Jan 28, 2009. /Lesprom.com/. RockTenn reported earnings for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 of $0.79 per diluted share. The Company’s adjusted earnings were $0.96 per diluted share, excluding specific items related to the Southern Container acquisition and other restructuring charges. Adjusted earnings per diluted share has increased 88% over the prior year quarter adjusted earnings of $0.51 per diluted share, the company said in a statement received by Lesprom Network.. Segment income increased to $90.0 million compared to $48.4 million in the prior year quarter, an 86% increase over the prior year quarter. Rock-Tenn had net income of $30.6 million and earnings of 79 cents a share, compared with net income of $17.5 million and earnings of 46 cents a share in the 1Q 2008. Total sales rose 18% to $703.1 million, boosted by sales increases in its Corrugated Packaging segment. The results include pre-tax restructuring and other costs of $6.5 million for the Southern Container acquisition. “Although our December quarter is our seasonally weakest sales quarter, lower costs for recycled fiber and energy more than offset the effect of lower sales enabling us to increase adjusted earnings 7% over the immediately preceding quarter,” said RockTenn Chairman and CEO James A. Rubright, in an earnings release. “While we expect continuing lower demand during our fiscal second quarter, we expect to continue to generate strong earnings and free cash flow as lower costs for recycled fiber and energy offset the effects of lower volume.” RockTenn produces paperboard, containerboard, consumer and corrugated packaging and merchandising displays.