EX-99 2 ex99.htm PRESS RELEASE DATED OCTOBER 29, 2007 ex99.htm

 
Exhibit 99

 
TITAN REPORTS 25% INCREASE IN THIRD QUARTER SALES
 
 
Quincy, IL. - Titan International, Inc. (NYSE: TWI)
October 29, 2007

Third quarter and year-to-date highlights:

·  
Sales for third quarter 2007 were an all-time record of $195.5 million, up 25 percent, as compared to $156.1 million in the third quarter of 2006.
 
·  
Year-to-date sales were an all-time record of $632.1 million, a 23 percent increase from $513.9 million for the nine-month period in 2006.
 
·  
Gross profit was $18.3 million for the third quarter, a 7 percent increase from $17.1 million in the third quarter of 2006.
 
·  
Titan’s quarter-ending cash balance of $55.3 million is an increase of 66 percent over the December 31, 2006, balance of $33.4 million.
 
·  
Titan’s stockholders’ equity ended the third quarter at $300.4 million, a rise of $113.3 million, or 61 percent, from the 2006 year-end balance of $187.2 million.
 
Statement of Chief Executive Officer:
 
“The agricultural market for wheels and tires is finally starting to show the growth we’ve been waiting for since 2006,” said Titan Chairman and CEO Maurice M. Taylor Jr. “The orders for wheels and tires are as strong as we’ve seen since 2004, and we believe it could continue to grow not only through 2008, but also into 2009 and beyond.
 
“The OTR mining tire business remains strong. Since Titan announced the decision to build super giant 57- and 63-inch tires, almost every mining company in the top 30 has made plant visits to Titan and found that we will be able to supply them with both wheels and tires for all equipment they use in open-pit or underground mining. This should add tremendous volume going forward for Titan.
 
“The team of engineers that Chief Operating Officer Ernie Rodia has put together is an impressive group. Rodia headed Goodyear’s Global Engineering and Manufacturing Technology team for five years before his retirement from Goodyear in December 2003. He has given this group a boost in energy; I’ve nicknamed them the gray haired band. To support this group we’ve added 10 young engineers,” said Taylor. “Titan’s plan is to install a 24-foot bull wheel, to be used for testing the 63-inch tire, by January 2008. This bull wheel will have load capacity of 500,000 pounds at 42 miles per hour. The first 63-inch tire should be built by February 15, 2008, and samples by March 2008. Production will start in second quarter 2008, and all other giant radials will be phased in during that time.
 
“Titan should be finishing OTR conversion at the Freeport plant during fourth quarter this year. Expansion is underway at Titan Tire in Bryan, Ohio, with the construction of an approximately 250,000-square-foot addition. This project will add jobs to the area, and allow us to produce as many as 6,000 giant tires per year.
 
“Third quarter sales were great and with previously announced price increases, we expect operating profit margins to improve going forward.”
 


Financial overview:

Titan International, Inc.’s net sales of $195.5 million for the third quarter of 2007 were 25 percent higher than third quarter 2006 sales of $156.1 million. Net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, were $632.1 million, up from $513.9 million recorded in 2006, a 23 percent increase.

Gross profit for the third quarter of 2007 was $18.3 million, as compared to $17.1 million in the third quarter of 2006. Year-to-date gross profit was $72.8 million for 2007, as compared to $70.6 million for 2006.

Income from operations for the third quarter of 2007 was $2.7 million, as compared to $4.7 million in the third quarter of 2006. Year-to-date income from operations was $30.2 million in 2007, compared to $33.7 million in 2006.

Loss before taxes for the third quarter of 2007 was $(0.8) million, as compared to income before taxes of $0.8 million in 2006. Year-to-date income before taxes totaled $4.7 million in 2007, as compared to $24.5 million in 2006. The year-to-date total for 2007 included a $13.4 million noncash convertible debt conversion charge.

Income taxes of $0.1 million were recorded for the third quarter of 2007, compared to $0.3 million in 2006. Year-to-date, income tax expense was $3.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared to $9.8 million in 2006.

Net loss was $(0.9) million for the third quarter of 2007, compared to net income of $0.5 million in third quarter 2006. Year-to-date, net income was $1.6 million in 2007 and $14.7 million year-to-date in 2006.

For third quarter 2007, basic loss per share was $(.03), compared to $.02 at September 30, 2006. Year-to-date basic earnings per share were $.06, compared to $.75 year-to-date 2006.

Diluted loss per share was $(.03) for the third quarter of 2007 compared to earnings per share of $.02 in 2006. Year-to-date diluted earnings per share were $.06 for 2007 and $.65 for 2006.

Titan’s quarter-end cash was $55.3 million at September 30, 2007, an increase of nearly $22 million from $33.4 million at year-end 2006. Long-term debt was $200 million, decreasing from $291.3 million at year-end 2006.

