Smurfit Westrock 10-K 2025-12-31

Filed 2026-02-27. 24 sections, 593K characters. Original on sec.gov · Markdown · JSON

What changed since the 2024-12-31 10-KNew, removed and reworded risk factor headings, then every item sentence by sentence.

Cover and table of contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025

OR

☐ T****RANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to

Commission File Number: 001-42161

Smurfit Westrock plc

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Ireland98-1776979
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
Beech Hill, Clonskeagh Dublin 4**,** D04 N2R2 IrelandN/A
(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)

+353 1 202 7000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Each ClassTrading Symbol(s)Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Ordinary shares, par value $0.001 per shareSWNew York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing

requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of

Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).

Yes ☒ No ☐

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 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control

over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued

its audit report. ☒

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing

reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by

any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐No ☒

The aggregate market value of the common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2025 (based on the closing price per share as reported

on the New York Stock Exchange on such date), was approximately $22,371 million.

The number of shares of registrant’s ordinary shares outstanding as of the close of business on February 20, 2026 was 524,253,735.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The information required by Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, to the extent not set forth herein, is incorporated herein by reference from the

registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A in connection with the registrant’s 2026 annual general meeting of shareholders

within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year to which this Annual Report on Form 10-K relates.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements4
PART I5
Item 1. Business5
Item 1A. Risk Factors21
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments42
Item 1C. Cybersecurity42
Item 2. Properties44
Item 3. Legal Proceedings46
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures46
PART II47
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Shareholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities47
Item 6. [Reserved]48
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations49
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk65
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data68
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure132
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures132
Item 9B. Other Information133
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections133
PART III134
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance134
Item 11. Executive Compensation134
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Shareholder Matters134
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence134
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services134
PART IV135
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules135
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary143
Signatures144

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Annual Report on Form 10-K includes certain “forward-looking statements” (including within the meaning of Section 27A of the

Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”))

regarding, among other things, the plans, strategies, outcomes, outlooks and prospects, both business and financial, of Smurfit

Westrock, the expected benefits of the completed Combination of Smurfit Kappa and WestRock Company (including, but not limited

to, synergies as well as our scale, geographic reach and product portfolio, or impact of announced closures), and any other statements

regarding Smurfit Westrock’s future expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows,

or future events or performance. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the beliefs and expectations of the

management of Smurfit Westrock, are forward-looking statements. Words such as “may”, “will”, “could”, “should”, “would”,

“anticipate”, “intend”, “estimate”, “project”, “plan”, “believe”, “expect”, “target”, “prospects”, “potential”, “commit”, “forecasts”,

“aims”, “considered”, “likely” and variations of these words and similar future or conditional expressions are intended to identify

forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. While the Company believes these

expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve

known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. By their nature, forward-looking

statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend upon future circumstances that may or may not occur.

Actual results may differ materially from the current expectations of the Company depending upon a number of factors affecting its

business, including risks associated with the integration and performance of the Company following the Combination. Risks,

uncertainties and other factors that might cause such differences, some of which could be material, include, but are not limited to, the

factors discussed below under the section entitled “Risk Factors” and in subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange

Commission (“SEC”) by the Company. Forward-looking and other statements in this document may also address the Company’s

corporate responsibility progress, plans, and initiatives (including environmental matters), and the inclusion of such statements is not

an indication that these contents are necessarily material to investors or required to be disclosed in our filings with the SEC. In

addition, historical, current, and forward-looking sustainability-related statements may be based on standards for measuring progress

that are still developing, internal controls and processes that continue to evolve, and assumptions that are subject to change in the

future.

The Company’s forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K or as of the date they are

made. Neither the Company nor any of its associates or directors, officers or advisers provides any representation, assurance or

guarantee that the occurrence of the events expressed or implied in any such forward-looking statements will actually occur. You are

cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Other than in accordance with its legal or regulatory

obligations (including under the U.K. Listing Rules, the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules, the U.K. Market Abuse

Regulation and other applicable regulations), the Company is under no obligation, and the Company expressly disclaims any intention

or obligation, to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or

otherwise.

PART I

Item 1. Business

Overview

Smurfit Westrock was created in July 2024 as a strategic combination between Smurfit Kappa Group plc (re-registered as Smurfit

Kappa Group Limited) (“Smurfit Kappa”), one of the leading integrated corrugated packaging manufacturers in Europe, with a large-

scale pan-regional presence in Latin America, and WestRock Company (“WestRock”), one of the leaders in North America in

corrugated and consumer packaging solutions and a multinational provider of sustainable fiber-based paper and packaging solutions.

We are a global leader in sustainable, paper-based packaging with extensive scale, quality products and geographic reach and

diversity. We aim to create the ‘go-to’ packaging partner of choice, bringing together highly complementary portfolios and sets of

capabilities benefiting customers, employees and shareholders.

Background

Smurfit Westrock was incorporated and registered in Ireland on July 6, 2017, under the Irish Companies Act as a private company

limited by shares with registered number 607515, with the name “Cepheidway Limited.” On September 12, 2023, Smurfit Kappa and

WestRock announced entry into a transaction agreement pursuant to which the companies would execute a strategic combination (the

“Combination”). Prior to the Combination, Smurfit Westrock re-registered as an Irish public limited company pursuant to Part 20 of

the Companies Act 2014 of Ireland, as amended (the “Irish Companies Act”) and was renamed “Smurfit Westrock plc.” Upon

completion of the Combination, Smurfit Kappa and WestRock each became wholly-owned subsidiaries of Smurfit Westrock, and

Smurfit Westrock continued as the new holding company of the combined group of Smurfit Kappa and WestRock. As a result of the

Combination, former Smurfit Kappa shareholders and WestRock shareholders became holders of Smurfit Westrock ordinary shares.

Smurfit Westrock had no historical operations nor traded or carried out any business of its own since its incorporation until just prior

to consummation of the Combination.

Smurfit Westrock has a dual listing on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) and the equity shares (international commercial

companies secondary listing) category of the Official List of the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), and Smurfit Westrock

ordinary shares trade on the NYSE and the London Stock Exchange’s main market for listed securities.

See “Note 1.1. Description of Business” and “Note 2. Acquisitions” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional

information related to the Combination and the accounting for the Combination.

