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TITAN INTERNATIONAL INC - Annual Report: 2009 (Form 10-K)

form10k.htm
 




UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549

TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC. LOGO


 
FORM 10-K
 


þ
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009
or

o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 
Commission file number 1-12936

TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Illinois
 
36-3228472
(State or other jurisdiction of
   incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
    Identification No.)

2701 Spruce Street, Quincy, IL 62301
(Address of principal executive offices)

(217) 228-6011
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common stock, no par value
 New York Stock Exchange (Symbol:  TWI)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:   None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined by Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes o  No þ

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  Yes o  No þ

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes þ  No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes o  No o

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. þ

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer o
Accelerated filer þ
Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).  Yes o  No þ

The aggregate market value of the shares of common stock of the registrant held by non-affiliates was approximately $240 million based upon the closing price of the common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on June 30, 2009.

As of February 15, 2010, a total of 35,275,510 shares of common stock of the registrant were outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held on May 13, 2010, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.

 
 

 

TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Index to Annual Report on Form 10-K

     
Part I.
 
Page
     
Item 1.
Business
3-10
     
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
11-14
     
Item 1B.
Unresolved Staff Comments
15
     
Item 2.
Properties
15
     
Item 3.
Legal Proceedings
15
     
Item 4.
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
15
     
Part II.
   
     
Item 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
16
     
Item 6.
Selected Financial Data
17
     
Item 7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
18-39
     
Item 7A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
40
     
Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
40
     
Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
40
     
Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures
40
     
Item 9B.
Other Information
40
     
Part III.
   
     
Item 10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
41
     
Item 11.
Executive Compensation
41
     
Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
42
     
Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
42
     
Item 14.
Principal Accounting Fees and Services
42
     
Part IV.
   
     
Item 15.
Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules
43
     
 
Signatures
44
     
 
Exhibit Index
45

 
2

 

PART I
ITEM 1 – BUSINESS

INTRODUCTION
Titan International, Inc. and its subsidiaries (Titan or the Company) hold the unique position of manufacturing both wheels and tires for its target markets.  As a leading manufacturer in the off-highway industry, Titan produces a broad range of specialty products to meet the specifications of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and aftermarket customers in the agricultural, earthmoving/construction and consumer markets.  Titan’s earthmoving/ construction market includes wheels and tires supplied to the mining industry, while the consumer market includes products for all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and recreational/utility trailers.

As one of the few companies dedicated to off-highway wheel and tire products, Titan’s engineering and manufacturing resources are focused on designing quality products that address the real-life concerns of our end-users.  Titan’s team of experienced engineers continually works on new and improved engineered products that evolve with today’s applications for the off-highway wheel and tire markets.

·  
History
Titan traces its roots to the Electric Wheel Company in Quincy, Illinois, which was founded in 1890.  The Company was incorporated in 1983.  The Company has grown through two major asset acquisitions in recent years.  In 2005, Titan Tire Corporation, a subsidiary of the Company, acquired The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company’s North American farm tire assets.  In 2006, Titan Tire Corporation of Bryan, a subsidiary of the Company, acquired the off-the-road (OTR) tire assets of Continental Tire North America, Inc.  These asset acquisitions have allowed Titan to achieve higher sales levels and enhance product offering in the Company’s target markets.

·  
Market Sales
In 2009, Titan’s agricultural market sales represented 77% of net sales, the earthmoving/construction market represented 20% and the consumer market represented 3% of net sales.  For information concerning the revenues, certain expenses, income from operations and assets attributable to each of the segments in which the Company operates, see Note 26 to the consolidated financial statements of Titan, included in Item 8 herein.
 
COMPETITIVE STRENGTHS
Titan’s strong market position in the off-highway wheel and tire market and its long-term core customer relationships contribute to the Company’s competitive strengths.  These strengths, along with Titan’s dedication to the off-highway wheel and tire market, continue to drive the Company forward.

·  
Strong Market Position
Titan’s ability to offer a broad range of specialized wheels, tires and assemblies has resulted in the Company’s strong position in the domestic off-highway market.  Through a diverse dealer network, the Company is able to reach an increasing number of customers in the aftermarket and build Titan’s image and brand recognition.  The Company’s acquisition of the Goodyear Farm Tire brand in North America contributes to overall visibility and customer confidence.  Years of product design and engineering experience have enabled Titan to improve existing products and develop new ones that have been well received in the marketplace.  In addition, Titan believes it has benefited from significant barriers to entry, such as the substantial investment necessary to replicate the Company’s manufacturing equipment and numerous tools, dies and molds, many of which are used in custom processes.

·  
Long-Term Core Customer Relationships
The Company’s top customers, including global leaders in agricultural and construction equipment manufacturing, have been purchasing products from Titan or its predecessors for numerous years.  Customers including AGCO Corporation, Caterpillar Inc., CNH Global N.V., Deere & Company and Kubota Corporation have helped sustain Titan’s leadership in wheel, tire and assembly innovation.

 
3

 

BUSINESS STRATEGY
Titan’s business strategy is to continue its growth into the giant OTR market, increase its presence in the tire aftermarket, continue to improve operating efficiencies, maintain emphasis on new product development and explore possible additional strategic acquisitions.

·  
Giant Mining Tire Product
In May 2007, Titan’s Board of Directors approved funding for the Company to increase OTR mining tire production capacity to include giant mining tires.  These giant tires offer an opportunity for a new product offering in the earthmoving marketplace.  The “Big Daddy” giant tire is approximately 13 feet tall and weighs in at approximately 12,500 pounds.  The Company began start-up production of these giant mining tires in the third quarter of 2008.

·  
Increase Aftermarket Tire Business
The Company has concentrated on increasing its presence in the tire aftermarket, which historically has tended to be somewhat less cyclical than the OEM market.  The aftermarket also offers the potential for higher profit margins and is larger in most cases.

·  
Improve Operating Efficiencies
The Company continually works to improve the operating efficiency of its assets and manufacturing facilities.  Titan integrates each facility’s strength, which may include transferring equipment and business to the facilities that are best equipped to handle the work.  This provides capacity to increase utilization and spread operating costs over a greater volume of products.  Titan is also continuing a comprehensive program to refurbish, modernize and enhance the computer technology of its manufacturing equipment.  The Company has centralized and streamlined inventory controls.  These efforts have led to improved management of order backlogs and have substantially improved Titan’s ability to respond to customer orders on a timely basis.

·  
Enhance Design Capacity and New Product Development
Equipment manufacturers constantly face changing industry dynamics.  Titan directs its business and marketing strategy to understand and address the needs of its customers and demonstrate the advantages of its products.  In particular, the Company often collaborates with customers in the design of new and enhanced products.  Titan will occasionally recommend modified products to its customers based on its own market information.  These value-added services enhance Titan’s relationships with its customers.  The Company tests new designs and technologies and develops methods of manufacturing to improve product quality and performance.  Titan’s engineers recently introduced designs for giant mining wheels and tires, which went into start-up production in third quarter 2008.  These giant tires employ an innovative steel radial construction technology, new to the OTR tire industry, to enhance performance and durability.  Titan’s engineers are also working on a new 15-degree tire and wheel design for OTR and farm radial assemblies to improve tire and wheel life.

·  
Explore Additional Strategic Acquisitions
The Company’s expertise in the manufacture of off-highway wheels and tires has permitted it to take advantage of opportunities to acquire businesses in the United States that complement this product line, including companies engaged in the tire market and companies that have wheel and tire assembly capabilities.  In the future, Titan may make additional strategic acquisitions of businesses that have an off-highway focus.
 
In September 2009, Titan signed a letter of intent with The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company to purchase certain farm tire assets, including the Goodyear Dunlop Tires France (GDTF) Amiens North factory.  This agreement is non-binding and will be subject to GDTF’s satisfactory completion of a social plan related to consumer tire activity at the Amiens North facility, along with completion of due diligence, a definitive acquisition agreement and other standard acquisition approval requirements.  At this time, the due diligence process continues.  There is no assurance that definitive agreements will be executed or that the acquisition will be consummated.

 
4

 
 
AGRICULTURAL MARKET
Titan’s agricultural rims, wheels and tires are manufactured for use on various agricultural and forestry equipment, including tractors, combines, skidders, plows, planters and irrigation equipment, and are sold directly to OEMs and to the aftermarket through independent distributors, equipment dealers and Titan’s own distribution centers.  The wheels and rims range in diameter from 9 to 54 inches, with the 54-inch diameter being the largest agricultural wheel manufactured in North America.  Basic configurations are combined with distinct variations (such as different centers and a wide range of material thickness) allowing the Company to offer a broad line of products to meet customer specifications.  Titan’s agricultural tires range from approximately 1 foot to approximately 7 foot in outside diameter and from 5 to 44 inches in width.  The Company offers the added value of delivering a complete wheel and tire assembly to customers.

EARTHMOVING/CONSTRUCTION MARKET
The Company manufactures rims, wheels and tires for various types of OTR earthmoving, mining, military and construction equipment, including skid steers, aerial lifts, cranes, graders and levelers, scrapers, self-propelled shovel loaders, articulated dump trucks, load transporters, haul trucks and backhoe loaders.  The earthmoving/ construction market is often referred to as OTR, an acronym for off-the-road.  The Company provides OEM and aftermarket customers with a broad range of earthmoving/construction wheels ranging in diameter from 20 to 63 inches and in weight from 125 pounds to 7,000 pounds.  The 63-inch diameter wheel is the largest manufactured in North America for the earthmoving/construction market. Titan’s earthmoving/construction tires range from approximately 3 feet to approximately 13 feet in outside diameter and in weight from 50 pounds to 12,500 pounds.  The Company offers the added value of wheel and tire assembly for certain applications in the earthmoving/construction market.

CONSUMER MARKET
Titan builds select products for ATVs, turf, golf car and trailer applications.  Consumer wheels and rims range from 8 to 16 inches in diameter.  Likewise, Titan produces a variety of tires for the consumer market.  ATV tires using the new stripwinding manufacturing process have been introduced to the marketplace, which improves tread durability.  Titan’s sales in the consumer market include sales to Goodyear, which include an off-take/mixing agreement.  This agreement includes mixed stock, which is a prepared rubber compound used in tire production.  For the domestic boat, recreational and utility trailer markets, the Company provides wheels and tires and assembles brakes, actuators and components.  The Company also offers the value-added service of a wheel and tire assembly for the consumer market.
 
MARKET SALES
                             
   
Year ended December 31,
 
(Amounts in thousands)
 
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
         
% of Total
         
% of Total
         
% of Total
 
   
Net Sales
   
Net Sales
   
Net Sales
   
Net Sales
   
Net Sales
   
Net Sales
 
   Agricultural
  $ 563,528       77 %   $ 729,895       70 %   $ 515,642       62 %
   Earthmoving/construction
    144,589       20 %     281,008       27 %     277,206       33 %
   Consumer
    19,482       3 %     25,797       3 %     44,173       5 %
    $ 727,599             $ 1,036,700             $ 837,021          

MARKET CONDITIONS OUTLOOK
The magnitude and duration of the worldwide recession and economic crisis makes it extremely difficult to forecast future sales levels.  In 2009, Titan experienced a sales decline across the board. This decline was more severe in the second half of the year.  Titan may experience possible sales declines in each of the Company’s markets for the first part of 2010.  Although the short-term outlook may include possible sales declines, the Company has seen signs that the market may currently be experiencing the bottom of the cycle.  The Company is cautiously optimistic that sales may move higher as Titan goes forward through 2010, however, there can be no assurance that the decline in sales will not continue.
 
Energy, raw material and petroleum-based product costs have been exceptionally volatile and may negatively impact the Company’s margins.  Many of Titan’s overhead expenses are fixed; therefore, lower seasonal trends may cause negative fluctuations in quarterly profit margins and affect the financial condition of the Company.

 
5

 

OPERATIONS
Titan’s operations include manufacturing wheels, manufacturing tires, and combining these wheels and tires into assemblies for use in the agricultural, earthmoving/construction and consumer markets.  These operations entail many manufacturing processes in order to complete the finished products.

·  
Wheel Manufacturing Process
Most agricultural wheels are produced using a rim and a center disc.  A rim is produced by first cutting large steel sheets to required width and length specifications.  These steel sections are rolled and welded to form a circular rim, which is flared and formed in the rollform operation.  The majority of discs are manufactured using presses that both blank and form the center to specifications in multiple stage operations.  The Company e-coats wheels using a multi-step process prior to the final paint top coating.

Large earthmoving/construction steel wheels are manufactured from hot and cold-rolled steel sections.  Hot-rolled sections are generally used to increase cross section thickness in high stress areas of large diameter wheels.  A special cold forming process for certain wheels is used to increase cross section thickness while reducing the number of wheel components.  Rims are built from a series of hoops that are welded together to form a rim base.  The complete rim base is made from either three or five separate parts that lock together after the rubber tire has been fitted to the wheel and inflated.

For most consumer market wheels, the Company manufactures rims and center discs from steel sheets.  Rims are rolled and welded, and discs are stamped and formed from the sheets.  The manufacturing process then entails welding the rims to the centers and painting the assembled product.

·  
Tire Manufacturing Process
The first stage in tire production is the mixing of rubber, carbon black and chemicals to form various rubber compounds.  These rubber compounds are then extruded and processed with textile or steel materials to make specific components.  These components – beads (wire bundles that anchor the tire with the wheel), plies (layers of fabric that give the tire strength), belts (fabric or steel fabric wrapped under the tread in some tires), tread and sidewall – are then assembled into an uncured tire carcass.  The uncured carcass is placed into a press that molds and vulcanizes the carcass under set time, temperature and pressure into a finished tire.

·  
Wheel and Tire Assemblies
The Company’s position as a manufacturer of both wheels and tires allows Titan to mount and deliver one of the largest selections of off-highway assemblies in North America.  Titan offers this value-added service of one-stop shopping for wheel and tire assemblies for the agricultural, earthmoving/construction and consumer markets.  Customer orders are entered into the Company’s system either through electronic data interchange or manually.  The appropriate wheel-tire assembly delivery schedule is established based on each customer’s requirements and products are received by the customer on a just-in-time basis.

·  
Quality Control
The Company is ISO certified at all five main manufacturing facilities located in Bryan, Ohio; Des Moines, Iowa; Freeport, Illinois; Quincy, Illinois; and Saltville, Virginia.  The ISO series is a set of related and internationally recognized standards of management and quality assurance.  The standards specify guidelines for establishing, documenting and maintaining a system to ensure quality.  The ISO certifications are a testament to Titan’s dedication to providing quality products for its customers.

RAW MATERIALS
Steel and rubber are the primary raw materials used by the Company in all segments.  To ensure a consistent steel supply, Titan purchases raw steel from key steel mills and maintains relationships with steel processors for steel preparation.  The Company is not dependent on any single producer for its steel supply.  Rubber and other raw materials for tire manufacture represent some of the Company’s largest commodity expenses.  Titan buys rubber in markets where there are usually several sources of supply.  In addition to the development of key domestic suppliers, the Company’s strategic procurement plan includes international steel and rubber suppliers to assure competitive price and quality in the global marketplace.  As is customary in the industry, the Company does not have long-term contracts for the purchase of steel or rubber and, therefore, purchases are subject to price fluctuations.

 
6

 

CAPITAL EXPENDITURES
Capital expenditures for 2009, 2008 and 2007 were $39.5 million, $80.0 million and $38.0 million, respectively.  Included in capital expenditures were amounts for the giant OTR project of approximately $23 million in 2009, approximately $60 million in 2008 and approximately $22 million in 2007.  The remaining capital expenditures in each year were used primarily for updating manufacturing equipment, expanding manufacturing capacity and for further automation at the Company’s facilities.  Capital expenditures for 2010 are forecasted to be approximately $12 million to $16 million.  These capital expenditures are anticipated to be used to enhance the Company’s existing facilities and manufacturing capabilities.

PATENTS, TRADEMARKS AND ROYALTIES
The Company owns various patents and trademarks and continues to apply for patent protection for new products.  While patents are considered significant to the operations of the business, at this time Titan does not consider any one of them to be of such importance that the patent’s expiration or invalidity could materially affect the Company’s business.  However, due to the difficult nature of predicting the interpretation of patent laws, the Company cannot anticipate or predict the material adverse effect on its operations, cash flows or financial condition as a result of associated liabilities created under such patent interpretations.
 
The Company pays a royalty relating to a license agreement with The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company to manufacture and sell certain off-highway tires in North America.  Titan currently plans to continue using the Goodyear trademark until circumstances require a change.  The current term of the agreement with Goodyear is for the next three years.

MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION
The Company employs an internal sales force and utilizes several manufacturing representative firms for sales in North America.  Sales representatives are primarily organized within geographic regions.

Titan distributes wheels and tires directly to OEMs. The distribution of aftermarket tires occurs primarily through a network of independent and OEM-affiliated dealers.  The Company distributes wheel and tire assemblies directly to OEMs and aftermarket customers through its distribution network consisting of eight facilities in the United States.

SEASONALITY
Agricultural equipment sales are seasonal by nature.  Farmers generally order equipment to be delivered before the growing season.  Shipments to OEMs usually peak during the Company’s first and second quarters for the spring planting period.  Earthmoving/construction and consumer markets also historically tend to experience higher demand in the first and second quarters.  These markets are affected by mining, building and economic conditions.

RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND ENGINEERING
The Company’s research, development and engineering staff tests original designs and technologies and develops new manufacturing methods to improve product performance.  These services enhance the Company’s relationships with its customers. Titan’s engineers recently introduced designs for giant OTR tires, which began start-up production in third quarter 2008.  These giant tires employ an innovative steel radial construction technology, new to the OTR tire industry, to enhance performance and durability.  Titan’s engineers are also working on a new 15-degree tire and wheel design for OTR and farm radial assemblies.  This revolutionary technology will simplify maintenance to minimize downtime, provide better air retention, simplify mounting and increase service life.  The Company continues to work on sidewall improvements including the LSW (low sidewall) tire design.  Research and development (R&D) expenses are expensed as incurred.  R&D costs were $8.9 million, $3.5 million and $1.7 million for the years of 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 
7

 

CUSTOMERS
Titan’s 10 largest customers accounted for approximately 54% of net sales for the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to approximately 51% for the year ended December 31, 2008.  Net sales to Deere & Company in Titan’s agricultural, earthmoving/construction and consumer markets combined represented approximately 24% and 22% of the Company’s consolidated revenues for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  Net sales to CNH Global N.V. in Titan’s three markets represented approximately 13% and 12% of the Company’s consolidated revenues for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  No other customer accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s net sales in 2009 or 2008.  Management believes the Company is not totally dependent on any single customer; however, certain products are dependent on a few customers.  While the loss of any substantial customer could impact Titan’s business, the Company believes that its diverse product mix and customer base may minimize a longer-term impact caused by any such loss.

ORDER BACKLOG
As of January 31, 2010, Titan estimates $134 million in firm orders compared to $201 million at January 31, 2009, for the Company’s operations.  Orders are considered firm if the customer would be obligated to accept the product if manufactured and delivered pursuant to the terms of such orders.  The Company believes that the majority of the current order backlog will be filled during the present year.

INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS
In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 320 Investments – Debt and Equity Securities, the Company records the Titan Europe Plc investment as an available-for-sale security and reports the investment at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported as a separate component of comprehensive income in stockholders’ equity.  Should the fair value decline below the cost basis, the Company would be required to determine if this decline is other than temporary.  If the decline in fair value were judged to be other than temporary, an impairment charge would be recorded.  The Company’s stock ownership interest in Titan Europe Plc was 22.9% at December 31, 2009, and 17.2% at December 31, 2008.  The fair value of the Company’s investment in Titan Europe Plc was $6.5 million and $2.6 million at December 31, 2009 and 2008.  Titan Europe Plc is publicly traded on the AIM market in London, England.

EMPLOYEES
At December 31, 2009, the Company employed approximately 2,400 people in the United States.  Approximately 46% of the Company’s employees in the United States were covered by collective bargaining agreements.  All of the Company’s labor agreements for its (i) Bryan, Ohio; (ii) Des Moines, Iowa; and (iii) Freeport, Illinois, facilities expire on November 19, 2010 for the employees covered by their respective collective bargaining agreements.  The Company believes employee relations are generally good.

EXPORT SALES
The Company had total aggregate export sales of approximately $82.7 million, $128.8 million and $77.0 million, for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS
In the ordinary course of business, like other industrial companies, Titan is subject to extensive and evolving federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations, and has made provisions for the estimated financial impact of environmental cleanup.  The Company’s policy is to accrue environmental cleanup-related costs of a non-capital nature when those costs are believed to be probable and can be reasonably estimated.  Expenditures that extend the life of the related property, or mitigate or prevent future environmental contamination, are capitalized. The Company does not currently anticipate any material capital expenditures for environmental control facilities.  The quantification of environmental exposures requires an assessment of many factors, including changing laws and regulations, advances in environmental technologies, the quality of information available related to specific sites, the assessment stage of the site investigation, preliminary findings and the length of time involved in remediation or settlement.  Due to the difficult nature of predicting future environmental costs, the Company cannot anticipate or predict the material adverse effect on its operations, cash flows or financial condition as a result of efforts to comply with, or its liabilities under, environmental laws.

 
8

 
 
COMPETITION
The Company competes with several domestic and international companies, some of which are larger and have greater financial and marketing resources than Titan.  The Company believes it is a primary source of steel wheels and rims to the majority of its North American customers.  Major competitors in the off-highway wheel market include Carlisle Companies Incorporated, GKN Wheels, Ltd., Topy Industries, Ltd. and certain other foreign competitors.  Significant competitors in the off-highway tire market include Bridgestone/Firestone, Carlisle Companies Incorporated, Michelin and certain other foreign competitors.

The Company competes primarily on the basis of price, quality, customer service, design capability and delivery time.  The Company’s ability to compete with international competitors may be adversely affected by currency fluctuations.  In addition, certain of the Company’s OEM customers could, under individual circumstances, elect to manufacture the Company’s products to meet their requirements or to otherwise compete with the Company.  There can be no assurance that the Company will not be adversely affected by increased competition in the markets in which it operates, or that competitors will not develop products that are more effective, less expensive or otherwise render certain of Titan’s products less competitive.  From time to time, certain of the Company’s competitors have reduced their prices in particular product categories, which has prompted Titan to reduce prices as well.  There can be no assurance that competitors of the Company will not further reduce prices in the future or that any such reductions would not have a material adverse effect on the Company.

