RR Donnelley has blamed weaker-than-expected demand for an 8% fall in projected earnings per share.


It has closed three units in the US, laying off 5% of its workforce, or 1,700 staff, and is poised to close a fourth. In the US it has seen a 50% fall in demand for financial reporting services.


The group is blaming the fall in companies going public and marketers cutting back on advertising.


The scenario has not been repeated across Europe. A new European document management headquarters for its financial printing business unit has opened in London.


Sun Chemical has secured a five-year initial contract to supply heatset printing inks to Donnelleys directory plant in Yorkshire.