From Staff & Wire Reports

AKRON, OHIO -- Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. said today it expects to post an overall corporate profit for the fourth quarter 2004, and that all seven of its operating divisions - including North American Tire - would also post quarterly profits.

At the same time, Goodyear said it was refinancing some $3.3 billion of its financing, replacing loans that would be coming due in 2006 and 2007 with a five-year $3.35 billion facility that would come due in 2010.

While Goodyear offered a preview of its expected 2004 results, the company still has not set a date for when it will issue final year-end results.

The company said the North American Tire group would post results “about equal” to those it posted for the third quarter of 2004.

Goodyear said it ended 2004 with debt of about $5.6 billion and a cash balance, excluding restricted cash, of approximately $2 billion. Total cash and available credit lines total more than $3 billion.

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