In February, Titan International disclosed it was “evaluating its strategic alternatives” regarding its Italtractor ITM S.p.A. (ITM) steel track and undercarriage business. It engaged Shore Capital as its financial advisor in carrying out this evaluation. Paul Reitz, the company’s president and chief executive officer, reports that Titan is making “positive progress” with respect to one potential alternative, a public listing within Europe.
After placing its Italtractor ITM S.p.A. (ITM) steel track and undercarriage business on the market some two and a half years ago and receiving seven formal bids from potential buyers, Titan International, Inc. then withdrew ITM from sale in response to the operation’s improving revenue and EBITDA. Now it seems the possibility of divesting ITM is once again under consideration.
On 22 February, Titan International Inc. closed the previously-announced transaction with an affiliate of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), one of the three shareholders of Voltyre-Prom. Under the terms of a definitive agreement entered into on 11 February, Titan paid RDIF US$25 million in cash and agreed, subject to the completion of regulatory approval, to issue RDIF 4,032,259 shares of restricted Titan common stock in a private placement. The agreement stipulates that RDIF must hold these shares for a period of three years from the date of the agreement.
Titan International, Inc. has received an additional settlement put option notice From OEP 11 COÖPERATIEF U.A. (OEP), an affiliate of One Equity Partners, one of the three shareholders of Voltyre-Prom, of its exercise, effective 8 January 2019, of the settlement put option with respect to its holdings in Voltyre-Prom, pursuant to the Voltyre-Prom Shareholders’ Agreement.
The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) has informed Titan International of its wish to relinquish its shareholding in agricultural and industrial tyre manufacturer Voltyre-Prom. The Kremlin-backed sovereign wealth fund, which acquired the tyre maker together with Titan and private equity firm One Equity Partner in 2013, shared its intention via its exercise on 14 November of the settlement put option included within the Voltyre-Prom Shareholders’ Agreement.
Titan International, Inc. has reported net sales of US$428.9 million for the second quarter of 2018, a 17.7 per cent improvement on last year’s result. Net income applicable to common shareholders for the quarter was $1.0 million, as compared to a loss of $10.3 million in the second quarter of 2017.
At midnight on 21 September 2017, a fire broke out at the Titan Tire Reclamation Corporation (TTRC) facility in Fort McMurray, Alberta. Titan International, Inc. reports that no staff members or others were injured.
Titan International has announced the conversion of 97.1 per cent of the principal balance of its 5.625 per cent convertible senior subordinated notes (Notes), which matured on 15 January 2017. Prior to maturity, US$60,161,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Notes was outstanding, of which, holders of $58,460,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Notes, or 97.1 per cent, converted their notes into shares of Titan common stock pursuant to the terms of the indenture governing the Notes.
Titan International’s final injury hearing before the US International Trade Commission (ITC) took place on 4 January, and today the company will file a post hearing brief. The off-road tyre specialist says it “remains optimistic” that the ITC will issue a final affirmative determination in these cases.
Titan published third quarter 2016 financial shows sales for the third quarter of 2016 were $306.2 million, down 0.9 per cent, compared to $308.8 million in the third quarter of 2015. Gross profit for the third quarter of 2016 was $33.0 million, or 10.8 per cent of net sales, compared to $26.2 million, or 8.5 per cent of net sales, for the third quarter of 2015.
Titan has launched the Goodyear Optitrac LSW1400/30R46 agricultural tyre as part of the Goodyear range of “extreme floatation” tyres. Intended as an alternative to tracks or conventional dual configurations on large four-wheel drive tractors, the tyre offers “the best combination of floatation, traction and ride quality,” according to Titan.
The United Steelworkers (USW) union has expressed its disappointment in the US Department of Commerce’s preliminary determination regarding the introduction of anti-dumping duties for OTR tyres imported from India. USW international president Leo W. Gerard notes that the Department of Commerce announced a negative preliminary determination for anti-dumping duties in response to the petition filed by the USW and Titan International earlier this year.
The decline in the market for high horsepower tractors and combines in North America continues, and this ongoing trend has left a sizable dent in Titan International’s second quarter revenues. Sales for the three months to 30 June 2016 amounted to US$330.2 million, 12.2 per cent below sales for the previous year’s corresponding quarter and 44.3 per cent less than sales in the second quarter of 2013, prior to the start of the downturn. Gross profit for the quarter amounted to $45.1 million, 13.7 per cent of net sales, an 11.7 per cent year-on-year reduction and 48.0 per cent below the second quarter 2013 gross profit. The net loss applicable to common shareholders was -$3.8 million, compared with a net income of $9.4 million a year ago and net income of $23.2 million in the corresponding quarter of 2013.
The small village of Cookely, near Kidderminster, in the rolling Worcestershire countryside isn’t necessarily where you would expect to find a leading manufacturer, but this is exactly where leading OTR wheel supplier to the yellow goods market, Titan Steel Wheels, is based. The subsidiary of Titan International distributes its niche products mainly into Europe, meeting the specifications of end-users in the construction, industrial, mining and agricultural sectors with a wide variety of part numbers, largely comprising three- and five-piece wheels. Tyres & Accessories visited the facility, where Titan Europe managing director, wheels division, Chris Akers talked us through the history of the site, Titan’s current activities and future plans.
The message to shareholders from Titan International chief executive and chairman Maurice Taylor is not one gladly heard: A 20.0 per cent year-on-year fall in sales during the first quarter of this year has been matched by an 11 per cent decline in sales volumes, a decrease in gross sales and an adjusted net loss of US$9.2 million.
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