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Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin

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FY2008 Annual Report · Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin
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2008 ANNUAL REPORT

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INVESTOR RELATIONS

Valérie Magloire 
Jacques-Philippe Hollaender
+ 33 (0) 1 45 66 16 15
46, avenue de Breteuil
75324 Paris Cedex 07 – France
investor-relations@fr.michelin.com

INDIVIDUAL SHAREHOLDER RELATIONS

Jacques Engasser
+ 33 (0) 4 73 98 59 00
12, cours Sablon
63040 Clermont-Ferrand Cedex 9 – France
Toll-free calls in France: 0 800 000 222
actionnaires-individuels@fr.michelin.com

MEDIA RELATIONS

Fabienne de Brébisson 
+ 33 (0) 1 45 66 22 22
46, avenue de Breteuil
75324 Paris Cedex 07 - France

MICHELIN
23, place des Carmes-Déchaux
63040 Clermont-Ferrand Cedex 9 – France
+ 33 (0) 4 73 32 20 00

www.michelin.com

 
 
 
Financial Agenda for 2009

D Annual Shareholders’ Meeting  

D First Quarter 2009 Financial Information 
D First Half 2009 Results   

May 15, 2009

April 28, 2009
July 31, 2009

D Meetings with Shareholders:
• Marseilles   
• Biarritz   
• Lille 
• Paris   
• Lyons    
• La Rochelle   

April 7, 2009
June 9, 2009
October 6, 2009
October 12, 2009
November 25, 2009
December 8, 2009

D Actionaria – Paris

November 20/21, 2009

Compagnie Générale des Etablissements Michelin
Headquarters: 12, cours Sablon • Clermont-Ferrand (Puy-de-Dôme) • France

This reference document was lodged with Autorité des Marchés Financiers 
on March 2, 2009 pursuant to Clause 212-13 of its General regulations. 
It may be used in connection with a financial operation only when completed 
by the inclusion of a note approved by Autorité des Marchés Financiers.

Tire Lifecycle 

Additional Information

02

• A technological and environmental challenge

Michelin at a Glance

16
18
20
22
24
34
38

• Profile 
• Michel Rollier’s Message
• Management
• Control
• Michelin’s Strategy
• 2008 Figures
• The Michelin Share

The Managing Partners’ Report

42
62
67
68
70
71

• 2008 Business Review and Results by Reporting Segment
• 2008 Group Results
• Outlook 
• 2000-2008 Consolidated Key Figures and Ratios
• Proposed Resolutions
• Supervisory Board Reports

146
158
161
179
179

• Corporate Governance
• Risk Management
• Social and Environmental Information
• Production Sites 
• Important Agreements

Other Legal and Financial Information

182
197
211
214

• General Information Regarding CGEM and its Capital
• Corporate Financial Statements as of December 31, 2008
• Statutory Auditors’ Report on the Financial Statements
• Statutory Auditors’ Special Report on Regulated Agreements 

and Commitments with Third Parties

215
215

• Incorporation of 2006 and 2007 Financial Statements by Reference 
• Person Accountable for the Reference Document 

and the Annual Financial Report

216
219

• Annual Information Document 
• Correspondence Table 

Consolidated Financial Statements

80
87
143

• Consolidated Financial Statements 
• Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
• Statutory Auditors’ Report on the Consolidated 

Financial Statements

This Reference Document includes the Annual Financial Report:

• Statement of the Person Accountable
• Management Report 
• Consolidated Financial Statements
• Financial Statements
• Statutory Auditors’ reports on the Consolidated

page 215
pages 24 to 67; 70; 158 to 160; 184 and 187
pages 81 to 142
pages 197 to 210

Financial Statements and the Financial statements pages 143 and 211  

The English language version of this Annual Report is a free translation from the original, which was prepared in French. All possible care has been taken to ensure that the translation is an accurate representation 
of the original. However, in all matters of interpretation of information, views or opinion expressed therein in the original language version of the document in French takes precedence over the translation.

Tire Lifecycle:
a technological 
and environmental 
challenge

1 Research &
Development 
Michelin’s R&D capabilities
make it one of the best
placed companies to
tackle the challenges 
of mobility.

4 Usage 
As the developer 
of Green X technology,
Michelin plays a
pioneering role in
lowering tire-related 
fuel consumption.

5 Valorization
Michelin plays an 
active role in organizing
the tire recycling
industries including
collection of end-of-life
tires, in all the countries
where it operates.

2 Raw Materials
Michelin takes action to
ensure the sustainability
of natural rubber
production and make the
best use of raw materials.

3 Manufacturing
The environmental impact
of tire building is limited
and Michelin is committed
to reduce this further.
Objective: -30% in 2013
versus 2005.

Michelin’s mission is to improve the mobility of goods 
and people, reflected in its tagline ’A Better Way Forward’.
Limiting vehicle fuel consumption, and therefore, 
CO2 emissions, increasing tire service life, and therefore, 
using fewer raw materials, lowering braking distance, 
and therefore, increasing vehicle safety, are the driving
force behind Michelin’s new tire lines. 
Manufacturing the best tires at the best cost while
preserving the environment is a major issue as well 
as a powerful driver of progress and innovation. 
A global analysis of tire lifecycle reveals that the usage
phase accounts for 85% of the environmental impact.
Michelin has always led the field in this area through 
its ongoing fuel efficient tire technology developments. 
And it is equally determined to reduce the environmental
footprint of its plants and to promote end-of-life tire
recycling.

This report sets forth the different challenges corresponding
to every phase of a tire’s lifecycle, together with the solutions
Michelin introduced to address them.

03

Michelin Durable Technologies: 
a cluster of proprietary innovations combining
environmental and cost-effective performance
gives MICHELIN truck tires a lead of several 
generations over that of competitors. 

Tire Lifecycle 
Phase 1: Research & Development

Product and Process 
Innovations: 
Intimately entwined

Lateral thinking: this approach has enabled Michelin to keep the lead for more than a century.
Innovation is at the very heart of the Group’s genes and central to the Group’s processes 
and business lines. Its creative research and development approach gives the Group a unique 
ability to anticipate customer expectations and shape the tire market.

Being a market opener means being
able to imagine what is not yet in exis-
tence: the vehicles of the future,
tomorrow’s mobility. Michelin’s pioneering spir-
it has been carefully fostered since 1889. With
approximately 6,000 persons working in Research,
Development and Industrialization in Europe,
America and Asia and a budget of 500 million
euros, Michelin is well positioned to address
the sustainable mobility challenge and trans-
form it into profitable growth opportunities.

Serve today, imagine what
tomorrow will be like
Research must deliver quick responses to cus-
tomers’ expectations, find innovative and eco-
nomically relevant solutions, and invent related
industrialization processes. It must also deliver
breakthrough innovations and probe into
avenues other than the tire technologies to
contribute to the progress of mobility, the
Group’s mission. And this dual aspect pervades
all the activities as these involve a mix of applied
and fundamental research, product related and
industrial issues. 

Innovate better and faster
The greater the tire’s performance, the more
complex the design and difficult the building
process. From materials to industrial processes
and integrated electronics, Michelin’s research
involves multidisciplinary teams in projects that
can last anywhere from one to ten years. A pro-

gram was launched to accelerate the Group’s
Research, Development and Industrialization
process. New organizations were introduced to
innovate better and faster and obtain an early
confrontation of Michelin’s ideas and projects
to customers and markets. The objective: cut
innovation time-to-market by half.

CO2 emissions during the lifecycle 
of a set of 4 passenger car tires

4 MICHELIN Green X
tires

4 standard 
tires 

• Raw material production 
• Production of the four tires  
• Tire distribution  
• Tire usage 
• End-of-life processing   

60 kg
35 kg
6 kg
1,435 kg
-17 kg

60 kg
35 kg 
6 kg
1,675 kg
-17 kg

Total

1,519 kg

1,759 kg

Source: based on the Lifecycle Assessment of an average Passenger car tire, 
carried out by PRé Consultants B.V in 2001.

Focus

MICHELIN Active
Wheel: all in the
wheels, nothing
under the hood!

Michelin Active Wheel is one 
of the recent technological leaps
that testifies to the Group’s
ability to transform the mobility
market. Wheels house the
suspension, the brake and the
engine. With an outstanding
power/weight ratio, the wheel 
is powered by an accumulator 
or a fuel cell. 
The electronic suspension
automatically corrects roll and
pitch. Integrating the motor 
in the wheel does away with 
the gearbox, the drive shaft and
differential gear. In other words,
an altogether different approach
to cars. This technological focus
was adapted to two vehicles
presented at the Paris Auto Show
2008: Venturi Volage, a sporty
roadster, and Heuliez Will, a small
van – a noise- and a pollution-
free urban vehicle that uses 
five times less energy than 
a conventional vehicle. 

05

Michelin’s research led to 
the development of more
resistent rubber trees offering 
a better yield and to improved,
environmentally friendly 
farming practices.

Tire Lifecycle  
Phase 2: Raw Materials

Protect natural rubber 
production,
save raw materials

Up to 200 different natural or synthetic materials are used to make a tire. 
Their properties and quality, particularly in the case of natural rubber, 
play a key role in tire performance. Raw materials are becoming scarce: 
they need to be used more wisely.

Michelin produces or transforms a
large variety of materials either to
retain technological control over the
process or to open new progress avenues. It 
is strongly committed to the preservation of
quality natural rubber resources.

Natural rubber, 
a renewable raw material
The robustness and plasticity of natural rubber
make it an indispensable ingredient for the tire
industry which accounts for close to 70% of
world production. Michelin owns three rubber
production sites (two plantations and three
plants) in Brazil and plays a technical manage-
ment role in 53,000 hectares and eight pro-
cessing plants in Africa. Technical assistance,
auditing, training: it offers its expertise to natural
rubber producers and processing industries
around the globe.
Michelin is committed to multiple scientific pro-
grams in connection with rubber tree farming,
and particularly in the fight against microcyclus
uleï, a plant illness that could spread from
Brazil’s rubber trees to plantations in Asia or

Africa. The aim of this research is to select more
resistent rubber tree strains.

Design and produce better
Michelin is keen to make the best of the materials
it uses in order to streamline its raw material and
energy consumption while guaranteeing the
same high level of end-user performance. From
tire design to tire building, this is underpinned

by a number of approaches. “Value to Design”
involves marketing and development teams in
defining the product performance that best
matches customer expectations; “Design to
cost” helps make tires lighter by finding the
appropriate ingredients to obtain a particular
performance; the ’right the first time’ quality
system reduces scrap through fine-tuned pro-
duction processes.

Michelin raw material cost in 2008  
(in euros)

EUR 4,726 M

31% natural rubber
25% synthetic rubber
16% fillers
13% chemicals
9% steelcord
6% textile fabric

Focus

Fighting the 
microcyclus uleï 
fungus
Victim of the South American fungus,
production at Michelin’s Bahia
plantation was declining. Rather than
stopping production, in 2004 the Group
launched its Ouro Verde program. 
As early as 1992, Michelin had begun,
in partnership with Cirad(1), a genetic
study of the rubber tree’s resistence,
together with a selection program
aimed at creating new strains. Three
hundred rubber tree strains were
tested and three, highly resistent ones
were planted on a large scale. This
paved the way for the revival of the
plantation: with a mere 1,000 hectares
earmarked for research, Michelin
transferred the ownership rights for
5,000 hectares to 12 employees, now
fully dedicated to their respective
plantations. The Group will purchase
their production. The annual
production target is 5,000 tons 
of rubber and 4,500 tons of cocoa(2)
by 2015. The same approach was used 
for a further 500 family farms that will
enjoy Michelin’s support for 10 years.
Housing, a health center, a school and
an occupational training school were
built in order to contribute to local
social development. And last but not
least is the biodiversity preservation
and enrichment across 3,000 hectares
of rainforest concerning 8,000
endemic animal and plant species.

(1) International cooperation centre for 
agronomic research and development.
(2) Cocoa trees planted for the financial 
viability of the project as it takes seven years 
for a rubber tree to yield enough rubber 
for production purposes.

07

All Group industrial sites
(except for one acquired 
in 2006), are ISO 14001 
certified.

Tire Lifecycle 
Phase 3: Manufacturing

Energy savings
and reduced emissions 

The environmental impact of tire building is limited and Michelin is committed 
to reduce this further. The Group developed internal standards, applied in all 
the countries where it operates, to monitor the environmental performance 
of its industrial sites. 

More than 80% of the raw materials
purchased by the Group originate
from ISO 14001 certified production
sites. Michelin’s Environmental Management
System (MEMS) is operational in 94% of its sites
acquired more than five years ago (rubber tree
plantations, R&D and production) and is being
deployed in the logistics centers.

Stringent Environmental
Management
In 2008, MEF was reduced by 21.4% versus
2005. 77 sites were subjected to an energy
audit and drew up an action plan. Each site
identifies the locally available and cost-effec-
tive sources of renewable energy. The deploy-
ment of solvent-free manufacturing processes

together with stringent vapor processing led to
further VOC emission reductions.
For the third year in a row, Michelin was fea-
tured in the Climate Leadership Index France of
companies selected for integrating in their
strategies global warming-related risks and for
the measures they take to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions.

Achieve 30% environmental 
footprint reduction
The MEF, Michelin sites Environmental
Footprint performance indicator, has been
integrated into the Group’s scorecard and is
reported on quarterly. MEF integrates water
and energy consumption, carbon dioxide
(CO2), volatile organic compound (VOC) emis-
sions and the generation of waste and its 
disposal in landfills by metric ton of finished
product. 
In 2008, the initial objective MEF of -20% by
2011 versus 2005 was raised to -30% by 2013
versus 2005. 

MEF* 2005 - 2008 results
* Michelin sites Environmental Footprint.

• Energy consumption 
• Water consumption 
• VOC emissions
• CO2 emissions
• Waste generated 
• Landfill

Unit**
Gj/t PP
m3/t PP
g/kg PP
t/t PP
kg/t PP
kg/t PP

2005
17.40
15.00
4.27
1.53
140
33

2008
15.3
12.8
3.13
1.35
128
16.2

2005-2008
-12.1%
-14.7%
-26.7%
-11.8%
-8.9%
-50.9%

Data calculation process and data reviewed by PricewaterhouseCoopers. 
** t PP = ton of tire produced. 

Focus

The Bassens 
(France) plant: 
A concentration 
of good practices

The first Michelin France site 
to have achieved ISO 14001
certification, Bassens produces
synthetic rubber, one of a tire’s
key components. The plant meets
around 15% of its energy needs
by using the steam generated by
two nearby incinerators. The heat
collected at the incinerators 
is conveyed down a 1.5 kilometer
pipe to the plant that turns 
it into energy for production. 
The initiative results from a
partnership among Michelin,
Dalkia France (the energy division
of Veolia Environnement) and
the Bassens townhall. Results:
more than 20,000 tons of CO2
not released each year.

09

10 billion liters of fuel saved
and more than 25 million
tons of CO2 not released
each year thanks to the 
600 million MICHELIN low
energy consumption tires
sold since 1992.  

Tire Lifecycle  
Phase 4: The usage phase

Lowering fuel consumption 
thanks to low rolling 
resistance tires(1)

More than 85% of tire environmental impact is related to usage. 
The main factor: the fuel that it takes to overcome tire rolling resistance. 
Rolling resistance accounts for one out of five fuel tanks for cars 
and one out of three tanks for trucks.

Reducing tire rolling resistance, there-
fore, enhances vehicle fuel efficiency
and reduces CO2 emissions as well as
local pollutants(2). In this light, the tire and tire
brand choice of every consumer is not at all
neutral: indeed the rolling resistance perform-
ance gap between the tires available in the
market for any vehicle can be as much as 50%! 

Low energy consumption tires:
leading the race
In 1992, Michelin launched a major innovation,
the first Green X label tire, that delivered 20%
lower rolling resistance than the previous 
technology, enabling a 0.15 liter fuel saving per
100 km or 3 g of CO2 per kilometer. In addition,
the MICHELIN Green X label guarantees reduced
rolling resistance as well as improves the other
performance criteria for the tire, and in particular
service life, as well as grip, which is key for safety.
Since 1992, Michelin has introduced four gen-
erations of Green X tires, one always outper-
forming the other, and is committed to
achieving a further 25% rolling resistance
reduction over the next 10 years.

Truck: Exclusive solutions
As  early  as  1994,  Michelin  developed 
low rolling resistance truck tires. Fitted with
MICHELIN Energy tires, a 50-truck fleet cover-
ing 120,000 km each per year, saves 60,000
liters of fuel and 160 metric tons of CO2 not
released into the atmosphere! This perform-
ance is, in fact, enhanced by regrooving and
MICHELIN RemiX retreading, and these more-
over multiply tire life by 2.5, while delivering

the same performance as new tires. This bene-
fits heavy road haulers, of course, as well as the
environment as thousands of tons of CO2 are
not emitted and tire recycling volumes are
reduced.

(1) With each turn of the wheel, tires are compressed by 
the load and adhere to the road, which generates heat and
a corresponding loss of energy. This loss of energy is also
called rolling resistance and is one of the forces a vehicle 
has to overcome in order to move forward.
(2) VOC, nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide.

The performance of MICHELIN Energy Saver,
4rth generation of Green X tires

• Fuel consumption

• CO2 emissions
• Service life

• Wet braking 

• Weight 

-0.2 l/100 km

-4 g/ km

+40%

-2.4 m at 80 km/h

-800 g*

Tests including tires from the main competitive offerings.
* Versus the previous line-up (MICHELIN Energy 3A).

Focus

MICHELIN Energy
Saver, MICHELIN X
Energy SaverGreen:
simply irresistible

Fuel efficient, safe, long-lasting:
these are the outstanding features
of the MICHELIN Energy Saver
Passenger Car tire. Launched at
the end of 2007, Michelin’s latest
energy-efficient tire further
reduces rolling resistance by 20%!
Bottom line: fuel consumption is
further reduced by 0.2 liter per
100 km and 4g of CO2 per km are
not released into the atmosphere,
topped by shorter braking
distance and longer service life.
This result was achieved through
simultaneous action on three
levers: weight reduction, rubber
blend, assembly and building
process. Exclusive, the latter
achieves enhanced homogeneity
of texture resulting in outstanding
service life. The MICHELIN X
Energy SaverGreen offering for
trucks, for its part, boasts an
Energy Flex casing that delivers
500 liters worth of fuel saving per
year or 1,000 liters in the course of
its ’first life’(3)!

(3) For a rolling loaded assembly, 
versus the MICHELIN A2 lineup.

11

Michelin plays an active role 
in organizing the tire recycling
industries including collection
of end-of-life tires.

Tire Lifecycle   
Phase 5: Valorization

Road surfacing, noise barriers,
playgrounds, caddy rollers…
the other life of tire components

Michelin collaborates closely with national authorities worldwide to recycle 
end-of-life tire flows each year and gradually absorb legacy stocks. 
Europe now counts 12 tire recycling firms so as to fully eliminate tire dumping.

Elasticity, solidity, durability, draining
properties, high calorific value, high
carbon contents… end-of-life tires
afford multiple recycling opportunities. Main
recycling industries: substitute fuel, public
works, granulation. They are also increasingly
used in steelworks as both energy and raw
material.

Use as energy source
The calorific value of an end-of-life tire is simi-
lar to that of high-grade coal: one ton of tire
generates as much energy as 0.7 ton of oil and
its low sulphur content is synonymous with
reduced environmental impact.
In the United States and Japan end-of-life tires
are widely used as fuel: in thermal plants to
generate electricity, in industrial boilers and
waste-incineration plants.
Very energy-intensive industries, such as
cement manufacturing, use tires as energy and
additionally integrate their carbon and steel
contents to concrete.

Recycling materials
Used whole, tires are used in landfills, sound
barriers and bumpers along banks. Split up,
they are used under railways to reduce vibra-
tion and noise. Shredded, they serve as draining
substrate or light road landfill. Finely ground in

aggregates or powder, they are used in the sur-
faces of stadiums, playgrounds and equestrian
grounds. Tire powder enhances road surface
life and reduces rolling noise. Powder can also
be reheated to manufacture molded objects.

End-of-life tire recycling 
As a % of total volume 

11
33

34

10

12

5
31

41

10

13

48

29

42

25

4

31

12

9

11
34

25

6

24

7
41

25

6

21

12

52

12

21

3

13

56

12

16

3

2005

2007

2005

2006

2003

2005

2005

2007

Western
Europe*

Eastern
Europe**

North
America***

Japan

DUMPED AND UNREPORTED
ENERGY RECOVERY
MATERIAL RECOVERY

EXPORT - REUSE
RETREADING IN THE ZONE

* Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg,
the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.
** Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech republic,
Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland,
Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia + Malta.
*** Canada, Mexico, United States
North America: 2007 figures not available.

Sources : ETRMA (European Tyre and Rubber
Manufacturers’ Association), RMA (Rubber
Manufacturers’ Association), JATMA (Japan
Automobile Tyre Manufacturers’ Association).
2008 data to be published at the end of 2009 

Focus

Aliapur gives 
tires a new lease 
on life

In France, since 2002, new tire
distributors are bound to recover
end-of-life tires within the limit
of their annual sales. 
The regulation provides for tire
makers to finance each year the
cost of end-of-life tire collection
and recycling according to the
’one for one’ principle, capped to
the volumes sold by them during
the previous year. 
Set up by Michelin (founding
shareholder) and six
manufacturers together
accounting for 70% of annual
end-of-life tire flows, Aliapur is in
charge of this mission since 2003.
The end-of-life tires are collected
by 44 collecting firms certified 
to operate with more than
43,000 tire storage and
distribution agents. They are then
sorted, collected and processed 
in 20 sites before being recycled
by 33 industrial operators. 
Some 300,000 tons of tire were
collected in 2008.

13

Innovation, safety, 
quality, performance 
and reliability lend 
the MICHELIN brand 
its strength everywhere 
in the world.

EUR 1.4 billion

is the financial value of the MICHELIN 
brand, estimated by Interbrand in 2007.

14 2008 Michelin Annual Report 

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Michelin listed in the DJSI
World index for the 4th year 
in a row and in the DJSI Stoxx
European index for the 5th year
running. They recognized
Michelin’s commitment to 
sustainable development 
and the results achieved by 
the Group’s Performance 
and Responsibility approach.

Michelin 
at a Glance

16
18
20
22
24
34
38

• Profile 
• Michel Rollier’s Message
• Management
• Control
• Michelin’s Strategy
• 2008 Figures
• The Michelin Share

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15

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
117,565 employees (110,252 full-time equivalent) • Net Sales:

Profile

World Tire Sector Leader (1), 
Michelin is at the forefront of all tire markets 
and traveling related service markets. 

Leading edge technology, innovation capacity, 
quality of products and services, powerful brands:
Michelin is pursuing a global growth strategy 
and strengthening its efficiency across the board.

In a nutshell, Michelin’s mission is to contribute to
the Progress of Mobility while applying its fundamental
values: Respect for Customers, Respect for People,
Respect for Shareholders, Respect for the Environment
and Respect for Facts.

(1) Accounting for 17.1% of world tire sales according to Tire Business, September 2008.

Simplified Corporate Organization Chart

Compagnie Générale
des Etablissements Michelin (CGEM)
France

G
100%

G
40%

D
60%

Compagnie Financière 
Michelin (CFM)* 
Switzerland
G
Industrial, trading and 
research companies located 
outside France

Manufacture Française
des Pneumatiques Michelin
France
G
Industrial and trading 
companies
located in France

* CFM is an intermediate holding company and the Group’s financing arm: 
it handles financial transactions with banks and the financial markets. 

16 2008 Michelin Annual Report 

EUR 16.4 bn • 68 production sites(2) in 19 countries • and a sales network covering 170 countries 

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(2) Excluding the Toul site that stopped producing at the end of 2008 and is in the process of being converted.

Corporate Structure

• 8 Product Lines 
deploying specific marketing, development,
production and sales resources;
• 2 Integrated Tire Distribution Networks:
Euromaster and TCI;
• 2 Business Subsidiaries: 
ViaMichelin and Michelin Lifestyle,Ltd.;
• 6 Geographic Zones: 
Europe, North America, South America, Asia
and Pacific, China, Africa and the Middle East;
• 10 Group Services supporting the other
entities; 
• 3 Performance Departments: 
Commercial, Industrial, Research – Development
– Industrialization.

Highly Reliable Products 
and Services

Fleet Management and Support: Michelin
Fleet Solutions in Europe, Michelin Business
Solutions and Tire Advisor in North America.

Tires for cars, light trucks, trucks, tractors,
handling equipment, industrial and construction
earthmovers, motorcycles, scooters, bicycles,
aircraft, subway trains, trams... a full range of
innovative solutions to match very different
needs and expectations.

Suspension and Pressure Monitoring
Systems: state-of-the art solutions developed 
in partnership with world-class specialists.

MICHELIN Maps and Guides, ViaMichelin
services and mobility enabling products.

Distribution and services: two integrated
networks, Euromaster in Europe and TCI in the
United States: benchmarks in their respective
markets for quality advice and service.

Mobility Enabling Services: Michelin OnWay,
Michelin Euro Assist.

Michelin Lifestyle Products, designed in
partnership with licensees: automotive and cycle
accessories, work, sport and leisure gear and
collectibles.

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A Balanced Brand 
Portfolio

A global brand: MICHELIN.
A major brand dedicated to sporty 
and SUV applications: BFGoodrich®.
Strong regional brands: UNIROYAL 
in North America, KLEBER in Europe, 
WARRIOR in China.
Leading national brands, private brands 
and retread solutions.

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17

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Michel Rollier’s
Message

Dear Madam, Dear Sir, Dear Shareholder,

The year 2008 was marked by a sharp increase in raw material prices 
and a financial crisis which quickly degenerated into an unprecedented global
economic crisis. All Group activities were impacted and net sales were up a
mere 1.1% at constant exchange rates. The specialty businesses alone posted
sales growth, though at a reduced pace over the last two months of the year. 

In such an environment, Group net result was down 53% versus 2007.
Operating margin* fell 4.2 points, due to a sudden and sharp fall of the
replacement markets and a dramatic reduction of original equipment
manufacturers’ demand in the last quarter; the strong negative impact 
of raw material and energy price inflation in the first half, the effects of
which were felt throughout the year, was only partly offset by the price
increases implemented by us. The Group nevertheless benefited from 

* Before non-recurring items.

the positive results of its competitiveness plan (Horizon 2010) which helped
cushion the effect of the crisis.

The MICHELIN brand was able to win market share across the board 
and in all regions, confirming its attractiveness in an increasingly competitive
environment. This goes to show that the short-term difficulties should not
detract us from our mid to long-term strategy: strengthen our
competitiveness, accelerate our exposure to the high-growth markets 
and leverage innovation to achieve greater brand differentiation.

Indeed, economic development and the mobility of goods and people go
hand in hand. Road mobility is a large and supportive market with long-term
growth prospects. With fuel efficiency and environmental protection

18 2008 Michelin Annual Report 

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considerations emerging as key market issues, Michelin’s innovative clout
makes it one of the best placed to turn these challenges into profitable
growth opportunities. Such breakthrough innovations as the Michelin
Durable Technologies for trucks and the MICHELIN Energy Saver 
(Green X label) tire for passenger cars, synonymous with lower fuel
consumption and increased safety and longevity, clearly illustrate Michelin’s
competitive edge in this area.
All of the services that facilitate and make transportation safer and optimize
our customers’ costs enable Michelin to make all the difference. 
We therefore decided to explain in this report why tire lifecycle is a
technological and environmental challenge and how Michelin addresses it, 
as this is key for its continued leadership, now and in the future. 

What is the Group’s outlook for 2009?
The year 2009 is bound to be particularly difficult and we must deal with the
situation while remaining poised to benefit as soon as the first signs of
economic recovery appear, probably during the second half.
We have tightened up our steering in order to be reactive and flexible and
have taken a number of measures designed above all to protect the
Company’s financial standing. We have accordingly reduced our investments
while maintaining the programs that will help us bounce back and adjusted
our production to avoid accumulating inventories. 

Based on these results we will submit to the next Annual Shareholders
Meeting a proposition to distribute one euro (EUR 1) dividend per share.
Though down 37% versus last year, this distribution was maintained, 
which is a strong sign of confidence for the future.

A company’s strength is best revealed in times of hardship. Crises are trying
times, but they also offer opportunities. The Group’s history is one of daring,
challenges and shared values. We know we can rely on the commitment 
of all Michelin teams and we thank them for their achievements throughout
the year and especially for all of their efforts to adjust to this critical period.

I thank you for your support and confidence, which we need now more 
than ever.

Michel Rollier

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19

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Management 

The Company is led by Messrs Michel Rollier, Managing
General Partner, Didier Miraton and Jean-Dominique
Senard, both Non-General Managing Partners.
The Managing Partners are assisted by the Group’s
Executive Council (GEC) appointed from seven heads 
of Product Lines, Group Services and Performance
Departments.

In order to optimize Group management consistency,
shared information and concentration of resources 
on top priorities, a wider GEC includes the six 
Geographic zone heads and the eight heads of
Purchasing, Corporate Development, Research –
Development – Industrialization Performance, 
Prospective and Sustainable Development, Quality,
Financial Affairs, Legal Affairs and Information Systems.

20 2008 Michelin Annual Report 

Michel Rollier, Didier Miraton and Jean-Dominique Senard.

The Managing Partners

Michel Rollier
• Born in 1944.
• Paris IEP and MA law graduate.
• Joined the Aussedat-Rey (member
company of International Paper Group), 
in 1971, successively Financial controller,
Business department Head, Chief Financial
Officer (1987-1994) and Deputy Chief
Executive Officer (1994-1996).
• Joined Michelin Group in 1996.
• Head of Legal and Financial Affairs
Departments.
• Appointed CFO and Group Executive
Council Member in October 1999.
• Managing Partner since May 20, 2005.

Didier Miraton
• Born in 1958.
• Ponts et Chaussées (civil engineering
school) graduate.
• Joined Michelin in 1982 and dedicated 
his career to Research and Innovation, in
both France and North America in particular
in the area of Truck tire technologies and

later in Earthmover and handling equipment
tire technologies.
• Appointed Head of Michelin’s Technology
Center and Member of the Group’s Executive
Council in 2001.
• Managing Partner since May 11, 2007.

Jean-Dominique Senard
• Born in 1953.
• HEC (Business School) and MA law
graduate.
• From 1979 through 1996, exercised various
operational and financial responsibilities with
Total and Saint-Gobain.
• Pechiney Group CFO in 1996, Executive
Council Member then head of the Primary
Aluminium operations until 2004.
Later appointed Alcan Group Executive
Committee member and Chairman of
Pechiney SA.
• Joined Michelin Group in 2005, 
in his capacity as CFO and Group Executive
Council member. 
• Managing Partner since May 11, 2007.

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Eric de Cromières, Claire Dorland-Clauzel, Jean-Christophe Guérin, Jean-Michel Guillon, Florent Menegaux, Pete Selleck and Bernard Vasdeboncœur. 

Pete Selleck
Truck and Bus 

Bernard Vasdeboncœur 
Specialty Product Lines: 
Agricultural, Aircraft, Two Wheel,
Earthmover, Components,
Supervises Purchasing

Group Executive Council 

Eric de Cromières
Commercial Performance
Euromaster, TCI
Maps and Guides, ViaMichelin, 
Michelin Lifestyle
Supervises Information Systems

Claire Dorland-Clauzel
Communication and Brands

Jean-Christophe Guérin
Industrial performance
Supervises Quality and the Supply Chain

Jean-Michel Guillon
Personnel Department
Organization

Florent Menegaux
Passenger Car and Light Truck
Supervises Racing

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21

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Control
le message 
de Michel Rollier

The Supervisory Board monitors Michelin’s corporate
management on behalf of the Shareholders 
and reports to them annually on its mission. 
The Supervisory Board comprises eight members. 
In the exercise of its control functions, the Supervisory
Board enjoys the same powers as the Statutory
Auditors; it has access to the same information 
and documents.
The Supervisory Board in plenary session performs 
the Compensation Committee’s function and has set
up a four-member Audit Committee, all independent.

22 2008 Michelin Annual Report 

Eric Bourdais de Charbonnière
Born in 1939 – French national
Independent Member
Chairman of the Supervisory Board
Member of the Audit Committee
1,074 shares held

After 25 years with JP Morgan and serving as 
the bank’s CEO for France, Eric Bourdais de
Charbonnière acted as Michelin’s CFO beginning 
in 1990 and retired in 1999. He has been chairing
Michelin’s Supervisory Board since 2000.

Other mandates and functions:
Member of the Supervisory Board of Oddo et Cie
Member of the Board of Directors of Thomson SA
Member of the Supervisory Board of ING Group

Barbara Dalibard 
Born in 1958 – French national
Independent Member
350 shares held

Barbara Dalibard is Member of Groupe France
Télécom’s General Management Committee, 
in charge of Corporate customer communication.
Her previous positions included a number of
management positions in the same group and 
in Groupe Alcatel.

Other mandates and functions:
Member of Groupe France Télécom’s General
Management Committee 
Chief Executive Officer of Equant
Director of Globecast Holding

Louis Gallois
Born in 1944 – French national
Independent Member
250 shares held

Louis Gallois is currently Chief Executive Officer 
of EADS and Chairman of the Shareholders
Committee of Airbus. Before this he was Chairman
of SNCF and occupied a number of functions in
the aeronautics industry and in France’s Economics
and Finance Ministry, in the Research and Industry
Ministry and the Ministry of Defense.

Other mandates and functions:
Chief Executive Officer of EADS NV
Member of the Executive Committee of EADS NV
Chairman of the Shareholders Committee of Airbus 
Director of École Centrale des Arts et Manufactures
Chairman of Fondation Villette-Entreprises

Pat Cox
Born in 1952 – Irish national
Independent Member
250 shares held

Former Member of the Irish Parliament and of the
European Parliament, Pat Cox acted as Chairman
of the European Parliament from January 2002 
to June 2004.

Other mandates and functions:
Chairman of International European Movement
Board Member of Trustees of the International
Crisis Group
Board Member of Trustees Friends of Europe
Director of UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate School
of Business
Member of the Consultative Committee 
to the Chairman of University College Cork
Blue Box Creative Learning Centre sponsor 
Member of the European Supervisory Board 
of Microsoft 
Member of the Supervisory Board of Pfizer Europe
Director of Tiger Developments Europe
Member of the Supervisory Board of APCO
Worldwide International

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Pat Cox, Barbara Dalibard, François Grappotte, Eric Bourdais de Charbonnière, Pierre Michelin, Laurence Parisot, Louis Gallois and Benoît Potier.

François Grappotte
Born in 1936 – French national
Independent Member
Chairman of the Audit Committee
1,000 shares held

After acting for 20 years as Groupe Legrand’s CEO,
François Grappotte was appointed non-executive
Chairman in 2004 and Honorary Chairman on
March 17, 2006.

Other mandates and functions:
Honorary Chairman of Legrand
Director of BNP Paribas

Pierre Michelin
Born in 1949 – French national
Independent Member
Member of the Audit Committee
1,481 shares held

After joining Philips’ IT department, Pierre Michelin
became head of a Bull division. Since 2003, 

he is also an IS technology professor at the Reims
Management School (RMS).

Other mandates and functions:
No mandate held in other companies

Laurence Parisot
Born in 1959 – French national
Independent Member
500 shares held

Laurence Parisot headed the Louis Harris France
polling Institute (1986) before joining Institut
Français de l’Opinion Publique (IFOP) in 1990 
in her capacity as CEO; Chairwoman of Optimum 
until March 2006, elected Chairwoman of France’s
Employers association (MEDEF) in July 2005.

Other mandates and functions:
Vice-Chairwoman of Ifop’s Directoire
Director of BNP Paribas
Director of Coface SA
Chairwoman of MEDEF

Benoît Potier
Born in 1957 – French national
Independent Member
2,509 shares held

Benoît Potier joined L’Air Liquide 25 years ago, 
and was appointed CEO in 1997, Chairman of 
the Directoire (Executive Board) in November 2001,
and Chief Executive Officer in May 2006.

Other mandates and functions:
CEO of L’Air Liquide, Air Liquide International,
American Air Liquide Inc, Air Liquide International
Corporation
Chairman of American Air Liquide Holdings Inc.
Chairman of Air Liquide Fundation
Chairman of the Audit Committee of Danone
Director of Ecole Centrale des Arts & Manufactures
Member of the Council for France of Insead
Director of ANSA
Director of AFEP
Director of Cercle de l’industrie

Statutory Auditors

Statutory
PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit
Represented by Christian Marcellin,
Partner

Corevise
Represented by Stéphane Marie,
Partner

Substitutes
Pierre Coll, Partner of
PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit
Jacques Zaks, Partner of Corevise

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23

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategy
Competitive Edge, Growth,
Differentiation: Michelin stays 
the course to strengthen 
its world leadership 

Mobility of goods and people and economic development 
go hand in hand. Predominant in the developed countries,
booming in the emerging countries, road mobility is a large 
and supportive market with long-term growth prospects. 
Tire industry World No.1, present in all tire markets, Michelin
intends to strengthen its world leadership in an increasingly
competitive environment, marked by highly volatile raw material
and energy prices, growth driven by the emerging countries,
increasingly demanding conditions concerning the social 
and environmental impact of corporate activities.

In line with its ambition, the Group launched
in 2006 the Horizon 2010 Plan focusing on
three main objectives:
• strengthen competitiveness through
continuous productivity gains, cost
reductions and operational excellence;
• accelerate its expansion in the higher-
growth markets;
• enhance differentiation of its products and
services through innovation.

Group teams are strongly mobilized to deploy
this strategy whose 2010 objectives are: 
• minimum 3.5% annual volume growth; 
• minimum 10% operating margin*;
• inventory capped at 16% of net sales;
• minimum 10% Return On Capital Employed;

• significantly positive and recurring free cash
flow.

Halfway through the plan, results are
encouraging. Powerful innovations were
introduced. The improvements achieved
through the Group’s competitiveness plan
will enable Michelin to emerge stronger from
the current crisis.

Note, however, that the current circumstances
marked by a sharp fall of demand, together
with the significant reduction in investments
decided by the Group for 2009, might delay
the attainment of the Horizon 2010
program’s objectives.

* Before non-recurring items.

24 2008 Michelin Annual Report 

1,000,000 km

added to the road network, 
more than 100 million cars in China
by 2020.

Group Markets

Tires: A World Market Worth Some 
USD 130 bn
The world tire market is worth USD 127
billion(1): 60 % for passenger cars and light
trucks and close to 30 % for trucks and
buses(2). 
The market amounted to 1.1 billion passenger
car and light truck tires and 150 million truck
and bus tires(3). Three quarters of all tires are
sold in the Replacement market that has
historically been less cyclical than the Original
Equipment market. And the replacement
market accounts for 75% of Michelin’s sales.

Strong Competition 
The world’s three largest tire makers together
account for 49% of the market(1). Michelin
recovered its world No.1 rank ahead of
Bridgestone, but Asian manufacturers
continue to gain ground. They are growing
strongly in their regional markets, are gaining
a strong foothold in North America and
beginning to penetrate Europe.

Sustainable Prospects
In the United States, the number of cars 
is close to 800 per 1,000 inhabitants. China
has fewer than 20, the rest of Asia excluding
Japan fewer than 30 and Mexico, for

example, has reached more than 200: 
the growth potential therefore remains huge.
Despite the current crisis, the world’s car
fleet should grow by around 500 million
vehicles by 2030, mainly in China, India,
Brazil and Russia, to reach 1.3 billion light
vehicles(2). 

A Market Undergoing 
Far-Reaching Change
For the first time ever, in 2008, fuel efficiency
has become equally important as reliability
and safety in the eyes of consumers(4).
This results both from towering fuel price
increases and from greater awareness of
environmental issues.

All tire makers are initiating profound
changes dictated by the need to save energy
and raw materials, reduce greenhouse gas
emissions and better meet growing
expectations in terms of road safety and
health. 
To rise to these challenges and win market
share, innovative capability is a major
strategic asset.

(1) Tire Business – September 2008.
(2) Michelin estimates.
(3) New tires.
(4) Capgemini Cars Online 2008/2009 – 10th edition.
Survey among more than 3,000 consumers in Brazil,
China, France, Germany, India, Russia, the UK 
and the USA.

Number of Passenger Cars per 1,000 Inhabitants 

Number of Passenger Cars 
per 1,000 inhabitants

Inhabitants
in million

• Western Europe
• Central and Eastern Europe
• United States
• Mexico
• Brazil
• Other South American countries
• Asia
• Africa & the Middle East

Michelin Estimates.

548
182
796
234
147
87
40
40

406
433
306
107
188
263
2,900
1,400

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Breakdown of the 2007 World
Market Sales by Manufacturer in value
(US dollars)

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17.1% Michelin 
16.9% Bridgestone 
14.9% Goodyear 

5.9% Continental 
4.5% Pirelli 
3.2% Sumitomo 
2.9% Yokohama 
2.7% Hankook 
2.3% Cooper 
2.1% Kumho 
1.7% Toyo 
1.7% Cheng Shin 
1.4% GITI Tire 
1.0% Triangle 

21.7% Other

Tire Business – September 2008.

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25

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Passenger car and light truck
replacement tire market growth
expected in the BRIC countries(2)
over the next 10 years will be twice
that recorded in Europe and North
America.

Passenger Car and Light Truck Tires: 
a highly demanding market
Passenger Car and Light Truck tires account
for 60% of global sales and 1.1 billion units,
73% of which are replacement tires.
In volume terms, Europe accounts for 
34% of the market, North America 29% 
and Asia 24%(1).
For the first time ever, more passenger cars
were registered in the BRIC countries(2) than
in the United States in 2008, with an
estimated total of 14 million registrations(3).
The High performance(4), Recreational(5)
and Winter segments now account for 
400 million tires or 40% of the global 
tire market. 

Consumers are looking for lower cost 
of ownership (in other words, lower fuel
consumption and longer lasting tires), more
safety and an enhanced driving experience,
while respecting the environment. In the
emerging countries, they prefer products
with long tread life.
The automotive manufacturers are accelerating
new vehicle platform development in response
to increasingly competitive markets and
stringent regulations in the area of safety 
and the environment, two areas in which tires
play a key role. 

More than 70% of tire replacement sales 
are made by specialist dealers, although 
the situation varies from country to country. 
In Europe, tire specialists account for only 
50% of volumes, while car dealers, which
have a marginal share elsewhere, account 
for more than 20% of the market. 

Truck and Bus Tires: a strategic piece 
of equipment for truck fleets
The world truck tire market represents 
more than 150 million units(6) each year and
accounts for nearly 30% of the overall tire
market value. 82% of truck tires are sold 
in the replacement segment. Dominated 
by China, Asia accounts for almost half 
of the market. The expansion and
modernization of road infrastructure and
’Just-in-Time’ logistics and delivery contribute
to the attractiveness of road transportation,
a business that is highly correlated to
economic trends.
67% of all truck tires are radial tires.
Completed in Western Europe and North
America, the radialization process keeps
gaining ground in South America, Asia,
particularly in India, and Russia.
Retreading doubles tire life. In North America,
volume-wise, the retread market is equivalent
to the new tire replacement market.

(1) Michelin estimates. 
(2) Brazil, Russia, India, China.
(3) The Economist – Courrier
International n° 942 20.11.2008.
(4) V-speed rated and above
Passenger car tires.
(5) Tires for SUV, 4wd and Crossover
vehicles.
(6) New tires.

Regulations that promote
fuel-efficient tires

The United States and Europe will 
soon introduce regulations requiring
OEMs to lower CO2 emission levels 
for new vehicles.
Simultaneously, a standard labeling
system will become compulsory 
to inform consumers on tire fuel
efficiency as well as on noise level 
and wet grip. 
Number one maker of low-energy
consumption tires in the world, with
tire solutions for all vehicle types and
rim sizes, Michelin is particularly well
placed to benefit from these new
regulations.

26 2008 Michelin Annual Report 

90%

of respondents quote fuel 
efficiency as important when
selecting a vehicle, especially 
in emerging countries(1).
(1) Capgemini Cars Online 2008/2009 – 
10th edition. 

20%

For a 20% reduction of tire rolling
resistance, a truck fleet will cut its
fuel consumption by up to 6%,
translating into 1% to 2% overall
fuel bill cost savings.

50%

of the large Western
European fleets have
entered into tire 
management contracts.

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Tires account for 2-3% of a truck fleet’s
operating costs, a significant cost since 
it is roughly the equivalent of the sector’s
operating margin. But above all, tires have 
a major impact on fuel consumption, which
alone accounts for up to 30% of truck fleet
operating costs.
The larger fleets manage their tire resources
professionally. Their original equipment
procurement policies are brand-oriented and
their tire choice is maintained at replacement
time. The overall cost, which includes
mileage performance, retreaded life and fuel
savings, is key to this choice. Solutions that
combine tire products, maintenance and
services clearly enhance the truck fleet
operators’ competitive edge by improving
vehicle mobility and uptime. 

In developed countries, truck tire distribution
is mainly handled by specialist dealers and
through direct sales to large fleets. Trends 
in this sector are for truck-side maintenance
services aimed at minimizing downtime. 

Specialty Tire Markets: 
increasingly radialized
The Specialty tire markets, covering highly
different sectors, account for a little over
10% of world tire sales. Specialty tires are

highly technical products and a segment
where offering is constantly enriched. 

Raw material demand, the development 
of infrastructure and international trade all
support earthmover tire demand, especially
in the mining, public works and handling
segments.
Due to the gradual build up of industrial
capacity by the principal tire manufacturers
and the current market slowdown, the gap
between supply and demand is narrowing. 

Always more competitive, modern-day
agriculture must address the new
requirements of respect for the environment
and sustainable development. Farming is
increasingly intensive and relies on more and
more powerful machinery. To match these
requirements, agricultural tires must carry
heavier loads while reducing fuel
consumption and soil compaction.

generations, mainly fitted with radial tires.
Turning to motorcycle tires, large motorcycles
still prevail in North America while the sports
performance segment is most buoyant in
Europe, where a new segment of large
scooters is booming. The smaller
motorcycles, which are the most popular
form of transportation there, continue to
post strong growth in all emerging markets.

Maps, guides, and digital services for
travelers: highly competitive markets
The Guides market is characterized by
increasing competition and the number of
players has grown in recent years. The Maps
and Atlases market has been affected by
competition from web-based route finding
services and GPS. 
Michelin is an active player in Europe’s 
digital travel-enabling market. Its ViaMichelin
subsidiary offers a complete range of mobility-
enabling products and services to all road users.

The aircraft tire market is quickly switching
to radial tire technology with the
development of new generation aircraft 
by Airbus, Boeing, ATR or Embraer. Indeed,
the strong increase in oil prices in 2008 has
accelerated the replacement of the older
more fuel-consuming aircraft by more recent

Product licensing: worldwide potential
Product licensing accounts for a growing and
influential share of the highly competitive
retail sector. The industry is very
concentrated: the top 100 licensees account
for 75% of the licensed product market,
which is worth USD 190 billion.

While leisure and sports industries represent
the bulk of the market, large industrial
players account for a significant share. 
In 2008, Michelin Lifestyle, whose mission is
to leverage the value of the MICHELIN brand,
occupied 61st position in the world.

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27

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Streamlining inventory and logistics 
costs in Europe while enhancing 
customer service: this is the reason 
behind the construction of a major 
logistics hub in the Valenciennes (France) 
area; the project’s second phase 
was commissioned in April 2008. 

Strengthen competitiveness
In 2006, Michelin launched ’Horizon 2010’,
an ambitious program to improve its
competitiveness. The objective: achieve
overall EUR 1.5 to 1.7 billion worth of cost
savings by 2010(1) through:
• EUR 700 – 800 million industrial cost savings;
• EUR 500 – 550 million raw material cost
savings;
• EUR 300 – 350 million selling, general,
administrative and logistics cost savings.

Half-way through the program, the Group 
is in line with its objective. In the 2007-2008
period, it achieved EUR 511 million cost
savings, breaking down as follows: 
EUR 188 million in industrial operations, 
EUR 151 million in raw material spending
and EUR 172 million in selling, general,
administrative and logistics expenses.
Industrial productivity gains were negatively
impacted by the sharp decline of production
in the fourth quarter 2008. In a “normal”
environment where industrial production
would have been up 2.5% in the second half
2008 versus the second half 2007, industrial
cost savings would have reached EUR 292
million over two years, as opposed to the
EUR 188 million reduction actually achieved. 
Michelin therefore continued to implement
its productivity improvement measures in line

(1) Aggregate at constant scope and exchange rates.

with its objectives and will fully enjoy the
benefit of this progress as soon as its
industrial capacities are again used in optimal
conditions.

