The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Reports Continued Strong Sales


PHOTO (select to view enlarged photo)

FINDLAY, Ohio, August 5, 2010:  Net Sales of $804 million, an increase of 27 percent
  --  Operating profit of $34 million
  --  Net income (attributable to Cooper Tire) of $44 million
  --  Cash and cash equivalents of $379 million

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company today reported net income of $44 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, a $57 million improvement from the same period in 2009. Net sales were $804 million, an increase of $172 million, or 27 percent, from the prior year. Operating profit was $34 million for the quarter, a $7 million decrease compared with $41 million in 2009. The Company reported net income of 70 cents per share during the quarter on a diluted basis.

Results during the quarter included restructuring charges of $7 million, primarily related to the closure of the Albany, Ga., facility, a decrease of $1 million from the second quarter of 2009. During the quarter the Company recorded a $25 million benefit, net of income taxes, from discontinued operations. This benefit related to the final disposition of matters for Cooper Standard Automotive. This compares to a $37 million charge to discontinued operations during the second quarter of 2009. Excluding discontinued operations, restructuring charges, and adjusting for the non-recurrence of a $10 million pension curtailment benefit in 2009, net income attributable to the Company was approximately $3 million better than the prior year.

When compared to the prior year improved volumes and increased utilization of manufacturing capacity contributed favorably to earnings. The relationship of net price and mix to raw materials, and the non-recurrence of a benefit recorded during the prior year second quarter for the curtailment of pension-related costs were unfavorable.

Through the first six months of 2010, Cooper generated $1.6 billion in net sales, compared with $1.2 billion during the same period in the prior year. Net income attributable to Cooper Tire & Rubber Company was $56 million during the same period, compared to a net loss of $34 million in 2009.

The Company ended the quarter with $379 million of cash and cash equivalents, an increase of $77 million from the prior year balance of $302 million.

On July 27, 2010, the Company filed an 8-K regarding the necessity to file amended financial statements to correct the accounting treatment of Noncontrolling shareholder interest. These changes did not impact operating profit, cash flows or cumulative earnings per share for the Company. More information on this matter can be found in the filing with the SEC.

North American Tire Operations
North American Tire Operations sales were $575 million during the second quarter, up from 2009 net sales of $427 million. Total light vehicle tire shipments for Cooper's North America segment in the United States increased by 25 percent, outpacing the total industry shipment increase of 7 percent reported by the Rubber Manufacturers Association. This improvement occurred across nearly all product segments as the Company was able to increase market share. Sales also increased as the impact of price and mix was favorable on the top line.

Operating profit was $20 million for the second quarter, a decrease of $8 million when compared with the same period in 2009. Favorable pricing and mix of $43 million was more than offset by $83 million of increased raw material costs. Higher volumes improved results by $19 million. Manufacturing operations improved by a net $10 million, driven by increased capacity utilization. Restructuring charges decreased by $2 million.

For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the segment had operating profit of $33 million, a $9 million improvement compared with the first six months of 2009.

International Tire Operations
The Company's International Tire Operations reported $312 million in net sales, an increase of $55 million, or 21 percent, compared with the prior year same quarter. This result reflected both increased volumes and positive price and mix. Asian operations increased sales volumes by 24 percent, while European operations reported flat shipments compared to the prior year.

The segment's operating profit increased to $21 million for the second quarter, an improvement of $2 million from the prior year. Favorable price and mix of $36 million were more than offset by higher raw material costs of $48 million. Increased volumes of $8 million, better production utilization and manufacturing costs of $3 million and other costs including currency impacts were favorable by $3 million.

For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the segment had operating profit of $43 million, a $27 million improvement over the first six months of 2009.

Management Commentary and Outlook
Roy Armes, Chief Executive Officer, commented, "While we were pleased with the improved volumes and capacity utilization during the second quarter of 2010, we are still committed to making improvements to the operations. We believe the second quarter included the greatest pressure during the year on margins from the relationship between prices and elevated raw material costs. Our price increase of up to 7.5 percent was effective June 1, 2010, and will take full effect in the third quarter. We expect that raw material costs will continue to be elevated, but stable, during the remainder of the year. We are pleased with the direction and benefits of the actions we have taken to position ourselves for growth. The recovery in demand for the global tire industry began in the second half of 2009 and will present more challenging comparables for growth during the second half of 2010. Demand for our products should continue to be strong. Our focus remains on profitable top line growth, improving our global cost structure and developing organizational capabilities while prudently managing our resources. We are confident about our abilities and have a proven history of successful execution. These factors and industry conditions leave us cautiously optimistic toward future results."

