EX-99 2 ex99.htm PRESS RELEASE DATED FEBRUARY 28, 2008 ex99.htm

Exhibit 99
 
TITAN REPORTS ALL-TIME RECORD SALES IN 2007

Quincy, IL. - Titan International, Inc. (NYSE: TWI)
February 28, 2008
 
Fourth quarter and year-to-date highlights:
 
·  
Sales for fourth quarter 2007 were an all-time record of $204.9 million, up 24 percent, as compared to $165.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2006.
 
·  
Year-to-date sales were an all-time record of $837.0 million, a 23 percent increase from $679.5 million of sales in 2006.
 
·  
Gross profit for fourth quarter 2007 was $11.3 million, up more than 400 percent, as compared to $2.1 million in 2006.
 
·  
Year-to-date selling, general and administrative expenses for 2007 were 6.3 percent of net sales as compared to 6.7 percent in 2006.
 
·  
Net loss was $(8.8) million in fourth quarter 2007, versus $(9.5) million in fourth quarter 2006. Net loss was $(7.2) million in 2007 (includes a noncash debt charge of $13.4 million), compared to net income of $5.1 million in 2006.
 
·  
Cash at December 31, 2007, was $58.3 million, a 75 percent increase over the December 31, 2006, cash balance of $33.4 million.
 
·  
Long-term debt at December 31, 2007, was $200 million, a decrease of $91.3 million, or 31 percent, over the December 31, 2006, balance of $291.3 million.
 
·  
Stockholders’ equity at year-end 2007 was $272.5 million, an increase of $85.3 million, or 46 percent, over the December 31, 2006, balance of $187.2 million.
 
Statement of Chief Executive Officer:
 
“Titan’s year in 2007 can be described best as one of constant evolution,” said Titan Chairman and CEO Maurice M. Taylor Jr. “We saw the agricultural market begin its upswing and had a strong year in the off-the-road (OTR) market. We’ve laid much groundwork for the future, as well. Our giant 57-inch and 63-inch radial tire project has moved forward at record speed. In fact, our first 63-inch tire was recently completed. The Titan team is a hard working group, and we’ve developed a new and better way to manufacture tires that should out perform their competitors, and are more efficient to produce.
 
“With the added capacity in Bryan, Ohio, Titan expects to provide a supply of OTR tires to the mining industry that can meet demand. A continuation of strong OTR demand along with an increase in the agricultural market in 2008 will provide even more opportunities for Titan. As I’ve said before, there’s no greater challenge than proving nay-sayers wrong.”
 

 
Financial overview:

Titan International, Inc.’s net sales of $204.9 million for fourth quarter of 2007 were 24 percent higher than fourth quarter 2006 sales of $165.6 million.  Year-end: Net sales for 2007 were $837.0 million, up 23 percent from $679.5 million in 2006. The higher sales levels were attributed to the expanded agricultural and earthmoving product offerings, which includes General branded off-the-road (OTR) tires. The expanded OTR offerings came with the added manufacturing capacity from the Bryan, Ohio, OTR facility, which was acquired in July 2006.

Gross profit for fourth quarter 2007 was $11.3 million, as compared to $2.1 million in 2006.  Year-end: Gross profit for the year of 2007 was $84.1 million, as compared to $72.8 million for 2006. The increases in gross profit were primarily due to the higher sales volumes quarter over quarter and year over year.

Loss from operations was $(5.4) million in the fourth quarter of 2007, as compared to $(11.6) million loss in fourth quarter 2006.  Year-end: Income from operations was $24.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2007, and $22.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2006.

Interest expense was $4.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2007 as compared to $5.0 million of interest expense in the fourth quarter of 2006.  Year-end: Net interest expense for the year 2007 was $18.7 million compared to $17.0 million in 2006.

Loss before taxes in fourth quarter 2007 was $(8.6) million, compared to $(15.9) million in 2006.  Year-end: Loss before taxes totaled $(3.9) million for the year 2007, as compared to income before taxes of $8.6 million in 2006. The 2007 total included a $13.4 million noncash convertible debt conversion charge.

Income taxes of $0.3 million were recorded for the fourth quarter of 2007, compared to an income tax benefit of $6.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2006.  Year-end: Income tax expense was $3.4 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2007, and 2006.

Net loss was $(8.8) million for fourth quarter 2007, versus $(9.5) million in fourth quarter 2006.  Year-end: Net loss was $(7.2) million in 2007 (including a noncash convertible debt conversion charge of $13.4 million), compared to net income of $5.1 million in 2006.

For the fourth quarter of 2007, basic and diluted loss per share was $(.32), compared to $(.48) during the fourth quarter of 2006.  Year-end: For the year ended December 31, 2007, basic and diluted loss per share was $(.28), compared to earnings per share of $.26 in 2006.

Cash balance: The company’s year-end cash balance was $58.3 million at December 31, 2007, an increase of nearly $25 million from $33.4 million at year-end 2006.

Debt balance: Long-term debt is $200 million at December 31, 2007, decreasing $91.3 million from the year-end 2006 balance of $291.3 million.

