Pirelli chairman resigns from Libyan Investment Authority board
Pirelli chairman Marco Tronchetti Provera has resigned from his position on the advisory board of the Libyan Investment Authority, which is the eighth largest shareholder of the multinational financial institution UniCredit, according to a Reuters report. The decision to resign came “in the face of the tragic events that are hitting the Libyan people,” according to a Pirelli statement. Tronchetti Provera has been on the LIA’s investment committee since March 2009.
Continue ReadingAndy Dingley becomes Brigestone UK communications manager
Bridgestone has appointed Andy Dingley, previously Bridgestone UK’s advertising and promotions manager, as communications manager. Dingley will reportedly use his 16 years experience in the tyre industry to build the strategic communications campaigns, focusing on public relations, brand, corporate and crisis communications, online activity and consumer shows. The move brings all product groups together for the first time and follows a recent restructuring of the senior sales and marketing team at Bridgestone North Europe. Dingley will focus on boosting the company’s visibility in the UK whilst helping to promote the business’ success across the whole North region.
Continue ReadingGiti Tire Corporation 2010 earnings down 64 per cent
Giti Tire Corporation (a Giti Group Shanghai listed company) recorded a 64 per cent year-on-year drop in 2010 net profit attributable to shareholders to 54 million yuan. This was despite a 36 per cent year-on-year increase in revenue to 3.61 billion yuan, according to a company filing.
Continue ReadingGuizhou Tyre’s 670 million yuan rights issue
Guizhou Tyre reportedly planed to raise 670 million yuan (£62.924 million; 74.624 million euros; US$102 million) through a rights issue of three shares for every 10 shares held at 6.86 yuan per share. According to Shanghai Securities News, which cited a company filing, the subscription period was 11 - 17 January 2011. The company has not yet released any details of the results of the issue.
Continue ReadingSumitomo Rubber warns on earnings, to raise prices 7%
Sumitomo Rubber Industries announced full year 2010 results and issued a profit warning on 9 February, but analysts warned that while positive sales projections look conservative the firm may have underestimated raw material costs as well. During the last financial year, higher raw materials prices reportedly cut earnings by 30.6 billion yen year-on-year and yen appreciation had an adverse impact to the tune of 5.0 billion. While higher selling prices boosted profits by 8.9 billion yen and volume/composition is said to have given a 39.8 billion yen boost. Higher productivity also contributed to earnings.
Continue ReadingJP Morgan increases Goodyear 2012 EPS, drops 2011 figure
Analysts at JP Morgan have increased their estimates for Goodyear Tire & Rubber's 2012 earning per share (EPS) and reduced 2011’s figure – mainly due to the impact of raw material prices. To reflect the impact of higher natural rubber prices, JP Morgan lowered its 2011 earnings per share projection to $0.50. However, 2012 has been revised up to $2.25. The estimates assume global volume growth of 4 per cent in 2011 and 2012 and a $374 million negative price/mix against raw material costs spread out in 2011.
Continue ReadingMichelin sales up 20.8% to 17.9 billion euros, operating margin now 9.5%
Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin has announced that the tyre major’s sales shot up 20.8 per cent in 2010, while operating income swelled to 1.695 billion euros, representing a 9.5 per cent operating margin. Net income totalled 1.049 billion euros. According to Michelin the growth was driven by a 13.4 per cent increase in sales volumes, led by the group’s global presence and the rebound in mature markets. However managing partner Michel Rollier warned investors “In light of our capital expenditure commitments and the increase in raw materials costs, free cash flow is expected to be temporarily negative in 2011.” Nevertheless, Michelin confirmed its objective of generating positive free cash flow over the entire 2011-2015 period. The manufacturer also sought to emphasise its “responsive pricing policy” in the face of rising raw materials costs; sustained productivity gains and cost discipline; not to mention “robust free cash flow.” At the same time the company proposed a dividend of 1.78 euros subject to approval.
