WestRock Provides Update on Ransomware Incident

Stora Enso and Vogue Scandinavia have formed a strategic partnership to replace plastics in magazine packaging. As a part of the partnership, Stora Enso will provide Vogue Scandinavia with sustainability and packaging design expertise. A renewable, carbon neutral eco-package concept will be available for the first issue of Vogue Scandinavia, to be published in August this year. As a part of the partnership, Stora Enso will provide Vogue Scandinavia with renewable magazine packaging, along with packaging design and automation services. The Vogue Scandinavia magazine packaging aims to be fully carbon neutral, with a renewable, low-carbon raw material and energy efficient production. The remaining emissions are offset by using the CarbonZero service by Stora Enso, in collaboration with compensation partner South Pole. Stora Enso will provide Vogue Scandinavia with advisory services for sustainable materials and cradle-to-grave life-cycle assessments. Stora Enso will also support Vogue Scandinavia in transparent sustainability reporting.

Commenting on the group’s results, Sappi Chief Executive Officer Steve Binnie said: “I am pleased with another strong performance from the Group which was well above pre-Covid levels and the best ever first quarter results. EBITDA of US$290 million was 21% above the prior year and in line with guidance provided in the previous quarter. The positive results were underpinned by year-on-year pricing gains for paper products which offset cost inflation, lower sales volumes and delivered an EBITDA margin of 17.5%.”

Fourth Quarter 2020 Results: Net sales were $1.99 billion, up 12.3%. The extra week in 2020 increased sales 4.9%. Sales were up 5.2% ex. currency, and up 3.2% on an organic basis. Reported operating margin increased 350 basis points to 13.7%. Adjusted EBITDA margin increased 180 basis points to 16.3%, while adjusted operating margin increased 160 basis points to 13.5%. Reported net income was $2.28 per share, up 19% and adjusted net income was $2.27 per share, up 31%, both of which were above the company’s expectations. Year-to-date free cash flow was $548 million, up 6.9% compared to last year.