<B>Rock-Tenn Reports Quarterly Dip in Sales</B>

Rock-Tenn Co. reported net sales and earnings for the first fiscal quarter. Net sales for the first quarter were $345.2 million, compared to net sales of $346.8 million in the same quarter last year. Net income was $4.8 million in the first quarter compared to $8.6 million in the same quarter last year.

Net income, excluding plant closing costs, was $5.9 million in the first quarter. Net income, excluding plant closing costs, was $10.2 million.

Sales in the Packaging Products segment during the increased 1.4% to $195.6 million compared to $192.9 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2000. Income increased 47.6% to $9.3 million in first quarter from $6.3 million. Sales in the Folding Carton Division decreased to $144.5 million in first quarter from $146.5 million the first quarter last

Paperboard segment sales declined 8.9% to $131.5 million from $144.3 million in the same quarter of 2000. Paperboard segment operating income declined to $9.1 million compared to $15.5 million in first quarter 2000. Sales of coated paperboard declined by 4,300 tons over the prior year quarter, but price increases and fiber price declines offsetting energy price increases caused operating income in the Coated Paperboard Division to remain approximately unchanged from the first quarter 2001 to the prior year quarter.

Income in the Recycled Fiber Division was lower than the prior year quarter due to reduced recovered fiber prices.

Specialty Corrugated Packaging and Display segment sales in the first quarter rose 10.5% to $57.8 million in first quarter 2001 from $52.3 million in the prior year quarter, primarily due to continued growth in sales at the Alliance Display Division. Operating income declined to $2.3 million in fiscal first quarter 2001 from $6.2 million in 2000.