From Staff & Wire Reports
Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. has taken the first steps toward closing its Athens, GA, retread rubber and racing tire plant by the end of summer.
The tiremaker filed paperwork with the Security and Exchange Commission yesterday outlining the write-down it expects to take as a result of the action.
Cooper said it would close the plant within “two to three months,” putting some 140 employees out of work. The tiremaker said its own evaluation showed the plants production of race tires and retread stock could be absorbed by its other facilities.
Cooper acquired the plant when it bought out Oliver Rubber Co., and in August 2004, it announced an $11 million investment at the plant to add race tire production, including Avon-branded tires for The Tire Rack and Mickey Thompson-branded DOT street radials.
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