CONVERTIBLE SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2017
On December 21, 2009, the Company closed its offering of $172.5 million principal amount of 5.625% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2017 (Notes), which included the exercise in full of the initial purchasers’ option to purchase $22.5 million principal amount of additional Notes to cover over-allotments. The Notes were offered and sold in a private offering to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and to other investors pursuant to another applicable exemption from registration.

Titan received net proceeds from the offering of approximately $166 million after deducting initial purchasers’ discounts and estimated offering expenses. Titan intends to use the proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, including financing potential future acquisitions and repayment of existing debt obligations.

The Notes will bear cash interest semiannually at an annual rate of 5.625%.  Upon conversion, the Company will deliver a number of shares of its common stock as described in the indenture.  The initial base conversion rate for the Notes is 93.0016 shares of Titan common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, equivalent to an initial base conversion price of approximately $10.75 per share of Titan common stock.  If the price of Titan common stock at the time of determination exceeds the base conversion price, the base conversion rate will be increased by an additional number of shares (up to 9.3002 shares of Titan common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Notes) as determined pursuant to a formula described in the indenture.  The base conversion rate will be subject to adjustment in certain events.  The initial base conversion price represents a premium of 37.5% relative to the December 15, 2009, closing sale price of Titan common stock.

Titan will have the right to redeem the Notes in whole or in part at a specified redemption price on or after January 20, 2014 if the closing sale price of its common stock exceeds 130% of the base conversion price then in effect for 20 or more trading days in a period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the trading day immediately prior to the date of the redemption notice. The Notes will be subordinated in right of payment to Titan’s existing 8% senior notes due 2012.

 
9

 

NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE CERTIFICATION
The Company submitted to the New York Stock Exchange during fiscal 2009 the Annual CEO Certification required by Section 303A.12(a) of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual.

AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company’s annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to those reports are made available, without charge, through the Company’s website located at www.titan-intl.com as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).  The SEC maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC.  The following documents are also posted on the Company’s website:
 
·  
Corporate Governance Policy
 
·  
Business Conduct Policy
 
·  
Audit Committee Charter
 
·  
Compensation Committee Charter
 
·  
Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee Charter

Printed copies of these documents are available, without charge, by writing to:  Titan International, Inc.,
c/o Corporate Secretary, 2701 Spruce Street, Quincy, IL 62301.

 
10

 

ITEM 1A – RISK FACTORS

The Company is subject to various risks and uncertainties relating to or arising out of the nature of its business and general business, economic, financing, legal and other factors or conditions that may affect the Company. Realization of any of the following risks could have a material adverse effect on Titan’s business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.

·  
The Company is exposed to price fluctuations of key commodities.
The Company does not generally enter into long-term commodity contracts and does not use derivative commodity instruments to hedge exposures to commodity market price fluctuations.  Therefore, the Company is exposed to price fluctuations of key commodities, which consist primarily of steel and rubber.  Although the Company attempts to pass on certain material price increases to its customers, there is no assurance that the Company will be able to do so in the future.  Any increase in the price of steel and rubber that is not passed on to customers could have an adverse material effect on Titan’s results of operations.
 
·  
The Company relies on a limited number of suppliers.
The Company currently relies on a limited number of suppliers for certain key commodities, which consist primarily of steel and rubber, in the manufacturing of Titan products.  The loss of key suppliers or their inability to meet price, quality, quantity and delivery requirements could have a significant adverse impact on the Company’s results of operations.
 
·  
The economic crisis and recession has and may continue to affect the Company and its customers.
The global economy has faced an extended worldwide recession and economic crisis.  This recession and economic crisis has put pressure on the liquidity of and demand from customers.  The resulting decrease in Titan’s sales has adversely affected results of operations.  The magnitude and duration of this recession and economic crisis make it extremely difficult to forecast future sales levels.  A continuation of the recession or worsening of the economic crisis could have an adverse material effect on Titan’s results of operations.
 
·  
The Company’s revolving credit facility and debt obligation contain covenants.
The Company’s revolving credit facility and debt obligations contain covenants and restrictions.  In connection with the convertible senior subordinated note offering, Titan agreed to add an additional mutually agreeable covenant to the Company’s revolving credit facility, which is not yet in place.  These covenants and restrictions could limit Titan’s ability to respond to market conditions, to provide for unanticipated capital investments, to raise additional debt or equity capital, to pay dividends or to take advantage of business opportunities, including future acquisitions.  The failure to meet these items could result in the Company ultimately being in default.  Titan’s ability to comply with the covenants may be affected by events beyond its control, including prevailing economic, financial and industry conditions.
 
·  
The Company operates in cyclical industries and is subject to numerous changes in the economy.
The Company sales are substantially dependent on three major industries: agricultural equipment, earthmoving/construction equipment and consumer products.  The business activity levels in these industries are subject to specific industry and general economic cycles.  Any downturn in these industries or the general economy could have an adverse material effect on Titan’s business.

The agricultural equipment industry is affected by crop prices, farm income and farmland values, weather, export markets and government policies. The earthmoving/construction industry is affected by the levels of government and private construction spending and replacement demand. The consumer products industry is affected by consumer disposable income, weather, competitive pricing, energy prices and consumer attitudes. In addition, the performance of these industries is sensitive to interest rate changes and varies with the overall level of economic activity.

 
11

 

·  
 The Company’s customer base is relatively concentrated.
The Company’s ten largest customers, which are primarily original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), accounted for approximately 54% of Titan’s net sales for 2009.  Net sales to Deere & Company and CNH Global N.V.  represented 24% and 13% , respectively, of total 2009 net sales.  No other customer accounted for more than 10% of net sales in 2009.  As a result, Titan’s business could be adversely affected if one of its larger customers reduces its purchases from Titan due to work stoppages or slow-downs, financial difficulties, as a result of termination provisions, competitive pricing or other reasons.  There is also continuing pressure from the OEMs to reduce costs, including the cost of products and services purchased from outside suppliers such as Titan.  The Company has had long-term relationships with major customers and expects to continue these relationships.  There can be no assurance that Titan will be able to maintain such ongoing relationships.  Any failure to maintain the Company’s relationship with a leading customer could have an adverse effect on results of operations.
 
·  
The Company’s revenues are seasonal in nature due to Titan’s dependence on seasonal industries.
The agricultural, earthmoving/construction and recreational industries are seasonal, with typically lower sales during the second half of the year.  This seasonality in demand has resulted in fluctuations in the Company’s revenues and operating results.  Because much of Titan’s overhead expenses are fixed, seasonal trends can cause reductions in quarterly profit margins and financial condition, especially during slower periods.
 
·  
The Company may be adversely affected by changes in government regulations and policies.
Domestic and foreign political developments and government regulations and policies directly affect the agricultural, earthmoving/construction and consumer products industries in the United States and abroad. Regulations and policies in the agricultural industry include those encouraging farm acreage reduction in the United States and granting ethanol subsidies. Regulations and policies relating to the earthmoving/ construction industry include the construction of roads, bridges and other items of infrastructure. The modification of existing laws, regulations or policies or the adoption of new laws, regulations or policies could have an adverse effect on any one or more of these industries and therefore on Titan’s business.
 
·  
The Company is subject to corporate governance requirements, and costs related to compliance with, or failure to comply with, existing and future requirements could adversely affect Titan’s business.
The Company is subject to corporate governance requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as new rules and regulations subsequently adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). These laws, rules and regulations continue to evolve and may become increasingly restrictive in the future. Failure to comply with these laws, rules and regulations may have an adverse material effect on Titan’s reputation, financial condition and the value of the Company’s securities.
 
·  
The Company faces substantial competition from domestic and international companies.
The Company competes with several domestic and international competitors, some of which are larger and have greater financial and marketing resources than Titan.  Titan competes primarily on the basis of price, quality, customer service, design capability and delivery time.  The Company’s ability to compete with international competitors may be adversely affected by currency fluctuations.  In addition, certain OEM customers could, under certain circumstances, elect to manufacture certain products to meet their own requirements or to otherwise compete with Titan.

There can be no assurance that Titan’s businesses will not be adversely affected by increased competition in the Company’s markets or that competitors will not develop products that are more effective or less expensive than Titan products or which could render certain products less competitive.  From time to time certain competitors have reduced prices in particular product categories, which has caused Titan to reduce prices. There can be no assurance that in the future Titan’s competitors will not further reduce prices or that any such reductions would not have a material adverse effect on Titan’s business.

 
12

 

·  
The Company could be negatively impacted if Titan fails to maintain satisfactory labor relations.
At December 31, 2009, approximately 46% of Titan employees in the United States were covered by three collective bargaining agreements.  Upon the expiration of any of the collective bargaining agreements, however, Titan may be unable to negotiate new collective bargaining agreements on terms that are cost effective to the Company.  The business operations may be affected as a result of labor disputes or difficulties and delays in the process of renegotiating collective bargaining agreements.

In 1998, the employees in the Des Moines, Iowa, facility went on strike for approximately 40 months.  Titan’s labor agreements expire in November 2010.  The Company cannot be assured that there will not be any other labor disruptions or strikes at Titan facilities that adversely affect business.
 
·  
Unfavorable outcomes of legal proceedings could adversely affect results of operations.
The Company is a party to routine legal proceedings arising out of the normal course of business.  Although it is not possible to predict with certainty the outcome of these unresolved legal actions or the range of possible loss, the Company believes at this time that none of these actions, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.  However, due to the difficult nature of predicting unresolved and future legal claims, the Company cannot anticipate or predict the material adverse effect on its consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows as a result of efforts to comply with or its liabilities pertaining to legal judgments.
 
·  
Acquisitions may require significant resources and/or result in significant losses, costs or liabilities.
Any future acquisitions will depend on the ability to identify suitable acquisition candidates, to negotiate acceptable terms for their acquisition and to finance those acquisitions.  Titan will also face competition for suitable acquisition candidates that may increase costs.  In addition, acquisitions require significant managerial attention, which may be diverted from current operations.  Furthermore, acquisitions of businesses or facilities entail a number of additional risks, including:

-   problems with effective integration of operations

-   the inability to maintain key pre-acquisition customer, supplier and employee relationships

-   the potential that expected benefits or synergies are not realized and operating costs increase

-   exposure to unanticipated liabilities

Many of these risks would be accentuated if Titan acquires businesses overseas due to the operations, employees and customers would largely be located outside of the United States and the Company’s acquisition strategy has recently focused on domestic businesses.  In September 2009, Titan signed a letter of intent with The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company to purchase certain farm tire assets, including the Goodyear Dunlop Tires France (GDTF) Amiens North factory.  This agreement is non-binding and will be subject to GDTF’s satisfactory completion of a social plan related to consumer tire activity at the Amiens North facility, along with completion of due diligence, a definitive acquisition agreement and other standard acquisition approval requirements.  At this time, the due diligence process continues.  There is no assurance that definitive agreements will be executed or that the acquisition will be consummated.

Subject to the terms of indebtedness, the Company may finance future acquisitions with cash from operations, additional indebtedness and/or by issuing additional equity securities.  These commitments may impair the operation of Titan’s businesses.  In addition, the Company could face financial risks associated with incurring additional indebtedness such as reducing liquidity and access to financing markets and increasing the amount of cash flow required to service such indebtedness.

 
13

 

·  
The Company has export sales and purchases raw material from foreign suppliers.
The Company had total aggregate export sales of approximately $82.7 million, $128.8 million and $77.0 million, for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Export Sales – Exports to foreign markets are subject to a number of special risks, including but not limited to risks with respect to currency exchange rates, economic and political destabilization, other disruption of markets and restrictive actions by foreign governments (such as restrictions on transfer of funds, export duties and quotas and foreign customs).  Other risks include changes in foreign laws regarding trade and investment; difficulties in obtaining distribution and support; nationalization; reforms of United States laws and policies affecting trade, foreign investment and loans; and foreign tax laws.  There can be no assurance that one, or a combination of these factors will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to increase or maintain its export sales.

Foreign Suppliers – The Company purchases raw materials from foreign suppliers.  The production costs, profit margins and competitive position of the Company are affected by the strength of the currencies in countries where Titan purchases goods, relative to the strength of the currencies in countries where the products are sold.  The Company’s results of operations, cash flows and financial position may be affected by fluctuations in foreign currencies.
 
·  
The Company may be subject to product liability and warranty claims.
The Company warrants its products to be free of certain defects and accordingly may be subject in the ordinary course of business to product liability or product warranty claims.  Losses may result or be alleged to result from defects in Titan products, which could subject the Company to claims for damages, including consequential damages.  There can be no assurance that Company insurance will be adequate for liabilities actually incurred or that adequate insurance will be available on terms acceptable to the Company. Any claims relating to defective products that result in liability exceeding Titan’s insurance coverage could have a material adverse effect on financial condition and results of operations. Further, claims of defects could result in negative publicity against Titan, which could adversely affect the Company’s business.
 
·  
The Company has incurred, and may incur in the future, net losses.
The Company reported net loss of $(24.6) million and $(7.2) million for the years ended December 31, 2009, and 2007, respectively.  As a result of the 2009 net loss, the Company has a net operating loss carryforward for income tax purposes.  If Titan would continue to incur net losses, the Company may not be able to realize the tax benefit of these net operating losses.
 
·  
The Company is subject to risks associated with climate change and climate change regulations.
Governmental regulatory bodies in the United States and other countries have, or are, contemplating introducing regulatory changes in response to the potential impacts of climate change.  Laws and regulations regarding climate change and energy usage may impact the Company directly through higher costs for energy and raw materials.  The Company’s customers may also be affected by climate change regulations that may impact future purchases.  Physical climate change may potentially have a large impact on the Company’s two largest industry segments, agriculture and earthmoving/construction.  The potential impacts of climate change and climate change regulations are highly uncertain at this time, and the Company cannot anticipate or predict the material adverse effect on its consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows as a result of climate change and climate change regulations.
 
·  
The Company is subject to risks associated with environmental laws and regulations.
The Company’s operations are subject to federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations governing, among other things, emissions to air, discharge to waters and the generation, handling, storage, transportation, treatment and disposal of waste and other materials.  The Company’s operations entail risks in these areas, and there can be no assurance that Titan will not incur material costs or liabilities.  In addition, potentially significant expenditures could be required in order to comply with evolving environmental and health and safety laws, regulations or requirements that may be adopted or imposed in the future.

 
14

 

ITEM 1B – UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
 
None.
 
ITEM 2 – PROPERTIES

The Company’s properties are detailed by the location, size and focus of each facility as provided in the table below:

   
Approximate square footage
     
Location
 
Owned
   
Leased
 
Use
Segment
Des Moines, Iowa
    2,047,000        
Manufacturing, distribution
All segments
Freeport, Illinois
    1,202,000        
Manufacturing, distribution
All segments
Quincy, Illinois
    1,134,000        
Manufacturing, distribution
All segments
Brownsville, Texas
    993,000        
Storage
See note (a)
Bryan, Ohio
    714,000        
Manufacturing, distribution
All segments
Greenwood, S. Carolina
    110,000        
Storage
See note (a)
Dublin, Georgia
    20,000        
Distribution
All segments
Saltville, Virginia
    14,000       245,000  
Manufacturing, distribution
Earthmoving/Construction
Natchez, Mississippi
            1,203,000  
Storage
See note (a)
Pendergrass, Georgia
            120,000  
Distribution
All segments
Elko, Nevada
            4,000  
Distribution
Earthmoving/Construction

(a)  
The Brownsville, Greenwood and Natchez facilities are currently being used for storage.  The Company’s facilities in Brownsville, Texas; Greenwood, South Carolina, and Natchez, Mississippi, are not in operation.

The Company considers each of its facilities to be in good condition and adequate for present use.  Management believes that the Company has sufficient capacity to meet current market demand with the active facilities.  The Company has no current plans to restart manufacturing at the storage facilities described in note (a) above.
 
ITEM 3 – LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company is a party to routine legal proceedings arising out of the normal course of business.  Although it is not possible to predict with certainty the outcome of these unresolved legal actions or the range of possible loss, the Company believes at this time that none of these actions, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.  However, due to the difficult nature of predicting unresolved and future legal claims, the Company cannot anticipate or predict the material adverse effect on its consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows as a result of efforts to comply with or its liabilities pertaining to legal judgments.
 
ITEM 4 – SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

No matters were submitted to the vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of 2009.

 
15

 

PART II

ITEM 5 – MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
 
The Company’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol TWI.  Titan executed a five-for-four stock split effective August 15, 2008.  All share and per share data, except shares authorized, have been adjusted to reflect the effect of the stock split for all periods presented.  On February 15, 2010, there were approximately 500 holders of record of Titan common stock and an estimated 6,500 beneficial stockholders.  The following table sets forth the high and low sales prices per share of common stock as reported on the NYSE, as well as information concerning per share dividends declared for the periods indicated.
 
2009
 
High
   
Low
   
Dividends
Declared
 
First quarter
  $ 11.44     $ 3.05     $ 0.005  
Second quarter
    10.45       4.82       0.005  
Third quarter
    9.87       5.79       0.005  
Fourth quarter
    10.35       7.55       0.005  
                         
2008
                       
First quarter *
  $ 27.86     $ 19.36     $ 0.004  
Second quarter *
    36.31       24.53       0.004  
Third quarter *
    37.77       19.78       0.005  
Fourth quarter
    21.10       5.40       0.005  

* Adjusted to reflect the five-for-four stock split that took place in 2008.

PERFORMANCE COMPARISON GRAPH
The performance graph compares cumulative total return for the Company’s common stockholders over the past five years against the cumulative total return of the Standard & Poor’s 600 Construction and Farm Machinery and Heavy Trucks Index, and against the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index.  The graph depicts the value on December 31, 2009, of a $100 investment made on December 31, 2004, in Company common stock and each of the other two indices, with all dividends reinvested.  Titan’s common stock is traded on the NYSE under the symbol TWI.
 
PERFORMANCE COMPARISON GRAPH
 
 
   
Fiscal Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2004
   
2005
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
   
2009
 
Titan International, Inc.
  $ 100.00     $ 114.39     $ 133.77     $ 207.67     $ 68.59     $ 67.61  
S&P 500 Index
    100.00       104.91       121.48       128.16       80.74       102.11  
S&P 600 Const. & Farm Machinery Index
    100.00       127.11       171.42       216.03       136.11       147.58  

 
16

 

ITEM 6 – SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The selected financial data presented below, as of and for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, and 2005, are derived from the Company’s consolidated financial statements, as audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, and should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto.

(All amounts in thousands, except per share data)
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
   
2005
 
Net sales
  $ 727,599     $ 1,036,700     $ 837,021     $ 679,454     $ 470,133  
Gross profit
    55,965       139,714       84,131       72,778       64,210  
Noncash goodwill impairment charge
    11,702       0       0       0       0  
Income (loss) from operations
    (18,894 )     73,321       24,838       22,011       11,999  
Noncash Titan Europe Plc charge
    0       (37,698 )     0       0       0  
Noncash debt conversion charge
    0       0       (13,376 )     0       (7,225 )
Income (loss) before income taxes
    (32,002 )     23,010       (3,884 )     8,574       (2,885 )
Net income (loss)
    (24,645 )     13,337       (7,247 )     5,144       11,042  
Net income (loss) per share – basic *
    (.71 )     .39       (.23 )     .21       .49  
Net income (loss) per share – diluted *
    (.71 )     .38       (.23 )     .21       .48  
Dividends declared per common share *
    .020       .018       .016       .016       .016  
* Adjusted to reflect the five-for-four stock split that took place in 2008.
 

       
(All amounts in thousands)
 
As of December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
   
2005
 
Working capital
  $ 375,144     $ 232,564     $ 239,985     $ 247,009     $ 157,984  
Current assets
    445,216       369,199       327,765       309,933       206,167  
Total assets
    736,463       654,782       590,495       585,126       440,756  
Long-term debt (a)
    366,300       200,000       200,000       291,266       190,464  
Stockholders’ equity
    261,953       279,188       272,522       187,177       167,813  
(a) Excludes amounts due within one year and classified as a current liability.
 

 
17

 
 
 
ITEM 7 – MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations (MD&A) is designed to provide readers of these financial statements with a narrative from the perspective of the management of Titan International, Inc. (Titan or the Company) on Titan’s financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and other factors which may affect the Company’s future results.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding, among other items:
 
·  
Anticipated trends in the Company’s business
 
·  
Future expenditures for capital projects
 
·  
The Company’s ability to continue to control costs and maintain quality
 
·  
Ability to meet financial covenants and conditions of loan agreements
 
·  
The Company’s business strategies, including its intention to introduce new products
 
·  
Expectations concerning the performance and success of the Company’s existing and new products
 
·  
The Company’s intention to consider and pursue acquisition and divestiture opportunities

Readers of this Form 10-K should understand that these forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those in Item 1A, Part I of this report, “Risk Factors,” certain of which are beyond the Company’s control.

Actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including:
 
·  
The effect of the economic crisis and recession on the Company and its customers and suppliers
 
·  
Changes in the Company’s end-user markets as a result of world economic or regulatory influences
 
·  
Changes in the marketplace, including new products and pricing changes by the Company’s competitors
 
·  
Ability to maintain satisfactory labor relations
 
·  
Unfavorable outcomes of legal proceedings
 
·  
Availability and price of raw materials
 
·  
Levels of operating efficiencies
 
·  
Unfavorable product liability and warranty claims
 
·  
Actions of domestic and foreign governments
 
·  
Results of investments
 
·  
Fluctuations in currency translations
 
·  
Ability to secure financing at reasonable terms
 
·  
Laws and regulations related to climate change
 
·  
Risks associated with environmental laws and regulations

Any changes in such factors could lead to significantly different results.  The Company cannot provide any assurance that the assumptions referred to in the forward-looking statements or otherwise are accurate or will prove to transpire.  Any assumptions that are inaccurate or do not prove to be correct could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to achieve the results as indicated in forward-looking statements.  The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  In light of these risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking information contained in this document will in fact transpire.

 
18

 

OVERVIEW
Titan International, Inc. and its subsidiaries are leading manufacturers of wheels, tires and assemblies for off-highway vehicles used in the agricultural, earthmoving/construction and consumer markets.  Titan’s earthmoving/ construction market also includes products supplied to the U.S. government, while the consumer market includes products for all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and recreational/utility trailer applications.  Titan manufactures both wheels and tires for the majority of these market applications, allowing the Company to provide the value-added service of delivering complete wheel and tire assemblies.  The Company offers a broad range of products that are manufactured in relatively short production runs to meet the specifications of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and/or the requirements of aftermarket customers.