Optimizing the Industrial Base
Michelin is optimizing its industrial
infrastructure in order to assure a robust and
profitable base in the developed markets.
This program hinges on three aspects: 
• concentration of industrial capacity to
create large, specialized plants, using more
flexible, standardized and streamlined
production processes; 
• deployment of best practices and thorough
improvement of processes and organizations;
• natural attrition of nearly 30,000 employees
in the 2008-2012 period, to be only partially
replaced.

In Western Europe and North America,
Michelin adjusts its investment plan to the
weakening automotive and tire markets:
• Specialization of the Bourges (France) plant
in Aircraft tire manufacturing, specialization
of the Lasarte (Spain) plant in Motorcycle
tires and semi-finished products, closure at
the end of 2008 of the Toul (France)
Passenger Car and Light Truck tire plant.
• Modernization and reorganization of Italian
operations: Cuneo will become Europe’s

Facilitating reorganizations 

Improve performance while assuming its responsibilities: a choice that
guides Michelin’s approach. In the event of reorganizations, Michelin
proposes to each employee concerned either internal reclassification
solutions or individual support. Such measures are launched 8 to 12
months ahead of closure in order to ensure proper preparation to change.
Simultaneously, Michelin strives to create new jobs in the regions where 
it operates. Michelin has created a network of ten Michelin Development
companies in charge of this mission across Europe and North America.
For instance, immediately upon announcement of closure of the Toul
plant (France), Michelin committed to creating 900 jobs by 2012 to make
up for the 826 job losses and to reconvert the site. This is already home to
a Customer Relations Center that has created 150 new jobs since February
2009 and plans to offer an additional 100 jobs in 2011. 100 to 140 more
jobs will be created by 2012 under a project in partnership with 
a subsidiary of Suez Environnement to develop and manufacture new
materials derived from recycling.
33 job creations are also planned within 3 years in connection with SETIA’s
maintenance and industrial engineering activities, plus 44 jobs under 
the redeployment of Wig France and Carpentier Constructions.

28 2008 Michelin Annual Report 

100%

of Group plants committed 
to implementing MMW good
practices.

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Through Michelin Manufacturing Way
(MMW), the Group is set to align all of its
plants on the best practices of its higher-
performing factories by 2010. Its key
performance indicators include: accidents at
the workplace measured by frequency and
severity rates (the safest plants generally also
post the best performance), customer
satisfaction, raw material waste, product
quality, together with Michelin-specific cost
and productivity indicators including
environmental impact (through MEF –
Michelin sites Environmental Footprint). 

Simultaneously, Michelin is streamlining its
key processes with greater focus on speed,
efficiency and empowerment. Design,
innovation, industrialization, project
management, administration, logistics,
customer relations: Michelin Design Way,
Michelin Selling Way, Tonus, Callisto
and all the workstreams launched so far 
have a clear positive impact on performance.

largest Michelin production plant for
premium Passenger Car and Light Truck tires
and the production will stop at the Turin
Passenger Car tire plant.
• Project to modernize and extend
production capacities at the Lexington 
(South Carolina) industrial site. 
• Cancellation of the greenfield project 
in Mexico, whose production was to serve
the North American market. At the same
time, productivity gains and additional
investments in existing North American
production facilities will enable Michelin 
to satisfy demand for high-performance 
and large diameter tires. 

Identify, standardize and roll out 
the best practices worldwide
Streamline and standardize processes,
identify and globally implement the best
practices, pool resources and strengthen
cooperation, align all team objectives on
priority objectives: Michelin aims at
operational excellence across Group
operations and re-engineers its practices to
gain in quality, speed and cost effectiveness.

Standardizing plant means lowering the cost
of investment, accelerating new plant ramp
up, which in turn frees teams for other
projects and improves profitability quicker.

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25%

of Passenger Car and Light Truck and
Truck tire production came from sites
with an annual capacity of 100,000 tons
or more in 2005, a figure that should
rise to 51% in 2010 and more than 
60% in 2012.

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29

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1988-2008: 

with an industrial presence in Asia for
the last 20 years, Michelin is the leader
of the Passenger Car and Light Truck 
tire replacement market in China, 
the world’s second largest market.

6%

Group sales 
volume increase 
in the emerging
countries.

capacities in China. It has decided to build 
a truck and earthmover tire plant in India,
Asia’s 2nd largest truck tire market with 
a large potential for radial tires. 
Under a cooperation agreement concluded 
in 2003, Michelin also raised its stake 
in the Korean tiremaker Hankook Tire 
(No.8 in the world) to close to 10%.

A highly consistent industrial strategy
In the developed markets, the production 
of many Michelin sites now enjoys competitive
edge compared with products imported 
from plants relocated to low cost countries. 

Investing in high-growth regions 
Michelin accelerates its development in
Central and Eastern Europe, South America,
and Asia in order to serve tire demand with
local production and to increase its share 
of sales in those dynamic economies, in line
with the geographic breakdown and trends
of world tire markets. Michelin’s investments
in these regions represented EUR 450 million
in 2008.

In Central and Eastern Europe, Michelin
strengthens the High Performance Passenger
Car tire production capacity of its Hungarian
facilities.

In South America, the Campo Grande 
(Brazil) Earthmover tire plant, commissioned
in November 2007, has ramped up according
to plan. The Group has announced
construction of a new plant in Brazil to cater
to the Mercosur’s demand for passenger car
and light truck tires. 
On the other hand, its project to build 
a new plant in Mexico, whose production
was to serve the North American market, 
has been cancelled. 

In Asia, Michelin increases its Passenger car
and Light truck and Truck tire production

Michelin’s
production
capacity   

in emerging countries should
grow an estimated 40% for
Truck tires and 100% for
Passenger Car and Light Truck
and Specialty tires by 2012.

A new approach to costs

Buying better, consuming less: Michelin 
is implementing a number of initiatives
to streamline costs while meeting 
its customers’ expectations.
Value to Design and Design to Cost
combine marketing, development and
industrialization to define fair product
performance, optimize components 
and manufacturing and thus lower
production costs while maintaining
delivered product performance.
Triangle brings together internal
customers, specifiers and buyers around
specific projects to analyze them in order
to achieve optimum cost efficiency.
Process and component standardization
as well as global purchasing lower the
cost of investments without impacting
industrial performance.
The diversification of procurement
sources using purchasing platforms 
in Eastern Europe and China contribute
to a competitive offering.
In addition, Michelin is turning to 
third-party sourcing and subcontracting
in non-core areas where justified by 
a good quality/price ratio.

30 2008 Michelin Annual Report 

A Global Footprint

Western Europe
14 PC/LT plants(1)
12 Truck plants
8 Specialty tire plants
55,106 employees*

Italy
• High-end tire production capacity increase
at the Cuneo plant.
• Stop of the PC/LT tire production at the
Turin plant at the end of 2009.

South America
2 PC/LT plants
3 Truck plants
1 Specialty tire plant
5,783 employees*

Breakdown of headcount 
between the mature(1) countries
and the emerging countries 

Industrial facilities
• Major productivity gain plans in Europe 
at the Bamberg and Bad Kreuznach sites
(Germany), Cholet (France), Vitoria (Spain),
Cuneo (Italy) and Ballymena (Ireland) plants.

Spain
• Specialization of the Lasarte plant in high-
performance motorcycle tires.
• Specialization of the Aranda plant in
Michelin Durable Technologies Truck tires.
• Expansion of Passenger Car and Light Truck
and Earthmover tire production capacity at
the Vitoria plant and of Agricultural tire
building and Retreading facilities at the
Valladolid plant.

France
• Specialization of the Cholet (Light-Truck
tire) and Bourges (Aircraft radial tire) plants.
• Closing of the Passenger Car and Light
Truck tire production at Toul; ongoing site
reconversion.

Eastern Europe
5 PC/LT plants
3 Truck plants
2 Specialty tire plants
12,489 employees*

Industrial facilities
• Project to increase high-performance PC
tire capacity in Hungary.

North America
11 PC/LT plants
6 Truck plants
3 Specialty tire plants
22,215 employees*

Industrial facilities
USA
• Expansion of Earthmover tire capacity at
Lexington. 
• Major productivity gain plans at the
Greenville and Lexington sites.

Industrial facilities
Brazil
• Ramp up of the Campo Grande
Earthmover tire plant.
• PC/LT capacity increase project.

Asia
5 PC/LT plants
3 Truck plants
2 Specialty tire plants
13,457 employees*

Industrial facilities
• Major productivity gain plans at the Laem
Chabang (Thailand) and Shanghai (China)
plants.
• PC/LT and Truck capacity increase projects
in China.
• Project to build an Earthmover and Truck
tire plant in India.

Africa and the Middle East
1 Truck tire plant
1,202 employees*

(1) Excluding the Toul site.
* Full-time equivalent staff as at December 31, 2008.
• PC/LT: Passenger Car and Light Truck.

66%  Mature countries
34%  Emerging countries 

In full-time equivalent, excluding integrated tire 
distribution networks.
(1) United States, Canada, Western Europe, Japan.

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A brand promise 
and six commitments

The MICHELIN brand, which is both
global and generalist, is key to 
the Group’s leadership. It encapsulates
the company’s mission: “Contribute 
to the progress of mobility for both
goods and people”. Its promise,
expressed in its tagline, shared across 
the world – A better way forward –
covers six separate commitments: safety,
best total cost of ownership, respect 
for the environment, individual and
collective wellbeing, easy and pleasant
travel experience. The rich variety of
these commitments meets the different
needs of diversified markets. Michelin’s
competitive edge results from the
matchless mix of tire performance
aspects it is able to deliver, especially 
the combination of long service life,
safety and fuel efficiency.

32 2008 Michelin Annual Report 

Product performance and services 
that make all the difference
Continue to deliver ever higher-performance
products and tailor-made, innovative services
to enhance safety, total cost of ownership
and environmental footprint: to deliver on
this commitment, each year, the Group
channels 3 to 4% of its net sales in research
and development. With some 6,000 persons
and a EUR 500 million budget in 2008, 
the Group’s research, development and
industrialization operations are the tire
industry’s largest.

With fuel efficiency and environmental
protection considerations emerging as key
competitive issues, Michelin’s innovative clout
makes it one of the best-placed to turn these
unprecedented challenges into profitable
growth opportunities. Such breakthrough
innovations as the Michelin Durable
Technologies for trucks and MICHELIN Energy
Saver for passenger cars, synonymous with
lower fuel consumption, increased safety 
and longevity, clearly illustrate Michelin’s
competitive edge in this area.

Other differentiation opportunities include:
the travel-enabling services that make
transportation safer and optimize operator
business and the bottom line. Long haul

fleets, farmers, OEMs, mining companies,
airlines… Michelin develops for its customers
high value-added solutions like truck-side
maintenance, mileage-based, per landing 
or transported ton invoicing and is becoming
a genuine business partner capable of
optimizing their overall performance.

Enhancing individual professionalism
and commitment
In order to retain its leadership, Michelin
Group intends to operate in all markets and
to win customers’ loyalty through superior
product and service quality and innovation,
operational excellence and powerful brands
and its employees’ loyalty by fostering their
commitment and talent. Respect for People,
a strong corporate culture that acts as a
social cement and source of motivation –
underpinned by a long-term view of
personnel growth – are the three mainstays
of the Group’s management policy, deployed
for 117,000 employees of 120 nationalities.

In France, the plan to support the 
826 employees of the Kléber site at Toul,
together with the Group’s commitment 
to revitalize employment in the Toul area
(with 900 new job creations by 2012) are a
concrete illustration of the meaning behind
the phrase ’Respect for People’ at Michelin.

4

The accident frequency rate was
divided by four in five years. 

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and adopts a long-term view. Accordingly, 
it implements tailored career paths designed
to promote individual fulfillment together
with ever greater professionalism.
Empowering organizations foster initiative,
the acquisition of new experience and 
know-how, recognition, the realization 
of motivating career paths together with
integration of local diversity. Michelin
conducts an active training policy that gives
individuals a chance to grow and increase
their professionalism throughout their
careers. More than 80% of employees
assuming new functions benefit from an
individual training program. In 2008, 83% 
of Group employees benefited from training
for an individual average of 60 hours 
(or 4.2% of working time/head). 

In 2008, under the Group’s third Employee
Shareholder Plan, 56% of employees in 
55 countries across five continents, applied
for shares. This high participation rate
testifies to its employees’ confidence in
Michelin’s strength and mid-term prospects.

Concerning the reclassification of the entire
Toul plant personnel, five groups were
organized in Occupational Transition
Workshops. Of the people who have
attended the workshops, 357 have found 
a new job. Counting the twenty employees
who had already found a new position
before launch of the workshops and the
other nineteen who will be reclassified within
Michelin Group, a total of 396 people, 
or half of the employees affected, have 
a new professional occupation at the time 
of writing this Report.

Respecting also means defeating all forms 
of discrimination and affording all talented
people a chance to grow. Indeed, Michelin
has long known that diversity boosts
creativity and innovation and enhances staff
flexibility, adaptability and reactivity.
Its Personnel management and development
policies are consistent throughout Michelin
Group entities. Recruitment, integration 
and organizational models and management
are all geared to achieving a high degree 
of cohesion. In 2008, Michelin defined 
a new integration policy to be deployed 
in early 2009.

The Company values the talents and
development of each one of its members

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Michelin Performance and Responsibility: a dynamic
approach, new edition of the report due in 2009

Since 2002, Michelin’s Performance and Responsibility approach has guided 
the Group’s commitment to sustainable, balanced and responsible development.
Fully integrated into the ongoing action plans and projects and efficiently
supported by teams at every level, the approach reflects the Group’s long-term
view of its development through its contribution to addressing societal issues
based on the implementation of its values: Respect for Customers, Respect 
for People, Respect for Shareholders, Respect for the Environment and Respect 
for Facts.
The Group reports on the progress of its approach and on its objectives and results
in its Michelin Performance and Responsibility Report published every two years,
and an update in the interim years. This information is available from 
the www.michelin.com website and on request from the Investor Relations
Department. The fourth full report will be for the 2007-2008 period (publication 
in May 2009). 

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2008 
Figures

The Economic Environment
Michelin experienced an unprecedented external cost
increase*: EUR 968 million, of which EUR 804 million 
was for raw materials alone. 
The change in currency exchange rates and, in particular,
the further appreciation of the euro versus the US dollar,
the pound sterling and the Canadian dollar translated
into EUR 647 million negative impact. 

* Raw materials, energy and logistics.

Changes in €/US $ exchange rates  
Average exchange rate over the period

1.47

1.37

1.24

1.25

1.26

2004 2005

2006 2007 2008

40% of Michelin’s sales are made in the dollar
zone and more than two thirds of its raw 
material purchases are US dollar (or US dollar-
correlated currency) denominated.

34 2008 Michelin Annual Report 

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Change in raw material prices 
(Monthly average)

Natural rubber (USD cents/kg)

RSS3
TSR20

Natural rubber accounts for close to

one-third of Michelin’s raw material

Butadiene*  

BUTADIENE US GULF (US $/t)
BUTADIENE EUROPE (€/t)

350

300

250

200

150

100

50
2003

purchases in value terms while 

carbon black and raw materials used

to manufacture synthetic rubber

account for 40%. The decline of oil

and natural rubber prices recorded 

in the 2nd half 2008 did not impact

Group 2008 financial year accounts

due to the time gap between raw

material purchases and the sale of

tires made from them.

3,000

2,500

2,000

1,500

1,000

500

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

Brent (US $/barrel)

Styrene* 

STYRENE US GULF (US $/t)
STYRENE EUROPE (€/t)

150

120

90

60

30

0

2003

2,000

1,500

1,000

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

500

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

* Oil by-products used in the manufacture of synthetic rubber.

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Michelin Key Figures
Sales declined 2.7% as a result of a combination 
of volumes down 2.9%, 4.2% positive price mix
effect and 3.8% negative impact of exchange rates.
At constant exchange rates, sales would have been
up 1.1%.
External cost inflation and the sharp slump 
in demand in the second half translated into
operating profits* down 4.2 points at 5.6%. 
Net result, amounting to EUR 772 million in 2007,
was EUR 357 million in 2008, after EUR 77 million
restructuring charges.
Capital expenditure accounted for EUR 1,271 million
versus EUR 1,340 million in 2007. Free cash flow was
negative at EUR -359 million, compared with 
EUR 433 positive free cash flow in 2007.
The net debt to equity ratio, up 14 points,
amounted to 84%.

* Before non-recurring items.

2008 Net Sales 
In EUR million 

15,048 15,590

16,384 16,867 16,408

2004

2005

2006 2007

2008

36 2008 Michelin Annual Report 

2008 Net Sales by Region 
In EUR million and % change 

8,158 /
5,157 /
3,093 / +8.6% South America, Asia Pacific, Africa & the Middle East

-4.1% Europe
-6.5% North America and Mexico

2008 Net Sales by Reporting Segment
In EUR million and % change 

8,668 / -4.1% Passenger Car/Light Truck & Related Distribution
5,433 / -3.7% Truck & Related Distribution
2,307 / +5.5% Specialty Businesses

2008 Operating Income* by Reporting Segment
In EUR million and % change 

370 / -55% Passenger Car/Light Truck & Related Distribution
138 / -68% Truck & Related Distribution
412 / +6% Specialty Businesses

2008 Operating Margin* by Reporting Segment 
As a % of sales and point change

4.3% / -4.9 pts Passenger Car/Light Truck & Related Distribution
2.5% / -5.1 pts  Truck & Related Distribution

17.9% / +0.1 pt  Specialty Businesses

* Before non-recurring items.

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Operating income(1) 
In EUR million
Operating margin(1)
As a %

1,645
9.8%

1,303
8.7%

1,368
8.8%

1,338
8.2%

920
5.6%

2004 2005

2006 2007 2008

(1) Before non-recurring items.

Gross Purchases of Tangible 
and Intangible Assets
In EUR million 

1,336

1,414

1,340

1,271

1,107

Net income 
In EUR million

Cash flow from operating activities 
In EUR million

889

772

654

573

357

1,862

1,322

1,191

1,031

915

2004 2005

2006 2007 2008

2004 2005

2006 2007 2008

Free Cash Flow(2) 
In EUR million

433

266

-124

-39

-359

Gearing (Net debt/equity)

90% 90%

89%

84%

70%

2004 2005

2006 2007 2008

2004 2005

2006 2007 2008

2004 2005

2006 2007 2008

(2) Free cash flow = cash flow from operating activities 
– Cash flow from investing activities.

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37

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Michelin Share

Michelin Share Performance from 2004 to 2008  
(To December 31, 2008; base 100: December 31, 2003)

MICHELIN
CAC 40
MONTHLY 
VOLUMES TRADED

The Michelin Share is listed 
on Euronext Paris
• Compartment A 
• Deferred Settlement Market
• ISIN Code: FR 0000121261
• Par value: 2 €
• Transaction unit: 1

Market Capitalization
• EUR 5.45 bn as at December 31,
2008

Average daily trading volume
• 1,740,267 in 2008

Indices
• CAC 40: 0.79% of the index 
as at December 31, 2008
• Euronext 100: 0.44% of the
index as at December 31, 2008

SRI indices
• DJSI (Dow Jones Sustainability
Index) 
DJSI Stoxx for Europe
DJSI World
• ESI (Ethibel Sustainability Index)
• ASPI (Advanced Sustainability
Performance Index)

A dynamic committee 

The Consultative Committee (CCA) contributes to enhancing 
communication between Michelin and its Individual Shareholders
through its advice and recommendations. This is illustrated by 
the new design of the Letter to Michelin’s Shareholders and 
of the revamping of the corporate site’s Shareholder section, 
to make it easier to locate practical information.
With one third of its members renewed yearly, the CCA is made up
of 12 members, each with a three-year term. Four new members
were welcomed in 2008.

38 2008 Michelin Annual Report 

300

250

200

150

100

50

2004

60,000,000

50,000,000

40,000,000

30,000,000

20,000,000

10,000,000

0

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2005

2006

2007

2008

Corporate Capital 
and Shareholders

As of December 31, 2008
• Group equity: EUR 289,994,844
• Number of shares: 144,997,422
• Total number of voting rights:
186,192,715

Breakdown of Capital 
As of December 31, 2008

Dividend per share In EUR

2008*

1.00

2007

1.60

2006

1.45

2005

1.35

2004

1.25

* Subject to approval by the Annual Shareholders Meeting 
on May 15, 2009. 

Stock Market Data 

Share prices in euros
Highest
Lowest
Highest/lowest ratio
Last quotation for the year
Change over the year
CAC 40 index change over the year

Market capitalization
as of December 31 (in EUR billion)

2008
79.90
30.65
2.61
37.57
-52.1%
-43%

2007
106.70
67.75
1.57
78.50
+8.3%
+1%

2006
73.30
43.21
1.70
72.50
+52.7%
+18%

2005
56.20
43.75
1.28
47.48
+0.6%
+23%

2004
47.80
34.82
1.37
47.19
+29.7%
+7%

5.45

11.30

10.41

6.81

6.77

Average daily trading volume for the period
Average number of shares making up the capital 144,495,251  
Number of shares traded over the year

445,508,266

1,740,267

1,217,949
143,770,101
310,577,078

1,191,679
143,390,450
303,878,126

842,053
143,387,025
216,407,691

742,311
143,250,487
192,258,470

Share turnover rate

308%

216%

212%

151%

134%

Data per share 

In EUR except for ratios
Net assets
Basic Earnings
Diluted earnings(1)

PER

Dividend payments
Pay-out rate
Dividend yield(2)

2008
35.2
2.46
2.46

15.3

1.00*
40.7%
2.7%

2007
36.7
5.32
5.22

13.6

1.60
30.1%
2.2%

2006
32.6
3.95
3.94

18.4

1.45
36.7%
2.0%

2005
31.5
6.13
6.12

7.7

1.35
22.0%
2.8%

2004
24.2
4.46
4.46

10.6

1.25
28.0%
2.6%

* 2008 dividend subject to approval by the Annual Shareholders Meeting on May 15, 2009.
(1) Earnings per share adjusted for the effect on net income and the weighted average number 
of shares of exercise of outstanding dilutive instruments.
(2) Dividend / Share price at 31 December.

2.3% Employee Shareholder Plan

12.5% Individual Shareholders
22.7% French Institutional Investors
62.5% Foreign Institutional Investors

Breakdown of Voting Rights 
As of December 31, 2008

2.8% Employee Shareholder Plan

17.5% Individual Shareholders
23.0% French Institutional Investors
56.7% Foreign Institutional Investors

Double voting rights are attached to
shares held for more than four years. 

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39

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rationalize specifications, 
standardize components 
and processes: efficient ways 
of optimizing costs, improving 
equipment productivity, 
accelerating new plant ramp up.

+20%

productivity gains in 
the 2006 - 2008 period.

40 2008 Michelin Annual Report 

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Find, share and apply the best
standards and practices across 
the board: all Michelin teams are
focused on operational excellence
and attainment of shared priority
objectives at Group level.

The Managing
Partners’ Report
on 2008 Operations and Results

42
42
48
54
62
67
68
70
71
72
79

• Operations  

• Passenger Car and Light Truck & Related Distribution
• Truck and Bus & Related Distribution
• Specialty Businesses

• Change in Results
• Outlook for the Year 2009
• 2000-2008 Consolidated Key Figures and Ratios
• Proposed Resolutions
• Supervisory Board Report
• Report of the Supervisory Board’s Chairman 
• Statutory Auditors’ Report on the Report of the Chairman of the Supervisory Board

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41

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Passenger Car and Light Truck 
& Related Distribution

Strategic partner of manufacturers owing to its innovative capacity and global
footprint, Michelin wins replacement customers’ loyalty through its original equipment
fitments as many of them tend to buy the tire brand first fitted on their vehicle. 
In replacement, the Group occupies all market segments with a multibrand portfolio
and delivers value-added services to end users and retailers to enhance their
satisfaction and loyalty.

In all of its markets and for all vehicle types, Michelin focuses on the high tech,
premium segments. World leader in fuel efficient tire technology and production, 
the Group increases its competitive edge in this promising sector and reduces 
the time-to-market of optimized tire solutions for the vehicles that will be fitted with
them in the future, while tailoring its offering to the needs of each country and by
leveraging its partnerships with original equipment manufacturers and tire distributors.

Adjusting to a highly competitive environment, Michelin is optimizing its industrial 
and logistics operations to match the structural change in demand and make sure 
it remains competitive in the long run, which means gaining greater resilience 
and better reactivity to market volatility. 
The Group is rolling out thorough ambitious productivity gain programs, streamlining
costs and improving its organizational efficiency. 

Net sales 
In EUR million

2007

2008

Passenger Car and Light Truck tires accounted 
for 53% of Group net sales.

Operating income* 
In EUR million

2007

2008

Passenger Car and Light Truck tires accounted 
for 40% of Group operating income*.

* Before non-recurring items.

9,041

8,668

830

370

Technological Leader
37 facilities in 18 countries 
75% of tires sold are replacement tires

42 2008 Michelin Annual Report 

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43

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
11th

consecutive success for 
Michelin at the 24 Hours 
of Le Mans.

Exclusive fitment
For the first six months after its launch, the Peugeot 308 
was exclusively fitted with MICHELIN Energy Saver tires.
Developed for a wide market, from the smaller town vehicle 
to minivans, the MICHELIN Energy Saver tire is available 
in 43 sizes. In just one year, it was certified for 40 vehicles.

Passenger Car and Light Truck
Tires: 2008 World Market Trends 

Europe
North America(1)
South America
Asia 
Africa 
& the Middle East
Total 

RT*
-4.0%
-5.3%
+2.4%
+2.7%

OE**
-7.2%
-16.5%
+8.2%
+1.9%

+3.2% +13.8%
-4.0%
-2.2%

Source: Michelin Estimates.
(1) United States, Canada and Mexico.
* Replacement.
** Original Equipment.

Demand Down in the Fourth Quarter
and Raw Material Prices Up 
The passenger car and light truck replacement
tire markets declined 4% to 5% in Europe
and North America while demand continued
to post 2 to 3% growth in the other regions.
When the financial crisis spread to the base
economy, the original equipment markets
slumped across the globe, except for Africa
and the Middle East where demand was more
resilient. During the last quarter of 2008,
markets were down 15% to 20% in Asia 
and South America and 30% in Europe 
and North America. 

In this context, Group net sales declined
4.1%. The strong drop in sales volume
reflected market trends, whose deterioration
was amplified by inventory reductions on 
the part of distributors. 
The MICHELIN brand, however, resisted well,
strengthening its positions in all regions.
Operating Income* amounted to EUR 370
million versus EUR 830 million in 2007. 
The price increases implemented throughout
the year across markets and further sales mix 

* Before non-recurring items.

Automobile Racing: The Group Turned 
to Endurance and Rallies

New materials, ground linkage: racing is a laboratory for state-of-the art
innovation and Michelin has always been keen to participate, as long as
genuine competition was possible. The Michelin brand is now
concentrating on the endurance and circuit championships: 24 Hours 
of Le Mans, American Le Mans Series, European Le Mans Series, FIA GT.
Eager to include energy efficiency challenge in racing, Michelin created
the Michelin Energy Endurance Challenge in 2007 to reward Le Mans
Series and 24 Hours of Le Mans teams that make the most efficient use 
of their fuel. 
BFGoodrich, a brand that garnered 1,000 rally victories, takes part in 
the Intercontinental Rally Challenge IRC and in the Rally-Raid world cup.
Launched in 2008, the BFGoodrich Drivers Team invites five teams
representing five countries to compete in the Challenge IRC event in their
country. It is a great opportunity to discover new champions!

44 2008 Michelin Annual Report 

Fuel efficiency
Michelin is the preferred supplier of cars featuring an energy 
efficient label, including Peugeot Blue Lion, BMW Efficient 
Dynamics, Ford ECOnetic, Mercedes Blue Efficiency, 
Opel ecoFLEX and Kia cee’d.

Michelin Engineering & Services 
collaborates with OEMs to optimize
vehicle dynamic behavior.

Launched in 1992, the MICHELIN Green X label 
guarantees reduced tire-related fuel consumption,
while delivering all of Michelin’s well known safety
and longevity.

improvements, as illustrated by the market
share gains achieved by the MICHELIN brand,
could not make up for the full impact of the
strong increases of raw material costs,
combined with the drop in volumes sold, 
idle manufacturing capacity, amplified in 
the last quarter as a result of falling demand,
and the negative impact of currency.

Europe: The MICHELIN Brand
Resisted in a Bearish Market
The European replacement market was
depressed throughout the year and ended
down 4%, with the pace of the decline
accelerating in the last quarter. Almost 
all countries in the region experienced 
this trend, except for the UK and Hungary,
up slightly, and except for Russia, Bulgaria
and Romania, where demand was sustained
until fall. 
Towering fuel price increases, lower mileage
driven and average vehicle speed, combined
with the postponement of tire purchases
accounted for the market decline. 
The belated onset of cold weather and snow
had a negative impact on the winter tire

segment, down 9% despite a rebound in
December. The market mix was nevertheless
further enriched: the “high-performance” 
V & Z (higher speed rating segments) posted
more than 4% year-on-year growth.

In the replacement market, Group sales 
were globally in line with demand trends. 
The MICHELIN brand once more proved
resilient, unit sales continued to grow in the
high performance segments, and Michelin
strengthened its positions in Eastern Europe.
As a result of the production stoppages
operated at the end of the year by the
automotive manufacturers, the European
original equipment market posted 
a 7.2% drop.
In this particularly difficult environment, 
the Group’s market share increased slightly
as its OEM customers were keen to leverage
the benefits of its latest generation of fuel
efficient products, the MICHELIN Energy
Saver tire lineup.

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MICHELIN Energy Saver
Collects Awards

In February 2008, a global panel of tire industry experts and
professionals including engineers and faculty gave MICHELIN
Energy Saver the “Tire Technology of the Year” award. Tests
conducted in spring 2008 by TÜV SÜD Automotive showed that
the MICHELIN Energy Saver tire delivers the highest fuel saving
together with one of the shortest braking distance of any tire
on the market. In August 2008, French magazine Auto Plus
published an environment friendly tire report called
“Environment friendly tires: do they truly reduce the fuel bill?”
The clear winner: MICHELIN Energy Saver.

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45

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The original equipment tire markets
plummeted as demand for new cars,
triggering production stoppages by OEMs,
plunged a historic 16.5%, a level never
witnessed since the early 80’s.
In this poor trading environment, the Group
maintained its market positions overall.

Versatile by nature
The BFGoodrich® Long trail T/A Tour tire is the best
off-road tire. It combines superior comfort and
performance on wet and dry roads.

North America: 
All-Time Market Decline
The 5.3% full year drop of the North
American replacement markets, down 9% 
in the second half, reflected the decline 
in mileage driven combined with the
postponement of tire purchases as car
owners reacted to a worsening economic
environment and rocketing fuel prices over
the first nine months of the year. 
The slump was nevertheless somewhat
cushioned by growth in the Canadian market
where new regulations have made winter
tires compulsory in Quebec.

The Group retained its share of the
replacement market. 
The MICHELIN brand in fact strengthened its
position, reflecting a focus on quality as well
as on safety and total cost of ownership on
the part of American vehicle owners.

Distribution and Services: 
TyrePlus extends its footprint 

124 TyrePlus centers opened in 2008: the network is accelerating its global
expansion. Present in 10 countries, it counted 843 centers at the end of
2008. In May 2008, Michelin opened its first TyrePlus distribution center in
India, in the southeastern state of Tamil Nadu. The center sells MICHELIN,
BFGoodrich® and competitor brands as well as related services and
automotive accessories. The Group aims to open some 70 TyrePlus centers
in India over the next four years, in line with the dynamic growth of the
automotive market. In June, Michelin opened in Jeddah its first TyrePlus
distribution center for Saudi Arabia. Five additional TyrePlus centers will
be opened in this country and seven in other Gulf countries: in the United
Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait. In September, TyrePlus
went west and opened its first center in Mexico. Simultaneously, in China
the network crossed the bar of the 600 centers in 2008, confirming its
leading position among the country’s specialist tire dealers. 

46 2008 Michelin Annual Report 

500,000

customers in China for 
the roadside assistance 
service Michelin Sui Ni Xing.

Distinguished 
Launched in 2006, the Michelin Sui Ni Xing assistance
service was awarded the China Best Customer Service
Award by Chinese trade associations.

Premiere! 
MICHELIN tires will be fitted on the Corvette ZR1 2009, 
one of the world’s most powerful sports cars ever. For the first
time Michelin equips the prestigious American car brand.

South America: 
Fine Performance
In South America, the strong market growth
recorded at the beginning of the year slowed
down in October against the background 
of an economic downturn and tighter access
to credit. 
Over the full year, demand remained
relatively supportive versus 2007.

For Michelin, replacement sales growth 
was very satisfactory. The Group won market
share, particularly in Brazil and the Caribbean
countries. 

Group sales were up substantially in both
value and volume terms. The price increases
and enrichment of supply in the higher
value-added segments translated into unit
sales price increases.

Africa and the Middle East: 
Growth and Mix Enrichment
In Africa and the Middle-East, markets
remained supportive until November 2008.

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Asia: Healthy Momentum
Although a trend reversal was noted at 
the end of the year (demand edged back 2%
in the fourth quarter, versus the year-earlier
period), Asian markets were up almost 3%
overall, supported by the momentum of 
the Chinese and Indian markets up 18% and
8% respectively. The region’s other markets
were stable, but Japan was substantially
down (-4%).

Group replacement sales were up
significantly, with double-digit growth for the
MICHELIN brand throughout the region. 
The Group is actively increasing its footprint
in China and opened new TyrePlus centers,
bringing the Chinese network to 605 outlets
by end 2008. 
In India, the still modest sales volumes shot up.
The successful launch of the MICHELIN X 
Ice 2 winter tire range enabled the Group 
to gain market share in Japan. 

Light Trucks don new tires

• MICHELIN Agilis delivers a full 3 meters shorter braking 
distance on wet surfaces, 30% longer service life AND is more
fuel efficient*; and MICHELIN Agilis Camping is even more
robust.
• KLEBER Transpro and Transalp 2 guarantee safety, reliability
and assistance 365 days a year.
• BFGoodrich® Activan and Activan Winter, the brand’s first tire
range for light trucks, deliver unparalleled endurance and grip
on dry and wet roads as well as on icy and snow-covered roads.

* Compared to the previous MICHELIN Agilis tire solution.

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Truck and Bus 
& Related Distribution

Michelin is strengthening its sweeping technological leadership in original equipment,
replacement and retreaded tires by accelerating the introduction of breakthrough
innovations.
It keeps fine-tuning its product offering to the requirements of multiple road market
segments dedicated to the transportation of people and goods. It fosters close ties
with OEMs and distributors, helping them to achieve high professional standards 
in developing countries.

Michelin is increasing the size and productivity of its plants, tailoring its facilities 
to meet demand for the Michelin Durable Technologies new generation tires,
strengthening its retread offering, improving its supply chain and expanding its tire
building capacities in emerging markets.

In what is an increasingly difficult environment for transportation firms, the Group
offers tire and service solutions designed to increase its customers’ return on
investment by increasing safety and vehicle uptime and minimizing operating
expenditure. 

World No.1
28 facilities in 16 countries 
70% of tires sold are replacement tires*

* Radial market.

Net sales 
In EUR million

2007
2007

2008
2008

5 63
5,639

5 43
5,433

Truck tire sales account for 33% of Group net sales.

Operating income* 
In EUR million

2007

2008

427

138

Truck tires account for 15% of Group operating
income*.

* Before non-recurring items.

48 2008 Michelin Annual Report 

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49

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Dutch army chose Michelin
Following a strict certification procedure for tires
deemed “critical from an operational point of view”,
Michelin became the sole truck tire supplier to 
the Dutch armed forces for a four-year term.

Truck and Bus Tires: 2008 World
Market Trends 

Europe
North America(1)
South America
Asia
Africa 
& the Middle East
Total 

RT*
-9.7%
-8.2%

OE**
-0.9%
-16.5%
+11.9% +10.2%
-1.8%

+5.7%

+5.1%
-0.2%

+3.0%
-3.9%

Source: Michelin Estimates.
(1) United States, Canada and Mexico.
* Replacement.
** Original Equipment.

Raw Material Cost Inflation and 
Sluggish Demand in the Fourth Quarter 
The tire replacement market further declined
8% to 10% in Europe and in North America,
with a major slump at year-end. 
In the developing countries, the double-digit
growth of the first nine months suddenly
deteriorated in the last quarter in Asia 
and South America, that nevertheless
remained up 6% and 12% respectively 
over the full year.
In Africa and the Middle East, demand
remained strong until the end of 2008. 
In the original equipment market, world
regions evolved differently: slightly down 
in Europe, and record decline in North
America, decline in Asia and sustained
growth in South America.

In this environment, Group net sales were
down 3.7% and sales volume declined
slightly. Michelin gained market share in Asia
(reflecting its good performance in China)
and in North America, underpinned by the
success of the Michelin Durable Technologies
tire offering, which also did well in Europe.

Michelin Fleet Solutions: more than 300,000 
trucks under contract in Europe

In February 2008, Michelin and ATS Euromaster signed a Michelin Fleet
Solutions three-year contract with the U.K.’s largest privately owned
trucking company, Eddie Stobard Ltd. Michelin supplies the tires 
and ATS Euromaster performs the tire-related services. European leader 
of integrated tire and service offerings, Michelin Fleet Solutions manages
end-to-end truck fleet tire equipment. Optimized preventive maintenance,
efficient budget control through cost per mile invoicing: the offering is
attracting many loyal customers. The delegated tire management market
is posting double the growth of the overall truck tire market. With this
new customer, Michelin Fleet Solutions serves more than 300,000 buses
and trucks under some 500 contracts. With operations in 21 European
countries, the business alone accounts for 600,000 tire treads per year.

50 2008 Michelin Annual Report 

24/7 

The Michelin Euro Assist 
truck breakdown service covers 
27 European countries. 

Plants tuned to the market
In Europe, in 2009, Michelin aims to cut its inventory by 8% 
in selling days, by deploying its new Callisto application,
developed to inform plants daily of Michelin’s general
warehouse requirements. The objective: speed up the supply
chain and enhance Group reactivity to market fluctuations. 

Retreading
In a world market that comprises 70 million
tires each year, Michelin is the tiremaker with
the largest retreading operations. Its R&D
focuses on the reliability and performance 
of retread solutions.

Operating margin* slipped 5.1 points 
to 2.5%. This change was the outcome 
of a multiple unfavorable factors: raw
material cost inflation, especially strong in
the second half and only partly offset by the
price increases passed throughout the year.
The major market slump at year-end dragged
unit sales down and pushed up industrial
overheads as a result of the production
adjustment measures implemented in 
the second half. Lastly, the currency effects
were negative.

Europe: Michelin Durable 
Technologies Potential Confirmed 
The European replacement market was
down nearly 10% after a 27% plunge in 
the last quarter with all of Europe engulfed
in the bearish environment, Russia included. 
Regional transportation, accounting for 35%
of overall freight business, held its ground
relatively well. The larger fleets resist better
to the crisis than the smaller ones, dogged
by severe cash flow issues. The market
decline was amplified by inventory reductions
on the part of distributors. 

* Before non-recurring items.

The retread market was down -3.5%.

The Group’s performance was in line 
with markets in both the new and retread
tire segments. 
The Michelin Durable Technologies offering,
and in particular the MICHELIN XDN2 Grip
tire, that delivers enhanced traction and
mileage performance for trailer drive axles,
was highly successful.
Michelin Fleet Solutions operations resisted
better than the markets and cushioned 

the effect of the crisis somewhat. 
500 fleets were covered by the end of 2008.
The price increases passed in the reporting
period were successful. 

The trailer tire market declined 13% 
year-on-year, with a record 50% drop 
in the last quarter. 

The original equipment market was down
0.9%. After 14% first half growth, the
market plunged in the second half. In the
last quarter, it was down a dramatic 32%.
The power unit tire segment was up 4.8%
year-on-year, but the plunge is deep in the
last quarter and OEM order books quite low. 

MICHELIN X Energy™ SaverGreen
reduces transportation costs 

With enhanced fuel efficiency throughout its exceptionally long service life, 
the MICHELIN X Energy™ SaverGreen tire also delivers increased safety: it is THE tire
solution for long haul transportation. Michelin Durable Technologies benefits: 
“heat stable” Energy™ Flex casing, “Infinicoil” technology to increase load bearing
capacity and wear resistance, double-wave sipes for increased grip and the four
MICHELIN tire lives (new, regrooved, MICHELIN Remix retreaded, and then regrooved
again). The result: 500 liters worth of fuel savings per truck per year*.

* For an annual mileage of 80,000 miles.

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51

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MICHELIN X One wins America Over…
The wide tire designed to replace the drive axle dual
mounts not only delivers a 360 kg payload gain 
and greater fuel efficiency but also increases available
space. MICHELIN X One sales were up again significantly 
in North America in 2008.

North America: Market Share Gain
in a Depressed Market
The replacement market fell for the third
straight year, down more than 8% after 
a slump in the last quarter. Distribution
channels resorted to massive inventory
reductions, which amplified the consequences
of the reduction of transported tonnage. 
In this poor trading environment, Group sales
resisted well despite significant price
increases. With implementation of new
regulations in a number of Canadian
provinces authorizing use of extra wide tires,
MICHELIN X One tires, that benefit from the
Michelin Durable Technologies cluster of
innovations, posted strong sales growth.

The original equipment market, down
32% in 2007, further shrank by 16.5% over
the year. 
The fact that fleets were recently updated
and that the trucking industry is adopting a
wait-and-see attitude in reaction to the poor
trading environment account for this all-time
low market level. 
Michelin sales were in line with the Group’s
commercial objectives.

South America: 
Fine MICHELIN Brand Performance
Over the full year, the replacement market
posted 12% growth, but it was down by the
same order of magnitude in the last quarter
(-12%) and as much as 18% in Brazil after
such raw material prices as iron and soya
beans saw their prices fall, which weighed
on hauling industry income. The Brazilian
real’s depreciation put a brake on tire imports
from Asia. 

The original equipment market was up
more than 10% year-on-year but posted 
a 22% drop in the fourth quarter. 
The economic slowdown, combined with
more expensive borrowing terms, dragged
new truck sales down. 
Sales were up, mainly thanks to the fine
performance of the MICHELIN brand.

MICHELIN X MultiWay: incredibly versatile

Carry more, faster, safer and cheaper: MICHELIN X MultiWay 
is the tire solution that addresses the new constraints facing the road
transportation industry. Latest addition to the Michelin Durable
Technologies offering, the tire combines versatility, safety and long
service life. It is equally tailored to motorway and long haul applications
in any weather conditions and may be fitted on all vehicle types: 
bulk, tank, refrigerated, general cargo and vehicle carriers. This high
versatility implies outstanding robustness, which was achieved thanks to
a new rubber compound and a stone retention-free tread. This delivers
enhanced reliability and safety. This benefit is reinforced through the
use of double sipe tread technology. Michelin’s ultimate performance:
combine the above improvements with longer service life.

52 2008 Michelin Annual Report 

50

Michelin Service Center 
for Trucks across China.

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… and is launched in China
Showcased at the Beijing International Bus Trade Show, 
the MICHELIN X One tire was elected as the original 
equipment of the new bus fleet serving Beijing 
International Airport. The key benefits built into the urban 
version of the tire are comfort, grip and a noiseless ride. 

MICHELIN XDN2 Grip makes a hit in Russia
Especially designed to address challenging climate with
30% more grip on wet and slippery road, +15% more grip
on snow and ice-covered roads coupled with 25% longer
service life*, the MICHELIN XDN2 Grip tire won many
Russian drivers over.

* Versus the MICHELIN XDN GRIP tire.

Africa and the Middle East: 
Good Vintage
The market kept trending up, +5% for
replacement tires and +3% for original
equipment.
Michelin benefited from accelerating market
radialization. Moreover, its key distributors
replenished their inventories as 2007 had
been characterized by shortages.

Asia: Michelin Posted Further
Sustained Growth
The replacement market, up nearly 6% 
over the full year, was down 12% in the last
quarter. Over twelve months, China and
Thailand were up 8%, while Japan declined
9%.
The Group’s activities were boosted 
by accelerating market radicalization in 
the developing countries. Sales increased
significantly in China, Korea, India and most
of the ASEAN countries. 
In Japan, winter tire sales were hit by weak
snowfalls; on the other hand, retread tire
activities boomed.

In original equipment, after a first half 
up more than 30%, driven by market
radialization, demand was down sharply 
in the last quarter and the year was down
nearly 2% overall. China, nevertheless
posted 3% growth while Japan was 
up 11%, boosted by truck exports.
Michelin continues its dynamic growth 
and strengthens its positions.

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Michelin increased
its U.S. distribution
footprint

In May 2008, Michelin and Love’s Travel Stops
signed a cooperation agreement that will expand
Michelin’s product and service offering to truck
tire users. 
Thanks to Love’s Travel Stops distribution 
network, Michelin will benefit from more than
150 new locations coast to coast.

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53

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Specialty Businesses

Active in all specialty tire markets, Michelin leverages its radial tire technology edge 
to serve the most technically demanding segments.
High performance coupled with customer focus: in the Earthmover and Aircraft tire
segments, Michelin builds capacity and is developing advanced services to help its
customers optimize the use and service life of their tire resources. 
In the Agricultural tire market, the Group is strengthening its ties with the larger OEMs
and its partnership with agricultural tire specialist retailers in an effort to raise the
quality of service provided to farmers. 
For motorcycle and scooter riders, Michelin proposes high performance tires benefiting
from a full range of innovations designed to improve control and riding experience.

Maps and guides and ViaMichelin digital services play a key role in Michelin’s mobility-
enabling mission by making travel safer, easier and more enjoyable. Michelin Lifestyle
contributes to making the Michelin brand a household name through its international
co-licensing program.

World No.1 Radial Earthmover and Aircraft tire manufacturer
Europe No.1 Agricultural Tire Maker
Europe No.1 Motorcycle Tire Brand
Europe No.1 for Maps and Guides and Mobility-Enabling Web Sites 
16 facilities in 7 countries 

Net sales 
In EUR million

2007

2008

2,187

2,307

Specialty sales accounted for 14% of Group net sales.

Operating income* 
In EUR million

2007

2008

388

412

Specialty businesses accounted for 45% of Group
operating income*.

* Before non-recurring items.

54 2008 Michelin Annual Report 

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55

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The rebalancing between Original Equipment
and Replacement production enabled 
the Group to benefit from the growth
opportunities.

Maps and guides and ViaMichelin digital
services as well as Michelin Lifestyle licensed
products experienced a very dynamic year 
in terms of developments and new product
and service launches.

Quality rewarded
Caterpillar delivered its Quality Excellence Certification
to Michelin. Caterpillar’s certification is reserved to
suppliers who have a certified quality system supported
by a continuous progress approach encompassing their
entire operations.

Specialty Businesses

Operating Margin is Stabilizing
at a Remarkably High Level
Net sales rose 5.5% to EUR 2,307 million.
Full-year operating income* was up 6.2% 
to EUR 412 million.
Operating margin* reached 17.9%.

The Specialty tire activities were remarkable
in terms of both growth and results.
Sales volumes rose throughout the year
across segments, although the Original
Equipment segment slackened in the fourth
quarter.
The price increases combined with the mix
improvements served to offset the negative
impact of raw material costs and exchange
rates. 
The rationalization of industrial capacity 
and a policy of flexible manufacturing and
supplies were pursued. 

* Before non-recurring items.

An Innovative Solution for a Mining Giant: 
China Coal Pingshuo

Michelin signed a three-year contract with China Coal Energy, China’s
largest coal producer. It covers supply and maintenance for the 63-inch
giant tires that equip the dumpers used in China’s largest open coal mine
at Pingshuo. As Mr Li Zhihong, head of Procurement, noted: “We are not
just looking to buying tires or services. What we expect Michelin to do for
us is to optimize the way we use our tire resources, to gain productivity,
and therefore reduce costs, as well as to better preserve our environment.
With its engineers on site, Michelin’s expertise will help optimize the way
we use our tires. Not only we will be able to use them longer, but also 
we will reduce equipment downtime considerably.”
In May 2008, China Coal Energy elected Michelin its Best Supplier 2007 
out of 162 suppliers.

