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WestRock WestRock Reports Fiscal 2021 First Quarter Results 1/28/2021 ATLANTA -- ( BUSINESS WIRE ) -- WestRock Company ( NYSE : WRK ) , a leading provider of differentiated paper and packaging solutions , today announced results for its fiscal first quarter ended December 31 , 2020 . 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 • Earned $ 0.57 per diluted share and $ 0.61 of adjusted earnings per diluted share compared to $ 0.53 of earnings per diluted share and $ 0.58 of adjusted earnings per diluted share , respectively , in the prior year 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 " During the first fiscal quarter , the WestRock team delivered solid financial results and generated strong cash flow resulting in debt and leverage reduction , with record box shipments and growth in key end markets , " said Steve Voorhees , chief executive officer . " We continue to work around the clock to restore normal operations from the ransomware attack as quickly as possible , and to safely produce the paper and packaging needed by our customers and our communities . As we look to the future , we remain confident in our strategy and our ability to generate strong cash flow and partner with our customers to meet their growing needs for sustainable , fiber- based packaging solutions . " Consolidated Financial Results 1