Continue ReadingHankook net income 30% under consensus – analysts
Analysts chided Hankook Tire’s fourth quarter financials as “as expected…weak fourth quarter results.” In an investor’s note published during the week commencing 31 January, Deutsche Bank wrote that the figures were “in line with our expectations, but…30 per cent lower than consensus.” The underwhelming performance was put down to the continually rising natural rubber prices: “Tyre makers are generally guiding for rubber prices to remain strong over the next 6-12 months and average selling price hikes remain the only way to protect margins.”
Continue ReadingAnalysts praise Nokia’s ‘very strong’ fourth quarter, predict 30% capacity increase
Financial analysts lauded Nokian’s “very strong” fourth quarter results, with Morgan Stanley predicting the news will raise the share price, while Deutsche Bank increased its price target from 37 to 38 euros. Strong demand is also expected to lead to a significant increase in unit output during 2011. The analysts concurred that Nokian’s pre-released sales and operating income headline figures were in line with the actual results – making the focus on the company’s net debt and continuing outlook. And these, in Morgan Stanley analyst Edoardo Spina’s words are both “great news.” Net debt totalled only 1 million euros, implying cash generation of 383 million euros, according to the analysts.
Continue ReadingContinental performance ‘entirely attributable to tyre operations’
Continental AG’s adjusted EBIT is reportedly 15 per cent (100 million euros) above estimates produced by Deutsche Bank. With net debt below 6.5 billion euros, impressed analysts commented that “these better results are entirely attributable to the tyre operations.” The tyre division contributes 28 per cent of the group’s sales and 42 per cent of adjusted EBIT, which reported a higher result despite the significant raw materials headwind.
Continue ReadingYokohama led Japanese domestic tyre price increases – analysts
Financial analysts from Deutsche Bank commented that Yokohama’s recently reported third quarter operating profit margin declined 2 percentage points year-on-year to 11.9 per cent because “price hikes offset only 2.7 billion yen of the 7.8 billion yen of impact to profits from rising natural rubber and other raw materials prices.” They also observed that the company did not alter its guidance due to “uncertainty regarding trends in raw materials prices and foreign exchange rates.” Instead Yokohama, as Toyo subsequently did, announced plans to hike the price of its replacement tyres in the domestic market.
Continue ReadingToyo to raise passenger car and light truck tyre prices in Japan
From 1 April Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. Ltd will increase the price of tyres for passenger cars and light trucks sold in the Japanese domestic replacement market by an average of 7 per cent. Despite the fact the price hike takes effect on April fool’s day, the increase is not joke and applies to both Toyo’s summer and winter tyres. In fact the cost of some size of light truck tyres will rise sooner, with their Japanese domestic market price increase scheduled to take effect on 1 March 2011.
Continue ReadingGoodyear to announce fourth quarter 2010 financial results
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has announced that it will report fourth quarter 2010 financial results before markets open on Thursday, 10 February, to be followed by an investor conference call at 10:30. Participating will be Richard J Kramer, chairman and chief executive officer, and Darren R Wells, executive vice president and chief financial officer. The company will post its financial information around 45 minutes before the start of the call on its investor relations website. A taped replay will be available later that day by calling (706) 645-9291. The replay will also remain available on the website.
Continue ReadingHankook increases Group profits with record high sales
Hankook Tire made 585.8 billion Korean won (383.3 million euro) in financial year 2010 operating profit, the company has announced. Helping Hankook achieve these figures was a record-breaking global sales total of 5.4 trillion won (3.5 billion euro), which fulfilled its aggressive global sales target to exceed 5.1 trillion won and recording an 11.5 per cent year-on-year increase. The company’s 2010 operating profit represented a 6.7 per cent increase. Hankook also said it sold more tyres than ever before to the European markets produced at its new European plant in Hungary.
Continue ReadingHankook Asia bumps net profit 21.1%
Hankook Tire's Asian division has announced improved 2010 earnings year-on-year with its net profit reaching 424.8 billion won ($381 million) last year, up 21.1 per cent from 350.8 billion won a year earlier. The increase has come on the back of “brisk sales in both domestic and overseas markets”. Sales jumped 19.3 per cent to 3.35 trillion won, and operating profit rose 5.5 per cent to 367.5 billion won.
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