NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C., July 15, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ingevity will be the new name of MWV Specialty Chemicals division of WestRock Company (NYSE:WRK). It will begin transacting business as Ingevity on September 1. As previously announced, the business is slated to be spun off as an independent, publicly-traded company around the end of the year.
"Ingevity is a unique expression of our purpose – to turn our customers' complex challenges into powerful possibilities," said Ed Rose, president, MWV Specialty Chemicals. "The name speaks to our longstanding record of success and commitment to serving our customers through innovative products, processes and services. Our announcement is the first step in a comprehensive plan to launch our brand, and define our future as a separate and independent company that will be better positioned to profitably grow in our targeted markets."
The Specialty Chemicals division develops and delivers high performance chemicals and materials that make a real difference in the real world – enabling oil to flow better, colors to shine brighter, roads to last longer and air to breathe cleaner. With a history of innovation spanning over 100 years, the division generates industry leading returns by exceeding the performance expectations of its customers across the mega-trend aligned markets of energy, infrastructure and transportation.
The separation is expected to be executed by means of a tax-free spinoff of the Specialty Chemicals business to shareholders of WestRock Company, resulting in two independent, publicly traded companies.The spinoff is expected to be completed around the end of the calendar year, subject to customary conditions. There can be no assurance regarding the ultimate timing of the spinoff or that it will be completed.
About WestRock
WestRock Company (NYSE:WRK) aspires to be the premier partner and unrivaled provider of paper and packaging solutions in consumer and corrugated markets. WestRock's 42,000 team members support customers around the world from approximately 275 operating and business locations spanning North America, South America, Europe and Asia. Learn more at westrock.com.
WestRock Contacts:
Media Contact:
Stephanie Mangini
Director, Specialty Chemicals Division Communications
Tel: 843-740-2166
stephanie.mangini@mwv.com
Investors:
John Stakel
Senior Vice President and Treasurer
Tel: 678-291-7901
john.stakel@westrock.com
Jason Thompson
Director, Investor Relations
Tel: 804-444-2556
jason.thompson@westrock.com
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "could," "should," "would," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "target," "prospects," "potential" and "forecast," and other words, terms and phrases of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements involve estimates, expectations, projections, goals, forecasts, assumptions, risks and uncertainties. WestRock cautions readers that a forward-looking statement is not a guarantee of future performance and that actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statement. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the expectation that the spinoff of the Specialty Chemicals business will be completed around the end of the year and that the spin-off will be completed on a tax-free basis; the expectation that Specialty Chemicals will generate industry-leading returns and profitably grow in targeted markets; and that trends will continue in certain end markets including energy, infrastructure and transportation. With respect to these statements, WestRock has made assumptions regarding, among other things, whether and when the spin-off of WestRock's Specialty Chemicals business will occur; economic, competitive and market conditions generally; volumes and price levels of purchases by customers; competitive conditions in WestRock's businesses and possible adverse actions of their customers, competitors and suppliers. Further, WestRock's businesses are subject to a number of general risks that would affect any such forward-looking statements including, among others, decreases in demand for their products; increases in energy, raw materials, shipping and capital equipment costs; reduced supply of raw materials; fluctuations in selling prices and volumes; intense competition; the potential loss of certain customers; the scope, costs, timing and impact of any restructuring of our operations and corporate and tax structure; and adverse changes in general market and industry conditions. Such risks and other factors that may impact management's assumptions are more particularly described in Rock-Tenn Company's and MeadWestvaco Corporation's past filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including under the caption "Business – Forward-Looking Information" and "Risk Factors" in RockTenn's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014 and "Management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations – Forward-looking Statements" and "Risk factors" in MeadWestvaco's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014. These risks, as well as other risks associated with RockTenn, MeadWestvaco and WestRock are also more fully discussed under the caption "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by WestRock on March 10, 2015 (which registration statement was amended on April 20, 2015, May 6, 2015, and May 18, 2015, and was declared effective on May 19, 2015). The information contained herein speaks as of the date hereof and WestRock does not have or undertake any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.