Cooper reports record first quarter results

FINDLAY, Ohio (April 19)—Stronger than expected sales in its tire business late in the quarter boosted Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.´s first quarter earnings to $31.5 million for the three months ended March 31. Net sales for the quarter were $922 million, a 97-percent increase over 1999 sales for the same period, Cooper said. Standard Products Co. and Siebe Automotive acquisitions contributed $397 million in sales to the quarter total and are already paying off, said President and COO Thomas A. Dattilo. Cooper-Standard Automotive has won business on several major automotive platforms for future model years totalling over $40 million in annual sales.