The Dunlop and Avon motorcycle tyre brands have been joined in corporate matrimony, after US rubberware giant Goodyear, which owns Dunlop, completed its acquisition of Cooper Tire & Rubber for £1.77bn. A merger agreement, announced on 22 February, was subsequently approved by Avon parent Cooper’s shareholders, allowing the takeover to be confirmed. The business will be run from Goodyear’s global HQ at Akron, Ohio.
Celebrating this done deal, Goodyear chairman and chief executive Richard Kramer said: “We are excited to officially bring Goodyear and Cooper together and unite our shared focus on customers, innovation, high-quality products and solutions. This combination strengthens Goodyear’s ability to serve more consumers globally and provides increased scale to support greater investments in new mobility and fleet solutions.”