book and audio), with Amazon estimating it could be as much as two to four weeks before it can ship copies. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Sun Chemical to Present its Metal Decorating Solutions at the Aerosol & Dispensing Forum 2018

Sun Chemical will showcase its SunAltec and SunTrio product families on its stand S10 and visitors can find out about the company’s expertise, knowledge and capabilities in metal decoration through its specialised ink solutions, including special effects, brand protection, brand colour management and print standardisation. Sun Chemical’s SunAltec series of inks for metal decoration on aluminum collapsible tubes and monobloc aerosol cans offer outstanding performance, superior quality, high productivity and strong chemical resistance properties. The MB Plus Series, part of the SunAltec product family, will also be on display. The versatile series has been specifically designed for the application on monobloc aerosols and uses an alkyd-based ink system, which has been modified for optimum performance on new generation production lines utilising today’s basecoat technology. Click Read More below for additional information.
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UPM Raflatac expands offering for industrial chemical labeling with launch of new Synlite Xtra outdoor-resistant film

UPM Raflatac is introducing its Synlite Xtra outdoor-resistant film face material to the European market. This material is suitable for industrial chemical labeling applications that require a high level of resistance to challenging outdoor conditions. Synlite Xtra is a lightweight and production-efficient PP-based matt film that offers good UV resistance. The film is paired with UPM Raflatac's high-tack RC77 adhesive, which also offers good UV resistance as well as good adhesion on polar and non-polar surfaces. RC77 performs well in even the most demanding outdoor environments, ensuring that labels displaying critical information about container contents and any safety requirements remain firmly in place for the life of the container. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Sight Unseen: Packaging for the Digital Consumer

When retail giant Amazon jumped into meal-kit delivery last summer, it was the clearest signal yet that consumer convenience is the new North Star for products and services across all categories. From consumer packaged goods (CPGs) going online to personal care brands and retailers exploring subscription models, the industry is now further investing in e-commerce by embracing a new "last mile" to reach consumers. So, if our first interaction with a product takes place on our front porch instead of in a store, how does that change how we choose brands and develop preferences? One of the greatest challenges for emerging retail models is that consumers buy products without seeing them first. It's crucial to consider what a leap of faith it is for a consumer to buy a product sight unseen. A retailer's success is contingent on the notion of trust among the consumer, the brand and the retailer; yet trust is hard to build and easy to lose. In this new marketplace with so much upside and an equal amount of risk, how can brands establish sustainable competitive advantage? Click Read More below for additional information.
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Flambeau River Paper announcement

Flambeau River Paper announced the shutdown of its #3 paper machine to be effective immediately. #3 paper machine primarily produces commodity white papers and has been impacted by the ongoing and unprecedented rise in pulp costs coupled with an in-elasticity of commodity paper price. Flambeau River Papers’ #1 and #2 paper machines along with the Flambeau pulp mill, woodyard and utilities will continue to operate uninterrupted on a 24 hour, 7 day a week schedule. It is important to point out that PM 1 and PM 2 produce primarily specialty and value-added papers. The size and capabilities of these two paper machines, along with integrated nature of the mill, make them competitive and well suited for continued success in these markets. Over the last five years the mill has worked hard and qualified propriety specialty papers on these machines. Also manufactured on PM 1 and PM 2 are Flambeau’s other value-added papers such as Torchglow and Glacier Opaque branded papers, custom FDA compliant papers, fluorescent colored papers, wet-strength papers, saturating base stocks, deeply colored papers, watercolor papers, book papers, endleaf papers, lightweight offset papers, converting and drawing stocks. Paper grades historically produced on PM 3 such as Offset Papers and Laser Bond papers will not be part of the productive capacity of FRP as we proceed forward. We will work in concert with you and communicate the status of pending orders and shipments.
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WestRock Completes Acquisition of Plymouth Packaging

WestRock Company announced that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Plymouth Packaging, Inc. Plymouth is a corrugated packaging company that derives approximately 70% of its sales from its “Box on Demand” systems and corrugated fanfold, and 30% from traditional corrugated box packaging. This acquisition represents WestRock’s entry into the growing on-demand corrugated packaging market that serves many e-commerce and other custom-packaging applications. The market-leading “Box on Demand” systems are located on the customers’ sites and use fanfold corrugated to produce custom, on-demand corrugated packaging that is accurately sized for any product type according to the customer’s specifications. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Kohl’s Corporation Reports November/December Sales and Increases 2017 Diluted Earnings Per Share Guidance

Kevin Mansell, Kohl's chairman, chief executive officer and president, said, “We are very pleased with our Holiday period sales, which were consistently strong through November and December. All lines of business and all regions reported positive comp sales. As expected, growth in digital demand accelerated significantly in the Holiday period from the year-to-date trend. In addition, we experienced positive sales in our stores driven by stronger traffic. I’d like to thank every Kohl’s associate across the organization for their commitment to delivering an outstanding Holiday experience for our customers.” Based on stronger than expected Holiday sales and expectations for fiscal January, the Company now expects its fiscal 2017 diluted earnings per share to be $4.10 to $4.20 versus its previous guidance of $3.72 to $3.92. Excluding the Company's previously disclosed fourth quarter tax settlement of $30 million, diluted earnings per share is expected to be $3.98 to $4.08, compared to its prior guidance of $3.60 to $3.80.
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Chico’s FAS, Inc. Updates Fourth Quarter Outlook

Chico's FAS, Inc. announced that the Company is updating its outlook for the fiscal 2017 fourth quarter ending February 3, 2018. Based on results to date, the Company anticipates fourth quarter total comparable sales in the negative 5% to negative 7% range, an improvement on its previous outlook of negative high single-digits. As previously announced, approximately $30 million in sales from the 53rd week of fiscal 2017 are not included in the comparable sales calculation for the Company's outlook. Click Read More below for additional information.
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BillerudKorsnäs is impacted by shortage of pulpwood due to wet and mild winter

Wet and mild weather in the fall and early winter has led to a shortage of pulpwood in late 2017 and early 2018. The root cause of the shortage of pulp wood is the unusually wet and mild start of the winter. Normal winters the ground freezes which allows for efficient forestry. At present, forestry machines cannot be used in the forests in certain areas. In addition, the possibility of driving on the forest road network is limited in some areas, which also reduces the flow of wood. The situation is the same in the Nordic countries, western Russia and the three Baltic states. BillerudKorsnäs has taken measures to minimize the effects of the lack of pulpwood and follows the situation on a daily basis. The measures taken are mainly mix changes in production and redistribution of flows to optimize the use of wood. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Boise® ASPEN® Awarded Green Seal® Certification for Sustainable Leadership

Boise Paper is pleased to announce that our ASPEN® line of multi-use recycled copy papers recently earned Green Seal® certification under its GS-7 Printing and Writing Paper Standard, one of the most rigorous environmental certifications in the industry. Green Seal’s thorough review and on-site audit has verified that ASPEN recycled papers conserve natural resources and protect human and environmental health while delivering the performance customers expect. Specifically, ASPEN recycled papers contain a significant percentage of post-consumer materials, are processed without chlorine, and contain minimal heavy metals. Click Read More below for additional information.
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PEFC: We explain the changes to our group certification standard