The Company’s major OEM customers include large manufacturers of off-highway equipment such as AGCO Corporation, Caterpillar Inc., CNH Global N.V., Deere & Company and Kubota Corporation, in addition to many other off-highway equipment manufacturers.  The Company distributes products to OEMs, independent and OEM-affiliated dealers, and through a network of distribution facilities.

The following table provides highlights for the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to 2008 (amounts in thousands):
   
2009
   
2008
 
Net sales
  $ 727,599     $ 1,036,700  
Income (loss) from operations
    (18,894 )     73,321  
Net income (loss)
    (24,645 )     13,337  

The Company recorded sales of $727.6 million for 2009, which were approximately 30% lower than the 2008 sales of $1,036.7 million.  The significantly lower sales levels resulted from reduced demand for the Company’s products across the board, a consequence of the worldwide recession and global economic crisis.  Many of the Company’s major customers implemented extended shutdowns during the second half of 2009, Titan in turn extended shutdowns at its production facilities to manage the lower demand.  These items had a negative impact on Titan’s annual 2009 sales for the agricultural market, down approximately 23%, earthmoving/construction market, down approximately 49%, and consumer market, down approximately 24%, when compared to the previous year.

The following operating results were primarily related to the significantly lower sales levels and the associated negative impact on the Company’s operating margins as well as a noncash goodwill impairment charge of $11.7 million.  Loss from operations was $(18.9) million for 2009 compared to income from operations of $73.3 million for previous year.  Titan’s net loss was $(24.6) million for 2009 compared to net income of $13.3 million in 2008.  Diluted loss per share was $(.71) in 2009, compared to diluted earnings per share of $.38 in 2008.

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Special Meeting of Stockholders (Definitive proxy filed January 29, 2010)
A Special Meeting of Stockholders (Special Meeting) of Titan International, Inc. is to be held on March 4, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. Central Time, at the Holiday Inn, 4821 Oak Street, Quincy, IL 62305, to consider and act upon the following matters:

1)  
To approve an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock from 60,000,000 shares to 120,000,000 shares; and

2)  
To transact such other business as may properly come before the Special Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

The Company’s board of directors has fixed the “record date” to be the close of business on January 15, 2010.  Only those stockholders whose names appear of record at the Company’s close of business on January 15, 2010, as holders of record of the Company common stock, are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Special Meeting or any adjournments thereof.
 
 
19

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following table sets forth the Company’s statement of operations expressed as a percentage of net sales for the periods indicated.  This table and subsequent discussions should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto.
   
As a Percentage of Net Sales
 
   
Year ended December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
Net sales
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
Cost of sales
    92.3       86.5       89.9  
Gross profit
    7.7       13.5       10.1  
                         
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    6.4       5.2       6.2  
Research and development
    1.2       0.3       0.2  
Royalty expense
    1.1       0.9       0.7  
Noncash goodwill impairment charge
    1.6       0.0       0.0  
Income (loss) from operations
    (2.6 )     7.1       3.0  
                         
Interest expense
    (2.2 )     (1.5 )     (2.3 )
Noncash Titan Europe Plc charge
    0.0       (3.6 )     0.0  
Noncash convertible debt conversion charge
    0.0       0.0       (1.6 )
Other income, net
    0.4       0.2       0.4  
Income (loss) before income taxes
    (4.4 )     2.2       (0.5 )
Income tax provision (benefit)
    (1.0 )     0.9       0.4  
Net income (loss)
    (3.4 )%     1.3 %     (0.9 )%
 
In addition, the following table sets forth components of the Company’s net sales classified by segment for the years ended December 31, (amounts in thousands):
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
Agricultural
  $ 563,528     $ 729,895     $ 515,642  
Earthmoving/Construction
    144,589       281,008       277,206  
Consumer
    19,482       25,797       44,173  
Total
  $ 727,599     $ 1,036,700     $ 837,021  
 
CONVERTIBLE SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2017
On December 21, 2009, the Company closed its offering of $172.5 million principal amount of 5.625% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2017 (Notes), which included the exercise in full of the initial purchasers’ option to purchase $22.5 million principal amount of additional Notes to cover over-allotments. The Notes were offered and sold in a private offering to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and to other investors pursuant to another applicable exemption from registration.

Titan received net proceeds from the offering of approximately $166 million after deducting initial purchasers’ discounts and estimated offering expenses. Titan intends to use the proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, including financing potential future acquisitions and repayment of existing debt obligations.

 
20

 

STOCK SPLIT
In June 2008, Titan’s Board of Directors approved a five-for-four stock split with a record date of July 31, 2008, and a payable date of August 15, 2008.  The Company gave five shares for every four shares held as of the record date.  Stockholders received one additional share for every four shares owned as of the record date and received cash in lieu of fractional shares.  All share and per share data, except shares authorized, have been adjusted to reflect the effect of the stock split for all periods presented.

GIANT OTR PROJECT
In May 2007, Titan’s Board of Directors approved funding for the Company to increase giant OTR mining tire production capacity to include 57-inch and 63-inch giant radial tires (Giant OTR Project).  The Company began start-up production of these giant mining tires in the third quarter of 2008.

SENIOR UNSECURED CONVERTIBLE NOTES CONVERSION
In January 2007, the Company filed a registration statement relating to an offer to the holders of its 5.25% senior unsecured convertible notes due 2009 to convert their notes into Titan’s common stock at an increased conversion rate (Offer).  Per the Offer, each $1,000 principal amount of notes was convertible into 81.0000 shares of common stock, which is equivalent to a conversion price of approximately $12.35 per share.

In March 2007, the Company announced 100% acceptance of the conversion offer and the $81.2 million of accepted notes were converted into 6,577,200 shares of Titan common stock.  The Company recognized a noncash charge of $13.4 million in connection with this exchange in accordance with ASC 470-20 Debt – Debt with Conversion and Other Options.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
Preparation of the financial statements and related disclosures in compliance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the application of appropriate technical accounting rules and guidance, as well as the use of estimates.  The Company’s application of these policies involves assumptions that require difficult subjective judgments regarding many factors, which, in and of themselves, could materially impact the financial statements and disclosures.  A future change in the estimates, assumptions or judgments applied in determining the following matters, among others, could have a material impact on future financial statements and disclosures.

Inventories
Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market.  Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method in 2009 for approximately 74% of inventories and the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method for approximately 26% of inventories.  The major rubber material inventory and related work-in-process and their finished goods are accounted for under the FIFO method.  The major steel material inventory and related work-in-process and their finished goods are accounted for under the LIFO method.  Market value is estimated based on current selling prices.  Estimated provisions are established for excess and obsolete inventory, as well as inventory carried above market price based on historical experience.  Should experience change, adjustments to the estimated provisions would be necessary.

Income Taxes
Deferred income tax provisions are determined using the liability method whereby deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based upon temporary differences between the financial statement and income tax basis of assets and liabilities.  The Company assesses the realizability of its deferred tax asset positions and recognizes and measures uncertain tax positions in accordance with ASC 740 Income Taxes.

As a result of the 2009 net loss, the Company has a net operating loss carryforward for income tax purposes.  If Titan would continue to incur net losses, the Company may not be able to realize the tax benefit of these net operating losses.

 
21

 

Impairment of Goodwill
The Company reviews goodwill for impairment during the fourth quarter of each annual reporting period, and whenever events and circumstances indicate that the carrying values may not be recoverable.  The Company evaluates the recoverability of goodwill by estimating the future discounted cash flows of the reporting unit to which the goodwill relates and using an earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) multiple approach.  In determining the estimated future cash flows, the Company considers current and projected future levels of income as well as business trends and economic conditions.  When the Company’s estimated fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying value, a second step of the impairment analysis is performed.  In this second step, the implied fair value of goodwill is calculated as the excess of the fair value of a reporting unit over the fair values assigned to its assets and liabilities.  If the implied fair value of goodwill is less than the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill, the difference is recognized as an impairment loss.
 
In the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company recorded a noncash charge for the impairment of goodwill of $11.7 million on both a pre-tax and after-tax basis.  The charge was associated with the reporting units of the Company’s agricultural ($6.9 million), earthmoving/construction ($3.6 million), and consumer ($1.2 million) segments.  The Company performed a fourth quarter 2009 goodwill assessment using a discounted cash flow model that employed a 12.25% discount rate and 2.5% terminal growth rate assumption and an EBITDA multiple approach.

The key factors contributing to the goodwill impairment were:  (i) depressed sales levels, which began to accelerate during the third quarter of 2009, continued in the fourth quarter resulting from reduced demand for the Company’s products across the board, a consequence of the worldwide recession and global economic crisis, (ii) many of the Company’s major customers implemented additional shutdowns during the fourth quarter of 2009, Titan in turn extended shutdowns at its production facilities to manage the lower demand, (iii) operating losses which began in the third quarter, continued into the fourth quarter associated with lower product demand, (iv) decline in the reporting units’ forecasted financial performance as a result of ongoing weak economic conditions, and (v) in December 2009, in association with Titan’s convertible note issuance, the rating agencies of Moody’s Investor Service and Standard and Poor’s Rating Services issued a revised outlook on the Company’s future performance to negative from stable.

Significant assumptions relating to future operations must be made when estimating future cash flows in analyzing goodwill for impairment.  Assumptions utilized in analyzing goodwill are highly judgmental, especially given the worldwide recession and global economic crisis.

Retirement Benefit Obligations
Pension benefit obligations are based on various assumptions used by third-party actuaries in calculating these amounts.  These assumptions include discount rates, expected return on plan assets, mortality rates and other factors.  Revisions in assumptions and actual results that differ from the assumptions affect future expenses, cash funding requirements and obligations.  The Company has three frozen defined benefit pension plans and one defined benefit plan that previously purchased a final annuity settlement.  Titan expects to contribute approximately $3 million to these frozen defined pension plans in 2010.  For more information concerning these costs and obligations, see the discussion of the “Pensions” and Note 20 to the Company’s financial statements.

The effect of hypothetical changes to selected assumptions on the Company’s frozen pension benefit obligations would be as follows (amounts in thousands):
   
December 31, 2009
 
2010
   
Increase
Increase
 
Increase
 
 
Percentage
(Decrease)
(Decrease)
 
(Decrease)
 
Assumptions
Change
PBO (a)
Equity
 
Expense
 
Pension
           
Discount rate
+/-.5
$(4,434)/$4,873
$4,434/$(4,873)
 
$(263)/$285
 
Expected return on assets
+/-.5
     
$(327)/$327
 

(a)  
Projected benefit obligation (PBO) for pension plans.
 
 
22

 

FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009, COMPARED TO FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
Highlights for the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to 2008 (amounts in thousands):
   
2009
   
2008
   
% Decrease
 
Net sales
  $ 727,599     $ 1,036,700       (30 )%
Cost of sales
    671,634       896,986       (25 )%
Gross profit
    55,965       139,714       (60 )%
Gross profit percentage
    7.7 %     13.5 %        

Net Sales
Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2009, were $727.6 million compared to $1,036.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2008.  The significantly lower sales levels were primarily the result of reduced demand for the Company’s products in all segments, a consequence of the worldwide recession and global economic crisis.  Many of the Company’s major customers implemented extended shutdowns during the second half of 2009, Titan in turn extended shutdowns at its production facilities to manage the lower demand.  These items had a negative impact on Titan’s annual 2009 sales for the agricultural market, down approximately 23%, earthmoving/construction market, down approximately 49%, and consumer market, down approximately 24%, when compared to the previous year.
 
Cost of Sales and Gross Profit
Cost of sales was $671.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, as compared to $897.0 million in 2008.  The lower cost of sales resulted primarily from the significant reduction in the sales levels recorded in 2009.

Gross profit for the year 2009 was $56.0 million, or 7.7% of net sales, compared to $139.7 million, or 13.5% of net sales for 2008.  In response to significantly lower demand from customers, Titan scheduled extended shutdowns at all Company production facilities during the second half 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 and percentage reductions.  The major reduction in the operating results was primarily related to the significantly lower sales levels and the associated negative impact on the Company’s operating margins.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses were as follows (amounts in thousands):
   
2009
   
2008
   
% Decrease
 
Selling, general and administrative
  $ 46,734     $ 53,661       (13 )%
Percentage of net sales
    6.4 %     5.2 %        

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses were $46.7 million, or 6.4% of net sales, for the year ended December 31, 2009, as compared to $53.7 million, or 5.2% of net sales, for 2008.  The Company continues to strive to achieve low administrative expenses.  Titan was able to reduce SG&A expense by approximately $7 million as a result of the 2009 business contraction.  Selling expenses were reduced by approximately $3 million and administrative expenses were reduced by approximately $4 million.

Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses were as follows (amounts in thousands):
   
2009
   
2008
   
% Increase
 
Research and development
  $ 8,850     $ 3,490       154 %
Percentage of net sales
    1.2 %     0.3 %        

Research and development (R&D) expenses were $8.9 million, or 1.2% of net sales, for the year ended December 31, 2009, as compared to $3.5 million, or 0.3% of net sales, for 2008.  The additional R&D costs recorded during the year of approximately $5 million primarily related to the Giant OTR products.

 
23

 

Royalty Expense
Royalty expense was as follows (amounts in thousands):
   
2009
   
2008
   
% Decrease
 
Royalty expense
  $ 7,573     $ 9,242       (18 )%

The Company has a license agreement with The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company to manufacture and sell certain off-highway tires in North America under the Goodyear name.  Royalty expenses were $7.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, as compared to $9.2 million in 2008.  As sales subject to the license agreement were lower, the Company’s royalty expense for 2009 was reduced accordingly.

Noncash Goodwill Impairment Charge
Noncash goodwill impairment charge was as follows (amounts in thousands):
   
2009
   
2008
   
% Increase
 
Noncash goodwill charge
  $ 11,702     $ 0       n/a  

In the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company recorded a noncash charge for the impairment of goodwill of $11.7 million on both a pre-tax and after-tax basis.  The charge was associated with the reporting units of the Company’s agricultural ($6.9 million), earthmoving/construction ($3.6 million), and consumer ($1.2 million) segments.  The Company performed a fourth quarter 2009 goodwill assessment using a discounted cash flow model that employed a 12.25% discount rate and 2.5% terminal growth rate assumption and an EBITDA multiple approach.

The key factors contributing to the goodwill impairment were:  (i) depressed sales levels, which began to accelerate during the third quarter of 2009, continued in the fourth quarter resulting from reduced demand for the Company’s products across the board, a consequence of the worldwide recession and global economic crisis, (ii) many of the Company’s major customers implemented additional shutdowns during the fourth quarter of 2009, Titan in turn extended shutdowns at its production facilities to manage the lower demand, (iii) operating losses which began in the third quarter, continued into the fourth quarter associated with lower product demand, (iv) decline in the reporting units’ forecasted financial performance as a result of ongoing weak economic conditions, and (v) in December 2009, in association with Titan’s convertible note issuance, the rating agencies of Moody’s Investor Service and Standard and Poor’s Rating Services issued a revised outlook on the Company’s future performance to negative from stable.

Income (loss) from Operations
Income (loss) from operations was as follows (amounts in thousands):
   
2009
   
2008
   
% Decrease
 
Income (loss) from operations
  $ (18,894 )   $ 73,321       n/a  
Percentage of net sales
    (2.6 )%     7.1 %        

Loss from operations for the year ended December 31, 2009, was $(18.9) million, or (2.6) % of net sales, compared to income from operations of $73.3 million, or 7.1% of net sales, in 2008.  The reduction in income from operations was the net result of the items previously discussed in the sales, cost of sales, administrative, royalty and noncash goodwill impairment charge line items.

Interest Expense
Interest expense was as follows (amounts in thousands):
   
2009
   
2008
   
% Increase
 
Interest expense
  $ 16,246     $ 15,122       7 %

Interest expense for the year 2009 was $16.2 million compared to $15.1 million in 2008.  The Company’s interest expense for 2009 increased as a result of the higher year-end debt balances.  The Company capitalized interest costs related to the giant OTR project of $2.0 million in 2009 and $3.2 million in 2008.

 
24

 

Noncash Titan Europe Plc charge
Noncash Titan Europe Plc charge was as follows (amounts in thousands):
   
2009
   
2008
   
% Decrease
 
Noncash Titan Europe Plc charge
  $ 0     $ (37,698 )     (100 )%

The unrealized loss on the Titan Europe Plc investment in 2008 was $(37.7) million.  The unrealized loss was due to a substantial decline in Titan Europe Plc’s publicly quoted price on the AIM market in London, England, at year end 2008.  A noncash charge of $37.7 million was recorded at year end December 31, 2008.

Other Income
Other income was as follows (amounts in thousands):
   
2009
   
2008
   
% Increase
 
Other income
  $ 3,138     $ 2,509       25 %

Other income was $3.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, as compared to $2.5 million in 2008.  The major items included in 2009 were:  (i) gain on senior note repurchases of $1.4 million; (ii) investment gain on contractual obligations of $1.3 million; (iii) interest income of $0.2 million; and (iv) other income of $0.2 million.

The major items included in 2008 were:  (i) dividend income from the Titan Europe Plc investment of $1.7 million; (ii) interest income of $1.4 million; (iii) investment loss on contractual obligations of $(1.9) million; and (iv) other income of $1.3 million.

Income Tax Provision (Benefit)
Income tax provision (benefit) was as follows (amounts in thousands):
   
2009
   
2008
   
% Decrease
 
Income tax provision (benefit)
  $ (7,357 )   $ 9,673       n/a  

The Company recorded an income tax benefit of $(7.4) million in 2009 and income tax expense of $9.7 million in 2008.   The Company’s effective tax rate was 23% in 2009 and 42% in 2008.  The Company’s income tax expense and rate differs from the amount of income tax determined by applying the U.S. Federal income tax rate to pre-tax income primarily as a result of the $11.7 million noncash goodwill impairment charge.  This noncash goodwill charge is not deductible for income tax purposes.

Net Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) was as follows (amounts in thousands):
   
2009
   
2008
   
% Increase
 
Net income (loss)
  $ (24,645 )   $ 13,337       n/a  

Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2009, was $(24.6) million, compared to net income of $13.3 million in 2008.  Basic loss per share was $(.71) for the year ended December 31, 2009, as compared to earnings per share of $.39 in 2008.  Diluted loss per share was $(.71) for the year ended December 31, 2009, as compared to earnings per share of $.38 in 2008.  The Company’s net income and earnings per share were lower due to the items previously discussed.

 
25

 

Agricultural Segment Results
Agricultural segment results were as follows (amounts in thousands):
   
2009
   
2008
   
% Decrease
 
Net sales
  $ 563,528     $ 729,895       (23 )%
Gross profit
    51,955       89,782       (42 )%
Income from operations
    26,980       74,241       (64 )%

Net sales in the agricultural market were $563.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, as compared to $729.9 million in 2008.  The significantly lower sales levels resulted from reduced demand for the Company’s products, as many of the Company’s major customers implemented extended shutdowns during the second half of 2009 as a consequence of the worldwide recession and economic crisis.  Titan in turn scheduled extended shutdowns at its production facilities to manage lower demand.

Gross profit in the agricultural market was $52.0 million for the year 2009, as compared to $89.8 million in 2008.  Income from operations in the agricultural market was $27.0 million for the year 2009, as compared to $74.2 million in 2008.  The reduction in gross profit and income from operations in the agricultural market was primarily attributed to lower farm equipment sales and the corresponding reduction in manufacturing efficiencies associated with the agricultural segment.  The income from operations was also decreased by a noncash goodwill impairment charge of $6.9 million.

Earthmoving/Construction Segment Results
Earthmoving/construction segment results were as follows (amounts in thousands):
   
2009
   
2008
   
% Decrease
 
Net sales
  $ 144,589     $ 281,008       (49 )%
Gross profit
    3,595       46,047       (92 )%
Income (loss) from operations
    (7,999 )     38,422       n/a  

The Company’s earthmoving/construction market net sales were $144.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, as compared to $281.0 million in 2008.  The significantly lower sales levels resulted from reduced demand for the Company’s products, as many of the Company’s major customers implemented extended shutdowns during the second half of 2009 as a consequence of the worldwide recession and economic crisis.  Titan in turn scheduled extended shutdowns at its production facilities to manage lower demand.  Also negatively impacting this segment was the major reduction in the construction market related to commercial, residential and infrastructure.

Gross profit in the earthmoving/construction market was $3.6 million for the year 2009, as compared to $46.0 million in 2008.  The Company’s earthmoving/construction market loss from operations was $(8.0) million for the year 2009, as compared to income from operations of $38.4 million in 2008.  Gross profit and income from operations declined as a result of the major sales contraction and the substantial negative manufacturing efficiencies associated with the earthmoving/construction segment.  The income from operations was also decreased by a noncash goodwill impairment charge of $3.6 million.

 
26

 

Consumer Segment Results
Consumer segment results were as follows (amounts in thousands):
   
2009
   
2008
   
% Decrease
 
Net sales
  $ 19,482     $ 25,797       (24 )%
Gross profit
    1,604       3,938       (59 )%
Income (loss) from operations
    (206 )     3,303       n/a  

Consumer market net sales were $19.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, as compared to $25.8 million in 2008.  The reduction in consumer market sales is attributed to the large contraction in consumer discretionary spending resulting from the recession and economic crisis.

Gross profit from the consumer market was $1.6 million in 2009 as compared to $3.9 million in 2008.  Consumer market loss from operations was $(0.2) million for the year 2009, as compared to income from operations of $3.3 million in 2008.  Gross profit and income from operations declined primarily as a result of reduced sales levels and the negative manufacturing efficiencies related to the 2009 extended shutdowns.  The income from operations was also reduced by a noncash goodwill impairment charge of $1.2 million.

Segment Summary
(Amounts in thousands)
 
2009
 
Agricultural
   
Earthmoving/
Construction
   
Consumer
   
Corporate
 Expenses
   
Consolidated
 Totals
 
Net sales
  $ 563,528     $ 144,589     $ 19,482     $ 0     $ 727,599  
Gross profit (loss)
    51,955       3,595       1,604       (1,189 )     55,965  
Income (loss) from operations
    26,980       (7,999 )     (206 )     (37,669 )     (18,894 )
                                         
2008
                                       
Net sales
  $ 729,895     $ 281,008     $ 25,797     $ 0     $ 1,036,700  
Gross profit (loss)
    89,782       46,047       3,938       (53 )     139,714  
Income (loss) from operations
    74,241       38,422       3,303       (42,645 )     73,321  

Corporate Expenses
Income from operations on a segment basis does not include corporate expenses or depreciation and amortization expense related to property, plant and equipment carried at the corporate level totaling $37.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, as compared to $42.6 million in 2008.