56 2008 Michelin Annual Report 

$ 60,000 a piece

the average price of MICHELIN’s giant
Earthmover tires.

Select mining customers enjoy a new service offering which
is invoiced based on the number of tons transported and miles
covered. The service includes integrated tire management
within the mine. Michelin thus enjoys a share of the customer’s
productivity gains. 

Port vehicles
A consumption test conducted by Michelin’s
engineers at the Tanjung Pelepas (Malaysia) 
port showed that the MICHELIN X-TERMINAL T 
tire delivered 8.4% fuel saving (vs solid/trailer 
and bias/power unit tires).

In this context, Group sales were up
significantly. New capacity ramp ups
underpinned strong year-on-year sales
growth. 
In Original Equipment, Group sales declined
somewhat year-on-year due to the impact 
of the sharp fall in the last quarter, 
but Michelin won market share.

Specialty Tires

Earthmover: Fine Vintage
In the first 9 months of the year, global tire
demand remained strong. The Mines and
Quarries segments were booming, and so
largely offset the protracted downturn in 
the Construction segments of North America
and Europe. In the fourth quarter, original
equipment markets fell suddenly.
Infrastructure related tire markets dropped
substantially, particularly in Europe. 
The mining segment showed some signs 
of slowing down. 

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Earthmover: Michelin
increases capacities 

The USD 85 million investment announced in 2005 to extend
earthmover tire production capacities at the Lexington 
(South Carolina) industrial site has enabled Michelin to increase
the production of 51-, 57- and 63-inch tires in 2008. The Group
invested EUR 320 million to build the Campo Grande plant in
Brazil, whose annual production target by 2010 is 40,000 tons 
of 25- to 49-inch tires. In India, Michelin is in the closing stages 
of negotiation to purchase land to build an Earthmover tire plant.

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57

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
700

More than 700 Michelin Exelagri
distributors in 11 European 
countries deliver top class services
to farmers.

Soil protection, lower fuel consumption, time savings,
improved yields, greater load bearing capacity and
longer service life... all these are the benefits delivered
by Michelin Ultraflex technology.

Agricultural: Strong Growth 
in the Premium Segments 
Farming income remained robust and world
demand for agricultural machinery tires
remained strong. This was particularly true 
in the Original Equipment segment for 
high-power tractors (150 HP and more). 
The imbalance between supply and demand
that appeared in 2007 remained throughout
the year. 
The replacement markets were up slightly 
in both Europe and North America. 

Against this background, original 
equipment sales posted volume growth, 
and the MICHELIN brand mix was enriched.
This trend was underpinned by strong
demand for high horse power equipment. 
Replacement sales volumes also progressed,
particularly in Europe.
Both the MICHELIN and KLEBER brands
benefited from this change.

Two-Wheel: Satisfactory Performance
The main motorcycle markets posted 
slight overall year-on-year growth. 
Trends were favorable in Europe and 
buoyant in the emerging countries, 
where the utility motorcycle market posted
double-digit growth. In North America 
and Japan, demand remained stable.

Group sales also progressed satisfactorily.
Michelin achieved market share gains in the
European and North American replacement
markets, driven by launch in 2007 of a new
range of “Leisure” products. 
Turning to the utility motorcycle segment,
Michelin recorded significant sales growth
particularly in Brazil and Thailand. 

The bicycle tire sales did well too, boosted 
by the success of the new MICHELIN 
Pro 3 Race top-of-the-range products.

New Michelin Anakee 2 Tire for Trail Motorcycles

Designed for trail motorcycles, the MICHELIN Anakee 2 tire delivers
outstanding longevity combined with superior wet grip. 
The new tire will cover at least 29% more mileage than the tires made 
by its two closest competitors on this market*, without compromising
rider safety, thanks to its new silica compound derived from motorcycle
racing technology. 
Launched in May 2008 in Germany and in June in the UK and Italy, 
the MICHELIN Anakee 2 tire will be available worldwide by 2009. 
It is fit for the highest performance trail motorcycles. It has been certified
for BMW R 1200 GS, Europe’s most popular trail motorcycle.

* Test carried out in 2008 by CERM (Centre d’Essais Routiers Mécaniques) 
on the 110/80 R 19 and 150/70 R 17 sizes.

58 2008 Michelin Annual Report 

The new Superjet 100 regional aircraft 
built by Russian aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi,
benefits from MICHELIN radial OE tire fitments.

The 850 cm3 GP 800 Gilera is the world’s largest
scooter. It is fitted with MICHELIN Pilot Sport SC
Radial tires, an exclusive fitment for the scooter.

MICHELIN Pro3 Race, first product of a new tire
lineup for bicycle racing, delivers 27% more
cornering grip and very low rolling resistance, 
as well as a small 200-gram mass. 

Aircraft: Michelin Benefited
from Growing Radialization
The commercial and general aviation markets
were hit by towering jet fuel prices and then
by the economic crisis from the second half.
No region was unscathed. 
The radial tire market, benefiting from the
value delivered to airlines in terms of longer
life and fuel efficiency, resisted better. 

Michelin’s sales were pushed up by the full
effect of the contractual price arrangements
and were also up in volume terms.

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Emirates Airlines chose
Michelin

Michelin will be fitting the Emirates airline’s fleet of A380
aircraft with the latest generation of NZG tires. Highly shock
and aggression-resistent, the tires will deliver 30% to 40% more
landings than bias tires while reducing overall aircraft weight
by 360 kg (800 pounds), thereby lowering fuel consumption.
Michelin will be single tire supplier for this aircraft. Emirates,
which is set to operate the world’s largest A380 fleet, has
ordered 58 aircraft.

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59

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
650 publications and 15.5 million maps and
guides sold yearly in 90 countries
1.3 million hotel and restaurant guides 
2.3 million tourist guides
7.7 million city maps, road maps and atlases 
and 4.2 million B2B maps and guides

Hong Kong and Macao,
MICHELIN guide’s first stops
in China.

“Etoile”, the new MICHELIN
Guide Magazine.

Maps and Guides

Tourist Publication Leader
Michelin holds 32% of the French tourist
maps and guides market, and more than
75% of the road maps market. The Group
publishes maps and guides in 12 languages,
a figure that should rise to 18 languages 
by 2010.

In France, the MICHELIN fine cuisine guide
collection has developed two theme guides,
the MICHELIN France Bonnes Petites Tables,
the second edition of which was published 
in 2008 after a very successful launch, 
and the first edition of the Chambres d’hôtes
guide. 
In May 2008, in partnership with Glénat
publishing, the Group launched the
MICHELIN Guide magazine, Etoile*, 
the latest benchmark fine cuisine magazine.
Every issue offers four major themes: news,
fine cuisine, travels and wine and takes the
reader on a tour of the special places 
to discover in the “la route de l’inspecteur”
section.

* Bimonthly available at newspaper stalls in France,
Belgium, Switzerland and Canada.

Innovation and Internationalization
After the United States with New York, 
San Francisco, Los Angeles and Las Vegas,
then Japan with Tokyo, the MICHELIN Red
Guide went further afield to Hong Kong 
and Macao. China became the 23rd country
covered by the MICHELIN Guide. 
The MICHELIN guide selection will soon be
available from multifunction cell phones.

Some 18 new Green Guides were published,
two of which cover new destinations. 
The collection therefore pursues its
international career, with three new Green
Guides in Chinese, six in Polish, eight in
Italian and nine in Dutch. The MICHELIN
Green Guide collection proposes a host of
tips and information to discover the natural
and tourist spots of towns, regions or
countries, through a selection of the most
remarkable sites, rated one to three stars, 
as well as the most scenic routes.

The Voyager Pratique MICHELIN traveler’s
guide collection features five new titles 
in French, with one on ’Beijing’ published 

in February 2008 to coincide with the
Olympic Games and 10 in Spanish. In just
three years, the collection now spans 45
titles in French, 20 titles in Spanish and one
in Portuguese.
Finally the new guide to tour France,
Escapades en Camping-car, was launched,
featuring 100 circuits.

In the road maps segment, Michelin
innovated with thorough revamping of the
French ’Departments’ maps, featuring a
1/150,000th scale, against a satellite relief
background. The maps also pinpoint the
most spectacular tourist sites selected by
Michelin as well as routes from the
MICHELIN Green Guide.

60 2008 Michelin Annual Report 

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400 million hits per year
Europe’s N°2 cartography website
1.6 million subscribers of the online magazine’s newsletter

85 licensed partners
1,500 different products 
more than 12 million units sold in 85 countries 

ViaMichelin

Europe’s most visited travel
information(1) website
ViaMichelin caters to all European private
and professional road users. 
Available in eight languages,
www.ViaMichelin.com features every piece
of information needed to get around 
in a town or travel by car.
In France, ViaMichelin is No.1 real time traffic
information provider for integrated
navigation systems and portable GPS devices.

ViaMichelin upgrades to web 2.0
The website was thoroughly revamped 
in order to leverage the “Web 2.0”
improvement opportunities.
Many new functionalities are offered: 
key word based search engine, high
definition satellite and aerial photographs,
hybrid maps, on demand traffic information
display overprinted by street or section in
both traffic directions, hotel booking for
70,000 establishments, five-day weather
forecast, etc. With a very interactive slant, 
it enables web users to create travel books

and share their personal comments. 
The business geolocation solutions were
enriched and now feature a cell phone based
offering. 

(1) Top European Travel-Information Sites by Unique
Visitors in Europe, Age 15+ September 2008 – Total
Europe – Home and work locations (excludes traffic 
from public computers such as Internet cafes or access
from mobile phones or PDAs) – Source comScore. 

Michelin Lifestyle

MICHELIN brand licensed products
MICHELIN brand licensed products contribute
to make the Michelin brand a household
name among consumers. They support 
the MICHELIN brand’s mobility-enabling
mission and embody its values of safety,
performance and reliability. Products 
are developed in three main categories: 
• Vehicle and cycle accessories such as
pressure monitoring devices, snow chains
and road safety kits; 
• Footwear, clothing, accessories, gear 
and equipment for leisure and sports, which
benefit from tire technological progress;
• collectibles reflecting Michelin and 
the Michelin Man’s cultural heritage.
Since May 2008, www.michelin-boutique.com
has been offering some 150 items online 
and operates a delivery service that covers 
37 countries.

New sports and leisure partnerships
Sports and leisure appeal to a wide, 
young public, making them a major focus 
for development. 
New products were launched in 2008
through the following partnerships:
• with Le Coq Sportif (France) – a range 
of gear for rugby players;
• with golf equipment manufacturer Crews
(Japan) – golf balls and accessories;
• with Li-Ning group (China) – high-
performance footwear delivering enhanced
grip and longevity thanks to Michelin’s
know-how.

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61

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Change 
in Results

In a highly demanding environment, marked by 
dwindling demand in most major markets and 
widespread production stoppages in the fourth 
quarter by the automotive OEMs, sales were up slightly 
at constant exchange rates thanks to the strength 
of the MICHELIN brand and the price increases passed 
in 2008. 
Operating margin* amounted to 5.6% of net sales, 
down 4.2 points versus 2007, reflecting the drop 
in volumes sold, raw material price increases and 
the cost of idle manufacturing capacity.
In 2009, Michelin will focus on managing its cash 
by optimizing production program management 
and sharply reducing capital expenditure.

* Before non-recurring items.

62 2008 Michelin Annual Report 

Net Sales Up Slightly 
at Constant Exchange Rates
Net sales amounted to EUR 16,408 million,
up 1.1% at constant exchange rates but
down 2.7% at current exchange rates. 
The change resulted from the following
factors:
• Sales volumes were down 2.9%, reflecting
the drop in replacement tire demand and 
the slump in the original equipment market,
spectacular in the last quarter, after
automotive OEMs cut production.
• The price/mix was up 4.2% at constant
exchange rates, reflecting good MICHELIN
brand performance and the efficiency of 
the price increases implemented in 2008
across markets to offset the raw material
price increases.
• The exchange rates change translated into
a negative 3.8% impact mainly resulting
from depreciation versus the euro of the U.S.
dollar, -6.8%, the Pound Sterling, -14.1%,
and the Canadian dollar, -5.8%, based on
average rates for the year.

Operating Margin* Down
at 5.6%
Gross margin, down EUR 723 million,
amounted to 26.7% of net sales. 
Operating expenses were stable at 
EUR 3,464 million. 
Operating income before non recurring 
items amounted to EUR 920 million, down
EUR 725 million despite a positive price/mix
effect of EUR 683 million.
In addition to the drop in sales volumes, 
with a negative impact of EUR 244 million 
on operating income*, this change mainly
resulted from raw material price increases, 
to the tune of EUR 804 million and from
additional energy and transportation costs
accounting for EUR 164 million. 

The impact of idle manufacturing capacity 
as a result of ad hoc production adjustment
measures taken in most Group plants
translated into a EUR 224 million one-off
expense, of which EUR 170 million was 
in the last quarter alone (versus EUR 35 million
for the full year 2007). This amount includes
the effect of idle capacity on productivity,
depreciation and external costs.

* Before non-recurring items.

2008 Net Sales Change versus 2007
As a percentage and in EUR million

Change 
versus 2007
Volumes
Price/mix
Exchange
Scope
Total

2008
€m
-496
+683
-647
-
-459

2008 
as a %
-2.9%
+4.2%
-3.8%
-
-2.7%

H1 
€m
+171
+180
-514
-
-163

H1
as a %
+2.0%
+2.1%
-5.9%
-
-1.9%

H2
€m
-667
+503
-133
-
-296

H2
as a %
-7.9%
+6.5%
-1.6%
-
-3.5%

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Payroll expenses  
As a % of sales

2005

30.7%

2006

28.8%

2007

28.1%

2008

28.1%

110,252 full-time equivalent
employees as at December 31, 2008: 
-3% versus 2007.

2008 Operating income change before non recurring items 
In EUR million

2007 operating income*
Volumes
Price/mix
Exchange
External costs
Other expenses
2008 operating income* 

Full year
1,645
-244
+683
-44
-968
-152
920

H1
861
+86
+180
-66
-334
-19
708

H2
784
-330
+503
+22
-634
-133
212

Operating income before non-recurring items by reporting segment
As a % and in EUR million

2008 operating expenses by nature
EUR 15,488m 

45% Raw materials and consumables
30% Personnel expenses 
6% Transportation costs
6% Depreciation 
13% Other expenses 

Raw material cost in 2008
EUR 4,726m: +6.2%, 
28.8% of net sales

Passenger Car and Light Truck 
& Related Distribution
Truck & Related Distribution 
Specialty Businesses
Group total

* Before non-recurring items.

Net Sales

€m

% of total

2008/2007

Operating income*
€m

% of total

Operating margin*

2008

2007

8,668
5,433
2,307
16,408

53%
33%
14%
100%

-4.1%
-3.7%
+5.5%
-2.7%

370
138
412
920

40%
15%
45%
100%

4.3%
2.5%
17.9%
5.6%

9.2%
7.6%
17.8%
9.8%

31% Natural rubber 
25% Synthetic rubber 
16% Fillers
13% Chemical products 

9% Steelcord
6% Textile 

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63

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Restructuring of Italian
operations

The amount of restructuring charges
incurred in 2008 was EUR 77 million,
in connection with industrial
conversion of the Stura site and
revitalization of the Turin area where
Passenger car and Light Truck tire
production will end at the end of
2009, under a competitiveness
improvement plan for Italy. 

These charges are to be compared
with EUR 326 million for 2007
accounted for by industrial
optimizations measures taken in
France, Spain and Japan, and with
EUR 220 million in 2006.

Net income amounted to EUR 357 million
versus EUR 772 million in 2007
In addition to the EUR 723 million decline 
in operating income, the EUR 415 million
drop of net result is accounted for by 
the following items: 
– The EUR 249 million decrease in
restructuring charges versus 2007, 
which amounted to EUR 77 million.
– The EUR 68 million increase in net 
financial expenses, mainly on account 
of the EUR 36 million increase in the cost of
net debt, largely due to the mark-to-market
value of the derivated financial instruments
used by the Group to secure a low cost 
for part of its long-term debt; this had no
impact on cash. The reduction in value 
of the securities portfolio amounted to 
EUR 17 million.
– The EUR 136 million decrease in income
tax, in line with the reduction of earnings
before tax, which amounted to EUR 520
million.

Increased financing requirements 
Free cash flow was negative at EUR -359
million, compared with EUR +433 positive
free cash flow in 2007.
This change resulted from the following
factors:
– EUR -620 million EBITDA decrease, 
mainly attributable to change of operating
income before non-recurring items;

– The deterioration in working capital
requirement leading to a negative 
(EUR -300 million) contribution, resulting
mainly from the following factors:
• change in inventory value in 2008 
(up EUR +419 million) due to the impact 
of raw material price increases, versus 
EUR +132 million in 2007;
• a positive contribution of EUR 308 million
resulting from the reduction in trade
receivables after negotiation of improved
payment terms as well as the decline of sales
volume recorded at the end of the year;
• the effect of change in tax liabilities,
excluding income tax (down EUR -122
million in 2008) resulting in particular from
business slowdown at the end of the year
and the related impact on VAT amounts.
Note that tax liabilities were only down 
EUR 7 million in 2007.
– The EUR 155 million decline in investment
cash flow utilization including:
• EUR -69 million in gross tangible and
intangible investments amounting to 
EUR 1,271 million;
• EUR -41 million in financial investment:
EUR 52 million invested in 2008, mainly 
to increase Michelin’s stake in Hankook 
Tire from 6.3% to nearly 10%, versus 
EUR 93 million in 2007.

Shareholders’ equity amounted to EUR 5,113
million, down EUR 177 million year-on-year.
This change was mainly accounted for by 
the profit for the period (EUR +357 million),

the contribution of share option calls 
(EUR +61 million), dividend payments 
(EUR -240 million), the currency impact 
(EUR -238 million) and the mark to market
value of available-for-sale investments 
(EUR -130 million).

Net financial debt to December 31, 2008
amounted to EUR 4,273 million, 
up EUR 559 million. 
The change resulted from:
– EUR +359 million: negative free cash flow
financing, 
– EUR +240 million: dividends paid,
– EUR -30 million for recognition as debt 
of interest payable upon maturity of 
the OCEANE (convertible or swappable 
with new or existing shares) bond issue 
of March 2007, 
– EUR -63 million reduction in the put option
commitments to certain minority
shareholders in Group subsidiaries.

Gearing amounted to 84% versus 70% 
at December end, 2007. The Group’s
objective is still to achieve 50% to 60%
gearing, in order to optimize its financial
structure.

64 2008 Michelin Annual Report 

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2008 Change in Net Debt 
In EUR million

Net debt at January, 1
Exchange rate changes
Free Cash Flow
Distributions
Other changes in Shareholders capital
Share purchase commitments
New lease purchase contracts
Scope and miscellaneous
Net debt at December, 31
Change

Net Debt
In EUR million as at December 31

Net debt
Equity
Gearing
Net debt/EBITDA

2008

3,714
-73
+359
+240
+47
-63
+10
+39
4,273
+559

2008
4,273
5,113
84%
2.31

2007

4,178
-107
-433
+215
-107
-55
+26
-3
3,714
-464

2007
3,714
5,290
70%
1.50

Breakdown of Michelin’s net financial debt 
As a %, at December 31

Under one year
1-5 years
More than 5 years

December 31, 2008
19.6%
55.0%
25.4%

December 31, 2007
21.6%
40.1%
38.3%

Breakdown in rate and currencies of Michelin’s net financial debt 
(after interest hedging, excluding currency derivatives)

Fixed rate
Variable rate
Euro and European currencies
US dollar
Other currencies

December 31, 2008
50%
50%
72%
15%
13%

December 31, 2007
52%
48%
79%
10%
11%

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65

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ROCE (Return On Capital Employed)
Achieving ROCE above 10% is one of
Michelin Group’s key objectives for 2010. 
Other key Group performance indicators 
for the 2006-2010 period are year-on-year
sales volume growth, operating margin
before non-recurring items, inventory level
and free cash flow generation.

ROCE measures the Return On Group 
Capital Employed. This ratio includes:
• in the numerator, operating income before
non-recurring items less Group companies’
theoretical tax burden, also called NOPAT
(Net Operating Profit After Tax). 

Until fiscal 2007, the tax rate applied for
ROCE calculation corresponded to a 34%
average standard tax rate. Since 2008, as 
a result of a lower Group effective tax rate,
the standard tax rate is 31%. The impact 
on ROCE is 0.4 point: using the 31%
standard rate, the ROCE for 2007 would
have amounted to 10.1%. 
• in the denominator, the average between
the Assets employed at the beginning 
of the year and at the end of the year 
(assets employed being the sum of tangible
and intangible fixed assets, plus long-term
financial assets and working capital
requirement).

Applicable exchange rates are year-end 
rates for the balance sheet items and
average rates for the income statement
items.
A comparison between ROCE and WACC,
that measures the weighted average cost 
of capital and debt, shows whether 
the Group has created value for the period
(where ROCE is greater than WACC). 

EUR million

Operating income before non-recurring income and expenses
Average standard income tax rate used for ROCE calculation
Net Operating Profit before non-recurring items After Tax (NOPAT)
Intangible an tangible fixed assets
Loans and deposits
Investments in associates and joint ventures
Non-current assets subtotal
Working capital requirement
Employed assets (end of period)
Average employed assets
ROCE

66 2008 Michelin Annual Report 

2008
920
31%
635
7,757
140
65
7,962
3,517
11,479
11,386
5.6%

2007
1,645
34%
1,086
7,725
152
62
7,939
3,353
11,292
11,218
9.7%

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Outlook for 
the Year 2009

In 2009, Michelin will focus on managing its cash 
by optimizing production program management 
and sharply reducing capital expenditure.

At this stage, Michelin’s working assumptions
are as follows:
• Tire markets will remain well below 
prior-year levels in the first half, before
firming up as replacement market inventories
are replenished and business activity begins
to recover.
• In 2009, Michelin’s profitability will be
supported by the full-year combined effect
of the price increases passed in 2008 
and the decline in raw materials prices, 
in particular for natural rubber and oil
derivatives. 

• Plant flexibility will be enhanced, while
capital expenditure will be cut to around 
EUR 700 million, with an emphasis on
driving further expansion in the new, 
high growth potential markets.
Michelin is therefore focused on improving
its profitability and preserving its robust
financial position.

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67

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED KEY FIGURES AND RATIOS - IFRS GAAP

EUR million

Sales
% change
Total employee benefits costs
as a % of sales
Number of employees (full time equivalent)
Research and development expenses (1)
as a % of sales
EBITDA (2)
Operating income before non-recurring income and expenses
Operating margin before non-recurring income and expenses
Operating income
Operating margin
Cost of net debt
Other financial income and expenses
Income before taxes
Income tax
Effective tax rate
Net income
as a % of sales
Dividend distributions (3)
Cash flows from operating activities
as a % of sales
Gross purchases of intangible assets and PP&E
as a % of sales
Capital expenditure, net of disposals
Cash flows from investing activities
as a % of sales
Net debt (4)
Total equity (5)
Gearing
Net debt / EBITDA
Cash flows from operating activities / Net debt
Net interest charge average rate (7)
Operating income before non-recurring items / Net interest charge (7)
Free cash flow (8)
ROE (9)
ROCE – Return on capital employed (10)
Per share data (in euros)
Net assets per share (11)
Basic earnings per share
Diluted earnings per share
P/E (12)
Dividend per share
Distribution rate (13)
Dividend yield (14)
Share turnover rate (15)

2008
16,408
-2.7%
4,606
28.1%
110,252
499
3.0%
1,848
920
5.6%
843
5.1%
(330)
(3)
520
(163)
31.3%
357
2.2%
240
915
5.6%
1,271
7.7%
1,237
(1,274)
7.8%
4,273
5,113
84%
2.31
21.4%
6.0%
3.5
(359)
7.0%
5.6%

35.2
2.46
2.46
15.3
1.00*
40.7%
2.7%
308%

2007
16,867
+3.0%
4,732
28.1%
113,529
561
3.3%
2,468
1,645
9.8%
1,319
7.8%
(294)
29
1,071
(299)
27.9%
772
4.6%
215
1,862
11.0%
1,340
7.9%
1,378
(1,429)
8.5%
3,714
5,290
70%
1.50
50.1%
6.4%
6.1
433
14.7%
9.7%

36.7
5.32
5.22
14.8
1.60
30.1%
2.0%
216%

2006
16,384
+5.1%
4,718
28.8%
115,755
591
3.6%
2,209
1,338
8.2%
1,118
6.8%
(315)
135
942
(369)
39.2%
573
3.5%
205
1,191
7.3%
1,414
8.6%
1,277
(1,230)
7.5%
4,178
4,688
89%
1.89
28.5%
6.3%
4.2
(39)
12.2%
8.0%

32.6
3.95
3.94
18.4
1.45
36.7%
2.0%
212%

2005
15,590
+3.6%
4,780
30.7%
119,030
565
3.6%
2,171
1,368
8.8%
1,574
10.1%
(310)
(280)
1,300
(411)
31.6%
889
5.7%
221
1,031
6.6%
1,336
8.6%
1,208
(1,155)
7.4%
4,083
4,527
90%
1.88
25.3%
6.9%
4.4
(124)
19.7%
N. App

31.5
6.13
6.12
7.7
1.35
22.0%
2.8%
151%

2004
15,048
N. App.
4,837
32.1%
120,456
576
3.8%
2,030
1,303
8.7%
1,239
8.2%
N. App.
(235)
985
(331)
33.6%
654
4.3%
185
1,322
8.8%
1,107
7.4%
951
(1,056)
7.0%
3,292
3,647
90%(6)
1.62
40.2%
N. App.
N. App.
266
18.5%
N. App

24.2
4.46
4.46
10.6
1.25
28.0%
2.6%
134%

(1) Pursuant to switch to IFRS, part of the Group’s research and development 
expenses are integrated into the cost of goods sold in the income statement 
by function.
(2) EBITDA: earnings before finance costs, income tax, depreciation and 
amortization.
(3) Aggregate dividends distributed to Group Shareholders in the period. 
(4) Net debt after implementation of IAS 32 and IAS 39, effective January 1, 
2005: financial liabilities - cash and cash equivalents +/- derivative assets.
(5) Total equity after implementation of IAS 32 and IAS 39, effective January 1, 
2005.
(6) As of December 31, 2004, the gearing ratio in IFRS was 93%. Following 
implementation of IAS 32 and 39, effective since January 1, 2005,  
the ratio was 90%.
(7) Net interest charge: interest financing expenses - interest income from 
cash and equivalents + discount/premium amortization on forward foreign 
exchange contracts.
(8) Free cash flow: Cash flows from operating activities - Cash flows from 
investing activities.
(9) ROE: net income attributable to Shareholders / Shareholders’ equity 
excluding non-controlling interests.
(10) ROCE: Net Operating Profit After Tax (NOPAT) / capital employed 
(intangible assets and PP&E + long-term financial assets + working capital 
requirement).
(11) Net assets per share: net assets / number of shares outstanding  
at the end of the period.
(12) P/E: Share price at the end of the period / earnings per share.
(13) Distribution rate: dividend per share / basic earnings per share.
(14) Dividend yield: dividend per share / share price at December 31.
(15) Share turnover rate: number of shares traded during the year / average 
number of shares outstanding during the year. 

N. App.: Non applicable 

* 2008 dividend subject to approval by the Annual Shareholders Meeting  
of May 15, 2009.

68   2008 Michelin Annual Report

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FRENCH GAAP

EUR million

Sales
% change
Payroll cost 
as a % of sales
Average number of employees
Research and development cost
as a % of sales
EBITDA (1)
Operating income
Operating marging
Net interest expense
Net non-recurring income and expense
Of which restructuring costs
Income before tax
Income taxes
effective tax rate
Net income before minority interest
as a % of sales
Dividends (2)
Net cash provided by operating activities (3)
Cash flow (4)
as a % of sales
Capital expenditure (5)
as a % of sales
Capital expenditure, net of disposals (5)
Acquisition of investments, net of disposals
Net debt (6)
Shareholders’ equity including minority interests (7)
Debt-to-Equity ratio
Average borrowing costs
EBITDA / Net debt
Net cash provided by operating activities / Net debt
Interest expense (8)
Interest cover (operating income / Interest expense)
Free cash flow (9)
ROE (10)
Per share data (in euros)
Net assets per share (11)
Basic earnings per share
diluted earnings per share
P/E (12)
Net dividend per share
Pay-out rate(13)
Net dividend yield (14)
Capital turnover rate (15)

2004
15,689
+2.1%
4,872
31.1%
126,474
674
4.3%
2,043
1,299
8.3%
(213)
(206)
(55)
843
(316)
37.5%
527
3.4%
133
1,337
1,353
8.6%
1,117
7.1%
1,025
106
3,223
4,677
69%
5.9%
63.4%
41.5%
209
6.2
226
11.2%

32.1
3.59
3.59
13.1
1.25
34.8%
2.6%
134%

2003
15,370
-1.8%
4,997
32.5%
127,210
710
4.6%
1,992
1,143
7.4%
(225)
19
(192)
590
(261)
44.3%
329
2.1%
131
1,542
1,407
9.2%
1,118
7.3%
1,017
229
3,440
4,409
78%
5.8%
57.9%
44.8%
219
5.2
299
7.3%

30.2
2.23
2.23
16.3
0.93
41.7%
2.6%
144%

2002
15,645
-0.8%
5,152
32.9%
126,285
704
4.5%
1,978
1,225
7.8%
(260)
75
(17)
997
(382)
38.4%
614
3.9%
113
1,534
1,225
7.8%
967
6.2%
809
62
3,818
4,502
85%
6.2%
51.8%
40.2%
273
4.5
637
13.4%

30.5
4.28
4.28
7.7
0.93
21.7%
2.8%
145%

2001
15,775
+2.5%
5,242
33.2%
127,467
702
4.4%
2,091
1,040
6.6%
(321)
(29)
(340)
644
(330)
51.2%
314
2.0%
105
1,263
1,323
8.4%
1,150
7.3%
1,089
(184)
4,881
4,326
113%
6.1%
42.8%
25.9%
311
3.3
309
7.4%

29.7
2.20
2.20
16.8
0.85
38.6%
2.3%
108%

2000
15,396
+11.9%
5,137
33.4%
128,122
645
4.2%
2,170
1,162
7.6%
(314)
(76)
(67)
729
(290)
39.9%
438
2.8%
93
1,017
1,416
9.2%
1,201
7.8%
1,091
166
4,926
4,155
119%
6.5%
44.1%
20.7%
324
3.6
(241)
10.4%

28.5
2.96
2.96
13.0
0.80
27.0%
2.1%
97%

(1) EBITDA = Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and 
Amortization. 
(2) Dividends paid to parent company Shareholders. 
(3) Net cash provided by operating activities: cash flow + 
change in working capital. 
(4) Cash flow: net income before minority interests + 
depreciation, amortization and charges to allowances for 
impairment in value of fixed assets - changes in provisions -/+ 
net gains/losses on disposal of assets. 
(5) In 2001, excluding external growth transactions  
(SMW, EUR 167 m). 
(6) Net debt: long and short-term debt (including securitisation) 
- cash and cash equivalents. 
(7) Shareholders’ equity including minority interest: common 
stock + paid-in capital in excess of par + retained earnings +  
net income + minority interests. 
(8) Interest expense: borrowing costs for the year. 
(9) Free cash flow: cash flow - change in working capital - net 
investments. 
(10) ROE: net income attributable to the Group / Shareholders’ 
equity excluding minority interest. 
(11) Nets assets per share: net assets / number of shares 
outstanding at December 31. 
(12) P/E: share price at December 31 / earnings per share. 
(13) Pay-out rate: net dividend / earnings per share. 
(14) Net dividend yield: net dividend / share price  
at December 31. 
(15) Capital turnover: number of shares traded during the year / 
average number of share outstanding during the year.

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   69

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proposed Resolutions

As  part  of  the  Ordinary  Shareholders  Meeting,  you  are  invited 
to  approve  the  operations  reflected  in  the  Company’s  income 
statement and balance sheet submitted to you and to decide on 
the appropriation of the EUR 286,147,074.19 profit.

After  allocation  of  the  statutory  share  of  the  General  Partners, 
in an amount of EUR 3,573,000.00 and of the legal reserve for 
EUR 199,651.00, the balance of EUR 282,374,423.19, plus retained 
earnings  of  EUR  281,207,005.56  amounts  to  a  total  of  EUR 
563,581,428.75 available for distribution to the Shareholders. 

On this basis, we propose the distribution of a total amount of 
EUR  144,997,422.00  which  will  allow  the  distribution  of  a  EUR 
1.00 dividend per share, payable in cash or in shares according to 
the Shareholder’s choice.

The dividend will be paid in cash from June 22, 2009. The shares 
issued as dividend payment will carry rights as of January 1st, 2009 
and will be fully assimilated to the shares already issued.

Dividends paid in respect of the three preceding financial years 
are shown in the following table:

Financial Year

2005
2006
2007

Dividends
distributed
(in EUR)
193,573,293.75
208,295,861.11
230,398,670.40

Dividend
per share

1.35
1.45
1.60

Moreover, you will be asked to approve the Group’s consolidated 
accounts showing a net profit of EUR 357 million.

Regarding  the  composition  of  the  Supervisory  Board,  subject 
to  approval  by  the  Extraordinary  Shareholders  Meeting  of  the 
amendment  to  the  bylaws  providing  for  a  reduction  of  the 
members’ term of office to four years, you will be asked to renew 

for  a  four-year  term  the  mandates  of  Messrs  Eric  Bourdais  de 
Charbonnière and François Grappotte that are due to expire, at 
the end of this Meeting.

In this connection, we note that Mr. François Grappotte wishes 
to retire in 2011.

Moreover, we ask you to renew for 18 months the authorization 
to buyback the Company’s shares up to a maximum of 10% of 
equity for a maximum purchase price of EUR 100 per share.

This  authorization  would  replace  that  granted  for  the  same 
purpose by the Annual Shareholders Meeting of May 16, 2008. 
Note  that  this  authorization  was  not  used  in  2008  and  that, 
todate, no liquidity contract has been concluded by the Company 
with an investment bank. 

In the Extraordinary session, in order to improve the Company’s 
governance and to make it fully compliant with the listed company 
corporate  governance  code  prepared  by  AFEP  and  MEDEF,  we 
have decided to submit to your approval a reduction from five to 
four years of the term of office of Supervisory Board members. 
This shorter term would apply to renewals and appointments to 
the Supervisory Board starting on the Joint Shareholders Meeting 
of May 15, 2009.

In addition, in order to enable the pursuit of the reasonable and 
cautious stock option allocation policy conducted by the Group 
since  2002,  we  ask  you  to  authorize  possible  Company  stock 
option  or  share  purchase  programs  benefiting  employees  of  its 
French  and  foreign  subsidiaries,  other  than  Company  directors. 
With  respect  to  share  subscription  options,  this  authorization 
provides for a cancellation of your pre-emptive subscription right 
for shares so issued, subject to a ceiling of 3 million shares, or 2% 
of current issued capital.

The  call  period  for  both  classes  of  options  shall  not  exceed  ten 
years after the allocation date.

The  subscription  or  purchase  price  will  be  at  face  value,  within 

the  legal  price  bracket  in  force  at  the  time  of  allocation  and 
will, under no circumstances, be lower than the average of the 
opening share prices quoted during the twenty trading days prior 
to the option allocation date.

This  authorization  does  not  replace  the  May  12,  2006  Annual 
Shareholders  Meeting’s  decision  on  the  same  subject,  which 
remains in force until its expiry in July 2009. Note that, pursuant 
to the authorization referred to above, three share subscription 
option plans were set up in 2006, 2007 and 2008, leading to the 
granting of a total of 1,609,150 options giving rights to the same 
number of shares as described in further detail on page 189 of 
this report.

The term of this authorization, if granted, would be 38 months 
starting from this Annual Shareholders Meeting.

After  hearing  the  reports  of  the  Statutory  Auditors  and  of  the 
Supervisory  Board,  you  will  be  asked  to  adopt  the  resolutions 
submitted to your vote.

Finally, as announced by your Supervisory Board in a press release 
dated  December  8,  2008,  we  remind  you  that  the  Corporate 
Governance  Code  prepared  by  AFEP  and  MEDEF  for  listed 
companies was adopted as your Company’s reference code.

Clermont-Ferrand, February 09, 2009

Michel Rollier 

 Didier Miraton  

Jean-Dominique Senard 

70  2008 Michelin Annual Report

Supervisory Board Report

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The  Managing  Partners’  Report  and  accounting  and  financial 
statements communicated to you show developments in Group 
operations and results for Financial Year 2008.

We have no comments on the Statutory Auditors General Report 
for the year.

With  reference  to  the  other  resolutions,  an  amendment  of  the 
bylaws is submitted to your vote, providing for a reduction of the 
Supervisory Board members’ term of office from five to four years. 
This shorter term will apply to renewals and appointments made 
starting on the Joint Shareholders Meeting of May 15, 2009.

The  consolidated  financial  statements  show  net  income  of  EUR 
357 million versus EUR 772 million in 2007. This 54% drop results 
mainly  from  the  degradation  of  operating  income  before  non 
recurring  items,  while  the  restructuring  charges  (non-recurring) 
and corporate tax were lower than in 2007.

Group net sales were up 1.1% at constant scope and exchange 
rates. 

Operating  income  before  non-recurring  income  and  expenses 
dropped  44.1%  to  EUR  920  million  and,  at  5.6%,  operating 
margin was down 4.2 points versus 2007. At 84%, the net-debt-
to-equity ratio rose 14 points versus December 31, 2007.

In these circumstances, the Supervisory Board agrees with your 
Managing Partner’s recommendation to set at 1 euro per share 
the amount of the dividend distribution.

Your  Supervisory  Board  is  in  favor  of  this  amendment  which 
will  improve  its  governance  and  align  it  fully  with  the  current 
standards.

Regarding  the  make-up  of  the  Supervisory  Board,  you  will  be 
asked to vote on the renewal for a four year term, of the mandates 
of Messrs François Grappotte and Eric Bourdais de Charbonnière 
that are due to expire at the end of this Meeting. 

Assuming  that  their  terms  are  renewed,  and  in  line  with  good 
governance principle, in order to ensure a proper timing of future 
appointments  and  seamless  transition,  Mr.  François  Grappotte 
has  indicated  that  he  did  not  wish  to  extend  his  term  of  office 
beyond the Annual Shareholders Meeting to be held in 2011 to 
decide upon the financial statements of the financial year ending 
December 31, 2010. 

You  will  also  be  asked  to  vote  on  the  renewal,  in  similar  terms 
to  those  granted  on  May  12,  2006,  of  the  authorization  to 
grant, without discount, share subscription or purchase options 
reserved to Group employees, with the only change being that 
the  corporate  directors  will  be  excluded  from  the  scope  of  the 
potential beneficiaries.

Finally, the Company wishes to renew its share buyback program 
with a EUR 100 purchase price ceiling per share, identical to the 
price set under the current authorization.

In these circumstances, we recommend you to adopt the proposals 
submitted for your approval and, accordingly, to vote in favor of 
the corresponding resolutions.

The Supervisory Board enjoys full independence to fulfill its control 
mission  and  benefits  from  exhaustive,  reliable  and  transparent 
information  on  the  Company,  with  respect,  in  particular,  to  its 
financial  statements  and  commitments,  its  operational  and 
environmental risks, as well as to the Group’s strategy.

February 09, 2009

Eric Bourdais de Charbonnière
Chairman of the Supervisory Board

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   71

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Report of the Chairman of the Supervisory Board
on the make-up, preliminary work and organization of the Supervisory Board’s Operations 
and on Company internal control and risk management procedures

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In my capacity as Chairman of the Supervisory Board, I am pleased 
to report on Board make-up, preliminary work and organization 
for financial year 2008 and on the Company’s internal control and 
risk management procedures.

Pursuant  to  Law  No  2008-649  of  July  3,  2008  transposing  EU 
law into French corporate law, the Chairman’s report henceforth 
includes a statement on corporate governance with reference to 
the  Corporate  Governance  Code  for  listed  companies  prepared 
by  AFEP  and  MEDEF,  which  was  adopted  as  its  reference  code 
by your Supervisory Board as announced in a press release dated 
December 8, 2008.

Finally, this report has been approved by your Supervisory Board 
at its meeting held on February 9, 2009 (1). 

Supervisory Board make-up, 
preliminary work and organization

MAKE-UP

In  accordance  with  applicable  law  and  Company  Articles  of 
Incorporation,  the  Supervisory  Board  comprises  three  to  ten 
members  appointed  by  the  Annual  Shareholders  Meeting  for 
a  term  of  five  years  (four  years  for  appointments  and  renewals 
starting  in  2009)  (2)  and  appointed  exclusively  from  among 
Shareholders.

The  maximum  age  for  serving  as  Supervisory  Board  member  is 
set  at  75  years  by  the  bylaws  and  applies  to  two  thirds  of  the 
members of the Board serving.

The  Supervisory  Board  is  currently  made  up  of  eight  members, 
enumerated below along with their current main functions, all of 

whom are deemed independent with reference to the criteria set 
forth in the Board’s code of conduct (3): 

Mr. Eric Bourdais de Charbonniere, Chairman of the Supervisory 
Board,  Member  of  the  Supervisory  Boards  of  Oddo  et  Cie, 
Thomson  SA,  ING  Group,  and  former  CEO  of  JP  Morgan  for 
France;

Mr.  Pat  Cox,  Chairman  of  International  European  Mouvement, 
Member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  International  Crisis 
Group, former Chairman of the European Parliament and former 
Member of the Irish Parliament;

Mrs.  Barbara  Dalibard,  Member  of  groupe  France  Télécom’s 
General Management Committee;

Mr. Louis Gallois, Chief Executive Officer of EADS NV;

Mr.  François  Grappotte,  Honorary  Chairman  of  Legrand  and 
Director of BNP Paribas;

Mr. Pierre Michelin, head of a Bull division;

Mrs. Laurence Parisot, Vice-Chairwoman of Ifop's Directoire and 
Chairwoman of Medef;

Mr. Benoît Potier, Chief Executive Officer of L’Air Liquide. 

MISSION 

In  2008,  the  Supervisory  Board  fulfilled  its  mission  of  ongoing 
control  of  the  Company,  pursuant  to  the  scope  set  forth  in  its 
code of conduct (4) as detailed below:

● Review of annual and semi-annual corporate and consolidated 
accounts approved by the Managing Partners;

●  Assessment  of  the  fairness  and  the  relevance  of  management 
decisions;

●  Assessment of internal control systems and risk management;
●  Assessment of strategic orientations;
●  Assessment of respect of Shareholder rights.

 ASSESSMENT OF OPERATIONS

Pursuant  to  the  Board’s  Code  of  Conduct,  as  each  year, 
I  ensured  that  the  Board  assessed  its  own  organization.  After 
consultation  with  the  Supervisory  Board  members,  the  findings 
of this evaluation were discussed at the meeting of February 11, 
2008.  The  Board  appreciated  the  high  quality  information  and 
presentations made to it as well as the quality of its exchanges 
with the Managing Partners. 

The  Audit  Committee  reviewed  the  consolidated  and  corporate 
accounts  and  communicated  its  conclusions  to  the  Supervisory 
Board.

The  Supervisory  Board  thus  considered  that  it  was  fully  able  to 
fulfill its role.

 SUPERVISORY BOARD’S REPORT FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 2008

The Supervisory Board met in four occasions in 2008 (on February 
11, April 25, July 25 and December 4 and 5), in all five days with 
working sessions lasting seven hours on average. The attendance 
rate was 93%.

On  each  occasion,  the  Board  was  presented  a  detailed  review 
of  Group  results.  On  February  11,  and  July  25,  the  Supervisory 
Board examined respectively consolidated and corporate financial 
statements for the full year 2007 and financial year 2008 interim 
accounts  and  reviewed  financial  communication  items  for  the 
period.

(1)  Each year since 2003, the Company has been preparing this report, which only became compulsory for Partnerships limited by shares by virtue of Law No 2008-649 referred to above, which also provides for the Supervisory Board to approve 
the report.
(2)  A resolution providing for a reduction of members’ term of office to four years will be submitted to the Extraordinary Shareholders Meeting of May 15, 2009.
(3) These criteria are identical to those set forth in the Corporate Governance Code prepared by AFEP and MEDEF, except for the overall duration of service (see section “Corporate governance statement“ of this report on page 73).
(4) See the main provisions on page 147 of the Reference document.

72   2008 Michelin Annual Report

A number of specific presentations were made to the Supervisory 
Board by the Managing Partners or by top executives, including:

●  The analysis of Group results by the Managing Partners;
●  The product/market environment;
●  The  objectives  and  status  of  the  Group’s  strategy  under  the 
Horizon 2010 Plan;

●  The  management  and  control  of  the  different  types  of  risk 
relevant to the Company;

●  Governance;
●  Industrial strategy;
●  Research and development.

The Supervisory Board has in particular dedicated a full working 
session to a review of the Group’s strategy. 

●  Review and evaluation of Internal Control;
●  Analysis of the Group’ audit plan management;
●  The Group’s risk map;
●  The Statutory Auditors’ annual audit agenda.

During  its  meetings,  the  Audit  Committee  heard  in  particular 
the  Group’s  head  of  Financial  Operations  and  the  heads  of 
Accounting  Affairs,  Internal  Audit,  Financial  Operations  Quality 
and the Group’s Risk Manager.

The Audit Committee also met the Statutory Auditors and heard 
their comments. 

The  Audit  Committee’s  Chairman  reported  to  the  Supervisory 
Board  on  the  Committee’s  work  on  February  11,  July  25  and 
December 05, 2008.

AUDIT COMMITTEE WORK

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE WORK

The  audit  Committee  (1)  is  exclusively  made  up  of  independent 
members: 

●  Mr.  François  Grappotte,  Chairman  of  the  Audit  Committee, 
Honorary Chairman of Legrand and Director of BNP Paribas;

●  Mr. Eric Bourdais de Charbonniere, Member of the Supervisory 
Boards  of  Oddo  et  Cie,  Thomson  SA,  ING  Group,  and  former 
Chief Executive Officer of JP Morgan for France;

●  Mr. Pierre Michelin, head of a Bull division; 

●  Mr. Benoît Potier, Chief Executive Officer of L’Air Liquide.

The Audit Committee performs the tasks of a specialized committee 
that monitors all issues with respect to the preparation and control 
of  accounting  and  financial  information  pursuant  to  the  new 
articles L.823-19 and L.823-20-4° of the French Commercial Code 
introduced by order n°2008-1278 of December 8, 2008.

The Audit Committee met on four occasions in 2008 (February 11, 
April 21, July 25 and November 24). The attendance rate was 86%.

It focused on:

●  Review  of 
statements;

full-year  2007  and 

interim  2008 

financial 

Pursuant to its code of conduct, the Supervisory Board as a whole 
performs  the  functions  generally  delegated  to  a  Compensation 
Committee.

The Compensation Committee met three times in 2008 (February 
11, April 25 and July 25), with a 95% attendance rate.

In 2008, the Board reviewed the components of manager variable 
pay  policy  as  they  relate  to  the  Group’s  performance.  It  also 
advised the Managing Partners on stock option policy. It confirmed 
that  the  2007  operational  and  financial  performance  criteria  to 
determine payment (in 2008) of the variable compensation paid 
to the Non-General Managing Partners had been attained, and 
approved the compensation of Non-General Managing Partners 
as well as Group Executive Council members for 2008. 

To  ensure  an  efficient  assessment  of  the  above  compensation 
policies,  the  Compensation  Committee  reviewed  a  benchmark 
prepared by third party consultants.

Committee  (to  become  the  “Compensation  and  Appointment 
Committee“) setting forth its role in the Company’s appointment 
policy.

Finally, the Board reviewed the position of the Managing Partners 
with reference to the recommendations made by AFEP/MEDEF in 
October 2008 concerning the compensation of listed companies’ 
executive directors.