Do you want to give your feedback as we revise our standard for group certification? But feel like you need more information on how the standard is changing? Then make sure you register for our upcoming webinars! Taking place Monday 5 and Wednesday 7 February, these webinars will introduce and explain the main proposed changes to PEFC ST 1002 – the standard that defines the general requirements for forest certification systems with group forest management certification. There will also be an open question and answer session – make sure you register now so you don’t miss out. Click Read More below for additional information.
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The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. Provides Holiday Sales Update

The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. announced that its comparable store sales for the nine-week holiday period ended December 30, 2017 decreased 2.9%. Total sales for the nine-week November and December period were $720.8 million compared to sales of $752.1 million in the prior year period. The Company's best performing categories over the period were Cosmetics, Children's, Outerwear and Fine Jewelry. Bill Tracy, president and chief executive officer for The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. said, "The Company's holiday period comparable store sales decrease of 2.9% is an improvement from the comparable store sales decrease of 6.6% reported in the third quarter. We are actively engaged in discussions with our debt holders in an effort to strengthen our capital structure to support the business going forward."
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Oil Rises as U.S. Drillers Cut Rigs for First Time in 3 Weeks

West Texas Intermediate futures rose 0.5 percent, following a 1.7 percent increase last week, when they hit a three-year high. Rigs drilling for crude fell by five to 742 in the seven days ended Jan. 5, according to Baker Hughes data Friday. Hedge funds retreated from the most bullish stance on WTI in 10 months during the week ended Jan. 2. “A drop in active oil rigs is usually bullish for oil prices,” said Michael Poulsen, an analyst at Global Risk Management Ltd. Oil had its strongest opening week for any year since 2013 as U.S. stockpiles continue to shrink. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Long-Time Midland Paper CEO Announces Retirement

Midland Paper, Packaging & Supplies, a $1 Billion wholesale distribution company based in Chicago, IL, announced this week that Stan Hooker, the company’s long-time Chairman & CEO, has retired and sold his majority interest to his three partners, Ralph DeLetto, Mike Graves, and Jim O’Toole. This transition allows the company to continue its long tradition of being the leading independent paper and packaging distribution company in North America. Mr. Hooker said: “The timing of this transition is good for me personally, as my wife and I can devote more time to being with our friends and family, and the timing is good for Midland given the company’s strong financial position and its proven senior leadership team at the helm”. Mike Graves, the company's President and COO, will assume the role of CEO. Mr. Graves noted: “we are grateful to Stan for his longstanding leadership at Midland, and we look forward to continuing Midland’s legacy as an entrepreneurial, independent organization that strives to be the first choice for suppliers and customers alike”.
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Pre® Brands Continues to Surge, Answering National Demand with New Direct-to-Consumer Platform

Pre®Brands, purveyors of the world's best grass-fed beef, has launched an e-commerce store to sell its premium, hand-trimmed 100% grass-fed and finished steaks and ground beef to eager consumers across America. Pre®prides itself in maintaining the highest quality standards for all of its products, in order to bring discerning shoppers the best beef nature provides. And consumers have noticed – since its start in 2015, Pre®has been America's fastest growing beef brand*. Two years later, Pre®'s expanding in-store retail presence, largely in the Midwest, hasn't kept up with burgeoning national consumer demand – a need e-commerce will help meet. Pre® can now be purchased online at www.eatpre.com. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Barnes & Noble Reports Holiday Comparable Store Sales

Barnes & Noble, Inc. reported holiday sales for the nine-week holiday period ending December 30, 2017. Total sales for the holiday period were $953 million, declining 6.4% as compared to the prior year. Comparable store sales also declined 6.4% for the holiday period, while online sales declined 4.5%. Entering December, the Company was encouraged by the comparable store sales improvements throughout the second quarter and into November. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Sales of Print Books Increased, Slightly, in 2017

Unit sales of print books rose 1.9% in 2017, over 2016, at outlets that report to NDP BookScan, which captures between 80-85% of print sales. Total units sold at outlets that report to the service were 687.2 million, up from 674.1 million in 2016. The increase follows a 3.3% increase in 2016 over 2015 with units having risen every year since 2013. Since 2013, print unit sales are up 10.8%. The unit gain was driven by the retail and club channel, where sales rose 3.5% in 2017 over 2016. Units in the channel hit 593.7 million units, compared to 573.8 million units sold in 2016. Sales via the mass merchandisers channel fell 6.7% in the year, dropping to 93.6 million units, down from 100.4 million units in 2016. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Finnish white-collar workers threaten strike in paper industry

White-collar workers in Finland’s paper industry on Tuesday threatened to go on strike later this month in a dispute with employers over a new wage deal. About 3,000 clerical workers are due to begin a week-long strike on Jan. 17, trade union Pro said, adding that a refusal to work overtime is due to start already on Tuesday. The paper industry, including companies such as UPM (UPM.HE), Stora Enso (STERV.HE) and Metsa Group, accounted for 22 percent of all Finnish exports in 2016.
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PaperWorks invests $3 million in warehouse for Wabash, IN paperboard mill

PaperWorks Industries has invested $3 million in a new warehouse for its Wabash, Indiana paperboard mill. The new facility is expected to be operational during the first quarter of 2018. The 44,500 square foot addition to the company's existing mill will be capable of storing up to 7,000 tons of coated recycled board (CRB) rolls. The mill produces PaperWorks' recently launched MasterWorks Ultra 100 line, as well as other CRB grades. "Over the past three years, PaperWorks has invested more than 60 million dollars to upgrade its paperboard mills and folding carton converting plants. This latest investment is designed to lower costs, improve service and reduce our environmental footprint at this location," said Andy Bolton, president and chief executive officer. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Konica Minolta, Epic Products Partner to Promote Digital Inkjet Solutions

Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A. has announced a partnership with Epic Products International, an Arlington, Texas-based designer and manufacturer of equipment that enhances the quality and productivity of the printing process. The venture will enhance Konica Minolta’s AccurioJet KM-1 program, which markets and promotes the KM-1 to print providers worldwide. Founded more than 40 years ago, Epic specializes in coating systems for offset and digital printing, which run in-line or near-line in both web and sheetfed press configurations. The Epic CT-750 system is known for its high performance and versatility. It supports UV, aqueous and specialty coatings such as soft touch and blister, as well as spot coating. This solution is capable of running near-line or in-line at press speeds. The Epic coater can provide protection and appeal to every printed sheet. Click Read More below for additional information.
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L Brands Reports December 2017 Sales and Updates Fourth Quarter Earnings Guidance

L Brands, Inc. reported net sales of $2.516 billion for the five weeks ended Dec. 30, 2017, an increase of 3 percent, compared to net sales of $2.438 billion for the five weeks ended Dec. 31, 2016. Comparable sales increased 1 percent for the five weeks ended Dec. 30, 2017. The company reported net sales of $11.592 billion for the 48 weeks ended Dec. 30, 2017, compared to net sales of $11.769 billion for the 48 weeks ended Dec. 31, 2016. Comparable sales decreased 4 percent for the 48 weeks ended Dec. 30, 2017. For the 48 weeks ended Dec. 30, 2017, the exit of the swim and apparel categories had a negative impact of about 3 percentage points and 5 percentage points to total company and Victoria’s Secret comparable sales, respectively. Click Read More below for additional information.
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JCPenney Provides Holiday Sales Performance Update

