WestRock Reports Fiscal 2021 First Quarter Results
Notable items in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 include: *Net sales of $4.4 billion were essentially flat compared to the pre-pandemic prior year quarter *Total packaging shipments increased 5%; record North American per day box shipments that increased 8% compared to the prior year quarter *Successfully started up the Company’s new 330” state-of-the-art paper machine in Florence, South Carolina; the machine’s 710k tons of annual capacity replaces three old machines *Distributed COVID-19 relief payments to employees totaling $22 million; these payments are not included in the Company's adjusted earnings per diluted share for the quarter *Generated net cash provided by operating activities of $719 million and Adjusted Free Cash Flow of $562 million compared to $431 million and $79 million, respectively, in the prior year quarter