The company’s stockholders’ equity increased $113.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2007. Titan’s equity balance reached $300.4 million at September 30, 2007, a significant increase from the $187.2 million at December 31, 2006.

Giant OTR mining tires expansion:

In May 2007, Titan’s Board of Directors approved funding for the company to increase giant OTR (off-the-road) mining tire production capacity to include 57- and 63-inch giant radial tires. This funding should allow Titan to produce up to an estimated 6,000 giant radial tires a year. Titan estimates this may increase sales as much as $240 million. Titan currently plans to be in start-up production of these giant mining tires by the end of the second quarter 2008.




 
Form 10-Q:

For additional information and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, see the company’s Form 10-Q to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 29, 2007.

Safe harbor statement:

This press release includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including risks as detailed in Titan International, Inc.’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. The company cautions that any forward-looking statements included in this press release are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties and the company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.

Company description:

QUINCY, Ill.—Titan International, Inc. (NYSE: TWI), a holding company, owns subsidiaries that supply wheels, tires and assemblies for off-highway equipment used in agricultural, earthmoving/construction and consumer (including all terrain vehicles) applications.
 



Titan International, Inc.
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006


Amounts in thousands except earnings per share data.
           
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2007
   
2006
   
2007
   
2006
 
Net sales
  $
195,472
    $
156,120
    $
632,083
    $
513,891
 
Cost of sales
   
177,178
     
139,040
     
559,287
     
443,255
 
Gross profit
   
18,294
     
17,080
     
72,796
     
70,636
 
                                 
Selling, general & administrative expenses
   
14,123
     
11,260
     
38,090
     
33,034
 
Royalty expense
   
1,474
     
1,113
     
4,490
     
3,952
 
Income from operations
   
2,697
     
4,707
     
30,216
     
33,650
 
                                 
Interest expense
    (4,472 )     (4,565 )     (14,651 )     (11,997 )
Noncash convertible debt conversion charge
   
0
     
0
      (13,376 )    
0
 
Other income
   
975
     
671
     
2,521
     
2,820
 
(Loss) income before income taxes
    (800 )    
813
     
4,710
     
24,473
 
                                 
Provision for income taxes
   
78
     
325
     
3,109
     
9,789
 
                                 
Net (loss) income
  $ (878 )   $
488
    $
1,601
    $
14,684
 
                                 
Earnings per common share:
                               
Basic
  $ (.03 )   $
.02
    $
.06
    $
.75
 
Diluted
    (.03 )    
.02
     
.06
     
.65
 
                                 
Average common shares outstanding:
                               
Basic
   
27,311
     
19,731
     
25,137
     
19,670
 
Diluted
   
27,311
     
20,060
     
25,591
     
26,027
 


Segment Information
 Revenues from external customers (Unaudited)
Amounts in thousands
           
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2007
   
2006
   
2007
   
2006
 
Agricultural
  $
118,530
    $
89,014
    $
377,930
    $
329,708
 
Earthmoving/Construction
   
69,431
     
56,683
     
216,891
     
117,489
 
Consumer
   
7,511
     
10,423
     
37,262
     
66,694
 
Total
  $
195,472
    $
156,120
    $
632,083
    $
513,891
 
 

 
Titan International, Inc.
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

Amounts in thousands
           
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
Assets
 
2007
   
2006
 
Current assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $
55,337
    $
33,412
 
Accounts receivable
   
117,459
     
73,882
 
Inventories
   
132,553
     
154,604
 
Deferred income taxes
   
27,699
     
29,234
 
Prepaid and other current assets
   
20,684
     
18,801
 
Total current assets
   
353,732
     
309,933
 
                 
Property, plant and equipment, net
   
185,490
     
184,616
 
Investment in Titan Europe Plc
   
63,140
     
65,881
 
Goodwill
   
11,702
     
11,702
 
Other assets
   
16,598
     
12,994
 
Total assets
  $
630,662
    $
585,126
 
                 
Liabilities & stockholders’ equity
               
Current liabilities:
               
Short-term debt
  $
0
    $
98
 
Accounts payable
   
54,646
     
25,884
 
Other current liabilities
   
36,858
     
36,942
 
Total current liabilities
   
91,504
     
62,924
 
                 
Long-term debt
   
200,000
     
291,266
 
Deferred income taxes
   
25,650
     
27,924
 
Other long-term liabilities
   
13,068
     
15,835
 
Stockholders’ equity
   
300,440
     
187,177
 
Total liabilities & stockholders’ equity
  $
630,662
    $
585,126
 


Visit www.titan-intl.com for conference call information.
 
Contact: Courtney Leeser, Communications Coordinator
(217) 221-4489