Sale of Cameron Plant discussed at monthly VP Chamber meeting

Ken Taylor addressed several topics during Wednesday’s Ville Platte Chamber of Commerce meeting.
The Cameron Plant Manager discussed the company’s core values, employee safety, improving customer service and other topics while speaking. Taylor though anticipated what those in attendance wanted to hear more than anything else.
“Some of you might have heard a rumor about who bought us,” Taylor said. “I will get to that later.”
The rumor, which is actually fact, was that Cameron International had been sold to the largest oil field contractor, Schlumberger Limited. The deal, already reported by Forbes magazine and other media outlets, was agreed upon on August 26 for a cost of $14.8 billion.
“The Cameron brand will continue to be prominent in Schlumberger,” Taylor said. “I don’t expect anything to happen to the Ville Platte facility,” Taylor said.
Taylor also informed those in attendance about the company’s performance this fiscal year. Despite the price of oil remaining low, Cameron has exceeded expectations.
“With the oil market in a depressed state this year we didn’t know what to expect,” Taylor said. “I am happy to stand here today and tell you that we beat our expectations for the first and second quarters. And we are in line to beat them in the third as well.”
According to Taylor, the better than anticipated financial performance means that Cameron will be looking to add a handful of positions for next year.
In other business, the chamber:
•Reminded members about paying annual dues
•Talked about the upcoming Cotton Festival which will be held from Oct. 19-25
•Announced the dates (Nov. 6-7) for the holiday open house shopping
•Announced the date (Dec. 6) for the Christmas Parade
The chamber will next meet on Wednesday, October 21 at 4:30 p.m. at the chamber’s office.