Corporate Governance Statement

As  a  preliminary,  the  Supervisory  Board  notes  that,  during  its 
meeting of December 4, 2008, it reviewed the recommendations of 
AFEP/MEDEF dated October 6, 2008 regarding the compensation 
of listed companies’ executive directors. 

The  Board  has  considered  that  said  recommendations  were 
complied with and that they were relevant to the Company’s own 
corporate government approach (2). 

On  the  one  hand,  although  these  recommendations  include  all 
the  “managers  of  Limited  Partnership  by  Shares  companies“ 
in  the  list  of  officers  concerned,  from  a  legal  and  economic 
standpoint, these recommendations do not directly apply to the 
statutory share of profits paid to the Managing General Partner. 
The amounts received by the Managing General Partner are solely 
drawn from the statutory share allocated to the General Partners 
which are: 

●  designed to compensate for the risk of joint and several liability 
on their own assets for the Company’s liabilities,

●  exclusively variable and based on the profit made in the previous 
fiscal year,

●  determined by the shareholders during the Annual Shareholders 
Meeting.

In  addition,  with  reference  to  the  appointment  policy,  the 
Committee  also  reviewed  the  composition  of  the  Management 
Partnership and of the Supervisory Board. The Supervisory Board 
decided to draft a formal code of conduct for the Compensation 

The combination of legal and statutory provisions bars Managing 
Partners from receiving any other form of compensation without 
the  prior  specific  approval  of  the  Shareholders  at  a  General 
Meeting.

(1) See the main provisions on page 147 of the Reference document.
(2) On December 8, 2008, the Board issued a press release to inform its Shareholders and investors of this situation.

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   73

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nevertheless, in practice, the characteristics of CGEM’s statutory 
share  of  profits  are  in  line  with  the  spirit  of  the  letter  of  AFEP/
MEDEF’s recommendations:

●    enhance  the  legibility  of  the  current  performance  criteria 
currently  required  and  recorded  over  the  full  duration  of  their 
term in office.

to his or her free judgment in relation to the Company. Quite the 
reverse, it helps understand the Company in all its complexity and 
efficiently control its management on an ongoing basis.

●    Recommendation  on  compensation  for  Supervisory  Board 
members (7): conformity to the principles other than with respect 
to a variable portion.

On  account  of  the  active  involvement  of  the  Supervisory  Board 
members  and,  more  particularly,  high  attendance  rate  to  its 
meetings  and  committee  meetings,  the  Board  did  not  deem  it 
necessary  to  introduce  a  variable  portion  for  attendance  in  the 
calculation of directors’ fees.

Finally, the specific rules concerning the attendance of Shareholders 
at Annual Meetings are set forth on page 183 of the Reference 
Document for the financial year ended December 31, 2008 and in 
the Shareholders Guide 2009 (section “Your rights as a Michelin 
Shareholder“) accessible from the “Shareholder Section“ of the 
www.michelin.com/corporate website.

●  either to the extent that these withholdings already comply with 
some of the constraints provided under the recommendations:

- conformity with the criteria for setting the compensation, 
- transparency of the information;

●  or,  to  the  extent  that  the  other  bans  or  ceilings  are  already 
reflected in the Partnership by Shares approach as implemented 
by Michelin for its General Partners:

- no employment contract,
- no severance package,
-  no retirement scheme (including complementary) borne by 

the Company,

-  no Stock-option or free share allocations, or other form of 

incentive.

On  the  other  hand,  concerning  the  Non-General  Managing 
Partners,  following  review  of  the  recommendations  by  the 
Supervisory  Board,  the  latter  noted  the  Company’s  decision, 
under its progress approach designed to improve its governance 
over and beyond the recommendations of AFEP/MEDEF, to apply 
the following measures in 2009.

Firstly, the Long term incentive part of the Non-General Managing 
Partners’ compensation (1) set by the General Partners, subject to 
review by the Supervisory Board, will be amended. Its current basis 
for  calculation  with  reference  to  the  share  or  purchase  options 
granted to Group employees will be replaced by a formula which 
largely  reflects  the  Group’s  long  term  operational  and  financial 
performance.

Additionally,  the  compensation  for  forced  termination  of  the 
Non-General  Managing  Partners’  office,  capped  at  two  years 
compensation, will be amended in order to:

●  include in the above ceiling all benefits, in particular, conventional 
or  transactional,  currently  payable  upon  termination  of  the 
employment agreement,

Finally,  the  status  of  the  Non-General  Managing  Partners 
appointed  in  2007  for  a  five-year  mandate  and  whose  former 
employment  contract  was  suspended,  is  in  line  with  AFEP/
MEDEF’s recommendation for the compulsory termination of the 
employment contracts of corporate officers of listed companies, 
where  their  mandate  was  given  or  renewed  after  October  6, 
2008 (2). 

Beyond compliance, the current situation has an equivalent result 
from  the  point  of  view  of  the  main  drawbacks  of  a  situation 
of  cumulated  functions.  On  the  one  hand,  the  risk  of  multiple 
unlimited severance packages will be removed as a result of the 
capping of all severance compensations. On the other hand, the 
risk of multiple complementary retirement benefits or retirement 
caps will also be removed, as the Non-General Managing Partners 
have access to no specific additional retirement scheme: they only 
enjoy,  under  their  suspended  employment  contract,  and  in  the 
same  terms,  the  collective  scheme  applicable  to  all  MFPM  and 
CGEM employees (3). 

Moreover,  pursuant  to  the  provisions  of  Law  No  2008-649  of 
July 3, 2008, the Supervisory Board confirms that the Company 
has adopted as its reference the Corporate Governance Code for 
listed companies prepared by AFEP/MEDEF (4).

The Supervisory Board states that the Company applies all of the 
principles of this Code and has made the necessary adjustments 
in  view  of  its  corporate  structure  as  a  Partnership  Limited  by 
Shares, subject to the two exceptions listed below (5):

●    Recommendation  concerning  the  independent  directors  (6): 
conformity  to  all  independence  criteria  excluding  only  the 
maximum 12 years term of office. 

The Board considers that the total term of office of a Supervisory 
Board member in a Partnership Limited by Shares is not an obstacle  

(1) Component detailed on page 152 to 154 of this Annual Report.
(2) Recommendation No 19 of the Code.
(3) The Non-General Managing Partners enjoy the additional retirement scheme open for all MFPM and CGEM employees since its creation in 1996, subject to serving in the Company at the time of retirement, and the gross replacement rate 
for statutory contributions is below 55%. The cost for this complementary and capped scheme is provisioned under IAS19 (post-employment benefits). On account of their seniority within the Group and of current retirement assumptions, the 
impact of this scheme would represent an 11.6% gross replacement rate for Mr. Didier Miraton and 3.0% for Mr. Jean-Dominique Senard at the time of their retirement.
(4) Source: consolidated version dated December 2008, available from the website www.medef.fr
(5) Subject to approval by the Extraordinary Shareholders Meeting of May 15, 2009, of the draft resolution presented by the Managing Partners aimed at reducing the Supervisory Board members’ term of office from five to four years, for 
appointment or renewals with effect from the date of this Annual Shareholders Meeting (see the Managing Partners’ Report on page 70).
(6) Recommendation No 8.4 of the Code.
(7) Recommendation No 18.1 of the Code.

74  2008 Michelin Annual Report

Internal control and risk 
management procedures implemented 
by Michelin Group

Michelin Group adopted AMF’s Reference framework definition 
for internal control published in January 2007, which is very close 
to  COSO’s  definition  used  in  2006.  Internal  control  is  a  set  of 
measures designed and implemented by the company under its 
own responsibility.

It covers all means, conducts, procedures and actions tailored to 
the specificities of each company and of the Group as a whole 
to:

●  help monitor its operations, efficiency and efficacy of resources, 
and
●  deal with its significant risks, at operating, financial or compliance 
level. 

The Internal Control’s objective is to ensure:
●  Legal and regulatory compliance;
●  Implementation  of  the  instructions  and  guidelines  set  by  the 
Managing Partners;
●  Smooth working of corporate internal processes, in particular in 
connection with preservation of assets;
●  Reliability of financial information.

Internal control operations, however, are not a full-proof guarantee 
that  all  objectives  will  be  achieved.  Any  internal  control  system 
has its intrinsic limitations in connection with uncertainties about 
the external environment, the exercise of judgment and the cost/
benefit analysis of introducing new controls.

Within the Michelin Group, the parent company makes sure that 
its  subsidiaries  have  implemented  internal  control  procedures. 
These procedures are adapted to the subsidiaries’ specific features 
and  to  the  relations  between  the  parent  and  the  consolidated 
companies.

THE CONTROL ENVIRONMENT 

Risk Assessment and Risk Control Policy

Michelin Group is organized into Product Lines, each dedicated 
to  a  specific  business  and  benefiting  of  their  own  marketing, 
development,  production  and  sales  resources  to  which  are 
associated  two  product  distribution  networks  (Euromaster  in 
Europe and Tire Centers Inc. – TCI in North America).

The Product Lines are supported by ten Group Services, in charge 
of support functions (Purchasing, Legal, Personnel…). At regional 
level, Group consistency and synergy are guaranteed within entities  
based  in  the  Group’s  six  Geographic  Zones:  Europe,  North 
America, South America, Asia and Pacific, China, Africa and the 
Middle East. The Technology Center handles Group research and 
development.  The  Industrial  Performance  Department  and  the 
Marketing  and  Sales  Performance  Department  monitor  Group 
initiatives in these fields. 

The Group has defined the mission, organization and contribution 
to critical decisions of each entity as well as the measure of their 
performance and their exchanges with the other entities. 

To complete this organization, the Group has laid down formal 
criteria and conditions for the appointment of Group subsidiary 
directors and the renewal of their terms as well as the conditions 
for exercising and delegating their powers.

The  Group  is  strongly  attached  to  the  values  of  responsibility, 
integrity and ethics. These are set forth in Michelin’s Performance 
and Responsibility Charter, which is widely circulated within and 
outside the Group. The Charter spells out the way in which the 
Group strives to put into practice its key values of respect for its 
customers,  shareholders,  people,  the  environment  and  facts.  A 
full Michelin Performance and Responsibility report is published 
every second year, followed by an interim summary update every 
alternate year. 

The  Group’s  objectives  are  defined  by  the  Managing  Partners. 
These relate not only to economic performance but also to the 
areas in which the Group aims at a particular level of excellence, 
such  as  people  management,  quality,  innovation,  working 
conditions and the environment.

General objectives, updated and communicated every year to the 
different  entities,  set  forth  the  guidelines  which  are  developed 
and  translated  into  5-year  strategic  orientations  and  annual 
plans  by  all  the  entities  described  above.  Such  plans  include  an 
operational plank as well as a progress plank designed to enhance 
the performance and quality of services rendered.

Objectives  are  based  on  past  performance,  in-depth  business 
reviews as well as new operating environment trends.

Operational risk assessment forms an integral part of the planning 
process which provides for an identification of key success factors 
and  a  sensitivity  analysis  of  the  main  assumptions  drawn  up  to 
achieve these objectives. Strategic risks are specifically addressed 
in this approach.

The  Group  also  ensures  that  its  operational  risks  are  properly 
controlled. 

These  were  arranged  into  eleven  classes  of  risk:  Protection 
of  people  and  property,  products  and  services,  continuity  of 
Supply  /  Production  /  Deliveries,  Accounting  and  Finance,  Legal 
and Tax, Environment, Social, Knowledge and Know-how, Fraud 
and Ethics, IS/IT and Communication.

Group risks are controlled through three tiers of responsibility: 

●  Operational  management  (Operational  Units,  Product  Lines, 
Geographic Zones) identify and manage risks pertaining to their 
respective entities. Their responsibility encompasses:

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   75

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
priority risks calling for possible action plans, to closely monitor the 
higher-intensity risks and support internal audit work schedules.

Group reporting purposes. The Finance Group Service guarantees 
the accuracy and consistency of such management data.

- risk-prevention measures, 

-  personal,  asset  and  equipment  protection  measures,  to 
mitigate the consequences of the possible occurrence of a 
risk,

-  plans to restore operational continuity in the event of major 

dysfunction.

●  For each of the eleven classes of risk, the relevant Group Services 
(Purchasing,  Legal,  IT  systems,  Environment  and  Prevention…) 
analyze the risks, define the applicable standards for prevention 
and  protection  and  manage  and  monitor  implementation  of 
these standards.

●  Ultimately, the Internal Audit Department independently controls 
the efficiency of the overall system in its audit missions.

The  Group’s  Risk  Manager  drives  this  approach,  defines  the 
its  deployment,  promotes  a  risk 
methodology,  organizes 
management  culture  across  the  Group  and  ensures  that  the 
entities  concerned  have  their  major  risks  under  control.  He 
guarantees the efficiency of the Group’s risk control policy, with 
special emphasis on major risks.

In the course of the reporting period, such continuity plans were 
further formalized and the entities’ ability to cope with potential 
crises  was  strengthened  through  the  introduction  of  additional 
crisis management units and simulation drills.

The Group’s Risk Committee, made up of Heads of Product Lines 
or Group Services, reviews the most significant risks to recommend 
to  the  Managing  Partners  measures  to  address    them,  in  other 
words, to significantly reduce the probability of their occurrence 
and their potential consequences.

The Group’s Risk Committee met three times in 2008; the more 
complex business continuity plans, the Group’s risk map and the 
most significant risks, in particular, were reviewed.

The Audit Committee reviewed a set of listed risks, including for 
example  synthetic  rubber,  semi-finished  or  parts  procurement, 
Finance  Department  internal  control,  commercial  IS/IT  recovery 
plans, epidemics (for employees operating in risk-prone regions), 
total  or  partial  failure  of  plants  supplying  other  sites  in  semi-
finished or key products for specific types of small run series or 
the risks arising from fast-changing laws in a number of countries, 
etc.

It  was  able  to  assess  the  level  of  prevention-protection  and 
the  efficiency  of  business  continuity  plans  developed  to  enable 
entities  to  honor  their  commitments  to  their  customers  even 
when facing occurrence of high-impact risks, and, on this basis, 
to make recommendations.

Control Procedures 

As  part  of  Michelin’s  Quality  System,  the  Group’s  processes 
are  described;  procedures  and  instructions  allocate  respective 
responsibilities  and  set  forth  the  relevant  procedures  and 
controls. 

Moreover,  as  part  of  this  Risk  Management  System,  audits  are 
performed  to  ensure  proper  compliance  with  Group  quality 
standards, 
international 
largely  derived  from  the  relevant 
standards.  Quality  Auditors  are  trained  to  perform  this  task.  In 
addition  to  such  internal  audits,  a  number  of  certifications  are 
granted by external bodies. 

Finally, the system provides for periodic management reviews to 
assess the efficiency and performance of the system and highlight 
progress avenues. 

Information 

Finally,  the  Audit  Committee  examined  in  November  2008  the 
map  of  the  Group’s  main  risks.  The  map  is  a  compilation  by 
the Group’s Risk Manager of the risk analysis conducted by the 
operating  entities.  The  Group  uses  the  risk  map  to  identify  the 

Information  generated  by  the  Group’s  management  system  is 
analyzed  and  reported  to  the  relevant  managers  who  draw  up 
management  charts  to  monitor  their  operations.  A  score  card 
is  also  submitted  to  the  Group’s  Executive  Council  for  monthly 

76  2008 Michelin Annual Report

The Information Systems Group Service is in charge of monitoring 
IT policy and technology. As part of the Group’s Quality System, 
rules  are  defined  in  the  area  of  access  control,  information 
protection, 
and 
separation  of  such  functions  as  development,  industrialization 
and production.

application  development,  organization 

Internal Control Management 

Group  managers  have  at  their  disposal  applications  to  monitor 
their  operations  and  detect  any  dysfunctions  in  their  internal 
control process. This is complemented by internal entity reviews 
ordered from their own experts. 

Strict procedures are in place to escalate customer product quality 
claims, including analysis and appropriate remedial action.

Moreover,  the  Internal  Audit  Group  Service  is  an  independent 
non-operational  body  that  reports  directly  to  the  Managing 
Partners. It is made up of a Group-level team in charge of auditing 
worldwide  Group  operations,  complemented  by  local  teams  in 
North  and  South  America  and  a  number  of  auditors  in  several 
Asian  and  African  countries.  The  Internal  Audit  Group  Service 
makes regular reviews of internal control and risk management 
covering operational, accounting, IT, industrial and product quality 
risk. The scope of its operations matches that of Group operations 
and processes. Based on the observations made on the ground, 
the Internal Audit Group Service makes recommendations to the 
entities, which are to follow up with corrective action plans. Internal 
Audit  then  monitors  implementation  of  the  relevant  actions. 
Periodic  reviews  of  audit  mission  results  and  implementation 
of recommendations are presented at the different levels of the 
hierarchy, to the Managing Partners and ultimately to the Audit 
Committee.

Finally,  local  external  auditors  issue  their  own  internal  control 
recommendations to the local accounting department managers 
who are to implement them.  

DESCRIPTION OF INTERNAL CONTROL PROCEDURES REGARDING  
ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION PRODUCTION AND 
PROCESSING 

Description

The  Managing  Partners  are  responsible  for  publication  of 
reliable  financial  and  accounting  information.  The  accounting, 
consolidation, management control and financial communication 
departments:  all  play  a  part  in  the  process  of  producing  such 
financial  information.  This  report  was  discussed  with  the 
Managing Partners and at a Supervisory Board meeting.

Within  the  Group’s  organization,  the  accounting  teams  mainly 
report to the Geographic Zones, while management controllers 
are typically attached to the different Product Lines. 

Corporate and consolidated financial statements are produced on 
a monthly basis, in conditions similar to the year-end closing.

Necessary  internal  control  procedures  governing  production  of 
reliable accounting information are in place at local level. These 
include  in  particular  physical  inventory  (for  both  fixed  assets 
and  inventory),  segregation  of  duties  and  reconciliation  with 
independent information sources.

A dedicated team is in charge of standardizing Group accounting 
policies  and  of  monitoring  the  development  of  new  standards, 
updating applicable accounting reference documentation for all 
Group  subsidiaries  and  following  up  all  of  the  issues  raised  by 
the latter. 

General  accounting  and  management  accounting  data  are 
submitted simultaneously by the subsidiaries. The systems verify 
the  consistency  of  the  main  aggregate  figures  (sales,  operating 
income…).

General  accounting  data  received  from  the  subsidiaries  is 
controlled for consistency and consolidated into Group financial 
statements.

Monthly changes in consolidated financial statements are carefully 
analyzed.  The  gap  between  plan  and  actual  data,  drawn  from 

management information, forms the subject of monthly detailed 
review by the Group’s Executive Council and Product Lines.

At  each  interim  and  annual  closing,  Geographic  Zone  Heads 
certify  in  writing  that,  to  the  best  of  their  knowledge,  the 
accounts  submitted  by  the  companies  in  their  respective  Zones 
are a fair reflection of their operations. The statement covers all 
the compliance issues which, if not respected, could significantly 
impact  financial  statements  (applicable  law  and  agreements)  as 
well as relevant particular events (litigation, fraud). 

The  Internal  Audit  Group  Service  proposes  to  the  Managing 
Partners and carries out yearly a number of specific missions to 
control the Group’s financial and accounting information.

The  Group’s  Statutory  Auditors,  as  part  of  the  organization  of 
annual and consolidated financial statements auditing, direct the 
local auditors to apply the international auditing standards.

The  review  of  consolidated  financial  statements  is  carried  out 
jointly  by  Group  Statutory  Auditors  and  local  auditors.  Their 
collaboration  takes  the  form  of  audit  instructions,  drawing  up 
and analysis of audit questionnaires, emission by local auditors of 
a review certificate for the period to June 30, and an audit report 
to  December  31,  complemented  by  ad-hoc  control  reports  and 
regular communication throughout the year on specific points or 
topical issues. 

Group  Statutory  Auditors’  operations  are  complemented  by 
yearly visits to a number of sites worldwide. On these occasions, 
the Statutory Auditors meet their local counterparts and gain a 
clear understanding of some of the issues at hand. 

The  Investor  Relations  Department,  which  forms  an  integral 
part  of  the  Group’s  Finance  Department,  is  responsible  for  the 
preparation and distribution throughout the financial community 
of the Group’s financial communication. Financial communication 
takes three main forms:

●  The Annual Report and the Reference Document;

●  The financial press releases;

●  Support  documentation  produced  for  meetings  with  analysts 
and investors.

The  Investor  Relations  Department  in  consultation  with  the 
Group’s Legal Department, and after validation by the Managing 
Partners, coordinates publication of the Annual Report and the 
Reference  Document.  Both  Reports  include  contributions  from 
different  experts  in  the  Group’s  main  fields  of  operation,  thus 
ensuring  they  are  information-rich  and  quality  documents.  The 
Annual  Report  and  the  Reference  Document  are  reviewed  and 
validated by the Managing Partners before publication.

Financial  communications  and  press  releases  are  systematically 
reviewed by the Head of Investor Relations; those in connection 
with  the  Group’s  results  are  also  submitted  to  the  Supervisory 
Board for review.

Documents  produced  for  analyst  and  investor  meetings  are 
drawn up by the Investor Relations Department and approved by 
the Managing Partners.

Evaluation of the Processes Impacting the Reliability 
of Financial Information 

The  financial  and  accounting  information  carried  in  Group 
consolidated financial statements is analyzed for materiality and 
level  of  risk  based  on  different  criteria  (underlying  operation 
complexity, level of decentralization…).

A  sample  of  companies  representing  around  80%  of  Group 
accounting  balances  was  first  selected.  The  sample  covers 
all  Geographic  zones  and  operations  (industrial,  trading  and 
distribution networks).

15 key processes were initially identified for Michelin Group as a 
whole. They are gradually integrated into the approach due to be 
completed in 2010. 

The approach adopted for the 2004-2007 phase 

A group of 6 processes was selected for the first phase evaluation. 
These include the following cycles: Purchasing (from purchase to 
pay),  Sales  (from  order  to  cash)  and  Inventory  Management,  as 
well as Group Financing, Financial Risk Management, Intra-Group 
Transactions  and  Commitments  Identification.  The  Group’s 
Internal  Control  operations  to  cover  the  IT  management  and 
administration  issues  underlying  the  above  processes  are  also 
part of the scope.

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   77

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For each of these processes, an evaluation questionnaire is used 
to list existing controls and test their efficiency.

Where  necessary,  action  plans  were  drawn  up  in  line  with  the 
progress areas identified, in each company and implemented by 
their operational staff.

Work carried out in 2008

In  2008,  all  the  internal  control  referentials  covering  existing 
processes were updated (purchasing and sales cycles, inventory 
management,  Group  financing  and  financial  risk  management, 
intra-group transactions and Commitments Identification).

Referentials  were  drawn  up  for  new  processes  (closing  of  the 
accounts, project and fixed asset management, management of 
general IS/IT control).

The  deployment  of  the  above  internal  control  handbooks 
involved  strengthening  the  role  of  process  owners  by  making 
them  accountable  for  implementing  the  control  activities  and 
accompanying self-assessments. 2008 saw self-assessments and 
subsequent  tests  being  conducted  on  the  following  processes: 
Purchasing, 
Intra-Group 
Inventory,  Sales,  Financial  Risks, 
Transactions, Commitments general IS/IT control and Closing of 
accounts.

The training aspect too was strengthened with special emphasis 
on test preparation and planning.

The outcome of this work is in the process of being summarized 
and the relevant action plans are being developed.

Outlook 

The  other  processes  to  be  covered  in  the  2009-2010  period 
include Human Resource Management, Accounts Consolidation, 
Financial Communication and Acquisitions. 

Overall,  by  end  2009,  15  processes  will  be  covered  to  ensure 
implementation of these control activities in the selected sample 
of companies.

Self  assessments  will  be  performed  by  the  operational  teams 
under  the  responsibility  of  the  process  owners  concerned. 
Effective  implementation  of  the  key  controls  and  the  quality  of 
the  self-evaluations  will  then  be  tested  by  the  Internal  Control 
teams.

The Audit Committee regularly reports to the Supervisory Board 
on the status of this Group evaluation process and its results. 

2009  will  also  see  a  further  drive  to  formalize  the  Group’s  key 
control  operations  conducted  over  the  previous  reporting 
periods. 

This  report,  presented  by  the  Chairman  of  the  Supervisory 
Board,  was  approved  by  the  Supervisory  Board  members  on  
February 9, 2009.

The following processes will be covered by self-assessments and 
tests: projects and fixed assets management and taxes and duties 
management.

Eric Bourdais de Charbonnière
Chairman of the Supervisory Board

78   2008 Michelin Annual Report

Statutory Auditors’ Report  
prepared in accordance with article L.225-235 of the French Commercial Code,  
on the Report prepared by the Chairman of the Supervisory Board
For the year ended December 31, 2008

This  is  a  free  translation  into  English  of  the  statutory  auditors’ 
report issued in the French language and is provided solely for the 
convenience of English speaking readers. This report should be read 
in conjunction with, and construed in accordance with, French law 
and professional auditing standards applicable in France.

To the Shareholders of Compagnie Générale des Etablissements 
Michelin

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is our responsibility:

(cid:116)  to  report  to  you  on  the  information  set  out  in  the  Chairman 
Supervisory Board’s report on internal control procedures relating 
to  the  preparation  and  processing  of  financial  and  accounting 
information, and 

(cid:116)(cid:1)to attest that the report sets out the other information required 
by  article  L.225-68  of  the  French  Commercial  Code,  it  being 
specified that it is not our responsibility to assess the fairness of 
this information.

We conducted our work in accordance with professional standards 
applicable in France. 

In our capacity as Statutory Auditors of Compagnie Générale des 
Etablissements Michelin, and in accordance with article L.225-235 
of the French Commercial Code (Code de commerce), we hereby 
report  to  you  on  the  report  prepared  by  the  Chairman  of  the 
Supervisory  Board  of  your  company  in  accordance  with  article 
L.226-10-1  of  the  French  Commercial  Code  for  the  year  ended 
December 31, 2008.

It is the Chairman of Supervisory Board responsibility to prepare, 
and  submit  to  the  Supervisory  Board  for  approval,  a  report 
describing the internal control and risk management procedures 
implemented by the company and providing the other information 
required  by  article  L.225-68  of  the  French  Commercial  Code  in 
particular relating to corporate governance. 

Information  concerning  the  internal  control  procedures 
relating to the preparation and processing of financial and 
accounting information

The  professional  standards  require  that  we  perform  procedures 
to  assess  the  fairness  of  the  information  on  internal  control 
procedures relating to the preparation and processing of financial 
and accounting information set out in the Chairman Supervisory 
Board’s report. These procedures mainly consisted of:

(cid:116)(cid:1)obtaining an understanding of the internal control procedures 
relating  to  the  preparation  and  processing  of  financial  and 
accounting  information  on  which  the  information  presented  in 
the  Chairman  Supervisory  Board’s  report  is  based,  and  of  the 
existing documentation;

(cid:116)(cid:1) obtaining  an  understanding  of  the  work  performed  to 
support the information given in the report and of the existing 
documentation;

(cid:116)(cid:1)determining if any material weaknesses in the internal control 
procedures relating to the preparation and processing of financial 
and  accounting  information  that  we  may  have  identified  in  the 
course  of  our  work  are  properly  described  in  the  Chairman 
Supervisory Board’s report.

On  the  basis  of  our  work,  we  have  no  matters  to  report  on 
the  information  given  on  internal  control  procedures  relating 
to  the  preparation  and  processing  of  financial  and  accounting 
information, set out in the Chairman Supervisory Board’s report, 
prepared  in  accordance  with  article  L.225-68  of  the  French 
Commercial Code. 

Neuilly-sur-Seine and Paris, February 9, 2009

PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit 
Christian MARCELLIN 

Corevise
Stéphane MARIE

 The Statutory Auditors
 Members of “Compagnies Régionales“ of Versailles and Paris

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   79

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Through the Design to Cost 
approach, Michelin optimizes 
industrial production cost 
while delivering equally good 
performance for its customers' 
benefit.

EUR 511m

overall gross savings 
in 2007 and 2008.

80 2008 Michelin Annual Report 

 
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Through the programs it introduced 
to improve its competitiveness, Michelin 
targets EUR 1.5 to 1.7 billion cost reductions
by 2010*, of which EUR 500 - 550 million 
for raw materials, EUR 700 - 800 million 
in industrial costs and EUR 300 - 350 million
in structure and logistics costs.

* Aggregate at constant scope and euros versus 2006.

Consolidated 
Financial Statements

83
84
85
86
87
143

• Consolidated Income Statement
• Consolidated Balance Sheet
• Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
• Consolidated Cash Flow Statement 
• Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
• Statutory Auditors’ Report on the Consolidated 

Financial Statements

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81

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements

General

Balance sheet

Other

01
02
03
04

• General information
• Basis of preparation
• Summary of significant accounting policies
• Financial risk management

Income statement

05
06
07
08
09
10

• Segment reporting
• Expenses by nature
• Employee benefits costs
• Other operating income and expenses
• Non-recurring income and expenses
• Cost of net debt and other financial income 

and expenses

11
12

• Income tax
• Earnings per share

13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29

• Intangible assets
• Property, plant and equipment
• Non-current financial assets and other assets
• Derivative financial instruments
• Investments in associates and joint ventures
• Deferred tax assets and liabilities
• Inventories
• Trade receivables
• Current financial assets
• Other current assets
• Cash and cash equivalents
• Share capital and premiums
• Financial liabilities
• Employee benefits
• Equity compensation benefits
• Provisions and other non-current liabilities
• Other current liabilities

30
31
32
33
34
35

• Details of the cash flow statement
• Commitments and contingencies
• Acquisitions and divestments of businesses
• Related party transactions
• Events after the balance sheet date
• List of main Group companies

82 2008 Michelin Annual Report 

Consolidated income statement

(in EUR million, except per share data)

Sales
Cost of sales

Gross income
Sales and marketing expenses
Research and development expenses
General and administrative expenses

Other operating income and expenses

Operating income before non-recurring income and expenses
Non-recurring expenses

Operating income
Cost of net debt

Other financial income and expenses

Share of profit/(loss) from associates

Income before taxes
Income tax

Net income
Attributable to Shareholders

Attributable to non-controlling interests
Earnings per share (in euros)
Basic
Diluted

The notes 1 to 35 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Note

Year ended
31 December 2008

Year ended
31 December 2007

5

8

5

9

10

10

11

12

16,408
(12,024)

4,384
(1,730)
(499)
(1,161)

(74)

920
(77)

843
(330)

(3)

10   

520
(163)

357
360

(3)

2.46
2.46

16,867
(11,760)

5,107
(1,738)
(561)
(1,069)

(94)

1,645
(326)

1,319
(294)

29

17

1,071
(299)

772
774

(2)

5.32
5.22

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2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group   83

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated balance sheet

(in EUR million)

Goodwill
Other intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment (PP&E)
Non-current financial assets and other assets
Investments in associates and joint ventures
Deferred tax assets

Non-current assets
Inventories
Trade receivables
Current financial assets
Other current assets
Cash and cash equivalents

Current assets

Total assets
Share capital
Share premiums
Reserves
Non-controlling interests

Total equity
Non-current financial liabilities

Employee benefits

Provisions and other non-current liabilities

Deferred tax liabilities

Non-current liabilities
Current financial liabilities
Trade payables
Other current liabilities

Current liabilities

Total liabilities and equity

The notes 1 to 35 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

84   2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group

Note

13
13
14
15
17
18

19

20

21

22

23

24
24

25

26

28

18

25

29

31 December 2008
401
310
7,046
382
65
896

31 December 2007
401
200
7,124
452
62
926

9,100
3,677

2,456

173

732

456
7,494

16,594
290
1,944
2,874
5

5,113
3,446

2,448

760

39

6,693
1,440
1,504
1,844

4,788

9,165
3,353

2,993

35

573

330
7,284

16,449
288
1,885
3,109
8

5,290
2,925

2,567

895

61

6,448
1,145
1,642
1,924

4,711

16,594

16,449

Consolidated statement of changes in equity

(in EUR million)

Share 
capital

Share 
premiums

Treasury 
shares

Translation 
differences

Reserves

Fair value 
and other 
reserves

Retained 
earnings

Non- 
controlling 
interests

Total 
equity

2,415

11

4,688

Total as at 31 December 2006
Change in fair value of available-for-sale investments (net of income tax):

287

1,863

– unrealised gain / (loss)

– (gain) / loss recognized in income statement

Employees share option schemes:

– cost of service rendered

– proceeds from shares issued

Equity component of convertible bonds (note 25)

Dividends and other allocations

Net income

Currency translation differences and other

–

–

–

1

–

–

–

–

–

–

9

13

–

–

–

–

Total as at 31 December 2007
Change in fair value of available-for-sale investments (net of income tax):

288

1,885

– unrealised gain / (loss)

– (gain) / loss recognized in income statement

Change in fair value of cash flow hedges

Employees share option and purchase plans:

– cost of service rendered

– proceeds from shares issued

Equity component of convertible bonds (note 25)

Dividends and other allocations

Net income

Currency translation differences and other

Total as at 31 December 2008

The notes 1 to 35 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statement

–

–

–

–

2

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

25

34

–

–

–

–

290

1,944

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

32

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(90)

(58)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(242)

(300)

80

43

(9)

–

–

82

–

–

(5)

–

–

–

–

–

(215)

774

2

191

2,976

(130)

18

(4)

–

–

(1)

–

4

78

–

–

–

–

–

–

(240)

360

–

3,096

–

–

–

–

–

–

(2)

(1)

8

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(3)

–

5

43

(9)

9

14

82

(215)

772

94

5,290

(130)

18

(4)

25

36

(1)

(240)

357

(238)

5,113

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2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group   85

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated cash flow statement

(in EUR million)

Net income
EBITDA adjustments
– Cost of net debt
– Other financial income and expenses
– Income tax
– Amortization, depreciation and impairment of intangible assets and PP&E
– Non-recurring income and expenses
– Share of loss / (profit) from associates

EBITDA adjusted (before non–recurring income and expenses)
Non-cash other income and expenses 
Change in provisions, including employee benefits
Net finance costs paid
Income tax paid
Change in value of working capital, net of impairments

Cash flows from operating activities
Purchases of intangible assets and PP&E
Proceeds from sale of intangible assets and PP&E
Acquisitions of consolidated shareholdings, net of cash acquired
Proceeds from sale of consolidated shareholdings, net of cash disposed
Purchases of available-for-sale investments
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale investments
Cash flows from other financial assets

Cash flows from investing activities
Proceeds from issuance of shares
Dividends paid to Shareholders
Proceeds of the issuance of convertible bonds
Cash flows from financial liabilities
Other finance cash flows

Cash flows from financing activities
Effect of the change of currency rates

Increase / (decrease) of cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents as at 1 January

Cash and cash equivalents as at 31 December

The notes 1 to 35 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

86   2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group

Note

Year ended
31 December 2008

Year ended
31 December 2007

357

330
3
163
928
77
(10)

1,848
10
(268)
(266)
(275)
(134)

915
(1,289)
52
(1)
5
(62)
6
15

(1,274)
36
(230)
0
768
(93)

481
4

126

330

456

772

294
(29)
299
823
326
(17)

2,468
(26)
(175)
(277)
(294)
166

1,862
(1,484)
106
(106)
–
(5)
19
41

(1,429)
14
(208)
694
(1,262)
(12)

(774)
(9)

(350)

680

330

10
10
11

9

30

30

30

30

30

24

30

23

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

1 (cid:116) General information

INTERPRETATIONS EFFECTIVE IN 2008

Compagnie  Générale  des  Etablissements  Michelin 
(CGEM 
or  the  “Company”)  and  its  subsidiaries  (together  “the  Group”) 
manufactures, distributes and sells tires all around the world. 

The  Company  is  a  Partnership  Limited  by  Shares  incorporated 
in Clermont-Ferrand (France).

The Company is listed on Euronext Paris (Eurolist Compartment A).

After review by the Supervisory Board, these consolidated financial 
statements  have  been  authorized  for  issue  by  the  Managing 
Partners on 9 February 2009.

Except  as  otherwise  stated,  all  amounts  are  presented 
in EUR million.

2 (cid:116) Basis of preparation

STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE

The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance 
with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) published 
by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and with 
the  IFRS  as  adopted  by  the  European  Union.  The  consolidated 
financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost 
convention,  as  modified  by  the  measurement  of  available-for-
sale  financial  assets  and  financial  assets  and  liabilities  (including 
derivatives) at fair value through profit and loss.

ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of the 
Group consolidated financial statements are set out in note 3. These 
policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, 
unless otherwise stated.

However, to improve the presentation of its financial statements, 
the Group decided in 2008 to record all Information Technologies 
(IT)  expenses  in  general  and  administrative  expenses.  Before 
2008, some of these IT expenses were split in the main operating 
expenses.  The  comparative  information  has  been  updated 
accordingly.

IFRIC 14, “IAS 19 – The limit on a defined benefit asset, minimum 
funding requirements and their interaction”, provides guidance on 
assessing the limit in IAS 19 on the amount of the surplus that can 
be recognized as an asset. It also explains how the pension asset 
or liability may be affected by a statutory or contractual minimum 
funding requirement. This interpretation does not have any impact 
on the Group’s financial statements.

“

IFRIC 11, “IFRS 2 – Group and Treasury share transactions”, provides 
guidance on whether share-based transactions involving treasury 
shares  or  involving  Group  entities  should  be  accounted  for  as 
equity-settled or cash-settled share-based payment transactions in 
the stand-alone accounts of the parent and Group companies. This 
interpretation does not have any impact on the Group’s financial 
statements.

INTERPRETATIONS EFFECTIVE IN 2008 BUT NOT RELEVANT

The  following  standards,  amendments  and  interpretations  to 
published  standards  are  mandatory  for  accounting  periods 
beginning on or after 1 January 2008 but they are not relevant to 
the Group’s operations:

(cid:116)(cid:1)IFRIC 12, “Service concession arrangements”,
(cid:116)(cid:1)IFRIC 13, “Customer loyalty programmes”.

STANDARDS, AMENDMENTS AND INTERPRETATIONS TO EXISTING 
STANDARDS THAT ARE NOT YET EFFECTIVE AND HAVE NOT BEEN 
EARLY ADOPTED BY THE GROUP

The  following  standards,  amendments  and  interpretations  to 
existing standards have been published and are mandatory for the 
Group’s accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2009 
or later periods, but the Group has not early adopted them:

(cid:116)(cid:1) IAS  1  (Revised),  “Presentation  of  financial  statements” 
(effective  from  1  January  2009).  The  revised  standard  prohibits 
the  presentation  of  items  of  income  and  expenses  (that  is, 
“non owner changes in equity”) in the statement of changes in 
equity, requiring “non-owner changes in equity” to be presented 
separately from owner changes in equity. All non-owner changes 
in equity are shown in two statements: the income statement and 
the statement of comprehensive income.

(cid:116)(cid:1) IAS  16  (Amendment),  “Property,  plant  and  equipment”  (and 
consequential  amendment  to  IAS  7,  “Statement  of  cash  flows” 
(effective from 1 January 2009) dealing with the presentation of 
selling assets part of ordinary renting activities. Management does 
not anticipate any significant effect in 2009.

(cid:116)(cid:1) IAS  19  (Amendment),  “Employee  benefits“  (effective  from  
1 January 2009). The amendment clarifies that a plan amendment 
that  results  in  a  change  in  the  extent  to  which  benefit  promises 
are  affected  by  future  salary  increase  is  a  curtailment,  while  an 
amendment  that  changes  benefits  attributable  to  past  services 
gives rise to a negative past services cost if it results in a reduction 
in  the  present  value  of  the  defined  benefit  obligation.  The 
definition  of  return  on  plan  assets  has  been  amended  to  state 
that  plan  administration  costs  are  deducted  in  the  calculation  of 
return on plan assets only to the extent that such costs have been 
excluded from measurement of the defined benefit obligation. The 
distinction between short term and long term employee benefits 
will  be  based  on  whether  benefits  are  due  to  be  settled  within 
or  after  12  months  of  employee  service  being  rendered.  IAS  37, 
“Provisions,  contingent  liabilities  and  contingent  assets”  requires 
contingent liabilities to be disclosed. IAS 39 has been amended to 
be consistent. Management does not anticipate that this will result 
in any significant changes.

(cid:116)(cid:1) IAS  20  (Amendment),  “Accounting  for  government  grants 
and  disclosure  of  government  assistance” 
(effective  from  
1 January 2009), dealing with the measurement of below-market 
rate  government  loan.  Management  does  not  anticipate  any 
significant effect in 2009.

(cid:116)(cid:1) IAS  23  (Amendment),  “Borrowing  costs”  (effective  from  
1 January 2009). The amendment requires an entity to capitalise 
borrowing  costs,  calculated  using  effective  interest  rate  method, 
directly attributable to the acquisition, construction or production 
of a qualifying asset (one that takes a substantial period of time to 
get ready for use or sale) as part of the cost of that asset. The option 
of immediately expensing those borrowing costs will be removed. 
The Group will apply IAS 23 (Amended) to new qualifying capital 
expenditure projects validated from 1 January 2009. Management 
does not anticipate any significant effect in 2009.

(cid:116)(cid:1) IAS  27  (Revised),  “Consolidated  and  separate  financial 
statements”  (effective  from  1  July  2009).  The  revised  standard 
requires  the  effects  of  all  transactions  with  non-controlling 

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2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group   87

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
interests to be recorded in equity if there is no change in control 
and  these  transactions  will  no  longer  result  in  goodwill  or  gain 
and losses. 

(cid:116)(cid:1)IFRS 3 (Revised), “Business combinations” (effective from 1 July 
2009).  The  revised  standard  continues  to  apply  the  acquisition 
method to business combinations, with some significant changes 
regarding measurement and recognition of payments, contingent 
payments, non-controlling interests and acquisition-related costs. 

(cid:116)(cid:1)IFRS 8, “Operating segments” (effective from 1 January 2009). 
IFRS 8 replaces IAS 14. The new standard requires a “management 
approach”,  under  which  segment  information  is  presented  on 
the same basis as that used for internal reporting purposes. The 
Group will apply IFRS 8 from 1 January 2009. Management does 
not  anticipate  that  this  will  result  in  any  significant  changes,  as 
existing  segment  information  reflects  information  provided  to 
management.

AMENDMENTS AND INTERPRETATIONS TO EXISTING STANDARDS 
THAT ARE NOT YET EFFECTIVE AND NOT RELEVANT FOR THE 
GROUP’S OPERATIONS

The  following  amendments  and  interpretations  to  existing 
standards have been published and are mandatory for the Group’s 
accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2009 or later 
periods but are not relevant for the Group’s operations: 

(cid:116)(cid:1)IAS  1  (Amendment),  “Presentation  of  financial  statements”, 
dealing  with  the  classification  of  some  financial  assets  and 
liabilities as held for trading.

(cid:116)(cid:1)IAS  27  (Amendment),  “Consolidated  and  separate  financial 
statements”, dealing with the measurement of investments in a 
subsidiary  that  is  accounted  for  under  IAS  39  and  classified  as 
held-for-sale under IFRS 5. 

in  Associates” 

(Amendment),  “Investments 

(cid:116)(cid:1)IAS  28 
(and 
consequential  amendments  to  IAS  32,  “Financial  instruments: 
Presentation”  and  IFRS  7,  “Financial  instruments:  Disclosures”), 
dealing  with  impairment  testing  and  disclosures  required  when 
an investment in associates is accounted for in accordance with 
IAS 39.

(cid:116)(cid:1)IAS 29 (Amendment), “Financial reporting in hyperinflationary 
economies”. 

(cid:116)(cid:1)IAS  31  (Amendment),  “Interests  in  joint  ventures”  (and 
consequential  amendments  to  IAS  32  and  IFRS  7)  dealing  with 

88   2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group

disclosures  required  when  an  investment  in  joint  venture  is 
accounted for in accordance with IAS 39. 

(cid:116)(cid:1)IAS  32  (Amendment),  “Financial  Instruments:  Presentation” 
and IAS 1 (Amendment), “Presentation of financial statements” 
–  “Puttable  financial  instruments  and  obligations  arising  on 
liquidation”.

(cid:116)(cid:1)IAS  36  (Amendment),  “Impairment  of  assets”  dealing  with 
disclosure  when  fair  value  less  cost  to  sale  is  calculated  on  the 
basis of discounted cash flows. 

(cid:116)(cid:1)IAS  38 
prepayment recognition and wording deletion.

(Amendment),  “Intangible  assets”,  dealing  with 

(cid:116)(cid:1)IAS 39 (Amendment), “Financial instruments: Recognition and 
measurement”,  dealing  with  movements  into  and  out  the  fair 
value  through  profit  and  loss  category,  with  the  definition  of 
financial assets or financial liabilities through profit and loss, with 
the current guidance on designating and documenting hedges, 
and  clarifying  the  remeasurement  of  the  carrying  amount  of  a 
debt instrument on  cessation of fair value hedge accounting.

(cid:116)(cid:1)IAS  40  (Amendment),  “Investment  property,  dealing  with  the 
reliability of fair value measurement.

(cid:116)(cid:1)IAS  41  (Amendment),  “Agriculture”,  dealing  with  fair  value 
calculation.

(cid:116)(cid:1)IFRS 1 (Amendment), “First time adoption of IFRS” and IAS 27 
“Consolidated and separate financial statements”. 

(cid:116)(cid:1)IFRS  2  (Amendment),  “Share  based  payment”,  dealing  with 
vesting conditions and cancellations.

(cid:116)(cid:1)IFRS  5  (Amendment),  “Non  current  assets  held-for-sale  and 
discontinued  operations”  (and  consequential  amendment  to 
IFRS1, “First-time adoption”), dealing with classification of assets 
and liabilities in case of a partial disposal with a loss of control. 

(cid:116)(cid:1)IFRIC 15, “Agreements for construction of real estates”, dealing 
with the clarification of its inclusion in IAS 18 scope.

(cid:116)(cid:1)IFRIC 16, “Hedges of a net investment in a foreign operation” 
clarifying the accounting treatment in respect of net investment 
hedging.

(cid:116)(cid:1)Other minor amendments part of the IASB’s annual improvement 
project  to  IAS  7,  “Financial  instruments  disclosures”,  IAS  8, 
“Accounting policies, changes in accounting estimates and errors”, 
IAS 10, “Events after the reporting period”, IAS 18, “Revenue”, 
IAS  20,  “Accounting  for  government  grants  and  disclosure 

of  government  assistance”,    IAS  29,  “Financial  Reporting  in 
hyperinflationary activities”, IAS 40, Investment properties” and 
IAS 41, “Agriculture”.

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The fair value of financial instruments traded in active markets is 
based on quoted market prices at the balance sheet date. 

The fair value of financial instruments that are not traded in an 
active  market  is  determined  by  using  valuation  techniques.  The 
Group  uses  a  variety  of  methods  described  in  the  accounting 
principles  and  makes  assumptions  that  are  based  on  market 
conditions existing at each balance sheet date. 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS

The  preparation  of  the  consolidated  financial  statements  in 
conformity  with  IFRS  stipulates  that  management  should  use 
assumptions  and  estimates  reflected  in  the  value  of  assets  and 
liabilities at the balance sheet date and in the amount of income 
and  expenses  for  the  reporting  period.  The  final  results  could 
differ from those estimates.

The main critical accounting estimates requiring key assumptions 
and judgements are the impairment of non-financial assets and 
the employee benefits.

Impairment of non–financial assets

The  cash  generating  units  (CGU)  future  cash  flows  used  in 
the  calculation  of  the  value  in  use  (note  3  –  Impairment  of 
non-financial  assets)  are  derived  from  the  Group  rolling  five-
year  strategic  orientations.  The  construction  of  the  strategic 
orientations is an effort involving the various actors of the CGU’s 
validated by their management. It requires critical estimates and 
judgements,  especially  in  the  determination  of  market  trends, 
raw material costs and pricing policies. Therefore, the actual cash 
flows may differ from the estimates used in the calculation of the 
value in use.

Quantitative information is provided in notes 13 and 14.

Employee benefits

The Group provides to its employees and retirees various pension 
plans, jubilees and other post-employment benefits. The valuation 
of these benefits is carried out annually by independent actuaries. 
The actuarial method used is the Projected Unit Credit Method.

