SEC Comment Letter 0000000000-24-003622 to Smurfit Westrock plc (SW)
Smurfit Westrock plc
Date: April 4, 2024 · CIK: 0002005951 · Accession: 0000000000-24-003622
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File numbers found in text: 333-278185
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United States securities and exchange commission logo
April 4, 2024
Anthony Smurfit
Group Chief Executive Officer
Smurfit WestRock Limited
Beech Hill, Clonskeagh
Dublin 4, D04 N2R2
Ireland
Re:Smurfit WestRock Limited
Registration Statement on Form S-4
Filed March 22, 2024
File No. 333-278185
Dear Anthony Smurfit:
We have reviewed your amended registration statement and have the following
comments.
Please respond to this letter by amending your registration statement and providing the
requested information. If you do not believe a comment applies to your facts and circumstances
or do not believe an amendment is appropriate, please tell us why in your response.
After reviewing any amendment to your registration statement and the information you
provide in response to this letter, we may have additional comments. Unless we note otherwise,
any references to prior comments are to comments in our March 13, 2024 letter.
Registration Statement on Form S-4 Filed March 22, 2024
Risk Factors
Risks Relating to WestRock's Business, page 66
1.We note your response to prior comment 5. To the extent that you plan to request
effectiveness of this proxy statement/prospectus prior to the filing of WestRock's 10-Q for
the quarter ending March 31, 2024, please include the updates provided directly in this
proxy statement/prospectus.
FirstName LastNameAnthony Smurfit
Comapany NameSmurfit WestRock Limited
April 4, 2024 Page 2
FirstName LastName
Anthony Smurfit
Smurfit WestRock Limited
April 4, 2024
Page 2
The Combination
Opinions of WestRock's Financial Advisors
Opinion of Lazard Freres & Co. LLC
Selected Publicly Traded Companies Analysis, page 112
2.We note your revisions in response to prior comment 10 about WestRock and reissue in
part. Please revise to state whether the advisor excluded any companies meeting the
selection criteria from the analysis for Smurfit Kappa. Please explain the basis for such
exclusions, if any.
Opinion of Evercore Group L.L.C.
Selected Publicly Traded Companies Analysis, page 122
3.We note your revisions in response to prior comment 13 about WestRock and reissue in
part. Please revise to state whether the advisor excluded any companies meeting the
selection criteria from the analysis for Smurfit Kappa. Please explain the basis for such
exclusions, if any.
Interests of WestRock's Directors and Executive Officers in the Combination, page 141
4.We note your disclosures that Smurfit WestRock expects to enter into offer agreements
with Patrick Kivits, Thomas Stigers and Samuel Shoemaker with respect to their executive
positions at the company. Please revise to include these exhibits in your exhibit index.
Refer to Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K or tell us why you believe that such exhibits
are not required.
Unaudited Condensed Pro Forma Combined Balance Sheet, page 213
5.We note that you present the historical consolidated balance sheet of WestRock as of
September 30, 2023 in the pro forma combined balance sheet. We further note that a more
current balance sheet as of December 31, 2023 has been filed by WestRock. Please update
your balance sheet presentation to comply with Rule 11-02(c)(1) of Regulation S-X.
6.We note your disclosure on page 277 that the company will issue Series A Preferred
Shares and Deferred Shares upon completion of the proposed combination. These shares
appear to be related to the proposed combination. Please explain why you have not
provided pro forma adjustments to reflect these shares and the associated preferred
dividends or otherwise modify your pro forma presentation accordingly.
Adjustment 7d) Transaction-Related Expenses, page 225
7.We note your disclosure on page 145 that the company will pay certain WestRock
Company employees "Golden Parachute Compensation" upon completing the proposed
combination. Please tell us what consideration you have given to providing Management's
adjustments for these payments. Refer to Rule 11-02(a)(7) of Regulation S-X.
FirstName LastNameAnthony Smurfit
Comapany NameSmurfit WestRock Limited
April 4, 2024 Page 3
FirstName LastName
Anthony Smurfit
Smurfit WestRock Limited
April 4, 2024
Page 3
Business Overview of Smurfit WestRock
Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions, page 251
8.We note your revisions in response to prior comment 27 and reissue in part. Please revise
to comply with Item 404(b) of Regulation S-K.
Security Ownership of Directors and Management of Smurfit Westrock, page 275
9.We note your response to prior comment 20 in reissue in part. Please add any shareholders
that are expected to own more than 5% of the combined company.
Executive Compensation, page 322
10.We note your response to prior comment 21 and reissue in part. In your next amendment,
please provide the historical information required by Item 402 of Regulation S-K for
Anthony Smurfit, Ken Bowles, Laurent Sellier, and Saverio Mayer. Refer to Item
18(a)(7)(ii) of Form S-4.
11.Please revise to describe the material terms of the retention bonus letters that will be filed
as Exhibits 10.9, 10.10 and 10.11 to your registration statement.
Director Compensation, page 330
12.We note your response to prior comment 22 and reissue in part. Please provide the
disclosure to be included in this section in your next amendment, including the historical
information required by Item 402 of Regulation S-K for each Smurfit Kappa director who
will serve as Smurfit WestRock director. Refer to Item 18(a)(7)(ii) of Form S-4.
Part II: Information Not Required in Prospectus
Item 21. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
Exhibit 99.4 Consent of Lazard Freres & Co. LLC, page II-2
13.Please have your financial advisor revise its consent to consent to being named in the
following sections:
•“The Combination – Background of the Combination”;
•“The Combination – Recommendation of the Transaction Committee and the
WestRock Board Reasons for the Merger”;
•“The Combination – Certain WestRock Unaudited Financial Information”;
•“The Combination – Certain Smurfit Kappa Unaudited Financial Information”; and
•“The Transaction Agreement – Representations and Warranties in the Transaction
Agreement.”
FirstName LastNameAnthony Smurfit
Comapany NameSmurfit WestRock Limited
April 4, 2024 Page 4
FirstName LastName
Anthony Smurfit
Smurfit WestRock Limited
April 4, 2024
Page 4
We remind you that the company and its management are responsible for the accuracy
and adequacy of their disclosures, notwithstanding any review, comments, action or absence of
action by the staff.
Refer to Rules 460 and 461 regarding requests for acceleration. Please allow adequate
time for us to review any amendment prior to the requested effective date of the registration
statement.
Please contact Andi Carpenter at 202-551-3645 or Kevin Stertzel at 202-551-3723 if you
have questions regarding comments on the financial statements and related matters. Please
contact Jenny O'Shanick at 202-551-8005 or Erin Purnell at 202-551-3454 with any other
questions.
Sincerely,
Division of Corporation Finance
Office of Manufacturing
cc: Victor Goldfeld