# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0001732845
**File Stem:** 0001157523-23-000167
**Filing Date:** 2023-2
**Character Count:** 21941
**Document Hash:** 63ac2eaab01e98a46bace63da312ea9e
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001157523-23-000167.hdr.sgml**: 20230203

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001157523-23-000167

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: S-8

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 5

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20230203

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20230203

**EFFECTIVENESS DATE**: 20230203

**FILER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** WestRock Co
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0001732845
- **STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:** PAPERBOARD CONTAINERS & BOXES [2650]
- **IRS NUMBER:** 371880617
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** DE
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 0930

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** S-8
- **SEC ACT:** 1933 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 333-269559
- **FILM NUMBER:** 23585978

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 1000 ABERNATHY ROAD NE
- **CITY:** ATLANTA
- **STATE:** GA
- **ZIP:** 30328
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 678-291-7456

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 1000 ABERNATHY ROAD NE
- **CITY:** ATLANTA
- **STATE:** GA
- **ZIP:** 30328

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** Whiskey Holdco, Inc.
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 20180227

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 3, 2023<br>

#### Registration No. 333-_______

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **UNITED STATES**<br> **SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION**<br> Washington, D.C. 20549 | **UNITED STATES**<br> **SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION**<br> Washington, D.C. 20549 |
| **** <br>**FORM S-8**<br> REGISTRATION STATEMENT<br> UNDER<br> THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933<br>**WestRock Company**<br> (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) | **** <br>**FORM S-8**<br> REGISTRATION STATEMENT<br> UNDER<br> THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933<br>**WestRock Company**<br> (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) |
| **Delaware** | **37-1880617** |
| (State or other jurisdiction<br> of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
| <br> **1000 Abernathy Road NE**<br> **Atlanta, Georgia 30328**<br> (Address, including zip code, of registrant's principal executive offices) | <br> **1000 Abernathy Road NE**<br> **Atlanta, Georgia 30328**<br> (Address, including zip code, of registrant's principal executive offices) |
| <br> **WestRock Company 2020 Incentive Stock Plan**<br> **WestRock Company Amended and Restated 2016 Incentive Stock Plan**<br> (Full title of the plans) | <br> **WestRock Company 2020 Incentive Stock Plan**<br> **WestRock Company Amended and Restated 2016 Incentive Stock Plan**<br> (Full title of the plans) |
| Denise R. Singleton<br> Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary<br> WestRock Company<br> 1000 Abernathy Road NE<br> Atlanta, GA 30328<br> (770) 448-2193<br> (Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service) | Denise R. Singleton<br> Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary<br> WestRock Company<br> 1000 Abernathy Road NE<br> Atlanta, GA 30328<br> (770) 448-2193<br> (Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service) |

---

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| Large accelerated filer | ☒ | Accelerated filer | ☐ |
| Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | ☐ |
|  |  | Emerging growth company | ☐ |

---

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐

------

#### EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Registration Statement on Form S-8 (this "Registration Statement") is being filed by WestRock Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Registrant"), relating to (i) 1,500,000 shares of its common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), issuable under the WestRock Company Amended and Restated 2016 Incentive Stock Plan (the "2016 Plan") pursuant to the share recycling provisions set forth in Section 3.2 thereof and (ii) 550,000 shares of its Common Stock issuable under the WestRock Company 2020 Incentive Stock Plan (the "2020 Plan") pursuant to the share recycling provisions set forth in Section 3.2 thereof. There has been no change in the number of shares reserved for issuance under either the 2016 Plan or the 2020 Plan.

The Registrant filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-228257) on November 7, 2018, relating to shares of Common Stock issuable under the 2016 Plan (the "Prior 2016 Plan Registration Statement"). The Registrant filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-252597) on January 29, 2021, relating to shares of Common Stock issuable under the 2020 Plan and a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-262525) on February 4, 2022, relating to shares of Common Stock issuable under the 2020 Plan (these registration statements together with the Prior 2016 Plan Registration Statement, the "Prior Registration Statements"). The Prior Registration Statements are currently effective. This Registration Statement relates to securities of the same class as those to which the Prior Registration Statements relate and is submitted in accordance with General Instruction E of Form S-8 regarding Registration of Additional Securities. Pursuant to General Instruction E of Form S-8, the contents of the Prior Registration Statements are incorporated herein by reference and made part of this Registration Statement, except for Items 3, 5 and 8, which are being updated by this Registration Statement.

------

#### PART II

#### INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT

#### Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
The following documents previously filed by the Registrant with the Commission are incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement:

(1) The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, filed with the Commission on November 18, 2022, including the information required to be incorporated by reference into such Form 10-K from the
 Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, filed with the Commission on December 15, 2022;

(2) The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2022, filed with the Commission on February 3, 2023;

(3) The Registrant's Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on October 6, 2022, November 2, 2022, and January 31, 2023; and

(4) The description of the Registrant's Common Stock contained in the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-262524) filed with the Commission on February 4, 2022, including any amendments or reports filed for the
 purpose of updating such description.

