FINDLAY, Ohio, Feb. 23, 2015 - Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (NYSE: CTB) today announced that its Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to $200 million of the company's outstanding common stock through December 31, 2016. Shares will be repurchased from time to time, based on market conditions and will be executed through open market purchases, privately negotiated purchases or otherwise. All or part of the repurchases may be implemented under Rule 10b5-1 trading plans, which allow repurchases under pre-set terms when the company might otherwise be prevented from doing so. The repurchased shares will be held in Treasury and used for general corporate purposes.

The company recently completed a $200 million accelerated share repurchase program announced in August 2014. Under that program, the company bought approximately 6.4 million shares at an average price of $31.49 per share. As of February 19, 2015, Cooper had approximately 57.4 million outstanding common shares.

"Entering into a new share repurchase program demonstrates our continuing commitment to our overarching goal of delivering value to shareholders. Our strong balance sheet allows us to return cash to shareholders through share repurchases and our quarterly dividend, invest in our worldwide growth opportunities, and meet our other obligations," commented Roy Armes, Cooper's Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President.

Forward Looking Statements
This release contains what the Company believes are "forward-looking statements," as that term is defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, regarding projections, expectations or matters that the Company anticipates may happen with respect to the future performance of the industries in which the Company operates, the economies of the United States and other countries, or the performance of the Company itself, which involve uncertainty and risk. Such "forward-looking statements" are generally, though not always, preceded by words such as "anticipates," "expects," "will," "should," "believes," "projects," "intends," "plans," "estimates," and similar terms that connote a view to the future and are not merely recitations of historical fact. Such statements are made solely on the basis of the Company's current views and perceptions of future events, and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be true.

It is possible that actual results may differ materially from projections or expectations due to a variety of factors, including but not limited to:

  • a variety of factors, including market conditions, may affect the actual amount expended on stock repurchases; changes in the Company's results of operations or financial conditions or strategic priorities may lead to a modification, suspension or cancellation of stock repurchases, which may occur at any time; the Company's ability to consummate stock repurchases;
  • volatility in raw material and energy prices, including those of rubber, steel, petroleum based products and natural gas or the unavailability of such raw materials or energy sources;
  • the failure of the Company's suppliers to timely deliver products in accordance with contract specifications;
  • changes in economic and business conditions in the world;
  • failure to implement information technologies or related systems, including failure by the Company to successfully implement an ERP system;
  • increased competitive activity including actions by larger competitors or lower-cost producers;
  • the failure to achieve expected sales levels;
  • changes in the Company's customer relationships, including loss of particular business for competitive or other reasons;
  • the ultimate outcome of litigation brought against the Company, including stockholders lawsuits relating to the Apollo merger as well as products liability claims, in each case which could result in commitment of significant resources and time to defend and possible material damages against the Company or other unfavorable outcomes;
  • changes to tariffs or the imposition of new tariffs or trade restrictions;
  • changes in pension expense and/or funding resulting from investment performance of the Company's pension plan assets and changes in discount rate, salary increase rate, and expected return on plan assets assumptions, or changes to related accounting regulations;
  • government regulatory and legislative initiatives including environmental and healthcare matters;
  • volatility in the capital and financial markets or changes to the credit markets and/or access to those markets;
  • changes in interest or foreign exchange rates;
  • an adverse change in the Company's credit ratings, which could increase borrowing costs and/or hamper access to the credit markets;
  • the risks associated with doing business outside of the United States;
  • the failure to develop technologies, processes or products needed to support consumer demand;
  • technology advancements;
  • the inability to recover the costs to develop and test new products or processes;
  • a disruption in, or failure of, the Company's information technology systems, including those related to cyber security, could adversely affect the Company's business operations and financial performance;
  • the impact of labor problems, including labor disruptions at the Company, its joint venture, or at one or more of its large customers or suppliers;
  • failure to attract or retain key personnel;
  • consolidation among the Company's competitors or customers;
  • inaccurate assumptions used in developing the Company's strategic plan or operating plans or the inability or failure to successfully implement such plans;
  • failure to successfully integrate acquisitions into operations or their related financings may impact liquidity and capital resources;
  • changes in the Company's relationship with its joint-venture partner or suppliers, including any changes with respect to CCT's production of Cooper-branded products;
  • the inability to obtain and maintain price increases to offset higher production or material costs;
  • inability to adequately protect the Company's intellectual property rights; and
  • inability to use deferred tax assets.

It is not possible to foresee or identify all such factors. Any forward-looking statements in this release are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such statements are not a guarantee of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected.

The Company makes no commitment to update any forward-looking statement included herein or to disclose any facts, events or circumstances that may affect the accuracy of any forward-looking statement. Further information covering issues that could materially affect financial performance is contained in the Company's periodic filings with the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").

###

About Cooper Tire & Rubber Company
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (NYSE: CTB) is the parent company of a global family of companies that specializes in the design, manufacture, marketing and sale of passenger car and light truck tires. Cooper and its subsidiaries also sell medium truck, motorcycle and racing tires. Cooper's headquarters is in Findlay, Ohio, with manufacturing, sales, distribution, technical and design facilities within its family of companies located in 11 countries around the world.www.coopertire.com, www.facebook.com/coopertire or www.twitter.com/coopertire.

Investor Contact:
Christine Hanneman
419.424.4214
cjhanneman@coopertire.com

Media Contact:
Anne Roman
419.429.7189
alroman@coopertire.com

distributed by