Products

Our primary products fall into a number of categories, as further described below. Primarily, we produce paper-based packaging

products. Our vertically integrated system provides raw materials of wood or recovered fiber, which are used to manufacture various

grades of board, which are then converted into packaging products. Our main categories of packaging are corrugated containers,

manufactured from containerboard; and consumer packaging, manufactured from paperboard. We also produce other grades of board,

such as solidboard, kraft paper, and graphic board, as well as other packaging products such as solidboard packaging, paper sacks and

bag-in-box.

Containerboard and Corrugated Containers

Containerboard is the general term that describes the intermediate materials used to manufacture corrugated sheet, namely linerboard

and medium.

Linerboard is used to form the inner and outer layers of the corrugated sheet. Linerboard can be manufactured from virgin fiber

(known as “kraftliner”) or recovered paper (known as “testliner”). The recycling of old corrugated cases (“OCC”) provides the

primary source of recovered paper. In general, kraftliner is of higher quality and more versatile than testliner. Linerboard can be

surface treated to improve the printing quality through the use of white, mottled or fully bleached pulp as the top layer.

Medium is used to form the inner layer of the corrugated sheet. It is primarily manufactured from recovered paper but can also be

manufactured from virgin fiber.

We feed linerboard and corrugating medium into a corrugator that flutes the medium to specified sizes, glues the linerboard and fluted

medium together, and slits and cuts the resulting corrugated paperboard into corrugated sheets whose dimensions fit ultimate customer

specifications, and are subsequently converted into corrugated packaging.

Corrugated packaging refers to the conversion of corrugated sheets through the production and the sale of corrugated containers and

other corrugated products including displays. Corrugated packaging is used to provide protective packaging for shipment and

distribution of food, paper, health and beauty, and other household, consumer, commercial and industrial products. Corrugated

packaging may also be graphically enhanced for retail sale, particularly in club store locations. Our corrugated packaging operations

manufactures primarily corrugated sheets, corrugated packaging and preprinted linerboard for sale to consumer and industrial products

manufacturers and corrugated box manufacturers. We produce a wide range of high-quality corrugated containers designed to protect,

ship, store, promote and display products made to our customers’ specifications.

Paperboard and Consumer Packaging

Paperboard is a general term that describes the intermediate materials used primarily to produce folding cartons and other consumer

packaging products. There are a number of different types of paperboard, that can be manufactured using virgin fiber or recovered

paper, or a recycled basestock that is laminated with kraftliner. Paperboard can be unbleached, coated or fully bleached, and

manufactured primarily using either wood or recovered fiber as a primary raw material. These are used primarily to manufacture

folding cartons and can have specialty characteristics such as grease masking and microwaveability.

Consumer packaging is used mainly as primary packaging for products, providing convenience, marketing support and protection for

products, and can consist of folding cartons, carriers and other containers. Our folding cartons are used to package items for industries

such as food, paper, beverages, dairy products, confectionery, health and beauty and other household consumer, commercial and

industrial products, primarily for retail sale. Our folding cartons are also used by our customers to attract consumer attention at the

point-of-sale. We also manufacture express mail packages for the overnight courier industry, provide inserts and labels, as well as

rigid packaging and other printed packaging products, such as transaction cards (e.g., credit, debit, etc.), brochures, product literature,

marketing materials (such as booklets, folders, inserts, cover sheets and slipcases) and grower tags and plant stakes for the

horticultural market. For the global healthcare market, we manufacture paperboard packaging for over-the-counter and prescription

drugs.

Solidboard and Solidboard Packaging

Solidboard is a layered form of paperboard. It has an outer layer of linerboard, which is laminated onto a solid layer of recycled paper,

producing a product that is heavier and more resistant to moisture and cold than corrugated containers. Solidboard is better suited for

certain more demanding packaging applications which may be exposed to wet conditions and freezing temperatures, such as the

transportation of fresh products, including fruit, vegetables, fish, meat, poultry and dairy products. Solidboard sheets are produced in

paper mills and converted into solidboard packaging in converting units.

Graphic Board

Graphic board is a heavyweight type of solidboard with distinct properties, including rigidity and stability, which makes it suitable for

processing into different applications, such as book covers, g

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Item 1A. Risk Factors

Investing in our ordinary shares involves uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors. You should carefully consider the risks

described below, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, reputation, results of operations

(including revenues and profitability) and/or ordinary share price, with all of the other information included in this Annual Report on

Form 10-K. The Company may not be able to accurately predict, control or mitigate these risks. Statements in this section are based on

the Company’s beliefs and opinions regarding matters that could materially adversely affect the Company in the future and are not

representations as to whether such matters have or have not occurred previously. The risks and uncertainties described below are not

exhaustive and should not be considered a complete statement of all potential risks or uncertainties that the Company faces or may

face in the future.

Risk Factors Summary

The following summary is intended to enhance the readability and accessibility of our risk factor disclosures. We encourage you to

carefully review the full risk factors discussed below in their entirety for additional information. Some of the factors that could

adversely affect our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition, and the trading price of our ordinary shares, include:

Market and Industry Risks

  • As a leading global manufacturing business, we have been, and may be materially adversely affected by economic,

geopolitical and social factors that are beyond our control.

  • We may be adversely affected by uncertainty, downturns, actions taken by competitors or other changes in the paper and

packaging industry.

  • Our earnings are highly dependent on demand.

  • Price fluctuations in, or shortages in the availability of, energy, transportation and raw materials could materially adversely

affect our business.

  • We are exposed to significant competition in the paper and packaging industry, which may materially and adversely affect

the price and volume of products sold.

Operating Risks

  • We may experience business disruptions that adversely affect our operations.

  • We may fail to anticipate trends and develop or integrate new technologies or to protect intellectual property related to our

products and technologies.

  • Our capital expenditures may not achieve the desired outcomes or may be completed at a higher cost than anticipated.

  • We are exposed to risks related to international sales and operations.

  • We could be exposed to currency exchange rate fluctuation risks.

  • We may produce faulty or contaminated products due to failures in quality control measures.

  • We are subject to cybersecurity risks that could threaten the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data in our systems,

and could result in disruptions to our operations.

  • We may be adversely impacted by work stoppages and other labor relations matters.

  • We may not be able to attract, motivate and/or retain qualified personnel, including our key personnel.

  • We face challenges associated with sustainability matters, including the impact of climate change and its potential impact on

areas such as our operations and raw material availability.

  • Failure by us to successfully implement strategic transformation initiatives, including those relating to information

technology infrastructure, or to achieve our mid-range or long-range targets and goals could adversely affect our business and

share price.