According  to  this  method,  several  statistical  information  and 
assumptions are used in calculating the expense, the liability and 
the asset related to the benefit plans. Assumptions include mainly 
the discount rate, the long term salary increase rate, the expected 
rate  of  return  on  plan  assets  and  the  expected  rate  of  future 
medical  costs.  Statistical  information  is  principally  related  to 
demographic assumptions such as mortality, employee turnover, 
disability and early retirement.

Assumptions  and  statistical  information  used  are  determined 
by  the  Group  management  according  to  internal  guidelines  in 
relation with the actuaries.

The  actuarial  assumptions  used  may  differ  significantly  from 
the  actual  results  due  to  the  modification  of  market,  economic 
and  social  conditions.  The  resulting  difference  is  recognized 
as  gains  or  losses  in  the  income  statement,  over  the  expected 
average remaining working lives of the employees participating 
in the plans, only to the extent that the net cumulative difference 
exceeds 10% of the greater of (1) the present value of the defined 
benefit obligation or (2) the fair value of the plan assets.

Quantitative information is provided in note 26.

3 (cid:116)    Summary of significant accounting
policies

CONSOLIDATION

Group consolidated financial statements include all subsidiaries, 
associates  and  joint  ventures  of  Compagnie  Générale  des 
Etablissements Michelin.

Subsidiaries

Subsidiaries  are  all  entities  (including  special  purpose  entities) 
over which the Group has the power to govern the financial and 
operating  policies,  generally  accompanying  a  shareholding  of 
more than one half of the voting rights.

The  financial  statements  of  subsidiaries  are  included  in  the 
consolidated  financial  statements  from  the  date  that  control 
commences until the date that control ceases.

Inter-company  transactions  and  balances  as  well  as  unrealized 
gains on transactions between Group companies are eliminated.  
Unrealized  losses  are  also  eliminated  unless  the  transaction 
provides evidence of an impairment of the asset transferred.

Accounting  policies  of  subsidiaries  have  been  changed  where 
necessary to ensure consistency with the policies adopted by the 
Group.

Associates

Associates  are  all  entities  over  which  the  Group  has  significant 
influence but not control, generally accompanying a shareholding 
between 20% and 50% of the voting rights.

Investments in associates are accounted for by the equity method 
of  accounting  and  are  initially  recognized  at  cost.  The  Group’s 
investment in associates includes goodwill (net of any accumulated 
impairment loss) identified on acquisition.

The  Group’s  share  of  its  associates’  post-acquisition  profits  and 
losses is recognized in the income statement until the date that 
significant influence ceases.

When the Group’s share of losses in an associate equals or exceeds 
its interest in the associate, the Group does not recognize future 
losses,  unless  it  has  incurred  obligations  or  made  payments  on 
behalf of the associate.

Unrealized  gains  on  transactions  between  the  Group  and  its 
associates  are  eliminated  to  the  extent  of  the  Group’s  interest 
in  the  associates.  Unrealized  losses  are  also  eliminated  unless 
the transaction provides evidence of an impairment of the asset 
transferred.

Joint ventures

SEGMENT REPORTING

A business segment is a distinguishable component of the Group 
engaged  in  providing  products  or  services  that  are  subject  to 
risks and returns that are different from those of other business 
segments.

A  geographical  segment  is  engaged  in  providing  products  or 
services within a particular economic environment that is subject 
to  risks  and  returns  that  are  different  from  those  of  segments 
operating in other economic environments.

The  Group’s  primary  format  for  segment  reporting  is  business 
segments  and  the  secondary  format  is  geographical  segments, 
in  accordance  with  the  risks  and  returns  profile  of  the  Group’s 
operations.

This  is  reflected  by  the  Group’s  divisional  management  and 
organizational  structure  and  the  Group’s  internal  financial 
reporting systems.

The primary segments are:
(cid:116)(cid:1) Passenger  Car  and  Light  Truck  tires  and  related  distribution 
activities,
(cid:116)(cid:1)Truck tires and related distribution activities,
(cid:116)(cid:1) The  other  activities  including  speciality  tires,  earthmover  and 
agricultural, aircraft tires, 2 wheels, maps and guides, ViaMichelin, 
Michelin LifeStyle and others.

The secondary segments are:
(cid:116)(cid:1)Europe (Western and Eastern),
(cid:116)(cid:1)North America (including Mexico),
(cid:116)(cid:1)Others (Asia, South America, Middle-East and Africa).
Segment assets consist of goodwill and other intangible assets, 
PP&E, trade receivables and finished products inventories. 

Corporate  intangible  assets  and  PP&E  are  allocated  to  each 
segment in proportion of directly attributed assets.

Joint  ventures  are  entities  over  whose  activities  the  Group  has 
joint control, established by contractual agreement. Investments 
in  joint  ventures  are  accounted  for  by  the  equity  method  of 
accounting as described in the Associates section above.

No  operating  liabilities  are  allocated  to  the  segments  in  the 
Group’s internal financial reporting.

Transfer prices between geographic segments are set on an arm’s 
length basis.

Shareholdings in companies which are not subsidiaries, associates 
or joint ventures are not consolidated. They are accounted for as 
non-derivative financial assets (see the related accounting policy).

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2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group   89

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION

EXCHANGE RATES OF MAJOR CURRENCIES

Presentation and functional currency

The  financial  statements  of  the  Group’s  entities  are  measured 
using  their  functional  currency,  which  is  the  currency  of  the 
primary economic environment in which they operate and which 
corresponds for most of them to their local currency.

The  consolidated  financial  statements  are  presented  in  euros 
(EUR), which is the Company’s functional currency.

Transactions

Foreign  currency  transactions  are  translated  into  the  functional 
currency  using  the  exchange  rate  prevailing  at  the  date  of  the 
transactions. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the 
settlement of such transactions and from the translation at closing 
exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in 
foreign currencies are recognized in the income statement.

Exchange differences on equity investments classified as available-
for-sale  financial  assets  are  included  in  the  fair  value  reserve  in 
equity until the investment is sold.

Translation

The financial statements of Group entities that have a functional 
currency  different  from  the  Group’s  presentation  currency  are 
translated into euro as follows: assets and liabilities are translated 
at the closing rate at the date of the balance sheet, income and 
expenses  are  translated  at  the  average  rate  of  the  period  (as  it 
is  considered  a  reasonable  approximation  to  actual  rates),  and 
all  resulting  exchange  differences  are  recognized  as  a  separate 
component of equity.

Cash flows are also translated at the average rate of the period.

When  an  entity 
is  disposed,  the  translation  differences 
accumulated  in  equity  are  recycled  in  the  income  statement  as 
part of the gain or loss on sale.

Goodwill and fair value adjustments arising on the acquisition of 
an  entity  are  treated  as  assets  and  liabilities  of  the  entity  and 
translated at the spot rate of the transaction date.

90   2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group

Against the euro:

Closing rates

Average rates

31 December 2008

31 December 2007

Year ended
31 December 2008

Year ended
31 December 2007

1.413
1.493
0.977
1.720
4.171
3.295
127.5

9.648

1.475
1.656
0.738
1.442
3.603
2.627
165.1

10.77

1.471
1.587
0.797
1.561
3.515
2.677
152.4

10.23

1.371
1.643
0.684
1.469
3.783
2.666
161.2

10.42

US dollar (USD)
Swiss franc (CHF)
British pound (GBP)
Canadian dollar (CAD)
Polish zloty (PLN)
Brazilian real (BRL)
Japanese yen (JPY)
Chinese yuan (CNY)

DERIVATIVES

Derivative  financial  instruments  are  used  to  manage  financial 
exposures.

All derivatives are initially recognized at fair value on the date a 
derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently measured 
at their fair value. The method of recognizing the resulting gain 
or  loss  depends  on  whether  the  derivative  is  designated  as  an 
hedging  instrument,  and  if  so,  the  nature  of  the  item  being 
hedged (hedging policy below).

All changes in fair value of derivatives not designated as hedging 
instruments  are  recorded  as  financial  income  or  expense  in  the 
period in which they arise.

Fair values are based on market values for listed instruments or 
on  mathematical  models,  such  as  option  pricing  models  and 
discounted cash flow calculations for unlisted instruments. These 
models take into account market data.

Embedded  derivatives  are  recognized  separately  if  not  closely 
related to the host contract.

HEDGING

Some  derivative  financial  instruments  are  eligible  for  hedge 
accounting and are therefore designated as either:

(cid:116)(cid:1)hedges of the fair value of recognized assets or liabilities or a 
firm commitment (fair value hedges);

(cid:116)(cid:1)hedges  of  highly  probable  forecast  transactions  (cash  flow 
hedges); or
(cid:116)(cid:1)hedges of net investments in foreign operations.
Some  other  derivatives,  while  providing  effective  economic 
hedges  under  the  Group’s  financial  policies,  cannot  qualify  or 
have  not  been  designated  for  hedge  accounting  (derivatives 
policy). Fluctuations of these derivatives fair values must therefore 
be accounted for in the income statement. For example, foreign 
currency derivatives that are used to hedge the currency exposure 
of  financial  assets  and  liabilities  are  not  designated  as  hedging 
instruments.

The  Group  documents  at  the  inception  of  the  transaction  the 
relationship  between  hedging  instruments  and  hedged  items, 
as  well  as  its  risk  management  objectives  and  strategies.  The 
Group  also  documents  its  assessment,  both  at  inception  and 
on an ongoing basis, of whether the derivatives that are used in 
hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in 
fair values of hedged items.

Changes  in  the  fair  value  of  derivatives  are  accounted  for 
differently depending on the type of hedge:

(cid:116)(cid:1)Fair value hedges
Changes  in  fair  value  of  derivatives  are  recorded  in  the  income 
statement,  together  with  any  changes  in  the  fair  value  of  the 
hedged assets or liabilities that are attributable to the hedged risk.

(cid:116)(cid:1)Cash flow hedges
The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives is 
recognized in equity. The gain and loss relating to the ineffective 
portion  is  recognized  immediately  in  the  income  statement. 
Amounts  accumulated  in  equity  are  recycled  in  the  income 
statement in the period when the hedged item affects the income 
statement. However, when the forecast transaction that is hedged 
results in the recognition of a non-financial asset or liability, the 
gains and losses previously deferred in equity are transferred from 
equity and included in the initial measurement of the cost of the 
asset or liability. When a hedging instrument expires or is sold, or 
when a hedge no longer meets the criteria for hedge accounting, 
any cumulative gain or loss existing in equity at the time remains 
in  equity  and  is  recognized  when  the  forecast  transaction  is 
ultimately recognized in the income statement. When a forecast 
transaction is no longer expected to occur, the cumulative gain or 
loss that was reported in equity is immediately transferred to the 
income statement.

(cid:116) Hedges of net investments in foreign operations
These  hedges  are  accounted  for  similarly  to  cash  flow  hedges. 
Any gain or loss on the hedging instrument relating to the hedge 
is recognized in equity; the gain or loss relating to the ineffective 
portion is recognized immediately in the income statement. Gains 
and  losses  accumulated  in  equity  are  included  in  the  income 
statement when the foreign operation is disposed of.

EBITDA ADJUSTED

The Group defines EBITDA adjusted as operating income before (i) 
non-recurring income and expenses and (ii) depreciation of property, 
plant and equipment (PP&E) and amortization of intangible assets, 
including goodwill, and any related impairment charge.

REVENUE RECOGNITION

The  amount  of  revenue  is  measured  at  the  fair  value  of  the 
consideration  received,  or  receivable,  taking  into  account  the 
amount of any trade discounts allowed by the Group entities or 
any  commercial  incentives  linked  to  sales.  Deferred  rebates  are 
accrued based on past experience and expected payments.

Sales are recognized as follows:

(cid:116)(cid:1)Sales of goods
Revenue  from  sales  of  goods  is  recognized  when  the  Group 
has transferred to the buyer the significant risks and rewards of 
ownership  of  the  goods,  retains  neither  continuing  managerial 

involvement to the degree usually associated with ownership nor 
effective control over the goods sold and will receive the economic 
benefits associated to the transaction. Due to the nature of the 
products, the general sales conditions, the logistics incoterms and 
the insurance contracts, the revenue is usually recognized when 
the goods leave the Group premises.

(cid:116)(cid:1)Sales of services
Revenue from sales of services is recognized by reference to the 
stage of completion of the transaction at the balance sheet date, 
when  this  stage  can  be  measured  reliably  and  if  the  economic 
benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the Group.

Financial income is recognized as follows:

(cid:116)(cid:1)Interest income
Interest  income  is  recognized  on  a  time-proportion  basis  using 
the effective interest rate method.

(cid:116)(cid:1)Dividend income
Dividend income is recognized when the right to receive payment 
is established.

COST OF SALES

Cost of sales comprizes the costs of manufacturing products and 
the costs of goods purchased for resale.

NON RECURRING INCOME AND EXPENSES

Unusual,  abnormal  or  infrequent  significant  items  of  income 
and expenses are separately disclosed on the face of the income 
statement. They are fully described in the notes.

INCOME TAX

Income  tax  expense  includes  both  current  and  deferred  taxes, 
plus any withholding tax on the royalties and the distribution of 
retained earnings within the Group, except to the extent that it 
relates to items recognized directly in equity, in which case it is 
recognized in equity.

Current  tax  is  based  on  the  results  of  Group  companies  and  is 
calculated according to local rules including any adjustments to 
tax payable in respect of previous years.

Deferred tax is provided, using the liability method, on temporary 
differences arising between the tax bases of assets and liabilities 
and their carrying amount in the consolidated financial statements, 
using enacted or substantially enacted tax rates that are expected 
to prevail when the temporary differences reverse.

No deferred tax asset or liability is recognized on initial recognition 
of  transactions  that  are  not  business  combinations  and  that  do 
not affect taxable profit.

It  includes  the  cost  of  purchase  of  material,  the  cost  of 
production  directly  related  to  the  manufactured  products  and 
all  the  production  overheads,  based  on  the  normal  capacity  of 
production facilities.

Deferred tax assets are recognized to the extent that it is probable 
that future taxable profits will be available against which the tax 
losses  carried  forward  and  the  temporary  differences  can  be 
utilized.

Production  overheads  include  depreciation  of  property,  plant 
and  equipment,  amortization  of  intangible  assets  relating  to 
production and write-downs of inventories.

Cost of sales also includes a relevant portion of general overheads 
to  the  extent  that  they  are  directly  attributable  to  bringing  the 
manufactured products to their present location and condition. 

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Research cost cannot be capitalized. Development cost shall be 
capitalized  as  intangible  assets  when  the  conditions  relating  to 
the  commercial  and  technical  feasibility,  the  ability  to  allocate 
reliably the costs and the probability to generate future economic 
benefits are fulfilled.
Development costs are annually reviewed in order to determine 
whether the criteria of recognition as intangible assets are met.

Deferred  tax  is  provided  on  temporary  differences  arising  on 
investments in subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures, except 
where  the  timing  of  reversal  of  the  temporary  difference  is 
controlled  by  the  Group  and  it  is  probable  that  the  temporary 
difference will not reverse in a foreseeable future.

INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Goodwill

Goodwill includes both the excess of the cost of an acquisition over 
the fair value of the acquired assets and liabilities at the date the 
acquisition is committed and the excess of the cost of purchased 
minority  shares  over  the  carrying  value  of  the  purchased  non-
controlling interests.

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2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group   91

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Goodwill is not subject to amortization. It is carried at cost less 
any accumulated impairment losses. 

The useful lives of the assets and their respective residual value 
are reviewed annually.

Adjustments  to  contingent  considerations  (estimated  exercise 
prices) are recognized against goodwill.

Other intangible assets

Other  intangible  assets  are  capitalized  to  the  extent  that  the 
future economic benefit related to these assets will flow to the 
Group and their costs are reliably identified.

They are amortized on a straight-line basis over their useful life 
which generally does not exceed 7 years.

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (PP&E)

Property,  plant  and  equipment  are  measured  at  cost  less 
accumulated depreciation and, when necessary, impairment.

The  gross  carrying  amount  includes  cost  of  acquisition  or 
production  cost  and  other  costs  directly  attributable  to  the 
acquisition  or  the  construction.  Borrowing  costs  are  expensed 
during the period in which they are incurred. Investments grants 
are initially accounted for as deferred income and are subsequently 
recognized as income over the useful life of the related asset.

Repair  and  maintenance  are  expensed  as  incurred.  Other 
subsequent  expenditures  are  included  in  the  asset’s  carrying 
amount  or  recognized  as  a  separate  asset  if  the  recognition 
criteria are met.

Property,  plant  and  equipment  are  depreciated  on  a  straight-
line basis, except land which is not depreciated. Depreciation on 
property, plant and equipment reflects the pattern in which the 
asset’s future economic benefits are expected to be consumed. 
Depreciation  is  allocated  to  the  cost  of  goods  sold,  selling  and 
marketing  expenses,  research  and  development  expenses  or 
general and administrative expenses.

The following depreciation periods, based on the expected useful 
lives of the respective assets, are applied throughout the Group:

(cid:116)(cid:1)(cid:1)Building and general installations  

of land and buildings 

(cid:116)(cid:1)Industrial and commercial equipment 
(cid:116)(cid:1)Computer and telecommunication equipment 
(cid:116)(cid:1)Transport equipment 
(cid:116)(cid:1)Other 

25 years

5–12 years

 5 years

5 years

2–12 years

When assets are sold or disposed, the difference between the net 
proceeds and the net carrying amounts of the assets is recognized 
in other operating income and expenses.

Property, plant and equipment which are financed by leases giving 
the Group substantially all of the risks and rewards of ownership 
are capitalized at the lower of the fair value of the leased item 
and  the  present  value  of  the  minimum  lease  payments  at  the 
inception of the lease. The leased assets are depreciated over the 
shorter of the lease term and the useful life of the leased assets if 
the transfer of the ownership of the leased assets is uncertain.

The  payment  obligations  arising  from  the  future  finance  lease 
payments are discounted and recognized as a financial liability in 
the balance sheet. The payments related to operating leases are 
expensed as incurred.

IMPAIRMENT OF NON-FINANCIAL ASSETS

When there is any indication that the recoverable amount of an 
asset (intangible assets and property, plant and equipment) may 
be less than its carrying amount, the recoverable amount of the 
asset is measured and an impairment assessment is carried out.

At individual asset level, such indications generally come from a 
market value decrease, a technical obsolescence or an anticipated 
change of utilisation. The recoverable amount is usually based on 
the market value.

At Group level, non-financial assets are combined for impairment 
testing  purposes  into  the  lowest  level  for  which  there  are 
separately identifiable cash flows (Cash Generating Units – CGU). 
All CGU’s are tested annually, since goodwill is allocated to them. 
For most of the CGU’s, the recoverable amount is based on the 
value  in  use,  equal  to  the  future  cash  flows  discounted  with  a 
Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC). Future cash flows are 
based on the five years CGU’s cash flow forecasts plus a terminal 
value, measured with cash flow forecasts divided by the WACC.

The discount rates are based on the equity rate derived from the 
market expected returns on the Company shares, the debt rate 
and the risks of the countries where the assets are located. Those 
rates are adjusted in order to determine a pre-tax discount rate, 
consistent with the pre-tax cash flows forecasts.

When the value in use of the distribution CGU’s is lower than the 
CGU’s  assets  value,  the  recoverable  amount  is  measured  based 

on a fair value less costs to sell method. Since most of these assets 
are  land  and  buildings,  external  appraisals  or  other  real  estate 
valuation techniques are applied to measure their fair value.

Should an impairment need to be recognized, goodwill is impaired 
first and any remaining impairment charge is allocated among the 
other assets, based on their net carrying amounts at the closing 
date.

When  the  circumstances  which  previously  caused  non-financial 
assets to be impaired no longer apply, the impairment losses are 
reversed  accordingly.  However,  goodwill  impairment  can  never 
be reversed.

Changes in impairment balances are recognized in other operating 
income and expenses unless classified as non-recurring items.

NON DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL ASSETS

The Group classifies its non-derivative financial assets in one of 
the  following  categories:  loans  and  receivables,  available-for-
sale financial assets, financial assets at fair value through profit 
and  loss,  and  held-to-maturity  investments.  The  classification 
depends on the purpose for which the assets have been acquired. 
Management  determines  the  classification  of  its  non-derivative 
financial  assets  at  initial  recognition  and  re-evaluates  this 
designation at every reporting date.

(cid:116)(cid:1) Loans  and  receivables  are  non-derivative  financial  assets  with 
fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active 
market.  They  arise  when  the  Group  provides  money,  goods 
or  services  directly  to  a  debtor  with  no  intention  of  trading 
the  receivable.  They  are  included  in  current  assets,  except  for 
maturities greater than 12 months after the balance sheet date.

(cid:116)(cid:1) Available-for-sale  financial  assets  are  non-monetary  securities 
designated  in  this  category.  They  are  included  in  non-current 
assets unless management intends to dispose of the investment 
within 12 months of the balance sheet date.

(cid:116)(cid:1)Financial assets at fair value through profit and loss have two 
sub-categories:  financial  assets  held  for  trading,  and  those 
designated  at  fair  value  through  profit  and  loss  at  inception.  A 
financial asset is classified in this category if acquired principally 
for  the  purpose  of  selling  in  the  short  term  or  if  so  designated 
by management. Assets in this category are classified as current 
if they are either held for trading or are expected to be realized 
within 12 months of the balance sheet date.

92   2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group

(cid:116)(cid:1)Held-to-maturity investments are non-derivative financial assets 
with  fixed  or  determinable  payments  and  fixed  maturities  that 
the Group’s management has the positive intention and ability to 
hold to maturity.

Purchases  and  sales  of  non-derivative  financial  assets  are 
recognized on trade-date – the date on which the Group commits 
to purchase or sell the asset. Non-derivative financial assets are 
initially  recognized  at  fair  value  plus  transaction  costs  for  all 
financial assets not carried at fair value through profit and loss.

Non-derivative financial assets are derecognized when the rights 
to receive cash flows from the assets have expired or have been 
transferred  and  the  Group  has  transferred  substantially  all  risks 
and rewards of ownership.

Available-for-sale financial assets are subsequently carried at fair 
value  determined  essentially  by  reference  to  a  published  price 
quotation  in  an  active  market.  Loans  and  receivables  and  held-
to-maturity  investments  are  subsequently  carried  at  amortized 
cost using the effective interest method. Realized and unrealized 
gains  and  losses  arising  from  changes  in  the  fair  value  of  the 
financial assets at fair value through profit and loss category are 
included  in  the  income  statement  in  the  period  in  which  they 
arise. Unrealized gains and losses arising from changes in the fair 
value of available-for-sale financial assets are recognized in equity 
unless the gains and losses are incurred as part of fair value hedges 
and therefore included in the income statement in the period in 
which  they  arise.  When  securities  classified  as  available-for-sale 
are sold or impaired, the accumulated fair value adjustments are 
included in the income statement.

The Group assesses at each balance sheet date whether there is 
objective evidence that a financial asset or a Group of financial 
assets  is  impaired.  In  the  case  of  equity  securities  classified  as 
available-for-sale,  a  significant  or  prolonged  decline  in  the  fair 
value of the security below its cost is considered in determining 
whether  the  securities  are  impaired.  If  any  such  evidence 
exists  for  available-for-sale  financial  assets,  the  cumulative  loss 
-measured  as  the  difference  between  the  acquisition  cost  and 
the current fair value, less any impairment loss on that financial 
asset  previously  recognized  in  profit  or  loss  -  is  removed  from 
equity  and  recognized  in  the  income  statement.  Impairment 
losses recognized in the income statement on equity instruments 
cannot be reversed.

INVENTORIES

Inventories  are  carried  at  the  lower  of  cost  and  net  realizable 
value.

The cost of raw material, supplies and purchased finished goods 
includes the purchase price and other costs directly attributable 
to the acquisition. The cost of work in progress and manufactured 
finished  goods  comprizes  direct  labour,  other  direct  costs  and 
production overheads based upon normal capacity of production 
facilities.

Borrowing costs are expensed as incurred.

Inventories  are  measured  using  the  weighted-average  cost 
method.

Net realizable value is the estimated selling price less the estimated 
cost to completion and the estimated selling expenses.

A write-down is recognized when the net realizable value is lower 
than the cost and is reversed when it becomes apparent that the 
circumstances which previously caused inventories to be written 
down below cost no longer exist. 

TRADE RECEIVABLES

Trade  receivables  are  recognized  initially  at  fair  value  and 
subsequently  measured  at  amortized  cost  using  the  effective 
interest method, less impairment.

When  payment  terms  are  shorter  than  one  year,  the  initial  fair 
value and the subsequent amortized cost are equal to the nominal 
amount.

An  impairment  of  trade  receivables  is  recognized  when  there 
is  objective  evidence  that  the  Group  will  not  be  able  to  collect 
all  amounts  due  according  to  the  original  terms  of  receivables. 
Bankruptcy,  process  of  legal  protection  against  the  creditors, 
notorious insolvency of the debtor, disappearance of the debtor, 
payment  overdue  more  than  6  months  (except  if  a  payment 
plan has been signed and met, and the debtor is authorized to 
buy  on  credit),  economic  or  political  debtor  country  risk,  credit 
deterioration  of  the  debtor  are  considered  indicators  that  the 
trade receivable is impaired. 

The amount of the impairment charge is the difference between 
the asset’s carrying amount and the present value of estimated 
future cash flows, discounted at the original effective interest rate. 
Prior to recognizing an impairment, the quality of the guarantees 
potentially obtained, as well as the ability to realize them, have 

also  to  be  assessed.  In  the  case  of  an  overdue  of  more  than  
6  months,  the  credit  department  determines  if  the  amount  at 
risk is the overdue amount at more than 6 months, or if it has to 
be  extended  to  the  other  credits.  For  economic  and/or  political 
risk,  and  for  credit  deterioration  of  the  debtor,  the  impairment 
is also determined by the credit departments. For all other cases 
the full credit amount will be impaired. The impairment charge is 
recognized as sales and marketing expenses.

When a trade receivable is uncollectible, it is written off against the 
allowance  account  for  trade  receivables.  Subsequent  recoveries 
of amounts previously written off are credited against sales and 
marketing expenses in the income statement.

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

Cash  and  cash  equivalents  include  cash  in  hand,  deposits  held 
at call with banks and other short-term highly liquid investments  
with  original  maturities  of  three  months  or  less,  and  bank 
overdrafts.

SHARE CAPITAL

Ordinary shares are classified as equity.

Where any Group company purchases the Company’s equity share 
capital, directly or through a liquidity contract with an investment 
services  provider,  the  consideration  paid,  including  any  directly 
attributable incremental costs, is classified as treasury shares and 
is deducted from equity.

Where  such  shares  are  subsequently  sold,  any  consideration 
received,  net  of  any  directly  attributable  costs,  is  included  in 
equity.

NON–DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL LIABILITIES

Borrowings  are  classified  as  current  liabilities  unless  the  Group 
has an unconditional right to defer settlement of the liability for 
at least 12 months after the balance sheet date.

Equity financings are classified as non-derivative financial liabilities 
when there is a repayment obligation.

Non-derivative  financial  liabilities  are  recognized  initially  at  fair 
value,  net  of  transaction  costs  incurred,  and  subsequently  at 
amortized  cost;  any  difference  between  the  proceeds  (net  of 
transaction costs) and the redemption value is recognized in the 
income  statement  over  the  period  of  the  borrowings  using  the 
effective interest rate method.

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2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group   93

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The  fair  value  of  the  liability  portion  of  a  convertible  bond  is 
determined  using  a  market  interest  rate  for  an  equivalent  non-
convertible  bond.  This  amount  is  recorded  as  a  liability  on  an 
amortised cost basis until extinguished on conversion or maturity 
of the bonds. The remainder of the proceeds is allocated to the 
conversion option. This is recognised and included in shareholders’ 
equity, net of income tax effects.

To the extent that borrowings are hedged under qualifying fair 
value hedges, the carrying value of the hedged item is adjusted for 
the fair value movement attributable to the risk being hedged.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Wages,  salaries,  social  security  contributions,  paid  annual  leave 
and sick leave, bonuses and non-monetary benefits are recognized 
in the year in which the employees of the Group have rendered 
the associated services.

Where long-term employee benefits, such as pension and other 
post-employment benefits, are provided by the Group, a liability 
or an asset and the related cost are recognized.

Pension and other post–employment benefits

Post-employment  benefits  are  benefits  payable  after  the 
completion of employment. Group companies provide retirement 
benefits  for  most  of  their  employees,  either  directly  or  by 
contributing  to  independently  administered  funds.  The  benefits 
provided  by  the  Group  vary  according  to  the  legal,  tax  and 
economic circumstances of each country and usually are based on 
one or more factors such as employees’ remuneration, age and 
years  of  service.  The  obligations  relate  both  to  existing  retirees 
and to entitlements of future retirees.

Group  companies  provide  post-employment  benefits  under 
defined contribution plans and defined benefit plans.

In the case of defined contribution plans, the company pays 
fixed contributions to state or private insurance companies. Once 
the  contributions  have  been  paid,  the  company  has  no  legal 
or  constructive  obligations  to  pay  further  contributions  if  the 
fund does not hold sufficient assets to pay to all employees the 
corresponding benefits. 

The regular contributions are recognized as a periodic expense for 
the year in which they are due and, as such, are included in the 
cost of goods sold, selling expenses, research and development 
expenses or general administration expenses.

As of today most of post-employment benefit plans are defined 
benefit plans with a distinction to be made between externally 
funded  plans  (mainly  pension  plans)  with  the  assets  of  the 
plan  held  separately  in  independently  administered  funds  and 
unfunded plans such as healthcare benefit plans and retirement 
indemnities.

The measurement of the post-employment benefit liabilities, and 
the related current service cost, is based upon the Projected Unit 
Credit Method.

A  defined  benefit  plan  is  a  plan  that  defines  an  amount  of 
benefits  that  the  Group  is  committed  to  pay  to  current  and 
former employees.

All  defined  benefit  plans  are  subject  to  actuarial  calculations 
carried  out  annually  for  the  largest  plans  and  on  regular  basis 
for  other  plans.  These  actuarial  valuations  are  provided  by 
independent actuaries. Actuarial assumptions primarily regarding 
discount rates, projected rates of remuneration growth, expected 
growth  of  healthcare  costs  and  long-term  expected  rates  of 
return on plan assets are incorporated in the actuarial valuations 
and annually reviewed.

The liability or the asset recognized in the balance sheet in respect 
of defined benefit plans is the present value of the defined benefit 
obligation  at  the  balance  sheet  date  less  the  fair  value  of  plan 
assets  taking  into  account  any  unrecognized  actuarial  gains  or 
losses and past service costs.

The present value of the defined benefit obligation is determined 
by discounting the estimated future cash outflows using interest 
rates  of  high-quality  corporate  bonds  in  the  country  of  the 
obligation and that have terms of maturity approximating to the 
term of the related benefit liability.

A net asset is recognized only to the extent that it represents a 
future economic benefit which is actually available to the Group 
in  the  form  of  refunds  from  the  plan  or  reductions  in  future 
contributions to the plan. 

When  a  defined  benefit  plan  is  subject  to  a  Minimum  Funding 
Requirement (MFR), the Group determines whether paying these 
contributions  may  give  rise  to  a  surplus  in  that  defined  benefit 
plan.  To  the  extent  that  the  surplus  in  the  plan  exceeds  the 
economic benefits available, the Group  recognizes immediately a 
decrease in the defined benefit asset or an increase in the defined 
benefit liability. 

Actuarial  gains  or  losses  arise  mainly  from  changes  in  actuarial 
assumptions  and  differences  between  assumptions  and  actual 
experiences.  They  are  recognized  in  the  income  statement  as  a 
component  of  the  Group’s  net  periodic  benefit  plan  cost  only 
to  the  extent  that,  as  of  the  beginning  of  the  year,  their  net 
cumulative amount exceeds 10% of the greater of (1) the present 
value  of  the  defined  benefit  obligation  or  (2)  the  fair  value  of 
the  plan  assets.  In  such  case,  the  portion  of  actuarial  gains  or 
losses recognized in the income statement is the resulting excess 
divided by the expected average remaining working lives of the 
employees participating in the plan.

Past service costs may arise when a new defined benefit plan is 
set up or changes on payable benefits under an existing defined 
benefit  plan  are  introduced.  They  are  recognized  immediately 
in  the  income  statement  if  the  benefits  are  vested.  They  are 
amortized  on  a  straight-line  basis  over  the  average  period  until 
the benefits become vested if the benefits are not yet vested.

The  Group’s  net  periodic  benefit  plan  cost  charged  to  the 
operating  income  consists  of  current  service  cost,  interest  cost, 
expected  return  on  assets,  curtailments  and  settlements,  past 
service  costs  as  well  as  actuarial  gains  and  losses  to  the  extent 
that they are recognized. 

Share based payments

(cid:116)(cid:1)Employee share option plans
Benefits related to share options granted to the Managing Partner 
and to some Group employees are measured, at grant date, using 
a binomial model.

Grant date is the date the decision of the Partners on the number 
of  options  is  passed  to  the  eligible  employees  including  the 
document describing the conditions attached to them.

The  binomial  model  is  based  on  the  spot  rate  of  the  Company 
shares  (average  quotation  over  the  20  days  before  grant  date), 
the  exercise  price,  the  historical  volatility  (over  a  period  equal 
to  the  expected  lifetime  of  the  option),  a  risk-free  interest  rate 
(zero coupon state bonds with a maturity equal to the expected 
lifetime of the option), and a stream of dividends based on market 
expectations.

Benefits are spread over the period during which the services are 
rendered.  They  are  recognized  in  other  operating  income  and 
expenses.

94   2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group

(cid:116)(cid:1)Employee share purchase plans
The  Group  may  offer  to  substantially  all  of  its  employees  to 
subscribe to a share purchase plan that allow them to purchase 
Michelin shares through a reserved capital increase.

These  shares,  which  are  subject  to  certain  restrictions  relating 
to their sale or transfer, are purchased by the employees at the 
subscription price measured as the average of the opening market 
price for Michelin shares over the 20 days preceding the date the 
price is set with a maximum discount of 20%. The benefit to the 
employees  equals  the  difference  between  the  fair  value  of  the 
purchased  shares  (after  allowing  for  the  five-year  lock-up  cost) 
and the price paid by the employee, multiplied by the number of 
shares subscribed.

The  benefit  granted  to  the  employees  is  immediately  expensed 
by the Group as no vesting period applies and is booked under 
Employee benefit costs – Equity compensation benefits.

PROVISIONS

Provisions are recognized when a legal or constructive obligation 
has  been  incurred  which  will  probably  lead  to  an  outflow  of 
resources that can be reasonably estimated.

Restructuring  provisions  are  recognized  when  the  Group  has  a 
detailed formal plan that has been announced.

Provisions are recorded at the net present value for the estimated 
cash outflows.

TRADE PAYABLES

Trade  payables  are  recognized 
initially  at  fair  value  and 
subsequently  measured  at  amortized  cost  using  the  effective 
interest method.

4 (cid:116) Financial risk management

4.1. FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT POLICY

Organization of financial risk management

Financial risk control, measurement and supervision is carried out 
under  the  responsibility  of  the  Group’s  finance  function,  at  the 
company and geographic zone level, and at the Group level by 
the Group Finance Department. The Group Finance Department 
reports directly to the Group’s financial management.

One of the Group Finance Department’s ongoing missions includes 
the formulation of financial risk management policy, monitored 
on the basis of a full array of internal standards, procedures and 
referentials.  Geographic  zone  financial  managers  are  in  charge 
of the implementation of the Group’s financial risk management 
policy by the company finance managers. In addition, compliance 
with  financial  risk  policy  is  assessed  through  internal  audit 
reviews to evaluate risk control efficiency and identify means of 
improvement. 

All  strategic  decisions  concerning  Group  financial  risk  hedging 
policy  are  taken  by  the  Group’s  financial  management.  As  a 
general rule, the Group strictly limits the use of derivatives to the 
sole purpose of hedging clearly identified exposures.

In  2008,  a  financial  risk  committee  was  created  whose  mission 
is  to  establish  and  validate  policies  governing  the  management 
of financial risk, the identification and evaluation of this risk and 
the validation and control of financial hedging instruments. The 
risk committee meets on a monthly basis and includes members 
of the Group’s financial management and of the Group Finance 
Department.

4.1.1. Liquidity Risk

The  Group  Finance  Department  is  responsible  for  ensuring  the 
financing of the Group’s liquidity position at the lowest cost. The 
Group raises financial resources on the capital markets through 
long–term  financial  instruments  (bond  issues),  bank  resources 
(loans  and  credit  lines),  as  well  as  commercial  paper  programs 
and  the  securitization  of  accounts  receivables.  The  levels  of 
the  confirmed  credit  lines  and  available  cash  in-hand  are  fixed 
by  taking  into  account  the  forecast  for  treasury  requirements 
including a security margin to cope with economic uncertainties. 
These long-term backup credit lines are essentially concentrated 
at the financial holding company. Except in the case of particular 
obligations related to the specificities of local financial markets, 
Michelin’s operating subsidiaries have access to ample short-term 
non-confirmed credit lines from banks to meet their day-to-day 
financing requirements, as well as access to the financial holding 
company’s  confirmed  credit  lines  in  order  to  deal  with  major 
contingencies.

The  management  of  liquidity  risk  is  based  on  management 
rules and standards defined at Group level in order to meet the 
financing needs in the normal course of business as well as in the 
event of exceptional circumstances.

Short–term financing requirements are managed at local level by 
each treasury entity. Medium, long term and strategic financing 
requirements are managed by the financial holding company.

As  a  matter  of  prudent  financial  policy,  the  Group  has  always 
guarded  against  the  inclusion  in  its  financial  contracts  of 
covenants providing for ratios or “material adverse change” that 
could affect its ability to mobilize loans or affect their term. As at 
31 December 2008 no such clause featured in Group borrowings 
whatsoever. A number of contracts, however, included “negative 
pledge” and “cross default” clauses, but these were qualified by 
thresholds and exemptions.

4.1.2. Currency risk

Transaction Currency Risk

Group subsidiaries continually calculate their accounting foreign 
exchange  exposure  in  relation  to  their  functional  currency  and 
hedge  it  systematically.  A  number  of  temporary  exemptions 
can,  however,  be  granted  by  the  Group  Finance  Department 
where  justified  under  exceptional  market  conditions.  Foreign 
currency  payables  and  receivables  of  the  same  type  and  with 
similar  maturities  are  netted  off  and  only  the  net  exposure  is 
hedged. This is normally carried out through the financial holding 
company, or, alternatively, through a bank. The financial holding 
company in turn assesses its own resulting exposure and hedges 
it with its banking partners. The main hedging instruments used 
are forward currency contracts, of which the majority have short 
maturities  of  around  three  months.  Constant  monitoring  of 
exchange gains and losses as well as regular audits ensure that 
the hedging policy is adhered to by all Group entities.

Currency risk monitoring and hedging is based on Group internal 
referentials.

A transactional exchange risk alert system is in place through out 
the Group and implemented by the Group Finance Department, 
whose  responsibility  includes  ensuring  proper  monitoring  and 
management of exchange risk. These exposures are followed on 
a monthly basis on a detailed management report.

Currency Translation Risk

Equity  investments  in  foreign  subsidiaries  are  booked  in  the 
functional currency of the holding company. These investments, 
which are not included in the holding company foreign exchange 
position, are financed in the currency of the holding company.

Future cash flows from these long-term investments (dividends, 
fees for R&D services and trademark licenses and capital increases) 

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2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group   95

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
are hedged on a selective basis according to the probability of the 
cash flows occurring.

Equities are held for medium and long term prospective, and not 
for a short term trading portfolio management.

Available-for-sale  investments  are  not  hedged  for  currency 
exchange risks.

4.1.3. Interest Rate Risk

The interest rate management is carried out at Group level with 
an objective of minimizing financing costs whilst protecting future 
cash  flows  against  unfavorable  movements  in  interest  rates. 
For  that  purpose,  the  Group  uses  various  financial  instruments 
available  in  the  market,  but  restricts  itself  to  the  use  of  “plain 
vanilla” instruments (interest rate swaps, caps, collars, etc).  

Interest  rate  exposure  is  analyzed  and  monitored  by  the  Group 
through  monthly  performance  indicators  and  management 
reports.

4.1.4. Equity Risk

Equity investments are made with a strategic rather than trading 
approach.

This investment portfolio is managed at Group level.

4.1.5. Counterparty Risk 

The Group chooses its banks extremely carefully and even more 
so with respect to cash investments. Indeed, considering it to be 
inappropriate to add financial risk to the industrial and trade risks 
that are associated with its operations, Michelin gives priority to 
the security and the liquidity of all its cash investments. These are 
invested in the short term (less than three months) with blue chip 
banks and on investment-type (deposit certificate, UCITS) financial 
instruments while avoiding significant concentration levels. When 
investing  in  monetary  funds,  the  Group  systematically  assures 
itself of the liquidity of the investments made and ensures that 
they meet the criteria of standard IAS 7 and the stipulations of 
the French Stock Exchange regulator (AMF).

4.1.6. Credit Risk

Trade receivables represent about 15% of annual sales. In each legal 
entity,  the  Credit  Department,  which  is  part  of  the  Group  Finance 
Department, sets the maximum payment terms and customer credit 
limits  to  be  applied  by  the  operating  companies.  It  manages  and 
controls the credit activity, risk and results, and is also responsible for 
accounts receivable and collection.

The main policies and procedures are defined at Group level and 
are monitored and controlled at both the zone and Group level. A 
monthly credit reporting system operates within the Group.

In  2008,  the  Group  Credit  Department  contributed  to  the 
introduction  of  projects  aimed  at  a  progressive  reduction  of 
accounts  receivables  over  the  coming  years.  It  also  focused  on 
improving credit management systems, and enhancing the skills 
of credit managers in the Group.

96   2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group

4.2. FINANCIAL RISK FACTS AND FIGURES

4.2.1. Liquidity Risk

The Group’s liquidity position can be analyzed as follows:

(in EUR million)

Financial liabilities (note 25)
– less, liability derivative instruments (notes 16 and 25)

Financial liabilities excluding derivative instruments
– including current debt
– including non–current debt

Cash and cash equivalents (note 23)
Undrawn, confirmed credit lines (more than 1 year)

31 December 2008

31 December 2007

4,886
(38)

4,848

1,436
3,412
(456)
1,397

4,070
(24)

4,046

1,122
2,924
(330)
1,753

The  difference  in  cost  between  carrying  a  treasury  surplus  and 
the present level of commissions on confirmed credit lines is to 
prefer confirmed credit line-based financing.

In  order  to  meet  its  short  term  commitments,  notably  a  bond 
issue  of  EUR  470  million  coming  to  maturity  in  april  2009,  the 
Group has sufficient committed credit lines at 31 December 2008 
and  has  moreover,  put  into  place  a  bridge  loan  for  an  amount 
of  EUR  480  million  in  January  2009  with  a  maturity  date  of  
31 December 2009.

The schedule of non-current financial debt and undrawn credit lines breaks down as follows:

(in EUR million)

31 December 2008

31 December  2007

Non-current financial liabilities
Long-term undrawn credit lines

786
115

66
–

878
1,182

596
100

14
–

1,072
–

620
6

355
247

16
–

512
1,500

281
–

1,141
–

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015 and 
more (*)

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014 and 
more (*)

(*) Includes the lowest ranking subordinated notes issued by CGEM in 2003 and redeemable in cash (TSDR) for an amount of EUR 353 million, which have a reimbursement date in December 2033. However CGEM is entitled, at its discretion,  
to redeem early all the notes in cash at par in December 2013, and thereafter every three months after this date until the maturity date of the notes in December 2033.

4.2.2. Currency Risk

Transaction Currency Risk

The following tables set forth the Group’s transactional exchange positions (when a monetary asset or liability is denominated in a currency other than the company’s functional currency), before and 
after hedging.

(in EUR million)

Monetary assets
Monetary liabilities

Net position before  
hedging
Hedges

31 December 2008

31 December 2007

USD
3,385
(2,726)

659
(754)

CNY
41
–

41
(111)

THB
3
(23)

(20)
(1)

GBP
69
(21)

48
(33)

EUR
8,045
(8,442)

Other
1,780
(1,143)

USD
3,568
(2,381)

(397)
414

637
(629)

1,187
(1,154)

CNY
25
–

25
–

THB
5
(1)

4
–

GBP
54
(71)

(17)
25

EUR
8,159
(9,280)

(1,121)
1,011

Other
1,848
(1,176)

672
(638)

Net position after hedging
A decrease in the value of the Euro against all other currencies would represent a negative aggregate impact of EUR 2 million (2007: EUR 1 million) in the consolidated income statement, after hedging, 
for every cent change. An increase in the value of the Euro against all other currencies would represent a positive impact  of EUR 2 million for every cent change (2007: EUR 1 million).

(110)

(70)

(21)

(95)

34

17

25

33

15

8

8

4

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2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group   97

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Currency Translation Risk

A breakdown of consolidated equity risk by currency is provided in the following table:

(in EUR million)

EUR
USD
BRL
CHF
PLN
CAD
GBP
THB
CNY
RSD
MXN
HUF
Other

Total

31 December 2008
1,899
839
585
411
367
262
157
105
96
68
63
50
211

31 December 2007
1,823
768
522
675
438
281
176
82
101
66
79
73
206

5,113

5,290

4.2.3. Interest Rate Risk

The interest rate risk net exposure both before and after hedging was the following:

(in EUR million)

Liabilities

Assets

Net exposure before hedging
Hedges

Net exposure after hedging

31 December 2008

31 December 2007

Floating rates

Fixed rates

Total

Floating rates

Fixed rates

3,239

(535)

2,704
(550)

2,154

1 – 5 years
592

> 5 years
1,055

(52)

540
550

1,090

(33)

1,022
–

1,022

4,886

(620)

4,266
–

4,266

1,884

(381)

1,503
220

1,723

1 – 5 years
1,044

> 5 years
1,142

(38)

1,006
(220)

786

(86)

1,056
–

1,056

Total

4,070

(505)

3,565
–

3,565

98   2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group

Sensitivity analysis

A 1% change in the parallel shift on the yield curves would represent:

(in EUR million)

A 1% downward shift
A 1% upward shift

Cash impact (a) Booked in income statement (b)
(29)
25

22
(22)

Fair value impact
Booked in equity (c)
(2)
2

Not booked
(82)
82

Total (d)
(113)
109

(a) Assuming the debt remains constant, a 1% change in short-term interest rates would translate into a EUR 22 million (2007: EUR 17 million) change in the consolidated income statement.
(b) The Group interest rate policy aims at hedging perfectly identified future cash flows. However, IFRS rules prevent some of the derivative instruments to qualify for a hedge accounting treatment. For 
this reason, part of the derivative instruments are not booked using hedge accounting but are booked at fair value through the income statement. For those derivatives instruments, a 1% downward 
(upward) parallel shift on the yield curves would represent a negative (positive) impact of EUR 29 million (EUR 25 million) in the consolidated income statement.
(c) For derivatives booked under hedge accounting, a 1% downward (upward) parallel shift on the yield courves would represent a negative impact of EUR 2 million (positive of EUR 2 million) on the equity.
(d) Furthermore, a 1% downward (upward) parallel shift on the yield curves would translate into a EUR 113 million (EUR 109 million) change in the fair value of the financial assets (loans and deposits in  
note 15), financial liabilities (financial liabilities in note 25) and derivative financial instruments (note 16). Part of these changes would not be accounted for since the underlying financial assets and liabilities 
are essentially measured at amortized costs (except mainly for derivative instruments).

(in EUR million)

Net debt (note 25)

31 December 2008 31 December 2007
3,714

4,273

Total equity  
(as shown in the 
balance sheet)

Debt ratio

5,113

5,290

0,84

0,70

The  fluctuation  of  the  ratio  has  not  been  impacted  by  any 
exceptional transaction on debt or equity.

4.2.4. Equity Risk

4.2.7. Commodities derivatives

Equity risk is the risk for a 10% unfavorable change in the price of 
the Group’s investment portfolio.

In 2008, the Group did not have any significant derivative hedging 
purchases of commodities.

