FRIDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2008

PAQUIN WINS CEO OF THE YEAR
Alain Paquin, the man who announced the acquisition of a company 10 times greater than Komunik – Datamark Systems Group Inc.- was recently named CEO Vision’s “CEO of the Year” for 2008. Paquin was voted “CEO of the Year” by his peers in the technology industry, at the CEO Vision Conference February 7th. The objective of the award is to reward an IT CEO who has made a significant contribution to the industry in the past year. Paquin spearheaded Komunik’s growth through strategic acquisitions and by completing one of the industry’s most significant financial transactions when acquiring Datamark Systems Group Inc. Komunik has become a national leader in communication resource management with close to 700 employees from coast-to-coast, and revenue of $115 million. Komunik Konversation also won the Fleche d’Or for Supplier-Innovative Resources for a project developed on behalf of CAA-Quebec for their personalized renewal notices. Learn more: www.komunikkonversation.com

QUEBECOR WORLD RENEWS MULTI-YEAR RONA AGREEMENT
Quebecor World announced it has signed a five-year contract with RONA and its affiliates across Canada. The new agreement, which prolongs and expands the scope of the existing partnership between Quebecor World and RONA, will see Quebecor World printing 100 per cent of RONA’s advertising material, including its retail flyers. Quebecor World will also provide important value-added services, among them the “Coficio” advertising campaign management software, which includes technical development and support services, and the development and distribution of special products to support RONA on a national scale. Learn more: www.quebecorworld.com

Quebecor World also announced in the last few weeks it has signed new contracts and renewed multi-year deals with key customers across all its major business groups, with an estimated value of more than $75 million annually. These customer groups include major publishers, retailers, and direct marketers.

PITNEY BOWES ANNOUNCES KEY APPOINTMENTS
Pitney Bowes announced the following key appointments to its senior management team, effective March 1, to position the company for its next stage of growth. Michael Monahan, currently Executive Vice President and President Mailstream Solutions and Services Americas, has been named EVP and Chief Financial Officer. Leslie Abi-Karam, Executive Vice President and President Document Messaging Technologies, has been named to a newly-created position, EVP and President Mailing Solutions Management, which includes responsibility for the production mail business, as well as mailstream solutions and services formerly led by Mr. Monahan. With these appointments, the company has consolidated all of its US mailing products and services into an approximately $3.5 billion organization under Ms. Abi-Karam. Learn more: www.pitneybowes.com

USPS INCREASES PRICES FOR MARKET DOMINANT PRODUCTS
The United States Postal Service has announced its price increases for market-dominant products, set to take effect May 12. The price adjustments are capped at the mail class level at the rate of inflation for the most recent 12 month period (2.9 per cent) as allowed under the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act. This is the USPS’ first price adjustment under the new law. See www.usps.com/prices/ for all mailing service prices and to link to downloadable pricing files. USPS says the average price increase at the class level is at or below the CPI rate. This means that some mail categories within the class could be higher or lower than CPI. The USPS says in its DMM Advisory announcement that it has lowered the additional ounce rate for pre-sorted First Class letters and has lowered the pound price for Standard Mail saturation and high-density flats. The stamp price will increase 1 cent to 42 cents. USPS will announce new prices for shipping services in March. PostCom has reviewed the pricing files and prepared rate charts to compare prices and determine percentage increases. According to Postcom, the USPS price adjustment filing lacks prices for the Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMB) full- service or basic-service options. Learn more: www.postcom.org

NAMMU TRANSACTION MAIL COUNCIL LAUNCH
Shirley Neil (Manitoba Hydro) and Chair, Transaction Mail Council, will host the first formal council session February 27th in Toronto. The pre-meeting membership survey to determine areas of interest and priority for this and subsequent Council agendas, has had a strong response. NAMMU President, Kathleen Rowe, advised members “The national Council structure enables us to focus specifically on issues important and relevant to those participating. The Transaction Mail Council will take its place, along with the Publications Mail Council, and Value Add Mailer (VAM) Council, that already supply a focused platform for these interest groups.” Rowe added “We anticipate and want crossover initiatives amongst these Councils, and we welcome the active participation these Council sessions generate.”

 

NEW CEO AND NEW BUSINESS FOR TRANSCONTINENTAL
As announced last September, Francois Olivier officially became president and chief executive officer of Transcontinental, at its annual shareholder meeting February 20. He is taking over from Luc Desjardins who is leaving the company after eight successful years. Desjardins plans to move to another large corporation. According to Desjardins, he was hired in 2000 to keep the company growing, and assure the succession in seven to ten years.

Transcontinental also announced February 20th, plans to invest $60 million in state-of-the-art equipment at its Transcontinental Transmag newspaper printing facility in Montreal. According to Francois Olivier, this is part of the Transcontinental strategy to become North America’s leader in newspaper printing outsourcing.

On February 15, Transcontinental announced it had signed a six-year contract for the printing of Rogers’ complete magazine portfolio. The six year contract, valued at approximately $210 million, represents all new business for Transcontinental. The contract takes effect on February 1, 2009. The magazines will be printed on the Transcontinental network across Canada, including the Transcontinental RBW Graphics facility in Owen Sound, Ontario.