Goodyear has announced the sale of the Dunlop brand, including its trademarks, some intellectual property, and the assets needed for the business operations in North America, Europe, and Oceania across consumer, commercial, and specialty tyre.
According to a statement, the deal with Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) is priced at $701 million. The Japanese company regains ownership of the Dunlop brand, which it had managed from 1984 to 1999. The agreement also includes a transition fee for brand transfer support and the purchase of Dunlop tyre inventory.
However, Goodyear will continue to handle manufacturing, sales, and distribution in North America, Europe, and Oceania until the end of 2025, with an option to extend for one more year. During this period, Goodyear will pay royalties on Dunlop sales. It also retains brand rights for motorcycle tyres in Europe and Oceania.
After the transitional licensing agreement ends, Goodyear will supply SRI with certain Dunlop-branded tyres in Europe for five years, with a minimum purchase of 4.5 million tyres per year stipulated in the deal.
