8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report: (Date of earliest event reported): May 22, 2003

Rock-Tenn Company

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Georgia	0-23340	62-0342590
(State or Other Jurisdiction	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)
of Incorporation)

504 Thrasher Street, Norcross, Georgia	30071
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

(770) 448-2193
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

UNDERSTANDING ROCK-TENN SLIDE PRESENTATION

Item 7.       Financial Statements, Pro-forma Financial Information, and Exhibits

(c) Exhibits (furnished pursuant to Item 12)

99.1     “Understanding Rock-Tenn” Slide Presentation

Item 9.       Regulation FD Disclosure

The following information is furnished pursuant to Item 12, “Results of Operations and Financial Condition” in accordance with SEC Release No. 33-8216.

On May 22, 2003, Rock-Tenn Company (“Rock-Tenn”) made available on its website at www.rocktenn.com (the “Website”) a copy of a slide presentation entitled “Understanding Rock-Tenn” (the “Slide Presentation”) in which it disclosed certain financial information related to results of operation and financial condition for fiscal 2002 and other completed fiscal years. The Slide Presentation can be reached from the Website by first clicking the link entitled “Investors” and then the link entitled “Presentations.” A copy of the Slide Presentation is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is hereby incorporated herein. All information in the Slide Presentation is presented as of May 22, 2003, and Rock-Tenn does not undertake any obligation to correct that information, disclaim the accuracy of the information should the facts change, or update that information in the future.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

		ROCK-TENN COMPANY (Registrant)
Date: May 22, 2003	By:	/s/ STEVEN C. VOORHEES
		Steven C. Voorhees, Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer and duly authorized officer)

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit Number and Description

99.1       “Understanding Rock-Tenn” Slide Presentation

4 EX-99.1 3 g83101exv99w1.htm UNDERSTANDING ROCK-TENN SLIDE PRESENTATION

Exhibit 99.1

Rock-Tenn is one of North America's leading packaging companies $1.4 billion in net sales $1.2 billion in assets $118 million operating cash flow 8,400 employees in over 70 manufacturing locations in North America Rock-Tenn At-A-Glance As of 9/30/02.

Folding Carton Division Rock-Tenn is the fifth largest producer of folding cartons in North America. Customers use the Company's folding cartons to package frozen, dry and perishable food items, paper goods and hardware, textile, automotive, apparel and other products. Rock-Tenn also manufactures express envelopes for the overnight courier industry and packaging for the health and beauty care markets. Folding cartons typically serve the dual function of protecting customers' products during shipment and distribution and promoting them at retail. The Company manufactures folding cartons from recycled or virgin paperboard, which it prints, die-cuts and glues in accordance with customer specifications. Rock-Tenn then ships finished cartons to customers' plants for assembling, filling and sealing. By employing a broad range of offset, flexographic and gravure printing technologies, the Company is able to meet a broad range of folding carton applications. Rock-Tenn operates 19 folding carton plants and one distribution facility.

Folding Carton Division Fiscal Year 2002 Board Mix

Folding Carton Division Folding Carton Board Integration

RTS Packaging Division RTS Packaging, LLC, Rock-Tenn's joint venture with Sonoco Products Company, is the largest manufacturer of solid fiber partitions in North America. The Company markets its solid fiber partitions principally to glass container manufacturers and producers of beer, food, wine, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. RTS also manufacturers specialty packaging for specific fruit and vegetable markets and sheeted separation products for various industries. The Company manufactures solid fiber interior packaging primarily from 100% recycled specialty paperboard. RTS' solid fiber interior packaging is made from varying thicknesses of single ply and laminated paperboard to meet different structural requirements, including those required for high speed casing, de-casing and filling lines. The Company employs primarily proprietary manufacturing equipment that delivers high speed production which allows for rapid turnaround on large jobs and specialized capabilities for short-run, custom applications. RTS operates 11 solid fiber interior packaging plants.

Merchandising Displays Division packaging including "buy one, get one free" and complementary or free product promotions. Rock-Tenn operates two facilities that manufacture displays, one of which also manufactures lithographic laminated packaging, and one facility that manufactures primarily lithographic laminated packaging. The Company also operates ten contract packing facilities, three of which are co-locations shared with one of its customers or a third party service provider to one of its customers. Rock-Tenn also has ten display sales and design centers.

Recovered Fiber Consumption The primary raw material used by Rock-Tenn's paperboard operations is recycled fiber, including primarily old corrugated containers, sorted office paper, double-lined kraft, boxboard clippings, old newspaper and mixed paper. Numbers are annualized from internal survey taken July-December 2002. Note: These numbers include only consumption by Rock-Tenn's paperboard mills. We have excluded consumption by Rock- Tenn's Aurora facility. This facility produces specialty paperboard substantially all of which is consumed on an as needed basis by Rock-Tenn's laminated paperboard products division's operations

Energy Consumption Excluding raw materials and labor, energy is one of Rock-Tenn's most significant costs, particularly in its paperboard operations. In 2002, 88% of the MMBTu's (million British thermal units) purchased by the Company were used in Rock-Tenn's paperboard mills. Energy constituted 15% of the cost of goods sold for Rock-Tenn Company's paperboard mills. The Company uses energy to generate steam used in the paper making process and to operate its paperboard machines. The Company generally purchases energy from local suppliers at market rates. Occasionally, Rock-Tenn enters into long-term agreements to purchase natural gas, often to protect itself against potential winter peaks in natural gas prices. The Company periodically evaluates alternative scenarios to manage these risks. There can be no assurances that Rock-Tenn will continue to manage such risks, seasonally or otherwise, in the future, or that any such efforts will be successful. Note:These numbers include only consumption by Rock-Tenn's paperboard mills. We have excluded consumption by Rock- Tenn's Aurora facility. This facility produces specialty paperboard substantially all of which is consumed on an as needed basis by Rock-Tenn's laminated paperboard products division's operations.

EX-99.1

exv99w1