(in EUR million)

31 December 2008 31 December 2007

4.3. CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT

Carrying amount 
(note 15)

Impact on equity

4.2.5. Counterparty Risk

218

(20)

265

(23)

More  than  80%  of  the  Group’s  cash  and  cash  equivalents  are 
distributed amongst 15 major international banking Groups that 
are all rated single A or above.

4.2.6. Credit Risk

As  at  31  December  2008,  net  receivable  balances  from  the 
ten  largest  customers,  amount  to  EUR  345  million  (2007: 
EUR 602 million). Seven of these customers are located in North 
America and three in Europe.

At  the  same  date,  forty  two  customers  (2007:  forty  two)  have 
been  granted  credit  limits  in  excess  of  EUR  10  million.  Out  of 
these, twenty are located in Europe, nineteen in North America 
and three in Asia.

There  was  no  significant  amount  of  collateral  received  to  limit 
credit risk.

In 2008, credit losses represent 0.11% of sales (2007: 0.12%).

The Group’s objectives when managing its capital are:

(cid:116) to safeguard the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern, 
so  that  it  can  continue  to  provide  returns  for  shareholders  and 
benefits for other stakeholders, and 
(cid:116) to  provide  an  adequate  return  to  shareholders  by  pricing 
products and services commensurately with the level of risk.

The Group sets the amount of capital in proportion to risk. The 
Group  manages  the  capital  structure  and  makes  adjustments 
to it in the light of changes in economic conditions and the risk 
characteristics  of  the  underlying  assets.  The  Group  thoroughly 
assesses its working capital needs and the expected return of its 
capital expenditures to minimize its debt requirements. Ultimately, 
the  Group  may  also  issue  new  shares  to  increase  equity  or  sell 
assets to reduce debt.

The Group monitors capital on the basis of the debt ratio. This 
ratio is calculated as net debt divided by total equity.

The Group’s strategy is to optimize its net debt in order to secure 
access to financial resources at a reasonable cost by maintaining 
its  investment  grade  credit  ratings  (note  25).  The  debt  ratios  at 
31 December 2008 and at 31 December 2007 were as follows:

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2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group   99

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5 (cid:116) Segment reporting

Business segments

(in EUR million)

Profit and loss information 
Sales
Operating income before non-recurring income and expenses

In percentage of sales

Segment assets
Intangible assets and PP&E
Finished products inventories
Trade receivables

Total segment assets

Other information
Depreciation and amortization charge

Impairment charge / (reversal)

Capital expenditure

2008

2007

Truck tires*

Other  
activities**

Total

Passenger 
Car and 
Light Truck 
tires*

Truck tires*

Other  
activities**

Total

Passenger 
Car and 
Light Truck 
tires*

8,668
370

4.3%

4,079
1,205
1,233

6,517

519

2

635

5,433
138

2.5%

2,451
859
900

4,210

285

(2)

353

2,307
412

17.9%

1,227
403
323

1,953

123

1

283

16,408
920

5.6%

7,757
2,467
2,456

12,680

927

1

1,271

9,041
830

9.2%

4,031
1,199
1,630

6,860

507

–

579

5,639
427

7.6%

2,596
710
977

4,283

268

(6)

436

2,187
388

17.8%

1,098
345
386

1,829

103

(49)

325

16,867
1,645

9.8%

7,725
2,254
2,993

12,972

878

(55)

1,340

* And related distribution activities.
** Speciality tires (earthmover, agricultural, aircraft and 2 wheels), maps and guides, ViaMichelin, Michelin LifeStyle and others.

As mentioned in note 3, no operating liabilities are allocated to the segments in the Group’s internal financial reporting.

Geographical segment

(in EUR million)

Sales
Segment assets
Capital expenditure

100   2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group

2008

2007

Europe

8,158
7,200
709

North  
America
5,157
3,111
280

Other zones

Total

Europe

3,093
2,369
282

16,408
12,680
1,271

8,503
7,451
699

North  
America
5,517
3,315
280

Other zones

Total

2,847
2,206
361

16,867
12,972
1,340

6 (cid:116) Expenses by nature

The following recurring items are allocated in the appropriate headings of expenses by function in the income statement.

(in EUR million)

Raw materials and consumables used and changes in finished products inventories
Employee benefit costs (note 7)
Transportation of goods
Depreciation, amortization and impairment charges
Other expenses

Total expenses by nature

7 (cid:116)(cid:1)Employee benefits costs

(in EUR million)

Wages and salaries
Social charges
Costs related to defined benefit plans (note 26.1)
Costs related to defined contribution plans (note 26.2)
Equity compensation benefits (note 27)

Total employee benefits costs

The charges for employee benefits are allocated to the appropriate headings of expenses by function in the income statement.
The average number of employees in 2008 is 120,067 (2007: 122,050).

8 (cid:116) Other operating income and expenses

The following recurring items are recognized within the other operating income and expenses in the income statement.

(in EUR million)

Gain/(loss) on disposal of intangible and PP&E
Net restructuring costs
Income/(expense) on impairment of intangible and PP&E
Retiree benefit costs
Other operating income and (expenses)

Total other operating income and (expenses)

Year ended
31 December 2008
(7,031)
(4,606)
(979)
(928)
(1,944)

Year ended
31 December 2007
(6,686)
(4,732)
(933)
(823)
(2,048)

(15,488)

(15,222)

Year ended
31 December 2008
(3,411)
(927)
(173)
(69)
(26)

Year ended
31 December 2007
(3,475)
(955)
(232)
(61)
(9)

(4,606)

(4,732)

Year ended
31 December 2008
(2)
36
(1)
(39)
(68)

Year ended
31 December 2007
19
(49)
55
(55)
(64)

(74)

(94)

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2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group   101

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
9 (cid:116) Non–recurring income and expenses

2008

2007

Italy
On  October  28,  2008  Michelin  presented  a  plan  intended  to 
make its operations more competitive, by modernizing its Italian 
plants, reorganizing the Turin Stura site and revitalizing the Turin 
employment area.
A non-recurring provision of EUR 77 million is recognized to cover 
severance costs and impairments equipment.

Japan
The Group announced the specialization of the tire production at 
its plant in Ota. A provision of EUR 62 million was recognized to 
cover severance costs, intangible as well as plant and equipment 
impairments.

Europe
The Group announced the shut-down of the Toul plant and the 
specialization of the production at the Lasarte site. A provision of 
EUR 264 million was recognized to cover severance costs, plant 
and equipment impairments.

10 (cid:116) Cost of net debt and other financial income and expenses

The cost of net debt and other financial income and expenses are broken down in the table below.

(in EUR million)

Cost of net debt
Gross financing expenses

Interest financing expenses 
Currency remeasurement
Interest rate risk management
Other financing expenses

Interest income from cash and cash equivalents

Total cost of net debt

Other financial income and expenses
Net income from financial assets (other than cash and cash equivalents)

Interest income 
Gains on disposal  of available-for-sale financial investments
Other

Expense from unwinding the discount of provisions

Other

Total other financial income and expenses

102   2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group

Year ended
31 December 2008

Year ended
31 December 2007

(255)
(32)
(30)
(14)

(331)
1

(330)

6
1
(6)

1
(16)

12

(3)

(258)
(36)
(1)
(11)

(306)
12

(294)

8
10
7

25
(4)

8

29

Derivatives not accounted for using hedge accounting

As described in the financial risk management policy, the Group financing activities are mostly centralized (see note 4.1.1. “Liquidity Risk”) and the interest rate risk is managed through the use of “plain 
vanilla” derivative instruments (see note 4.1.3. “Interest Rate Risk”). 

As a consequence:
(cid:116) The financial debts are essentially raised in euros as evidenced in note 25 “Financial Liabilities”;
(cid:116)(cid:1)Part of these debts are subsequently swapped in foreign currencies to finance the foreign subsidiaries; and
(cid:116)(cid:1)Derivatives are contracted to manage the foreign currency interest rates as evidenced in note 16 “Derivative Financial Instruments”.
Although these transactions provide effective economic hedges, they cannot qualify for hedge accounting under IFRS (and therefore they cannot be recognized as cash flow hedges as described in note 
3 “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Hedging”). Fluctuations of the derivatives fair values must therefore be accounted for in the income statement. The fair value decrease during the year 
amounts to EUR 27 million (2007: nil) and is included in the line Interest rate risk management (cost of net debt).

Hedge accounting ineffectiveness

Fair value hedge ineffectiveness amounting to EUR 3 million (2007: EUR 1 million) is included in the line Interest rate risk management (cost of net debt). No cash flow hedge ineffectiveness has been 
recognized in the income statement (2007: nil).

11 (cid:116) Income tax

The income tax expense is detailed as follows:

(in EUR million)

Current tax expense
Deferred tax income/(expense) (note 18)

Total income tax

Current tax includes EUR 26 million of withholding tax on royalties and distribution of retained earnings between Group companies (2007: EUR 27 million). 

Reconciliation of the Group effective income tax:

(in EUR million)

Income before tax

Tax calculated at domestic tax rates applicable to profits in the respective countries
Tax effect from:
– untaxed transactions
– variances of unrecognized temporary differences
– variances of unrecognized tax losses
– change in tax rates
– tax credits and withholding tax
– other items

Income tax

Year ended
31 December 2008

Year ended
31 December 2007

(172)
9

(163)

(283)
(16)

(299)

Year ended
31 December 2008

Year ended
31 December 2007

520

(173)

(3)
7
(30)
(5)
40
1

(163)

1,071

(339)

(24)
7
(2)
(39)
77
21

(299)

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2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group   103

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
12 (cid:116) Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share are calculated by dividing the profit attributable to the Shareholders of the Company by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year, excluding shares 
purchased by the Group and held as treasury shares.

Diluted earnings per share are calculated adjusting the weighted average number of shares outstanding to assume conversion of all dilutive potential shares. The Company has two types of potential 
dilutive shares: share options (note 27) and convertible bonds (note 25). The convertible bonds are assumed to have been converted into ordinary shares, and the net income is adjusted to eliminate the 
interest expense less the tax effect. For the share options, a calculation is done to determine the number of shares that could have been acquired at fair value (determined as the average annual market 
share price of the Company’s shares) based on the monetary value of the subscription rights attached to outstanding share options. The number of shares calculated as above is compared with the number 
of shares that would have been issued assuming the exercise of the share options.

Components of the basic and diluted earnings per share calculations are presented in the table below.

Net income (EUR million), excluding the non-controlling interest
– less, propositions of attributions to General Partners

Net income attributable to Shareholders used in the calculation of the basic earnings per share
– plus, interest expense on convertible bonds

Net income attributable to Shareholders used in the calculation of the diluted earnings per share

Weighted average number of shares (thousands of shares)  outstanding used in the calculation of basic earnings per share
– plus, adjustment for share options plans and convertible bonds

Weighted average number of shares used in the calculation of diluted earnings per share

Earnings per share (in euros)
– basic 
– diluted 

Since the convertible bonds are antidilutive in 2008, they have not been considered in the calculation of the diluted earnings per share.

Year ended
31 December 2008

Year ended
31 December 2007

360
(4)

356
–

356

144,495
183

144,678

2.46
2.46

774
(9)

765
18

783

143,770
6,228

149,998

5.32
5.22

104   2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group

13 (cid:116) Intangible assets

Changes in intangible assets are as follows:

(in EUR million)

Gross carrying amounts

At 1 January 2007
Exchange differences
Additions (including emission rights)
Disposals
Changes in the scope of consolidation

Transfers and other

At 31 December 2007
Exchange differences
Additions (including emission rights)
Disposals (including emission rights)
Changes in the scope of consolidation
Transfers and other

At 31 December 2008

Accumulated amortization and impairment
At 1 January 2007
Exchange differences
Amortization
Net impairment
Disposals
Changes in the scope of consolidation
Transfers and other

At 31 December 2007
Exchange differences
Amortization 
Net impairment
Disposals
Changes in the scope of consolidation
Transfers and other

At 31 December 2008

Net carrying amounts at 31 December 2008

Net carrying amounts at 31 December 2007

Goodwill

Other intangibles

438
(12)
6
–
–

1

433
(3)
6
(33)
–
(2)

401

–
–
–
(32)
–
–
–

(32)
(2)
–
–
33
–
1

0

401

401

739
(14)
88
(45)
10

1

779
2
159
(6)
1
1

936

(558)
11
(55)
–
24
–
(1)

(579)
(2)
(49)
–
4
–
–

(626)

310

200

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Total

1,177
(26)
94
(45)
10

2

1,212
(1)
165
(39)
1
(1)

1,337

(558)
11
(55)
(32)
24
–
(1)

(611)
(4)
(49)
–
37
–
1

(626)

711

601

2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group   105

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Goodwill

The amounts allocated to the CGU are:

(in EUR million)

CGU Passenger car and light truck
CGU Passenger car and light truck
CGU Passenger car and light truck
Other CGU’s

Total goodwill

North America and Mexico
Asia
Other zones

31 December 2008
109
101
61
130

31 December 2007
105
99
61
136

401

401

Impairment of assets

The accumulated impairment for intangible assets at 31 December 
2008 amounts to EUR 15 million (2007: EUR 45 million).

Other intangible assets

There are no intangible assets with indefinite useful life.

In  2008,  additions  in  intangible  assets,  amounting  to  EUR  159 
million (2007: EUR 88 million) are broken down into the following 
categories of intangible assets:

(cid:116)(cid:1)Emission rights – allowances granted   
(cid:116)(cid:1)Rights to use a land in China 
(cid:116)(cid:1)Software and other 

EUR 46 million
EUR 34 million
EUR 79 million

Software
The net carrying amount at 31 December 2008 relates to software 
and amounts to EUR 192 million (2007: EUR 162 million).

Software  is  initially  recognized  at  cost.  Cost  includes  cost  of 
acquisition or production cost and other cost directly attributable 
to the acquisition or the production.

Emission rights
The  allowances  granted  are  recognized  as  an  intangible  asset 
by  using  the  daily  rate  of  their  attribution.  The  counterpart  is 
recognized as a government grant.

The expense and the related liability for actual emissions and the 
income corresponding to the use of the grant are accounted for 
using the rate in force at the grant date.

The balance of the rights granted at 31 December 2008 amounts 
to 2.5 million of tons representing a value of EUR 46 million. The 
liability  linked  to  the  actual  emissions  in  2008  amounts  to  0.8 
million of tons representing a value of EUR 18 million. It will be 
offset by the delivery of the allowances granted.

For the period 2008-2012 there is a global balance between the 
allowances  granted  and  the  expected  emissions.  So  there  is  no 
expectation to buy a significant amount of rights.

Development costs
In 2008 and 2007, no development costs were capitalized since 
the criteria of recognition as intangible assets are not met.

To  be  recognized  as  an  asset,  the  development  costs  incurred 
within  the  context  of  a  new  product  or  a  significant  product 
renewal project must fulfil six recognition criteria.
One  of  these  criteria  requires  the  entity  to  demonstrate  the 
existence of a market for the output of the intangible asset. 

The  existence  of  the  market  is  demonstrated  only  when  the 
Group  has  obtained  the  manufacturer  approval  and  when  the 
level of profitability generated from the business plan proposed 
by the manufacturers is in line with Group objectives.

In practice, the corresponding development costs are incurred at a 
stage of the project which is prior to the manufacturer approval.

106   2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group

 
 
 
14 (cid:116) Property, plant and equipment

Changes in property, plant and equipment were as follows:

(in EUR million)

Gross carrying amounts
At 1 January 2007
Exchange differences
Additions (including new finance lease contracts)
Disposals
Changes in the scope of consolidation
Transfers and other

At 31 December 2007
Exchange differences
Additions (including new finance lease contracts)
Disposals
Changes in the scope of consolidation
Transfers and other

At 31 December 2008

Accumulated amortization and impairment
At 1 January 2007
Exchange differences
Amortization
Net impairment
Disposals
Changes in the scope of consolidation
Transfers and other

At 31 December 2007
Exchange differences
Amortization 
Net impairment
Disposals
Changes in the scope of consolidation
Transfers and other

At 31 December 2008
Net carrying amounts at 31 December 2008
Net carrying amounts at 31 December 2007

Land and Buildings

Industrial equipments

Other equipments

3,814
(70)
270
(91)
2
13

3,938
(146)
196
(34)
–
(15)

3,939

(1,790)
41
(104)
2
43
1
1

(1,806)
49
(112)
–
15
–
–

(1,854)
2,085
2,132

11,291
(272)
942
(363)
(9)
(24)

11,565
(297)
909
(352)
(2)
7

11,830

(6,865)
180
(646)
18
337
9
–

(6,967)
134
(695)
(21)
317
2
(7)

(7,237)
4,593
4,598

1,371
(27)
71
(75)
(4)
11

1,347
(45)
65
(36)
–
–

1,331

(973)
21
(73)
–
70
2
–

(953)
34
(71)
(9)
36
–
–

(963)
368
394

Total

16,476
(369)
1,283
(529)
(11)
–

16,850
(488)
1,170
(422)
(2)
(8)

17,100

(9,628)
242
(823)
20
450
12
1

(9,726)
217
(878)
(30)
368
2
(7)

(10,054)
7,046
7,124

Net property, plant and equipment of EUR 40 million are pledged as security of financial liabilities (2007: EUR 42 million).
Net property, plant and equipment include EUR 1,013 million of assets under construction (2007: EUR 1,263 million).
The accumulated impairment of PP&E at 31 December 2008 amounts to EUR 150 million (2007: EUR 114 million).
The pre-tax discount rate used to discount the future cash flows of the CGU ranged between 11% and 14%.

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2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group   107

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FINANCE LEASES

Capitalized  property,  plant  and  equipment  held  under  finance  leases  at  31  December  2008  amounts  to  EUR  133  million  (2007:  EUR  159  million).  The  gross  carrying  amounts  of  these  assets  total 
EUR 257 million (2007: EUR 311 million).
The future minimum payments under finance leases by maturity are shown in the following table:

(in EUR million)

Within one year
Between one and five years
More than five years

Total of future minimum payments (note 25)

OPERATING LEASES

31 December 2008

31 December 2007

Present value
38
81
59

Not discounted
47
100
77

Present value
47
101
70

Not discounted
55
119
94

178

224

218

268

Total operating lease rents recognized in the income statement at 31 December 2008 are EUR 251 million (2007: EUR 235 million).
Future minimum payments under non-cancellable leases by maturity are as follows (not discounted):

(in EUR million)
Within one year

Between one and five years

More than five years

Total of future minimum payments

15 (cid:116) Non-current financial assets and other assets

The carrying amount of the long-term financial assets is detailed in the table below:

(in EUR million)

Financial assets
Available-for-sale investments
Loans and deposits 
Derivative instruments (note 16)
Other

Other assets
Benefits – asset portion (note 26)

Total non-current financial assets and other assets

108   2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group

31 December 2008
139

31 December 2007
117

284

113

536

242

103

462     

31 December 2008

31 December 2007

218
140
8
11
377

5

382

265
152
14
17
448

4

452

AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE INVESTMENTS

Available-for-sale investments consist essentially of a portfolio of equities, which is intended to be disposed as follows:

(in EUR million)

Non-current portion

Current portion (note 21)

Total portfolio of available-for-sale investments

Movements in the portfolio during the year are broken down in the table below.

(in EUR million)

At 1 January
Exchange differences
Additions
Disposals
Fair value changes

At 31 December 

The portfolio can be broken down by currency as follows:

(in EUR million)

KRW (Korean Won)
EUR
Other currencies

Total

LOANS AND DEPOSITS

The carrying amount of loans and deposits is detailed in the table below.

(in EUR million)
Gross loans and deposits
– less impairment

Net loans and deposits
– less current portion (note 21)

Non-current portion

31 December 2008
218

31 December 2007
265

–

218

2008

265
19
63
(5)
(124)

218

31 December 2008
131
66
21

218

31 December 2008
229
(65)

164
(24)

140

–

265

2007

248
(6)
5
(21)
39

265

31 December 2007
123
75
67

265

31 December 2007
247
(72)

175
(23)

152

Loans and deposits include essentially bank deposits (more than three months) as well as loans to employees and customers. The fair value, which is calculated in accordance with note 2 (Basis of 
preparation: Fair value of financial instruments), amounts to EUR 157 million (2007: EUR 161 million). 
At 31 December 2008 the effective interest rate is 0.97% (2007: 1.63%).

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2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group   109

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The breakdown by currency and maturity is presented in the tables below.

(in EUR million)

31 December 2008

EUR
CHF
GBP
Other

Total

Within one year

19
–
1
4

24

Between one
and five years
71
2
15
19

107

More than
five years
33
–
–
–

33

16 (cid:116) Derivative financial instruments

Total

Within one year

123
2
16
23

164

17
–
1
5

23

31 December 2007

Between one
and five years
7
36
5
17

65

More than
five years
66
–
15
6

87

Total

90
36
21
28

175

As mentioned in note 3 (hedging policy), some derivatives, while complying with the Group’s financial risk management policies do not qualify or have not been designated as hedging instruments for 
hedge accounting purposes.

Derivative assets
(in EUR million)

Total derivative assets (note 25)
Interest-rate derivatives in fair value hedges
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments

– Currency derivatives
– Interest-rate derivatives
– Other derivatives

Less long-term portion included in non-current financial assets (notes 15)
Interest-rate derivatives in fair value hedges
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments

– Interest-rate derivatives
– Other derivatives

Short-term portion included in current financial assets (note 21)

31 December 2008
Fair values

Contractual 
amounts

31 December 2007

Fair values

Contractual  
amounts

13

141
3
–

157

(5)

(3)
–

(8)

149

280

2,002
227
–

2,509

(60)

(227)
–

(287)

2,222

8

12
–
6

26

(8)

–
(6)

(14)

12

220

1,921
204
21

2,366

(220)

(204)
(21)

(445)

1,921

110   2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group

 
Derivative liabilities
(in EUR million)

Total derivative liabilities
Interest-rate derivatives in cash flow hedges
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments

– Currency derivatives
– Interest-rate derivatives
– Other derivatives

Less long-term portion included in non-current financial liabilities (note 25)
Interest-rate derivatives in cash flow hedges
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments

– Interest-rate
– Other derivatives

Short-term portion included in current financial liabilities (note 25)

31 December 2008

Fair values

Contractual  
amounts

31 December 2007

Fair values

Contractual  
amounts

4

2
32
–

38

(4)

(30)
–

(34)

4

61

54
962
–

1,077

(61)

(820)
–

(881)

196

–

23

1

24

–

–
(1)

(1)

23

–

655

11

666

–

–
(11)

(11)

655

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The contractual amounts of currency derivative financial instruments, essentially forward exchange contracts are set forth by currency in the tables below.

 (in EUR million)

Currencies sold forward:

EUR

USD

PLN

THB

JPY

CNY

GBP

Other

Total

31 December 2008

Currencies purchased forward

31 December 2007

Currencies purchased forward

EUR

USD

CHF

THB

SGD

PLN

Other

Total

EUR

USD

CHF

THB

SGD

PLN

Other

Total

–

283

367

197

179

3

96

363

1,488

–

–

–

22

–

109

–

63

194

–

165

–

–

–

–

–

–

3

83

–

–

–

–

–

3

–

31

–

–

–

–

–

2

19

–

–

–

–

–

–

3

165

89

33

22

13

21

–

–

–

–

–

11

45

35

583

367

219

179

112

96

445

–

557

339

11

377

–

–

294

2,036

1,578

–

–

–

12

–

–

–

237

249

23

364

2

–

–

–

–

–

6

24

–

–

1

–

–

1

–

14

–

–

1

–

–

–

389

32

15

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

20

27

–

257

–

–

–

9

49

986

341

280

379

–

–

541

313

2,576

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2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group   111

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The contractual amounts of the non currency derivative financial instruments are set forth by currency in the tables below.

(in EUR million)

Interest-rate derivatives

Other derivatives

Total

31 December 2008

31 December 2007

EUR

284

–

284

USD

1,002

–

1,002

THB

244

–

244

Total

1,530

–

1,530

EUR

220

4

224

USD

204

28

232

17(cid:1)(cid:116) Investments in associates and joint ventures

The investments in associates and joint ventures of EUR 65 million (2007: EUR 62 million) include essentially MC Projects B.V. in the Netherlands and the SIPH Group in France.
The associates and joint ventures’ financial statements include the following amounts:

Total

424

32

456

2007
409
168
873
53

2008
433
186
777
33

31 December  2008
896
(39)

857

31 December 2007
926
(61)

865

(in EUR million)

Assets
Liabilities
Net sales
Net income

18 (cid:116) Deferred tax assets and liabilities

The amounts of the deferred tax in the balance sheet are:

(in EUR million)

Deferred tax assets
Deferred tax liabilities

Net deferred tax assets

112   2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group

The detail in deferred tax assets and liabilities at the end of the periods, without taking into account the offsetting of balances, is as follows:

(in EUR million)

Deferred tax assets by type of temporary difference
– Intangible assets
– Financial instruments
– Inventories
– Receivables/payables
– Employee benefits
– Provisions
– Unused tax losses
– Unused tax credits

Deferred tax liabilities by type of temporary difference
– Property, plant and equipment

Net deferred tax assets

The gross movement on the net deferred tax assets is as follows:

(in EUR million)

At 1 January
– Exchange differences
– Deferred tax income/(expense) (note 11)
– Tax recognized in equity
– Other

At 31 December

The deferred income tax recognized in equity during the year is as follows:

(in EUR million)

Fair value reserves in Shareholders’ equity:

– compound financial instruments (convertible bond)

Total deferred tax income recognized in equity

(–) Means a negative effect on equity.

31 December 2008

31 December 2007

31
107
41
180
764
108
101
(25)

1,307

(450)

(450)

857

2008
865
(12)
9
(1)
(4)

857

26
109
44
197
775
149
74
(65)

1,309

(444)

(444)

865

2007
947
(54)
(16)
(15)
3

865

31 December 2008

31 December 2007

(16)

(16)

(15)

(15)

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2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group   113

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deferred tax assets are recognized to the extent that the realization of future taxable profits is probable and will offset tax losses carried forward and deductible temporary differences.

The detail of unrecognized deferred tax assets is as follows:

(in EUR million)

Deductible temporary differences

Tax losses
– of which expire in less than one year
– of which expire between 1 to 5 years
– of which expire in more than 5 years
– of which do not expire

Tax credits

Total unrecognized deferred tax assets

19 (cid:116) Inventories

Inventories include the following:

(in EUR million)

Raw materials and supplies
Work in progress
Finished goods
Less write-downs

Net inventory

Movements in inventory write-downs are as follows:

(in EUR million)

At 1 January
Exchange differences and other
Write-downs of inventories recognized as an expense in the period
Reversal of write-downs

At 31 December

31 December 2008
78

151

31 December 2007
85

124

27
39
30
55

83

5
46
16
57

84

312

293

31 December 2008
975
272
2,549
(119)

3,677

2008

(110)
3
(72)
60

(119)

31 December 2007
845
290
2,328
(110)

3,353

2007

(99)
3
(77)
63

(110)

Inventory write-downs, amounting to EUR 119 million as at 31 December 2008 (2007: EUR 110 million) are broken down into the following categories of inventories:

–  Raw materials and supplies  EUR 37 million 
EUR   1 million 
–  Work in progress 
EUR 81 million 
–  Finished products 

(2007: EUR 35 million)
(2007: EUR    1 million)
(2007: EUR  74 million)

114   2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group

20 (cid:116) Trade receivables

The carrying amount of the trade receivables is detailed in the table below:

(in EUR million)

Gross trade receivables 
Impairment 

Trade receivables, net

All trade receivables are due within twelve months.

Trade receivables as at 31 December 2008 are detailed by maturity in the table below:

 (in EUR million)

Current 
Overdue
– less than 3 months
– between 3 and 6 months
– more than 6 months

Trade receivables

Movements of the impairment balance are broken down in the table below:

(in EUR million)

At 1 January
Exchange difference

Impairment

Reversal of impairment

At 31 December

2008 reversal of impairment includes write-offs of EUR 18 million (2007: EUR 20 million).

COLLATERALIZED RECEIVABLES

31 December 2008

31 December 2007

Gross

2,235

252
29
70

2,586

2,586
(130)

2,456

Impairment

(53)

(6)
(6)
(65)

(130)

2008
(96)
2

(74)

38

(130)

3,089
(96)

2,993

Net

2,182

246
23
5

2,456

2007
(125)
6

(27)

50

(96)

Maximum financing
EUR 366 million
USD 375 million

EUR 631 million

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The Group runs two separate programs whereby certain European and North American subsidiaries have transferred ownership interests in their eligible trade receivable portfolios.
The characteristics of the programs are as follows:

Europe
United States of America

As at 31 December 2008, the programs provide an overcollateralization of EUR 132 million (2007: EUR 186 million) to the financial institutions. This covers the portfolios’ credit losses that could occur.

Since the Group has retained substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership, the ownership interests in the trade receivable portfolios sold by the European and North American subsidiaries have 
not been derecognized and the financing received from the financial institutions, amounting to EUR 627 million as at 31 December 2008 (2007: EUR 625 million), has been accounted for as collateralized 
loans (note 25).

2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group   115

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
21 (cid:116) Current financial assets

The carrying amount of the current financial assets is detailed in the table below.

(in EUR million)

Loans and deposits (note 15)

Derivative instruments (note 16)

Total current financial assets

22 (cid:116)(cid:1)Other current assets

The carrying amount of the other current assets is detailed in the table below.

(in EUR million)

Employees
Suppliers
Current tax – Advance payments
Other tax receivables
Other
Less impairment

Total other current assets

Other tax receivables mainly relate to VAT.

23 (cid:116) Cash and cash equivalents

The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents is detailed in the table below.

(in EUR million)

Cash at bank and in hand 

Short-term bank deposits (less than three months) and other cash equivalents

Total cash and cash equivalents

The effective interest rate on short-term bank deposits was 3.17% in 2008 (2007: 3.39%). 

116   2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group

31 December 2008
24

149

173

31 December 2007
  23

12

35

31 December 2008
3
112
152
337
137
(9)

732

31 December 2007
2
88
99
264
127
(7)

573

31 December 2008
169

287

456

31 December 2007
205

125

330

Cash and cash equivalents are denominated in the following currencies:

(in EUR million)

EUR

USD

CNY

MXN

Other

Total cash and cash equivalents

24 (cid:116) Share capital and premiums

31 December 2008
310

31 December 2007
143

105

26

14

1

456

(in EUR million)

Ordinary shares

Share premiums

Treasury shares

143,652,318 shares outstanding as at 1 January 2007
Employee share option and purchase plans 
- proceeds from 346,851 shares issued
- cost of services rendered

143,999,169 shares outstanding as at 31 December 2007
Employee share option and purchase plans 
- proceeds from 998,253 shares issued
- cost of services rendered

144,997,422 shares outstanding as at 31 December 2008

287

1

288

2
–

290

1,863

13
9

1,885

34
25

1,944

–

–
–

 –

–

–

The total authorized and issued number of ordinary shares is 144,997,422 shares as at 31 December 2008 (2007: 143,999,169 shares) with a par value of 2 EUR per share (2007: 2 EUR per share).

The increase is due to the exercise of options granted to Group employees, and the issuance of an employee share purchase plan. 

All shares issued are fully paid and registered. Shares held for more than 4 years have a double voting right.

Dividend proposed to the shareholders at the 15 May 2009 Annual General Meeting is EUR 1.00 per share.

38

14

11

124

330

Total

2,150

14
9

2,173

36
25

2,234

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2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group   117

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
25 (cid:116) Financial liabilities

The carrying amount of the financial liabilities is detailed in the table below.

(in EUR million)

Long-term
Bonds 
Loans from financial institutions and other
Obligations under finance leases (note 14)
Derivative instruments (note 16)

Short-term
Bonds and commercial papers
Loans from financial institutions and other
Obligations under finance leases (note 14)
Derivative instruments (note 16)

Total financial liabilities

The Group net debt is presented in the table below.

(in EUR million)

Financial liabilities
Derivative assets (note 16)
Cash and cash equivalents (note 23)

Net debt

The fair value of long-term financial liabilities which is calculated in accordance with note 2 is presented in the table below.

(in EUR million)
Bonds
Loans from financial institutions and other
Obligations under finance leases
Derivative instruments 

Total long-term financial liabilities

31 December 2008

31 December 2007

1,501
1,771
140
34

3,446

763
635
38
4

1,440

4,886

31 December 2008
4,886
(157)
(456)

4,273

31 December 2008
1,472
1,778
143
34

3,427

2,051
702
171
1

2,925

219
856
47
23

1,145

4,070

31 December 2007
4,070
(26)
(330)

3,714

31 December 2007
2,125
708
170
1

3,004

118   2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group

BONDS AND COMMERCIAL PAPERS

Bonds and commercial papers issued by the Group have the characteristics mentioned in the table below.

Description

31 December 2008
effective 
interest rates

Carrying amount (in EUR million)

31 December 2008
Current

Non-current

31 December 2007
Current

Non-current

Subordinated bonds issued by Compagnie Générale  
des Etablissements Michelin
– nominal value of EUR 353 million (2007: EUR 469 million)
–  issued in December 2003 and due in December 2033, unless the Group elects to   
  reimburse earlier between December 2013 and due date
–  nominal interest rate of 6.375% until December 2013 and at Euribor 3 months 

+2.95% thereafter

–  deferred coupon payment option when the Company does not distribute dividends 
–  partiallly hedged through a EUR 60 million interest rate swap (2007: nil) maturing 

in December 2013 (fair value hedge) (note 16)

Bonds issued by Michelin Luxembourg SCS
– nominal value of EUR 500 million (2007: EUR 500 million)
– issued in April 2002 and due in April 2012
– nominal interest rate of 6.5%

Liability component of zero-coupon convertible bonds (Océanes) 
issued by Compagnie Générale des Etablissements Michelin
– net proceeds received of EUR 694 million
– annual gross yield of 3.07%
– conversion and/or exchange ratio of 1 bond for 1 ordinary share
– issued in March 2007 and due in January 2017
– amount redeemable at maturity date: EUR 941 million

Bonds issued by Michelin Luxembourg SCS
– nominal value of EUR 470 million (2007: EUR 470 million)
– issued in April 2002 and due in April 2009
– nominal interest rate of 6.125%
–  partially hedged through a EUR 220 million interest rate swap  

(2007: EUR 220 million) maturing in April 2009 (fair value hedge) (note 16)

Commercial papers issued by Compagnie Générale  
des Etablissements Michelin
– nominal value of EUR 294 million (2007: EUR 220 million)

Weighted average effective interest rate 
and total carrying amounts

(1) After hedging.

6.60%
(5.41%) (1)

6.63%

4.76%

6.24%
(6.34%) (1)

4.39%

5.72%
(5.55%) (1)

–

–

–

471

292

763

355

498

648

–

–

1,501

–

–

–

–

219

219

463

498

619

471

–

2,051

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2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group   119

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LOANS FROM FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND OTHER

Loans from financial institutions and other include mainly amounts drawn on credit lines, borrowings secured by trade receivables as mentioned in note 20 and liabilities from purchased minority shares.
Loans from financial institutions and other have the characteristics mentioned in the tables below (before hedge).

At 31 December 2008
(in EUR million)
Loans from financial institutions and other

– of which at fixed rates
– of which at variable rates

Weighted average effective interest rate

At 31 December 2007
(in EUR million)
Loans from financial institutions and other

– of which at fixed rates
– of which at variable rates

Weighted average effective interest rate

EUR
993
15
978
4.89%

EUR
688
10
678
4.68%

USD
668
7
661
3.74%

USD
294
12
282
5.69%

THB
320
56
264
3.85%

THB
219
65
154
4.40%

CNY
184
52
132
6.66%

CNY
115
–
115
5.72%

RUB
63
–
63
10.07%

BRL
46
–
46
16.06%

RUB
14
–
14
6.36%

BRL
1
–
1
5.37%

Other
132
2
130
9.80%

Other
227
14
213
7.01%

Total
2,406
132
2,274
5.31%

Total
1,558
101
1,457
5.36%

The THB variable rate loans are partially hedged through EUR 61 million interest rate swaps (2007: nil) maturing in 2013 (cash flow hedge) (note 16). The weighted average fixed rate on these swaps  
is 3.73%.

As mentioned in notes 10 and 16, some additional interest rate derivatives in USD and THB have been contracted but do not qualify for hedge accounting. 

The exposure of the loans from financial institutions and other to interest rate changes and the contractual repricing dates are as follows:

(in EUR million)
6 months or less
6 – 12 months
1 – 5 years
Over 5 years

RATING

31 December 2008
2,250
24
91
41

2,406

31 December 2007
1,437
20
47
54

1,558

At 31 December 2008, the corporate credit ratings are as follows:

Short-term

Long-term

Outlook

Standard & Poor's
Moody's

Standard & Poor's
Moody's

Standard & Poor's
Moody's

CGEM
A-3
P-2

BBB
Baa2

Negative
Stable

CFM
A-3
P-2

BBB
Baa2

Negative
Stable

120   2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group

 
 
26 (cid:116) Employee benefits

According to laws and regulations applicable in each country, the Group contributes to post-retirement benefit, insurance, healthcare plans and retirement bonuses, of which the amount of the benefits 
paid varies based on a number of factors including seniority, salary and contributions to general insurance schemes.
Such plans can be either defined benefit plans or defined contribution plans. 
In the case of defined benefit plans, Group commitments are measured using the Projected Credit Unit method.
In the case of defined contribution plans, the liabilities correspond to the contributions due.

26.1. DEFINED BENEFIT PLANS
In addition to mandatory social insurance plans, the Group has introduced a number of retirement plans and retiree medical care plans as well as some minor plans as long service award or retirement 
bonuses.
Summary of the financial situation of the main defined benefit plans:

(In EUR million)

Present value of fully or partly funded obligations

Fair value of plan assets

Funded status
Present value of unfunded obligations
Unrecognized past service cost
Unrecognized actuarial gains and losses
Unrecognized asset due to asset ceiling limitation

Defined benefit net liabilities
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet:
Prepaid benefit cost (note 15)
Accrued benefit cost

Net liabilities

Defined benefit  
pension plans
4,067

Other defined benefit plans 
(including healthcare)
–

(3,200)

867
497
(2)
(562)
2

802

–

–

1,466
65
110
–

1,641

31 December 2008

31 December 2007

4,067

(3,200)

867
1,963
63
(452)
2

2,443

(5)
2,448

2,443

5,068

(4,744)

324
2,162
71
(2)
8

2,563

(4)
2,567

2,563

Unrecognized actuarial gains and losses (corresponding to changes in the present value of the projected defined benefit obligations or the fair value of defined benefit plan assets) arise primarily from:
(cid:116) changes in long-term actuarial assumptions such as inflation rate, discount rate, future salary levels and mortality tables,
(cid:116) and differences between actuarial assumptions and actual experience.
Past service cost corresponds to the value of rights not yet vested by employees at the time of changing the benefit rights granted.
The Group does not recognize in the balance sheet any asset in excess of the total of the cumulative unrecognized net actuarial losses and past service cost and the present value of any economic 
benefits available in the form of refunds from the plan or reduction in future contributions to the plan. If a defined benefit plan is subject to a Minimum Funding Requirement (MFR), the Group recognizes 
immediately a liability for any excess of a surplus resulting from the contributions paid under the MFR which would not be fully recoverable by economic benefits available to the Group.
At 31 December 2008 unrecognized actuarial losses amounted to EUR 452 million (2007: EUR 2 million) and past service cost of non vested benefits amounted to EUR 63 million (2007: EUR 71 million).
At 31 December 2008, the application of the asset ceiling limitation led the Group not to recognize an asset for an amount of EUR 2 million (2007: EUR 8 million).

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2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group   121

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Movement of defined benefit net liabilities recognized in the balance sheet:

(in EUR million)

At 1 January
Exchange differences
Expenses recognized in the income statement (recurring items)
Contributions paid to the funds
Benefits directly paid to the beneficiaries
Portion of benefit expenses recognized within the non recurring restructuring expenses
Changes in the scope of consolidation

At 31 December

Defined benefit 
pension plans

904
(50)
55
(86)
(21)
–
–

802

Other defined benefit 
plans (including  
healthcare)
1,659
1
115
–
(134)
–
–

1,641

2008

2,563
(49)
170
(86)
(155)
0
0

2,443

2007

2,727
(124)
230
(93)
(144)
(20)
(13)

2,563

In 2008, the net amount recognized in the consolidated income statement is an expense of EUR 174 million (2007: EUR 212 million), broken down as follows:

Net amount recorded in the consolidated
income statement  
(in EUR million)

Cost of service rendered during the year
Interest cost
Expected return on plan assets
Amortization of actuarial gain/loss during the year
Past service cost recognized during the year
Effect of reductions or liquidations of benefit plans
Effect of asset ceiling limitation
Portion of benefit expenses recognized within the non recurring restructuring expenses

Total recorded in the income statement

Defined benefit 
pension plans

77
302
(330)
–
–
8
2
–

59

Other defined benefit 
plans (including  
healthcare)
38
90
–
(3)
(10)
–
–
–

115

Year ended
31 December 2008

Year ended
31 December 2007

115
392
(330)
(3)
(10)
8
2
–

174

147
404
(356)
7
59
(31)
2
(20)

212

Annual charges are determined by independent actuaries at the beginning of each financial year based on the following factors:
(cid:116) charge corresponding to acquisition of an additional year of rights (“cost of services rendered during the year”),
(cid:116) charge corresponding to annual discount (“interest cost”),
(cid:116) income corresponding to estimated return on assets (“expected return on plan assets”),
(cid:116) income or charge from annual amortization of actuarial gain or loss (“amortization of actuarial gain/loss during the year”),
(cid:116) gain/loss resulting from changes in plan benefits (“past service cost recognized during the year”),
(cid:116) gain/loss resulting from any reduction or liquidation of plans (curtailments and settlements),
(cid:116) gain/loss resulting from the effect of the asset ceiling limitation.

122   2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group

26.1.1. Pensions plans

The  Group  offers  its  employees  different  retirement  plans  that 
vary according to applicable laws and regulations in each country 
and  in  accordance  with  the  respective  collective  bargaining 
agreements relevant to each subsidiary.

Such benefits are provided under defined benefit plans or defined 
contribution plans.

Under  defined  benefit  plans,  the  Group  guarantees  the  future 
level of benefits as provided by the plan regulations. The valuation 
of  such  defined  benefit  plans  is  carried  out  by  independent 
actuaries using actuarial techniques. 

Defined  retirement  benefit  plans  can  be  funded  through 
payments to external funds specialized in the management of the 
contributions paid to them. In the case of unfunded plans such 
as German pension plans, a provision is made in the consolidated 
balance sheet.

Defined  post-retirement  benefit  plans  are  mainly  found  in  the 
United States of America, Canada and the United Kingdom. The 
future  benefits  paid  by  the  above  plans  are  generally  based  on 
seniority  and  average  end-of-career  salaries.  Since  2004,  Group 
defined  pension  benefits  paid  to  the  employees  of  its  North 
American  and  UK  subsidiaries  are  gradually  being  phased  out 
in  favor  of  defined  contribution  pension  plans  for  newly  hired 
employees.

Under  defined  contribution  plans,  the  Group’s  obligation  is 
limited  to  the  payment  of  established  contributions.  This  does 
not  guaranty  the  future  level  of  benefits  paid.  Annual  charges 
correspond to the contributions due during the year.

Currently, Group defined contribution plans mainly relate to the 
401 K plans in the United States of America and the RRSP plan 
in Canada.

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2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group   123

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Change in the financial situation of defined benefit pension plans is as follows:

(in EUR million)

31 December 2008

31 December 2007

Present value of the obligation at the beginning of the year
Exchange differences
Changes in the scope of consolidation
Current service cost
Interest cost
Plan reorganization costs generated during the year:
– Immediately recognized in the income statement
– Unrecognized costs
Benefits paid
Other items
Unrecognized actuarial (gain)/loss generated during the year

Present value of the obligation at the end of the year
Fair value of plan assets at the beginning of the year

Exchange differences
Changes in the scope of consolidation
Expected return on plan assets
Contributions paid to the plans
Administration costs
Benefits paid
Other items
Unrecognized actuarial gain/(loss) generated during the year

Fair value of plan assets at the end of the year
Deficit/(surplus) at the end of the year
Deferred items at the beginning of the year
Exchange differences
Changes in scope of consolidation
Unrecognized asset due to the asset ceiling limitation generated 
during the year
Amortization of actuarial gain/loss during the year
Amortization of plan reorganization costs during the year
Unrecognized actuarial gain/loss generated during the year
Unrecognized plan reorganization costs generated during the year

Deferred items at the end of the year

Net liability/(-)asset recognized in the balance sheet  
at the end of the year

North  America
2,664
(53)
–
32
150

10
–
(275)
–
(168)

2,360
2,747

(57)
–
209
10
–
(275)
–
(796)

1,838
522
(88)
1
–

6
–
–
625
–

544

(22)

Europe
2,889
(496)
1
36
131

–
–
(102)
1
(280)

2,180
1,983

(448)
–
100
81
(7)
(83)
–
(276)

1,350
830
24
–
–

–
–
–
(5)
–

19

811

Other
27
(3)
–
–
1

Total North America
2,933
(184)
–
49
153

5,580
(552)
1
68
282

–
–
(1)
(1)
1

24
14

(3)
–
1
1
–
–
–
(1)

12
12
(4)
1
–

–
–
–
2
–

(1)

13

10
–
(378)
–
(447)

4,564
4,744

(508)
–
310
92
(7)
(358)
–
(1,073)

3,200
1,364
(68)
2
–

6
–
–
622
–

562

802

(22)
–
(183)
–
(82)

2,664
2,761

(166)
–
212
29
–
(183)
–
94

2,747
(83)
101
(9)
–

(8)
(2)
–
(171)
1

(88)

5

Europe
3,248
(217)
14
49
147

11
–
(114)
–
(249)

2,889
2,089

(182)
14
125
72
(7)
(96)
–
(32)

1,983
906
258
(14)
–

–
(2)
–
(218)
–

24

882

Other
24
1
–
–
1

 –
 –
 –
 –
1

27
8

1
–
1
1
–
–
–
3

14
13
(2)
 –
 –

 –
 –
 –
(2)
–

(4)

17

Total
6,205
(400)
14
98
301

(11)
–
(297)
–
(330)

5,580
4,858

(347)
14
338
102
(7)
(279)
–
65

4,744
836
357
(23)
–

(8)
(4)
–
(391)
1

(68)

904

124   2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group

In 2008, the decrease of the present value of the defined benefit pension plans obligation amounts to EUR 1,016 million. This decrease is due to:
(cid:116) the effect of the exchange rates between EUR and USD, GBP and CAD 
(cid:116) the actuarial gains due to the change in actuarial assumptions and to the difference between assumptions and actual experience 
(cid:116) the difference between the cost (service cost and interest cost) and the benefits paid during the year 
(cid:116) the changes in plan regulations 
(cid:116) the changes in the scope of consolidation 
The fair value of plan assets amounts to EUR 3,200 million at 31 December 2008, showing a decrease of EUR 1,544 million compared to 31 December 2007. The factors being the cause of this variation 
are the following:
(cid:116) the effect of the exchange rates between EUR and USD, GBP and CAD 
(cid:116) the difference between the contributions paid to the funds and the benefits paid by the funds  
(cid:116) the actual return on plan asset 
(cid:116) other items 

EUR 552 million   (2007:   EUR 400 million)
EUR 447 million   (2007:   EUR 330 million)
EUR 28 million   (2007:  EUR (102) million)
EUR (10) million   (2007:   EUR 11 million)
EUR (1) million   (2007:   EUR (14) million)

EUR (508) million   (2007:  EUR (347) million)
EUR (266) million   (2007:  EUR (177) million)
EUR (763) million   (2007:   EUR 403 million)
EUR 7 million)

EUR (7) million   (2007:  

The amounts for current annual period and previous three annual periods of the present value of the defined benefit obligation, the fair value of the plan assets, the surplus or deficit in the plan and 
the experience adjustments are as follow:

(in EUR million)

Defined benefit obligation
Plan assets

Surplus / (deficit)

Experience adjustment on:
– plan liabilities
– plan assets

2008
(4,564)
3,200

(1,364)

(80)
(1,073)

2007
(5,580)
4,744

(836)

(31)
64

2006
(6,205)
4,858

(1,347)

(2)
192

2005
(6,490)
4,791

(1,699)

(16)
227

The main actuarial weighted average assumptions used to measure the obligations for pension plans were as follows:

Discount rate
Rate of salary increases (1)
Average remaining service lives
Expected return on plan assets

31 December 2008

31 December 2007

North America
6.96%
2.79%
10.9 years
8.37%

Europe
6.09%
2.96%
11.1 years
6.06%

Other
11.30%
7.62%
12.0 years
11.30%

North America
5.84%
3.34%
11.6 years
8.34%

Europe
5.57%
3.44%
10.7 years
6.62%

Other
11.30%
7.62%
12.5 years
11.30%

(1) Including all assumptions relating to career development, promotions, seniority and other, over the employee’s entire service life.

