Koppers to acquire Ridolfo Forestry Products business in Western Australia

Nov 19, 2012. /Lesprom Network/. Koppers Wood Products Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Koppers Holdings Inc., announced an agreement to acquire the Western Poles business from Ridolfo Forestry Products Pty Limited, for an undisclosed purchase price. The closing of the transaction is subject to certain conditions and is expected to be completed by the end of November 2012, as the company said in the press release received by Lesprom Network. Western Poles conducts business primarily in the State of Western Australia procuring and processing timber for the Western Australian utility pole market. Their primary customer is Western Power, which maintains approximately 660,000 utility poles in its system. The acquisition represents further vertical integration in the utility pole supply chain for Koppers and is expected to provide additional annual pole sales in excess of $10 million. Walt Turner, president and CEO of Koppers, said, "We are excited with this opportunity to add the Western Poles business to our existing utility pole presence in Bunbury, Western Australia. The substantial increases in infrastructure spending over the next five years will provide ongoing opportunities to grow this business." Koppers, with corporate headquarters and a research center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a global integrated producer of carbon compounds and treated wood products. Including its joint ventures, Koppers operates facilities in the United States, United Kingdom, Denmark, The Netherlands, Australia and China.