Specialist
Former VP at WestRock Co
Agenda
- WestRock's (NYSE: WRK) positioning across end markets
- Competitive dynamics in the corrugated packaging and plastic packaging sectors across players such as WestRock, International Paper (NYSE: IP) and Georgia-Pacific
- E-commerce trends and demand changes
- Potential environmental concerns and packaging market outlook
Questions
1.
Can you give an overview of where the paper packaging industry is today amid the pandemic?
2.
What do you think are the major themes and trends worth highlighting? What are your post-pandemic expectations?
3.
Do you think that if there is a need to convert some of the e-commerce-dominated end markets, this will ultimately affect margins in a material way long term?
4.
How could e-commerce replacing bricks-and-mortar for a variety of segments change the packaging and labelling of products?
5.
What do you think are WestRock’s key strengths and where has it historically struggled to improve?
6.
You mentioned a shift in consumer priorities when shopping online and whether they really need the marketing package or just the shipping package. As this question becomes more of a reality, do you think WestRock is at risk of losing market share?
7.
How nuanced are the differences between WestRock’s regional markets? Do you think the demand drivers for consumers have varied between APAC and North America?
8.
Who is WestRock primarily competing against in APAC? Is this an area for long-term growth?
9.
Do you think WestRock would be better rewarded with an acquisition strategy in APAC?
10.
Could you highlight the key differences between WestRock and its competitors in North America?
11.
What opportunity does the reduction in single-use plastic create for WestRock in the short-to-medium term?
12.
What do you think might be the benefits of WestRock’s containerboard plant and mill in South Carolina? What might this do for the company compared to its competitors?
13.
WestRock plans to invest in acquisition and capital projects. What areas do you expect it to focus on?
14.
Will the backlogs in paperboard shipments hitting 6-8 weeks disrupt WestRock’s customers if bottlenecks are not resolved soon?
15.
How would you characterise the relationship between WestRock and its customers?
16.
Do you think the issue of sustainability will change the dynamics of WestRock’s customer relationships? Is it WestRock’s responsibility to find the solutions or the customers’ to request them?
17.
Do you have any further thoughts on mismanagement at WestRock and how it has navigated the pandemic? Do you think it’s been able to capitalise on the opportunities created?
18.
Are there any other key points you want to leave us with?
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