  • If we are unsuccessful in integrating acquisitions or if disposals result in unexpected costs or liabilities, our business could be

materially and adversely affected.

  • We face risks related to the Combination.

Financial Risks

  • Our growth depends on our ability to retain existing customers and attract new customers.

  • Our debt could adversely affect our financial health and operating flexibility.

  • Adverse credit and financial market events and conditions, as well as credit rating downgrades, could, among other things,

impede access to or increase the cost of financing.

  • We have a significant amount of goodwill and other intangible assets and a write-down could materially adversely impact our

operating results.

  • We have a number of pension arrangements that are currently in deficit and may require increased funding due to statutory

requirements.

  • Our decision or ability to pay dividends in respect of our shares or conduct share repurchases is subject to a number of

factors, and there are no guarantees that the Company will pay dividends or maintain or increase the level of any such

dividends or that the Company will conduct share repurchases.

  • Changes in existing financial accounting standards or practices may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of

operations, cash flows and financial condition, and the trading price of our ordinary shares.

Legal and Regulatory Risks

  • We are subject to a wide variety of laws, regulations and other requirements that may change or may impose substantial

compliance costs.

  • We are subject to a growing number of environmental and climate change laws and regulations that impose compliance

obligations and costs, and failure to comply with these laws may have a material adverse effect on our business.

  • Changes to trade policy, including tariff and customs regulations, or failure to comply with such regulations may have an

adverse effect on our reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations.

  • We are subject to compliance with competition and antitrust laws and regulations in the jurisdictions in which we operate

and, from time to time, may be subject to investigations or proceedings with respect to allegations of unfair competitive

practices and similar behavior.

  • We are subject to a number of laws and regulations relating to privacy, security and data protection, and failure to comply

could lead to fines and/or litigation.

  • Failure to comply with applicable occupational health and safety laws and regulations may have a material adverse effect on

our business.

  • The Company’s maintenance of two exchange listings may adversely affect liquidity in the market for our shares and result in

pricing differentials of our shares between the two exchanges.

  • We are required to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and we may continue to incur significant costs and devote

substantial management time towards maintaining and improving our internal controls, which may materially adversely affect

our operating results in the future.

Risks Related to Our Incorporation in Ireland

  • We are incorporated in Ireland and Irish law differs from the laws in effect in the U.S. and might afford less protection to our

shareholders.

  • Any attempts to acquire the Company will be subject to the Irish Takeover Panel Act 1997, Takeover Rules, 2022 (the “Irish

Takeover Rules”) and subject to the supervisory jurisdiction of the Irish Takeover Panel and the Company’s board of

directors (the “Board”) may be limited by the Irish Takeover Rules in its ability to defend an unsolicited takeover attempt.

Market and Industry Risks

As a leading global manufacturing business, we have been, and may be in the future, materially adversely affected by factors that

are beyond our control, such as economic and financial market conditions, geopolitical conflicts and other social and political

unrest or change.

Our industry has been, and may be, adversely affected by a number of factors that are beyond our control, including, but not limited

to:

  • macroeconomic and business conditions, including deteriorating or volatile macroeconomic conditions and related supply and

demand dynamics, as well as inflation and deflation;

  • geopolitical conflicts and other social and political unrest or change;

  • sustainability, environmental regulations and trade policies and agreements;

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Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

Item 1C. Cybersecurity

Risk Management and Strategy

We face various cybersecurity risks, including, but not limited to, risks related to unauthorized access, misuse, data theft, computer

viruses, system disruptions, ransomware, malicious software and other forms of intrusions. We utilize a multilayered, proactive

approach to identify, evaluate, mitigate and prevent potential cyber and information security threats through our cybersecurity risk

management program. Our cybersecurity risk management program is integrated into our broader Enterprise Risk Management

(“ERM”) program, which is designed to identify, assess, prioritize and mitigate risks across the organization to enhance our resilience

and support the achievement of our strategic objectives. This integrated approach helps safeguard that cybersecurity risks are not

viewed in isolation, but are assessed, prioritized and managed in alignment with the Company’s operational, financial and strategic

risks, assisting the Company in more effectively managing interdependencies among risks and enhancing risk mitigation strategies.

There are also processes, policies, procedures, operations, technologies and systems in place within our cybersecurity risk

management program that pertain to legacy companies as a result of our Combination. Though these remain to be fully integrated as

part of the Combination, such integration will be a major focus over the year. Cybersecurity risk measures or governance described

herein apply to our whole Company, unless otherwise specified.

We devote resources to protecting the security of our computer systems, software, networks, data, and other technology assets. The

Company follows cybersecurity control frameworks based on industry standards. We also employ systems and processes designed to

oversee, identify, and reduce the potential impact of a security incident originating from a third-party vendor, service provider or

customer. We have cybersecurity architecture practices in place to promote robust architecture design in our technology and to foster a

standardized security landscape. We have security operations teams that provide 24/7 monitoring of our IT environment for any

indications of compromise and incident response processes to react as necessary. In addition to our internal cybersecurity capabilities,

we also regularly engage other third-party specialists to assist with independent reviews of our security posture. For instance, external

penetration testing is completed on an annual basis by specialist third-parties. As part of our overall risk mitigation strategy, the

Company also maintains cyber insurance coverage; however, such insurance may not be sufficient in type or amount to cover us

against claims related to security breaches, cybersecurity incidents and other related breaches.

We deliver cybersecurity courses and awareness training on information security to our employees with access to Company email or

devices at least annually. Additional cybersecurity trainings are made available for all employees throughout the year, including

phishing, social engineering and other cybersecurity training as well as targeted training for specific roles based on responsibilities and

risk level.

The Company has cybersecurity teams and incident response processes focusing on industry standard incident response stages, such as

investigation, containment, mitigation, and recovery. These processes provide a standardized approach when responding to

cybersecurity threats or security incidents and include procedures for communication with senior management and key stakeholders,

as appropriate. Our incident response processes align with the standards of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. In the

event of an incident, the cybersecurity team assesses, among other factors, supply chain disruption, data and personal information loss,

business operations disruption, and projected cost and potential for reputational harm, with participation from senior management,

technical staff, and legal support, as appropriate. As part of the annual cybersecurity awareness training program, employees are

informed of their responsibilities to report an incident to the cybersecurity team, supporting awareness of the importance of incident

response across the Company's workforce.