Corporate expenses for the year ended December 31, 2009, were composed of selling and marketing expenses of approximately $18 million and administrative expenses of approximately $20 million.

Corporate expenses for the year ended December 31, 2008, were composed of selling and marketing expenses of approximately $20 million and administrative expenses of approximately $23 million.

The lower corporate expenses for 2009 as compared to the previous year resulted from cost reductions and reduced spending due to the lower sales levels.

 
27

 

FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, COMPARED TO FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Highlights for the year ended December 31, 2008, compared to 2007 (amounts in thousands):
   
2008
   
2007
   
% Increase
 
Net sales
  $ 1,036,700     $ 837,021       24 %
Cost of sales
    896,986       752,890       19 %
Gross profit
    139,714       84,131       66 %
Gross profit percentage
    13.5 %     10.1 %        

Net Sales
Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2008, were $1,036.7 million compared to $837.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2007.  The large sales improvement of $199.7 million, or 24%, for the year ended December 31, 2008, was attributed to strong demand in the Company’s agricultural market, which reported higher sales of approximately 42% for 2008 as compared to the previous year.  Titan believes it has benefited in 2008 from a preliminary ruling from the U.S. Department of Commerce, affirming that exporters of Chinese-manufactured tires have been selling certain off-the-road tires in the U.S.A. at less than normal value and received subsidies, resulting in duties being imposed on certain imported tires.

Cost of Sales and Gross Profit
Cost of sales was $897.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, as compared to $752.9 million in 2007.  The higher cost of sales resulted from the record sales levels achieved in 2008.  Additional costs recorded during the year related to expenses associated with hiring and training workers to be utilized in giant OTR production, which were estimated to be approximately $6 million for 2008.

Gross profit for the year 2008 was $139.7 million, or 13.5% of net sales, compared to $84.1 million, or 10.1% of net sales, for 2007.  The gross profit margin for 2008 showed a significant improvement of over three percentage points compared to the previous year, as the Company continues its efforts to improve efficiencies and align sale prices with production cost.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses were as follows (amounts in thousands):
   
2008
   
2007
   
% Increase
 
Selling, general and administrative
  $ 53,661     $ 51,449       4 %
Percentage of net sales
    5.2 %     6.2 %        

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses were $53.7 million, or 5.2% of net sales, for the year ended December 31, 2008, as compared to $51.4 million, or 6.2% of net sales, for 2007.  SG&A expense rose primarily as the result of higher selling costs of approximately $2 million year over year.  SG&A percentage of net sales improved approximately one percentage point due to the Company’s SG&A expenses remaining relatively unchanged while sales achieved record levels.

Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses were as follows (amounts in thousands):
   
2008
   
2007
   
% Increase
 
Research and development
  $ 3,490     $ 1,689       107 %
Percentage of net sales
    0.3 %     0.2 %        

Research and development (R&D) expenses were $3.5 million, or 0.3% of net sales, for the year ended December 31, 2008, as compared to $1.7 million, or 0.2% of net sales, for 2007.  The additional R&D costs recorded during the year primarily related to the Giant OTR products.

 
28

 

Royalty Expense
Royalty expense was as follows (amounts in thousands):
   
2008
   
2007
   
% Increase
 
Royalty expense
  $ 9,242     $ 6,155       50 %

The Goodyear North American farm tire asset acquisition included a license agreement with The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company to manufacture and sell certain off-highway tires in North America under the Goodyear name.  Royalty expenses were $9.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, as compared to $6.2 million in 2007.  The higher royalty expense was the result of the strong sales in the agricultural segment.

Income from Operations
Income from operations was as follows (amounts in thousands):
   
2008
   
2007
   
% Increase
 
Income from operations
  $ 73,321     $ 24,838       195 %
Percentage of net sales
    7.1 %     3.0 %        

Income from operations for the year ended December 31, 2008, was $73.3 million, or 7.1% of net sales, compared to $24.8 million, or 3.0% of net sales, in 2007.  Income from operations was affected by the items previously discussed in the sales, cost of sales, SG&A and royalty line items.

Interest Expense
Interest expense was as follows (amounts in thousands):
   
2008
   
2007
   
% Decrease
 
Interest expense
  $ 15,122     $ 18,710       (19 )%

Interest expense for the year 2008 was $15.1 million compared to $18.7 million in 2007.  The reduction in interest costs was primarily the result of capitalization of interest of $3.2 million related to the giant OTR project in 2008.  In 2007, the Company capitalized $0.4 million of interest costs for the giant OTR project.

Noncash Titan Europe Plc charge
Noncash Titan Europe Plc charge was as follows (amounts in thousands):
   
2008
   
2007
   
% Increase
 
Noncash Titan Europe Plc charge
  $ (37,698 )   $ 0       n/a  

The unrealized loss on the Titan Europe Plc investment was $37.7 million.  The unrealized loss was due to a substantial decline in Titan Europe Plc’s publicly quoted price on the AIM market in London, England, at year end 2008.  A noncash charge of $37.7 million was recorded at year end December 31, 2008.

Noncash Convertible Debt Conversion Charge
Noncash convertible debt conversion charge was as follows (amounts in thousands):
   
2008
   
2007
   
% Decrease
 
Noncash debt conversion charge
  $ 0     $ 13,376       (100 )%

In March 2007, the Company converted $81.2 million of 5.25% senior convertible notes into 6,577,200 shares of Titan common stock.  Titan recognized a noncash charge of $13.4 million in connection with this exchange in accordance with ASC 470-20 Debt with Conversion and Other Options.

 
29

 

Other Income
Other income was as follows (amounts in thousands):
   
2008
   
2007
   
% Decrease
 
Other income
  $ 2,509     $ 3,364       (25 )%

Other income was $2.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, as compared to $3.4 million in 2007.  The major items included in other income are:  (i) dividend income from the Titan Europe Plc investment was $1.7 million and $1.8 million in 2008 and 2007, respectively, (ii) interest income was $1.4 million and $2.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and (iii) other expense of $(0.6) million and $(1.1) million in 2008 and 2007, respectively.  The reduction in interest income was primarily the result of lower interest rates.

Income Tax Expense
Income taxes were as follows (amounts in thousands):
   
2008
   
2007
   
% Increase
 
Income taxes
  $ 9,673     $ 3,363       188 %

The Company recorded an income tax expense of $9.7 million in 2008 and $3.4 million in 2007.   The Company’s effective tax rate was 42.0% in 2008 and (87)% in 2007.  The Company’s 2007 income tax expense and rate differs from the amount of income tax determined by applying the U.S. Federal income tax rate to pre-tax income primarily as a result of the $13.4 million noncash charge taken in connection with the Company’s convertible debt.  This noncash charge was not deductible for income tax purposes.

Net Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) was as follows (amounts in thousands):
   
2008
   
2007
   
% Increase
 
Net income (loss)
  $ 13,337     $ (7,247 )     n/a  

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2008, was $13.3 million, compared to net loss of $(7.2) million in 2007.  Basic income per share was $.39 for the year ended December 31, 2008, as compared to basic loss per share of $(.23) in 2007.  Diluted income per share was $.38 for the year ended December 31, 2008, as compared to diluted loss per share of $(.23) in 2007.  The Company’s net income and earnings per share improvements were due to the items detailed above.

Agricultural Segment Results
Agricultural segment results were as follows (amounts in thousands):
   
2008
   
2007
   
% Increase
 
Net sales
  $ 729,895     $ 515,642       42 %
Gross profit
    89,782       35,742       151 %
Income from operations
    74,241       25,324       193 %

Net sales in the agricultural market were $729.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, as compared to $515.6 million in 2007.  The robust agricultural segment sales were the result of significantly higher demand from the Company’s customers, an effect of record farm income and crop prices.

Gross profit in the agricultural market was $89.8 million for the year 2008, as compared to $35.7 million in 2007.  Income from operations in the agricultural market was $74.2 million for the year 2008, as compared to $25.3 million in 2007.  The significant improvement in gross profit and income from operations in the agricultural market was attributed to robust farm equipment sales and the Company continuing to align sales prices with production costs.

 
30

 

Earthmoving/Construction Segment Results
Earthmoving/construction segment results were as follows (amounts in thousands):
   
2008
   
2007
   
% Increase
(Decrease)
 
Net sales
  $ 281,008     $ 277,206       1 %
Gross profit
    46,047       47,848       (4 )%
Income from operations
    38,422       40,833       (6 )%

The Company’s earthmoving/construction market net sales were $281.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, as compared to $277.2 million in 2007.  The increase of $3.8 million primarily resulted from the continued strong earthmoving and mining sales.

Gross profit in the earthmoving/construction market was $46.0 million for the year 2008, as compared to $47.8 million in 2007.  The Company’s earthmoving/construction market income from operations was $38.4 million for the year 2008, as compared to $40.8 million in 2007.  The Company’s gross profit was negatively impacted by costs associated with hiring and training workers to be utilized in giant OTR production, estimated to be approximately $6 million for 2008.

Consumer Segment Results
Consumer segment results were as follows (amounts in thousands):
   
2008
   
2007
   
% (Decrease) Increase
 
Net sales
  $ 25,797     $ 44,173       (42 )%
Gross profit
    3,938       3,431       15 %
Income from operations
    3,303       2,546       30 %

Consumer market net sales were $25.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, as compared to $44.2 million in 2007.  The Goodyear farm tire acquisition agreement included an off-take/mixing agreement for certain product sales to Goodyear.  The reduction in consumer market sales was primarily related to lower sales to The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company of approximately $15 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2008, as compared to the previous year.

Gross profit from the consumer market was $3.9 million in 2008 as compared to $3.4 million in 2007.  Consumer market income from operations was $3.3 million for the year 2008 as compared to $2.5 million in 2007.  The improvement in gross profit and income from operations in the consumer segment was the result of a shift to higher margin products.

Segment Summary
(Amounts in thousands)
 
2008
 
Agricultural
   
Earthmoving/
Construction
   
Consumer
   
Corporate
 Expenses
   
Consolidated
 Totals
 
Net sales
  $ 729,895     $ 281,008     $ 25,797     $ 0     $ 1,036,700  
Gross profit (loss)
    89,782       46,047       3,938       (53 )     139,714  
Income (loss) from operations
    74,241       38,422       3,303       (42,645 )     73,321  
                                         
2007
                                       
Net sales
  $ 515,642     $ 277,206     $ 44,173     $ 0     $ 837,021  
Gross profit (loss)
    35,742       47,848       3,431       (2,890 )     84,131  
Income (loss) from operations
    25,324       40,833       2,546       (43,865 )     24,838  
 
 
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Corporate Expenses
Income from operations on a segment basis does not include corporate expenses or depreciation and amortization expense related to property, plant and equipment carried at the corporate level totaling $42.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, as compared to $43.9 million in 2007.

Corporate expenses for the year ended December 31, 2008, were composed of selling and marketing expenses of approximately $20 million and administrative expenses of approximately $23 million.

Corporate expenses for the year ended December 31, 2007, were composed of selling and marketing expenses of approximately $17 million and administrative expenses of approximately $27 million.

The higher selling and marketing expenses for 2008 as compared to the previous year resulted from the record sales levels and the associated selling costs.  The lower administrative costs resulted primarily from a reduction in management incentives.

 
32

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Cash Flows
As of December 31, 2009, the Company had $229.2 million of cash balances within various bank accounts.  This cash balance increased by $167.5 million from December 31, 2008, due to the following cash flow discussion items.
(amounts in thousands)
 
Year ended December 31,
       
   
2009
   
2008
   
Change
 
Cash
  $ 229,182     $ 61,658     $ 167,524  
 
Operating Cash Flows
Summary of cash flows from operating activities:
(amounts in thousands)
 
Year ended December 31,
       
   
2009
   
2008
   
Change
 
Net income (loss)
  $ (24,645 )   $ 13,337     $ (37,982 )
Depreciation and amortization
    34,296       30,368       3,928  
Deferred income tax provision
    (2,950 )     13,987       (16,937 )
Noncash goodwill impairment charge
    11,702       0       11,702  
Noncash Titan Europe Plc charge
    0       24,504       (24,504 )
Accounts receivable
    59,018       (28,137 )     87,155  
Inventories
    37,170       (19,258 )     56,428  
Accounts payable
    (41,301 )     21,555       (62,856 )
Other operating activities
    (977 )     (5,186 )     4,209  
Cash provided by operating activities
  $ 72,313     $ 51,170     $ 21,143  
 
For the year ended December 31, 2009, operating activities provided cash of $72.3 million.  This cash was primarily provided by decreases in accounts receivable of $59.0 million and inventories of $37.2 million.  Positive cash flows were offset by net loss of $(24.6) million and decreases in accounts payable of $41.3 million.  Included as a reduction to net income were noncash charges of $34.3 million for depreciation and amortization and $11.7 for the noncash goodwill impairment charge.

In comparison, for the year ended December 31, 2008, operating activities provided cash of $51.2 million.  This cash was primarily provided by net income of $13.3 million and an increase of $21.6 million in accounts payable.  Positive cash flows were offset by increases in accounts receivable of $28.1 million and inventories of $19.3 million.  Included as a reduction to net income were noncash charges of $30.4 million for depreciation and amortization and $24.5 million for the noncash Titan Europe Plc charge.

Operating cash flows increased $21.1 million from the year ended December 31, 2008, to December 31, 2009.  This increase was largely the result of cash flows from accounts receivable and inventories increasing $87.2 million and $56.4 million, respectively.  These increases in cash flows from 2008 to 2009 were offset by decreases in cash flow from accounts payable of $62.9 million and decreased net income.  In 2008, accounts receivable, inventories and accounts payable were higher to support record sales levels.  In 2009, as a result of significantly lower sales levels, the Company brought the levels of accounts receivable, inventories and accounts payable down dramatically.

For the year ended December 31, 2007, operating activities provided cash of $76.0 million.  This cash was primarily provided by a decrease in inventories of $26.6 million and increases of $18.1 million in accounts payable and $16.7 million in other current liabilities.  Positive cash flows were offset by net loss of $(7.2) million and an increase in accounts receivable of $24.5 million.  Included as a reduction to net income were noncash charges of $28.6 million for depreciation and amortization and $13.4 million for a debt conversion charge.

Operating cash flows decreased $24.8 million from the year ended December 31, 2007, to December 31, 2008.  This reduction was largely the result of cash flows from inventories decreasing $45.8 million and 2008 including a reduction to net income for the noncash Titan Europe Plc charge of $24.5 million, while 2007 included a reduction to income for a noncash debt conversion charge of $13.4 million.  The decreases were offset by a rise in net income of $20.6 million.  The higher inventory balances in 2008 were primarily due to raw materials.  Raw materials inventories were increased in 2008 to support Titan’s all-time record sales levels.

 
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Investing Cash Flows
Summary of cash flows from investing activities:
(amounts in thousands)
 
Year ended December 31,
       
   
2009
   
2008
   
Change
 
Capital expenditures
  $ (39,537 )   $ (79,953 )   $ 40,416  
Acquisition of shares of Titan Europe Plc
    (2,399 )     0       (2,399 )
Other investing activities
    1,042       104       938  
Cash used for investing activities
  $ (40,894 )   $ (79,849 )   $ 38,955  
 
Net cash used for investing activities was $40.9 million in 2009, as compared to $79.8 million in 2008 and $46.4 million in 2007.  The Company invested a total of $39.5 million in capital expenditures in 2009, compared to $80.0 million in 2008 and $38.0 million in 2007.  Capital expenditures include Giant OTR Project expenditures of approximately $23 million in 2009, approximately $60 million in 2008, and approximately $22 million in 2007.
 
The remaining capital expenditures of approximately $16 million in 2009, approximately $20 million in 2008, and approximately $16 million in 2007, represent various equipment purchases and improvements to enhance production capabilities of Titan’s existing business.

Cash used for investing decreased $39.0 million from the year ended December 31, 2008, to December 31, 2009.  This reduction in cash use was primarily the result of less cash being used for capital expenditures related to the Giant OTR project.

Financing Cash Flows
Summary of cash flows from financing activities:
(amounts in thousands)
 
Year ended December 31,
       
   
2009
   
2008
   
Change
 
Proceeds from borrowings
  $ 172,500     $ 0     $ 172,500  
Repurchase of senior notes due 2012
    (4,726 )     0       (4,726 )
Proceeds (payments) on credit facility
    (25,000 )     25,000       (50,000 )
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
    1,142       3,536       (2,394 )
Excess tax benefit from stock options
    0       4,131       (4,131 )
Payment of financing fees
    (7,107 )     (70 )     (7,037 )
Other financing activities
    (704 )     (585 )     (119 )
Cash provided by activities
  $ 136,105     $ 32,012     $ 104,093  
 
Net cash provided by financing activities was $136.1 million in 2009.  This cash was provided primarily by convertible senior subordinated notes proceeds of $172.5 million.  This was offset by payments on the Company’s credit facility of $25 million, payment of financing fees of $7.1 million and repurchase of senior notes of $4.7 million.
 
Net cash provided by financing activities was $32.0 million in 2008.  This cash was provided primarily by revolving credit facility proceeds of $25.0 million.  The exercise of stock options provided $3.5 million and excess tax benefit from stock options exercised provided $4.1 million.
 
Net cash used by financing activities was $4.7 million in 2007.  This cash use was primarily used for payment of debt of $10.2 million offset by proceeds of $6.6 million from the exercise of stock options.

Financing cash flows increased $104.1 million to the year ended December 31, 2009, from the year ended December 31, 2008.  Also, financing cash flows increased $36.7 million to the year ended December 31, 2008, from the year ended December 31, 2007.  The large changes from year to year are primarily the result of changes in total debt borrowings.

 
34

 

Debt Covenants
The Company’s revolving credit facility contains various covenants and restrictions.  The financial covenants in this agreement require that:
 
·  
Collateral coverage be equal to or greater than 1.2 times the outstanding revolver balance.
 
·  
If the 30-day average of the outstanding revolver balance exceeds $125 million, the fixed charge coverage ratio be equal to or greater than a 1.0 to 1.0 ratio.

Restrictions include:
 
·  
Limits on payments of dividends and repurchases of the Company’s stock.
 
·  
Restrictions on the ability of the Company to make additional borrowings, or to consolidate, merge or otherwise fundamentally change the ownership of the Company.
 
·  
Limitations on investments, dispositions of assets and guarantees of indebtedness.
 
·  
Other customary affirmative and negative covenants.
 
These covenants and restrictions could limit the Company’s ability to respond to market conditions, to provide for unanticipated capital investments, to raise additional debt or equity capital, to pay dividends or to take advantage of business opportunities, including future acquisitions.  The failure by Titan to meet these covenants could result in the Company ultimately being in default on these loan agreements.

The Company is in compliance with these covenants and restrictions as of December 31, 2009.  The collateral coverage ratio was not applicable as there were no outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit facility at December 31, 2009.

The fixed charge coverage ratio did not apply for the quarter ended December 31, 2009.  In connection with the convertible senior subordinated note offering, Titan agreed to add an additional mutually agreeable covenant to the Company’s revolving credit facility, which is not yet in place.

Other Items
The Company’s business is subject to seasonal variations in sales that affect inventory levels and accounts receivable balances.  Historically, Titan tends to experience higher sales demand in the first and second quarters.

LIQUIDITY OUTLOOK
At December 31, 2009, the Company had $229.2 million of cash and cash equivalents and no outstanding borrowings on the Company’s $150.0 million credit facility.  Titan expects to contribute approximately $3 million to its frozen defined benefit pension plans during 2010.
 
On December 21, 2009, the Company closed its offering of $172.5 million principal amount of 5.625% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2017 (Notes). The Notes were offered and sold in a private offering to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and to other investors pursuant to another applicable exemption from registration.

Titan received net proceeds from the offering of approximately $166 million after deducting initial purchasers’ discounts and estimated offering expenses. Titan intends to use the proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, including financing potential future acquisitions and repayment of existing debt obligations.
 
Capital expenditures for 2010 are forecasted to be approximately $12 million to $16 million.  Cash payments for interest are currently forecasted to be approximately $25 million in 2010 based on year-end 2009 debt balances.
 
In the future, Titan may seek to grow by making acquisitions which will depend on the ability to identify suitable acquisition candidates, to negotiate acceptable terms for their acquisition and to finance those acquisitions.  In September 2009, Titan signed a letter of intent with The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company to purchase certain farm tire assets, including the Goodyear Dunlop Tires France (GDTF) Amiens North factory.  This agreement is non-binding and will be subject to GDTF’s satisfactory completion of a social plan related to consumer tire activity at the Amiens North facility, along with completion of due diligence, a definitive acquisition agreement and other standard acquisition approval requirements.  At this time, the due diligence process continues.  There is no assurance that definitive agreements will be executed or that the acquisition will be consummated.

 
35

 
 
Subject to the terms of indebtedness, the Company may finance future acquisitions with cash on hand, cash from operations, additional indebtedness and/or by issuing additional equity securities.
 
Cash on hand, anticipated internal cash flows from operations and utilization of remaining available borrowings are expected to provide sufficient liquidity for working capital needs, capital expenditures and potential acquisitions.  If the Company were to exhaust all currently available working capital sources or not meet the financial covenants and conditions of its loan agreements, the Company’s ability to secure additional funding would be negatively impacted.

INFLATION
The Company is subject to the effect of price fluctuations.  During 2009, 2008 and 2007, the Company realized price increases for certain purchases of steel and rubber used in the manufacture of its products.  While the cost outlook for commodities used in the Company’s production is not certain, management believes it can manage these inflationary pressures by introducing appropriate sales price adjustments.  However, these price adjustments usually lag the inflationary pressures.

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
The Company’s contractual obligations at December 31, 2009, consisted of the following (amounts in thousands):
   
Payments due by period
 
 
Contractual Obligations
 
Total
   
Less than 1 year
   
1-3 years
   
3-5 years
   
More than 5 years
 
Senior Notes due 2012
  $ 193,800     $ 0     $ 193,800     $ 0     $ 0  
Convertible Notes due 2017
    172,500       0       0       0       172,500  
Interest expense (a)
    89,872       25,207       35,556       19,406       9,703  
Operating leases
    2,305       1,495       797       13       0  
Purchase obligations
    3,949       2,766       1,128       55       0  
Other long-term liabilities (b)
    24,500       2,600       8,300       7,200       6,400  
Royalty payment (c)
    22,800       7,600       15,200       0       0  
Total
  $ 509,726     $ 39,668     $ 254,781     $ 26,674     $ 188,603  

(a)  
Interest expense is estimated based on the Company’s year-end 2009 debt balances, maturities and interest rates.  The estimates assume no revolver borrowings.  The Company’s actual debt balances and interest rates may fluctuate in the future.  Therefore, actual interest payments may vary from those payments detailed in the above table.

