Christopher J. Eperjesy is joining Cooper Tire & Rubber Company as its chief financial officer and senior-vice president, effective 10 December. He will succeed Ginger Jones, whose intention to retire was announced earlier in the year.
In 2016, Cooper Tire & Rubber invested some US$93 million to acquire a 65 per cent shareholding in Qingdao Ge Rui Da Rubber Co., Ltd (GRT). The remaining 35 per cent share in the China-based truck and bus radial manufacturing operation was retained by Qingdao Yiyuan Investment Co., Ltd. (QYI), however QYI is now selling its stake in the business. Sailun Jinyu Group Co., Ltd. has signed a share transfer agreement with QYI to acquire its 35 per cent interest in GRT for RMB 220 million (£24.4 million, US$32.0 million), subject to government approval.
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company has announced two international leadership appointments. Luis Ceneviz takes on a position of greater responsibility within the company, while Alan Yang returns to Cooper to fill the position made vacant by the impending retirement of Allen Tsaur.
The results reported by Cooper Tire & Rubber for the second quarter of 2018 were, says the company’s president and chief executive officer, “in line with our stated expectations.” It therefore came as no great surprise that net sales, operating income and net income were all lower year-on-year in the three months to 30 June 2018.
At its Investor Day in New York last Friday, Cooper Tire & Rubber Company outlined strategies for continued shareholder value creation. Management detailed plans to support five-year mid-term targets for operating profit of ten per cent to 14 per cent as well as annual unit volume growth in the low- to mid-single digits and return on invested capital of 14 per cent to 16 per cent.
Cooper Tire & Rubber reports achieving net sales of US$601 million in the first quarter of 2018, a 6.5 per cent decrease on a year earlier. The tyre maker states that net sales were negatively impacted by $39 million of lower unit volume and $20 million of unfavourable price and mix, partially offset by $17 million of favourable foreign currency impact.
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company has reported full year 2017 net income of US$95 million, or diluted earnings per share of $1.81, a 61.7 reduction on the $248 million earned the year before. Income was affected by tax reform in the USA; the tyre maker states that excluding these discrete tax items, earnings per share would have amounted to $3.10.
Cooper Tire 4×4 ambassador Xavi Foj is preparing to enter his 28th consecutive Dakar Rally – the tenth he has competed on Cooper tyres. For the 2018 rally, Foj’s Toyota Land Cruiser 150 will be shod with the all-new Cooper Discoverer S/TMAXX POR – a tyre he assisted in developing for extreme off-road adventures.
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