Monday saw more action for Titan holders- Mefro Wheels GMBH, a german private company increased it's holding to 29.9% by acquiring stock at 40p - against the prevailing market price of 20p. Mefro wheels acquired their original 24% stake at 40p in December.
A subsidiary of Titan International Inc, Tital Luxembourg Sarl, acquired 2,079,600 @ 35p and 339,000 @ 31.5p over the last two days taking their stake to over 20%. A director of Titan Lux Sarl is the non exec chairman of Titan Europe.

Roosters are hungry at this time of year and need to eat on chicken feed. This looks like a grain fest given Titan International broke off talks to buy Titan Europe in 2008 over 200p per share. Yeah - markets have changed but a battle for control of a niche business looks set to keep me well fed for the H1 09....

Some good buying today inc. a 38,766 buy at 25.50p near the close.

Key Date Status Date
Next prelim announcement Approximate 29th April 2009

http://www.hemscott.com/companies/key-dates.do?companyId=4586

Titan International expects something to happen by July 2009:-how else can you define 'what happens in our markets' and 'consolidation being beneficial to Titan Inc.'s long term growth' other than takeover of Titan Europe after their offer of 230p in Apr 08 and increase in holding by 5% to 22.89% at 35p in Jan 09. What other consolidation could be beneficial for Titan Inc.'s long term growth??? My answer is nothing other than takeover of Titan Europe. Titan Europe have got giants such as Caterpillar and mining giant Vale as their customers and a year since the last offer of 230p they could probably acquire Titan Europe at half the price at about 115p imo. The demerger originally only happened because Titan Inc. needed the cash which is no longer a worry.

"Because the world is contracting, we believe there will be further consolidation in the specialty wheel and tire market in 2009. This consolidation should be beneficial for Titan's long-term growth. Titan has maintained its growth while keeping its SG&A expenses in the 5-7% range, and we expect to continue this growth with our ability to be one of the most competitive companies in our field. Titan will continue to focus on the goals I set in December, but what happens in our markets in the next four months will determine if these goals can be reached. I will provide an update the first part of July."

http://www.titan-intl.com/content/22609

In Jan 09 Titan Inc. also amended and restated its revolving credit facility with Bank of America. This was a fortnight after increasing their stake in Titan Europe to 22.89%. Enough loan facility setup there to go for Titan Europe again imo. Their cash balance at 31 Dec 08 was $61.7m. What else would do they need $150-$250 million other than to acquire Titan Europe???

Revolving credit facility amendment:
On January 30, 2009, Titan International Inc. amended and restated its revolving credit facility (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 amendment adjusted the borrowing rates within a pricing grid that includes a minimum 1 percent LIBOR rate.

Cash balance: The company's year-end cash balance was $61.7 million at December 31, 2008, as compared to $58.3 million at year-end 2007.

Topped up just now with another 7270 shares at 24.50p.

Final Results should be out hopefully at 7 o'clock tomorrow morning. Should have lots of news to digest and imo correction to more realistic levels especially with strong upwards corrections taken place in many stocks over the past month!

Treacle / Smiler / Sue Helen

'Topped up just now with another 7270 shares at 24.50p' LoL. I see TSR is following your usual style of pump and dumps. Selective editing of RNSs without telling the whole story, claims of 'topping up', no doubt the useless TA will follow next. Worth reading the last Trading Update:

The Board anticipates announcing the Group's preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2008 by the end of April 2009. We anticipate full year 2008 pre-tax pre-exceptional profits to be in-line with market expectations. Total revenues are expected to be around 450 million.

In light of the continuous changes in overall market conditions it is appropriate to make some comment on the Group's prospects for the financial year ending 31 December 2009.

In our December trading update we highlighted the significant increase in rescheduling or postponement of orders by our customers. This was a result of the further deterioration in their global markets, especially in construction related activities. As expected December saw a very significant decline in sales and manufacturing with volumes substantially lower than in previous periods and with constantly changing schedules.

As we entered the new financial year, we further reviewed the business during the first six weeks of 2009 and our volume forecast is based on this analysis. Most of our markets have continued to decline and therefore, against this backdrop and very limited forward visibility we have reduced our forecast sales volumes for 2009 to 30% below those of 2008. In light of this reduction in sales volume, we continue our programme of scaling back material inputs, manufacturing, people and investment plans in order to re-align our cost base to reflect the more challenging markets our industry is experiencing. Fixed costs are being reduced throughout the Group but care is being taken to preserve the Group's resources and investment in engineering, quality and technical sales.

Despite this tough backdrop it is worth noting that not all markets are equally affected and the Group is seeing some benefit from its product, market and geographic spread.