(b)  
Other long-term liabilities represent the Company’s estimated funding requirements for the frozen defined benefit pension plans. The Company’s liability for pensions is based on a number of assumptions, including discount rates, rates of return on investments, mortality rates and other factors.  Certain of these assumptions are determined with the assistance of outside actuaries.  Assumptions are based on past experience and anticipated future trends and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties and may lead to significantly different pension liability funding requirements.

(c)  
The Company pays a royalty relating to a license agreement with The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company to manufacture and sell certain off-highway tires in North America.  Titan currently plans to continue using the Goodyear trademark until circumstances require a change.  Titan’s royalty payment to Goodyear for the next three years, the current term of the agreement, using the annual 2009 royalty payment of approximately $7.6 million as an estimate would total approximately $22.8 million.  The actual royalty amount paid to Goodyear in the future will vary based on the sales of certain off-highway tires in North America and the continuation of the license agreement.
 
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
The Company has no material off-balance sheet arrangements.

 
36

 

 
MARKET RISK SENSITIVE INSTRUMENTS

Exchange Rate Sensitivity
The Company is exposed to fluctuations in the British pound and Euro world currencies.  Titan does not hedge foreign currency transaction or translation exposures.  The Company’s net investment in foreign entities translated into U.S. dollars was $6.5 million at December 31, 2009, and $2.6 million at December 31, 2008.  The hypothetical potential loss in value of the Company’s net investment in foreign entities resulting from a 10% adverse change in foreign currency exchange rates at December 31, 2009, would amount to approximately $0.6 million.

Commodity Price Sensitivity
The Company does not generally enter into long-term commodity contracts and does not use derivative commodity instruments to hedge its exposures to commodity market price fluctuations.  Therefore, the Company is exposed to price fluctuations of its key commodities, which consist primarily of steel and rubber.  The Company attempts to pass on certain material price increases and decreases to its customers, depending on market conditions.
 
 Interest Rate Sensitivity
·  
Revolving credit facility  The Company has a $150 million credit facility that has a variable interest rate.  If the credit facility were fully drawn, a change in the interest rate of 100 basis points, or 1%, would change the Company’s interest expense by approximately $1.5 million.  At December 31, 2009, there were no borrowings under the credit facility.

·  
Senior unsecured 8% notes due 2012  At December 31, 2009, the fair value of the senior unsecured notes due January 2012, based on market prices obtained through independent pricing sources, was approximately $190.9 million, compared to a carrying value of $193.8 million.

·  
Convertible senior subordinated 5.625% notes due 2017  At December 31, 2009, the fair value of the convertible senior subordinated notes due January 2017, based on market prices obtained through independent pricing sources, was approximately $182.9 million, compared to a carrying value of $172.5 million.

MARKET CONDITIONS AND OUTLOOK
The magnitude and duration of the worldwide recession and economic crisis makes it extremely difficult to forecast future sales levels.  In 2009, Titan experienced a sales decline across the board. This decline was more severe in the second half of the year.  Titan may experience sales declines in each of the Company’s markets for the first part of 2010.  Although the short-term outlook is for continued sales declines, the Company has seen signs that the market may currently be experiencing the bottom of the cycle.  The Company is cautiously optimistic that sales may move higher in the latter part of 2010, however, there can be no assurance that the decline in sales will not continue.
 
Energy, raw material and petroleum-based product costs have been exceptionally volatile and may negatively impact the Company’s margins.  Many of Titan’s overhead expenses are fixed; therefore, lower seasonal trends may cause negative fluctuations in quarterly profit margins and affect the financial condition of the Company.

AGRICULTURAL MARKET OUTLOOK
Agricultural market sales are forecasted to be lower in 2010 when compared to the previous year’s sales levels.  Commodity prices have declined from last year’s highs, but remain above the long-term average.  The gradual increase in the use of biofuels may help sustain future production.  However, the magnitude and duration of the worldwide economic crisis makes it extremely difficult to forecast future sales levels.  Many variables, including weather, grain prices, export markets and future government policies and payments can greatly influence the overall health of the agricultural economy.  For 2010, the Company expects challenging conditions for the agricultural market.

 
37

 

EARTHMOVING/CONSTRUCTION MARKET OUTLOOK
Sales for the earthmoving/construction market are expected to be challenging in 2010 as a result of the worldwide economic crisis.  The magnitude and duration of this crisis makes it extremely difficult to forecast future sales levels.  Metals, oil and gas prices have retreated from last year’s highs as a result of the economic crisis.  In the long-term, these prices are expected to return to levels that are attractive for continued investment, which should help support future earthmoving and mining sales.  However, many producers are currently delaying new investments which will affect future sales levels.  The significant decline in the United States housing market continues to cause a major reduction in demand for equipment used for construction.  The earthmoving/construction segment is affected by many variables, including commodity prices, road construction, infrastructure, government appropriations, housing starts and the current banking and credit crisis.  For 2010, the Company expects some improvement compared to the previous year’s dramatically depressed sales levels in the earthmoving/construction market.

CONSUMER MARKET OUTLOOK
Consumer discretionary spending has experienced a major contraction as a result of the worldwide recession, housing market decline, and high unemployment rates.  Many of the Company’s consumer market sales are ultimately used in items which fall into the discretionary spending category.  There is no clear consensus among economists as to when consumer spending will rebound.  Many factors continue to affect the consumer market including weather, competitive pricing, energy prices and consumer attitude.  For 2010, the Company expects continued weakness in consumer spending related to Titan’s consumer market.

PENSIONS
The Company has three frozen defined benefit pension plans and one defined benefit plan that previously purchased a final annuity settlement.  These plans are described in Note 20 of the Company’s Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

The Company’s recorded liability for pensions is based on a number of assumptions, including discount rates, rates of return on investments, mortality rates and other factors.  Certain of these assumptions are determined by the Company with the assistance of outside actuaries.  Assumptions are based on past experience and anticipated future trends.  These assumptions are reviewed on a regular basis and revised when appropriate.  Revisions in assumptions and actual results that differ from the assumptions affect future expenses, cash funding requirements and the carrying value of the related obligations.  During the twelve months ended December 31, 2009, the Company contributed cash funds of $0.2 million to the frozen defined benefit pension plans.  Titan expects to contribute approximately $3 million to these frozen defined benefit pension plans during 2010.

Titan’s projected benefit obligation at December 31, 2009, was $93.7 million as compared to $90.5 million at December 31, 2008.  The Company’s defined benefit pension plans were underfunded by $24.5 million at December 31, 2009.  During 2009, the Company recorded net periodic pension expense of $4.9 million.  Accumulated other comprehensive loss recorded for defined benefit pension plans, net of tax, was $28.0 million and $33.6 million at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  Other comprehensive income (loss) is recorded as a direct charge to stockholders’ equity and does not affect net income.  Titan will be required to record net periodic pension cost in the future; these costs may fluctuate based upon revised assumptions and could negatively affect the Company’s financial position, cash flows and results of operations.

 
38

 

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

Accounting Guidance on Business Combinations
In January 2009, the Company adopted revised accounting guidance on business combinations.  This guidance requires an acquirer to recognize assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree at their fair values on the acquisition date, with goodwill being the excess value over the net identifiable assets acquired.  The adoption of this guidance had no material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Accounting Guidance on Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments
In April 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued accounting guidance on interim disclosures about fair value of financial instruments.  This guidance amends previous guidance to require disclosures about fair value of financial instruments for interim reporting periods of publicly traded companies as well as in annual financial statements.  This guidance also amends previous guidance to require disclosures in summarized financial information at interim reporting periods.  This guidance was effective for interim reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009.  The adoption of this guidance had no material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Accounting Guidance on Subsequent Events
In June 2009, the Company adopted accounting guidance on subsequent events.  The objective of this guidance was to establish general standards of accounting for and disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued.  This guidance was effective for interim periods ending after June 15, 2009.  The adoption of this guidance had no material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Accounting Guidance on Accounting Standards Codification and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
In June 2009, FASB issued accounting guidance on the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (Codification) and the hierarchy of GAAP.  This guidance establishes the Codification as the single source of authoritative GAAP to be applied by nongovernmental entities, except for the rules and interpretive releases of the SEC under authority of federal securities laws, which are sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants.  This guidance was effective for financial statements issued for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.  The adoption of this guidance had no material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 
39

 

 
ITEM 7A – QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Reference is made to Item 7, Part II of this report.
 
ITEM 8 – FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Reference is made to Item 15, Part IV of this report, “Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.”

ITEM 9 – CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
 
None.

ITEM 9A – CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) are effective as of the end of the period covered by this Form 10-K based on an evaluation of the effectiveness of disclosure controls and procedures.

Changes in Internal Controls
There were no material changes in internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) that occurred during the fourth quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal controls over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.  Also, projections of any evaluations of the effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
 
ITEM 9B – OTHER INFORMATION
 
None.

 
40

 

PART III

ITEM 10 – DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Directors
The information required by this item regarding the Company’s directors is incorporated by reference to the Company’s 2010 Proxy Statement under the captions “Election of Mr. Taylor and Mr. Akers as Directors,” “Directors Continuing in Office,” “Committees and Meetings of the Board of Directors” and “Corporate Governance.”

Executive Officers
The names, ages and positions of all executive officers of the Company are listed below, followed by a brief account of their business experience during the past five years.  Officers are normally appointed annually by the Board of Directors at a meeting immediately following the Annual Meeting of Stockholders.  The Chief Executive Officer and Secretary are brother and sister.  There is no arrangement or understanding between any officer and any other person pursuant to which an officer was selected.

Maurice M. Taylor Jr., 65, has been Chief Executive Officer and a Director of the Company since 1990, when Titan was acquired in a management-led buyout by investors, including Mr. Taylor.  Mr. Taylor served as President of the Company from 1990 to 2005 and was appointed Chairman in 2005.

Kent W. Hackamack, 51, served as Corporate Controller of the Company from 1994 to 1996.  Mr. Hackamack was appointed Vice President of Finance and Treasurer in 1996.

Cheri T. Holley, 62, joined the Company in 1994 as General Counsel and Secretary.  Ms. Holley was appointed Vice President in 1996.

Section 16(a) beneficial ownership reporting compliance
The information required by this item regarding beneficial ownership reporting compliance is incorporated by reference to the Company’s 2010 Proxy Statement under the caption “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance.”

Business conduct policy
The Company adopted a business conduct policy, which is applicable to directors, officers and employees.  The Company has also adopted corporate governance guidelines.  The business conduct policy and corporate governance guidelines are available under the investor information category of the Company’s website, www.titan-intl.com.  The Company intends to satisfy disclosure requirements regarding amendments to or waivers from its business conduct policy by posting such information on its website.  A printed copy of the business conduct policy and corporate governance guidelines are available, without charge, by writing to:  Titan International, Inc., c/o Corporate Secretary, 2701 Spruce Street, Quincy, IL 62301.
 
ITEM 11 – EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the Company’s 2010 Proxy Statement under the caption “Compensation of Executive Officers.” 

 
41

 
 
ITEM 12 – SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

Except for the information concerning equity compensation plans, the information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the Company’s 2010 Proxy Statement under the caption “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.”

The following table provides information about shares of Titan common stock that may be issued under Titan’s equity compensation plans, as of December 31, 2009:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Plan Category
 
 
(i)
Number of securities to
be issued upon exercise
of outstanding options,
warrants and rights
   
 
(ii)
Weighted-average
exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights
   
(iii)
Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (i))
 
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
    390,536 (a)       9.96         1,217,720  
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
      0          n/a         0  
Total
    390,536       9.96       1,217,720  

(a)  
Amount includes outstanding stock options under the Company’s 1994 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan and 2005 Equity Incentive Plan.
 
For additional information regarding the Company’s stock option plans, please see Note 21 of the Company’s Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

ITEM 13 – CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
 
The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the Company’s 2010 Proxy Statement under the caption “Related Party Transactions” and “Corporate Governance” and also appears in Note 25 of the Company’s Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
ITEM 14 – PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the Company’s 2010 Proxy Statement under the caption “Audit and Other Fees.”

 
42

 

PART IV
 
ITEM 15 –
EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
 
     
   (a) 1.
Financial Statements
 
     
 
Management’s Responsibility for Financial Statements and Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
F-1
     
 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
F-2
     
 
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007
F-3
     
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2009 and 2008
F-4
     
 
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009
F-5
     
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007
F-6
     
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
F-7 through F-33
     
2.
Financial Statement Schedule
 
     
 
Schedule II – Valuation Reserves
S-1
     
3.
Exhibits
 
     
 
The accompanying Exhibit Index is incorporated herein by reference.
 

 
43

 


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 
TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
 
(Registrant)


Date:  
February 25, 2010
By:  
/s/  MAURICE M. TAYLOR JR.
     
Maurice M. Taylor Jr.
     
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated on February 25, 2010.

Signatures
Capacity
   
/s/  MAURICE M. TAYLOR JR.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
         Maurice M. Taylor Jr.
(Principal Executive Officer)
   
   
/s/  KENT W. HACKAMACK                                                
Vice President of Finance and Treasurer
         Kent W. Hackamack
(Principal Financial Officer and
 
Principal Accounting Officer)
   
/s/  J. MICHAEL A. AKERS                                               
Director
         J. Michael A. Akers
 
   
/s/  ERWIN H. BILLIG                             
Director
         Erwin H. Billig
 
   
/s/  RICHARD M. CASHIN JR.                  
Director
Richard M. Cashin Jr.
 
   
   /s/  ALBERT J. FEBBO                                    
Director
Albert J. Febbo
 
   
/s/  MITCHELL I. QUAIN                                                   
Director
Mitchell I. Quain
 
   
/s/  ANTHONY L. SOAVE                                                   
Director
Anthony L. Soave
 

 
44

 

TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.

Exhibit Index
Annual Report on Form 10-K

Exhibit
 
   No.
DESCRIPTION
   
3.1 (a)
Amended Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company
3.2 (b)
Bylaws of the Company
4.1 (c)
Indenture between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association dated December 28, 2006
4.2 (d)
Indenture between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association dated December 21, 2009
10.1 (e)
1994 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan
10.2 (f)
2005 Equity Incentive Plan
10.3*
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement among the Company and Bank of America, N.A. dated as of January 30, 2009
10.4 (g)
Maurice M. Taylor, Jr. Employment Agreement
10.5 (g)
Kent W. Hackamack Employment Agreement
10.6 (g)
Cheri T. Holley Employment Agreement
21*
Subsidiaries of the Registrant
23*
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
31.1*
Certification of the Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2*
Certification of the Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32*
Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
*Filed herewith

(a)  
Incorporated by reference to the same numbered exhibit contained in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 1998 (No. 1-12936).
(b)  
Incorporated by reference to the same numbered exhibit contained in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (No. 33-69228).
(c)  
Incorporated by reference to the same numbered exhibit contained in the Company’s Form S-4 (No. 333-141865).
(d)  
Incorporated by reference to the same numbered exhibit contained in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 21, 2009.
(e)  
Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-61743).
(f)  
Incorporated by reference to Appendix A of the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement filed on March 30, 2005.
(g)  
Incorporated by reference to the same numbered exhibit contained in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2006 (No. 1-12936).


 
45

 

Management’s Responsibility for Financial Statements

Management is responsible for the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements included in this annual report on Form 10-K.  Management believes that the consolidated financial statements fairly reflect the transactions and the financial statements reasonably present the Company’s financial position and results of operations in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The Board of Directors of the Company has an Audit Committee comprised entirely of outside directors who are independent of management.  The Committee meets periodically with management, the internal auditors and the independent registered public accounting firm to review accounting control, auditing and financial reporting matters.  The Audit Committee is responsible for the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm and approval of their fees.

The independent registered public accounting firm audits the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  The consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2009, have been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is included herein.

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting.  Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.  Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Management has performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009, based on criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting described in “Internal Control-Integrated Framework” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.  Based on this evaluation, management concluded the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009.

The effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009, has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is presented in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 
 
F-1

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
To the Board of Directors
and Stockholders of
Titan International, Inc.:

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements listed in the accompanying index under item 15(a)(1) present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Titan International Inc. and its subsidiaries at December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2009 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  In addition, in our opinion, the financial statement schedule listed in the index appearing under Item 15(a)(2) presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements.  Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009 based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).  The Company's management is responsible for these financial statements and financial statement schedule, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting appearing on page F-1.  Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements, on the financial statement schedule, and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our integrated audits.  We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.  Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk.  Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.  Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
 
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
St. Louis, MO
February 25, 2010

 
 
F-2

 

TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(All amounts in thousands, except per share data)
 
   
Year ended December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
Net sales
  $ 727,599     $ 1,036,700     $ 837,021  
Cost of sales
    671,634       896,986       752,890  
Gross profit
    55,965       139,714       84,131  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    46,734       53,661       51,449  
Research and development expenses
    8,850       3,490       1,689  
Royalty expense
    7,573       9,242       6,155  
Noncash goodwill impairment charge
    11,702       0       0  
Income (loss) from operations
    (18,894 )     73,321       24,838  
Interest expense
    (16,246 )     (15,122 )     (18,710 )
Noncash Titan Europe Plc charge
    0       (37,698 )     0  
Noncash convertible debt conversion charge
    0       0       (13,376 )
Other income
    3,138       2,509       3,364  
Income (loss) before income taxes
    (32,002 )     23,010       (3,884 )
Income tax provision (benefit)
    (7,357 )     9,673       3,363  
Net income (loss)
  $ (24,645 )   $ 13,337     $ (7,247 )
Earnings (loss) per common share:
                       
  Basic
  $ (.71 )   $ .39     $ (.23 )
  Diluted
    (.71 )     .38       (.23 )
Average common shares and equivalents outstanding:
                       
  Basic
    34,708       34,410       32,081  
  Diluted
    34,708       34,838       32,081  
 
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 
 
F-3

 

TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(All amounts in thousands, except share data)

   
December 31,
 
Assets
 
2009
   
2008
 
Current assets
           
  Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 229,182     $ 61,658  
  Accounts receivable (net of allowance of $3,958 and $6,639, respectively)
    67,513       126,531  
  Inventories
    110,136       147,306  
  Deferred income taxes
    11,108       12,042  
  Prepaid and other current assets
    27,277       21,662  
    Total current assets
    445,216       369,199  
                 
  Property, plant and equipment, net
    254,461       248,442  
  Goodwill
    0       11,702  
  Deferred income taxes
    7,253       7,256  
  Other assets
    29,533       18,183  
                 
Total assets
  $ 736,463     $ 654,782  
                 
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
               
Current liabilities
               
  Short-term debt
  $ 0     $ 25,000  
  Accounts payable
    24,246       65,547  
  Other current liabilities
    45,826       46,088  
    Total current liabilities
    70,072       136,635  
                 
  Long-term debt
    366,300       200,000  
  Other long-term liabilities
    38,138       38,959  
Total liabilities
    474,510       375,594  
                 
Commitments and contingencies: Notes 12, 22 and 23
               
                 
Stockholders’ equity
               
  Common stock (no par, 60,000,000 shares authorized, 37,475,288 issued)
    30       30  
  Additional paid-in capital
    299,519       300,024  
  Retained earnings
    16,377       41,726  
  Treasury stock (at cost, 2,214,347 and 2,443,604 shares, respectively)
    (20,274 )     (22,332 )
  Treasury stock reserved for contractual obligations
    (5,393 )     (5,501 )
  Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (28,306 )     (34,759 )
Total stockholders’ equity
    261,953       279,188  
                 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 736,463     $ 654,782  
 
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 
 
F-4

 

TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(All amounts in thousands, except share data)

   
 
Number of common shares
   
 
 
Common Stock
   
 
Additional
paid-in
capital
   
 
 
Retained earnings
   
 
 
Treasury
stock
   
Treasury stock reserved for contractual obligations
   
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
   
 
 
 
Total
 
Balance January 1, 2007
    #24,871,735     $ 30     $ 258,071     $ 36,802     $ (96,264 )   $ 0     $ (11,462 )   $ 187,177  
                                                                 
Comprehensive income (loss):
                                                               
Net loss
                            (7,247 )                             (7,247 )
Unrealized loss on investment, net of tax
                                                    (20,375 )     (20,375 )
Pension liability adjustments, net of tax
                                                    793       793  
Comprehensive loss
                                                            (26,829 )
Dividends paid on common stock
                            (543 )                             (543 )
Note conversion
    8,221,500               35,240               59,049                       94,289  
Exercise of stock options
    555,663               2,640               3,991                       6,631  
Issuance of treasury stock for funding contractual obligations on employee contracts
    267,500               4,184               1,921                       6,105  
Issuance of treasury stock for pension plans
    250,000               3,536               1,796                       5,332  
Issuance of treasury stock under 401(k) plan
    17,086               237               123                       360  
Balance December 31, 2007
    34,183,484       30       303,908       29,012       (29,384 )     0       (31,044 )     272,522  
                                                                 
Comprehensive income (loss):
                                                               
Net income
                            13,337                               13,337  
Noncash Titan Europe Plc charge
                                                    14,249       14,249  
Pension liability adjustments, net of tax
                                                    (17,964 )     (17,964 )
Comprehensive income
                                                            9,622  
Dividends paid on common stock
                            (623 )                             (623 )
Noncash Titan Europe Plc charge
                    (10,471 )                                     (10,471 )
Cash paid for fractional shares resulting from stock split
                    (70 )                                     (70 )
Exercise of stock options
    313,463               5,389               2,278                       7,667  
Issuance of treasury stock for funding contractual obligations on employee contracts
    512,640               898               4,603       (5,501 )             0  
Issuance of treasury stock under 401(k) plan
    22,097               370               171                       541  
Balance December 31, 2008
    35,031,684       30       300,024       41,726       (22,332 )     (5,501 )     (34,759 )     279,188  
                                                                 
Comprehensive income (loss):
                                                               
Net loss
                            (24,645 )                             (24,645 )
Pension liability adjustments, net of tax
                                                    5,538       5,538  
Unrealized gain on investment, net of tax
                                                    915       915  
Comprehensive loss
                                                            (18,192 )
Dividends paid on common stock
                            (704 )                             (704 )
Exercise of stock options
    170,000               (384 )             1,526                       1,142  
Contractual obligation transactions
                    (7 )                     108               101  
Issuance of treasury stock under 401(k) plan
    59,257               (114 )             532                       418  
Balance December 31, 2009
    #35,260,941     $ 30     $ 299,519     $ 16,377     $ (20,274 )   $ (5,393 )   $ (28,306 )   $ 261,953  
 
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 
 
F-5

 

TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(All amounts in thousands)

   
Year ended December 31,
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
Net income (loss)
  $ (24,645 )   $ 13,337     $ (7,247 )
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
                       
provided by operating activities:
                       
   Depreciation and amortization
    34,296       30,368       28,620  
   Deferred income tax provision
    (2,950 )     13,987       1,995  
   Gain on senior note repurchase
    (1,398 )     0       0  
   Noncash goodwill impairment charge
    11,702       0       0  
   Noncash Titan Europe Plc charge
    0       24,504       0  
   Noncash convertible debt conversion charge
    0       0       13,376  
   Excess tax benefit from stock options exercised
    0       (4,131 )     0  
   Issuance of treasury stock under 401(k) plan
    418       541       360  
(Increase) decrease in assets:
                       
   Accounts receivable
    59,018       (28,137 )     (24,512 )
   Inventories
    37,170       (19,258 )     26,556  
   Prepaid and other current assets
    (5,615 )     (3,823 )     (1,738 )
   Other assets
    (2,031 )     575       (1,566 )
Increase (decrease) in liabilities:
                       
   Accounts payable
    (41,301 )     21,555       18,108  
   Other current liabilities
    (462 )     6,393       16,668  
   Other liabilities
    8,111       (4,741 )     5,373  
Net cash provided by operating activities
    72,313       51,170       75,993  
                         
Cash flows from investing activities:
                       
Capital expenditures
    (39,537 )     (79,953 )     (38,048 )
Acquisition of shares of Titan Europe Plc
    (2,399 )     0       0  
Acquisition of off-the-road (OTR) assets
    0       0       (8,900 )
Other
    1,042       104       532  
Net cash used for investing activities
    (40,894 )     (79,849 )     (46,416 )
                         
Cash flows from financing activities:
                       
Proceeds from borrowings
    172,500       0       0  
Repurchase of senior notes
    (4,726 )     0       0  
Payment on debt
    0       0       (10,164 )
Proceeds (payment) on revolving credit facility, net
    (25,000 )     25,000       0  
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
    1,142       3,536       6,631  
Excess tax benefit from stock options exercised
    0       4,131       0  
Payment of financing fees
    (7,107 )     (70 )     (625 )
Dividends paid
    (704 )     (585 )     (506 )
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities
    136,105       32,012       (4,664 )
                         
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
    167,524       3,333       24,913  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
    61,658       58,325       33,412  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
  $ 229,182     $ 61,658     $ 58,325  
 
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 
 
F-6

 
TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.  
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Business
Titan International, Inc. and its subsidiaries (Titan or the Company) are leading manufacturers of wheels, tires and assemblies for off-highway vehicles used in the agricultural, earthmoving/construction and consumer markets.  Titan’s earthmoving/construction market also includes products supplied to the U.S. military and other government entities, while the consumer market includes all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and recreational/utility trailer applications.  Titan manufactures both wheels and tires for the majority of these market applications, allowing the Company to provide the value-added service of delivering complete wheel and tire assemblies.  The Company offers a broad range of products that are manufactured in relatively short production runs to meet the specifications of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and/or the requirements of aftermarket customers.