Cooper's management team will discuss the financial and operating results for the quarter in a conference call today at 11 a.m. Eastern time. Interested parties may access the audio portion of that conference call on the investor relations page of the Company's Web site at www.coopertire.com.

About Cooper Tire & Rubber Company
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is a global company that specializes in the design, manufacture, marketing and sales of passenger car and light truck tires and has subsidiaries that specialize in medium truck, motorcycle and racing tires. With headquarters in Findlay, Ohio, Cooper Tire has manufacturing, sales, distribution, technical and design facilities within its family of companies located in 10 countries around the world. For more information on Cooper Tire, visit www.coopertire.com, www.facebook.com/coopertire, or twitter.com/coopertire.

  (Statements of income and balance sheets follow...)

                            Cooper Tire & Rubber Company
                         Consolidated Statements of Income

  (Dollar amounts in thousands except per share amounts)

                                          Quarter Ended
                                            June 30
                                       2009            2010
                                       ----            ----

  Net sales                        $631,729        $803,959
  Cost of products sold             531,269         708,577
                                    -------         -------
  Gross profit                      100,460          95,382

  Selling, general and
   administrative                    50,278          54,274
  Restructuring charges               8,709           7,426
  Settlement of retiree
   medical case                           -               -
                                        ---             ---
  Operating profit                   41,473          33,682

  Interest expense                   12,097           9,149
  Interest income                    (1,105)           (771)
  Other income                       (1,249)           (988)
                                     ------            ----
  Income from continuing             31,730          26,292
   operations, before
    income taxes

  Income tax expense
   (benefits)                           967           1,247
                                        ---           -----

  Income from continuing
   operations                        30,763          25,045

  Income (loss) from
   discontinued                     (37,085)         25,126
   operations, net of
    income taxes                    -------          ------

  Net income (loss)                  (6,322)         50,171

  Net income
   attributable to                    6,638           6,094
   noncontrolling
    shareholders'                     -----           -----
   interests

  Net income (loss)
   attributable to                 $(12,960)        $44,077
   Cooper Tire & Rubber
    Company                        ========         =======

  Basic earnings (loss)
   per share:
    Income from continuing
     operations available
      to
      Cooper Tire & Rubber
       Company                        $0.52    1      $0.31
       common stockholders
    Income (loss) from
     discontinued                     (0.63)           0.41
     operations                       -----            ----
       Net income (loss)
        available to
         Cooper Tire & Rubber
          Company common
          stockholders               $(0.11)   1      $0.72

  Diluted earnings
   (loss) per share:
    Income (loss) from
     continuing                       $0.51    1      $0.30
     operations
      attributable to
      Cooper
     Tire & Rubber Company
    Income (loss) from
     discontinued                     (0.62)           0.40
     operations                       -----            ----
       Net income (loss)
        available to
         Cooper Tire & Rubber        $(0.11)   1      $0.70
           Company common
           stockholders

  Weighted average
   shares
   outstanding
      Basic                          58,958          61,292
      Diluted                        59,803          62,609
  Depreciation                      $30,795         $29,132
  Amortization                         $547            $496
  Capital expenditures              $25,389         $29,584

  Segment information
    Net sales
      North American Tire          $427,333        $574,968
      International Tire            257,182         312,156
      Eliminations                  (52,786)        (83,165)

    Segment profit (loss)
      North American Tire            27,951          19,680
      International Tire             19,204          20,528
      Eliminations                     (786)             42
      Unallocated corporate
       charges                       (4,896)         (6,568)

                                         Six Months Ended
                                              June 30
                                        2009               2010
                                        ----               ----

  Net sales                       $1,203,137         $1,558,402
  Cost of products sold            1,052,408          1,377,848
                                   ---------          ---------
  Gross profit                       150,729            180,554

