Commercial printing industry news briefs, including items on RR Donnelley, Sandy Alexander, Quad/Graphics, Yurchak Printing, Brown Printing, Modernistic, Transcontinental, WildfireXM, West Linn Paper, Mohawk Fine Papers and Presstek.
While 2010 was resplendent with major printing company acquisitions, its successor came and went with little fanfare. Asset sales and closures took center stage in 2011, and crime continued to play a leading role from a news standpoint.
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services revised its outlook on Chicago-based printer R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co. (RRD) to negative from stable. The outlook revision reflects our expectation of weak economic conditions, negative trends in print media, and the risk of intensifying pricing pressure.
Our rating outlook on RRD is negative, reflecting the potential for a recession and the risk that secular pressure and pricing pressure could intensify. We could lower the rating if we conclude that secular risks facing the company have increased and could cause organic revenue to decline consistently or cause the company’s EBITDA margin to decline below
Based in West Chester, OH, StratusGroup is a full-service manufacturer of custom pressure-sensitive label and paperboard packaging products.
Donnelley announced a three-year gift to support ID3, funding research and development in the areas of data mining, privacy and security for personal data. Located in Cambridge, MA, ID3 is a multidisciplinary hub of thinkers, educators and entrepreneurs collaborating to design, code, test and scale a new data ecosystem of innovative data-driven enterprises.
CHICAGO—RR Donnelley has been awarded a new multi-year, multimillion-dollar agreement by Highlights for Children. Under the terms of the agreement, Donnelley will produce Highlights magazine, a children’s title, and High Five, a version for younger kids. The printer will also provide co-mailing services.
Donnelley reported third-quarter net earnings of $158.0 million on net sales of $2.7 billion (up 7.8 percent), compared to $53.3 million on net sales of $2.5 billion in the third quarter of 2010. “We continue to have success in the marketplace, winning new work and expanding customer relationships,” said Thomas J. Quinlan III, RR Donnelley’s president and CEO.
Under the terms of the multi-year agreement, Donnelley will produce Highlights magazine, described as the most recognizable and widely read children’s magazine in the nation, and High Five, a version for younger children. The printer will also provide co-mail services.
Commercial printing industry news briefs, including items on GRAPH EXPO 2011, Henry Wurst, Jackson Printing and Mailing, Macomb Printing and RR Donnelley.
CHICAGO—RR Donnelley has been awarded a $550 million, multi-year agreement by American Media (AMI). Under the terms of the pact, Donnelley will provide a broad array of products and services in North America and the United Kingdom, including premedia, magazine production, variable digital printing and transpromo communications, as well as new digital and electronic communications services through its CustomPoint Solutions Group.
