NewPage Corp.

Valassis, ADVO Settle, Merge LIVONIA, MI—After several months of acrimony, Valassis and ADVO have decided to patch their differences and merge. The sides have dropped their chancery court case and will move under one roof via a renegotiated $1.2 billion deal, at $33 per share for the outstanding common shares of ADVO stock. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2007. Bowne Buys St Ives Financial NEW YORK—Bowne & Co. is acquiring St Ives Financial, the financial printing division of St Ives plc. Terms of the deal were not revealed. St Ives, which is keeping its annual report printing business, has financial printing

American Firms Win High Honors BUDAPEST, HUNGARY—Winners of the Sappi International Printers of the Year awards for 2006 were announced at a gala event held here at the Museum of Applied Arts. The nine winners were chosen from 33 finalists in the following categories: annual reports, books, brochures, calendars, catalogs, general print, magazines, packaging and labels, and printer’s own promotion. North American firms bringing home the cast bronze elephant trophy included Nahan Printing, St. Cloud, MN, for its Bergdorf Goodman Magazine Resort/Holiday 2005 in the magazines category and Cenveo Anderson Lithograph, City of Commerce, CA, for the 2006 Cadillac XLR brochure in the brochures

WASHINGTON, DC—October 11, 2006—The Print Council, a national business development initiative dedicated to the promotion of greater use of printing and print media, today announced the publication of a new, 24-page marketing brochure demonstrating the extraordinary value and effectiveness of print communications. Titled “Why Print? The Top Ten Ways Print Helps You Prosper,” the full-color brochure marks the launch of an ongoing series of strategic activities by The Print Council designed to make a major impact on media decision makers, significantly elevating their awareness of, and appreciation for, the value of print. The first copies of “Why Print?” will be released

CALIFORNIA CITY OF INDUSTRY—Kion Printing has invested in a six-color Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 105 press with coater. Founded in 1982, Kion Printing is a privately held company housing 52 employees. FOOTHILL RANCH—Westamerica Graphics recently installed a six-color Komori Lithrone S40. This is the sixth Komori press for the 29-year-old firm. The company is facing increased client demands for short-turnaround, four-, five- and six-color print applications. REDWOOD CITY—Pacific Printing and Fulfillment Inc. (PPFI) recently purchased its third Kodak NexPress 2100 digital production color press and its first Kodak NexPress fifth imaging unit to increase its services to include in-line coating and an expanded color gamut range. CONNECTICUT EAST WINDSOR—Keystone Paper

Heidelberg Targets Packaging Market KENNESAW, GA—While its installed base of diecutting and folder/gluer equipment geared toward the package printing industry may be small, Heidelberg intends to become a major player in this market segment. That was the message stressed by Heidelberg USA executives at a packaging media event held here recently. To showcase its integrated approach to packaging production, a sample folding carton job was produced in its showroom—Prinect prepress preparation, printing on a Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 105, as well as finishing on a Dymatrix diecutter and a Diana folder/gluer. The team leading Heidelberg USA’s packaging initiative includes Mark Rasmussen, product manager, packaging; Roland Krapp, vice president,

THE FIFTH annual PIA/GATF Variable Data and Personalization Conference, held November 12-14 in Phoenix, will feature more than two days of sessions to help companies advance their capabilities. This special supplement has been designed to highlight some of the key conference topics and speakers. Attendees will hear case studies from the Canadian Conservative Party and Move.com that provide a behind-the-scenes look at effective uses of VDP. Three separate tracks, a total of 21 sessions, are being offered. Management sessions will include: Building an Efficient Cost/Financial Model; Liability/Security Issues; Managing a Multimedia Company; Transitioning from Transactional to Marketing; as well as Profiting from Digital

Open House Event Deemed a Success LINCOLNSHIRE, IL—Mitsubishi Lithographic Presses (MLP U.S.A.) hosted a technology open house recently at the company’s headquarters here. Billed as “Diamond Days,” the event focused on the theme “New Technology Opening New Worlds,” exemplified by the latest advancements in the Diamond series 40˝ sheetfed press lineup. Highlighted were the Diamond 3000LX press, the Diamond 3000TP Tandem Perfector and the new Mabeg RS 104 in-line reel sheeter. Wausau Paper announced several new hires in the marketing department for its Printing and Writing sector. Jennifer Cox has joined Wausau as product manager. Andrea Alstad takes over as brand manager for the

MEMPHIS, TN—International Paper has signed a definitive agreement to sell its Brazilian coated papers business to Stora Enso Oyj for approximately $415 million, subject to certain post-closing adjustments. The business includes a coated paper mill and lumber mill in Arapoti, Parana State, Brazil, as well as 50,000 hectares (approximately 124,000 acres) of forestland in Parana. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2006 subject to customary closing conditions. The move is part of International Paper’s previously announced transformation plan to focus on uncoated papers and industrial and consumer packaging globally. Including this deal, expected proceeds from transformation-related divestitures announced to date

PRICE INCREASES, or attempts to implement them, are what’s on tap in the paper sector. Along with raising quoted prices per ton, paper companies could feel renewed pressure to pass along higher energy costs through surcharges if oil prices do climb toward the $100/barrel mark predicted in the most bearish outlook. The Lane Press, in Burlington, VT, put an interesting spin on that latter market development. Under the “Did you know?” heading in its last two “Paper Prophet” newsletters, the printer pointed out to customers that “Lane Press’ close proximity to Northeast paper mills slashes transportation costs and reduces fuel surcharges.” There hasn’t been

BITS AND PIECES BRUCE DERON only wanted to recover some long-lost war medals he’d earned as an Air Force pilot during Vietnam. Thanks to Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Deron will be getting more recognition than he had expected. Deron, president of Waymart, PA-based SG Printing, had contacted McCain’s office inquiring about a way to replace his medals, which had been misplaced years ago during a move. McCain took a long look at Deron’s military record, verified the original citations and found there were other events where he should have been medaled for his actions, according to Deron’s son, Jason—the vice president of sales at