Koppers ends Illinois operations and shifts production to Denmark

4 articles · Updated · MarketWatch · May 8

The closure of its Stickney facility will affect 85 employees, with remaining distillation and chemical production due to end by year-end.
Chief executive Leroy Ball said high costs, aging infrastructure, excess capacity and tighter North American raw-material supply made major near-term investment unjustifiable.
Koppers expects pre-tax charges of $227 million to $262 million through 2029, but says the move should lift adjusted earnings per share by $1 to $1.20.

With Europe's high energy costs and strict regulations, can Koppers' Danish plant truly deliver its promised profits and supply chain security?

As Koppers sheds a legacy plant to chase infrastructure growth, is its bet on high-purity coal tar for EVs a winning move?