Titan International Inc. Announces Third Quarter Results

QUINCY, Ill.--Third quarter summary:

• Sales for third quarter 2009 were $141.5 million, compared to $255.5 million in the third quarter of 2008.
• Third quarter loss from operations was $(15.8) million, compared to income from operations of $21.3 million last year.
• Net loss for the third quarter was $(11.1) million, compared to net income of $10.3 million in the third quarter of 2008.
• Cash at September 30, 2009, was $45.4 million, an improvement of $24.7 million from the $20.7 million balance at June 30, 2009.
• Inventory at September 30, 2009, was $124.8 million, a reduction of $25.2 million from the $150.0 million balance at June 30, 2009.

Statement of Chief Executive Officer:

“I believe that the third quarter was the bottom of the downtrend in the construction and farm markets,” said Chairman and CEO Maurice M. Taylor Jr. “While the earthmoving and construction segment has been experiencing decline due to various factors in the construction, infrastructure and housing markets in 2009, the agricultural segment has more recently moved lower. I believe inventory reduction is over and business will start to slowly grow during the next four quarters, but anyone who knows this business knows it can turn on a dime.

“Trying economic times call for making tough business decisions. As many of Titan’s major customers implemented extended shutdowns during the period, we in turn extended scheduled shutdowns at our production facilities to manage lower demand and bring down inventory levels. Though it did result in lower manufacturing efficiencies that directly affected the bottom line, Titan was able to decrease inventories by $25 million. Titan also increased its cash balance during the quarter by $25 million.

“The only option any company really has in this environment is for all employees to work harder than our competitors and go after every opportunity for added business and increasing market share. We know 2010 will be a better year than 2009,” said Taylor.

Year-to-date summary:

• September 2009 year-to-date sales were $581.1 million, compared to $778.1 million in 2008.
• Income from operations was $11.2 million for the first nine months of 2009, compared to $61.8 million year-to-date 2008.
• Year-to-date net income was $1.8 million in 2009, compared to $31.7 million in 2008.
• Cash at September 30, 2009, was $45.4 million, an improvement of $9.8 million from the $35.6 million balance at September 30, 2008.
• Total debt at September 30, 2009, was $193.8 million, a reduction of $31.2 million or 14 percent, when compared to $225.0 million at December 31, 2008.

Financial overview:

Sales: Titan recorded sales of $141.5 million for the third quarter of 2009, as compared to third quarter 2008 sales of $255.5 million. Net sales for the first nine months of 2009 were $581.1 million, compared to $778.1 million recorded in the first nine months of 2008. The lower sales levels resulted from reduced demand for the company’s products, a consequence of the worldwide recession and economic crisis.

Gross profit: Gross loss for the third quarter of 2009 was $(3.0) million or (2.1) percent of net sales, compared to gross profit of $37.4 million or 14.6 percent of net sales for the third quarter of 2008. Year-to-date gross profit was $56.8 million or 9.8 percent of net sales for 2009, as compared to $111.7 million or 14.4 percent of net sales for 2008. Lower sales levels resulted from reduced demand for the company’s products, as many of Titan’s major customers implemented extended shutdowns during the period. In response, Titan extended scheduled shutdowns at its production facilities during the third quarter of 2009. These extended shutdowns, in conjunction with lower production levels when operating, drastically reduced the company’s manufacturing efficiencies. These lower efficiencies resulted in the gross profit reduction.

Selling, general and administrative expenses: SG&A expenses for the third quarter of 2009 were $11.3 million, compared to $13.8 million at this time in 2008, a reduction of approximately $2.5 million. Year-to-date, SG&A was $39.4 million in 2009, compared to $43.2 million in 2008, a reduction of approximately $3.8 million.

Income from operations: Loss from operations for the third quarter of 2009 was $(15.8) million, as compared to income from operations of $21.3 million in the third quarter of 2008. Year-to-date income from operations was $11.2 million in 2009, compared to $61.8 million in 2008.

