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RNS Number : 1497P

Titan International, Inc.

19 October 2012

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT SECURITIES LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

19 October 2012

RECOMMENDED SHARE OFFER

by

TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.

to acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of

TITAN EUROPE PLC

(other than those shares already owned by Titan Luxembourg S.a.r.l., a wholly owned subsidiary of Titan International, Inc.)

OFFER CLOSES

CANCELLATION OF TRADING ON AIM

COMPULSORY ACQUISITION

Introduction

The Board of Titan Europe plc ("Titan Europe") announced on 17 July 2012 that it was in talks with Titan International, Inc. ("Titan International"), which may or may not lead to an offer being made for the whole of the issued and to be issued share capital of Titan Europe (other than those shares already owned by Titan Luxembourg S.a.r.l., a wholly owned subsidiary of Titan International). On 26 July 2012 Titan International announced that it was in discussions with the Independent Directors of Titan Europe which might lead to an all-share offer being made for Titan Europe on the terms that Titan Europe Shareholders would be entitled to receive one New Titan International Common Share for every 11 Titan Europe Shares.

On 10 August 2012, the Board of Titan International (other than Michael Akers who because of his position as Chief Executive director of Titan Europe has taken no part in any of the deliberations relating to the Offer) and the Independent Directors of Titan Europe announced that they had reached agreement on the terms of a recommended share offer for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Titan Europe (other than those shares already owned by Titan Luxembourg S.a.r.l., a wholly owned subsidiary of Titan International) (the "Offer").

On 14 September 2012 Titan International announced that the offer document (the "Offer Document") and form of acceptance, which contain the terms and conditions of the Offer and the procedure for acceptance of the Offer, were posted to the shareholders of Titan Europe. The Offer Document includes the unanimous recommendation by the Independent Directors of Titan Europe that Titan Europe Shareholders accept or procure the acceptance of the Offer. A document regarded by the FSA as being equivalent to that of a prospectus (the "Prospectus Equivalent Document") was also made available for viewing in accordance with the provisions of the Prospectus Rules.

On 5 October 2012 Titan International announced that, following the acceptance condition to the Offer having been satisfied and that all remaining conditions to the Offer, as set out in the Offer Document, had been satisfied or waived, that the Offer was now unconditional in all respects.

Level of acceptances

As at 1.00 p.m. (London time) on 19 October 2012, Titan International had received valid acceptances of the Offer in respect of 66,254,932 Titan Europe Shares (representing approximately 75.44 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of Titan Europe), which, together with the 18,993,821 Titan Europe Shares already owned by Titan Luxembourg S.a.r.l., represents, in aggregate, 97.06 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of Titan Europe.

These acceptances include those received in respect of 1,530,000 Titan Europe Shares (representing approximately 1.75 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of Titan Europe at the date of the Offer) which were subject to irrevocable commitments procured by Titan International from the Titan Europe Directors who held Titan Europe Shares.

The Offer, having remained open for acceptance until 1:00 p.m. (London time) on 19 October 2012, being 14 days after the date on which the Offer had been declared unconditional as to acceptances, has now closed and any Titan Europe Shareholder who has not accepted the Offer cannot now do so.

Cancellation of trading on AIM

On 12 October 2012 Titan Europe announced that, further to the statement made by Titan International in the Offer Document regarding its intention to cancel trading in the Titan Europe Shares on AIM if the Offer was declared wholly unconditional and acceptances were obtained of not less than 75 per cent., Titan Europe announced that its admission to trading on AIM will be cancelled with effect from 7:00 a.m. on 12 November 2012.

Compulsory acquisition

In the Offer Document Titan International stated that, if it received acceptances of greater than 90 per cent. of the Titan Europe Shares to which the Offer relates, it intended, in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006, to acquire compulsorily the remaining Titan Europe Shares in respect of which the Offer had not been accepted. Accordingly, Titan International intends to serve notices, in accordance with the provisions of section 979 of the Companies Act 2006, on the Titan Europe Shareholders who have not accepted the Offer to compulsorily acquire their Titan Europe Shares.

Settlement

For those Titan Europe Shareholders who accepted the Offer by the 5 October 2012, the New Titan International Shares issued as consideration for accepting the Offer will begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange on or around 19 October 2012, being 10 Business Days after the date on which the Offer was declared wholly unconditional. For those Titan Europe Shareholders who accepted the Offer after the 5 October 2012 and up until 1.00 p.m. on the 19 October 2012, the New Titan International Shares to be issued as consideration for accepting the Offer will begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange within 10 Business Days after receipt of acceptance of the Offer.

Documents available for inspection

The Offer Document, the Prospectus Equivalent Document and a copy of this announcement, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, are available on the Titan Europe website (www.titaneurope.com) and the Titan International website (www.titan-intl.com). Copies of the Offer Document, the Prospectus Equivalent Document and certain other documents are available for inspection during normal business hours on any weekday (Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays excepted) at the offices of Goodman Derrick LLP, 10 St Bride Street, London EC4A 4AD, United Kingdom. In addition, the Prospectus Equivalent Document has also been made available for viewing at the National Storage Mechanism (www.hemscott.com/nsm.do).