J. C. Penney Company, Inc. announced that its comparable store sales for the combined nine-week period ending December 30, 2017 increased 3.4 % over the same period last year. The Company also reaffirmed all components of its most recent full-year financial guidance for fiscal 2017. "We are very encouraged with our overall comp sales performance during the holiday season, which was led by home, beauty and fine jewelry. Additionally, our apparel categories continue to demonstrate improved comp performance, particularly in women's and kids. We are also pleased by our e-commerce business that continues to outpace prior year results with double-digit sales growth, largely driven by sought-after gifting categories such as fine jewelry, home decor and luggage, toys, boots and athletic footwear. Our ability to execute e-commerce fulfillment from 100% of our brick and mortar stores helped fuel the growth in e-commerce for the holiday season. We remain confident that our strategic initiatives are taking hold and resonating with customers," said Marvin R. Ellison, chairman and chief executive officer of JCPenney. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Bain Capital Private Equity acquires Fedrigoni

Bain Capital Private Equity, a leading global private investment firm, announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Fedrigoni, a leading global producer of specialty papers and self-adhesive labels. The Fedrigoni family will retain a minority stake in the business. Established in 1888 and headquartered in Verona, Italy, Fedrigoni is internationally recognised for its high-quality product range and customer service. In 2017, the Company is expected to generate sales of approximately €1.1bn. It has manufacturing facilities in Italy, Spain and Brazil and a global distribution network, with more than 2,700 employees. Fedrigoni sells directly to its multinational customers including fashion houses and fine wine producers, through its own distribution network. Its products include special papers for luxury packaging and labels for the food and beverage and pharma industries. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Oil Rises From 3-Year High After Best Start to Year Since 2012

“The rise in oil prices has mainly been caused by the freezing polar vortex hitting the U.S., firing up heating demand, and spurring concern about a potential impact on oil production and trade,” said Jens Naervig Pedersen, an analyst at Danske Bank A/S in Copenhagen. Oil has risen for two years running as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and Russia led a coalition of oil producers in cutting output. Prices have also been boosted by stoppages at pipelines in the U.K. and Libya. However, they are now at levels that are expected to help U.S. shale producers ramp up drilling, unlocking more crude and undermining OPEC’s efforts. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Costco Wholesale Corporation Reports December Sales Results

Costco Wholesale Corporation reported net sales of $14.94 billion for the month of December, the five weeks ended December 31, 2017, an increase of 14.3 percent from $13.07 billion during the similar period last year. For the first 17 weeks of fiscal year 2018 ended December 31, 2017, the Company reported net sales of $46.06 billion, an increase of 11.9 percent from $41.18 billion reported during the similar period last year. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Deluxe NEBS to Change Name to Deluxe Beginning Jan. 2, 2018

Deluxe Corporation announces Deluxe NEBS will officially change its name to Deluxe. For the past several years, Deluxe NEBS has continued to operate as the NEBS brand in Canada, providing exceptional printed products and small business services to its clients across the country. Deluxe NEBS has been a staple of Canadian small business marketing services for the past 35 years, leading the industry in innovative cheque and business printing solutions. In 2004, Deluxe Corporation of Shoreview, Minnesota, purchased New England Business Solutions (NEBS) and continued its strong performance as a trusted and valued company specializing in the design, manufacturing and distribution of personalized business products. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Time Inc. Sells Essence to Independent Owners

Time Inc. has officially sold Essence—the magazine as well as its website and events business—to a group of investors led by Shea Moisture founder Richelieu Dennis, the latter announced today. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the buyer confirmed that Essence president Michelle Ebanks will continue at the helm and will gain an equity stake in the business. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Flint Group launches the new rotec® ULW Bridge

With increasing demand in the printing industry for equipment that enables more frequent and faster job changes on press, Flint Group officially launches the new rotec® ULW Bridge to join the lightweight family of sleeves and adapters. The rotec® ULW Bridge is an ultra lightweight polyurethane adapter offering up to 65% reduction in weight compared to similar products in the market – a significant weight decrease improving safety and handling for press operators. Developed together with customers, this new generation adapter has been validated in applications on plate-mounting equipment and on presses running up to 450 m/min for the last 1-2 years. Ralf Venema, Flint Group General Manager explains: “Our Product Development Team is focused on developing products to help the customer work smarter, faster and easier. The rotec® ULW Bridge is an excellent solution for improved safety and easier handling at the printer.” The rotec® ULW Bridge is suitable for all press widths and offers particular benefits where higher wall thicknesses are most commonly used, such as in cantilevered mounter applications and unusually large print applications, including corrugated pre-print. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Millar Western acquires Spruceland Millworks

Millar Western Forest Products Ltd., announced that it is continuing to execute its growth strategy through the acquisition of Spruceland Millworks Inc. Millar Western has acquired all shares of the company, its manufacturing operations in Acheson, Alberta and its woodlands assets. The transaction brings together two companies that have enjoyed a productive business relationship for decades. Spruceland Millworks is a value-added manufacturer and international distributor of high quality SPF wood products. Started in 1982 by Ben Sawatzky with a simple table saw and a second-hand forklift, the company today has grown to become a “go-to” supplier for its customers and trusted employer in the region. Its more than 100 highly-skilled employees operate a 130,000-square foot manufacturing facility in Acheson, Alberta. Click Read More below for additional information.
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American Tree Farm System and Czech Republic achieve PEFC re-endorsement

The Czech Forest Certification System and the American Tree Farm System (ATFS) have successfully achieved PEFC re-endorsement, confirming they continue to meet our globally recognized Sustainability Benchmarks. Launched in 1941, ATFS is one of the oldest initiatives for certifying sustainable forestry in the world. It now represents 74,000 tree farmers sustainably managing more than 7.5 million hectares of PEFC-certified forestland. ATFS first achieved PEFC endorsement in 2008, with subsequent re-endorsements in 2013 and now 2017. The Czech Republic, one of the 11 original national members of PEFC, first achieved PEFC endorsement of their forest certification system back in 2002. This was followed by three more successful endorsements in 2006, 2012 and 2017. In this time, more than 1.8 million hectares of forest have achieved PEFC certification, equaling more than two thirds of the country’s forest area. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Crown Demonstrates Significant Progress Toward Sustainability Goals

Crown Holdings, Inc. has released its 2017 Sustainability Report to demonstrate the progress it has made on its sustainability journey. Metrics published in the report include decreased aluminum usage, lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduced VOC and NOx emissions and zero work-related fatalities. The report is available at https://sustainability.crowncork.com. Titled "Infinite Innovation," the report illuminates the Company's strides in the environmental, economic and social dimensions of sustainability. It also documents Crown's efforts in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 to do more with less as unit volume production has increased and its geographic footprint has expanded. Data resulting from assets gained during the acquisitions of Mivisa and Empaque have also been included for the first time in Crown's sustainability reporting. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Fort Dearborn Completes Acquisition of NCL Graphic Specialties

Fort Dearborn announced that it has completed its acquisition of NCL Graphic Specialties. The combination enhances Fort Dearborn’s leadership position in the decorative label and packaging marketplace by broadening the company’s geographic footprint, capacity and capabilities. NCL has two facilities located in Waukesha, Wis. and Menomonee Falls, Wis. bringing to a total of seventeen production locations across North America for the combined organization. The combination will broaden both companies’ capabilities to provide an even higher level of service to customers. The company’s product offering will now include: cut and stack, pressure sensitive, roll-fed, shrink sleeve, stretch sleeve and promotional labels, as well as flexible packaging. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Rite Aid Reports Fiscal 2018 Third Quarter Results