  Selling, general and
   administrative                     95,384             98,879
  Restructuring charges               23,061             15,038
  Settlement of retiree
   medical case                        7,050                  -
                                       -----                ---
  Operating profit                    25,234             66,637

  Interest expense                    24,752             17,879
  Interest income                     (2,480)            (1,984)
  Other income                        (2,072)            (1,225)
                                      ------             ------
  Income from continuing               5,034             51,967
   operations, before
    income taxes

  Income tax expense
   (benefits)                         (2,806)             8,990
                                      ------              -----

  Income from continuing
   operations                          7,840             42,977

  Income (loss) from
   discontinued                      (37,449)            24,366
   operations, net of
    income taxes                     -------             ------

  Net income (loss)                  (29,609)            67,343

  Net income
   attributable to                     4,618             11,690
   noncontrolling
    shareholders'                      -----             ------
   interests

  Net income (loss)
   attributable to                  $(34,227)           $55,653
   Cooper Tire & Rubber
    Company                         ========            =======

  Basic earnings (loss)
   per share:
    Income from continuing
     operations available
      to
      Cooper Tire & Rubber
       Company                         $0.15      1       $0.51
       common stockholders
    Income (loss) from
     discontinued                      (0.64)              0.40
     operations                        -----               ----
       Net income (loss)
        available to
         Cooper Tire & Rubber
          Company common
          stockholders                $(0.49)     1       $0.91

  Diluted earnings
   (loss) per share:
    Income (loss) from
     continuing                        $0.14      1       $0.50
     operations
      attributable to
      Cooper
     Tire & Rubber Company
    Income (loss) from
     discontinued                      (0.63)              0.39
     operations                        -----               ----
       Net income (loss)
        available to
         Cooper Tire & Rubber         $(0.48)   1,2       $0.89
           Company common
           stockholders

  Weighted average
   shares
   outstanding
      Basic                           58,950             61,104
      Diluted                         59,610             62,453
  Depreciation                       $61,346            $58,991
  Amortization                        $1,113               $997
  Capital expenditures               $42,306            $45,048

  Segment information
    Net sales
      North American Tire           $866,650         $1,106,685
      International Tire             423,394            605,713
      Eliminations                   (86,907)          (153,996)

    Segment profit (loss)
      North American Tire             24,331             33,282
      International Tire              16,383             43,078
      Eliminations                    (1,059)              (467)
      Unallocated corporate
       charges                       (14,421)            (9,256)

                      ******************************
                        CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                                                 June 30
                                                 -------
                                            2009               2010
                                            ----               ----

  Assets
  ------
  Current assets:
    Cash and cash equivalents           $302,459           $379,082
    Accounts receivable                  367,337            459,177
    Inventories                          377,080            387,350
    Other current assets                  65,008             51,761
                                          ------             ------
        Total current assets           1,111,884          1,277,370

  Net property, plant and equipment      886,549            835,682
  Restricted cash                          2,310              2,261
  Intangibles and other assets            85,206            111,189
                                          ------            -------
                                      $2,085,949         $2,226,502
                                      ==========         ==========

  Liabilities and Equity
  ----------------------
  Current liabilities:
    Notes payable                       $161,083           $155,891
    Trade payables and accrued
     liabilities                         449,535            527,898
    Income taxes                           2,342              4,725
    Liabilities of discontinued
     operations                           35,568                  -
    Current portion of long-term debt    118,841              5,019
                                         -------              -----
        Total current liabilities        767,369            693,533

  Long-term debt                         325,469            326,853
  Postretirement benefits other than
   pensions                              246,170            238,533
  Pension benefits                       263,940            259,469
  Other long-term liabilities            123,583            177,913
  Long-term liabilities of
   discontinued operations                 9,905                  -
  Redeemable noncontrolling
   shareholders' interest                 62,720   1         60,344
  Equity                                 286,793   1        469,857
                                         -------            -------
                                      $2,085,949         $2,226,502
                                      ==========         ==========

  1  Amounts have been restated
  2  Amounts do not add due to rounding.
  These interim statements are subject to year-end adjustments.