In order to oversee and identify risks from cybersecurity threats associated with the Company’s business partners, as well as our use of

third-party service providers, we maintain various processes and procedures to evaluate and/or monitor cybersecurity threats

associated with third parties. We have information technology disaster recovery plans in place which are regularly tested.

Additionally, we have business continuity processes in place. Cybersecurity threats are constantly expanding and evolving, becoming

increasingly sophisticated and complex, increasing the difficulty of detecting and defending against them and maintaining effective

security measures and protocols. Due to evolving cybersecurity threats, it has and will continue to be difficult to prevent, detect,

mitigate, and remediate cybersecurity incidents, and the Company has been and continues to be the target of cybersecurity incidents

and network disruptions. During the periods covered by this report, we believe that the risks posed by such cybersecurity threats have

not materially affected the Company and its business strategy, results of operations and financial condition, and as of the date of this

report, the Company is not aware of any material risks from cybersecurity threats that are reasonably likely to do so, however, we

cannot eliminate all risks from cybersecurity threats or provide assurances that the Company will not be materially affected by such

risks in the future. For further information, see Item 1A. “Risk Factors — We are subject to cybersecurity risks that could threaten the

confidentiality, integrity and availability of data in our systems, and could result in disruptions to our operations and adversely affect

our operations, cash flows and financial condition.”

Governance

As part of our Board’s role in overseeing the Company’s cybersecurity risks, the Board devotes time and attention to cybersecurity

and data privacy-related risks, with the Audit Committee of the Board (the “Audit Committee”) being primarily responsible for

overseeing information technology risk exposures, including cybersecurity, data privacy and data security. The Audit Committee

regularly reviews the measures implemented by the Company to identify and mitigate risks from cybersecurity threats. As part of such

reviews, the Audit Committee receives reports and presentations from members of our team responsible for overseeing the Company’s

cybersecurity risk management, including our Chief Information Officer (“CIO”), our Chief Information Security Officer (“CISO”),

and our legal team, which may address a wide range of topics including recent developments, evolving standards, vulnerability

assessments, third-party and independent reviews, the threat environment, technological trends and information security considerations

arising with respect to the Company’s peers and third parties. The Chair of the Audit Committee and the CFO regularly brief the full

Board on these matters. We have procedures by which certain cybersecurity incidents are escalated within the Company.

Cybersecurity incidents that meet specified criteria for financial, operational, or otherwise relevant impact are escalated for further

review to our Cyber Disclosure Committee, comprised of senior leaders and subject matter experts representing functional areas such

as information security and legal. The Cyber Disclosure Committee will, where appropriate, report certain cybersecurity incidents to

the Board in a timely manner.

Our CIO has 30 years of experience in information security and cybersecurity areas. Our CISO, who reports into our CIO, has

extensive knowledge and skills gained from over two decades of work experience at the Company and leads the teams responsible for

implementing, monitoring and maintaining cybersecurity and data protection practices across the Company. The CISO is supported by

a team with expertise in technical architecture and security operations; governance, risk and compliance; data protection; behavioral

change; and cyber incident response, many of whom hold cybersecurity certifications and possess deep technical knowledge and

experience.

The CISO receives reports on cybersecurity threats from internal cybersecurity sources and industry partners on an ongoing basis and

regularly review risk management measures implemented by the Company to identify and mitigate data protection and cybersecurity

risks. Our cybersecurity team works closely with the legal department to oversee compliance with regulatory and contractual security

requirements.

Item 2. Properties

We operate locations in North America, including the majority of U.S. states, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. We

own our principal Group head office in Dublin, Ireland.

Our corporate offices, significant regional offices and operating facilities (including our mills) as of December 31, 2025 are

summarized below:

Number of Facilities
SegmentOwnedLeasedTotal
North America157151308
Europe, MEA and APAC24651297
LATAM54963
Corporate and significant regional offices156
Total (1)458216674

(1) Excludes facilities we are in the process of closing.

The tables that follow show our estimated annual production capacity in thousands of tons by mill at December 31, 2025. The capacity

reflects our current expectations, including assumptions such as product mix and basis weight. Our mill system production levels and

operating rates may vary from year to year due to changes in market and other factors, including weather-related events. We own all of

our mills. We believe that our existing production capacity is adequate to serve existing demand for our products and consider our

plants and equipment to be in good condition. At December 31, 2025, we also have approximately 308,000 acres of forests and

plantations, the majority of which are owned in Latin America in Colombia and Brazil.

North America segment mills - annual production capacity in thousands of tons

Location of MillContainerboardPaperboardKraft PaperPulpTotal
Mahrt, AL1,0311,031
Longview, WA624351975
Fernandina Beach, FL928928
West Point, VA922922
Stevenson, AL864864
Covington, VA793793
Hodge, LA790790
Solvay, NY770770
Florence, SC733733
Seminole, FL620620
Evadale, TX55531586
Dublin, GA279305584
Roanoke Rapids, NC322196518
Demopolis, AL374100474
La Tuque, Quebec341127468
Hopewell, VA466466
Monterrey, MX402402
Cerro Gordo, MX25988347
Guadalajara, MX160110270
San Pablo, MX243243
Cowpens, SC234234
Los Reyes, MX158158
Battle Creek, MI150150
Dallas, TX127127
Missisquoi, VT9999
Stroudsburg, PA7272
San Luis Potosi, MX7171
Total North America9,2413,50285210013,695

Europe, MEA and APAC segment mills - annual production capacity in thousands of tons

Location of MillContainerboardPaperboardKraft PaperGraphic PaperTotal
Piteå, SWE794794
Roermond, NETH717717
Parenco, NETH441248689
Facture, FRA634634
Zulpich, GER573573
Hoya, GER47488562
Verzuolo, ITA551551
Nettingsdorf, AUS507507
Wrexen, GER25988347
Herzberg, GER287287
Saillat, FRA281281
Mengibar, SPA265265
Townsend Hook, U.K.259259
Ania, ITA254254
SSK, U.K.220220
Nervion, SPA176176
Morai, IND165165
Belgrade, SER132132
Navarra, SPA9494
Morava, CZK8383
Rethel, FRA7272
Total Europe, MEA and APAC6,6814632702487,662

LATAM segment mills - annual production capacity in thousands of tons

Location of MillContainerboardPaperboardKraft PaperTotal
Tres Barras, BRA650650
Cali, COL12970121320
Pirapetinga, BRA143143
Barbosa, COL127127
Bernal, ARG7777
Barranquilla, COL7777
Uberaba, BRA7272
Coronel Suarez, ARG5757
Bento, BRA5555
Total LATAM1,387701211,578

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

The information called for by this item is incorporated herein by reference to Note 21. Commitments and Contingencies in the

accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Shareholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Market Information

Our ordinary shares are currently listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker “SW” and began trading on July 8,

  1. Prior to that date, there was no public trading market for our ordinary shares on the domestic stock exchanges. Our ordinary

shares also trade under the symbol “SWR” on the London Stock Exchange.