Equity balance: The company’s stockholders’ equity increased $85.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2007. Titan’s equity balance reached $272.5 million at December 31, 2007, a significant increase from the $187.2 million at December 31, 2006.
 

 
Recent Developments:

Affirmative Preliminary Antidumping Determination on OTR Tires from China
Titan welcomed the U.S. Commerce Department’s preliminary decision on February 6, 2008, to impose antidumping duties on imports of new pneumatic off-the-road (OTR) tires from China. OTR tires are used on construction and agricultural equipment.

As a result of this preliminary determination, Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to collect a cash deposit or bond based on these preliminary rates. Commerce preliminarily determined that Chinese producers/exporters have sold new pneumatic off-the-road tires in the U.S. at 10.98 to 210.48 percent less than fair value, with a majority of exporter/producers at 24.75 percent less than fair value.

The agency will now continue the proceeding by holding hearings, conducting verifications of information, and reaching a final determination by early June of this year. The International Trade Commission will also investigate the issue of injury and reach a determination on that issue thereafter.

Titan Builds First Radial 63-Inch Tire
On February 15, 2008, Titan Tire Corporation built its first giant radial 63-inch tire at its facility in Bryan, Ohio. Titan should begin supplying this off-the-road (OTR) tire to select mines in approximately 90 days.

Titan announced its commitment to produce these giant OTR tires, used in the mining industry, in May 2007 when the company’s Board of Directors approved funding to increase tire production capacity to include 57- and 63-inch giant radial tires.

Form 10-K:

For additional information and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, see the company’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2008.

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, 2007. 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 Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
For the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006
 
Amounts in thousands except earnings per share data.
 
Three Months Ended
   
Twelve Months Ended
 
   
December 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2007
   
2006
   
2007
   
2006
 
Net sales
  $ 204,938     $ 165,563     $ 837,021     $ 679,454  
Cost of sales
    193,603       163,421       752,890       606,676  
Gross profit
    11,335       2,142       84,131       72,778  
                                 
Selling, general & administrative expenses
    15,048       12,732       53,138       45,766  
Royalty expense
    1,665       1,049       6,155       5,001  
(Loss) income from operations
    (5,378 )     (11,639 )     24,838       22,011  
                                 
Interest expense
    (4,059 )     (5,004 )     (18,710 )     (17,001 )
Noncash convertible debt conversion charge
    0       0       (13,376 )     0  
Other income
    843       744       3,364       3,564  
(Loss) income before income taxes
    (8,594 )     (15,899 )     (3,884 )     8,574  
                                 
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
    254       (6,359 )     3,363       3,430  
                                 
Net (loss) income
  $ (8,848 )   $ (9,540 )   $ (7,247 )   $ 5,144  
                                 
(Loss) earnings per common share:
                               
Basic
  $ (.32 )   $ (.48 )   $ (.28 )   $ .26  
Diluted
    (.32 )     (.48 )     (.28 )     .26  
                                 
Average common shares outstanding:
                               
Basic
    27,336       19,794       25,665       19,702  
Diluted
    27,336       19,794       25,665       20,044  
 

Segment Information
 Revenues from external customers (Unaudited)
Amounts in thousands
 
Three Months Ended
   
Twelve Months Ended
 
   
December 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2007
   
2006
   
2007
   
2006
 
Agricultural
  $ 137,712     $ 91,388     $ 515,642     $ 421,096  
Earthmoving/Construction
    60,315       65,868       277,206       183,357  
Consumer
    6,911       8,307       44,173       75,001  
Total
  $ 204,938     $ 165,563     $ 837,021     $ 679,454  
 

 
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
Amounts in thousands
           
   
December 31,
   
December 31,
 
Assets
 
2007
   
2006
 
Current assets:
           
Cash & cash equivalents
  $ 58,325     $ 33,412  
Accounts receivable
    98,394       73,882  
Inventories
    128,048       154,604  
Deferred income taxes
    25,159       29,234  
Prepaid & other current assets
    17,839       18,801  
Total current assets
    327,765       309,933  
                 
Property, plant & equipment, net
    196,078       184,616  
Investment in Titan Europe Plc
    34,535       65,881  
Goodwill
    11,702       11,702  
Other assets
    20,415       12,994  
Total assets
  $ 590,495     $ 585,126  
                 
Liabilities & stockholders’ equity
               
Current liabilities:
               
Short-term debt
  $ 0     $ 98  
Accounts payable
    43,992       25,884  
Other current liabilities
    43,788       36,942  
Total current liabilities
    87,780       62,924  
                 
Long-term debt
    200,000       291,266  
Deferred income taxes
    14,044       27,924  
Other long-term liabilities
    16,149       15,835  
Stockholders’ equity
    272,522       187,177  
Total liabilities & stockholders’ equity
  $ 590,495     $ 585,126  

Visit www.titan-intl.com for year-end 2007 conference call information.

Contact: Courtney Leeser, Communications Coordinator
(217) 221-4489