Revenues from continuing operations for the quarter were $5.4 billion compared to revenues from continuing operations of $5.7 billion in the prior year's third quarter, a decrease of $315.9 million or 5.6 percent. Retail Pharmacy Segment revenues were $4.0 billion and decreased 3.0 percent compared to the prior year period primarily as a result of a decrease in same store sales and reimbursement rates. Revenues in the company's Pharmacy Services Segment were $1.4 billion and decreased 12.2 percent compared to the prior year period, due to an election to participate in fewer Medicare Part D regions and a decline in commercial business. Same store sales from continuing operations for the quarter decreased 2.5 percent from the prior year, consisting of a 3.5 percent decrease in pharmacy sales and a 0.5 percent decrease in front-end sales. Pharmacy sales included an approximate 198 basis point negative impact from new generic introductions. The number of prescriptions filled in same stores, adjusted to 30-day equivalents, decreased 2.4 percent from the prior year period due in part to exclusion from certain pharmacy networks that Rite Aid participated in the prior year. Prescription sales from continuing operations accounted for 66.5 percent of total drugstore sales. Net loss from continuing operations was $18.2 million or $0.02 per diluted share compared to last year's third quarter net income from continuing operations of $23.6 million or $0.02 per diluted share. The decline in operating results was due primarily to a decline in Adjusted EBITDA, partially offset by a higher income tax benefit. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Walgreens Boots Alliance Reports Fiscal 2018 First Quarter Results

Fiscal 2018 first quarter net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance determined in accordance with GAAP decreased 22.1 percent to $821 million compared with the same quarter a year ago, while GAAP diluted net earnings per share decreased 16.5 percent to $0.81 compared with the same quarter a year ago. The decreases in GAAP net earnings and GAAP net earnings per share were mainly due to impairment of the company's equity method investment in Guangzhou Pharmaceuticals. In addition, these decreases reflect a loss from the company's equity earnings in AmerisourceBergen and benefits from the UK tax rate reduction recorded in the same quarter a year ago. Sales in the first quarter were $30.7 billion, an increase of 7.9 percent from the year-ago quarter, and an increase of 7.2 percent on a constant currency basis. Click Read More below for additional information.
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U.S. slaps final duties on Canadian lumber

•The U.S. imposes final duties on Canadian softwood lumber, following failed talks to end the decades-long dispute between the two countries. •The U.S. Department of Commerce announces slightly lower initial duties for Canadian producers West Fraser Timber and Canfor Corp., with combined anti-dumping and countervailing duties of 23.6% and 20.5% respectively, and maintains rates for Resolute Forest Products. •Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross says the U.S. is confident the WTO, which may eventually rule on the dispute, would take its side; the DoC accuses Canada of unfairly subsidizing and dumping softwood lumber, a charge Canada denies.
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Macy’s, Inc. Reports Positive Comp Sales for November/December

"Macy's had a solid holiday shopping season, and we are pleased that our November/December performance resulted in positive comp sales for the period, setting us up for a positive fourth quarter. Consumers were ready to spend this season, and we delivered with solid execution, fresher inventory, a curated gift assortment and a focus on customer experience. We saw improved sales trends in our stores and continued to see double-digit growth on our digital platforms. Customers also responded well to our new loyalty program," said Jeff Gennette, Macy's, Inc. chief executive officer. "We intend to close the fourth quarter in a good position and head into 2018 with momentum." Macy's, Inc. saw improved holiday sales across Macy's, Macy's Backstage, Bloomingdale's, Bloomingdale's The Outlet and Bluemercury, with exclusive gifts showing strong performance. Active apparel, shoes, dresses, coats, fine jewelry, men's tailored clothing, children's and home were all top performers. Beauty was also a highlight and showed a marked improvement in trend, with particular strength in fragrance, prestige skincare and cosmetic gifting. Click Read More below for additional information.
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ACMA Suit Aims to Bring Sales Tax Wisdom Back Into Ohio

The American Catalog Mailers Association, Inc. filed a lawsuit against the Ohio Department of Taxation, seeking to declare unconstitutional a new state law that improperly expands the Department's jurisdiction beyond the state's borders in clear violation of existing U.S. Supreme Court precedent. The ACMA intends to demonstrate that Ohio’s software “cookie” nexus standard for sales/use tax is in direct contravention of the extraterritorial limits on state tax authority under Quill v. North Dakota. The state is claiming that the mere presence of electrons placed on an Ohio computer pierces the longstanding "physical presence" test under Quill and subjects remote sellers to sales tax collection and other compliance obligations. “This is an egregious assault on out of state companies seeking to sell to Ohio residents and effectively presents a barrier to interstate commerce that cannot be left unchallenged,” said ACMA President Hamilton Davison. “We have no doubt the Ohio judiciary, in light of the well-established national precedent created by the highest court in the land, will overturn this illegal new law.” ACMA has filed this action just before the law’s January 1, 2018 effective date. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Amazon’s Best of Prime 2017 Reveals the Year’s Biggest Trends —More than 5 Billion Items Shipped with Prime in 2017

Amazon announced its Best of Prime 2017 – revealing some of the Prime member favorites of the year. Built on a foundation of fast, free delivery, more than five billion items worldwide shipped with Prime in 2017, including free same-day, one-day, and two-day shipping. Prime is designed to make members’ lives easier and more fun with a unique combination of shipping, shopping and entertainment. Prime members used their digital benefits in 2017 more than in any previous year - putting The Grand Tour on Prime Video, “Believer” by Imagine Dragons on Prime Music and The Handmaid’s Tale on Prime Reading on the U.S. ‘best of’ list for 2017. Find Amazon’s Best of Prime 2017 on Prime Insider. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Crude Oil Prices Steady Near Multi-Year Highs

Crude oil prices steadied near multi-year highs on Wednesday, even as concerns over geopolitical tensions began to ease, as supply cut efforts by global oil producers continued to support the commodity. Oil prices had climbed amid Iranian protests, marking the biggest challenge to the country's clerical leadership since 2009. However, the protests were showing no signs of impacting Iran's oil production. Crude prices continued to be supported by production cuts led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and Russia. The producers agreed in December to extend current oil output cuts until the end of 2018. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Hearst President & CEO Steven R. Swartz Letter to Employees on Hearst’s 2017 Performance

Hearst achieved record profits for the seventh straight year, as our efforts to build and acquire great companies in the business data and software sector helped overcome a tough year for many of our consumer media franchises. Our biggest majority-owned business, Fitch Group, led the way with an outstanding performance across the world, particularly in its core bond ratings business. 2017 was another great year to be a consumer of media products but less so to be a provider of that content. While platform companies like Google, Facebook, Amazon and Netflix thrived through their dominance of advertising and ecommerce channels, many individual media brands struggled to get their share of the advertising pie and consumers bought fewer television bundles or magazine subscriptions. In magazines, led by President David Carey and Publishing Director Michael Clinton, our world class digital operation made significant gains in 2017, and some of the newer magazines we have launched over the past 10 years, namely Food Network Magazine and HGTV Magazine, are among our best editorial products and most profitable titles. Still, the magazine business needs more change. With respect to many of our titles, we need the readers to pay more for the product. And we need to find a way to make digital subscription products work for magazines in the way that they are starting to work for newspapers. Near the end of 2017 we agreed to acquire Rodale’s magazine business, with such well-established titles as Men’s Health, Women’s Health and Prevention. The addition of these titles will give our magazine business a shot in the arm and some new talent to help in our efforts to keep innovating and experimenting as we reset the business model for the future. Click Read More below for additional information.
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SCA increases kraftliner prices