Holders

As of February 20, 2026, there were 4,955 shareholders of record of our ordinary shares. The number of record holders of our ordinary

shares does not reflect the number of persons or entities holding their shares in “street” name through brokerage firms or other

nominee holders.

Recent Sales of Unregistered Equity Securities

None.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

None.

Dividends

On February 3, 2026, the Company announced that its Board approved a quarterly dividend of $0.4523 per share on its ordinary shares

representing a $1.81 annualized dividend, or an increase of 5% from the prior dividend. The quarterly dividend is expected to be paid

on March 18, 2026 to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 17, 2026. In fiscal 2025, 2024 and 2023 the

Company paid dividends totaling $1.72, $1.89 and $1.50 per share, respectively.

In certain circumstances, as an Irish tax resident company, we may be required to deduct Irish dividend withholding tax (“DWT”)

(currently at the rate of 25%) from dividends paid to our shareholders. Shareholders residing in “relevant territories” (including

countries that are European Union member states (other than Ireland), the United States and other countries with which Ireland has a

tax treaty) may be exempted from Irish DWT. However, shareholders residing in other countries will generally be subject to Irish

DWT.

The declaration of dividends is subject to the discretion of Smurfit Westrock’s Board. Our Board is committed to continuing to pay

regular cash dividends; however, there can be no assurance as to future dividends. The Board will consider various factors when

determining whether to pay dividends, including but not limited to, Smurfit Westrock’s results of operations, capital investment

priorities, the market price of Smurfit Westrock’s ordinary shares and access to capital markets, as well as legal requirements

(including requirements relating to availability of distributable reserves), industry practice and other factors deemed relevant by the

Board. For additional information, see “Risk Factors—Any dividend payment in respect of our shares is subject to a number of

factors, including the distributions of earnings to the Company by its subsidiaries, the financial condition and results of operations of

the Company, as well as the distributable reserves of the Company and the discretion of the Company’s Board, and there are no

guarantees that the Company will pay dividends or the level of any such dividends.”

Performance Graph*

The following graph compares cumulative total shareholder return on the Company’s ordinary shares against the Standard & Poor’s

(“S&P”) 500 Stock Index and the Dow Jones Containers & Packaging Index from July 8, 2024 (the first day our ordinary shares began

trading on the NYSE) through December 31, 2025. The graph is indexed at $100 on July 8, 2024 for each of the Company’s ordinary

shares, the S&P 500 Stock Index and the Dow Jones Containers & Packaging Index. It also assumes that all dividends were

reinvested. The comparisons in the graph below are based upon historical data and are not indicative of, nor intended to forecast,

future performance of our ordinary shares.

2025 SW Performance Graph.jpg

***The above performance graph shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or incorporated by reference into any filing of Smurfit Westrock under the Securities Act or the

Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

See Part III, Item 12 “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Shareholder Matters” below.

Item 6. [Reserved]

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF THE FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF

OPERATIONS OF SMURFIT WESTROCK

The following discussion and analysis of Smurfit Westrock’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in

conjunction with Smurfit Westrock’s audited Consolidated Financial Statements and their related notes for the year ended

December 31, 2025 and our audited Consolidated Financial Statements and their related notes for the year ended December 31,

2024*. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Smurfit Westrock’s future results could*

differ materially from the results discussed below. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not

limited to, those identified below and those discussed in the Item 1A. Risk Factors. Please refer to the section above entitled

“Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" for additional information.

Smurfit Kappa was determined to be the accounting acquirer in the Combination; therefore, the historical consolidated financial

statements of Smurfit Kappa for periods prior to the Combination were also considered to be the historical financial statements of the

Company. Unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise requires, all references to the “Company” and “Smurfit Kappa” refer

to Smurfit Kappa Group plc and its subsidiaries and their operations when referring to periods prior to the closing of the

Combination, and references to the “Company” and “Smurfit Westrock” refer to the combined company, Smurfit Westrock and its

subsidiaries, including, among others, Smurfit Kappa and WestRock, when referring to periods after the Combination.

OVERVIEW

Smurfit Westrock is one of the world's largest integrated manufacturers of paper-based packaging products in terms of volumes and

sales, with operations in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Smurfit Westrock partners with its

customers to provide differentiated, sustainable paper and packaging solutions that enhance its customers’ prospects of success in their

markets.

Transaction Agreement and Combination with WestRock

Smurfit Westrock was created in July 2024 as a strategic combination between Smurfit Kappa Group plc (re-registered as Smurfit

Kappa Group Limited) (“Smurfit Kappa”) and WestRock Company (“WestRock”). The Combination closed on July 5, 2024. Upon

completion of the Combination, Smurfit Kappa and WestRock each became wholly-owned subsidiaries of Smurfit Westrock. As noted

above, Smurfit Kappa was determined to be the accounting acquirer of WestRock. Accordingly, the financial statements reflected in

these Consolidated Financial Statements and the discussions below include WestRock's financial position and results of operations for

the period subsequent to the completion of the Combination on July 5, 2024. Consequently, the results reported for the twelve months

ended December 31, 2024 do not include WestRock’s financial results for the first five days of July or any prior periods. Therefore, in

fiscal 2025 acquired WestRock operations were included for an incremental six months and five days compared to fiscal 2024.

Refer to “Note 2. Acquisitions” of the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information related to the Combination and

the accounting for the Combination.

Following the completion of the Combination, Smurfit Westrock reassessed the Company’s reportable segments due to changes in

organizational structure and how the Company’s chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) makes key operating decisions, allocates

resources and assesses the performance of the business. Accordingly, Smurfit Westrock began to manage the combined business as

three reportable segments: (1) North America, (2) Europe, MEA and APAC, and (3) LATAM. Refer to “Note 3. Segment

Information” of the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of the Company’s segment reporting structure.