Group obligations are regularly calculated by independent actuaries using the Projected Unit Credit Method with end of career salary.
The assumptions used are determined each year by the management based on recommendations from the actuaries.
The discount rates used to calculate the present value of obligations are based on high-quality corporate or Government bonds having a term consistent with the obligations at the calculation date. 
The Group’s methodology in setting the discount rates has remained the same as in previous years. The rates are chosen using local markets indicators, as long as they are in line with the guidance of 
IAS19, and checked with global providers’ data such as iBoxx, Reuters and Bloomberg, as well as the benchmarks of the Group’s actuary. Due to the recent financial turmoil, a number of these indices may 
be less relevant as they could include corporate bonds of a lower quality than those required by IAS19. When the information concerning the computation of such indices is available and it is confirmed 
that such indices are of a lower quality, they have not been retained or averaged with other indices.

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2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group   125

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The main assumptions (pay increases, retirement age, employee turnover, mortality, invalidity) reflect the demographic and economic situation of the countries and subsidiaries in which the plans are in force.
The expected return of plan assets is determined for each portfolio on the measurement date taking into account market conditions, portfolio composition as well as long-term returns of each class and 
sub-class.

The discount rate is one of the main assumptions used in the measurement of the defined benefit obligation and its change may have a significant effect on the amounts reported.

A one-percentage-point change in the discount rate compared to those used for 2008 would have the following effect:

Effect on the accumulated obligation (DBO)

Effect on the aggregate of current service cost and interest cost

1% point increase
-11.7%

1% point decrease
+13.9%

-0.3%

-0.7%

Net income and charges recognized in the income statement are as follows: 

(in EUR million)

Year ended 31 December 2008

Year ended 31 December 2007

Cost of service rendered during the year
Interest cost
Expected return on plan assets
Amortization of actuarial gain/loss during the year
Past service cost recognized during the year
Effect of reductions or liquidations of benefit plans
Effect of asset ceiling limitation
Portion of benefit expenses recognized within the
non recurring restructuring expenses

Total defined benefit pension expenses

Actual return on plan assets

North America
32
150
(208)
–
–
8
2

–

(16)

(587)

Europe
43
151
(121)
–
–
–
–

–

73

(176)

The asset allocation of fully and partly funded significant pension plans is as follows:

Other
2
1
(1)
–
–
–
–

–

2
–

UK
52%
0%
0%
48%

Total
77
302
(330)
–
–
8
2

–

59

(763)

Other
6%
1%
3%
90%

North America
51
160
(220)
2
–
(23)
2

–

(28)

306

Canada
62%
3%
0%
35%

100%

Europe
52
156
(135)
3
2
6
–

2

86

93

31 December 2007

USA
47%
17%
7%
29%

Other
2
1
(1)
–
–
–
–

–

2

4

UK
57%
0%
0%
43%

Total
105
317
(356)
5
2
(17)
2

2

60

403

Other
6%
3%
3%
88%

100%

100%

100%

31 December 2008

USA
32%
26%
8%
34%

100%

100%

100%

Equities
Alternative investments (1)
Real Estate
Total fixed income and cash

Total

(1) Hedge funds and private equity.

Canada
49%
9%
0%
42%

100%

126   2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group

Note that in so far as local law gives the Group some flexibility in weighting on investment fund policy, the Group refrains altogether from placing any Group security in the managed funds. With reference 
to general funds invested with insurance companies as well as other alternative investments, the Group is not in possession of all information on the underlying assets. The Group has no significant amount 
invested in its own securities.

Michelin was not occupying nor using any of the real estate assets included in the various portfolios.

Each  plan’s  asset  allocation  is  decided  periodically  by  an  independent  body  acting  as  fiduciary  (Investment  Board,  Board  of  Trustees)  based  on  recommendations  made  by  independent  actuaries  in 
consultation with banks or investment management firms. The asset allocation takes into account the structure of social liabilities and their terms.

As at 31 December 2008 Group contributions and payments made to pension plans are as follows:

(in EUR million)

Contributions paid/payments made
2008

Estimates of contributions expected to be paid and payments to be made
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014-2018

North America

Europe

Other

Total

11

14
253
118
115
110
266

105

78
65
73
78
79
433

2

1
1
1
–
1
3

118

93
319
192
193
190
702

The Group makes contributions to fully and partly funded plans in order to meet its future benefit payment obligations to the beneficiaries. The level of contributions is periodically determined by the 
Group based on factors such as current funding levels, legal and tax considerations and local practice, in consultation, as the case may be, with local boards and actuaries.

In the case of unfunded plans, the payments are made on the due dates, either directly to the beneficiaries or indirectly to the relevant management bodies. 

The estimates of the future payments for the non financed plans were carried out on the basis of elements included in the calculation of the projected defined benefit obligation based on the leaving 
dates envisaged each year. The same method was used for the constitutive funds for the partially funded plans paid to insurance companies. For the plans that are financed, the estimations of future 
contributions have been made taking into account the changes in regulations that are known to date (Pension Protection Act 2006 in the US which will have an impact on funding from 2011 and Pension 
Act 2004 in the UK).

26.1.2.  Other Defined Benefit Plans

In many countries, Group employees receive other post-retirement benefits and long-term benefits throughout their term of employment. The “other post-retirement benefits” mainly include healthcare 
insurance and retirement bonuses. The “other defined benefit plans” are mainly found in the United States of America, Canada and France. “Other long-term benefits” also include deferred compensations 
that are mandatory in the countries where the Group operates or provided for under local company-specific agreements. Such defined benefit plans generally relate to Group European companies and 
are based on seniority.

As in the case of the above-described defined benefit plans, “other defined benefit plans” are valuated by independent actuaries using actuarial techniques. The obligations under these plans are not 
covered by assets but are fully accounted for in the Group’s balance sheet liabilities.

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2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group   127

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Changes in the financial situation of “other defined benefit plans” are as follows:

(in EUR million)

31 December 2008

31 December 2007

Present value of the obligation at the beginning of the year
Exchange differences
Changes in the scope of consolidation
Current service cost
Interest cost
Plan reorganization costs generated during the year:

– Immediately recognized in the income statement
– Unrecognized costs

Benefits paid
Other items
Unrecognized actuarial (gain)/loss generated during the year

Present value of the obligation at the end of the year
Fair value of plan assets at the beginning of the year
Exchange differences
Expected return on plan assets
Contributions paid to the plans
Administration costs
Benefits paid
Other items
Unrecognized actuarial gain/(loss) generated during the year

Fair value of plan assets at the end of the year
Deficit/(surplus) at the end of the year
Deferred items at the beginning of the year
Exchange differences
Changes in scope of consolidation
Amortization of actuarial gain/loss during the year
Amortization of plan reorganization costs during the year
Unrecognized actuarial gain/loss generated during the year
Unrecognized plan reorganization costs generated during the 
year

Deferred items at the end of the year

North America
901
(1)
–
12
53

Europe
747
(2)
(1)
25
38

–
–
(49)
(2)
(151)

763
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
763
(143)
(6)
–
–
21
(151)

–

(279)

–
–
(80)
(1)
(24)

702
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
702
134
–
–
(3)
(10)
(17)

–

104

598

Net liability/(-)asset recognized in the balance sheet  
at the end of the year

1,042

128   2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group

Other
2
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
(1)
–

1
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
1
–
–
–
–
–
–

–

–

1

Total North America
999
(76)
–
13
51

1,650
(3)
(1)
37
91

Europe
736
(1)
–
25
33

Other
19
–
(10)
–
–

–
–
(129)
(4)
(175)

1,466
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
1,466
(9)
(6)
–
(3)
11
(168)

–

(175)

–
–
(54)
4
(36)

901
–
 –
–
–
–
–
–
–

 –
901
(142)
17
–
(3)
21
(36)

–

(143)

1,641

1,044

40
19
(71)
1
(35)

747
 –
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

 –
747
161
–
–
1
(11)
(36)

19

134

613

(7)
–
–
–
–

2
 –
 –
–
–
–
–
–
–

 –
2
(2)
 –
2
 –
–
 –

–

 –

2

Total
1,754
(77)
(10)
38
84

33
19
(125)
5
(71)

1,650
–
 –
–
–
–
–
–
–

 –
1,650
17
17
2
(2)
10
(72)

19

(9)

1,659

In 2008, the decrease of the present value of the other defined benefit plans amounts to EUR 184 million. This decrease is due to:
(cid:116) the effect of the exchange rates between EUR and USD, GBP and CAD 
(cid:116)(cid:1)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:68)(cid:73)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:81)(cid:77)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:77)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:84)(cid:1)
(cid:116)(cid:1)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:69)(cid:74)(cid:71)(cid:71)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:67)(cid:70)(cid:85)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:68)(cid:80)(cid:84)(cid:85)(cid:1)(cid:9)(cid:84)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:87)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:68)(cid:80)(cid:84)(cid:85)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:85)(cid:1)(cid:68)(cid:80)(cid:84)(cid:85)(cid:10)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:67)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:70)(cid:71)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:81)(cid:66)(cid:74)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:69)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:1)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:90)(cid:70)(cid:66)(cid:83)(cid:1)
(cid:116)(cid:1)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:66)(cid:83)(cid:74)(cid:66)(cid:77)(cid:1)(cid:72)(cid:66)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:69)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:1)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:68)(cid:73)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:66)(cid:83)(cid:74)(cid:66)(cid:77)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:84)(cid:84)(cid:86)(cid:78)(cid:81)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:1)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:69)(cid:74)(cid:71)(cid:71)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:67)(cid:70)(cid:85)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:84)(cid:84)(cid:86)(cid:78)(cid:81)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:66)(cid:77)(cid:1)(cid:70)(cid:89)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:74)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:1)
(cid:116)(cid:1)(cid:80)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:1)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:78)(cid:84)(cid:1)

EUR 3 million   (2007:  EUR 77 million)

(cid:38)(cid:54)(cid:51)(cid:1)(cid:14)(cid:1)(cid:78)(cid:74)(cid:77)(cid:77)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:1) (cid:9)(cid:19)(cid:17)(cid:17)(cid:24)(cid:27)(cid:1) (cid:38)(cid:54)(cid:51)(cid:1)(cid:9)(cid:22)(cid:19)(cid:10)(cid:1)(cid:78)(cid:74)(cid:77)(cid:77)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:10)
(cid:38)(cid:54)(cid:51)(cid:1)(cid:20)(cid:1)(cid:78)(cid:74)(cid:77)(cid:77)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:10)
(cid:38)(cid:54)(cid:51)(cid:1)(cid:18)(cid:1)(cid:78)(cid:74)(cid:77)(cid:77)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:1) (cid:9)(cid:19)(cid:17)(cid:17)(cid:24)(cid:27)(cid:1)
(cid:38)(cid:54)(cid:51)(cid:1)(cid:18)(cid:24)(cid:22)(cid:1)(cid:78)(cid:74)(cid:77)(cid:77)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:1) (cid:9)(cid:19)(cid:17)(cid:17)(cid:24)(cid:27)(cid:1) (cid:38)(cid:54)(cid:51)(cid:1)(cid:24)(cid:18)(cid:1)(cid:78)(cid:74)(cid:77)(cid:77)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:10)
(cid:38)(cid:54)(cid:51)(cid:1)(cid:22)(cid:1)(cid:78)(cid:74)(cid:77)(cid:77)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:10)

(cid:38)(cid:54)(cid:51)(cid:1)(cid:22)(cid:1)(cid:78)(cid:74)(cid:77)(cid:77)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:1) (cid:9)(cid:19)(cid:17)(cid:17)(cid:24)(cid:27)(cid:1)

The amounts for current annual period and previous three annual periods of the present value of the defined benefit obligation and the experience adjustments are as follows:

(in EUR million)
Defined benefit obligation
Experience adjustment on plan liabilities

2008
(1,466)
18

2007
(1,650)
19

2006
(1,754)
26

2005
(1,933)
69

The main actuarial weighted average assumptions used to measure the obligations for other defined benefit plans were as follows:

Discount rate
Average remaining service lives

North America
6.93%
11.9 years

31 December 2008
Europe
5.74%
12.8 years

Other (1)
–
–

North America
5.89%
12.9 years

31 December 2007
Europe
5.19%
11.8 years

Other
–
–

(1) The Group has no more “Other Defined Benefit Plans” requiring the use of actuarial assumptions outside North America and Europe.

The discount rates used to calculate the present value of obligations are based on high-quality corporate or Government bonds having a term consistent with the obligations at the calculation date.
The main assumptions (healthcare cost increase trends, retirement age, employee turnover, mortality, invalidity) reflect the demographic and economic situation of the countries and subsidiaries in which 
the plans are in force.
The Group’s methodology in setting the discount rates has remained the same as in previous years. The rates are chosen using local markets indicators, as long as they are in line with the guidance of 
IAS19, and checked with global providers’ data such as iBoxx, Reuters and Bloomberg, as well as the benchmarks of the Group’s actuary. Due to the recent financial turmoil, a number of these indices may 
be less relevant as they could include corporate bonds of a lower quality than those required by IAS19. When the information concerning the computation of such indices is available and it is confirmed 
that such indices are of a lower quality, they have not been retained or averaged with other indices.

A one-percentage-point change in the discount rate compared to those used for 2008 would have the following effect:

Effect on the accumulated obligation (DBO)

Effect on the aggregate of current service cost and interest cost

Future assumptions concerning healthcare cost trends are as follows:

Expected growth of healthcare costs for the first year
Minimum long-term growth of healthcare costs
Year in which the lowest growth rate will be achieved

The assumed health care cost trend rate has a significant effect on the amounts reported.

1% point increase
-8.1%

+1.6%

1% point decrease
+9.5%

-2.0%

31 December 2008

31 December 2007

USA
7.72%
5.00%
2015

Canada
7.26%
5.00%
2011

USA
7.93%
5.00%
2014

Canada
6.91%
5.00%
2010

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2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group   129

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A one-percentage-point change in the expected healthcare cost trend compared to those used for 2008 would have the following effect:

Effect on the accumulated obligation (DBO)

Effect on the aggregate of current service cost and interest cost

Net income and charges recognized in the income statement are as follows:

1% point increase
+5.42%

+6.01%

1% point decrease
-5.00%

-5.40%

(in EUR million)

Year ended 31 December 2008

Year ended 31 December 2007

Cost of service rendered during the year
Interest cost
Expected return on plan assets
Amortization of actuarial gain/loss during the year
Past service cost recognized during the year
Effect of reductions or liquidations of benefit plans
Portion of benefit expenses recognized within the
non recurring restructuring expenses

Total other defined benefit expenses

North America
12
52
–
–
(20)
–

–

44

Europe
26
38
–
(3)
10
–

–

71

Other
–
–
–
–
–

–

–

Total
38
90
–
(3)
(10)
–

–

115

North America
14
54
 –
3
(22)
–

–

49

Europe
27
33
–
(1)
86
(14)

(22)

109

Other
1
–
–
–
(7)
–

–

(6)

Total
42
87
–
2
57
(14)

(22)

152

As at 31 December 2008 Group payments made and to be made on other defined plans are as follows:

(in EUR million)

Payments made
2008

Estimates of payments expected to be made
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014-2018

North America

Europe

Other

Total

50

58
61
61
63
63
323

82

40
47
59
73
87
377

1

–
–
–
–
–
–

133

98
108
120
136
150
700

Such payments are made on the due dates, either directly to the beneficiaries or indirectly to the relevant management bodies.
Payments made in 2008 are significantly higher than those forecasted for the coming years due to anticipated payments (mostly in France).

26.2. DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLANS
In some Group companies, employees are covered by defined contribution plans. Such plans mainly provide benefits in addition to those of mandatory post-retirement plans. These are mainly found in 
the United States of America, Canada and the United Kingdom.
In 2008, the contributions paid to such defined contribution plans and charged to the consolidated income statement amount to EUR 69 million (2007: EUR 61 million).

130   2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group

27(cid:1)(cid:116)(cid:1)Equity compensation benefits

27.1. SHARE OPTION PLANS

Changes in the number of options granted under share option plans and their weighted average exercise price are as follows:

At 1 January
Granted
Forfeited
Exercised

At 31 December

2008

2007

Weighted average 
exercise price
(in euro per option)
61.80
62.00
59.91
36.33

62.18

Options

3,261,727
310,000
(57,444)
(45,520)

3,468,763

Weighted average 
exercise price
(in euro per option)
44.41
91.00
57.97
39.68

61.80

768,663 of the 3,468,763 options outstanding as at 31 December 2008 are exercisable (2007: 545,177 of the 3,261,727).

Assumptions used to value the share options granted in 2008 are as follows:

Grant date
Number of options
Weighted average share price (euros per share)
Exercise price (euros per share)
Volatility
Risk free interest rate

Market value of the option at grant date (in euro per option)
The maximum gain allowed is limited to 100 % of the exercise price.

Share purchase option plans have the following exercise prices and expiry dates:

Options

2,442,057
1,188,230
(21,730)
(346,830)

3,261,727

14 May 2008
310,000
61.98
62.00
32.50%
4.24%

10.27

Grant dates

May 2002
May 2003
November 2003
May 2004
July 2004
May 2005
November 2005
May 2006
May 2007
May 2008

Total outstanding share options

Vesting dates

Expiry dates

Exercise prices
(in euro per option)

May 2006
May 2007
November 2007
May 2008
July 2008
May 2009
November 2009
May 2010
May 2011
May 2012

May 2011
May 2012
November 2012
May 2013
July 2013
May 2014
November 2014
May 2015
May 2016
May 2017

44.00
32.25
34.00
40.00
44.50
48.00
48.00
58.00
91.00
62.00

Options

31 December 2008
215,451
103,897
173,515
155,700
120,100
216,000
874,950
133,900
1,165,250
310,000

3,468,763

31 December 2007
240,085
118,447
186,645
169,900
120,700
218,500
888,000
136,700
1,182,750
–

3,261,727

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2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group   131

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
27.2. SHARE PURCHASE PLANS

In 2008, the Group launched a share offer for all its employees located in countries where the legal and fiscal requirements are met. This share purchase plan (Bib’Action), carried out under the company 
savings plan (Plan d’Epargne Groupe), is a standard plan in which employees invest in Michelin shares at a discount. The shares acquired by the employees participating in the plan cannot be sold or trans-
ferred during a five-year period. For measuring the effect of the five-year transfer restriction, the Group used a valuation technique based on a strategy whereby an employee would sell the restricted shares 
forward at the end of the five-year period and purchase immediately an equivalent number of unrestricted shares financed by a non affected loan repaid at the end of the lock-up period using the proceeds 
of the forward sale and the dividends paid during that period.

On may 12, 2008, the Group offered to its employees the opportunity to subscribe to a reserved capital increase at a share price of EUR 51.00 (discount of 19.96% to the reference price of EUR 63.68 
corresponding to the average over 20 trading days preceding the date the price is set). The total number of shares purchased amounted to 952.733. The global expense recognised in 2008 in relation with 
this plan amounted to EUR 15 million after deduction of the effect of the five-year transfer restriction.

The assumptions used for the valuation of the cost linked to the shares subscribed by the Group employees in the first half of 2008 are as follows:

Maturity of the plan
Number of shares subscribed
Reference price (in euro)
Subscription price (in euro)
Five-year risk-free rate (a) 
Five-year employee financing rate (b)
Dividend yield
Cost of the lock-up period (in % of the reference price) 
Cost recognized (in euro per share)

(a) The risk free interest rate is based on the yield on the French government debt with the appropriate maturity.

(b) The five-year employee financing rate is an average of non affected 5 year individual loan rates.

28 (cid:116) Provisions and other non-current liabilities

The carrying amount of the provisions and other long-term liabilities is detailed in the table below.

(in EUR million)

Non-current liabilities

– Deferred income - Government grants
– Debts towards employees and social security authorities

Provisions

– Restructuring provisions
– Litigations provisions
– Other provisions

Total provisions and other non-current liabilities

5 years
952,733
63.68
51.00
4.39%
7.57%
2.28%
13.95%

15.96

31 December 2008

31 December 2007

139
89

319
110
103

760

121
101

442
113
118

895

132   2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group

Movements of provisions during the year:

(in EUR million)

At 1 January 2008
Additional provisions
Utilized during the year
Unused amounts reversed
Currency translation effects
Change in scope of consolidation 
Other effects

At 31 December 2008

As at 31 December 2008, the remaining restructuring provisions are mainly located in:

– Spain   
– Italy 
– France  

for EUR 173  million,
for   EUR 50  million,
for   EUR 81  million.

29 (cid:116) Other current liabilities

The carrying amount of the other current liabilities is detailed in the table below.

(in EUR million)

Customers – Deferred rebates
Employee benefits
Social security liabilities
Restructuring liabilities
Current income tax to pay
Other taxes
Other

Total other current liabilities

Restructuring
442
81
(163)
(35)
(2)
–
(4)

319

Litigation
113
54
(43)
(13)
(3)
–
2

110

Other provisions
118
59
(72)
1
(1)
–
(2)

103

31 December 2008
655
302
296
65
69
103
354

1,844

31 December 2007
606
356
305
88
125
134
310

1,924

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2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group   133

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
30 (cid:116)(cid:1)Details of the cash flow statement

Details of the cash flow statement are presented in the table below:

(in EUR million)

Non-cash other income and expenses
Result on disposal of non-financial assets
Other

Net finance costs paid
Interests paid and other financial expenses
Interests received and other financial income
Dividends received

Change in value of working capital, net of impairment
Change in inventory
Change in trade receivables
Change in other receivables and payables

Purchases of intangible assets and PP&E
Purchase of intangible assets
Purchase of PP&E
Investment grants received
Change in capital expenditures payables

Change in value of other current and non-current financial assets
Increase of other non-current financial assets
Decrease of other non-current financial assets
Net change of the other current financial assets

Change in value of current and non-current financial liabilities
Increase of non-current financial liabilities
Decrease of non-current financial liabilities
Finance lease debt repayments
Net increase / (decrease) of current financial liabilities
Derivatives

Detail of the non cash transactions:

– Financial lease
– Non-controlling interest purchase commitments
– New emission rights

134   2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group

Year ended  
31 December 2008

Year ended  
31 December 2007

1
9

10

(307)
30
11

(266)

(419)
478
(193)

(134)

(112)
(1,159)
21
(39)

(1,289)

(11)
23
3

15

775
(127)
(49)
291
(122)

768

10
(63)
47

(19)
(7)

(26)

(322)
35
10

(277)

(132)
166
132

166

(82)
(1, 258)
16
(160)

(1,484)

(39)
58
22

41

325
(458)
(79)
(1,062)
12

(1,262)

26
(55)
5

31 (cid:116) Commitments and contingencies

OTHER COMMITMENTS

OTHER CONTINGENCIES

MICHELIN PENSION TRUST LTD UK

Following  the  introduction  of  the  “Pension  Act  2004”  in  the 
United  Kingdom,  a  multi-annual  plan  of  contributions  to  the 
UK  pension  funds,  “Recovery  Plan”,  was  established  between 
Michelin Pension Trust Ltd U.K. and Michelin U.K. In order to limit 
the amount of the contributions and to stagger them over more 
than  ten  years,  the  Group  issued  in  2007  a  guarantee  towards 
the pension fund to cover the stream of contributions which its 
subsidiary will have to make. The discounted amount guaranteed 
which  exceeds  the  amount  already  recognized  in  the  financial 
statements amounts to EUR 119 million.

The  Group  has  various  purchase  commitments  for  materials 
and services as well as for the acquisition of equipments. These 
commitments primarily concern the purchases in 2008. They are 
established  under  normal  market  conditions  and  occur  in  the 
course of ordinary activities of the Group.

In the course of their ordinary activities, the group companies may 
be involved in administration proceedings, litigations and claims. 
Although  provisions  have  been  recognized  when  the  risks  are 
established and the cash outflows probable, it exists uncertainties 
on some of administration proceedings, litigations and claims.

CANADIAN PENSION LITIGATION

In June 2005, a group of Michelin pension fund beneficiaries in 
Canada (the Plaintiffs) started a legal action against the Canadian 
subsidiary of the Group (Michelin Canada.) In October 2007 and 
in November 2008 the Nova Scotia’s Supreme Court and Court 
of Appeal dismissed the plaintiff’s claim. The legal action is finally 
closed

In the opinion of the Group management, the outcome of these 
actions  will  not  have  material  impact  on  the  Group’s  financial 
situation or cash flows.

32 (cid:116)(cid:1)Acquisitions and divestments of businesses

There were no significant acquisitions or divestments in 2008.

33 (cid:116) Related party transactions

SUBSIDIARIES AND ASSOCIATED COMPANIES

A list of the major Group subsidiaries and associates is included in note 35.
Transactions between the parent company and its subsidiaries and between subsidiaries are eliminated on consolidation.
Transactions and balances between the Group and its associates and joint ventures are detailed in the table below.

(in EUR million)

Income statement
Income from the sale of goods or supply of services 
Interest income
Expenses for the purchase of products or supply of services 
Balance sheet
Balances receivable
Loans receivable
Financial liabilities
Balance payable
Other current receivables and payables

2008

–
–
(155)

–
–
(24)
(10)
–

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(4)
(9)
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2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group   135

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KEY MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISORY BOARD

The  Managing  General  Partner  received  in  2008,  in  connection  with  financial  year  2007,  an  aggregate  amount  of  
EUR 5.3 million, proportional to and dependent upon profit (2007 in connection with 2006: EUR 4.2 million).

The benefits costs, including social contributions, of the non-general Managing Partners in 2008 were EUR 1.8 million (2007: EUR 
1.4  million). They are broken down as follows:
(cid:116) short term benefits 
(cid:116) post employment benefits 
(cid:116) share based payments 
They do not include those received as members of the Group Executive Council until 11 May 2007.

(2007: EUR 1.2 million)
(2007: EUR 0.1 million)
(2007: EUR 0.1 million)

EUR 1.6 million  
EUR 0.1 million  
EUR 0.1 million  

The benefits costs, including social contributions, of the members of the Group Executive Council in 2008 were EUR 7.6 million (2007: 
EUR 6.8 million). They are broken down as follows:
(cid:116) short term benefits 
(cid:116) post employment benefits 
(cid:116) share based payments 
They include those related to the non-general Managing Partners until 11 May 2007.

(2007: EUR 5.3 million)
(2007: EUR 0.6 million)
(2007: EUR 0.9 million)

EUR 6.7 million  
EUR 0.4 million  
EUR 0.5 million  

The following fees were paid in 2008 (for services rendered in 2007) to the Supervisory Board members: EUR 0.3 million (2007 for 
services rendered in 2006: EUR 0.3 million).

34 (cid:116) Events after the balance sheet date

The assets and liabilities values at the balance sheet date are adjusted, if needed, up to the date the Supervisory Board has authorized 
for issue the 2008 consolidated financial statements.

136   2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group

35 (cid:116) List of main group companies

Countries within the Michelin geographical zones are listed according to the alphabetical order of the French names.

35.1. Fully-consolidated companies

Companies
EUROPE

Germany

Laurent Reifen GmbH

Michelin Reifenwerke AG & Co. KGaA

EUROMASTER GmbH

ViaMichelin Deutschland GmbH

Austria

Euromaster Reifenservice GmbH

Michelin Reifenverkaufsgesellschaft m.b.H.

Belgium

Michelin Belux S.A.

Société pour le Traitement de l’Information TRINFOVER

Denmark

Michelin Gummi Compagni A/S

Euromaster Danmark A/S

Spain

Michelin España Portugal, S.A.

Euromaster Automoción y Servicios, S.A.

ViaMichelin España, S.L.

Estonia

Michelin Rehvide AS

Finland

Oy Suomen Michelin Ab

Suomen Euromaster Oy

France

Compagnie Générale des Etablissements Michelin
Manufacture Française des Pneumatiques Michelin

Pneu Laurent

Pneumatiques Kléber

Simorep et Cie - Société du Caoutchouc Synthétique Michelin

Société de Développement Mécanique

S.O.D.G.

Registered office

Nature

% of interest

Oranienburg

Karlsruhe

Kaiserslautern

Griesheim

Vienna

Vienna

Zellik

Zellik

Brøndby

Viborg

Tres Cantos

Madrid

Tres Cantos

Tallinn

Espoo

Pori

Clermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand

Avallon

Toul

Bassens

Wattignies

Clermont-Ferrand

Manufacturing & commercial

Manufacturing & commercial

Commercial

Commercial

Commercial

Commercial

Commercial

Miscellaneous

Commercial

Commercial

Manufacturing & commercial

Commercial

Commercial

Commercial

Commercial

Commercial

Parent
Manufacturing & commercial 

Manufacturing & commercial 

Manufacturing & commercial 

Manufacturing 

Manufacturing 

Manufacturing 

100.00

100.00

99.98

100.00

97.56

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

99.94

99.80

99.94

100.00

100.00

100.00

99.94

–
100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

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2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group   137

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Companies

Euromaster France
Michelin Aircraft Tyre
Recamic Services
Transityre France
ViaMichelin
Michelin Middle East
Société des Procédés Industriels Modernes
Spika
Société Civile Immobilière Michelin Breteuil
Société de Technologie Michelin

Greece

Elastika Michelin A.E.

Hungary

Michelin Hungaria Tyre Manufacture Ltd.
Michelin Central Europe Commercial Private Company Limited by Shares
Taurus Carbonpack Commercial and Supplying Ltd.

Ireland

Oboken Limited
Mireis Limited
Miripro Insurance Company Limited

Italy

Società per Azioni Michelin Italiana
ViaMichelin Italia S.r.l.

Latvia

Michelin Riepas SIA

Lithuania

UAB Michelin Padangos

Luxembourg

Michelin Luxembourg SCS

Norway

Norsk Michelin Gummi AS

The Netherlands

Eurodrive Services and Distribution N.V.
Euromaster Bandenservice B.V.
Michelin Nederland N.V.
Transityre B.V.
Michelin Finance (Pays-Bas) B.V.

Poland

Michelin Polska S.A.

138   2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group

Registered office

Montbonnot Saint Martin
Clermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand
Boulogne-Billancourt
Clermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand
Paris
Clermont-Ferrand

Halandri

Nyíregyháza
Budapest
Tuzsér

Dublin
Dublin
Dublin

Turin
Milan

Riga

Vilnius

Luxembourg

Lørenskog

Amsterdam
Deventer
Drunen
Breda
Amsterdam

Nature

% of interest

Commercial
Commercial
Commercial
Commercial
Commercial
Financial
Financial
Financial
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous

Commercial

Manufacturing & commercial
Commercial
Commercial

Financial
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous

Manufacturing & commercial
Commercial

Commercial

Commercial

Financial

Commercial

Commercial
Commercial
Commercial
Commercial
Financial

98.35
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00

100.00

100.00
99.98
100.00

100.00
100.00
100.00

100.00
100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

99.94
99.94
100.00
100.00
100.00

100.00

Olsztyn

Manufacturing & commercial

Companies

Portugal

Michelin-Companhia Luso-Pneu, Limitada

Serbia

TIGAR TYRES d.o.o., Pirot

Slovak Republic

Michelin Slovensko, s.r.o.

Czech Republic

Michelin Ceská republika s.r.o.

Romania

Silvania S.A.
Victoria S.A.
Michelin RomRetreading S.R.L.
Michelin Romsteel Cord S.A.
Michelin Romania S.A.

United Kingdom

Michelin Tyre Public Limited Company
Associated Tyre Specialists Limited
Michelin Lifestyle Limited
ViaMichelin UK Limited
Michelin Europe (EEIG)
Michelin Services Ltd
XM Services Limited

Russia

LLC "Michelin Russian Tyre Manufacturing Company"
Michelin Tyres Russian General Agency ZAO

Slovenia

Michelin Slovenija, pnevmatike, d.o.o.

Sweden

Euromaster AB
Michelin Nordic AB

Switzerland

Euromaster (Suisse) S.A.
Michelin Suisse S.A.
Compagnie Financière Michelin
Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.

NORTH AMERICA AND MEXICO

Canada

Michelin North America (Canada) Inc.
Michelin Retread Technologies (Canada) Inc.

Registered office

Nature

% of interest

Lisbon

Pirot

Bratislava

Prague

Zalau
Floresti
Bucharest
Zalau
Bucharest

England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
Scotland

Davydovo village
Moscow

Ljubljana

Varberg
Stockholm

Petit-Lancy
Givisiez
Granges-Paccot
Granges-Paccot

Commercial

Manufacturing & commercial

Commercial

Commercial

Manufacturing & commercial
Manufacturing & commercial
Manufacturing
Manufacturing
Commercial

Manufacturing & commercial
Commercial
Commercial
Commercial
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous

Manufacturing & commercial
Commercial

Commercial

Commercial
Commercial

Commercial
Commercial
Financial
Miscellaneous

Laval
New Glasgow

Manufacturing & commercial
Commercial

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

99.94
99.21
100.00
100.00
100.00

100.00
99.94
100.00
100.00
99.96
100.00
100.00

100.00
100.00

100.00

99.94
100.00

99.94
100.00
100.00
100.00

100.00
100.00

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2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group   139

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Companies

United States of America

Michelin North America, Inc.

Michelin Retread Technologies, Inc.

Tire Centers, LLC

CR Funding Corporation
Michelin Corporation

Mexico

Industrias Michelin, S.A. de C.V.

Michelin Mexico Holding, S.A. de C.V.

SOUTH AMERICA

Argentina

Michelin Argentina Sociedad Anónima, Industrial, Comercial 
y Financiera

Brazil

Sociedade Michelin de Participações, Indústria e Comércio Ltda.

Michelin Espírito Santo – Comércio, Importações e Exportações Ltda.

Plantações E. Michelin Ltda.

Plantações Michelin da Bahia Ltda.

Chile

Michelin Chile Ltda.

Colombia

Industria Colombiana de Llantas S.A.

Peru

Michelin del Perú S.A.

Venezuela

Michelin Venezuela, S.A.

ASIA AND OCEANIA

Australia

Michelin Australia Pty Ltd.

China

Michelin Shenyang Tire Co., Ltd.

Shanghai Michelin Warrior Tire Co., Ltd.

Michelin (Shanghai) Trading Co., Ltd.

Michelin Asia (Hong Kong) Limited

Michelin (China) Investment Co., Ltd.

Michelin Asia-Pacific Export (HK) Limited

140   2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group

Registered office

Nature

% of interest

New York

Wilmington

Wilmington

Wilmington
New York

Mexico City

Mexico City

Manufacturing & commercial

Commercial

Commercial

Financial
Financial

Manufacturing & commercial

Financial

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00
100.00

100.00

100.00

Buenos Aires

Commercial

100.00

Rio de Janeiro

Espírito Santo

Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro

Santiago

Cali

Lima

Valencia

Manufacturing & commercial

Commercial

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous

Commercial

Manufacturing & commercial

Commercial

Commercial

Melbourne

Commercial

Liaoning Province

Shanghai

Shanghai

Hong Kong

Shanghai

Hong Kong

Manufacturing & commercial

Manufacturing & commercial

Commercial

Commercial

Commercial

Miscellaneous

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

99.94

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

70.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

Companies

Registered office

Nature

 % of interest

Michelin Asia-Pacific Import (HK) Limited
Michelin Asia-Pacific Import-Export (HK) Limited
Michelin Tire Research and Development Center (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

South Korea

Michelin Korea Co., Ltd.

India

Michelin India Private Limited
Michelin India Tyres Private Limited

Japan

Nihon Michelin Tire Co., Ltd.
Michelin Research Asia Co., Ltd.

Malaysia

Michelin Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.

New Zealand

M. Michelin & Company Limited

Singapore

Michelin Asia (Singapore) Co. Pte. Ltd.
Michelin Asia-Pacific Pte Ltd
Société des Matières Premières Tropicales Pte. Ltd.

Taiwan

Michelin Chun Shin Ltd.

Thailand

Michelin Siam Company Limited
Siam Tyre Phra Pradaeng Co., Ltd.
Michelin Research Asia (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Michelin Siam Group Co., Ltd.

AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST

South Africa

Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Shanghai

Seoul

New Delhi
New Delhi

Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous

Commercial

Commercial
Commercial

Tokyo
Chiyoda-Ku Tokyo

Manufacturing & commercial
Miscellaneous

Malaysia

New Zealand

Singapore
Singapore
Singapore

Taipei

Bangkok
Samutprakarn
Bangkok
Bangkok

Commercial

Commercial

Commercial
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous

Commercial

Manufacturing & commercial
Manufacturing
Miscellaneous
Financial

Michelin Tyre Company South Africa (Proprietary) Limited

Johannesburg

Commercial

Algeria

Michelin Algérie SPA

Cameroon

Société Moderne du Pneumatique Camerounais

Nigeria

Michelin Tyre Services Company Ltd.

Turkey

Michelin Lastikleri Ticaret A.S.

Algiers

Douala

Nigeria

Istanbul

Manufacturing & commercial

Commercial

Commercial

Commercial

100.00
100.00
100.00

100.00

100.00
100.00

100.00
100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00
100.00
100.00

100.00

100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

60.28

100.00

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2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group   141

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
35.2. Companies consolidated using the equity method

Companies
Société Internationale de Plantations d'Hévéas
RubberNetwork.com, LLC
MC Projects B.V.

Registered office
Courbevoie
Wilmington
Amsterdam

Nature
France
United States of America
The Netherlands

 % of interest
20.00
27.75
50.00

142   2008 Consolidated Financial Statements of Michelin Group

Statutory Auditors’ Report  
on the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the year ended December 31, 2008

This  is  a  free  translation  into  English  of  the  statutory  auditors’ 
report issued in French and is provided solely for the convenience 
of English speaking users. The statutory auditors’ report includes 
information  specifically  required  by  French  law  in  such  reports, 
whether modified or not. This information is presented below the 
opinion  on  the  consolidated  financial  statements  and  includes 
an  explanatory  paragraph  discussing  the  auditors’  assessments 
of  certain  significant  accounting  and  auditing  matters.  These 
assessments were considered for the purpose of issuing an audit 
opinion on the consolidated financial statements taken as a whole 
and  not  to  provide  separate  assurance  on  individual  account 
captions  or  on  information  taken  outside  of  the  consolidated 
financial statements. 
This report should be read in conjunction with, and construed in 
accordance with, French law and professional auditing standards 
applicable in France.

To the Shareholders of Compagnie Générale des Etablissements 
Michelin

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In compliance with the assignment entrusted to us by your Annual 
General Shareholders’ Meeting, we hereby report to you, for the 
year ended December 31, 2008, on:
(cid:116) the audit of the accompanying consolidated financial statements 
of Compagnie Générale des Etablissements Michelin;
(cid:116) the justification of our assessments;
(cid:116) the specific verification required by law.
These  consolidated  financial  statements  have  been  approved 
by the Managing Partners. Our role is to express an opinion on 
these consolidated financial statements based on our audit.

1. OPINION ON THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

We  conducted  our  audit  in  accordance  with  professional 
standards applicable in France. Those standards require that we 
plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about 
whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material 
misstatement. An audit involves performing procedures, on a test 
basis or by selection, to obtain audit evidence about the amounts 
and  disclosures  in  the  consolidated  financial  statements.  An 
audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting 
policies  used  and  the  reasonableness  of  accounting  estimates 
made  by  management,  as  well  as  the  overall  presentation  of 
the consolidated financial statements. We believe that the audit 
evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide 
a basis for our audit opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements give a true 
and  fair  view  of  the  assets  and  liabilities  and  of  the  financial 
position of the Group as at December 31, 2008 and of the results 
of  its  operations  for  the  year  then  ended  in  accordance  with 
International  Financial  Reporting  Standards  as  adopted  by  the 
European Union.

2. JUSTIFICATION OF OUR ASSESSMENTS

The financial crisis which has progressively produced an economical 
crisis  has  significant  consequences  for  companies  in  particular 
for  their  revenues  and  their  financing.  Taking  into  account  this 
unfavourable  economical  environment  and  in  accordance  with 
the  requirements  of  article  L.823-9  of  the  French  Commercial 
Code  (Code  de  commerce)  relating  to  the  justification  of  our 
assessments, we bring to your attention the following matters:

(cid:116) Note 2 to the accounts related to the basis of preparation of the 
consolidated financial statements presents the main assumptions 
and estimates used by management, in particular with respect to 
impairment of non financial assets and to employee benefits.
We have examined the process applied for the determination by the 
management of the assumptions used and their implementation, 
as well as the corresponding information disclosed in the notes 
to the accounts.
As mentioned in note 2, the actual future cash flows as well as 
the  actual  income  and  expenses  may  differ  from  the  estimates 
used, depending upon market trends and significant changes in 
the economical and social environments.
(cid:116)  Note  9  to  the  accounts  “Non-recurring  income  and  charges” 
discloses the provisions accounted for in connection with the plan 
intended to make Michelin operations in Italy more competitive.
As part of our work, we verified that the basis for calculation of 
these estimates is reasonable.
(cid:116)  Note  18  to  the  accounts  “Deferred  tax  assets  and  liabilities” 
presents deferred tax assets amounting to EUR 857 million.
As part of our work, we verified that the amount of deferred tax 
assets stated is recoverable.
These assessments were made in the context of our audit of the 
consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, and therefore 
contributed to the opinion we formed which is expressed in the 
first part of this report.

3. SPECIFIC VERIFICATION

As required by law we have also verified the information given in 
the Group’s management report.
We have no matters to report as to its fair presentation and its 
consistency with the consolidated financial statements.

Neuilly-sur-Seine and Paris, February 9, 2009

PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit 
Christian MARCELLIN 

Corevise
Stéphane MARIE

 The Statutory Auditors
 Members of “Compagnies Régionales” of Versailles and Paris

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   143

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Experts, managers, cross-sectional 
team facilitators: people can move 
from one type of position to another 
during a career.

3,500

Each day, some 3,500 Group 
employees benefit from training.

144 2008 Michelin Annual Report 

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Additional 
Information

146
158
161
179
179

• Corporate Governance
• Risk Management
• Social and Environmental Information
• Production Sites 
• Important Agreements

30,000 employees will leave 
the Group in the next four - five years.
Passing on know-how, recruiting fresh
talent, growing potential, promoting
mobility... these are the challenges 
to be addressed.

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145

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Michelin’s Corporate Governance: 
A Balanced Organization

The  organizational  principles  of  Compagnie  Générale  des 
Etablissements  Michelin  (CGEM),  a  Partnership  Limited  by 
Shares  (commandite  par  actions),  are  implemented  in  a  highly 
transparent  and  efficient  way  by  the  Company  and  are  fully 
tuned to Shareholders’ expectations and to responsible corporate 
governance  needs.  Such  principles  are  designed  to  favor  the 
pursuit  of  long-term  strategies  by  a  stable  and  committed 
management,  monitored  by  an  independent  Supervisory  Board 
whose  functions  are  clearly  separated  from  those  of  executive 
management.

In addition, since all of the Company’s shares are registered shares, 
close and direct ties are maintained with each Shareholder.

Mr.  Jean-Dominique  Senard  benefits  from  a  long  international 
corporate management experience. He joined Michelin Group in 
2005 in his capacity as Chief Financial Officer.

The  Managing  Partners  report  to  the  Shareholders.  They  are 
assisted by the Group Executive Council that meets monthly and 
whose members are presented on page 21 of this Report.

STABILITY

proposal  of  the  General  Partners  and  after  consultation  with 
the  Supervisory  Board.  Their  compensation  is  set  each  year  by 
unanimous decision of the General Partners, whether Managing 
Partners or Non-Managing Partners, after consultation with the 
Supervisory Board.

Independent Controlling Bodies 
Directly Reporting to Shareholders

The  stability  of  the  Managing  General  Partner  status  promotes 
the definition of long-term orientations, particularly suited to the 
tire industry, where return on investment takes time and market 
adoption of technological innovations is gradual and often slow.

SUPERVISORY BOARD

Make-up

A Seasoned, Stable and Responsible
Management Team

EXPERIENCE

Pursuant  to  its  bylaws,  Michelin  is  managed  by  one  or  more 
Managing Partner(s), being individual(s) who may have the status 
of General Partner or not. 

Messrs  Michel  Rollier  (appointed  Managing  General  Partner 
by  the  Annual  Shareholders  Meeting  of  May  20,  2005),  Didier 
Miraton (appointed Non-General Managing Partner by the Annual 
Shareholders  Meeting  of  May  11,  2007)  and  Jean-Dominique 
Senard (appointed Non-General Managing Partner by the same 
Annual  Shareholders  Meeting),  jointly  assume  the  Company’s 
leadership. 

Mr. Michel Rollier brought a long management experience within 
a large international group to Michelin Group, when he joined it 
in 1996. He then acted as Michelin’s Legal Department Head and 
Chief Financial Officer. 

Mr.  Didier  Miraton  joined  Michelin  in  1982  and  dedicated  his 
career  to  Research  and  Innovation,  in  both  France  and  North 
America. 

RESPONSIBILITY

By  virtue  of  his  status  as  General  Partner,  Michelin’s  Managing 
General  Partner  is  jointly  and  severally  liable  on  his  own 
assets  for  the  full  amount  of  the  Company’s  liabilities  in 
the event of failure. This provision offers Shareholders a rarely 
found level of assurance that the Company is run in their mid- to 
long-term interests, particularly during times of volatile markets 
or  economic  crises.  It  further  strengthens  its  top  executive 
management’s constant watch of corporate risk control issues.

Consistent  with  this  long-term  commitment,  the  Managing 
General Partner may not relinquish his status as General Partner 
without  the  prior  approval  of  an  Extraordinary  Shareholders 
Meeting.  He  is  therefore  bound  to  assume  the  long  term 
consequences of the Group’s management decisions. 

The Managing General Partner is entitled to a statutory share of 
the  Company’s  profits  for  the  previous  financial  year.  The  fact 
that  he  enjoys  no  other  compensation  (such  as  salary,  non-
cash  benefits  or  director’s  fees,  miscellaneous  compensation  or 
retirement scheme) reflects the thorough implementation of the 
principle of fully variable compensation.

The  Non-General  Managing  Partners  are  appointed  for  a  five-
year renewable term by the Annual Shareholders Meeting upon 

In  accordance  with  applicable  law  and  Company  bylaws,  the 
Supervisory Board comprises 3 to 10 members appointed by the 
Annual Shareholders Meeting for a term of 5 years (4 years for 
future  renewals  and  appointments  (1));  the  General  Partners  are 
not  entitled  to  take  part  in  this  appointment.  The  Supervisory 
Board members may be re-elected.

The age limit for serving as Supervisory Board member is set at 
75 years by the bylaws and applies to two thirds of the members 
of the Board.

The  Supervisory  Board  currently  comprises  eight  members:  
Mr.  Eric  Bourdais  de  Charbonnière  (Chairman),  Mrs.  Barbara 
Dalibard and Mrs. Laurence Parisot, Messrs. Pat Cox, Louis Gallois, 
François Grappotte, Pierre Michelin and Benoît Potier (2).

The  Supervisory  Board’s  and  its  committees’  codes  of  conduct, 
whose  main  provisions  are  set  forth  below,  define  the  Board’s 
mission and organization.

Mission

The Supervisory Board monitors the management of the Company 
on an ongoing basis on behalf of the Shareholders and reports 
on  its  mission  to  them  annually.  Its  mission  includes:  reviewing 
the annual and semi-annual corporate and consolidated financial 
statements  approved  by  the  Managing  Partners,  assessing  the 
fairness and adequacy of the Company’s management decisions, 

(1) A resolution will be presented to the Annual Shareholders Meeting of May 15, 2009 to reduce the term of Supervisory Board members to four years.
(2) Supervisory Board member biographies are set forth on pp  22 to 23, and 194 to 196, of this Report and the information relative to their compensation is on page 155.