Net income: Net loss was $(11.1) million for the third quarter of 2009, compared to net income of $10.3 million in third quarter 2008. Year-to-date, net income was $1.8 million in 2009 and $31.7 million in 2008.

Earnings per share: For the third quarter of 2009, basic and diluted loss per share was $(.32), as compared to basic and diluted earnings per share of $.30 in 2008. Year-to-date basic and diluted earnings per share were $.05 as compared to year-to-date basic earnings per share of $.92 and diluted earnings per share of $.91 in 2008.

Capital expenditures: Titan’s capital expenditures for the first nine months of 2009 were $36.5 million, compared to $60.1 million for the first nine months of 2008. Included in these capital expenditures were approximately $22 million in 2009 and $47 million in 2008 of expenditures related to the giant OTR (off-the-road) project.

Debt balance: Total debt was reduced to $193.8 million at September 30, 2009, from $225.0 million at year-end 2008. Short-term debt was zero at September 30, 2009, a reduction of $25.0 million from year-end 2008.

Equity balance: The company’s stockholders’ equity increased $7.6 million to $286.8 million at September 30, 2009, from $279.2 million at December 31, 2008.

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 October 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. , 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)
Amounts in thousands except earnings per share data.
		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2009			2008			2009			2008
Net sales		$141,496			$255,463			$581,083			$778,102
Cost of sales		144,526			218,040			524,304			666,389
Gross profit (loss)		(3,030	)		37,423			56,779			111,713
Selling, general & administrative expenses		11,272			13,789			39,425			43,155
Royalty expense		1,464			2,371			6,123			6,786
Income (loss) from operations		(15,766	)		21,263			11,231			61,772
Interest expense		(3,997	)		(3,734	)		(11,819	)		(11,426	)
Other income (expense)		644			(358	)		2,700			2,559
Income (loss) before income taxes		(19,119	)		17,171			2,112			52,905
Income tax provision (benefit)		(8,006	)		6,868			274			21,162
Net income (loss)		$(11,113	)		$10,303			$1,838			$31,743
Earnings (loss) per common share:
Basic		$(.32	)		$.30			$.05			$.92
Diluted		(.32	)		.30			.05			.91
Average common shares outstanding:
Basic		34,746			34,499			34,692			34,373
Diluted		34,746			34,883			35,251			34,798

Segment Information
Revenues from external customers (Unaudited)
Amounts in thousands
		Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
		September 30,				September 30,
		2009		2008		2009		2008
Agricultural		$105,426		$179,162		$453,098		$538,263
Earthmoving/Construction		30,732		71,287		113,085		221,591
Consumer		5,338		5,014		14,900		18,248
Total		$141,496		$255,463		$581,083		$778,102

Titan International, Inc.
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
Amounts in thousands
		September 30,		December 31,
Assets		2009		2008
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$45,360		$61,658
Accounts receivable		80,205		126,531
Inventories		124,833		147,306
Deferred income taxes		12,042		12,042
Prepaid and other current assets		23,898		21,662
Total current assets		286,338		369,199
Property, plant and equipment, net		260,360		248,442
Goodwill		11,702		11,702
Deferred income taxes		4,039		7,256
Other assets		26,155		18,183
Total assets		$588,594		$654,782
Liabilities & Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Short-term debt		$0		$25,000
Accounts payable		25,064		65,547
Other current liabilities		40,933		46,088
Total current liabilities		65,997		136,635
Long-term debt		193,800		200,000
Other long-term liabilities		42,001		38,959
Stockholders’ equity		286,796		279,188
Total liabilities & stockholders’ equity		$588,594		$654,782

Titan 2009 third quarter conference call:

Titan International Inc. will hold its earnings conference call for the third quarter that ended September 30, 2009, at 9 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, October 29, 2009.

To participate in the conference call, dial (800) 230-1766 five minutes prior to the scheduled time. International callers dial (612) 288-0337.

A replay of the call will be available shortly after the call and until November 5, 2009. To access the replay, dial (800) 475-6701 and enter access code 118351. International callers dial (320) 365-3844. For more information, visit www.titan-intl.com.