Koppers Announces Improved Contract Terms with Several Class I Railroad Customers

Koppers Holdings Inc. (“Koppers”) announced that, as part of its ongoing efforts to recoup higher input costs due to inflation, the company has agreed to an amendment of its contract with one of its Class I railroad customers. The amendment will extend the current term of the agreement from 2026 to 2030, with favorable pricing adjustments. This represents the fourth Class I customer with which Koppers has reached agreement this year on increased pricing.

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer James Sullivan said, “Significant unexpected inflation and supply chain shocks, exacerbated by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, put our rail business in an untenable situation with long-term supply contracts in place that provided only partial relief. This latest amendment and extension is another important step toward returning to an acceptable level of profitability. I appreciate our customers’ recognition of the various challenges and willingness to come to terms that benefit both parties.”

President and Chief Executive Officer Leroy Ball said, “We are proud of our long history serving the rail industry and wish to continue that legacy far into the future. At the same time, we have seen a significant erosion in the profitability of our treated wood products over the past five years, which has led to a questioning of our long-term future serving the rail portion of that market. Adjusting the pricing in our existing agreements is a shot in the arm for this piece of our business and a recognition of the need to have a healthy supplier base serving the industry. While I am pleased with this latest development, we still have more work to do to convince others of the need to pay fair value for crossties, consistent with current market conditions.”

About Koppers

Koppers, with corporate headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is an integrated global provider of treated wood products, wood treatment chemicals, and carbon compounds. Our products and services are used in a variety of niche applications in a diverse range of end markets, including the railroad, specialty chemical, utility, residential lumber, agriculture, aluminum, steel, rubber, and construction industries. We serve our customers through a comprehensive global manufacturing and distribution network, with facilities located in North America, South America, Australasia, and Europe. The stock of Koppers Holdings Inc. is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “KOP.”

Contact:

Ms. Jessica Franklin Black – Media Contact – BlackJF@koppers.com – (412) 227-2025

Source: Koppers Holdings, Inc.