WestRock

WestRock

Company type	Public
Industry	Packaging, Paper
Predecessor	MeadWestvaco, RockTenn
Founded	May 2015 (2015-05)
Defunct	2024 (2024)
Fate	Merged with Smurfit Kappa to form Smurfit Westrock
Headquarters	Sandy Springs, Georgia , United States
Area served	Worldwide (30 countries)
Products	Corrugated packaging, containerboard, kraft paper, bag paper, folded cartons, litho-laminated display packaging, pizza boxes, printing and graphics packaging
Number of employees	50,000+ (2018+)

WestRock was a U.S.-based company specializing in corrugated packaging that combined with Smurfit Kappa in 2024, resulting in the creation of Smurfit Westrock. The firm originated in July 2015 following the merger of MeadWestvaco and RockTenn, positioning itself as the second-largest packaging enterprise in the United States and ranking among the globe's leading paper and packaging corporations, with annual revenues reaching $21.3 billion. It maintained a workforce exceeding 50,000 employees distributed over 300+ facilities in 30 different countries. The corporate headquarters were located in Sandy Springs, Georgia, unifying previous offices situated in Norcross, Georgia, and Richmond, Virginia.

History and acquisitions

WestRock came into existence in May 2015 through the consolidation of MeadWestvaco and Rock Tenn. Shareholders of MeadWestvaco were allocated 0.78 shares in the merged entity, whereas Rock-Tenn shareholders had the option to receive either one share of the new company or a cash payment per share.

In October 2015, WestRock expanded by acquiring SP Fiber Holdings, Inc., a producer specializing in recycled containerboard, kraft paper, and bag paper products. The company further extended its portfolio in January 2016 by purchasing Cenveo Packaging for $105 million, integrating folded cartons and litho-laminated display packaging with manufacturing sites across the United States, Canada, and the Dominican Republic.

The acquisition of Star Pizza Box—the largest manufacturer and distributor of pizza boxes in the U.S.—occurred in March 2017. Shortly after, in April 2017, WestRock divested its dispensing systems segment to Silgan Holdings for $1.025 billion.

June 2017 marked another significant expansion when WestRock acquired Multi Packaging Solutions International (MPS) for $2.28 billion. MPS operates 59 facilities throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, bolstering WestRock's capabilities in printing, graphics, and design for sectors including spirits, confectionery, beauty, and cosmetics packaging.

In January 2018, WestRock incorporated Plymouth Packaging, Inc. into its operations. Later that year, it announced plans to acquire competitor Kapstone—a pulp and paper company—with the transaction completing in November 2018. That same year, WestRock secured the 194th position on the Fortune 500 list based on revenue.

By September 2023, WestRock entered advanced negotiations to merge with Dublin-headquartered Smurfit Kappa aiming to establish a combined packaging enterprise with an adjusted EBITDA of $5.5 billion. During this period, WestRock also sold its RTS Packaging subsidiary to Sonoco for $330 million. Subsequently that month, both companies formalized their merger agreement to create Smurfit Westrock—emerging as one of the largest global producers within the paper and packaging industry.