A detailed discussion of the fiscal 2025 year-over-year changes can be found below and a detailed discussion of fiscal 2024 year-over-

year changes can be found in Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Smurfit Westrock’s net sales increased by $10,070 million, to $31,179 million in the year ended December 31, 2025, from

$21,109 million in the year ended December 31, 2024. This increase was primarily due to the impact of $9,845 million related to the

acquisition of WestRock. Excluding the impact of this acquisition, net sales increased by $225 million primarily resulting from a

$487 million positive impact due to a higher selling price mix and a $452 million net positive foreign currency impact, partially offset

by a negative volume impact of $716 million. See “Segment Information” below for more detail on Smurfit Westrock’s segment

results.

Net income attributable to common shareholders increased by $380 million, to $699 million in the year ended December 31, 2025,

from $319 million in the year ended December 31, 2024. The increase was primarily due to the operations acquired in the

Combination. In the year ended December 31, 2025, the positive impact of the acquired operations was partially offset by increased

interest expense, net, post Combination, and we incurred increased impairment and restructuring costs. In the year ended

December 31, 2024, we incurred higher transaction and integration-related expenses associated with the Combination and a charge of

$224 million for the amortization of the fair value step up on inventory recognized on WestRock’s inventory acquired. See “Note 5.

Impairment and Restructuring Costs” and “Note 6. Transaction and Integration-related Expenses Associated with the Combination” of

the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information. Refer to “Results of Operations” and “Segment Information” for a

detailed review of Smurfit Westrock’s performance.

Net cash provided by operating activities increased by $1,909 million, to $3,392 million in the year ended December 31, 2025, from

$1,483 million in the year ended December 31, 2024, primarily due to a $1,489 million increase in net income adjusted for non-cash

items, primarily including depreciation, depletion and amortization, impairment charges, cash surrender value increase in excess of

premiums paid, share-based compensation expense, deferred income tax benefit, and pension and other postretirement funding more

than cost. The increase in net cash provided by operating activities also included a $420 million decrease in the cash outflows from

changes in operating assets and liabilities. During the year ended December 31, 2025, Smurfit Westrock invested $2,192 million in

capital expenditures. The Company’s net cash outflow from changes in debt was $304 million, and it paid $900 million of cash

dividends to shareholders. See the section entitled “Liquidity and Capital Resources” below for additional information.

SIGNIFICANT FACTORS AND TRENDS AFFECTING SMURFIT WESTROCK’S RESULTS

Smurfit Westrock’s operations have been, and will continue to be, affected by many factors, some of which are beyond the Company’s

control. Smurfit Westrock’s net sales are primarily derived from the sale of containerboard, corrugated containers, paperboard,

consumer packaging, and other paper-based packaging products. As such, Smurfit Westrock’s net sales during any period are largely

influenced by volumes, prices and costs of the corrugated containers and consumer packaging products that Smurfit Westrock sells

during that period.

Volumes

In general, demand for corrugated containers and consumer packaging is closely correlated with overall economic growth and activity.

It also directionally

Showing the first 8K of 66K characters. Open the full section

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Smurfit Westrock is exposed to market risk from changes in, among other things, interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, and

commodity prices. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors” for additional information. Smurfit Westrock aims to identify and understand these

risks and then implement strategies to manage them. When evaluating these strategies, Smurfit Westrock evaluates the fundamentals

of each market, the Company’s sensitivity to movements in pricing, and underlying accounting and business implications. The

sensitivity analyses presented below do not consider the effect of possible adverse changes in the general economy, nor do they

consider additional actions we may take to mitigate the Company’s exposure to such changes. Smurfit Westrock may not be successful

in managing these risks.

Interest Rate Risk

Smurfit Westrock is exposed to changes in interest rates on its variable rate debt. Interest rate changes generally do not affect the

market value of such debt, but do impact the amount of interest payments and, therefore, Smurfit Westrock’s future earnings and cash

flows, assuming other factors are held constant. Smurfit Westrock had fixed an average of 88% of its interest cost on borrowings over

the following 12 months at both December 31, 2025 and 2024. Holding all other variables constant, if interest rates for variable rate

borrowings increased by 1% Smurfit Westrock’s interest expense would increase, and income before taxes would decrease, by

approximately $17 million over the following 12 months for both years. Interest income on cash balances would increase by

approximately $9 million assuming a 1% increase in interest rates earned on such balances over the following 12 months for both

years.

Foreign Exchange Risk

Smurfit Westrock manages its balance sheet having regard to the currency exposures arising from its assets being denominated in a

wide range of currencies. To this end, where foreign currency assets are funded by local borrowing, such borrowing is generally

sourced in the currency of the related assets.

Smurfit Westrock is exposed to transactional foreign exchange currency risk to the extent that there is a mismatch between the

currencies in which sales, purchases, receivables and borrowings are denominated and the respective functional currencies of the

Smurfit Westrock group companies. Smurfit Westrock hedges a portion of its currency exposure through the use of currency swaps

and forward contracts. Smurfit Westrock’s risk management policy allows the hedging of estimated foreign currency exposure in

respect of highly probable forecast sales and purchases. As such, certain subsidiaries enter into foreign currency forward contracts to

hedge highly probable forecast foreign currency sales and purchases for which hedge accounting is applied.

Smurfit Westrock operates in markets both inside and outside of the U.S. and derived 54% and 65% of net sales for the year ended

December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, from outside the U.S. through international operations, some of which were transacted in

U.S. dollars. The decrease in concentration from outside the U.S. was due to the full year impact of the Combination. No single

country other than the U.S. represented more than 10% of our net sales.

Although the Company is impacted by the exchange rates of a number of currencies, its largest net assets exposures for the year ended

December 31, 2025 and 2024 included the euro, the Mexican peso, the Canadian dollar, the Brazilian real, the pound sterling, and the

Colombian peso. Strengthening of the U.S. dollar exchange rate by 1% against all other foreign currencies from the December 31,

2025 rate would reduce shareholders’ equity by approximately $114 million compared to $101 million at December 31, 2024.

Commodity Price Risk

Smurfit Westrock is exposed to commodity price risks through its dependence on recovered paper, the principal raw material used in

the manufacture of recycled containerboard and virgin fiber which is the principal raw material that Smurfit Westrock uses in the

production of a portion of the Company’s containerboard, bleached paperboard and market pulp.