SCA announces a price increase for all Brown and White Kraftliner grades in Europe by € 60 per ton, effective from 1st of February 2018. "The market for containerboard continues to be very strong. The demand for kraftliner of all grades is high and the supply is tight", says Mikael Frölander, Vice President Sales and Marketing Containerboard.
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Certain Uncoated Groundwood Paper From Canada: Postponement of Preliminary Determination in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation

On August 29, 2017, the Department of Commerce (the Department) initiated a less-than-fair value (LTFV) investigation of imports of certain uncoated groundwood paper from Canada.[1] Currently, the preliminary determination is due no later than January 16, 2018. On August 29, 2017, the Department of Commerce (the Department) initiated a less-than-fair value (LTFV) investigation of imports of certain uncoated groundwood paper from Canada.[1] Currently, the preliminary determination is due no later than January 16, 2018. Therefore, pursuant to section 733(c)(1)(A) of the Act, we are postponing the deadline for the preliminary determination by 50 days (i.e., 190 days after the date on which the investigation was initiated). As a result, the Department will issue its preliminary determination no later than March 7, 2018. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Oil Steadies Above $60 as Protests Spread in OPEC Producer Iran

Oil in New York climbed 12 percent last year as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies trimmed supply to reduce a global glut. U.S. crude output is also slipping from a record-high, with weekly production falling through Dec. 22 for the first time since mid-October. Any interruption to Iranian supply would be a significant shock to the market. “Geopolitical risks are clearly back on the crude oil agenda,” said Bjarne Schieldrop, chief commodities analyst at SEB AB in Oslo. “As of yet, there is no deep-seated concern for a disruption” in Iran, but if that were to happen “it would have a huge impact on global crude oil prices.” Click Read More below for additional information.
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Norske Skog will shut down Ettamogah plant to help NSW and Victoria avoid summer blackouts during peak electricity demands

Albury’s Norske Skog paper mill will stop production during peak power demands to help avoid major summer blackouts. The Border business was among 14 industrial electricity users and producers who have signed contracts with the Australian Energy Market Operator to help avoid large-scale blackouts like those which hit South Australia last summer. Visy was also included but the company was unable to confirm if its Wodonga plants would be affected. Under the agreement, Norske Skog would shut down its paper machine and recycled fibre plant for a set time, likely to be between an hour and several hours, during peak demand so its electricity could be used elsewhere across the network. Click Read More below for additional information.
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International Paper Completes Transfer of Their North America Consumer Packaging Business to Graphic Packaging

International Paper announced that it has completed the transfer of its North America Consumer Packaging business to Graphic Packaging. As a result of the transaction, Graphic Packaging has assumed $660 million of IP debt. IP now holds a 20.5% ownership interest in the subsidiary of Graphic Packaging that holds the assets of the combined business. The transferred business includes approximately 3,900 employees, two coated paperboard mills and three converting facilities in the U.S., along with one converting facility in the U.K.
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Bestselling books of 2017: the top 100

Last year JK Rowling reclaimed the No 1 spot in the bestseller charts by returning from mundane reality to the Potterverse (with the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child playscript); and before that EL James topped the 2015 charts by revisiting the Fifty Shades world from Christian’s perspective. In 2017 it was Jamie Oliver’s turn to play the comeback champion, after managing a best position of only 40th a year ago and being described in (ahem) the 2016 bestsellers analysis piece as “apparently fading”. Mysteriously revitalised (surely there’s more to it than Channel 4 restoring him to peak-time after marooning him in the afternoon?), Oliver leads a markedly blokey top 10 dominated by recurring figures, with two David Walliams titles joined by books from Dan Brown, Lee Child, Jeff Kinney and Guinness World Records. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Hottest Magazine Launches Of 2017

Mr. Magazine — or Sami A. Husni, the director of the Magazine Innovation Center at the University of Mississippi, School of Journalism and a renowned magazine expert — has selected the 20 “hottest” magazine launches of 2017. In February, the annual list will be whittled down to one — and that magazine will win “The Launch of the Year” at the American Magazine Media Conference hosted by MPA: The Association of Magazine Media. Between October 2016 and December 2017, Mr. Magazine counts 201 new magazine brands that launched with a regular publishing frequency. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Oil Resurrection Sets Stage for Another OPEC-Shale Clash in 2018

Futures are up more than 11 percent in 2017, having entered a bull market in September. The year’s gains were driven by output cuts by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and Russia, along with geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and pipeline disruptions from the North Sea to Canada and Libya. In 2018, investors will watch whether the price recovery triggers a new flood of U.S. output. “The current highs are unsustainable in the short-to-medium term, with prices likely to head back below $60 once we get past January, but for now the season of goodwill appears to be in full swing,” said analysts led by Michael dei-Michei at consultants JBC Energy GmbH in Vienna. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Global Sawlog Prices Were Higher Throughout the World in the 3Q/17 and are Likely to Continue Upward Into 2018

Sawlog prices were up in most regions of the world in the 3Q/17. The price increases from the 2Q/17 were generally smaller in local currencies than in US dollar terms because of the weakening US dollar. In US dollar terms, quarter-to-quarter prices were up the most in Europe (+7.9%) and Oceania (+6.1%), while the upward price adjustments were more modest in North America (+2.8%) and Latin America (+2.2%). The Global Sawlog Price Index (GSPI) has gone up for three consecutive quarters to reach $75.69/m3 in the 3Q/17. The increase of 5.1% from the 2Q/17 was the biggest quarter-to-quarter jump since 2010. In addition, the GSPI is at a three-year high because of the recent strengthening of sawlog prices throughout the world. With the outlook for continued strong demand for lumber in key markets and higher consumption of sawlogs, it is likely that the price index will continue upward in the coming quarters. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Christmas Week Sales Jump 7% Over 2016

While holiday unit sales of print books got off to a slow start Thanksgiving weekend, they ended on a strong note. Print unit sales increased 7% in the week ended Dec. 24, 2017, over the comparable week in 2016 at outlets that report to NPD BookScan. The gain was driven by the retail and club channel, where unit sales were 8% higher than the week ended Dec. 25, 2016. Sales through mass merchandisers fell 2% in the week compared to 2016. Juvenile nonfiction had the strongest gain among the major book segments, with units up 19% over 2016. Rob Elliott’s Laugh-Out-Loud Jokes for Kids was #1 on the category bestseller list, selling more than 33,000 copies. Star Wars: The Last Jedi: The Visual Dictionary by Pablo Hidalgo moved up the list in the week, selling almost 25,000 copies, which put it in fourth place on the segment bestseller list. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Sun Chemical Performance Pigments to Increase Global Prices on Azo/Specialty Pigments and their Preparations