All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or that deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the respective dates of filing of such documents (such documents, and the documents enumerated above, being herein referred to as "Incorporated Documents").

Any statement contained in an Incorporated Document shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed Incorporated Document modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless specifically stated to the contrary, none of the information disclosed by the Registrant under Items 2.02 or 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K, including the related exhibits under Item 9.01, that the Registrant may from time to time furnish to the Commission will be incorporated by reference into, or otherwise included in, this Registration Statement.

#### Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
The validity of the shares of Common Stock covered by this Registration Statement has been passed upon for the Registrant by Denise R. Singleton, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Registrant. As an employee of the Registrant, Ms. Singleton is eligible to participate in the 2016 Plan and the 2020 Plan on the same basis as other eligible employees. Ms. Singleton, together with members of her family, owns, or has options or rights to acquire less than 1% of the shares of the Registrant's Common Stock.

------

#### Item 8. Exhibits.

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| <br> **Exhibit Number** | <br> **Exhibit** |
| [4.1](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1732845/000117184318007567/exh_31.htm) | [Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of WestRock Company, effective as of November 2, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on November 5, 2018)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1732845/000117184318007567/exh_31.htm) |
| [4.2](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1732845/000156459018029723/wrk-ex32_648.htm) | [Certificate of Correction to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of WestRock Company dated November 13, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2018)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1732845/000156459018029723/wrk-ex32_648.htm) |
| [4.3](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1732845/000115752322001483/a52957205_ex31.htm) | [Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of WestRock Company, effective October 27, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on November 2, 2022)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1732845/000115752322001483/a52957205_ex31.htm) |
| [4.4](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1636023/000119312517373785/d458102ddef14a.htm#toc458102_35) | [WestRock Company Amended and Restated 2016 Incentive Stock Plan (incorporated by reference to pages B-1 to B-14 of the Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement for the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, filed with the Commission on December 19, 2017)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1636023/000119312517373785/d458102ddef14a.htm#toc458102_35) |
| [4.5](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1732845/000156459020054816/wrk-ex1044_149.htm) | [WestRock Company 2020 Incentive Stock Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.44 of the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2020)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1732845/000156459020054816/wrk-ex1044_149.htm) |
| [4.6](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1732845/000119312521355273/d278958ddef14a.htm#rom278958_35) | [Amendment No. 1 to WestRock Company 2020 Incentive Stock Plan (incorporated by reference from Exhibit A to the Company's Definitive Proxy Statement for the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, filed with the Commission on December 13, 2021)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1732845/000119312521355273/d278958ddef14a.htm#rom278958_35) |
| [5.1](a53294668ex5_1.htm)\* | [Opinion of Denise R. Singleton](a53294668ex5_1.htm) |
| [23.1](a53294668ex5_1.htm)\* | [Consent of Denise R. Singleton (included in Exhibit 5.1)](a53294668ex5_1.htm) |
| [23.2](a53294668ex23_2.htm)\* | [Consent of Ernst & Young LLP](a53294668ex23_2.htm) |
| [24.1](#POWER)\* | [Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this Registration Statement)](#POWER) |
| [107](a53294668ex107.htm)\* | [Filing Fee Table](a53294668ex107.htm) |

---

\* Filed herewith.

------

#### SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Atlanta, State of Georgia, on February 3, 2023.

---

| |
|:---|
| WESTROCK COMPANY |
| By: <u>/s/ Denise R. Singleton</u> |
| Name: Denise R. Singleton |
| Title: Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |

---

------

#### POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints David B. Sewell, Alexander W. Pease and Denise R. Singleton, and each of them singly, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, granting unto each said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or either of them or their or his or her substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| Name | Title | Date |
| <br> /s/ David B. Sewell<br>| <br> Chief Executive Officer, President and Director | February 3, 2023 |
| David B. Sewell | (Principal Executive Officer) |  |
| /s/ Alexander W. Pease | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | February 3, 2023 |
| Alexander W. Pease | (Principal Financial Officer) |  |
| /s/ Julia A. McConnell | Chief Accounting Officer | February 3, 2023 |
| Julia A. McConnell | (Principal Accounting Officer) |  |
| /s/ Colleen F. Arnold | Director | February 3, 2023 |
| Colleen F. Arnold |  |  |
| /s/ Timothy J. Bernlohr | Director | February 3, 2023 |
| Timothy J. Bernlohr |  |  |
| /s/ J. Powell Brown | Director | February 3, 2023 |
| J. Powell Brown |  |  |

---

------

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| /s/ Terrell K. Crews | Director | February 3, 2023 |
| Terrell K. Crews |  |  |
| /s/ Russell M. Currey | Director | February 3, 2023 |
| Russell M. Currey |  |  |
| /s/ Suzan F. Harrison | Director | February 3, 2023 |
| Suzan F. Harrison |  |  |
| /s/ Gracia C. Martore | Director | February 3, 2023 |
| Gracia C. Martore |  |  |

