form8k.htm

Titan Reports All-Time Record Sales and Income from Operations

Quincy, IL. - Titan International, Inc. (NYSE: TWI)

July 29, 2008

Second quarter highlights:

·	Sales for second quarter 2008 of $269.1 million were the highest in the company’s history, an increase of 28 percent, compared to $210.3 million in the second quarter of 2007.

·	Gross profit was $41.9 million for the second quarter of 2008, a 54 percent improvement from $27.3 million in the second quarter of last year.

·	Income from operations was an all-time quarterly record $24.4 million for the second quarter of 2008, rising 85 percent, compared to $13.2 million in the second quarter of 2007.

·	Net income improved 168 percent to $13.3 million for the second quarter of 2008, over the $5.0 million recorded in last year’s quarter.

·	Basic and diluted earnings per share were $.48 cents for the quarter, an increase of 167 percent compared to $.18 cents in the second quarter of 2007.

·	Titan’s stockholders’ equity surpassed the $300 million mark and ended the second quarter at $305.7 million, as compared to the year-end balance of $272.5 million.

Statement of Chief Executive Officer:

“The first half of 2008 saw higher commodity prices drive a strong demand in the agricultural market,” said Chairman and CEO Maurice M. Taylor Jr. “This helped propel Titan to record sales levels for the quarter and year-to-date. Despite high raw material costs, the company was able to show improvement in gross profit by continuing to improve manufacturing efficiencies and better align Titan sales prices with production cost.

“Titan has also benefited in the past months from a preliminary ruling from the U.S. Department of Commerce, affirming that exporters of Chinese-manufactured tires have been selling certain off-the-road tires in the U.S.A. at less than normal value and received subsidies, resulting in duties being imposed on certain imported tires. The International Trade Commission had heard relevant testimony in July and may rule in the third quarter. This may result in either upholding the Commerce Department’s ruling, modifying or overruling it.

“Titan believes that volume will increase in farm tires as we move forward, and with excess production capacity of up to $400 million, we are very optimistic for the years ahead. Production of the ‘big daddy’ 63-inch tire has started with the first tire and wheel assemblies headed to the oil sands in Canada. This production is a gradual ramp-up until full production begins on January 2, 2009. It is still Titan’s target to ship at least 900 of the 63-inch giant tires in the second half of 2008. Of these 900 giant tires, Titan plans to ship at least 200-300 as complete tire and wheel assemblies during the next two quarters. Titan will follow the 63-inch ‘big daddy’ tire production with the 57-inch ‘sweet mama’ tire in the fourth quarter of 2008,” said Taylor.

“The effort of all Titan employees has been outstanding this past year and I believe the shareholders are seeing the resulting improvement in our financial performance. The company has come a long way, but Titan will keep striving to improve and reach our ambitious goals for the year.”

Year-to-date highlights:

·	June 2008 year-to-date sales were an all-time record of $522.6 million, resulting in a 20 percent increase from $436.6 million for the six-month period in 2007.

·	June 2008 year-to-date gross profit was $74.3 million, increasing 36 percent from $54.5 million in 2007.

·	Income from operations was $40.5 million for the first half of 2008, a 47 percent increase, compared to $27.5 million year-to-date 2007.

·	Year-to-date net income was $21.4 million in 2008, rising approximately $19 million as compared to $2.5 million in 2007.

·	Fully diluted earnings per share were $.77 cents for the first half of 2008, a $.67 cent improvement compared to the $.10 cents recorded in the first half of 2007.

Financial overview:

Sales: Titan recorded sales of $269.1 million for the second quarter of 2008, which were 28 percent higher than the second quarter 2007 sales of $210.3 million. Net sales for the first half of 2008 were $522.6 million, up from the $436.6 million recorded in the first half of 2007, a 20 percent increase. The record sales levels for the second quarter and first half of 2008 was attributed to exceptionally strong demand in the company’s agricultural market, which reported higher sales of 50 percent for the second quarter of 2008 and 38 percent for the first half of 2008 as compared to the respective 2007 periods.

Gross profit: Gross profit for the second quarter of 2008 was $41.9 million, as compared to $27.3 million in the second quarter of 2007. Year-to-date gross profit was $74.3 million for 2008, as compared to $54.5 million for 2007.

Income from operations: Income from operations for the second quarter of 2008 was $24.4 million, as compared to $13.2 million in the second quarter of 2007. Year-to-date income from operations was $40.5 million in 2008, compared to $27.5 million in 2007.

Pre-tax income: Income before taxes for the second quarter of 2008 was $22.2 million, as compared to $10.5 million in 2007. Year-to-date income before taxes totaled $35.7 million in 2008, as compared to $5.5 million in 2007. The year-to-date total for 2007 included a $13.4 million noncash convertible debt conversion charge.

Income taxes: Income taxes of $8.9 million were recorded for the second quarter of 2008, compared to $5.5 million in 2007. Year-to-date, income tax expense was $14.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008, compared to $3.0 million in 2007.