Principles of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly- and majority-owned subsidiaries.  Investments of less than 20% of publicly traded entities are carried at fair value in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 320 Investments – Debt and Equity Securities.  The Company has considered the applicable guidance in ASC 323 Investments – Equity Method and Joint Ventures and has concluded that the Company’s 22.9% investment in Titan Europe Plc should be accounted for as an available-for-sale security and recorded at fair value in accordance with ASC 320 Investments – Debt and Equity Securities.  The Company has determined after considering the facts and circumstances relating to the investment that the equity method of accounting is not appropriate as the Company does not have significant influence over Titan Europe Plc.  All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Stock split
In June 2008, Titan’s Board of Directors approved a five-for-four stock split. Titan executed a five-for-four stock split that became effective August 15, 2008, for stockholders of record on July 31, 2008.  The Company gave five shares for every four shares held as of the record date.  Stockholders received one additional share for every four shares owned as of the record date and received cash in lieu of fractional shares.  All share and per share data, except shares authorized, have been adjusted to reflect the effect of the stock split for all periods presented.

Inventories
Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market.  Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method in 2009 for approximately 74% of inventories and the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method for approximately 26% of inventories.  The major rubber material inventory and related work-in-process and their finished goods are accounted for under the FIFO method.  The major steel material inventory and related work-in-process and their finished goods are accounted for under the LIFO method.  Market value is estimated based on current selling prices.  Estimated provisions are established for excess and obsolete inventory, as well as inventory carried above market price based on historical experience.

Deferred financing costs
Deferred financing costs are costs incurred in connection with the Company’s revolving credit facility, senior unsecured notes and convertible senior subordinated notes. The costs associated with the revolving credit facility are being amortized over the remaining term of the facility.  The costs associated with the senior unsecured notes are amortized straight line over five years, the term of the notes.  The costs associated with the convertible senior subordinated notes are amortized straight line over seven years, the term of the notes.  Amortization of deferred financing costs for the debt facilities approximates the effective interest rate method.

 
 
F-7

 
TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Fixed assets
Property, plant and equipment have been recorded at cost.  Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives of the related assets:

   
Years
 
       
Building and improvements
    25  
Machinery and equipment
    10  
Tools, dies and molds
    5  

Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred.  When property, plant and equipment are retired or otherwise disposed of, the related cost and accumulated depreciation are eliminated, and any gain or loss on disposition is included in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

Interest is capitalized on fixed asset projects which are constructed over a period of time.  The amount of interest capitalized is determined by applying a weighted average interest rate to the average amount of accumulated expenditures for the asset during the period.  The interest rate used is based on the rates applicable to borrowings outstanding during the period.

Fair value of financial instruments
The Company records all financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, notes receivable, accounts payable, other accruals and notes payable at cost, which approximates fair value.  Investments in marketable equity securities are recorded at fair value.  The senior unsecured notes and convertible senior subordinated notes are the only significant financial instruments of the Company with a fair value different from the recorded value.  At December 31, 2009, the fair value of the senior unsecured 8% notes due January 2012, based on market prices obtained through independent pricing sources, was approximately $190.9 million, compared to a carrying value of $193.8 million.   At December 31, 2009, the fair value of the convertible senior subordinated 5.625% notes due January 2017, based on market prices obtained through independent pricing sources, was approximately $182.9 million, compared to a carrying value of $172.5 million.

Available-for-sale securities
The Company has an investment in Titan Europe Plc that was valued at $6.5 million as of December 31, 2009, representing a 22.9% ownership position, at that time.  Titan Europe Plc is publicly traded on the AIM market in London, England.  The investment in Titan Europe Plc is included as a component of other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.  The Company has considered the applicable guidance in ASC 323 Investments – Equity Method and Joint Ventures and has concluded that the Company’s investment in Titan Europe Plc should continue to be accounted for as an available-for-sale security and recorded at fair value in accordance with ASC 320 Investments – Debt and Equity Securities as the Company does not have significant influence over Titan Europe Plc.  In accordance with ASC 320,  the Company records the Titan Europe Plc investment as an available-for-sale security and reports this investment at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported in a separate component of stockholders’ equity.  Should the fair value decline below the cost basis, the Company would be required to determine if this decline is other than temporary.  If the decline in fair value were judged to be other than temporary, an impairment charge would be recorded.  Declared dividends on this investment are recorded in income as a component of other income.  See Note 6 for additional information.

Impairment of fixed assets
The Company reviews fixed assets to assess recoverability from future operations whenever events and circumstances indicate that the carrying values may not be recoverable.  Impairment losses are recognized in operating results when expected undiscounted future cash flows are less than the carrying value of the asset.  Impairment losses are measured as the excess of the carrying value of the asset over the discounted expected future cash flows or the estimated fair value of the asset.

 
 
F-8

 
TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Foreign currency translation
The financial statements of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are translated to United States currency in accordance with ASC 830 Foreign Currency Matters.  Assets and liabilities are translated to United States dollars at period-end exchange rates.  Income and expense items are translated at average rates of exchange prevailing during the period.  Translation adjustments are included in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” in stockholders’ equity.  As of December 2009, the Company’s investment in Titan Europe Plc was classified as available-for-sale securities and this investment is included as a component of other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.  Gains and losses that result from foreign currency transactions are included in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

Impairment of goodwill
The Company reviews goodwill for impairment during the fourth quarter of each annual reporting period, and whenever events and circumstances indicate that the carrying values may not be recoverable.  In the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company recorded a noncash charge for the impairment of goodwill of $11.7 million on both a pre-tax and after-tax basis.  The charge was associated with the reporting units of the Company’s agricultural ($6.9 million), earthmoving/construction ($3.6 million), and consumer ($1.2 million) segments.  The Company had no remaining goodwill after the impairment.  See Note 8 for additional information.

Revenue recognition
The Company records sales revenue when products are shipped to customers and both title and the risks and rewards of ownership are transferred.  Provisions are established for sales returns and uncollectible accounts based on historical experience.  Should trends change, adjustments would be necessary to the estimated provisions.

Cost of sales
Cost of sales is comprised primarily of direct materials and supplies consumed in the manufacturing of the Company’s products, as well as manufacturing labor, depreciation expense and overhead expense necessary to acquire and convert the purchased materials and supplies into a finished product.  Cost of sales also includes all purchasing, receiving, inspection, internal transfers, and related distribution costs.

Selling, general and administrative expense
Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expense is comprised primarily of sales commissions, marketing expense, selling and administrative wages, information system costs, legal fees, bank charges, audit fees, research and development, depreciation and amortization expense on non-manufacturing assets, and other administrative items.

Research and development expense
Research and development (R&D) expenses are expensed as incurred.  R&D costs were $8.9 million, $3.5 million and $1.7 million for the years of 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.  The additional R&D costs recorded during the past two years primarily related to the Giant OTR products.

Advertising
Advertising expenses are included in SG&A expense and are expensed as incurred.  Advertising costs were approximately $2 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007.

Warranty costs
The Company provides limited warranties on workmanship on its products in all market segments.  The provision for estimated warranty costs is made in the period when such costs become probable and is based on past warranty experience.  See Note 10 for additional information.

 
 
F-9

 
TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Income taxes
Deferred income tax provisions are determined using the liability method whereby deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based upon temporary differences between the financial statement and income tax basis of assets and liabilities.  The Company assesses the realizability of its deferred tax asset positions to determine if a valuation allowance is necessary.

Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share (EPS) is computed by dividing consolidated net earnings by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding.  Diluted EPS is computed by dividing adjusted consolidated net earnings by the sum of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and the weighted average number of potential common shares outstanding.  Potential common shares consist of outstanding options under the Company’s stock option plans and the conversion of the Company’s senior unsecured convertible notes.

Cash equivalents
The Company considers short-term debt securities with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Interest paid
The Company paid $16.7 million, $16.6 million and $10.2 million for interest in 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Income taxes paid
Titan paid $0.4 million, $8.0 million and $2.4 million for income taxes in 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Global market risk
The Company manufactures and sells products and purchases goods in the United States and foreign countries.  The Company is potentially subject to foreign currency exchange risk relating to receipts from customers and payments to suppliers in foreign currencies.  As a result, the Company’s financial results could be affected by factors such as changes in foreign currency exchange rates or weak economic conditions in the foreign markets in which the Company conducts business.  Gains and losses arising from the settlement of foreign currency transactions are charged to the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the related period.  Translation adjustments arising from the translation of foreign subsidiary financial statements are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income in stockholders’ equity in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

Environmental liabilities
Environmental expenditures that relate to current operations are expensed or capitalized as appropriate.  Expenditures that relate to an existing condition caused by past operations and that do not contribute to current or future revenue are expensed.  Liabilities are recorded when environmental assessments and/or remedial efforts are probable and can be reasonably estimated.

Stock-based compensation
At December 31, 2009, the Company has two stock-based compensation plans, which are described in Note 21.  The Company granted no stock options in 2009, 2008 or 2007.

Reclassification
Certain amounts from prior years have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation.

Use of estimates
The policies utilized by the Company in the preparation of the financial statements conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and require management to make estimates, assumptions and judgments that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual amounts could differ from these estimates and assumptions.

 
 
F-10

 
TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Recently issued accounting standards

Accounting Guidance on Business Combinations
In January 2009, the Company adopted revised accounting guidance on business combinations.  This guidance requires an acquirer to recognize assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree at their fair values on the acquisition date, with goodwill being the excess value over the net identifiable assets acquired.  The adoption of this guidance had no material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Accounting Guidance on Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments
In April 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued accounting guidance on interim disclosures about fair value of financial instruments.  This guidance amends previous guidance to require disclosures about fair value of financial instruments for interim reporting periods of publicly traded companies as well as in annual financial statements.  This guidance also amends previous guidance to require disclosures in summarized financial information at interim reporting periods.  This guidance was effective for interim reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009.  The adoption of this guidance had no material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Accounting Guidance on Subsequent Events
In June 2009, the Company adopted accounting guidance on subsequent events.  The objective of this guidance was to establish general standards of accounting for and disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued.  This guidance was effective for interim periods ending after June 15, 2009.  The adoption of this guidance had no material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Accounting Guidance on Accounting Standards Codification and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
In June 2009, FASB issued accounting guidance on the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (Codification) and the hierarchy of GAAP.  This guidance establishes the Codification as the single source of authoritative GAAP to be applied by nongovernmental entities, except for the rules and interpretive releases of the SEC under authority of federal securities laws, which are sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants.  This guidance was effective for financial statements issued for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.  The adoption of this guidance had no material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 
 
F-11

 
TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

2.  
 ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

Accounts receivable at December 31, 2009 and 2008, consisted of the following (amounts in thousands):
   
2009
   
2008
 
Accounts receivable
  $ 71,471     $ 133,170  
Allowance for doubtful accounts
    (3,958 )     (6,639 )
Accounts receivable, net
  $ 67,513     $ 126,531  

The Company had net accounts receivable of $67.5 million and $126.5 million at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  These amounts are net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $4.0 million and $6.6 million for the years ended 2009 and 2008, respectively.

3.  
INVENTORIES

Inventories at December 31, 2009 and 2008, consisted of the following (amounts in thousands):
   
2009
   
2008
 
Raw material
  $ 44,336     $ 73,927  
Work-in-process
    21,378       26,820  
Finished goods
    46,067       56,488  
      111,781       157,235  
Adjustment to LIFO basis
    (1,645 )     (9,929 )
    $ 110,136     $ 147,306  
 
The Company had inventories of $110.1 million and $147.3 million at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  Included in the above inventory balances at year-end 2009 and 2008 are reserves for slow-moving and obsolete inventory of $2.3 million and $3.8 million, respectively.  The LIFO reduction changed primarily as a result of fluctuations within the composition of LIFO inventory layers in association with the major inventory reduction.

4.  
PREPAID AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS

Prepaid and other current assets at December 31, 2009 and 2008, consisted of the following (amounts in thousands):
   
2009
   
2008
 
Prepaid supplies
  $ 14,019     $ 12,436  
Prepaid income taxes
    3,514       3,141  
Other
    9,744       6,085  
    $ 27,277     $ 21,662  

The Company had prepaid and other current assets of $27.3 million and $21.7 million at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  The major component consisted primarily of prepaid supplies, which were $14.0 million and $12.4 million at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

 
 
F-12

 
TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

5.  
 PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Property, plant and equipment at December 31, 2009 and 2008, consisted of the following (amounts in thousands):
   
2009
   
2008
 
Land and improvements
  $ 2,993     $ 3,343  
Buildings and improvements
    97,238       99,650  
Machinery and equipment
    359,244       318,327  
Tools, dies and molds
    77,926       62,856  
Construction-in-process
    16,383       37,536  
      553,784       521,712  
Less accumulated depreciation
    (299,323 )     (273,270 )
    $ 254,461     $ 248,442  
 
The Company had property, plant and equipment of $254.5 million and $248.4 million at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  Depreciation related to property, plant and equipment for the years 2009, 2008 and 2007 totaled $31.7 million, $27.5 million, and $26.1 million, respectively.

6.  
INVESTMENT IN TITAN EUROPE

Investment in Titan Europe Plc at December 31, 2009 and 2008, consisted of the following (amounts in thousands):
   
2009
   
2008
 
Investment in Titan Europe Plc
  $ 6,456     $ 2,649  

Titan Europe Plc is publicly traded on the AIM market in London, England.  During the first quarter of 2009, the Company purchased $2.4 million of additional shares in Titan Europe Plc, thereby increasing its investment from 17.2% to a 22.9% ownership percentage.  The Company has considered the applicable guidance in ASC 323 Investments – Equity Method and Joint Ventures and has concluded that the Company’s investment in Titan Europe Plc should continue to be accounted for as an available-for-sale security and recorded at fair value in accordance with ASC 320 Investments – Debt and Equity Securities as the Company does not have significant influence over Titan Europe Plc.  The investment in Titan Europe Plc is included as a component of other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.  Titan’s cost basis in Titan Europe is $5.0 million.  Titan’s other comprehensive income includes a gain on the Titan Europe investment of $0.9 million, which is net of tax of $0.5 million.  The increased value in the Titan Europe Plc investment at December 31, 2009, was due to a higher publicly quoted Titan Europe Plc market price and additional purchased shares.

7.  
OTHER ASSETS

Other assets at December 31, 2009 and 2008, consisted of the following (amounts in thousands):
   
2009
   
2008
 
Deferred financing
  $ 9,084     $ 3,260  
Investment in Titan Europe Plc
    6,456       2,649  
Contractual obligations
    5,869       4,426  
Other
    8,124       7,848  
    $ 29,533     $ 18,183  

Other assets were $29.5 million and $18.2 million at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  The higher balance in other assets primarily related to deferred financing, which increased to $9.1 million at December 31, 2009, from $3.3 million at December 31, 2008.  The deferred financing increase was due to approximately $6 million of deferred financing related to the December 2009 convertible note offering.

 
 
F-13

 
TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

8.  
GOODWILL

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by reporting units for the year ended December 31, 2009, were as follows (amounts in thousands):
   
Agricultural
Segment
   
Earthmoving/
Construction
Segment
   
Consumer
Segment
   
 
Total
 
Balance at January 1, 2008
  $ 6,912     $ 3,552     $ 1,238     $ 11,702  
   Additions/disposals
    0       0       0       0  
Balance at December 31, 2008
    6,912       3,552       1,238       11,702  
   Noncash goodwill impairment charge
    (6,912 )     (3,552 )     (1,238 )     (11,702 )
Balance at December 31, 2009
  $ 0     $ 0     $ 0     $ 0  
 
The Company reviews goodwill for impairment during the fourth quarter of each annual reporting period, and whenever events and circumstances indicate that the carrying values may not be recoverable.  The Company evaluates the recoverability of goodwill by estimating the future discounted cash flows of the reporting unit to which the goodwill relates and using an earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) multiple approach.  In determining the estimated future cash flows, the Company considers current and projected future levels of income as well as business trends and economic conditions.  When the Company’s estimated fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying value, a second step of the impairment analysis is performed.  In this second step, the implied fair value of goodwill is calculated as the excess of the fair value of a reporting unit over the fair values assigned to its assets and liabilities.  If the implied fair value of goodwill is less than the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill, the difference is recognized as an impairment loss.
 
In the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company recorded a noncash charge for the impairment of goodwill of $11.7 million on both a pre-tax and million after-tax basis.  The charge was associated with the reporting units of the Company’s agricultural ($6.9 million), earthmoving/construction ($3.6 million), and consumer ($1.2 million) segments.  The Company performed a fourth quarter 2009 goodwill assessment using a discounted cash flow model that employed a 12.25% discount rate and 2.5% terminal growth rate assumption and an EBITDA multiple approach.

The key factors contributing to the goodwill impairment were:  (i) depressed sales levels, which began to accelerate during the third quarter of 2009, continued in the fourth quarter resulting from reduced demand for the Company’s products across the board, a consequence of the worldwide recession and global economic crisis, (ii) many of the Company’s major customers implemented additional shutdowns during the fourth quarter of 2009, Titan in turn extended shutdowns at its production facilities to manage the lower demand, (iii) operating losses which began in the third quarter, continued into the fourth quarter associated with lower product demand, (iv) decline in the reporting units’ forecasted financial performance as a result of ongoing weak economic conditions, and (v) in December 2009, in association with Titan’s convertible note issuance, the rating agencies of Moody’s Investor Service and Standard and Poor’s Rating Services issued a revised outlook on the Company’s future performance to negative from stable.

Significant assumptions relating to future operations must be made when estimating future cash flows in analyzing goodwill for impairment.  Assumptions utilized in analyzing goodwill are highly judgmental, especially given the worldwide recession and global economic crisis.

 
 
F-14

 
TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

9.  
OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES

Other current liabilities at December 31, 2009 and 2008,  consisted of the following (amounts in thousands):
   
2009
   
2008
 
Warranty
  $ 9,169     $ 7,488  
Wages and commissions
    8,384       11,765  
Accrued interest
    7,656       7,554  
Insurance
    5,958       6,161  
Utilities
    2,289       3,103  
Other
    12,370       10,017  
    $ 45,826     $ 46,088  

Other current liabilities were $45.8 million and $46.1 million at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  Reductions in wages and commissions of approximately $3 million and utilities of approximately $1 million were offset by increases of approximately $4 million in the other line items described in the table above.

10.  
WARRANTY COSTS

Changes in the warranty liability consisted of the following (amounts in thousands):
   
2009
   
2008
 
Warranty liability, January 1
  $ 7,488     $ 5,854  
   Provision for warranty liabilities
    18,629       13,567  
   Warranty payments made
    (16,948 )     (11,933 )
Warranty liability, December 31
  $ 9,169     $ 7,488  

The Company provides limited warranties on workmanship on its products in all market segments.  The majority of the Company’s products have a limited warranty that ranges from zero to ten years with certain products being prorated after the first year.  The Company calculates a provision for warranty expense based on past warranty experience.  Warranty accruals are included as a component of other current liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

11.  
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES

Other long-term liabilities at December 31, 2009 and 2008, consisted of the following (amounts in thousands):
   
2009
   
2008
 
Accrued pension liabilities
  $ 25,091     $ 29,291  
Accrued employment liabilities
    9,481       7,218  
Other
    3,566       2,450  
    $ 38,138     $ 38,959  

Other long-term liabilities were $38.1 million and $39.0 million at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.   The reduction in other long-term liabilities related to accrued pension liabilities, which decreased approximately $4 million at December 31, 2009, from year-end 2008.  This reduction was partially offset by increases of approximately $2 million in accrued employment liabilities and approximately $1 million in the other line item.

