European Commission OKs Smurfit Kappa, WestRock merger

The European Commission, under the EU Merger Regulation, has approved the merger between Irish paperboard and packaging company Smurfit Kappa and Atlanta-based WestRock. The decision was reached April 5.

The commission concluded the transaction between Smurfit Kappa and fellow paper and packaging company WestRock—the largest recovered paper consumer in North America—would not raise competition concerns “given the companies’ limited combined market position resulting from the proposed transaction.” The merger was reviewed under the simplified merger review procedure.

Smurfit Kappa and WestRock officially announced the merger agreement Sept. 12, 2023, and, at the time, expected the deal to close in the second quarter of this year. The combined company, Smurfit WestRock, will be incorporated and domiciled in Ireland with global headquarters in Smurfit Kappa’s current home, Dublin, and North and South American headquarters in Atlanta.

“This incredibly exciting coming together of our two great companies is a defining moment within the global packaging industry,” Smurfit Kappa CEO Tony Smurfit, who will become CEO of Smurfit Westrock, said at the time of the announcement in September.

“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.”