Net income: Net income was $13.3 million for the second quarter of 2008, compared to $5.0 million in second quarter 2007. Year-to-date, net income was $21.4 million in 2008 and $2.5 million year-to-date in 2007.

Earnings per share: For the second quarter of 2008, basic and diluted earnings per share were $.48, as compared to $.18 in 2007. Year-to-date basic earnings per share were $.78 and diluted earnings per share were $.77, as compared to year-to-date basic and diluted earnings per share of $.10.

Cash balance: The company’s June 2008 cash balance was $69.4 million, compared to $58.3 million at December 31, 2007.

Capital expenditures: Titan’s capital expenditures for the first half of 2008 were $38.9 million, which included approximately $30 million of expenditures related to the Giant OTR Project.

Debt balance: Long-term debt was unchanged at $200 million at June 30, 2008, and year-end 2007. The company’s short-term debt remains at a zero balance.

Equity balance: The company’s stockholders’ equity increased to $305.7 million at June 30, 2008, from the $272.5 million at the 2007 year-end.

Cash flow: Titan was able to generate $11.1 million of cash in 2008 even with $38.9 million of capital expenditures, of which approximately $30 million related to the Giant OTR Project. The year-to-date cash flow was achieved with no change in the company’s debt balances.

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 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 29, 2008.

Giant OTR Project:

In May 2007, Titan’s Board of Directors approved funding for the company to increase giant OTR mining tire production capacity to include 57-inch and 63-inch giant radial tires (the “Giant OTR Project”). 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 on an annual basis. The company began start-up production of these giant mining tires in July 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 Condensed Statements of Operations (Unaudited)

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007

Amounts in thousands, except earnings per share data.	Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
	June 30,						June 30,
	2008			2007			2008			2007
Net sales	$	269,114		$	210,333		$	522,639		$	436,611
Cost of sales		227,168			183,022			448,349			382,109
Gross profit		41,946			27,311			74,290			54,502

Selling, general & administrative expenses		15,289			12,683			29,366			23,967
Royalty expense		2,268			1,452			4,415			3,016
Income from operations		24,389			13,176			40,509			27,519

Interest expense		(3,708	)		(4,430	)		(7,692	)		(10,179	)
Noncash convertible debt conversion charge		0			0			0			(13,376	)
Other income		1,497			1,731			2,917			1,546
Income before income taxes		22,178			10,477			35,734			5,510

Provision for income taxes		8,872			5,515			14,294			3,031

Net income	$	13,306		$	4,962		$	21,440		$	2,479

Earnings per common share:
Basic	$	.48		$	.18		$	.78		$	.10
Diluted		.48			.18			.77			.10

Average common shares outstanding:
Basic		27,486			27,213			27,449			24,031
Diluted		27,819			27,749			27,805			24,499

Segment Information

Revenues from external customers (Unaudited)

Amounts in thousands	Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
	June 30,				June 30,
	2008		2007		2008		2007
Agricultural	$	185,615	$	124,104	$	359,101	$	259,400
Earthmoving/Construction		76,471		72,342		150,304		147,460
Consumer		7,028		13,887		13,234		29,751
Total	$	269,114	$	210,333	$	522,639	$	436,611

Titan International, Inc.

Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

Amounts in thousands
	June 30,		December 31,
Assets	2008		2007
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	69,385	$	58,325
Accounts receivable		139,438		98,394
Inventories		118,083		128,048
Deferred income taxes		17,780		25,159
Prepaid and other current assets		21,469		17,839
Total current assets		366,155		327,765

Property, plant and equipment, net		221,951		196,078
Investment in Titan Europe Plc		40,782		34,535
Goodwill		11,702		11,702
Other assets		19,540		20,415
Total assets	$	660,130	$	590,495

Liabilities & Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	70,975	$	43,992
Other current liabilities		50,407		43,788
Total current liabilities		121,382		87,780

Long-term debt		200,000		200,000
Deferred income taxes		16,230		14,044
Other long-term liabilities		16,854		16,149
Stockholders’ equity		305,664		272,522
Total liabilities & stockholders’ equity	$	660,130	$	590,495

Titan 2008 second quarter conference call:

Titan International Inc. will hold its earnings conference call for the second quarter that ended June 30, 2008, at 9 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, July 30, 2008.

To participate in the conference call, dial (877) 722-5040 five minutes prior to the scheduled time.

A telephonic replay will be available until August 6, 2008. To register for the replay or for more information, visit www.titan-intl.com.

Contact: Courtney Leeser, Communications Coordinator

(217) 221-4489

Illinois	1-12936	36-3228472
(State of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

Date:	July 29, 2008	By:	/s/ Kent W. Hackamack
			Kent W. Hackamack
			Vice President of Finance and Treasurer
			(Principal Financial Officer)

Exhibit No.	Description
99	Press release dated July 29, 2008, reporting second quarter 2008 financial results for Titan International, Inc.

	TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
	(Registrant)