Enquiries:

 
 Titan International, Inc. 
 Maurice Taylor                                     +1 (217) 221 4773 
 
 Seymour Pierce Limited 
 (Financial adviser to Titan International, 
  Inc.) 
                                                    +44 (0)20 7107 
 Mark Percy                                          8000 
 Catherine Leftley 
 
 Titan Europe Plc 
                                                    +44 (0)1204 673 
 Philip Gartside                                     758 
                                                    +44 (0)156 285 
 Gary Chesterton                                     0561 
 
 Arden Partners plc 
 (Financial adviser to the Independent Directors 
  of Titan Europe plc) 
                                                    +44 (0) 207 614 
 Steve Douglas                                       5917 
 
 Tooley Street Communications Investor & Media 
 (Public relations adviser to Titan Europe plc) 
                                                    +44 (0) 121 309 
 Fiona Tooley                                        0099 
 

This announcement is not intended to and does not constitute or form part of any offer to sell or subscribe for or any invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to the Offer or otherwise. The Offer is made solely pursuant to the terms of the Offer Document and, in the case of Titan Europe shares held in certificated form, the Form of Acceptance, which contain the full terms and conditions of the Offer. Any decision in respect of, or other response to, the Offer should be made only on the basis of the information contained in the Offer Document.

The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom and the United States may be restricted by law and therefore any persons who are subject to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom or the United States should inform themselves about, and observe any applicable requirements. This announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying with the City Code and the information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom.

Copies of this announcement and any formal documentation relating to the Offer are not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction and persons receiving such documents (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must not mail or otherwise forward, distribute or send it in or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction. The Offer may not be made directly or indirectly, in or into, or by the use of mails or any means or instrumentality (including, but not limited to, facsimile, e-mail or other electronic transmission, telex or telephone) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or of any facility of a national, state or other securities exchange of any Restricted Jurisdiction and the Offer may not be capable of acceptance by any such use, means, instrumentality or facilities.

The New Titan International Shares to be offered in connection with the Offer will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended and it is intended that they will be issued to US Shareholders in reliance on the exemption from registration set forth in Rule 802 thereunder.

Seymour Pierce Limited which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority, is acting exclusively for Titan International and for no-one else in connection with the matters set out in this announcement and will not be responsible to any person other than Titan International for providing the protections afforded to clients of Seymour Pierce, nor for providing advice in relation to the matters set out in this announcement.

Arden Partners plc is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority, is acting exclusively as financial adviser to the Independent Directors of Titan Europe and for no one else in connection with the matters set out in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Independent Directors of Titan Europe for providing the protections afforded to its clients nor for providing advice in relation to the matters set out in this announcement.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains certain statements about Titan International and Titan Europe that are or may be "forward-looking statements" - that is, statements related to future, not past, events, including forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the current expectations of the management of Titan International and Titan Europe (as the case may be) and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances, and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release may include statements about the expected effects on Titan Europe and Titan International of the Offer, the expected timing and scope of the Offer, strategic options and all other statements in this document other than historical facts. Without limitation, any statements preceded or followed by or that include the words "targets", "plans", "believes", "expects", "aims", "intends", "will", "may", "anticipates", "estimates", "projects", "seeks", "sees", "should," "would," "expect," "positioned," "strategy," or words or terms of similar substance or the negative thereof, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements relating to the following: anticipated trends in the relevant business, future expenditures for capital projects, the ability to continue to control costs and maintain quality, the ability to meet financial covenants and conditions of loan agreements, Titan International's and Titan Europe's business strategies, including their intention to introduce new products, expectations concerning the performance and success of Titan International's and Titan Europe's existing and new products and Titan International's and Titan Europe's intention to consider and pursue acquisition and divestiture opportunities.

These forward-looking statements are based on Titan International's and Titan Europe's expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond Titan International's and Titan Europe's control.

Actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including:

The effect of a recession on Titan International and Titan Europe and their customers and suppliers, changes in Titan International's and Titan Europe's end-user markets as a result of world economic or regulatory influences, changes in the marketplace, including new products and pricing changes by Titan International's and Titan Europe's competitors, ability to maintain satisfactory labour relations, unfavourable outcomes of legal proceeding, availability and price of raw materials, levels of operating efficiencies, unfavourable product liability and warranty claims, actions of domestic and foreign governments, political change in any of the countries or regions in which either Titan International or Titan Europe operates, results of investments, fluctuations in currency translations, natural disasters, climate change and related laws and regulations and risks associated with environmental laws and regulations. Any changes in such factors could lead to significantly different results. No assurance can be provided 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 Titan International's and Titan Europe's ability to achieve the results as indicated in forward-looking statements.

Due to such uncertainties and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Neither Titan International or Titan Europe undertakes any obligation to update publicly or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent legally required.

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END

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