EX-99 2 ex99.htm PRESS RELEASE DATED APRIL 29, 2009 ex99.htm

Exhibit 99
 


Titan Announces All-time Record First Quarter Agricultural Sales
 
Quincy, IL. - Titan International, Inc. (NYSE: TWI)
April 29, 2009
 
First quarter summary:

·  
Sales for first quarter 2009 were $232.6 million, compared to $253.5 million in the first quarter of 2008. However, agricultural sales were an all-time first quarter record of $187.3 million, an increase of over $13 million for the first quarter of 2009, compared to $173.5 million in the first quarter of last year.
 
·  
Gross profit for first quarter 2009 was $30.1 million, compared to $32.3 million in 2008. However, when gross profit is expressed as a percentage of sales, there was a slight improvement to 12.9 percent in the first quarter of 2009, compared to 12.8 percent in the first quarter of last year.
 
·  
First quarter income from operations was $14.1 million, compared to $16.1 million last year.
 
·  
Net income for the first quarter was $7.0 million, compared to $8.1 million in the first quarter of last year.
 
Statement of Chief Executive Officer:
“Large farm tires and wheels were selling well in the first quarter of 2009, along with Titan’s new super giant mining tires,” said Titan Chairman and CEO Maurice M. Taylor Jr. “It is difficult to predict what will happen moving forward. The price of corn is holding and soybeans are up, so the agricultural market looks good, but are the farmers going to keep buying with all the uncertainty in the economy? I don’t know. The orders for second quarter are good, but lead times are much shorter today than six months ago. All of Titan’s material costs are dropping except nylon,” said Taylor.

“There is no shortage of giant mining tires today and pricing has dropped by at least 25 percent because of the drop in material costs. Natural rubber is projected to drop from approximately eighty cents today to fifty cents by the end of the year. In September 2008 it was one dollar and fifty-two cents.

“The great news in all of this is that it’s time everyone really gets down to working hard and smart. Since Titan has been running at an SG&A level of five to seven percent, we are set to grow our market share. Titan will be making improvements in every product we make, and I will be visiting every customer I am able to this year. Titan can use this environment in order to grow our market share, but if this economy turns up, then ‘Katie bar the door,’ for the good times will be back,” said Taylor.

 
 
 

 

Financial overview:
Sales:  Titan recorded sales of $232.6 million for the first quarter of 2009, compared to first quarter 2008 sales of $253.5 million. The lower sales level was primarily the result of reduced demand in the company’s earthmoving/construction market, a major consequence of the worldwide recession.

Gross profit:  For the first quarter of 2009, gross profit was $30.1 million or 12.9 percent of net sales, compared to $32.3 million or 12.8 percent of net sales for the first quarter of 2008. Despite the decrease in sales, the company was able to record a slightly higher gross profit margin percentage.

Selling, general and administrative expenses: SG&A expenses for the first quarter of 2009 were $13.5 million, compared to $14.1 million in 2008, a reduction of approximately $0.6 million of expenses. SG&A expenses for the first quarter of 2009, when expressed as a percentage of net sales, were 5.8 percent.

Income from operations:  For the first quarter of 2009, income from operations was $14.1 million, compared to $16.1 million in 2008, primarily as a result of the lower sales level.

Other income:  Other income was $1.4 million for the first quarters of both 2009 and 2008. A gain on senior note repurchases of $1.4 million was included in other income for the first quarter of 2009.

Net income:  Net income for the first quarter ended March 31, 2009, was $7.0 million, compared to $8.1 million in 2008.

Earnings per share:  For the first quarter of 2009, basic earnings per share were $.20, compared to $.24 in 2008. Diluted earnings per share were $.20, as compared to $.23 in first quarter 2008.

Capital expenditures: Titan’s capital expenditures for the first quarter of 2009 were $19.9 million, compared to $20.9 million in the first quarter of 2008. Included in these capital expenditures were approximately $12 million in 2009 and $16 million in 2008 of expenditures related to the giant OTR tire project.

Debt balance:  Total debt decreased to $218.8 million at March 31, 2009, from $225.0 million at December 31, 2008. Short-term debt was zero at March 31, 2009, down from $25.0 million at December 31, 2008.

Equity balance:  The company’s stockholders’ equity rose $6.9 million in the first quarter of 2009. Titan’s equity balance was $286.1 million at March 31, 2009, compared to $279.2 million at the 2008 year-end.

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 April 29, 2009.

 
 
 

 

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, 2008. 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 months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008

Amounts in thousands, except earnings per share data.
 
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
Net sales
  $ 232,604     $ 253,525  
Cost of sales
    202,541       221,181  
Gross profit
    30,063       32,344  
                 
Selling, general & administrative expenses
    13,527       14,077  
Royalty expense
    2,459       2,147  
Income from operations
    14,077       16,120  
                 
Interest expense
    (3,944 )     (3,984 )
Other income
    1,409       1,420  
Income before income taxes
    11,542       13,556  
                 
Provision for income taxes
    4,501       5,422  
                 
Net income
  $ 7,041     $ 8,134  
                 
Earnings per common share:
               
Basic
  $ .20     $ .24  
Diluted
    .20       .23  
                 
Average common shares outstanding:
               
Basic
    34,624       34,264  
Diluted
    35,177       34,738  


Segment Information
 Revenues from external customers (Unaudited)
Amounts in thousands
 
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
Agricultural
  $ 187,328     $ 173,486  
Earthmoving/Construction
    39,927       73,833  
Consumer
    5,349       6,206  
Total
  $ 232,604     $ 253,525  
 
 
 
 

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

Amounts in thousands
           
   
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
Assets
 
2009
   
2008
 
Current assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 20,230     $ 61,658  
Accounts receivable
    125,802       126,531  
Inventories
    167,631       147,306  
Deferred income taxes
    12,042       12,042  
Prepaid and other current assets
    19,860       21,662  
Total current assets
    345,565       369,199  
                 
Property, plant and equipment, net
    261,077       248,442  
Goodwill
    11,702       11,702  
Deferred income taxes
    7,744       7,256  
Other assets
    18,285       18,183  
Total assets
  $ 644,373     $ 654,782  
                 
Liabilities & Stockholders’ Equity
               
Current liabilities:
               
Short-term debt
  $ 0     $ 25,000  
Accounts payable
    53,961       65,547  
Other current liabilities
    45,779       46,088  
Total current liabilities
    99,740       136,635  
                 
Long-term debt
    218,800       200,000  
Other long-term liabilities
    39,779       38,959  
Stockholders’ equity
    286,054       279,188  
Total liabilities & stockholders’ equity
  $ 644,373     $ 654,782  

First Quarter Conference Call:

The Titan International Inc. earnings conference call for the first quarter that ended March 31, 2009, will be held at 9 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, April 29, 2009.

To participate in the conference call, dial (800) 230-1085 five minutes prior to the scheduled time. International callers dial (612) 234-9960.  

A replay of the call will be available shortly after the call and until May 6, 2009. To access the replay, dial (800) 475-6701 and enter access code 995073. International callers dial (320) 365-3844.  
 
Contact: Courtney Leeser, Communications Coordinator
(217) 221-4489