6 July 2024: Smurfit Kappa announced that the "scheme of arrangement" in connection with the combination of Smurfit Kappa and WestRock became effective Friday, July 5 at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time). The combination of the two companies has created Smurfit Westrock, a global leader in sustainable paper and packaging operating in 40 countries with over 500 packaging converting operations and 63 paper mills.
The deal, which was officially announced on September 12, 2023, called for Smurfit Kappa (Ireland) to buy WestRock (USA) for about $11.2 billion and combine the two companies. At the time of that announcement, the companies' combined last twelve months' (as of June 30, 2023) adjusted revenue and adjusted EBITDA was approximately $34 billion and $5.5 billion, respectively.
Next Steps
According to documentation from Smurfit Kappa, it is expected that, on Monday, July 8, 2024:
- the Smurfit Kappa Shares will be delisted from (i) the premium listing segment of the Official List of the FCA, and (ii) the Official List of Euronext Dublin, with effect from 8:00 a.m.;
- the Smurfit WestRock Shares will be admitted to the standard listing segment of the Official List of the FCA and commence trading on the LSE's main market for listed securities, with effect from 8:00 a.m.; and
- the Smurfit WestRock Shares will trade on the New York Stock Exchange with effect from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time).
All dates and times above are based on current expectations and are subject to change. All times shown in this announcement are UK and Irish times, unless otherwise stated. Any changes to the above timeline will be notified by announcement through a Regulatory Information Service.