The price of recovered paper is dependent on both demand and supply conditions. Demand conditions include the production of

recycled containerboard in Europe and North America and the demand for recovered paper for the production of recycled

containerboard outside of Europe, principally in Asia. Supply conditions include the rate of recovery of recovered paper, itself

dependent on historical pricing related to the cost of recovery, and some slight seasonal variations. While virgin fiber prices have

generally been more stable than recycled fiber prices, they still fluctuate, particularly due to significant changes in weather, such as

during prolonged periods of heavy rain or drought, or during housing construction slowdowns or accelerations.

The cost of producing Smurfit Westrock’s products is also sensitive to the price of energy. Smurfit Westrock’s main energy exposure

is to the cost of gas and electricity. Smurfit Westrock’s energy costs increased by 45% in the year ended December 31, 2025, when

compared to the year ended December 31, 2024, which was primarily a result of 2025 being the first full year of costs after the

Combination with WestRock. Smurfit Westrock’s energy costs increased by 25% in the year ended December 31, 2024, when

compared to the year ended December 31, 2023, as a result of the Combination with WestRock, partially offset by lower energy

market prices for legacy Smurfit Kappa operations.

The objective of our commodity exposure management is to minimize volatility in earnings due to large fluctuations in the price of

commodities. To manage commodity price risk, Smurfit Westrock may enter physical commodity contracts or financial derivative

contracts to manage risks associated with fluctuating energy costs. The timeframe for such programs can be up to three years.

We have elected to apply the normal purchase normal sales (“NPNS”) scope exception, where appropriate, for physical commodity

contracts that meet the criteria of derivatives under ASC 815, “Derivatives and Hedging” (“ASC 815”). As such, Smurfit Westrock is

not required to apply derivative accounting treatment as required by ASC 815 to these physical commodity transactions.

Certain of our financial derivative contracts are designated as cash flow hedges, with changes in the fair value of these contracts being

accounted for in “Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss” in Shareholders Equity. The resulting gain or loss is reclassified into

“Cost of goods sold” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations concurrently with the recognition of the commodity. Certain of our

financial derivative contracts do not qualify for hedge accounting but are effective economic hedges. As of December 31, 2025, the

fair value of financial derivatives contracts and the impact of a hypothetical 10% adverse move in market prices on the fair values are

immaterial.

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

INDEX TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF

SMURFIT WESTROCK PLC

Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (Auditor Name KPMG, Auditor Location: Dublin, Ireland, PCAOB ID: 1116)69
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2025 and December 31, 202471
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2025, December 31, 2024 and December 31, 202372
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2025, December 31, 2024 and December 31, 202373
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2025, December 31, 2024 and December 31, 202374
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the years ended December 31, 2025, December 31, 2024 and December 31, 202375
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements76

Repo****rt of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Stockholders and Board of Directors

Smurfit Westrock Public Limited Company:

Opinions on the Consolidated Financial Statements and Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Smurfit Westrock Public Limited Company and subsidiaries (‘the

Company’) as of December, 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive

income (loss), cash flows and changes in equity for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2025, and the

related notes collectively, the consolidated financial statements. We also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial

reporting as of December, 31, 2025, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the

Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of

the Company as of December, 31, 2025 and 2024, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-

year period ended December 31, 2025 in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also in our opinion, the

Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025 based on

criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the

Treadway Commission.

Basis for Opinions

The Company’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over

financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the

accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the

Company’s consolidated financial statements and an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our

audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB)

and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable

rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits

to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to

error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the

consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such

procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial

statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well

as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting

included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and

testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included

performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable

basis for our opinions.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of

financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting

principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the

maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the

company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in

accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in

accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding

Repo****rt of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect

on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections

of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in

conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Critical Audit Matter

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements

that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are

material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments.

The communication of a critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a

whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or

on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

Evaluation of the qualitative goodwill impairment indicator assessment

As described in Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s goodwill balance as of December 31, 2025 was

$7,218 million. The Company reviews the carrying value of its goodwill annually during the fourth quarter, or more often if events or

changes in circumstances indicate

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Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

None.

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

Smurfit Westrock’s management evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures (as

such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report.

Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to

be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the

Company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as

appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Disclosure controls and procedures are designed by the Company

to ensure that it records, processes, summarizes and reports in a timely manner the information it must disclose in reports that it files

with or submits to the SEC. Anthony Smurfit, President & Group Chief Executive Officer, and Ken Bowles, Executive Vice President

& Group Chief Financial Officer, reviewed and participated in management’s evaluation of the disclosure controls and procedures.

Based on this evaluation, Anthony Smurfit, President & Group Chief Executive Officer, and Ken Bowles, Executive Vice President &

Group Chief Financial Officer, concluded that as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, Smurfit

Westrock’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective, and the previously reported material weakness described below has

been remediated.

Remediated Material Weakness in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A material weakness is a control deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there

is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a

timely basis.

Smurfit Westrock’s management had previously identified and reported a material weakness relating to the company’s selection and

development of control activities intended to mitigate the risks to achieving its objectives. This related to certain processes and

controls principally at historical Smurfit Kappa that were not subject to the requirements of Section 404 of SOX prior to the

Combination between Smurfit Kappa and Westrock discussed elsewhere in this Annual Report.

This material weakness was the result of:

  • A lack of formalization of an existing control process for documenting evidence of management review and performance of

control procedures, including the level of precision in the execution of controls and procedures to ascertain completeness and

accuracy of information produced by the Company.

  • Existing controls related to the preparation and review of manual journal entries not designed to adequately mitigate the

associated risks.

  • The need to augment General IT Controls, specifically as they pertain to (i) logical access controls to ensure appropriate

segregation of duties and that adequately restrict user and privileged access to financial applications, programs, and data to

appropriate Company personnel and (ii) program change management controls to ensure that information technology

program and data changes affecting financial IT applications and underlying accounting records are identified, tested,

authorized and implemented appropriately.

Remediation Plan

In response to the material weakness, we designed and implemented remediation measures whereby we:

  • designed and implemented policies and guidance related to the operation of controls; complemented by training of control

operators, with a specific focus on the priority areas documented in the remediation plan;

  • developed appropriate controls over the review of manual journal entries - automated approval workflows for manual journal

entries were implemented at relevant material locations, as well as an additional risk-based interim manual control; and

  • enhanced and expanded the general IT processes and controls across the organization which included strengthening user and

privileged access controls as well as change management controls.

Testing to validate the effectiveness of these remediation efforts was conducted over a sustained period in 2025 and confirmed that the

material weakness was remediated as of December 31, 2025.

