WestRock (Atlanta, Ga., USA) and KapStone Paper and Packaging Corp. (Northbrook, Ill., USA) announced that the U.S. Department of Justice has cleared WestRock’s pending acquisition of KapStone through Whiskey Holdco, Inc.

As this was the last antitrust approval required to complete the pending acquisition, WestRock and KapStone expect the pending acquisition to close on Nov. 2, 2018, subject to customary closing conditions. As a result of the acquisition, among other things, Holdco will become the ultimate parent of WestRock, KapStone and their respective subsidiaries.

Assuming the acquisition closes as expected, former KapStone stockholders will have the right to receive, with respect to each share of KapStone common stock they hold, either $35.00 in cash or, if they made and did not revoke a valid election in respect thereof by the election deadline at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on Sept. 5, 2018, 0.4981 shares of Holdco common stock and cash in lieu of fractional shares. WestRock expects that shares of KapStone common stock will cease trading on the New York Stock Exchange prior to market open on Nov. 5, 2018.