Faced with dramatic increases in the cost of Azo intermediates and related raw materials, Sun Chemical Performance Pigments will raise its global prices on Azo pigments, specialty pigments and their pigment preparations, effective January 1, 2018. “The cost of Azo intermediates and other key raw materials have increased significantly and continue to do so, impacting the pigment industry,” said Chris Weighill, Vice President and Global Classical Pigment Product Manager, Sun Chemical Performance Pigments. “The expectation is that there will be no short-term relief in sight for these rising costs—forcing us to increase our prices. While we regret the necessity to take this action, current market conditions dictate that we must adjust our prices. We will continue to explore other cost reduction opportunities and productivity gains to offset the rising costs of raw materials.”
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Sun Chemical to Increase Prices of Silicone-Based Products in North America

Due to a massive shortage in silicones and silicone-based materials from manufacturers, Sun Chemical will increase prices by 35 percent on its entire silicone-based product line in North America, effective January 15, 2018. “Because of the silicone shortage we’re seeing in the industry, our suppliers have passed on price increases beyond anything we have seen in recent years,” said Dennis Sweet, Vice President-Commercial, Rycoline and Distributors, North American Inks, Sun Chemical. “While Sun Chemical has utilized all its resources to offset these shortages and increases, it has now become necessary to pass some of these increases on.”
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Huhtamaki to further improve its competitiveness in China

Huhtamaki has completed the sale of the vacated manufacturing facility and related land usage rights in Guangzhou, China, as announced on April 21, 2017. Further, to conclude the consolidation of its foodservice packaging operations in South China, Huhtamaki closed down the manufacturing unit in Shandong, China, impacting app. 200 jobs. The product range manufactured in Shandong will in the future be sourced externally. In addition, to gain synergies from the recent acquisition of International Paper's foodservice packaging operations in China, comprising of manufacturing units in Tianjin and Shanghai, Huhtamaki has decided to consolidate its manufacturing operations in Tianjin into one unit. All manufacturing operations will be transferred to the unit acquired from IP. Employees currently working at the unit to be closed will be offered equivalent work opportunities at the continuing Tianjin unit. The transfer is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2018. Click Read More below for additional information.
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ANDRITZ to supply three FibreFlow drum pulping systems to Dongguan Jianhui Paper, China

International technology Group ANDRITZ has received an order from Dongguan Jianhui Paper to install three FibreFlow drum pulping systems at the mill in Dongguan, Guangdong Province, China. Start-up is scheduled for the second quarter of 2018. The scope of supply comprises a FibreFlow drum pulping system for the 300 bdt/d stock preparation line for the top ply, which uses ONP (Old Newspaper Pulp) as raw material. Two additional FibreFlow drum pulping systems will be installed for production of the filler ply in two parallel lines that process MOW (Mixed Office Waste) with a total capacity of 1,400 bdt/d. Click Read More below for additional information.
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ANDRITZ to supply an FRX shredder to Stora Enso, Poland

International technology Group ANDRITZ has received an order from Stora Enso Narew Sp. z.o.o., Poland, to supply an FRX shredder and a metal separator to the mill in Ostrołęka, Poland. The FRX shredder, which is part of the ANDRITZ Franssons product line, will process rejects from the pulping processes of two existing board production lines. Start-up of the new shredder, which will process around 60 tons of rejects per day, is scheduled for January 2018. The shredder will be installed upstream of the reject treatment system, which is part of the 455,000 tons per year board production line for which ANDRITZ also delivered the complete OCC line including reject treatment. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Oil Trades Near Two-Year High After Libya Pipeline Explosion

West Texas Intermediate futures were little changed, having climbed above $60 a barrel on Tuesday for the first time since 2015. The pipeline, which carries crude to Libya’s biggest export terminal, is said to need about a week for repairs. The operator of the critical Forties Pipeline System in the North Sea lifted all restrictions on flows caused by a crack earlier this month. Libya’s production dropped to 950,000 barrels a day on Wednesday, a person directly involved in the matter said. Output was 1.08 million barrels a day as of Dec. 18, indicating a decline of 12 percent. Loadings at Es Sider port are said to be down about 50 percent. The port was scheduled to ship 13 cargoes this month, each carrying 600,000 barrels of crude, according to a loading plan obtained by Bloomberg. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Lollicup® USA, Inc. Brings Manufacturing Back to the U.S.

In 2017, Lollicup's Reifenhauser extruder, which produces plastic sheets from resin, became completely operational. By adding this machine, they were able to cut energy use by about 20 percent and improve production by 40 percent, allowing more products to be produced domestically. "The extruder is capable of making thicker, higher quality sheets of plastic," said Production Supervisor Ron Gonzales. "These sheets are used to form Karat® cups and lids." 2017 also saw the initial phases of a new manufacturing plant in Rockwall, Texas. The manufacturing plant is projected to be operational in 2018 and will allow Lollicup to produce more products, in addition to adding products to their Karat and Karat Earth™ lines. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Oil Slips From Highest Since Mid-2015 Amid Low Trading Volume

Brent and West Texas Intermediate crude futures both slipped after the U.S. benchmark rose 2.7 percent on Tuesday, breaching $60 a barrel for the first time since June 2015. A pipeline run by Waha Oil Company that carries crude to Libya’s Es Sider terminal exploded Tuesday, reducing output by 70,000-100,000 barrels a day. The repair work will take about a week, according to people familiar with the situation. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is said to expect oil revenue to jump about 80 percent by 2023 to help the kingdom record its first budget surplus in a decade. “The market is having a counter-reaction to the jump yesterday,” said Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank A/S in Copenhagen. “It remains supported by the news out of Libya but at the same time liquidity is very poor.” Click Read More below for additional information.
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KP Tissue Announces Retirement of CEO Mario Gosselin and Appointment of Dino Bianco

KP Tissue Inc. announced that Mr. Mario Gosselin has decided to retire from his position as Chief Executive Officer of KP Tissue and Kruger Products L.P. as of March 8, 2018, and that Mr. Dino Bianco will succeed him. Mr. Gosselin began his career with Kruger Inc. almost 40 years ago and has held a number of senior positions with the group in both Canada and the U.K. Mr. Gosselin was appointed CEO of KPLP in October 2012. "Although Mario has achieved many accomplishments throughout his career, he will be remembered above all for his leadership, the successful implementation of many capital projects including the TAD Project in Memphis, the seamless transition to a public company and growing KPLP's sales from $923 million in 2012 to $1.2 billion in 2016. On behalf of the Board and of all the employees, I would like to sincerely thank Mario for his exceptional contributions," said Mr. Joseph Kruger II, Chairman of Kruger Products. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Metsä Wood Calls for Collaboration in Timber Innovation

Modular construction, using timber as a key element, is a credible solution to fast and sustainable house building. However, Metsä Wood believes that more needs to be done in terms of sharing knowledge and innovation in wood construction to further advance the use of this material in mainstream construction. In order to help facilitate this process, Metsä Wood has launched its Open Source Wood initiative at www.opensourcewood.com. Metsä Wood's Executive Vice President, Esa Kaikkonen, explains: "Not enough knowledge about modular wood design and building is shared, so wood construction remains niche. There is plenty of innovation but it is difficult to find, so Open Source Wood is our solution. We believe that with open collaboration the industry can achieve significant growth." Click Read More below for additional information.
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Record High Prices for Softwood Lumber in North America and Rising Export Prices in Sweden, Finland and Russia as Wood Demand Picks up