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rule

13a-15(f) of the 1934 Act. Management has assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December

31, 2025 based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring

Organizations of the Treadway Commission. As a result of this assessment, management concluded that as of the end of the period

covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, Smurfit Westrock maintained effective internal control over financial reporting, and the

previously reported material weakness has been remediated. The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of

December 31, 2025 has been audited by KPMG, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is

included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Other than the changes that resulted from the integration following the Combination and remediation actions described above, there

has been no change in Smurfit Westrock’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and

15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the three months ended December 31, 2025 that has materially affected, or is reasonably

likely to materially affect, Smurfit Westrock’s internal control over financial reporting.

Item 9B. Other Information

Trading Plan(s)

During the three months ended December 31, 2025, none of our directors or officers (as defined in Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange

Act) adopted, modified or terminated a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” or “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” (as those terms

are defined in Item 408 of Regulation S-K).

Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections.

Not applicable.

PART III

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

The Company’s Code of Conduct (the “Code of Conduct”), is applicable to all employees, including the principal executive officer,

principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, and controller, and all directors. The Company’s Code of Ethical Conduct for

Directors and Senior Financial Officers (the “Code of Ethics”), is applicable to our directors and its Senior Financial Officers, that is,

its principal executive officer (“CEO”), its principal financial officer, and its principal accounting officer, as well as any other senior

executive or senior financial officers who may be specifically designated from time to time by the CEO (the Code of Conduct and the

Code of Ethics together, the “Codes”). The Codes are available at https://www.smurfitwestrock.com/about/corporate-governance/

policies. To the extent required by the rules of the SEC or the NYSE, Smurfit Westrock intends to disclose amendments to and

waivers of the Codes applicable to executive officers and directors, if any, on that website within four business days following the date

of any such amendment or waiver.

Additional information responsive to this Item is incorporated herein by reference to our definitive proxy statement with respect to our

2026 annual general meeting of shareholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year covered by this

Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Item 11. Executive Compensation

Information responsive to this Item is incorporated herein by reference to our definitive proxy statement with respect to our 2026

annual general meeting of shareholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year covered by this

Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Shareholder Matters

Information responsive to this Item is incorporated herein by reference to our definitive proxy statement with respect to our 2026

annual general meeting of shareholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year covered by this

Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

Information responsive to this Item is incorporated herein by reference to our definitive proxy statement with respect to our 2026

annual general meeting of shareholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year covered by this

Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

Information responsive to this Item is incorporated herein by reference to our definitive proxy statement with respect to our 2026

annual general meeting of shareholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year covered by this

Annual Report on Form 10-K.

PART IV

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

The following documents are filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:

(a)(1) Financial Statements

The financial statements required by this item are listed in Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”.

(a)(2) Financial Statement Schedules

All financial statement schedules have been omitted because they are not applicable, not required or the information required is shown

in the financial statements or the notes thereto.

(a)(3) Exhibit Index

The following is a list of exhibits filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K or are incorporated herein by reference:

Exhibit NumberDescription of Exhibit
3.1Amended Constitution of Smurfit Westrock plc (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 8, 2024).
4.12021 Indenture, by and among SKT, the guarantors party thereto and Deutsche Trustee Company Limited, as trustee, dated as of September 22, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.12 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8- K filed on July 8, 2024).
4.2First Supplemental Indenture to 2021 Indenture, by and among SKT, the guarantors party thereto and Deutsche Trustee Company Limited, as trustee, dated as of October 5, 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.13 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 8, 2024).
4.3Second Supplemental Indenture to 2021 Indenture, by and among SKT, the Smurfit Bond Debt New Guarantors, and Deutsche Trustee Company Limited, as trustee, dated as of July 5, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.14 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 8, 2024).
4.4†Third Supplemental Indenture to 2021 Indenture, by and among SKT, the new guarantor party thereto, and Deutsche Trustee Company Limited, as trustee, dated as of November 21, 2024.
4.52024 Indenture, by and among SKT, the guarantors party thereto and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee, dated as of April 3, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.15 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8- K filed on July 8, 2024).
4.6First Supplemental Indenture to 2024 Indenture, by and among SKT, the Smurfit Bond Debt New Guarantors, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee, dated as of July 5, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.16 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 8, 2024).
4.7[Second Supplemental Indenture to](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2005951/00

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Item 16. Form 10-K Summary

None.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly

caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Smurfit Westrock plc
Dated: February 27, 2026/s/ Anthony Smurfit
Name:Anthony Smurfit
Title:President & Group Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)

SIGNATURES

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Anthony

Smurfit, Ken Bowles or Irene Page, or any of them, his or her attorneys-in-fact, for such person in any and all capacities, to sign any

amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K and to file the same, with exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection

therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that either of said attorneys-in-fact, or

substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this Report has been signed below by the following

persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

SignatureTitleDate
/s/ Anthony SmurfitPresident & Group Chief Executive Officer and DirectorFebruary 27, 2026
Anthony Smurfit(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Ken BowlesExecutive Vice President & Group Chief Financial Officer and DirectorFebruary 27, 2026
Ken Bowles(Principal Financial Officer)
/s/ Irene PageChief Accounting OfficerFebruary 27, 2026
Irene Page(Principal Accounting Officer)
/s/ Irial FinanDirectorFebruary 27, 2026
Irial Finan
/s/ Kaisa HietalaDirectorFebruary 27, 2026
Kaisa Hietala
/s/ Colleen F. ArnoldDirectorFebruary 27, 2026
Colleen F. Arnold
/s/ Timothy J. BernlohrDirectorFebruary 27, 2026
Timothy J. Bernlohr
/s/ Carole L. BrownDirectorFebruary 27, 2026
Carole L. Brown
/s/ Terrell K. CrewsDirectorFebruary 27, 2026
Terrell K. Crews
/s/ Carol FairweatherDirectorFebruary 27, 2026
Carol Fairweather
/s/ Mary Lynn Ferguson-McHughDirectorFebruary 27, 2026
Mary Lynn Ferguson-McHugh

SIGNATURES

/s/ Suzan F. HarrisonDirectorFebruary 27, 2026
Suzan F. Harrison
/s/ Lourdes MelgarDirectorFebruary 27, 2026
Lourdes Melgar
/s/ Jørgen Buhl RasmussenDirectorFebruary 27, 2026
Jørgen Buhl Rasmussen
/s/ Alan D. WilsonDirectorFebruary 27, 2026
Alan D. Wilson