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Smurfit Kappa, WestRock merge to create world’s largest packaging company

The boards of Smurfit Kappa and WestRock have agreed to merge the two companies and create a single entity, the Smurfit WestRock.

Smurfit WestRock will become the largest listed global packaging company by revenue. It will have unparalleled geographic reach across 42 countries with a significant presence across both Europe and the Americas.

Smurfit WestRock will be incorporated and domiciled in Ireland with global headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, and its North and South American operations will be headquartered in Atlanta, Ga.

Tony Smurfit, CEO of Smurfit Kappa, said, “This incredibly exciting coming together of our two great companies is a defining moment within the global packaging industry. Smurfit WestRock will be the ‘go-to’ packaging partner of choice for customers, employees and shareholders. We will have the leading assets, a unique global footprint in both paper and corrugated, a superb consumer and specialty packaging business, significant synergies, and enhanced scale to deliver value in the short, medium and long term.”

David Sewell, CEO of WestRock, added, “We look forward to working with Smurfit Kappa to build a leading global platform that harnesses the strength of WestRock’s consumer portfolio, presents a truly comprehensive offering of packaging solutions for customers and delivers meaningful value to our shareholders today and into the future. Smurfit Kappa shares our deep commitment to innovation across the packaging lifecycle, and we are confident that Smurfit WestRock will continue to lead the industry forward. I’m grateful to WestRock’s team members, whose hard work has made this combination possible, and excited for the many opportunities that will arise from becoming part of the partner of choice in our industry.”

Smurfit WestRock will bring together the best of both companies’ management teams. Smurfit WestRock will be led by Irial Finan as chair, Tony Smurfit as CEO, with Ken Bowles as CFO. The Board of Smurfit WestRock will consist of six WestRock directors and eight Smurfit Kappa directors, including Irial Finan, Tony Smurfit and Ken Bowles.