New Research: Pace of Expansion by Commercial Printers Into New Printing Segments Proliferates (piworld.com)

Net earnings improved during the fourth quarter of 2017 to $55 million, an $18 million year-over-year increase, despite a 2.8% decrease in net sales to $1.2 billion. Organic sales decreased 2.8% due to ongoing industry volume and pricing pressures, after excluding pass-through paper sales (-0.3% impact) and favorable foreign exchange (0.3% impact). Net earnings improved for the year ended December 31, 2017 to $107 million, a $62 million increase from 2016, despite a 4.6% decrease in net sales to $4.1 billion. Organic sales decreased 3.5% due to ongoing industry volume and pricing pressures after excluding pass-through paper sales (-1.1% impact), and is consistent with the Company’s previous guidance. Net cash provided by operating activities was $344 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. Free Cash Flow was $258 million, compared with $246 million for 2016, and was at the top end of the Company’s guidance range. Click Read More below for additional information.

R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its DLS Worldwide Logistics business to TFI International for $225 million in cash, subject to a customary working capital adjustment. The agreement stipulates 10 percent of the purchase price will be held in escrow while the remainder will be paid at closing. The transaction does not include RRD’s International Mail and Parcel Logistics business and is expected to close within the next 60 days pending regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Dan Knotts, RRD’s President and Chief Executive Officer stated, “The sale of our DLS Worldwide business further demonstrates our strategic focus and ongoing commitment to optimize our business portfolio, reduce debt and improve liquidity, all while remaining strongly positioned as an industry leading provider of marketing and business communications. As we move through the final phase of this transaction, we are laser focused on facilitating a smooth transition for our employees while continuing to deliver the exceptional service our DLS Worldwide clients have come to expect from RRD.”

Arandell is taking part in a very special opportunity to partner up with local craft brewery Lakefront Brewery in a combined effort to fight cancer that honors fallen members from both organizations. Al Kluth, Warehouse Manager at Lakefront, and Dan Hauser, Bindery Trainer at Arandell, both passed away in 2020 as a result of complications from pancreatic cancer. Before his passing, Al was given the opportunity to develop his own style of beer in line with Lakefront’s My Turn program, which allows every Lakefront employee to select a style of beer that is then brewed and sold into the marketplace. When Al’s number came up after his passing, the team at Lakefront decided to reach out to his brothers Tim and Rob – both team members at Arandell – and his six other siblings to brew the beer in his honor. The result is My Turn Series – Al, #038, which is described as an American Stout that is pitch black and medium-bodied, with strong roasted and caramel malt flavors. According to the label on the side of each six-pack, the story goes that Al wasn’t much a fan of the “latest designer-hop IPAs or fruit salad kettle sours, but never turned down a good stout.” One hundred barrels of it were brewed and $1.00 from every six-pack sold will be donated to the American Cancer Society on behalf of Al by Lakefront.