Sonoco Announces Agreement To Acquire Westrock’S Remaining Interest In Joint Venture: Rts Packaging

Sonoco Products Company (NYSE: SON) (“Sonoco” or the “Company”), a diversified global packaging leader, today announced it has entered a definitive agreement to purchase the remaining equity interest in RTS Packaging, LLC (“RTS”) from joint venture partner WestRock Company (“WestRock”) and one WestRock paper mill in Chattanooga, Tennessee, for $330 million in cash, subject to customary price adjustments. The valuation is approximately 6.6x adjusted EBITDA without synergies and 5x adjusted EBITDA pro forma for synergies. Sonoco also anticipates that it will be able to achieve $40 million of tax benefits from the transaction. Upon completion of the transaction, Sonoco will own 100% of RTS, formerly operated as a joint venture between Sonoco (35% ownership interest) and WestRock (65% ownership interest). The transaction which has been unanimously approved by the Sonoco Board of Directors is expected to close in the first half of 2023, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.