---

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| /s/ James E. Nevels | Director | February 3, 2023 |
| James E. Nevels |  |  |
| /s/ E. Jean Savage | Director | February 3, 2023 |
| E. Jean Savage |  | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br>|
| /s/ Dmitri L. Stockton  | Director | February 3, 2023 |
| Dmitri L. Stockton  |  |  |
| /s/ Alan D. Wilson | Director | February 3, 2023 |
| Alan D. Wilson |  |  |

---

#### <br>

## Exhibit 5.1

**Exhibit 5.1**<br>

![](westrocklogo60.jpg)

February 3, 2023

WestRock Company

1000 Abernathy Road, Suite 125

Atlanta, Georgia 30328

Re: <u>WestRock Company – Registration Statement on Form S-8</u>

Ladies and Gentlemen:

As General Counsel of WestRock Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), I have participated in the preparation by the Company of a registration statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), of (i) 1,500,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock"), issuable under the WestRock Company Amended and Restated 2016 Incentive Stock Plan (the "2016 Plan") pursuant to the share recycling provisions set forth in Section 3.2 thereof and (ii) 550,000 shares of Common Stock issuable under the WestRock Company 2020 Incentive Stock Plan (the "2020 Plan") pursuant to the share recycling provisions set forth in Section 3.2 thereof (each share of Common Stock in (i) and (ii), a "Registered Share"). This opinion letter is being delivered in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K.

I have examined and relied upon such records, documents, certificates and other instruments as in my judgment are necessary or appropriate to form the basis for the opinions hereinafter set forth. In all such examinations, I have assumed the genuineness of signatures on original documents and the conformity to such original documents of all copies submitted to me as certified, conformed or photographic copies, and as to certificates of public officials, I have assumed the same to have been properly given and to be accurate.

The opinions expressed herein are limited in all respects to the corporate law of the State of Delaware, and no opinion is expressed with respect to the laws of any other jurisdiction or any effect that such laws may have on the opinions expressed herein. This opinion is limited to the matters stated herein, and no opinion is implied or may be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated herein.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, qualifications and limitations set forth herein, I am of the opinion that:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) Each Registered Share has been duly authorized; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii) When issued in accordance with the provisions of the 2016 or the 2020 Plan, as applicable, each Registered Share will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

I consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, I do not admit that I am in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.

---

| |
|:---|
| Very truly yours, |
| Denise R. Singleton |
| Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |

---

## Exhibit 23.2

**Exhibit 23.2**

<br> #### Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8) pertaining to the WestRock Company 2016 and 2020 Incentive Stock Plans of our reports dated November 18, 2022, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of WestRock Company and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of WestRock Company included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended September 30, 2022, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>

Atlanta, Georgia

February 3, 2023

## Ex-Filing

**Exhibit 107**<br>

**** 

#### Calculation of Filing Fee Table

#### FORM S-8<br> (Form Type)

#### Westrock Company
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

#### Newly Registered Securities

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| | | | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Security Type** | **Security<br> Class<br> Title** | **Fee<br> Calculation<br> Rule** | **Amount<br> Registered** | **Proposed<br> Maximum<br> Offering Price<br> Per Unit (1)** | **Maximum<br> Aggregate<br> Offering Price (1)** | **Fee Rate** | **Amount of<br> Registration Fee** |
| Equity | Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share | Rule 457(c) and Rule 457(h) | 1500000(2)(3) | $37.72 | $56580000 | 0.00011020 | $6235.12 |
| Equity | Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share | Rule 457(c) and Rule 457(h) | 550000(3)(4) | $37.72 | $20746000 | 0.00011020 | $2286.21 |
| **Total Offering Amounts** | **Total Offering Amounts** | **Total Offering Amounts** | **Total Offering Amounts** |  | $77326000 |  | $8521.33 |
| **Total Fee Offsets** | **Total Fee Offsets** | **Total Fee Offsets** | **Total Fee Offsets** |  |  |  | $-- |
| **Net Fee Due** | **Net Fee Due** | **Net Fee Due** | **Net Fee Due** |  |  |  | $8521.33 |

---

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <sup>(1)</sup> Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rules 457(c) and (h) under the Securities Act, based on the average of the high and low sales prices per share of the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of WestRock Company (the "Common Stock") reported on the New York Stock Exchange on January 30, 2023.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <sup>(2)</sup> This registration statement (this "Registration Statement") covers the offer and sale of an additional 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock for issuance under the WestRock Company Amended and Restated 2016 Incentive Stock Plan pursuant to the share recycling provisions set forth in Section 3.2 thereof.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <sup>(3)</sup> Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act, this Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of Common Stock that may become issuable under the Plan by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transactions or pursuant to anti-dilution adjustments.

<sup>(4)</sup> This Registration Statement also covers the offer and sale of an additional 550,000 shares of Common Stock for issuance under the WestRock Company 2020 Incentive Stock Plan, as amended, pursuant to the share recycling provisions set forth in Section 3.2 thereof.

<br>