 
 
F-15

 
TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

12.  
REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY AND LONG-TERM DEBT

Long-term debt at December 31, 2009 and 2008, consisted of the following (amounts in thousands):
   
2009
   
2008
 
Senior unsecured 8% notes due 2012
  $ 193,800     $ 200,000  
Convertible senior subordinated 5.625% notes due 2017
    172,500       0  
Revolving credit facility
    0       25,000  
      366,300       225,000  
Less amounts due within one year
    0       25,000  
    $ 366,300     $ 200,000  

Aggregate maturities of long-term debt are as follows (amounts in thousands):
2010
  $ 0  
2011
    0  
2012
    193,800  
2013
    0  
2014
    0  
Thereafter
    172,500  
    $ 366,300  
 
Senior unsecured 8% notes due 2012
The Company’s senior unsecured 8% notes are due January 2012.  In the first quarter of 2009, the Company repurchased $6.2 million of principal value of senior notes for approximately $4.8 million resulting in a $1.4 million gain on the note repurchases.  The senior notes outstanding balance was $193.8 million at December 31, 2009.

Convertible senior subordinated 5.625% notes due 2017
The Company’s convertible senior subordinated 5.625% notes (Notes) are due January 2017.   The initial base conversion rate for the Notes is 93.0016 shares of Titan common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, equivalent to an initial base conversion price of approximately $10.75 per share of Titan common stock.  If the price of Titan common stock at the time of determination exceeds the base conversion price, the base conversion rate will be increased by an additional number of shares (up to 9.3002 shares of Titan common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Notes) as determined pursuant to a formula described in the indenture.  The base conversion rate will be subject to adjustment in certain events.

Revolving credit facility
The Company’s $150 million revolving credit facility (credit facility) with agent Bank of America, N.A. has a January 2012 termination date and is collateralized by a first priority security interest in certain assets of Titan and its domestic subsidiaries.  At December 31, 2009, there were no borrowings under the credit facility.  During 2009, the borrowings under the credit facility bore an approximate 3¼% interest rate.

On January 30, 2009, Titan International, Inc. amended and restated its credit facility with Bank of America, N.A.  The amendment included a multi-year extension that extended the credit facility termination date to January 2012 from the previous October 2009 date.  The amendment created an accordion feature within the credit facility that set the initial loan availability at $150 million with the ability to request increases up to a maximum availability of $250 million.

The credit facility contains certain financial covenants, restrictions and other customary affirmative and negative covenants.  In connection with the convertible senior subordinated note offering, Titan agreed to add an additional mutually agreeable covenant to the Company’s revolving credit facility.  Titan is in compliance with these covenants and restrictions as of December 31, 2009.

 
 
F-16

 
TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

13.  
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) consisted of the following (amounts in thousands):
   
Currency
Translation
Adjustments
   
Unrealized
Gain (Loss) on
Investments
   
Unrecognized
Losses and
Prior Service
Cost
   
 
 
Total
 
Balance at January 1, 2008
  $ (1,183 )   $ (14,249 )   $ (15,612 )   $ (31,044 )
Noncash Titan Europe Plc charge
    0       14,249       0       14,249  
Defined benefit pension plan entries:
                               
  Unrecognized prior service cost, net of tax of $52
    0       0       85       85  
  Unrecognized net loss, net of tax of $11,041
    0       0       (18,014 )     (18,014 )
  Unrecognized deferred tax liability, net of tax of $21
    0       0       (35 )     (35 )
Balance at December 31, 2008
    (1,183 )     0       (33,576 )     (34,759 )
Unrealized gain on investment, net of tax of $493
    0       915       0       915  
Defined benefit pension plan entries:
                               
  Unrecognized prior service cost, net of tax of $51
    0       0       85       85  
  Unrecognized net gain, net of tax of $3,364
    0       0       5,488       5,488  
  Unrecognized deferred tax liability, net of tax of $21
    0       0       (35 )     (35 )
Balance at December 31, 2009
  $ (1,183 )   $ 915     $ (28,038 )   $ (28,306 )
 
14.  
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

The Company is authorized by the Board of Directors to repurchase up to 2.5 million common shares subject to debt agreement covenants.  The Company repurchased no Titan common shares in 2009, 2008, or 2007.  The Company has no plans at this time to repurchase any Titan common stock.  Titan paid cash dividends of $.02 per share of common stock for 2009, $.018 per share of common stock for 2008 and $.016 per share for common stock for 2007.  Dividends paid totaled $0.7 million, $0.6 million and $0.5 million for 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

15.  
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The adoption of guidance in ASC 820 Fair Value Measurements for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, effective January 1, 2009, did not have a material impact on Titan’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

ASC 820 establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value.  These tiers are defined as:
 
 
Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical instruments;
 
 
Level 2 – Inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable.
 
 
Level 3 – Unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions.

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis consisted of the following (amounts in thousands):

   
December 31, 2009
   
December 31, 2008
 
   
Total
   
Level 1
   
Levels 2&3
   
Total
   
Level 1
   
Levels 2&3
 
Investment in Titan Europe Plc
  $ 6,456     $ 6,456     $ 0     $ 2,649     $ 2,649     $ 0  
Investments for contractual obligations
    5,869       5,869       0       4,426       4,426       0  
Total
  $ 12,325     $ 12,325     $ 0     $ 7,075     $ 7,075     $ 0  
 
 
 
F-17

 
TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

16.  
ROYALTY EXPENSE

Royalty expense consisted of the following (amounts in thousands):
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
Royalty expense
  $ 7,573     $ 9,242     $ 6,155  

The Company has a license agreement with The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company to manufacture and sell certain off-highway tires in North America under the Goodyear name.  Royalty expenses recorded for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, were $7.6 million, $9.2 million and $6.2 million, respectively.

17.  
NONCASH CONVERTIBLE DEBT CONVERSION CHARGE

Noncash convertible debt conversion charge consisted of the following (amounts in thousands):
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
Noncash convertible debt charge
  $ 0     $ 0     $ 13,376  

In January 2007, the Company filed a registration statement relating to an offer to the holders of its 5.25% senior unsecured convertible notes due 2009 to convert their notes into Titan’s common stock at an increased conversion rate (Offer).  Per the Offer, each $1,000 principal amount of notes was convertible into 81.0000 shares of common stock, which is equivalent to a conversion price of approximately $12.35 per share.

In March 2007, the Company announced 100% acceptance of the conversion offer and the $81.2 million of accepted notes were converted into 6,577,200 shares of Titan common stock.  The Company recognized a noncash charge of $13.4 million in connection with this exchange in accordance with ASC 470-20 Debt – Debt with Conversion and Other Options.

18.  
OTHER INCOME, NET

Other income consisted of the following (amounts in thousands):
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
Gain on senior note repurchases
  $ 1,398     $ 0     $ 0  
Investment gain (loss) related to  contractual obligations
    1,343       (1,852 )     172  
Interest income
    211       1,352       2,717  
Dividend income – Titan Europe Plc
    0       1,711       1,768  
Other income (expense)
    186       1,298       (1,293 )
    $ 3,138     $ 2,509     $ 3,364  

Other income recorded for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, was $3.1 million, $2.5 million and $3.4 million, respectively.  The other income items are described in the table above.

 
 
F-18

 
TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

19.  
INCOME TAXES

Income (loss) before income taxes, consisted of the following (amounts in thousands):
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
Domestic
  $ (31,863 )   $ 21,727     $ (6,306 )
Foreign
    (139 )     1,283       2,422  
    $ (32,002 )   $ 23,010     $ (3,884 )

The income tax provision (benefit) was as follows (amounts in thousands):
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
Current
                 
  Federal
  $ (3,526 )   $ 7,814     $ 562  
  State
    160       34       547  
  Foreign
    (1,041 )     1,031       1,574  
      (4,407 )     8,879       2,683  
Deferred
                       
  Federal
    (2,721 )     811       2,725  
  State
    (229 )     (17 )     408  
  Foreign
    0       0       (2,453 )
      (2,950 )     794       680  
Income tax provision (benefit)
  $ (7,357 )   $ 9,673     $ 3,363  

The income tax provision differs from the amount of income tax determined by applying the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate to pre-tax income (loss) as a result of the following:
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
Statutory U.S. federal tax rate
    35.0 %     35.0 %     35.0 %
Nondeductible goodwill impairment
    (12.8 )     0.0       0.0  
Nondeductible debt conversion charge
    0.0       0.0       (120.6 )
Irish capital gains tax
    0.0       0.0       29.3  
Repatriation of foreign earnings
    0.0       1.9       (29.2 )
Foreign taxes, net
    1.6       (1.9 )     18.8  
State taxes, net
    (0.1 )     4.8       (16.0 )
Other, net
    (0.7 )     2.2       (3.9 )
Effective tax rate
    23.0 %     42.0 %     (86.6 )%
 
 
 
F-19

 
TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes.  Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 2009 and 2008, are as follows (amounts in thousands):
   
2009
   
2008
 
Deferred tax assets:
           
   Unrealized loss on investments
  $ 13,401     $ 13,954  
   Net operating loss carryforwards
    13,481       2,004  
   Pension
    9,789       11,130  
   Employee benefits and related costs
    4,821       4,044  
   Warranty
    3,533       2,862  
   Allowance for bad debts
    1,963       2,523  
   Inventory
    968       1,970  
   EPA reserve
    858       1,121  
   Other
    3,894       4,636  
      Deferred tax assets
    52,708       44,244  
                 
Deferred tax liabilities:
               
   Fixed assets
    (34,347 )     (24,946 )
      Deferred tax liabilities
    (34,347 )     (24,946 )
                 
      Net deferred tax asset
  $ 18,361     $ 19,298  

The Company recorded an income tax benefit of $(7.4) million for the year ended December 31, 2009, and income tax expense of $9.7 million and $3.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.  The Company’s income tax expense and rate differs from the amount of income tax determined by applying the U.S. Federal income tax rate to pre-tax income primarily as a result of the $11.7 million noncash goodwill impairment charge.  This noncash goodwill charge is not deductible for income tax purposes.  The Company’s Federal net operating loss carryforward of approximately $30 million expires in 2029.  In addition, the Company has various state net operating loss carryforwards which are subject to expiration from 2019 to 2029.

The Company has applied the provisions of FIN 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes”, for the year ended December 31, 2009.  No adjustment was made to retained earnings in adopting FIN 48 in 2007 and at this time the Company does not expect any significant increases or decreases to its unrecognized tax benefits within 12 months of this reporting date.  Titan has identified its federal tax return and its Illinois state tax return as “major” tax jurisdictions.  The Company is subject to (i) federal tax examinations for periods 2006 to 2009 and (ii) Illinois state income tax examinations for years 2006 to 2009.

 
 
F-20

 
TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

20.  
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

Pension plans
The Company has a frozen defined benefit pension plan covering certain employees of Titan Tire Corporation (Titan Tire) and has a frozen defined benefit pension plan covering certain employees of Titan Tire Corporation of Bryan (Bryan).  The Company also has a frozen contributory defined benefit pension plan covering certain former eligible bargaining employees of its Walcott, Iowa, facility (Walcott).  Additionally, the Company maintains a contributory defined benefit plan that covered former eligible bargaining employees of Dico, Inc (Dico).  This Dico plan purchased a final annuity settlement contract in October 2002.  The Company’s policy is to fund pension costs as required by law, which is consistent with the funding requirements of federal laws and regulations.

The Company’s defined benefit plans have been aggregated in the following table.  Included in the December 31, 2009, presentation are the Titan Tire, Bryan and Walcott plans which have a projected benefit obligation of $93.7 million, exceeding the fair value of plan assets of $68.6 million at December 31, 2009.  Included in the December 31, 2008, presentation are the Titan Tire, Bryan and Walcott plans which have a projected benefit obligation of $90.5 million, exceeding the fair value of plan assets of $61.3 million at December 31, 2008.

The projected benefit obligation and the accumulated benefit obligation are the same amount since the Plans are frozen and there are no future compensation levels to factor into the obligations.  The Company absolved itself from the liabilities associated with the Dico plan with the purchase of a final annuity settlement contract in October 2002.  Therefore, the plan no longer maintains a projected or accumulated benefit obligation.  The fair value of the Dico plan assets was $0.5 million at December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007.

The following table provides the change in benefit obligation, change in plan assets, funded status and amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheet of the defined benefit pension plans as of December 31, 2009 and 2008 (amounts in thousands):

Change in benefit obligation:
 
2009
   
2008
 
Benefit obligation at beginning of year
  $ 90,545     $ 95,362  
Interest cost
    5,456       5,295  
Actuarial (gain) loss
    4,657       (3,507 )
Benefits paid
    (6,950 )     (6,605 )
Benefit obligation at end of year
  $ 93,708     $ 90,545  
                 
Change in plan assets:
               
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year
  $ 61,796     $ 94,499  
Actual return on plan assets
    14,145       (26,323 )
Employer contributions
    169       225  
Benefits paid
    (6,950 )     (6,605 )
Fair value of plan assets at end of year
  $ 69,160     $ 61,796  
                 
Unfunded status at end of year
  $ (24,548 )   $ (28,749 )
                 
Amounts recognized in consolidated balance sheet:
               
Noncurrent assets
  $ 543     $ 542  
Noncurrent liabilities
    (25,091 )     (29,291 )
Net amount recognized in the consolidated balance sheet
  $ (24,548 )   $ (28,749 )
 
 
 
F-21

 
TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss:
       
   
2009
   
2008
 
Unrecognized prior service cost
  $ (1,301 )   $ (1,438 )
Unrecognized net loss
    (44,034 )     (52,886 )
Deferred tax effect of unrecognized items
    17,297       20,748  
Net amount recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss
  $ (28,038 )   $ (33,576 )

The weighted-average assumptions used in the actuarial computation that derived the benefit obligations at December 31 were as follows:
 
2009
   
2008
 
  Discount rate
    5.75 %     6.25 %
  Expected long-term return on plan assets
    7.50 %     8.50 %
 
The following table provides the components of net periodic pension cost for the plans, settlement cost and the assumptions used in the measurement of the Company’s benefit obligation for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 (amounts in thousands):
Components of net periodic benefit cost and other
amounts recognized in other comprehensive income
                 
Net periodic benefit cost:
 
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
  Interest cost
  $ 5,456     $ 5,295     $ 4,109  
  Assumed return on assets
    (4,939 )     (7,828 )     (5,561 )
  Amortization of unrecognized prior service cost
    137       137       137  
  Amortization of unrecognized deferred taxes
    (56 )     (56 )     (56 )
  Amortization of net unrecognized loss
    4,303       1,588       1,593  
                         
Net periodic pension (income) cost
  $ 4,901     $ (864 )   $ 222  

The estimated net loss, prior service cost, and deferred taxes that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic benefit cost over the next fiscal year are $3.6 million, $0.1 million and $(0.1) million, respectively.

The weighted-average assumptions used in the actuarial computation that derived net periodic pension cost for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 were as follows:
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
  Discount rate
    6.25 %     5.75 %     5.75 %
  Expected long-term return on plan assets
    8.50 %     8.50 %     8.50 %

 
 
F-22

 
TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The allocation of the fair value of plan assets was as follows:
   
Percentage of Plan Assets
at December 31,
   
Target
Allocation
 
Asset Category
 
2009
   
2008
   
2010
 
U.S. equities (a)
    61 %     53 %     40% - 80 %
Fixed income
    26 %     34 %     20% - 50 %
Cash and cash equivalents
    4 %     8 %     0% - 20 %
International equities (a)
    9 %     5 %     0% - 16 %
      100 %     100 %        

(a)  
Total equities may not exceed 80% of total plan assets.

ASC 820 establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value.  These tiers are defined as:
 
 
Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical instruments;
 
 
Level 2 – Inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable.
 
 
Level 3 – Unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions.

The fair value of the plan assets by asset categories was as follows (amounts in thousands):
   
Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2009
 
   
Total
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
 
Money market funds
  $ 3,067     $ 3,067     $ 0     $ 0  
Domestic common stock
    28,761       28,761       0       0  
Foreign common stock
    2,887       2,887       0       0  
Corporate bonds
    4,722       4,722       0       0  
Foreign bonds
    275       275       0       0  
U.S. government securities
    1,658       1,658       0       0  
Mortgaged-backed securities
    97       0       97       0  
Mutual funds
    1,024       1,024       0       0  
Common / collective trusts
    26,669       0       26,669       0  
Totals
  $ 69,160     $ 42,394     $ 26,766     $ 0  

The Company invests in a diversified portfolio consisting of an array of asset classes in an attempt to maximize returns while minimizing risk.  These asset classes include U.S. equities, fixed income, cash and cash equivalents, and international equities.  The investment objectives are to provide for the growth and preservation of plan assets on a long-term basis through investments in: (i) investment grade securities that provide investment returns that meet or exceed the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index and (ii) investment grade fixed income securities that provide investment returns that meet or exceed the Barclays Capital Aggregate Bond Index.  The U.S. equities asset category included the Company’s common stock in the amount of $1.5 million (approximately two percent of total plan assets) at both December 31, 2009 and 2008 year end.

The long-term rate of return for plan assets is determined using a weighted-average of long-term historical approximate returns on cash and cash equivalents, fixed income securities, and equity securities considering the anticipated investment allocation within the plans.  The expected return on plan assets is anticipated to be 7.5% over the long-term.  This rate assumes long-term historical returns of approximately 9% for equities and approximately 6% for fixed income securities using the plans’ target allocation percentages.  Professional investment firms, none of which are Titan employees, manage the plan assets.

Although the 2010 minimum pension funding calculations are not finalized, the Company estimates those funding requirements will be approximately $3 million.

 
 
F-23

 
TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Projected benefit payments from the plans as of December 31, 2009, are estimated as follows (amounts in thousands):
2010
  $ 6,544  
2011
    6,611  
2012
    6,699  
2013
    6,878  
2014
    6,980  
2015-2019
    36,057  

401(k)
The Company sponsors four 401(k) retirement savings plans.  One plan is for the benefit of substantially all employees who are not covered by a collective bargaining arrangement.  Titan provides a 25% matching contribution in the form of the Company’s common stock on the first 6% of the employee’s contribution in this plan.  The Company issued 59,257 shares, 22,097 shares and 17,086 shares of treasury stock in connection with this 401(k) plan during 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.  Expenses to the Company related to this common stock matching contribution were $0.4 million, $0.6 million and $0.4 million for 2009, 2008 and 2007.

The other three 401(k) plans are for employees covered by collective bargaining arrangements at (i) Titan Tire Corporation; (ii) Titan Tire Corporation of Freeport; and (iii) Titan Tire Corporation of Bryan.  These three plans do not include a Company matching contribution.  Employees are fully vested with respect to their contributions.

21.  
STOCK OPTION PLANS

The Company accounts for stock options using ASC 718 Compensation – Stock Compensation.  No stock-based compensation expense was recorded during 2009, 2008, or 2007.  The Company granted no stock options during 2009, 2008 or 2007.  All previously granted stock options were fully vested before January 1, 2007.

Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan
The Company adopted the 1994 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan (the Director Plan) to provide for grants of stock options as a means of attracting and retaining qualified independent directors for the Company.  There will be no additional issuance of stock options under this plan as it has expired.  Options previously granted are fully vested and expire 10 years from the grant date of the option.

2005 Equity Incentive Plan
The Company adopted the 2005 Equity Incentive Plan to provide stock options as a means of attracting and retaining qualified independent directors and employees for the Company.  A total of 1.2 million shares are available for future issuance under the equity incentive plan.  The exercise price of stock options may not be less than the fair market value of the common stock on the date of the grant.  The vesting and term of each option is set by the Board of Directors.  In 2009, 2008 and 2007 no stock options were granted under this equity incentive plan.
 
Stock options outstanding and exercisable as of December 31, 2009, were as follows:
       
Options Outstanding
   
Options Exercisable
 
   
Weighted Average
 
Number of
   
Weighted Average
   
Number of
   
Weighted Average
 
Price Range
 
Contractual Life
 
Options
   
Exercise Price
   
Options
   
Exercise Price
 
$ 3.63 - $ 5.35  
1.2 years
    112,500     $ 4.45       112,500     $ 4.45  
$ 10.68 - $13.74  
5.7 years
    278,036     $ 12.20       278,036     $ 12.20  
            390,536     $ 9.96       390,536     $ 9.96  
 
 
 
F-24

 
TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The following is a summary of activity in the stock option plans for 2007, 2008 and 2009:
   
Shares Subject
to Option
   
Weighted- Average
Exercise Price
 
             
Outstanding, January 1, 2007
    1,437,575     $ 10.63  
                 
  Granted
    0       - (a)
  Exercised
    (555,663 )     11.94  
  Canceled/Expired
    (7,913 )     10.50  
                 
Outstanding, December 31, 2007
    873,999       9.81  
                 
  Granted
    0       - (a)
  Exercised
    (313,463 )     11.29  
  Canceled/Expired
    0       -  
                 
Outstanding, December 31, 2008
    560,536       8.98  
                 
  Granted
    0       - (a)
  Exercised
    (170,000 )     6.72  
  Canceled/Expired
    0       -  
                 
Outstanding, December 31, 2009
    390,536     $ 9.96  

(a)  
The Company granted no stock options during 2007, 2008 or 2009.

The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised in 2007 was $5.2 million.  Cash received from the exercise of options was $6.6 million for 2007.  There was no tax benefit realized for the tax deductions from stock options exercised for 2007.

The total intrinsic value of options exercised in 2008 was $5.1 million.  Cash received from the exercise of stock options was $3.5 million for 2008.  The tax benefit realized for the tax deductions from stock options exercised was $4.1 million for 2008.

The total intrinsic value of options exercised in 2009 was $0.2 million.  Cash received from the exercise of stock options was $1.1 million for 2009.  There was no tax benefit realized for the tax deductions from stock options exercised for 2009.

The Company currently uses treasury shares to satisfy any stock option exercises.  At December 31, 2009, the Company had 2.2 million shares of treasury stock.

22.  
 LITIGATION

The Company is a party to routine legal proceedings arising out of the normal course of business.  Although it is not possible to predict with certainty the outcome of these unresolved legal actions or the range of possible loss, the Company believes at this time that none of these actions, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.  However, due to the difficult nature of predicting unresolved and future legal claims, the Company cannot anticipate or predict the material adverse effect on its consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows as a result of efforts to comply with or its liabilities pertaining to legal judgments.