The Group continues to have regular dialogue with its banking syndicate and retains their support.

Dividend

The Directors believe that in view of the current uncertainties in the market, it would be prudent to preserve cash and therefore, the Directors will not be proposing a final dividend for the year ended 31 December 2008.

Unless there is a take-over bid there doesn't seem much reason to buy until the trading picture becomes clearer. Treacle will continue to pump away though.

Tomorrow looks to be the day as per the below...good opportunity to top up today again imo with some impatient holders selling out.

'Issued by Citigate Dewe Rogerson, Birmingham
Date: 20 February 2009
Immediate Release


Titan Europe Plc
("Titan Europe" or the "Group")
Trading Update

The Board anticipates announcing the Group's preliminary results for the year
ended 31 December 2008 by the end of April 2009. We anticipate full year 2008
pre-tax pre-exceptional profits to be in-line with market expectations. Total
revenues are expected to be around GBP450 million'.

Good reversal today on hardly any buying. Poised for finals tomorrow.

Still no finals yet. The company said in the trading update in Feb 2009 that they would be out by end of April. During the trading day or quite possibily imo that takeover news is surfacing beneath.

Spoken to the company just now and the finals will now be out in early May! They couldn't provide any more information but imo goes with my research that a takeover is surfacing hopefully and hence the delay. DYOR.

Load of bollocks re the delay IMO

Rising again on continued buying volume.

Just picked up another 10,000 shares at 24.83p. Finals delayed thus far but hope to be out in early May. IMO nicely poised for a big correction on returning sentiment in the markets + added bonus about size of Mefro's and Titan Inc's stakes.

24.00-27.00p, finally perking up again after consolidation over the last week.

Good 10% rise today despite double the number of sells vs buys. Chart pointing to mid-30's possibly prior to finals announcement.

For what its worth...after close today.

BUY
CONFIRMED

26.000
+2.5000 +10.64%

http://www.britishbulls.com/StockPage.asp?CompanyTicker=TSW&MarketTicker=Industrials&TYP=S

FWIW indeed - LOL

British Bulls an automated pile of rubbish, much like your garbage TA Smiler.

As far as I'm concerned this can go up or go down, I don't really care which, but we're in a Bull rally and most stocks, even the bad ones are being picked up. But it's worth posting on the threads you contribute to just to let people know (the silent majority) what a ramping twat you are and the dangers in following your comments. You'll be out and they will possibly be left holding a declining stock - caveat emptor.

How did your complaint go with MAM? Did you tell them you were a banned poster under another alias?

Titan International's 1st Qtr results on 29 Apr 09:-

Titan Announces All-time Record First Quarter Agricultural Sales

Statement of Chief Executive Officer:

"Large farm tires and wheels were selling well in the first quarter of 2009, along with Titan's new super giant mining tires," said Titan Chairman and CEO Maurice M. Taylor Jr. "It is difficult to predict what will happen moving forward. The price of corn is holding and soybeans are up, so the agricultural market looks good, but are farmers going to keep buying with all the uncertainty in the economy? I don't know. The orders for second quarter are good, but lead times are much shorter today than six months ago. All of Titan's material costs are dropping except nylon," said Taylor.

"There is no shortage of giant mining tires today and pricing has dropped by at least 25 percent because of the drop in material costs. Natural rubber is projected to drop from approximately eighty cents today to fifty cents by the end of the year. In September 2008, it was one dollar and fifty-two cents.

"The great news in all of this is that it's time everyone really gets down to working hard and smart. Since Titan has been running at an SG&A level of five to seven percent, we are set to grow our market share. Titan will be making improvements in every product we make, and I will be visiting every customer I am able to this year. Titan can use this environment in order to grow our market share, but if this economy turns up, then Katie bar the door,' for the good times will be back," said Taylor.

http://www.titan-intl.com/content/42909

This is good for Titan Europe with the synergies between the two companies:-

'pricing has dropped by at least 25 percent because of the drop in material costs. Natural rubber is projected to drop from approximately eighty cents today to fifty cents by the end of the year. In September 2008, it was one dollar and fifty-two cents'.

Sales Down

Sales for first quarter 2009 were $232.6 million, compared to $253.5 million in the first quarter of 2008

Gross Profit Down

Gross profit for first quarter 2009 was $30.1 million, compared to $32.3 million in 2008.

Income Down

First quarter income from operations was $14.1 million, compared to $16.1 million last year.
Net income for the first quarter was $7.0 million, compared to $8.1 million in the first quarter of last year.

Nothing like telling the whole story Smiler/SH/Lala/Treacle and all your other logons. Typical ramper with only his own interests at heart. Do some very, very intensive research before investing in any stock this ramper posts on.