Demand for imported softwood lumber to the US has fallen by six percent during the first nine months of 2017 as compared to the same period in 2016. In contrast, Chinese import volumes have been up 21% year-over-year. Demand for imported softwood lumber to the US has fallen by six percent during the first nine months of 2017 as compared to the same period in 2016. In contrast, Chinese import volumes have been up 21% year-over-year. The lumber trade in Europe has also picked up in 2017 with the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Austria, Denmark and Spain having increased imports the most so far in 2017. Countries in the Middle East and North Africa, also known as the MENA countries, have sharply reduced consumption of lumber this year, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly (WRQ). In the first eight months of 2017, Egypt and Algeria (the two biggest lumber consumers in the region) have decreased their imports by 24% and 39% respectively as compared to the first eight months of 2016. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Euro-Graph Publishes Monthly Statistics of the European Graphic Papers Industry

Total European shipments of graphic papers in October 2017 were UP 0.2% vs. 2016 and were down 0.8% year-to-date. Total European shipments of newsprint in October 2017 were down 1.5% vs. 2016 and were down 3.3% year-to-date. Total European shipments of sc-magazine in October 2017 were down 6.8% vs. 2016 and were down 0.8% year-to-date. Total European shipments of coated mechanical reels in October 2017 were UP 6.1% vs. 2016 and were down 0.7% year-to-date. Total European shipments of uncoated mechanical in October 2017 were UP 3.1% vs. 2016 and were UP 2.3% year-to-date. Total European shipments of coated woodfree in October 2017 were down 0.9% vs. 2016 and were UP 1.1% year-to-date. Total European shipments of uncoated woodfree in October 2017 were UP 1.1% vs. 2016 and were down 0.7% year-to-date. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Oil Holds Gains Above $58 as U.S. Drillers Pause Rig Expansion

Futures were little changed in New York after gaining 2 percent last week. The number of U.S. rigs targeting oil remained unchanged at 747, Baker Hughes data showed Friday. A repair of the North Sea’s Forties Pipeline System is complete and pressure testing has started, operator Ineos Group said Monday. The halt of the line earlier this month sent prices surging. Oil is heading for a second yearly advance as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies including Russia prolong supply curbs through the end of 2018. Iraq’s Oil Minister Jabbar Al-Luaibi said Monday that he’s optimistic prices will gain next year with global stockpiles falling and demand rising in China and India. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Oji Holdings invests into a new containerboard machine in Malaysia

Oji Holdings Corporation, a leader in the pulp and paper industry of Japan, decided to start-up a new containerboard machine at Paperboard & Packaging Sdn Bhd (GSPP) located in Malaysia. The company plans to commence the operation in April 2021. According to the announcement, by starting a new container manufacturing machine, Oji wants to be able to respond to the mentioned business, business and business expansion. The investment into 450ktpa machine accounts for around JPY 35 billion (including containerboard machine and equipment for energy supply and water treatment). The machine will produce liner, corrugating medium.
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Unit Sales Have First Weekly Holiday Increase in 2017

Unit sales of print books rose 3% in the week ended December 17, 2017, over the comparable period in 2016, at outlets that report to NPD BookScan. Last week was the first week that print unit sales were up over the comparable week in 2016 since the holiday selling season began during Thanksgiving week. The retail and club channel, which includes all bookstores plus Amazon, had a 5% increase in sales over the week ended December 18, 201, and with two weeks left to go in 2017, sales through that channel were up 3%. The mass merchandiser channel, however, continued to trend downward compared to last year. Last week, unit sales to mass merchandisers were down 9% compared to the similar week in 2016, and for the year to date, sales fell 8%. Click Read More below for additional information.
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The Dark Side of Blue Light

There’s a question that’s been asked since the early beginnings of digital communication over 30 years ago. That question has been the focus of many debates, discussions, articles and research papers, as well as arguments between billions of parents and their children all over the world. It’s preoccupied governments, academics, companies, organisations and brands, and will continue to do so for a long time to come. The question is simple: Is digital harming our health? The amount of digital information that’s being created, consumed and shared every day is staggering. In just one minute of an average day, Google receives over 4,000,000 search queries, YouTube users upload 72 hours of new video, Facebook users share 2,460,000 pieces of content, and Apple users download 48,000 apps. By the time you will have finished reading this article, those numbers will have increased further. All this content consumption brings with it a host of potential health issues for the user. Anxiety, depression, addiction, isolation, narcissism, all are becoming more and more common, particularly amongst the young. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Moorim USA Announces Price Increase

Effective January 2nd 2018, we will enact an across-the-board 5% price increase. This increase includes all Neo Star (and private labeled product): C2S gloss/silk text and cover, pro-digital C2S gloss/silk text and cover, KNIGHT C2S/C1S board grades, pro-digital KNIGHT C2S/C1S board grades, C1S label, and cast coated paper. We hope to continue our excellent relationship with our customers, and assure you our quality of service will reflect a similar increase.
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Resolute Acquires Full Ownership of Donohue Malbaie

Resolute Forest Products Inc. announced the closing of a transaction to acquire the 49 percent equity interest held by The New York Times Company in Donohue Malbaie Inc. for a cash purchase price in the amount of C$20 million. Resolute already owned 51 percent of the shares of Donohue Malbaie. Donohue Malbaie owns and operates a paper machine with an annual production capacity of 224,000 metric tons of newsprint in Clermont (Quebec). The Clermont operation, which employs 153 workers, also houses all the equipment that produces the thermomechanical pulp supplying the machine. With this transaction, Resolute becomes sole owner of the Clermont operation. Click Read More below for additional information.
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American Forest & Paper Association Releases November 2017 Printing-Writing Paper Report

According to the November 2017 Printing-Writing Monthly report from the American Forest & Paper Association, total printing-writing paper shipments decreased six percent in November compared to November 2016. Shipments of uncoated free sheet shipments remained flat while the remaining three major printing-writing grades declined year-over-year. Total printing-writing paper inventory levels increased less than one-half of one percent from October 2017. •November uncoated free sheet (UFS) paper shipments were flat year-over-year following year-over-year increases in two of the previous three months. •Shipments of coated free sheet (CFS) paper in November declined by a double-digit percentage for the second consecutive month. •Coated mechanical (CM) paper shipments declined year-over-year in November for the sixth consecutive month. •Exports of uncoated mechanical (UM) papers decreased 4% year-over-year in September, but reached second-highest level in the past 24 months. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Ahlstrom-Munksjö acquires land next to its Louveira plant in Brazil

Ahlstrom-Munksjö taking the first step towards a potential capacity expansion plan at its Louveira plant in Brazil. “Demand for filtration media in South America is expected to continue to grow in the coming years and we clearly foresee the need to increase capacity in the future to support the growing demand for filtration media in the region” states Fulvio Capussotti, Executive Vice President of the Business Area Filtration & Performance. “The acquisition of this land constitutes an important steps towards our overall ambition to further develop an industrial platform in South America that will enable us to continue to support our filtration customers in the region for the years to come” he adds. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Fortress Paper Sells Security Paper Business for CHF21.5 Million

Fortress Paper Ltd. reports that its wholly owned subsidiary, Fortress Security Papers AG ("FSP"), has entered into and completed a share purchase agreement with the Swiss National Bank ("SNB") and Orell Füssli Holding AG ("OF"), pursuant to which the Company sold the two legal entities representing their security paper products business comprised of all of the shares of its wholly owned subsidiaries, Landqart AG and Landqart Management and Services AG, to SNB and OF for an aggregate purchase price of CHF21,500,000 (approximately CDN$28 million). With the sale of Landqart, Fortress Paper no longer operates in the security paper products segment. Click Read More below for additional information.
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‘Rolling Stone’ Sells Controlling Stake To Penske