 
 
F-25

 
TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

23.  
LEASE COMMITMENTS

The Company leases certain buildings and equipment under operating leases.  Certain lease agreements provide for renewal options, fair value purchase options, and payment of property taxes, maintenance and insurance by the Company.  Total rental expense was $2.5 million, $2.9 million and $3.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

At December 31, 2009, future minimum rental commitments under noncancellable operating leases with initial or remaining terms in excess of one year are as follows (amounts in thousands):
2010
  $ 1,495  
2011
    733  
2012
    64  
2013
    13  
Thereafter
    0  
Total future minimum lease payments
  $ 2,305  

24.  
CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK

Net sales to Deere & Company in Titan’s agricultural, earthmoving/construction and consumer markets represented 24% of the Company’s consolidated revenues for the year ended December 31, 2009, 22% of the Company’s consolidated revenues for the year ended December 31, 2008, and 17% of the Company’s consolidated revenues for the year ended December 31, 2007.  Net sales to CNH Global N.V. in Titan’s three markets represented 13% of the Company’s consolidated revenues for the year ended December 31, 2009, 12% of the Company’s consolidated revenues for the year ended December 31, 2008, and 11% of the Company’s consolidated revenues for the year ended December 31, 2007.  No other customer accounted for more than 10% of Titan’s net sales in 2009, 2008 or 2007.

25.  
 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Company sells products and pays commissions to companies controlled by persons related to the chief executive officer of the Company.  The related party is Mr. Fred Taylor and is Mr. Maurice Taylor’s brother.  The companies which Mr. Fred Taylor is associated with that do business with Titan include the following:  Blackstone OTR, LLC; FBT Enterprises; OTR Wheel Engineering; and Wheel & Rim Supply, Inc.  During 2009, 2008 and 2007, sales of Titan product to these companies were approximately $1.0 million, $6.2 million and $5.1 million, respectively.  Titan had trade receivables due from these companies of approximately $0.1 million at December 31, 2009, and approximately $0.2 million at December 31, 2008.  On other sales referred to Titan from these manufacturing representative companies, commissions were approximately $1.3 million, $2.0 million and $1.8 million during 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.  These sales and commissions were made in the ordinary course of business and were made on terms no less favorable to Titan than comparable sales and commissions to unaffiliated third parties.

26.  
SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

The Company has aggregated its operating units into reportable segments based on its three customer markets: agricultural, earthmoving/construction and consumer.  These segments are based on the information used by the chief executive officer to make certain operating decisions, allocate portions of capital expenditures and assess segment performance.  The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in Note 1, “Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies.”  Segment external revenues, expenses and income from operations are determined on the basis of the results of operations of operating units of manufacturing facilities.  Segment assets are generally determined on the basis of the tangible assets located at such operating units’ manufacturing facilities and the intangible assets associated with the acquisitions of such operating units.  However, certain operating units’ goodwill and property, plant and equipment balances are carried at the corporate level.

Titan is organized primarily on the basis of products being included in three marketing segments, with each reportable segment including wheels, tires and wheel/tire assemblies.

 
 
F-26

 
TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The table below presents information about certain revenues and expenses, income (loss) from operations and segment assets used by the chief operating decision maker of the Company as of and for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 (amounts in thousands):
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
Revenues from external customers
                 
   Agricultural
  $ 563,528     $ 729,895     $ 515,642  
   Earthmoving/construction
    144,589       281,008       277,206  
   Consumer
    19,482       25,797       44,173  
    $ 727,599     $ 1,036,700     $ 837,021  
Gross profit (loss)
                       
   Agricultural
  $ 51,955     $ 89,782     $ 35,742  
   Earthmoving/construction
    3,595       46,047       47,848  
   Consumer
    1,604       3,938       3,431  
   Unallocated corporate
    (1,189 )     (53 )     (2,890 )
    $ 55,965     $ 139,714     $ 84,131  
Income (loss) from operations
                       
   Agricultural
  $ 26,980     $ 74,241     $ 25,324  
   Earthmoving/construction
    (7,999 )     38,422       40,833  
   Consumer
    (206 )     3,303       2,546  
   Unallocated corporate
    (37,669 )     (42,645 )     (43,865 )
Consolidated income (loss) from operations
    (18,894 )     73,321       24,838  
Interest expense
    (16,246 )     (15,122 )     (18,710 )
Noncash Titan Europe Plc charge
    0       (37,698 )     0  
Noncash convertible debt conversion charge
    0       0       (13,376 )
Other income, net
    3,138       2,509       3,364  
Income (loss) before income taxes
  $ (32,002 )   $ 23,010     $ (3,884 )
                         
Capital expenditures
                       
   Agricultural
  $ 8,461     $ 10,946     $ 11,267  
   Earthmoving/construction
    29,593       67,203       22,950  
   Consumer
    254       406       1,654  
   Unallocated corporate
    1,229       1,398       2,177  
    $ 39,537     $ 79,953     $ 38,048  
Depreciation & amortization
                       
   Agricultural
  $ 17,531     $ 16,004     $ 14,255  
   Earthmoving/construction
    12,836       10,831       10,330  
   Consumer
    535       594       1,320  
   Unallocated corporate
    3,394       2,939       2,715  
    $ 34,296     $ 30,368     $ 28,620  
Total assets
                       
   Agricultural
  $ 257,523     $ 360,030     $ 257,005  
   Earthmoving/construction
    188,169       188,486       176,144  
   Consumer
    8,305       9,401       22,515  
   Unallocated corporate (a)
    282,466       96,865       134,831  
    $ 736,463     $ 654,782     $ 590,495  

(a)  Unallocated assets include cash of approximately $229 million, $61 million, and $58 million at year-end 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 
 
F-27

 
TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The table below presents information by geographic area.  Revenues from external customers were determined based on the location of the selling subsidiary.  Geographic information as of and for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 was as follows (amounts in thousands):
2009
 
United States
   
Other Countries
   
Consolidated
Totals
 
Revenues from external customers
  $ 727,599     $ 0     $ 727,599  
Long-lived assets
    254,461       0       254,461  
                         
2008
                       
Revenues from external customers
  $ 1,036,700     $ 0     $ 1,036,700  
Long-lived assets
    260,144       0       260,144  
                         
2007
                       
Revenues from external customers
  $ 837,021     $ 0     $ 837,021  
Long-lived assets
    207,780       0       207,780  
 
27.  
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Evaluation of subsequent events
The Company has performed an evaluation of subsequent events through February 25, 2010, which is the date the financial statements were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Special Meeting of Stockholders (Definitive proxy filed January 29, 2010)
A Special Meeting of Stockholders (Special Meeting) of Titan International, Inc. is to be held on March 4, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. Central Time, at the Holiday Inn, 4821 Oak Street, Quincy, IL 62305, to consider and act upon the following matters:

1)  
To approve an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock from 60,000,000 shares to 120,000,000 shares; and

2)  
To transact such other business as may properly come before the Special Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

The Company’s board of directors has fixed the “record date” to be the close of business on January 15, 2010.  Only those stockholders whose names appear of record at the Company’s close of business on January 15, 2010, as holders of record of the Company common stock, are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Special Meeting or any adjournments thereof.

 
 
F-28

 
TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

28.  
EARNINGS PER SHARE

Earnings per share for 2009, 2008 and 2007, are (amounts in thousands, except share and per share data):
2009
 
Net income (loss)
   
Weighted-
average shares
   
Per share
 amount
 
Basic and diluted loss per share (a)
  $ (24,645 )     34,707,891     $ (.71 )
                         
2008
                       
Basic earnings per share
  $ 13,337       34,409,754     $ .39  
Effect of stock options/trusts
    0       428,474          
Diluted earnings per share
  $ 13,337       34,838,228     $ .38  
                         
2007
                       
Basic and diluted loss per share (b)
  $ (7,247 )     32,081,268     $ (.23 )

(a)  
The effect of stock options/trusts has been excluded as they were anti-dilutive.  The weighted-average share amount excluded for stock options/trusts totaled 559,110 shares.  The effect of convertible notes has not been included as they were anti-dilutive.  The weighted-average share amount excluded for convertible notes totaled 483,481 shares.

(b)  
The effect of stock options has been excluded as they were anti-dilutive.  The weighted-average share amount excluded for stock options totaled 555,162 shares.  The effect of convertible notes has not been included as they were anti-dilutive.  The weighted-average share amount excluded for convertible notes totaled 1,627,296 shares.


29.  
 SUPPLEMENTARY DATA – QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
 
(All amounts in thousands, except per share data)
 
Quarter ended
 
March 31
   
June 30
   
September 30
   
December 31
     
Year ended
December 31
 
                                 
2009
                   
 
         
Net sales
  $ 232,604     $ 206,983     $ 141,496     $ 146,516       $ 727,599  
Gross profit (loss)
    30,063       29,746       (3,030 )     (814 )       55,965  
Net income (loss)
    7,041       5,910       (11,113 )     (26,483 )
(b)
    (24,645 )
Per share amounts:
                                         
  Basic
    .20       .17       (.32 )     (.76 )
(b)
    (.71 )
  Diluted
    .20       .17       (.32 )     (.76 )
(b)
    (.71 )
                                           
2008
                                         
Net sales
  $ 253,525     $ 269,114     $ 255,463     $ 258,598       $ 1,036,700  
Gross profit
    32,344       41,946       37,423       28,001         139,714  
Net income (loss)
    8,134       13,306       10,303       (18,406 )
(c)
    13,337  
Per share amounts: (a)
                                         
  Basic
    .24       .39       .30       (.53 )
(c)
    .39  
  Diluted
    .23       .38       .30       (.53 )
(c)
    .38  
 
(a)  
As a result of changes in outstanding share balances, year-end per share amounts do not agree to the sum of the quarters.
Adjusted to reflect the five-for-four stock split that took place in 2008.

(b)  
Noncash goodwill impairment charge of $11.7 million was included in the quarter ended December 31, 2009.

(c)  
Noncash Titan Europe Plc charge of $24.5 million, net of tax, was included in the quarter ended December 31, 2008.

 
 
F-29

 
TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

30.  
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The Company’s 8% senior unsecured notes and 5.625% convertible senior subordinated notes are guaranteed by each of Titan’s current and future wholly owned domestic subsidiaries other than its immaterial subsidiaries (subsidiaries with total assets less than $250,000 and total revenues less than $250,000.) The note guarantees are full and unconditional, joint and several obligations of the guarantors. Non-guarantors consist primarily of foreign subsidiaries of the Company, which are organized outside the United States of America. The following condensed consolidating financial statements are presented using the equity method of accounting.

   
Consolidating Condensed Statements of Operations
 
(Amounts in thousands)
     
   
Year Ended December 31, 2009
 
   
Titan
         
Non-
             
   
Intl., Inc.
   
Guarantor
   
Guarantor
             
   
(Parent)
   
Subsidiaries
   
Subsidiaries
   
Eliminations
   
Consolidated
 
Net sales
  $ 0     $ 727,599     $ 0     $ 0     $ 727,599  
Cost of sales
    (6 )     671,640       0       0       671,634  
Gross profit (loss)
    6       55,959       0       0       55,965  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    16,549       30,093       92       0       46,734  
Research and development expenses
    67       8,783       0       0       8,850  
Royalty expense
    0       7,573       0       0       7,573  
Noncash goodwill impairment charge
    0       11,702       0       0       11,702  
Loss from operations
    (16,610 )     (2,192 )     (92 )     0       (18,894 )
Interest expense
    (16,246 )     0       0       0       (16,246 )
Other income
    2,850       288       0       0       3,138  
Loss before income taxes
    (30,006 )     (1,904 )     (92 )     0       (32,002 )
Income tax provision (benefit)
    (6,897 )     (439 )     (21 )     0       (7,357 )
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries
    (1,536 )     0       0       1,536       0  
Net income (loss)
  $ (24,645 )   $ (1,465 )   $ (71 )   $ 1,536     $ (24,645 )


   
Year Ended December 31, 2008
 
(Amounts in thousands)
     
   
Titan
         
Non-
             
   
Intl., Inc.
   
Guarantor
   
Guarantor
             
   
(Parent)
   
Subsidiaries
   
Subsidiaries
   
Eliminations
   
Consolidated
 
Net sales
  $ 0     $ 1,036,700     $ 0     $ 0     $ 1,036,700  
Cost of sales
    (922 )     897,908       0       0       896,986  
Gross profit
    922       138,792       0       0       139,714  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    20,332       33,251       78       0       53,661  
Research and development expenses
    17       3,473       0       0       3,490  
Royalty expense
    0       9,242       0       0       9,242  
Income (loss) from operations
    (19,427 )     92,826       (78 )     0       73,321  
Interest expense
    (15,122 )     0       0       0       (15,122 )
Noncash Titan Europe Plc charge
    (37,698 )     0       0       0       (37,698 )
Other income (expense)
    832       (33 )     1,710       0       2,509  
Income (loss) before income taxes
    (71,415 )     92,793       1,632       0       23,010  
Income tax provision (benefit)
    (30,024 )     39,011       686       0       9,673  
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries
    54,728       0       0       (54,728 )     0  
Net income
  $ 13,337     $ 53,782     $ 946     $ (54,728 )   $ 13,337  
 
 
 
F-30

 
TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

   
Consolidating Condensed Statements of Operations
 
(Amounts in thousands)
     
   
Year Ended December 31, 2007
 
   
Titan
         
Non-
             
   
Intl., Inc.
   
Guarantor
   
Guarantor
             
   
(Parent)
   
Subsidiaries
   
Subsidiaries
   
Eliminations
   
Consolidated
 
Net sales
  $ 0     $ 837,021     $ 0     $ 0     $ 837,021  
Cost of sales
    1,905       750,985       0       0       752,890  
Gross profit (loss)
    (1,905 )     86,036       0       0       84,131  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    19,555       31,692       202       0       51,449  
Research and development
    17       1,672       0       0       1,689  
Royalty expense
    0       6,155       0       0       6,155  
Income (loss) from operations
    (21,477 )     46,517       (202 )     0       24,838  
Interest expense
    (18,707 )     (3 )     0       0       (18,710 )
Intercompany interest income (expense)
    11,472       (12,324 )     852       0       0  
Noncash convertible debt conversion charge
    (13,376 )     0       0       0       (13,376 )
Other income (expense)
    1,925       (333 )     1,772       0       3,364  
Income (loss) before income taxes
    (40,163 )     33,857       2,422       0       (3,884 )
Income tax provision (benefit)
    (10,423 )     12,866       920       0       3,363  
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries
    22,493       0       0       (22,493 )     0  
Net income (loss)
  $ (7,247 )   $ 20,991     $ 1,502     $ (22,493 )   $ (7,247 )

 
   
Consolidating Condensed Balance Sheets
 
(Amounts in thousands)
                             
   
December 31, 2009
 
   
Titan
         
Non-
             
   
Intl., Inc.
   
Guarantor
   
Guarantor
             
   
(Parent)
   
Subsidiaries
   
Subsidiaries
   
Eliminations
   
Consolidated
 
Assets
                             
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 229,004     $ 11     $ 167     $ 0     $ 229,182  
Accounts receivable
    (201 )     67,714       0       0       67,513  
Inventories
    0       110,136       0       0       110,136  
Prepaid and other current assets
    19,857       18,528       0       0       38,385  
Total current assets
    248,660       196,389       167       0       445,216  
Property, plant and equipment, net
    7,602       246,859       0       0       254,461  
Investment in subsidiaries
    10,748       0       0       (10,748 )     0  
Other assets
    23,870       6,460       6,456       0       36,786  
Total assets
  $ 290,880     $ 449,708     $ 6,623     $ (10,748 )   $ 736,463  
                                         
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
                                       
Accounts payable
  $ 1,086     $ 23,160     $ 0     $ 0     $ 24,246  
Other current liabilities
    8,288       37,538       0       0       45,826  
Total current liabilities
    9,374       60,698       0       0       70,072  
Long-term debt
    366,300       0       0       0       366,300  
Other long-term liabilities
    5,574       32,564       0       0       38,138  
Intercompany accounts
    (352,321 )     377,281       (24,960 )     0       0  
Stockholders’ equity
    261,953       (20,835 )     31,583       (10,748 )     261,953  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 290,880     $ 449,708     $ 6,623     $ (10,748 )   $ 736,463  


 
 
F-31

 
TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

   
Consolidating Condensed Balance Sheets
 
(Amounts in thousands)
     
   
December 31, 2008
 
   
Titan
         
Non-
             
   
Intl., Inc.
   
Guarantor
   
Guarantor
             
   
(Parent)
   
Subsidiaries
   
Subsidiaries
   
Eliminations
   
Consolidated
 
Assets
                             
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 59,011     $ 60     $ 2,587     $ 0     $ 61,658  
Accounts receivable
    (127 )     126,658       0       0       126,531  
Inventories
    0       147,306       0       0       147,306  
Prepaid and other current assets
    17,117       16,573       14       0       33,704  
Total current assets
    76,001       290,597       2,601       0       369,199  
Property, plant and equipment, net
    6,160       242,282       0       0       248,442  
Investment in subsidiaries
    31,474       0       0       (31,474 )     0  
Other assets
    15,842       18,650       2,649       0       37,141  
Total assets
  $ 129,477     $ 551,529     $ 5,250     $ (31,474 )   $ 654,782  
                                         
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
                                       
Short-term debt
  $ 25,000     $ 0     $ 0     $ 0     $ 25,000  
Accounts payable
    3,106       62,441       0       0       65,547  
Other current liabilities
    10,548       34,540       1,000       0       46,088  
Total current liabilities
    38,654       96,981       1,000       0       136,635  
Long-term debt
    200,000       0       0       0       200,000  
Other long-term liabilities
    3,943       35,016       0       0       38,959  
Intercompany accounts
    (392,308 )     419,738       (27,430 )     0       0  
Stockholders’ equity
    279,188       (206 )     31,680       (31,474 )     279,188  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 129,477     $ 551,529     $ 5,250     $ (31,474 )   $ 654,782  

 
   
Consolidating Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
 
(Amounts in thousands)
                       
   
Year Ended December 31, 2009
 
   
Titan
         
Non-
       
   
Intl., Inc.
   
Guarantor
   
Guarantor
       
   
(Parent)
   
Subsidiaries
   
Subsidiaries
   
Consolidated
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
  $ 36,592     $ 35,742     $ (21 )   $ 72,313  
                                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
                               
Capital expenditures
    (2,704 )     (36,833 )     0       (39,537 )
  Acquisition of shares of Titan Europe Plc
    0       0       (2,399 )     (2,399 )
Other, net
    0       1,042       0       1,042  
Net cash used for investing activities
    (2,704 )     (35,791 )     (2,399 )     (40,894 )
                                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
                               
Proceeds from borrowings
    172,500       0       0       172,500  
  Repurchase of senior notes
    (4,726 )     0       0       (4,726 )
  Payment on debt
    (25,000 )     0       0       (25,000 )
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
    1,142       0       0       1,142  
Payment of financing fees
    (7,107 )     0       0       (7,107 )
Other, net
    (704 )     0       0       (704 )
Net cash provided by financing activities
    136,105       0       0       136,105  
                                 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    169,993       (49 )     (2,420 )     167,524  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
    59,011       60       2,587       61,658  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
  $ 229,004     $ 11     $ 167     $ 229,182  
 
 
 
F-32

 
TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


   
Consolidating Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
 
(Amounts in thousands)
     
   
Year Ended December 31, 2008
 
   
Titan
         
Non-
       
   
Intl., Inc.
   
Guarantor
   
Guarantor
       
   
(Parent)
   
Subsidiaries
   
Subsidiaries
   
Consolidated
 
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities
  $ (25,759 )   $ 75,319     $ 1,610     $ 51,170  
                                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
                               
Capital expenditures
    (4,534 )     (75,419 )     0       (79,953 )
Other, net
    7       97       0       104  
Net cash used for investing activities
    (4,527 )     (75,322 )     0       (79,849 )
                                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
                               
Proceeds on revolving credit facility
    25,000       0       0       25,000  
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
    3,536       0       0       3,536  
Excess tax benefit from stock options exercised
    4,131       0       0       4,131  
Other, net
    (655 )     0       0       (655 )
Net cash provided by financing activities
    32,012       0       0       32,012  
                                 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    1,726       (3 )     1,610       3,333  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
    57,285       63       977       58,325  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
  $ 59,011     $ 60     $ 2,587     $ 61,658  


   
Year Ended December 31, 2007
 
(Amounts in thousands)
     
   
Titan
         
Non-
       
   
Intl., Inc.
   
Guarantor
   
Guarantor
       
   
(Parent)
   
Subsidiaries
   
Subsidiaries
   
Consolidated
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
  $ 38,364     $ 36,775     $ 854     $ 75,993  
                                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
                               
Capital expenditures
    (1,402 )     (36,646 )     0       (38,048 )
Acquisition off-the-road (OTR) assets
    (8,900 )     0       0       (8,900 )
Asset disposals
    3       529       0       532  
Net cash used for investing activities
    (10,299 )     (36,117 )     0       (46,416 )
                                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
                               
Payment of debt
    (9,500 )     (664 )     0       (10,164 )
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
    6,631       0       0       6,631  
Other, net
    (1,131 )     0       0       (1,131 )
Net cash used for financing activities
    (4,000 )     (664 )     0       (4,664 )
                                 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    24,065       (6 )     854       24,913  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
    33,220       69       123       33,412  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
  $ 57,285     $ 63     $ 977     $ 58,325  



 
 
F-33

 

TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.

SCHEDULE II – VALUATION RESERVES

 
Description
 
Balance at beginning
of year
   
Additions to costs and expenses
   
 
Deductions
   
Balance
at end
of year
 
                         
Year ended December 31, 2009
                       
Reserve deducted in the balance sheet from the assets to which it applies
                       
                         
Allowance for doubtful accounts
  $ 6,639,000     $ 1,248,000     $ (3,929,000 )   $ 3,958,000  
                                 
Year ended December 31, 2008
                               
Reserve deducted in the balance sheet from the assets to which it applies
                               
                                 
Allowance for doubtful accounts
  $ 5,258,000     $ 1,489,000     $ (108,000 )   $ 6,639,000  
                                 
Year ended December 31, 2007
                               
Reserve deducted in the balance sheet from the assets to which it applies
                               
                                 
Allowance for doubtful accounts
  $ 4,818,000     $ 461,000     $ (21,000 )   $ 5,258,000  

S-1