Goodyear and Sumitomo Oak have reached an agreement to dissolve the global alliance

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company today announced that it has reached an agreement with Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. (Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd., SRI ) ( hereinafter referred to as "Sumitomo Rubber"), the dissolution of a global alliance between the two companies.

Goodyear and Sumitomo Oak have reached an agreement to dissolve the global alliance

Goodyear and Sumitomo Rubber established a global alliance in 1999. The alliance consists of four joint venture companies, one in North America and Europe, and two in Japan.

Mr. Richard J. Kramer, chairman and chief executive officer, said: "Although this alliance has brought value to us in the past 16 years, now Goodyear has enough ability to practice it. Its own strategy: The smooth dissolution of the alliance will increase our flexibility for profitable growth, because our focus has always been on creating strong performance and sustainable economic value."

Mr. Kramer added: "We are committed to achieving a smooth and orderly transition that will provide seamless connectivity to customers and consumers in North America, Europe and Japan."

The final settlement of the agreement will resolve the pending arbitration that was submitted in January 2014. This agreement can save the two companies from the cost and uncertainty of the arbitral proceedings.

Goodyear and Sumitomo Rubber Agreement Framework

Goodyear and Sumitomo Oak have reached an agreement to dissolve the global alliance

Agreement Overview

North American joint venture

Sumitomo Rubber (currently holding a 25% stake) will acquire Goodyear's 75% stake in Goodyear Dunlop North America/North America joint ventures, including full ownership of the joint venture New York Tona Wanda Plant; The company manufactures and sells Dunlop brand tires primarily in North America.

In the North American and Mexican markets, Goodyear will have exclusive rights to non-Japanese car manufacturers to supply or replace Dunlop brand tires; Sumitomo Rubber will be able to sell Dunlop brand tires to all Japanese car manufacturers.

European joint venture

Goodyear, which currently holds a 75% stake, will acquire Sumitomo Rubber's 25% stake in Goodyear Dunlop Tyre Europe (GDTE).

In much of Europe, Goodyear holds exclusive sales rights for Dunlop brand tires.

In previous global alliances, certain countries where Goodyear does not have exclusive sales rights, including Russia, Turkey, and certain African countries, Sumitomo Rubber will acquire exclusive sales rights for Dunlop brand tires.

Japanese joint venture

Goodyear, which currently holds a 25% stake, will acquire Sumitomo Rubber's 75% stake in Goodyear, which will have the exclusive right to provide Goodyear replacement tires and matching tires for the Japanese market.

Sumitomo Rubber (currently holding a 75% stake) will acquire Goodyear's 25% stake in Dunlop Goodyear Tire, and will provide exclusive rights to Dunlop to replace its tires and matching tires for the Japanese market.

Financial terms of the agreement

According to the terms of the agreement, Goodyear will pay Sumitomo Rubber 271 million U.S. dollars (approximately 1.68 billion yuan) at the end of this transaction and expects to complete payment in the fourth quarter of 2015. This transaction will not affect the company's existing financial goals or capital allocation plans for 2015 and 2016. Expenses will be included in the approximately 600 million U.S. dollars allocated for restructuring by the capital allocation plan. In addition, Goodyear will repay approximately $55 million in debt to Sumitomo Rubber within the next three years. As a result of this agreement, Goodyear will also sell 3.4 million Sumitomo Rubber common stocks.

Goodyear expects that the deal will affect its earnings from the first quarter of 2016 and is mainly related to the sale of a minority stake in Goodyear Dunlop Tyre Europe. According to the company's business plan for 2015, the net dividend-adjusted annual dividend is approximately $40 million to $50 million (15-18 cents per share).

This transaction has yet to meet some of the usual settlement conditions, including the approval of regulatory authorities, and the conclusion of a labor agreement between Sumitomo Rubber and the Tonawada Plant Joint Steel Workers Union.