Rolling Stone, the magazine Jann Wenner started 50 years ago with a $7,500 loan from his family, closed a deal with Penske Media Corporation, sending Wenner Media's value to $100 million and giving PMC a controlling interest in the company. Wenner Media was previously valued at $50 million. The investment from PMC is within that same range, giving them a 51% stake. It is reported to rival what it paid for Fairchild's stable of titles in 2014. After rumors circled that PMC was the frontrunner in the bid for Wenner Media, the corporation closed the deal yesterday afternoon. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Mondi Group signs an agreement to acquire Powerflute

Mondi Group has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of the outstanding shares in Powerflute Group Holdings Oy, a division of Nordic Packaging and Container Holdings, for a total consideration of €365 million on an enterprise value basis. Powerflute operates an integrated pulp and paper mill in Kuopio (Finland) with an annual production capacity of 285,000 tonnes of high-performance semi-chemical fluting. Powerflute’s premium semi-chemical fluting is sold to a diverse range of customers, primarily for packaging fresh fruit and vegetables, but also other end-uses such as electronics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Around half of the Company’s production is sold in Europe, while the remainder is exported globally. Click Read More below for additional information.
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PEFC helps cities get their Christmas festivities started!

Christmas is round the corner. Time for us to head into town, to a Christmas market or to see the festive lights. But what city square would be complete without a Christmas tree? “These stunning trees, several meters tall and often over a hundred years old, are certainly special,” said Ben Gunneberg, CEO of PEFC International. “And thanks to PEFC certification, we can all rest assured that these giants come from sustainably managed forests that will produce such trees for generations to come.” Click Read More below for additional information.
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TC Transcontinental announces new agreement with Hearst

Transcontinental Inc. announced that, effective April 2, 2018, TC Transcontinental will transfer to Hearst the printing operations of its Fremont, California facility where Hearst's San Francisco Chronicle — the largest newspaper in Northern California and the second largest on the West Coast — and its related products are printed, and post-press services are conducted. Under the terms of the agreement, TC Transcontinental will continue printing the newspaper in Fremont for a transition period. TC Transcontinental will receive a cash payment of US$42.8 million from Hearst as compensation for the early termination of the printing agreement, for the sale of some of its printing equipment, and for services to be rendered as part of a Transitional Service Agreement. The amount will be received mainly in 2017, and the balance in 2018. Click Read More below for additional information.
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New Update to Informed Delivery

Informed Delivery users can now view images of their household’s incoming mail and manage their package deliveries, the Postal Service announced today. More than seven million Informed Delivery users who opt-in to receive email notifications can now view their mail in their daily digest emails and also see tracking information about the expected delivery of their packages. Also, users are able to track package deliveries, leave delivery instructions and schedule redelivery from the online Informed Delivery dashboard. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Walgreens Boots Alliance to Reduce Stake in Guangzhou Pharmaceuticals Corporation

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. announces that it has entered into an agreement to reduce its stake in Guangzhou Pharmaceuticals Corporation, a pharmaceutical wholesaling joint venture in China, following an offer from its joint venture partner Guangzhou Baiyunshan Pharmaceutical Holdings Co. Ltd. Subject to regulatory review and approval and other customary closing conditions, Walgreens Boots Alliance will sell a 30% interest in Guangzhou Pharmaceuticals Corporation to Guangzhou Baiyunshan Pharmaceutical Holdings that, following the proposed sale, would own 80%. Upon completion, Walgreens Boots Alliance will own a 20% interest in Guangzhou Pharmaceuticals Corporation and will continue to account for its remaining stake as an equity method investment.
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Lecta Announces Price Increase for North America

Please be advised that Lecta will increase its prices by 4%, for new orders with a delivery date on and after January 18th, 2018. This increase is applicable on rolls and sheets of: Condat Gloss, Silk, Matte, Digital (Mill and private brands); Garda Gloss and Silk; Creator Star and Silk. Also please note, the upcharge for 60lb Text will be increased to $3.00 cwt in conjunction with the general price increase. All other differentials remain the same.
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Catalyst Paper: Regarding CVD & AD Surcharge

In the near future, certain uncoated groundwood paper products imported into the United States from Canada may be subjected to U.S. countervailing (CVD) and/or anti-dumping (AD) duties. These duties arise from petitions made by North Pacific Paper Company (NORPAC), a U.S.-based pulp and paper manufacturer, to the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission that allege Canada’s UGW paper exports are unfairly priced and/or that Canadian federal and provincial governments subsidize domestic producers – including Catalyst – thereby placing U.S. manufacturers of uncoated groundwood paper at an unfair disadvantage. I am writing to advise that Catalyst intends to implement price surcharges on our uncoated groundwood paper products we import into the USA that are subject to these CVD and AD duties. These surcharges will directly mirror the charges imposed on Catalyst by the U.S. Government. We will inform you of the level of Surcharge as soon as it becomes available. Click Read More below for additional information.
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Higher prices help offset impacts of softwood lumber duties

Canada’s lumber industry has been able to survive the impacts of preliminary duties, largely thanks to soaring lumber prices. While industry production will remain virtually flat this year, industry revenues are on pace to grow by 8 per cent, according to The Conference Board of Canada’s Canadian Industrial Outlook: Wood Products Manufacturing – Autumn 2017. “Lumber prices are at their highest levels in over a decade due to a perfect storm of factors, including supply constraints in B.C. from the wildfires this summer, and increased demand from a recovering U.S. housing market and rebuilding efforts in hurricane-affected regions,” said Michael Burt, Director, Industrial Trends, The Conference Board of Canada. “The surging lumber prices are providing a welcome relief from the costs of the lumber duties imposed by the U.S., but this is not likely to last.” Click Read More below for additional information.
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Resolute turns to Thermal Energy for $11M heat recovery, steam conservation project

Thermal Energy International, a global provider of industrial and institutional energy efficiency solutions, has been engaged by Resolute Forest Products to design, develop and implement an energy efficiency improvement and greenhouse gas reduction project. The $11-million project — which includes the installation of two Thermal Energy FLU-ACE Heat Recovery Systems and the conversion of the mill’s steam traps to Thermal Energy EM Steam Trap system — aims to meet the energy savings and greenhouse gas reduction goals of Resolute’s Thunder Bay, Ont., mill. Earlier this month, the Ontario government announced the project secured $5 million in funding from the Ontario Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science through the TargetGHG Industrial Demonstration Program administered by Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE). Click Read More below for additional information.
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Hans Sohlström appointed President and CEO of Ahlstrom-Munksjö

The Board of Directors has appointed Hans Sohlström President and CEO of Ahlstrom-Munksjö, effective as of June 30, 2018, at the latest. Sohlström is currently the President and CEO of Ahlström Capital Group. Ahlstrom-Munksjö’s current President and CEO Jan Åström, (b. 1956), will retire from the position on June 30, 2018, at the latest. He has been the President and CEO of the company since its creation through the merger of Ahlstrom Corporation and Munksjö Oyj on April 1, 2017, and before that he was the President and CEO of Munksjö since 2008. Click Read More below for additional information.
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