146   2008 Michelin Annual Report

the  quality  of  the  internal  control  and  risk  control  systems,  the 
strategic  orientations  and  respect  of  Shareholder  rights.  The 
Supervisory Board is regularly informed of the Group’s prospects 
and strategy.

Independence

The  Supervisory  Board  must  be  made  up  of  a  majority  of 
independent  members,  without  vested  interests  (ie  members 
having no ties whatsoever to the Company or its management, in 
a way that might alter their free judgment).

Accordingly, a majority of Supervisory Board Members must not be:
(cid:116)  current  or  past  employees  of  the  Company  or  one  of  its 
subsidiaries within the last five years;
(cid:116)  directors  of  a  company  in  which  the  Company  is  directly  or 
indirectly  a  board  member  or  in  which  one  of  the  Company’s 
Directors is a board member;
(cid:116) an important customer, supplier or banker of the Company or 
an entity with which it conducts significant business dealings;
(cid:116) a near kin of one of the Managing Partners;
(cid:116)  current  or  past  auditors  of  the  Company  within  the  last  five 
years.

These  criteria  fully  match  those  set  forth  in  the  AFEP-MEDEF 
Corporate  Governance  Code  for  listed  companies,  with  the 
exception of maximum term of office (1).

To date, all Supervisory Board members are deemed independent 
for the purposes of the above criteria. Moreover, the Supervisory 
Board members combine between them world-class managerial 
skills in both industry and finance. 

Organization

In order for it to fulfill its control mission, the Supervisory Board 
benefits  from  regular  detailed  presentations  on  the  following 
subjects:
(cid:116)  Company  results  analysis  by  the  Managing  Partners  and  the 
Head of Financial Operations;
(cid:116) strategic guidelines and key projects;
(cid:116) review of all types of risk;
(cid:116)  and  all  other  subjects  necessary  to  understand  the  Group’s 
strategy, operations and outlook in the context of its markets and 
competitive environment. 

The Supervisory Board reviews annually the Group’s risk control 
systems  including  the  systems  implemented  by  the  different 
departments,  the  main  risks  they  address  and  the  resources 
available  to  prevent  them  and  ensure  business  continuity.  On 
a  yearly  basis,  the  Supervisory  Board  also  assesses  the  Group’s 
internal control systems and hears the Head of the Internal Audit 
Department.

In order to afford the Supervisory Board optimum visibility on the 
Group’s operations, its Members receive a quarterly management 
report featuring key indicators and regular information including 
the  most  significant  press  releases  by  the  company  and 
financial analysts’ studies together with updates on the Group’s 
environment.

Supervisory Board meetings can be held in videoconference in the 
terms and conditions stipulated in its internal code of conduct.

Supervisory Board Assessment

Once a year, the Supervisory Board reviews its own organization 
and  the  status  of  each  one  of  its  members  with  respect  to  the 
independence criteria.

This review is conducted formally each year by the Chairman of 
the Supervisory Board.

The  conclusions  of  this  annual  assessment  are  set  forth  in  the 
Supervisory Board Chairman’s Report to the Annual Shareholders 
Meeting on the make-up, preliminary work and organization of the 
Supervisory Board’s operations and on the internal control and risk 
management procedures implemented by the Company (2).

The Supervisory Board is assisted in its mission by two Committees, 
set  up  to  enhance  its  efficiency,  each  having  its  own  code  of 
conduct, as summarized below.

●  The Audit Committee

Make-up

The Audit Committee includes at least three members, for their 
full  term  as  Supervisory  Board  Members,  two  thirds  of  whom 
must be independent. Todate, its members are Messrs. François 
Grappotte  (Chairman),  Eric  Bourdais  de  Charbonnière,  Pierre 
Michelin and Benoît Potier, who are all independent.

Mission

The  Audit  Committee  supports  the  Supervisory  Board  in  its 
mission  of  reviewing  the  corporate  and  consolidated  accounts 

and  assessing  the  quality  of  corporate  information  and  of  risk 
and  internal  control  procedures.  In  this  capacity  it  performs 
particularly the following tasks:

(cid:116) review the annual and semi-annual corporate and consolidated 
financial  statements,  approved  by  the  Managing  Partners  and 
audited by the Statutory Auditors;

(cid:116)  ensure  the  relevance  and  consistency  of  accounting  methods 
and policies and the quality of information communicated to the 
Shareholders;

(cid:116)  analyze  and  assess  the  quality  of  internal  control  and  risk 
management systems in connection with financial and accounting 
data;

(cid:116) review and assess financial, accounting and legal risks as well as 
the quality of hedges for these risks and their treatment in Group 
accounts and communication.

The Audit Committee performs the tasks of a specialized committee 
that monitors all issues with respect to the preparation and control 
of  accounting  and  financial  information  pursuant  to  the  new 
articles L.823-19 and L.823-20-4° of the French Commercial Code 
introduced by order n°2008-1278 of December 8, 2008.

Organization

The  Committee’s  work  schedule  and  agenda  are  set  by  the 
Supervisory Board.

To fulfill its missions, the Audit Committee can require the Head 
of  Financial  Operations  or  other  Group  executives  to  attend  its 
meetings;  moreover,  once  a  year,  the  Committee  can  discuss 
matters  with  the  Statutory  Auditors  without  the  Group’s 
management attending.

The Committee may choose the place of its meetings as well as 
their modalities, including videoconference.

The Committee’s Chairman reports on the Committee’s work to 
the Supervisory Board.

The  Supervisory  Board  Chairman’s  Report  to  the  Annual 
Shareholders  Meeting 
includes  an  account  of  the  Audit 
Committee’s activities (3).

●  The Compensation Committee

The  Compensation  Committee  includes  all  Supervisory  Board 
members,  who  are  all  independent,  and  is  chaired  by  the 
Supervisory Board’s Chairman.

(1) See the corporate governance statement by the Supervisory Board on page 73 of the annual report
(2) This report is included in this Reference document on page 72.
(3) This report is included in this Reference document on page 73.

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   147

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
them  in  particular  that  its  shares  are  registered  and  therefore 
traded up to the Shareholders Meeting.

Finally, Michelin considers it fair that investors who have a long-
term view and are willing to take risks alongside the Company, 
enjoy  greater  influence  over  the  Company’s  strategic  choices. 
Accordingly  Michelin’s  bylaws  grant  double  voting  rights  to 
the Shareholders who have retained their shares for more than  
4 years.

Directorships, Compensation, Benefits
and Stock Options

LIST OF DIRECTORSHIPS AND OTHER FUNCTIONS HELD IN OTHER 
COMPANIES BY THE MANAGING PARTNERS IN 2008

Mr. Michel Rollier (born in 1944)
Unlimited Partner and 
Managing Partner

Compagnie Financière Michelin 

Director

Director (since May 7, 2008)

Mr. Didier Miraton (born in 1958)
Director

Moria 

Lafarge

Vilmorin 

Mr. Jean-Dominique Senard (born in 1953)
Executive Vice-President

Compagnie Financière Michelin

Mission

The scope of the Committee’s control includes:

–  Group  management  executive  compensation  policy  which 
covers the criteria used to determine 

(cid:116) the fixed and variable compensation paid to the Non-General 
Managing Partners,

(cid:116) the fixed and  variable compensation paid  to Group Executive 
Council members, 

(cid:116) the variable compensation paid to other top executives; 
–  the stock option and free share allocation policy.

In  addition,  this  committee  has  a  say  in  connection  with 
Managing Partner and Supervisory Board Member appointment 
policy.  In  2009,  the  Board  will  formalize  this  mission  in  the 
Committee’s  Code  of  Conduct  to  become  the  “Compensation 
and Appointment Committee”.

Organization

Depending  on  the  matter,  the  Compensation  Committee’s 
meetings  may  be  attended  by  the  Head  of  the  Personnel 
Department or a Group or third party expert.

The  Supervisory  Board  Chairman’s  Report  to  the  Annual 
Shareholders Meeting includes an account of the Compensation 
Committee’s activities (1).

STATUTORY AUDITORS

The Statutory Auditors are appointed by the Ordinary Shareholders 
Meeting for a term of 6 years based on a recommendation from 
the  Supervisory  Board  after  a  review  by  the  Audit  Committee. 
They test the fairness of Group financial statements and carry out 
other inspection missions as provided by law. The other missions 
assigned  to  them  by  Michelin  are  not  such  that  they  might 
impinge on their independence.

The fees paid to the Statutory Auditors during the financial year 
are published in the legal conditions and set forth in page 157 of 
this document.

Respect for Shareholders is one of
Michelin’s core values
information  which 
All  Shareholders  have  access 
comprehensive, transparent and adapted to everyone’s needs.

to 

is 

A wide range of documents is published, including in particular 
those  pursuant to regulated information requirements (2), covering 
the  Company’s  business,  strategy  and  financial  information: 
Annual  Reports  (including  the  Annual  Financial  Report  and  the 
Reference  Document),  the  Semi-annual  Financial  Report,  the 
Shareholders’  Guide,  Letters  to  Shareholders,  the  Company’s 
bylaws, the Michelin Performance and Responsibility Report and 
the  Factbook.  All  these  documents  are  readily  available  from 
Michelin’s website www.michelin.com/corporate in the “Finance” 
section in the French and English languages and on request from 
Michelin’s Investor Relations Department.

Seven Shareholder meetings were organized in 2008 at Toulouse, 
Amiens, Rennes, Strasburg, Paris, Dijon and Grenoble. 

In addition, the Group’s Investor Relations team met institutional 
investors and financial analysts on 241 occasions including one-
to-one meetings in 21 countries, thus enabling direct discussions 
with  some  735  members  of  the  financial  community  in  2008. 
This was complemented by specific presentations and site tours 
arranged for analysts, investors and portfolio managers. Michelin 
also  communicates  on  a  regular  basis  with  socially  responsible 
investment investors and rating agencies.

Set up in 2003, the Shareholders’ Consultative Committee is made 
up of twelve members, two of whom are Employee Shareholders. 
The Shareholder Consultative Committee’s mission is to make an 
active contribution to Michelin’s communication with its individual 
Shareholders with respect to financial and image considerations. 
The Committee met twice in 2008.

Launched  in  2002  and  extended  in  2003  and  then  in  2008, 
the  Group’s  Employee  Shareholder  Plan  was  proposed  in  2008 
to  nearly  100,000  employees  in  55  countries  across  the  world. 
Some 55.98% of them became Group Shareholders or increased 
their  holdings.  Each  year,  the  Shareholder  and  Proxy  solicitor 
communities are notified of the date of the Annual Shareholders 
Meeting and of the procedure to cast their votes. Michelin reminds 

(1) This report is included in this Reference document on page 73.
(2) Regulated information is also available in French and in English from the official French site: ww.info-financiere.fr

148   2008 Michelin Annual Report

COMPENSATION PAID TO THE MANAGING PARTNERS AND SUPERVISORY BOARD MEMBERS (1) (BY THE COMPANY AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES)

The Managing Partners  

1 - Summary Table of Compensation and stock option and share allocations to each Company Director (in EUR)

Michel ROLLIER, Managing General Partner, fully liable on his own assets for the Company’s liabilities

Compensation due for the Financial Year (see detail in table 2)
Value of the options granted during the financial year (see detail in table 3)
Value of the performance bonus shares granted during the financial year (see detail in table 5)

Total

Didier MIRATON, Non-General Managing Partner 
Compensation due for the Financial Year (see detail in table 2)
Value of the options granted during the financial year (see detail in table 3)
Value of the performance bonus shares granted during the financial year (see detail in table 5)

Total

Jean-Dominique SENARD, Non-General Managing Partner
Compensation due for the Financial Year (see detail in table 2)
Value of the options granted during the financial year (see detail in table 3)
Value of the performance bonus shares granted during the financial year (see detail in table 5)
Total

Financial year 2007

Financial year 2008

5,342,932 (2)

2,478,760 (3)  

0

0

0

0

5,342,932

2,478,760 

Financial year 2007

Financial year 2008

582,963

476,293 (4)

0

0

0

0

582,963

476,293

Financial year 2007

Financial year 2008

902,060

0

0

663,947 (5)

0

0

902,060

663,947

(1)  The  following  tables  were  drawn  up  pursuant  to  the  AFEP/
MEDEF  Corporate  Governance  Code,  and  more  particularly 
according to the Recommendations issued on October 6, 2008.

(2)  Statutory  Share  of  Profits,  fully  variable,  proportional  to 
corporate profit for financial year 2007. This share of profits was 
paid by CGEM and by two fully owned companies (Manufacture 
Française des Pneumatiques Michelin – MFPM – and Compagnie 
Financière  Michelin  –  CFM)  and  were  approved  by  their 
Shareholders at the Annual Shareholders Meetings convened in 
2008.

(3)  This  more  than  half  (-53%)  drop  in  compensation  is  due 
to  lower  income  recorded  in  2008  versus  2007.  This  is  a  total 
estimated  amount  subject  i)  to  approval  of  the  statutory  share 
of profits by the CGEM Shareholders at the Annual Shareholders 
Meeting of May 15, 2009 convened to approve the accounts and 
appropriate the profits for 2008, and ii) the approval of the other 
General  Partner  (SAGES).  This  amount  includes  the  statutory 
share of profit globally estimated at EUR 185,919 to be paid by 
the two above fully owned companies, fully variable, proportional 
to corporate profit recorded by these companies for fiscal 2008, 
subject to approval of the statutory share of profits by the Annual 

Shareholders  Meeting  to  be  convened  in  2009  to  approve  the 
accounts and appropriate the profits for 2008.

(4) This substantial drop in compensation (-18%) results from the 
full cancellation of the Non-General Managing Partners' variable 
compensation  due  to  the  decline  of  Group  earnings  in  fiscal 
2008.

(5) This substantial drop in compensation (-26%) results from the 
full cancellation of the Non-General Managing Partners' variable 
compensation  due  to  the  decline  of  Group  earnings  in  fiscal 
2008.

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   149

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2 - Summary Table of the Compensation of each Company Director (in EUR)

Michel ROLLIER, Managing General Partner, fully liable on his own assets  
for the Company’s liabilities

Fixed compensation

Variable compensation

Extraordinary compensation

Director’s fees

Fringe benefits 

Total

Financial year 2007 amounts

Financial year 2008 amounts

due
0

paid
0

due
0

paid
0

5,342,932 (1)

4,225,100 (2)

2,478,760 (3)

5,342,932 (1)

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

5,342,932

4,225,100

 2,478,760 

5,342,932

Didier MIRATON, Non-General Managing Partner (4)

Financial year 2007 amounts

Financial year 2008 amounts

Fixed compensation

Variable compensation

Extraordinary compensation (9)

Director’s fees

Fringe benefits including

– foreign mobility bonus
– company car

Total 

due
284,509 (5)

267,001 (6)

0

0

26,176 (10)
5,277

582,963

(1) Of which EUR 4,760,000 statutory share of profits approved by 
the Shareholders at the Annual Shareholders Meeting of May 16, 
2008, fully variable, proportional to corporate profit for financial 
year  2007,  and  EUR  582,932  corresponding  to  the  fully  variable 
and proportional statutory share of profits for financial year 2007 
of two wholly owned companies, MFPM and CFM.
(2) Of which EUR 3,960,000 statutory share of profits approved by 
the Shareholders at the Annual Shareholders Meeting of May 11, 
2007,  fully  variable,  proportional  to  corporate  profit  for  financial 
year  2006,  and  EUR  265,101  corresponding  to  the  fully  variable 
and proportional statutory share of profits for financial year 2006 
of two wholly owned companies, MFPM and CFM.
(3) This more than half (-53%) drop in compensation is due to lower 
income  recorded  in  2008  versus  2007.  This  is  a  total  estimated 
amount subject i) to approval of the statutory share of profits by 
the  CGEM  Shareholders  at  the  Annual  Shareholders  Meeting  of 
May 15, 2009 convened to approve the accounts and appropriate 
the  profits  for  2008,  and  ii)  the  approval  of  the  other  General 
Partner (SAGES). This amount includes the statutory share of profit 
globally estimated at EUR 185,919 to be paid by the two above fully 
owned companies, fully variable, proportional to corporate profit 
recorded by these companies for fiscal 2008, subject to approval of 

the statutory share of profits by the Annual Shareholders Meeting 
to be convened in 2009 to approve the accounts and appropriate 
the profits for 2008.
(4) Pursuant to the provisions of the Bylaws, the full compensation 
package  was  decided  by  the  General  Partners  after  a  favorable 
opinion was issued by the Supervisory Board.
(5)  Includes  an  amount  of  EUR  85,005  borne  by  MFPM, 
corresponding  to  the  salary  paid  by  MFPM 
in  2007  to  
Mr. Didier Miraton until his employment contract was automatically 
suspended on May 11, 2007, when he was appointed Managing 
Partner of CGEM.
(6) Paid in the second quarter 2008, after a favorable opinion was 
issued by the Supervisory Board, concerning the attainment of the 
performance criteria. The increase in compensation paid in 2008 
versus 2007 results from a combination of the following factors: 
on  the  one  hand,  a  mechanical  effect  due  to  the  change  in  the 
structure of compensation from mid-2007, resulting from Mr. Didier 
Miraton‘s  assumption  of  his  responsibilities  as  Managing  Partner 
and, in particular, a larger share of variable compensation in overall 
compensation,  which  was  raised  from  32%  of  the  fixed  portion 
of  his  compensation  in  his  capacity  as  Head  of  the  Technology 
Center,  to  100%  of  his  2007  fixed  compensation  in  his  capacity 

150   2008 Michelin Annual Report

paid
284,509 (5)

59,918 (7)

0

0

20,511 (11)
5,277

370,215

due

420,004

0 (8)

0

0

  49,984 (12)
6,305

476,293 (13)

paid

420,004

267,001 (6)

0

0

26,176 (10)
6,305

719,486

as Managing Partner, and on the other hand, an amplifier effect in 
absolute value, of the variable portion of compensation, pegged to 
net consolidated result, sharply up in 2007 versus 2006 (+35%).
(7)  Paid  by  MFPM  during  the  second  quarter  2007,  for  variable 
compensation  for  2007  to  Mr.  Didier  Miraton  in  his  capacity  as 
MFPM employee in 2006.
(8)  Full  cancellation  of  the  Non-General  Managing  Partners‘ 
variable  compensation,  as  the  triggering  threshold  for  variable 
compensation paid to management was not reached in the fiscal 
year.
(9) Mr. Didier Miraton has access to a long-term incentive scheme 
that gave rise to no payment in 2007 nor in 2008. The long-term 
incentive  scheme  is  described  in  detail  in  pages  152  and  154  of 
this Report. 
(10) Paid in the second quarter of fiscal 2008.
(11) Borne by MFPM with respect to fiscal 2006.
(12) To be paid in the second quarter of fiscal 2009.
(13) This substantial drop in compensation (-18%) results from the 
full  cancellation  of  the  Non-General  Managing  Partners‘  variable 
compensation due to the decline of Group earnings in fiscal 2008.

Jean-Dominique SENARD, Non-General Managing Partner (1)

Financial year 2007 amounts

Financial year 2008 amounts

Fixed compensation

Variable compensation

Extraordinary compensation (6)

Director’s fees

Fringe benefits including

– foreign mobility bonus
– company car

Total 

due
447,701 (2)

409,405 (3)

0

0

40,158 (7)
4,797

902,060

(1) Pursuant to the provisions of the Bylaws, the full compensation 
package  was  decided  by  the  General  Partners  after  a  favorable 
opinion  was  issued  by  the  Supervisory  Board.  In  addition,  note 
that Mr. Jean-Dominique Senard receives no compensation in his 
capacity as CFM Director.
(2)  Includes  an  amount  of  EUR  141,792  borne  by  MFPM, 
corresponding to the salary paid by MFPM in 2007 to Mr. Jean-
Dominique Senard until his employment contract was automatically 
suspended on May 11, 2007, when he was appointed Managing 
Partner of CGEM.
(3)  Paid  in  the  second  quarter  2008,  after  a  favorable  opinion 
was issued by the Supervisory Board, concerning the attainment 
of  the  performance  criteria.  The  increase  in  compensation  paid 
in 2008 versus 2007 results from a combination of the following 

factors: on the one hand, a mechanical effect due to the change 
in the structure of compensation from mid-2007, resulting from 
Mr.  Jean-Dominique  Senard‘s  assumption  of  his  responsibilities 
as Managing Partner and, in particular, a larger share of variable 
compensation  in  overall  compensation,  which  was  raised  from 
32% of the fixed portion of his compensation in his capacity as 
Chief Financial Officer, to 100% of his 2007 fixed compensation 
in  his  capacity  as  Managing  Partner,  and  on  the  other  hand, 
an  amplifier  effect  in  absolute  value,  of  the  variable  portion  of 
compensation, pegged to net consolidated result, sharply up in 
2007 versus 2006 (+35%).
(4)  Paid  by  MFPM  during  the  second  quarter  2007,  for  variable 
compensation  for  2007  to  Mr.  Jean-Dominique  Senard  in  his 
capacity as MFPM employee in 2006.

paid
447,701 (2)

96,605 (4)

0

0

25,369 (8)
4,797

574,471

due

560,001

0 (5)

0

0

98,463 (9)
5,483

paid

560,001

409,405 (3)

0

0

40,158 (7)
5,483

663,947 (10)

1,015,047

(5)  Full  cancellation  of  the  Non-General  Managing  Partners‘ 
variable  compensation,  as  the  triggering  threshold  for  variable 
compensation paid to management was not reached in the fiscal 
year.
(6) Mr. Jean-Dominique Senard has access to a long-term incentive 
scheme that gave rise to no payment in 2007 nor in 2008. The 
long-term  incentive  scheme  is  described  in  detail  in  pages  153 
and 154 of this Report.
(7) Paid in the second quarter of fiscal 2008.
(8) Borne by MFPM with respect to fiscal 2006.
(9) To be paid in the second quarter of fiscal 2009.
(10)  This  substantial  drop  in  compensation  (-26%)  results  from 
the  full  cancellation  of  the  Non-General  Managing  Partners‘ 
variable  compensation  due  to  the  decline  of  Group  earnings  in 
fiscal 2008.

3 - Share subscription or purchase options allocated during the financial year to each Company Director

Options granted to each Company
Director by the issuer and any Group company 
(namelist)
Michel Rollier
Didier Miraton
Jean-Dominique Senard

Plan No. 
and date 

–
–
–

Nature of options
(purchase  
or subscription)
–
–
–

Value of the options calculated with 
the method used  
for the consolidated accounts
0
0
0

Number of options allocated 
during the financial year

Call price 

Call period

0
0
0

–
–
–

–
–

4 - Share subscription or purchase options called during the financial year to each Company Director

Options called by the Company Directors (namelist)

Plan No. and date 

Michel Rollier
Didier Miraton
Jean-Dominique Senard

–
–
–

Number of options called  
during the financial year  

Call price

Allocation year

0
0
0

–
–
–

–
–
–

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   151

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5 - Performance bonus shares granted to each Company Director

Performance bonus shares granted to each Company
Director by the issuer and any Group company  
(namelist)

Michel Rollier
Didier Miraton
Jean-Dominique Senard

Plan No. and date  Number of shares allocated 
during the financial year

–
–
–

0
0
0

Value of the shares calculated  
with the method used  
for the consolidated accounts
0
0
0

Acquisition 
date

Date  
available

–
–
–

–
–
–

6 - Performance bonus shares becoming available during the financial year for each Company Director

Performance bonus shares that became available for the Company
Directors (namelist)

Plan No. and date 

Number of shares that became available 
during the financial year

Conditions for  
acquisition

Allocation year

Michel Rollier
Didier Miraton
Jean-Dominique Senard

–
–
–

● Amounts allocated to the Managing General Partner,  
Mr. Michel Rollier

● Compensation and Benefits received by the Non-General 
Managing Partners

In  his  capacity  as  General  Partner,  Mr.  Michel  Rollier  is 
fully liable on his own assets for the Company’s liabilities. 
As  consideration  for  this  responsibility,  the  General  Partners  (1) 
collectively  enjoy  a  statutory  capped  portion  of  Company 
profits  (2). Their interests are therefore fully consistent with that 
of  the  Shareholders  in  so  far  as  they  are  only  entitled  to  such 
consideration if the Company posts a profit.

The  more  than  half  (-53%)  drop  in  the  compensation  due  for 
fiscal  2008  is  the  consequence  of  lower  earnings  recorded  in 
2008 versus 2007.

In  addition,  in  financial  year  2008,  Mr.  Michel  Rollier,  whether 
in  his  capacity  as  Managing  Partner  or  as  Director  or  General 
Partner of any controlled company, received no salary, benefits in 
kind, attendance fees, bonus, free shares or stock options.

Neither the Company nor any of its controlled affiliates:

(cid:116)  have  borne  the  cost  of  any  contribution  for  any  retirement 
scheme Mr. Michel Rollier might benefit from;

(cid:116)  are  committed  to  paying  to  Mr.  Michel  Rollier  any  severance 
package should he cease to act as a Managing General Partner.

Mr. Didier Miraton

In  2008,  the  substantial  drop  in  compensation  for  Mr.  Didier 
Miraton  (-18%)  results  from  the  full  cancellation  of  the  Non-
General  Managing  Partners’  variable  compensation  due  to  the 
decline of Group earnings in this financial year. 

The  increase  in  compensation  paid  in  2008  versus  2007  results 
from  a  combination  of  the  following  factors:  on  the  one  hand, 
a  mechanical  effect  due  to  the  change  in  the  structure  of 
compensation from mid-2007, resulting from Mr. Didier Miraton’s 
assumption  of  his  responsibilities  as  Managing  Partner  and,  in 
particular,  a  larger  share  of  variable  compensation  in  overall 
compensation,  which  was  raised  from  32%  of  the  fixed  portion 
of  his  compensation  in  his  capacity  as  Head  of  the  Technology 
Center,  to  100%  of  his  2007  fixed  compensation  in  his  capacity 
as Managing Partner, and on the other hand, an amplifier effect in 
absolute value, of the variable portion of compensation, pegged to 
net consolidated result, sharply up in 2007 versus 2006 (+ 35%).

The different components of this compensation, decided by the 
General  Partners  after  a  favorable  opinion  was  issued  by  the 
Supervisory Board and for which the figures are provided on page 
150, are detailed below.

0
0
0

–
–
–

–
–
–

(cid:116) A fixed portion.
(cid:116)  A  variable  portion  capped  at  120%  of  the  fixed  portion, 
calculated  based  on  the  results  of  financial  year  2008  of  the 
Group’s operational and financial performance indicators used to 
set the Group’s share of variable compensation for its executives, 
with payment of this variable portion being subject to attainment 
of at least 7.8% operating margin. As this result was not achieved, 
the amount of this variable portion due for fiscal 2008 is equal 
to 0.

(cid:116) An incentive scheme introduced as a result of the Non-General 
Managing Partners being barred by law from holding Company 
shares (3).  

The amount of such incentive scheme, under which no payments 
were made in either 2007 or 2008, corresponds to the allocation 
of a number of units, to which is applied a coefficient equal to 
the  difference  between  (i)  the  value  of  the  Company’s  share 
on  the  date  of  the  request  for  the  allocation  of  units  and  (ii)  a 
share reference value, equal to the call price of the stock options 
allocated  to  Group  employees  on  May  29,  2008.  The  other 
economic  terms  and  conditions  of  allocation  (in  particular  the 
acquisition  term  and  conditions  of  presence  within  the  Group) 
are identical to those defined in the stock option plan referred to 
above, except for minor adjustments required by the legal status 
attached to the function of Non-General Managing Partners. 

(1) The Group has two General Partners: Mr. Michel Rollier, Managing Partner, and SAGES (see presentation on page 183).
(2) See the provisions of article 30 of the bylaws, referred to in the Other Legal and Financial Information section (p. 183).
(3) Pursuant to the provisions of article L.222-6 of Code de commerce (referring to article L.226- 1) Non-General Managing Partners are barred from owning Company shares as Shareholders are not entitled to commit a company vis-à-vis third 
parties.

152   2008 Michelin Annual Report

Detailed information on this long-term incentive scheme, similar 
to  the  information  published  concerning  share  subscription 
options, are set forth in the table on page 154 below.

(cid:116)  Ancillary  benefits,  identical  to  those  granted  to  the  Group 
Executive Board members (foreign mission bonus and company 
car).

Mr.  Didier  Miraton  would  have  been  entitled  in  2008,  in  the 
event of early termination of his assignment at the initiative of the 
General Partners (other than faulty management) to a severance 
package  equivalent  to  the  amount  of  his  fixed  and  variable 
compensation received for the two years preceding the year when 
his assignment was terminated. 50% of this severance package 
would have been based on the Group’s economic and financial 
performance  indicators  fixed  under  the  Group’s  strategic  plan, 
recorded  during  the  term  of  Mr.  Didier  Miraton’s  assignment. 
Such indemnity was not applicable in 2008.

In 2008, the Supervisory Board deemed that the operational and 
financial performance criteria set for Mr. Didier Miraton had been 
attained  for  payment  in  2008  of  his  variable  compensation  for 
financial year 2007.

In financial year 2008 Mr. Didier Miraton received no attendance 
fees from any Group companies, nor any benefits in kind other 
than those listed above and no Company share, share purchase 
or subscription plan.

He does not benefit from any retirement scheme specific to the 
Managing  Partners.  Mr.  Didier  Miraton  will  benefit  from  the 
regular  additional  retirement  scheme  open  for  all  MFPM  and 
CGEM  employees  since  1996,  if  in  service  in  the  Company  at 
the time of retirement, and his gross replacement ratio is below 
55% from statutory pensions. The cost for this capped additional 
scheme is provisioned under IAS19 (post-employment benefits). 
Based  on  seniority  within  the  Group  and  on  current  retirement 
assumptions, the impact of this scheme would represent a gross 
replacement ratio of 11.6% for Mr. Didier Miraton at the time of 
his retirement.

Mr. Jean-Dominique Senard 

In  2008,  the  substantial  drop  in  compensation  for  Mr.  Jean-
Dominique Senard (-26%) results from the full cancellation of the 
Non-General Managing Partners’ variable compensation due to 
the decline of Group earnings in this financial year. 

The  increase  in  compensation  paid  in  2008  versus  2007  results 
from  a  combination  of  the  following  factors:  on  the  one  hand, 
a  mechanical  effect  due  to  the  change  in  the  structure  of 
compensation from mid-2007, resulting from Mr. Jean-Dominique 
Senard’s assumption of his responsibilities as Managing Partner 
and, in particular, a larger share of variable compensation in overall 
compensation, which was raised from 32% of the fixed portion 
of his compensation in his capacity as Chief Financial Officer, to 
100% of his 2007 fixed compensation in his capacity as Managing 
Partner,  and  on  the  other  hand,  an  amplifier  effect  in  absolute 
value,  of  the  variable  portion  of  compensation,  pegged  to  net 
consolidated result, sharply up in 2007 versus 2006 (+35%).

The different components of this compensation, decided by the 
General  Partners  after  a  favorable  opinion  was  issued  by  the 
Supervisory Board and for which the figures are provided on page 
151, are detailed below.

(cid:116) A fixed portion.
(cid:116)  A  variable  portion  capped  at  120%  of  the  fixed  portion, 
calculated  based  on  the  results  of  financial  year  2008  of  the 
Group’s operational and financial performance indicators used to 
set the Group’s share of variable compensation for its executives, 
with payment of this variable portion being subject to attainment 
of at least 7.8% operating margin. As this result was not achieved, 
the amount of this variable portion due for fiscal 2008 is equal 
to 0.

(cid:116) An incentive scheme introduced as a result of the Non-General 
Managing Partners being barred by law from holding Company 
shares (1). 

The amount of such incentive scheme, under which no payments 
were made in either 2007 or 2008, corresponds to the allocation 
of a number of units, to which is applied a coefficient equal to 
the  difference  between  (i)  the  value  of  the  Company’s  share 
on  the  date  of  the  request  for  the  allocation  of  units  and  (ii)  a 
share reference value, equal to the call price of the stock options 
allocated  to  Group  employees  on  May  29,  2008.  The  other 
economic  terms  and  conditions  of  allocation  (in  particular  the 
acquisition  term  and  conditions  of  presence  within  the  Group) 
are identical to those defined in the stock option plan referred to 
above, except for minor adjustments required by the legal statutes 
attached to the function of Non-General Managing Partners. 

Detailed  information  on  this  long-term  incentive,  similar  to  the 
information  published  concerning  share  subscription  options,  is 
set forth in the table on page 154 below.

(cid:116) Ancillary benefits, identical to those granted to the Group Executive 
Board members (foreign mission bonus and company car).

Mr. Jean-Dominique Senard would have been entitled in 2008, in 
the event of early termination of his assignment at the initiative 
of  the  General  Partners  (other  than  faulty  management)  to  a 
severance  package  equivalent  to  the  amount  of  his  fixed  and 
variable compensation received for the two years preceding the 
year when his assignment was terminated. 50% of this severance 
package would have been based on the Group’s economic and 
financial performance indicators fixed under the Group’s strategic 
plan,  recorded  over  the  term  of  Mr.  Jean-Dominique  Senard’s 
assignment. Such indemnity was not applicable in 2008.

In  addition,  and  in  order  to  avoid  any  redundancy  in  severance 
package,  and  effective  from  the  year  when  he  was  appointed 
Managing  Partner,  Mr.  Jean-Dominique  Senard  unilaterally 
waived the contractual termination severance package provided 
for under his suspended work contract, should he be dismissed 
by MFPM within 6 months of termination of his service as CGEM 
Non-General Managing Partner. 

In  2008,  the  Supervisory  Board  deemed  that  the  operational 
and  financial  performance  criteria  set  for  Mr.  Jean-Dominique 
Senard  had  been  attained  for  payment  in  2008  of  his  variable 
compensation for financial year 2007.

In  financial  year  2008  Mr.  Jean-Dominique  Senard  received  no 
attendance  fees  from  any  Group  companies,  nor  any  benefits 
in kind other than those listed above and no Company share or 
share purchase or subscription plan.

He does not benefit from any retirement scheme specific to the 
Managing Partners. Mr. Jean-Dominique Senard will benefit from 
the regular additional retirement scheme open for all MFPM and 
CGEM  employees  since  1996,  if  in  service  in  the  Company  at 
the time of retirement, and his gross replacement ratio is below 
55% from statutory pensions. The cost for this capped additional 
scheme is provisioned under IAS19 (post-employment benefits). 
Based  on  seniority  within  the  Group  and  on  current  retirement 
assumptions, the impact of this scheme would represent a gross 
replacement ratio of 3.0% for Mr. Jean-Dominique Senard at the 
time of his retirement.

(1) Pursuant to the provisions of article L.222-6 of Code de commerce (referring to article L.226- 1) Non-General Managing Partners are barred from owning Company shares as Shareholders are not entitled to commit a company vis-à-vis third 
parties.

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   153

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
● Long Term Incentive

The status of the Managing Partners long-term incentive scheme as at December 31, 2008 is as follows:

Date of the decision by the General Partners
Total number of units allocated in the financial year
– Mr. Michel Rollier
– Mr. Didier Miraton
– Mr. Jean-Dominique Senard
Total
Starting point for the units to be callable 
Expiry Date
Call price (in EUR)
Valorization (in EUR) (1)
Number of units called in 2008
Units cancelled
Remaining units as at December 31, 2008

2007
10/12/2007

2008
19/05/2008

0
14,000
18,000
32,000
14/05/2011
14/05/2016
91
0
0
0
32,000

0
17,000
20,000
37,000
19/05/2012
18/05/2017
62
0
0
0
37,000

(1) Being a cash debt, the liability is equal to the difference between the Michelin share price and the incentive call price. Where the stock market price be lower than the call price, the liability will be equal to 0.

● Stock options (1) 
Out of the 310,000 stock options granted on May 29, 2008, pursuant to the authorization given at the May 12, 2006 Annual Shareholders Meeting, no option was granted to the Managing Partners.
Since 2005, no Company Director received Company share subscription or purchase options.

Table of share subscription options granted to/ called by each of the Managing Partners for the relevant year

Number of options granted:

Call price

Date of 1st call

Date of last call

Total number of options called/shares subscribed in 2008

2008

0

-

-

-

-

2007
0

-

-

-

-

2006
0

-

-

-

-

2005
0

-

2004
10,000*

2003
15,000*

EUR 40

EUR 32.25

2002
15,000*

EUR 44

- May 17, 2008 May 19, 2007 May 19, 2006

- May 16, 2013 May 18, 2012 May 18, 2011

-

N/A**

5,000

8,000

Michelin share extremes (EUR)

N/A**

N/A**

N/A**

N/A**

47.80 – 34.82

38.11 – 25.02

45.05 – 24.50

* Granted to each then acting Managing Partner: Messrs. Edouard Michelin and René Zingraff.
** Not applicable

(1) The Managing Partners Special Report and the detailed report of the plans in force feature in the Additional Information Concerning the Issuer’s Capital section, on pages 188 and 189 below.

Before his appointment as Managing Partner and in his capacity 
as Michelin Group’s Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Michel Rollier had 
received:
(cid:116)  in the same conditions and call price as set forth in the above 
table, 8,000 share subscription options in 2002, 10,000 in 2003, 
7,000 in 2004, and

(cid:116)(cid:1)in 2005, 10,000 share subscription options at a call price of EUR 
48, callable from May 23, 2009.

Mr. Michel Rollier held, at December 31, 2008:
(cid:116) 35,000 share subscription options and 
(cid:116) 18,500 Company shares, of which 17,500 under the statutory 
share ownership obligation collectively imposed to the Company’s 
Managing General Partners.

Before his appointment as Managing Partner and in his capacity 
as Head of the Michelin Technology Center, Mr. Didier Miraton 
had received:
(cid:116) in the same conditions and call price as set forth in the above 
table, 8,000 share subscription options in 2002, 10,000 in 2003, 
7,000 in 2004, and 
(cid:116)(cid:1) in 2005, 10,000 options at a call price of EUR 48, callable from 
May 23, 2009, and 

154   2008 Michelin Annual Report

(cid:116) in 2006, 6,000 options at a call price of EUR 58, callable from 
May 15, 2010.

(cid:116) in 2006, 6,000 options at a call price of EUR 58, callable from 
May 15, 2010.

At  December  31,  2008,  Mr.  Didier  Miraton  held  28,000  share 
subscription  options  of  the  Company  and  held  no  Company 
share.

At December 31, 2008, Mr. Jean-Dominique Senard held 16,000 
share subscription options of the Company and held no Company 
share.

Before his appointment as Managing Partner and in his capacity 
as Michelin Group’s Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Jean-Dominique 
Senard had received:
(cid:116) in 2005, 10,000 options at a call price of EUR 48, callable from 
May 23, 2009, and 

Group Executive Council
The  members  of  the  Group  Executive  Council,  whose  list  is 
provided on page 21, as a whole received in 2008 a gross overall 
compensation  amounting  to  EUR  5,017,390,  (of  which  EUR 
1,342,643 for variable compensation for 2007 paid in the second 
quarter  2008  (1))  versus  EUR  3,915,534  (of  which  EUR  680,672 
corresponding to variable compensation for 2006 paid in 2007 (2)).

The Supervisory Board
The  global  amount  of  attendance  fees  paid  to  the  Supervisory 
Board  is  set  by  the  Ordinary  Shareholders  Meeting  and  freely 
allocated between its members pursuant to a collective decision 
by the Supervisory Board.

The following fees were paid to Supervisory Board members:

(1) and (2): The above amounts include the pro-rata temporis compensation for Messrs. Didier Miraton and Jean-Dominique Senard, in their capacity as Group Executive Council members until May 11, 2007

Director’s Fees Summary Table

Éric Bourdais de Charbonnière

Pat Cox

Barbara Dalibard (member since May 16, 2008)
Louis Gallois (member since May 16, 2008)
François Grappotte

Pierre Michelin

Laurence Parisot

Benoît Potier

Édouard de Royère (member until November 30, 2007)

Total

Director’s fees paid in 2007

Director’s fees paid in 2008

50,000

30,000

0

0

45,000

40,000

30,000

30,000

40,000

265,000

50,000

30,000

0

0

45,000

40,000

30,000

30,000

40,000

265,000

Additional information concerning Supervisory Board Members1 (3)

Name
Éric Bourdais de Charbonnière (Chairman)

First appointed/renewal
June 11, 1999
May 14, 2004

Last year of mandate
2004
2009

Pat Cox
Barbara Dalibard
Louis Gallois
François Grappotte

Pierre Michelin

Laurence Parisot

Benoît Potier

May 20, 2005
May 16, 2008
May 16, 2008
June 11, 1999
May 14, 2004
June 12, 1998
May 16, 2008

May 20, 2005

May 16, 2003
May 16, 2008

2010
2013
2013
2004
2009
2003
2013

2010

2008
2013

(3) All Supervisory Board members are deemed independent for the purposes of its code of conduct as noted in the Supervisory Board’s Chairman Report (pages 72 and 147 of this document).

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   155

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Statement of operations on Michelin shares conducted by 
corporate Directors and their kins in financial year 2008

Managing Partners

Mr Michel Rollier 
None. 

Mr Didier Miraton 
None. 

Mr Jean-Dominique Senard 
None. 

Supervisory Board  

Mrs Barbara Dalibard
Purchase on April 04, 2008 of 350 shares at a unit price of EUR 68.380.

Mr Louis Gallois 

Purchase on April 29, 2008 of 250 shares at a unit price of EUR 62.349.

To the Company’s knowledge, no other operations were carried out by the Managing Partners and the Supervisory Board members on Company shares during the reporting period.

156   2008 Michelin Annual Report

Fees paid to the Statutory Auditors

Under French law, the accounts of listed companies are required 
to be audited by 2 independent Statutory Auditors. The purpose 
of this permanent control obligation is to obtain assurance that 
the financial statements have been properly prepared and comply 
with the true and fair view principle.

The Statutory Auditors are appointed by the Annual Shareholders 
Meeting for a term of 6 years and may be re-elected.

The Statutory Auditors of Compagnie Générale des Etablissements 
Michelin, Michelin’s holding Company are:

PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit
Member of Compagnie Régionale de Versailles
63, rue de Villiers
92200 Neuilly-sur-Seine
Represented by Christian Marcellin, Partner
Substitute  Statutory  Auditor,  Mr.  Pierre  Coll,  Partner  of 
PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit

Corevise
Member of Compagnie Régionale de Paris
3/5, rue Scheffer
75016 Paris
Represented by Stéphane Marie, Partner
Substitute  Statutory  Auditor,  Mr.  Jacques  Zacks,  Partner  of 
Corevise

Corevise  practices  in  France  and  does  not  have  offices  in  any 
other country.
No legal or financial dependence exists between the 2 Statutory 
Auditors or their audit firms.
The Statutory Auditors were appointed by the Joint Shareholders 
Meeting of May 14, 2004. Their term of office expires at the end 
of the Annual Shareholders Meeting convened in 2010 to approve 
the accounts of financial year 2009.
The following table sets out the details of fees paid in 2008 by 
Michelin Group to its Statutory Auditors and contractual auditors. 
Note  that  CGEM  consolidates  225  subsidiaries  in  55  countries. 
The financial statements of each of these subsidiaries are audited 
in their respective countries by contractual auditors, who may or 
may not be members of an international network.

Table of fees paid to Compagnie Générale des Etabilissements Michelin (CGEM)’s Statutory Auditors

Years 2008 and 2007

PricewaterhouseCoopers

Corevise

Others

Total

EUR thousand

%

EUR thousand

%

EUR thousand

%

EUR thousand

%

2008

2007

2008

2007

2008

2007

2008

2007

2008

2007

2008

2007

2008

2007

2008

2007

Audit
Statutory audits, opinions, reviews of standalone
and consolidated financial statements

– CGEM

– French subsidiaries

– Foreign subsidiaries

Other services directly linked to the statutory
audit work

– CGEM

– Subsidiaries

Sub-total Audit

Other services rendered by auditors  
networks to subsidiaries

Legal, tax and social

Others

Sub-total Others

Total

185

582

182

4.3% 4.7%

552 13.6% 14.2%

2,999

2,675 70.2% 68.9%

185

150

–

182 41.1% 47.1%

146 33.3% 37.8%

–

182

–

0.0% 0.0%

166

4.2% 3.4%

370

914

364

4.1% 4.0%

864 10.1% 9.5%

–

0.0% 0.0% 1,851

1,649 42.8% 34.2% 4,850

4,324

53.6% 47.6%

14

126

36

104

0.3% 0.9%

2.9% 2.7%

–

62

14

0.0% 3.7%

44 13.8% 11.4%

–

65

–

94

0.0% 0.0%

1.5% 1.9%

14

253

50

242

0.2% 0.6%
2.8% 2.7%

3,906

3,549 91.5% 91.4%

397

386 88.2% 100% 2,098

1,909 48.5% 39.6% 6,401

5,844 70.8% 64.3%

222

142

364

264

68

332

5.2% 6.8%

3.3% 1.7%

8.5% 8.6%

–

53

53

–

0.0% 0.0% 1,570

2,075 36.3% 43.0% 1,792

– 11.8% 0.0%

659

839 15.2% 17.4%

854

2,340 19.8% 25.7%
9.4% 10.0%

906

– 11.8% 0.0% 2,229

2,914 51.5% 60.4% 2,646

3,246 29.2% 35.7%

4,270 

3,881

100% 100%

450

386

100% 100% 4,327

4,823

100% 100% 9,047

9,090

100% 100%

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   157

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
●  a  network  of  experts  who  are  based  in  each  site  and  bring 
technical and methodological support to the local site managers. 
The latter bear ultimate responsibility for the performance of their 
entity’s Environmental and Prevention performance. 

The  robustness  of  the  approach  is  based  on  implementation 
of  an  Environmental  and  Risk  Prevention  Management  System 
(SMEP). This is an extension to all other EP fields (Asset Protection, 
Work  Safety,  Industrial  Hygiene,  Ergonomics)  of  the  existing 
Environmental Management System.

The  system  is  being  rolled  out  in  the  industrial  sites.  Michelin 
teams have been auditing sites since 2005 and 2006. The system 
will be fully deployed by 2011.

Risk Management

Financial Risk

Operating Risk Management

Michelin relies on three tiers of independent and highly responsible 
groups to guarantee the robustness of its risk control policy:

● Operating managers identify and manage risks in their respective 
entities (prevention, protection and business continuation plan) in 
line with Group standards.

●  Group  Services  (Finance,  Legal,  Environment  &  Prevention…): 
analyze  risks,  define  prevention  and  protection  standards, 
manage and monitor implementation of risk policy in their own 
field of expertise.

● Internal auditors: review overall risk control measures.

Michelin’s  risk  policy  is  defined,  supervised  and  coordinated  by 
the Group’s Risk Manager.

Financial risk is dealt with in Note 4 of the Consolidated Financial 
Statements, on page 95 of this Report.

Industrial Hazards

Industrial hazard control is vital for the continuation of Michelin’s 
operations over the long term while ensuring the protection of its 
personnel, its assets and its environment.

Michelin’s industrial risk map is updated at least once a year. This 
helps to identify Group risks and assess their criticality. Prioritized 
multi-annual action plans with a strong emphasis on prevention 
are drawn up and implemented in the annual plans. They address 
in  particular  the  issues  of  safety  at  the  workplace,  industrial 
hygiene, and asset and environmental protection.

Monitoring of the Group’s progress in the areas of Environment 
and Prevention (EP) is based on:

The Group’s Risk Committee meets 3 times per year to review a 
number  of  risk  control  measures,  in  order,  more  specifically,  to 
support the Managing Partners in their risk control decisions with 
special emphasis on potentially serious risk.

●  5-year orientations and objectives, which are revised each year 
based on the evolution of the assessments that are carried out. 
Such orientations and objectives are given concrete expression in 
progress plans and investment plans for each operating entity.

LIMITED INDUSTRIAL HAZARDS

The main risk factors arising from Michelin’s operations are as follows

Industrial operations

Synthetic rubber production
2 plants, Bassens in France and Louisville, Kentucky in the USA.

Main risk factors
Inflammability of hydrocarbons used in synthetic rubber.

Michelin action
Regular review of safety and site protection measures; ongoing 
significant investment programs to further enhance risk control 
and limit the consequences of an event.

Metal reinforcement production
Production in 10 sites supplying 68 factories worldwide.

Accidental spillage from electrolytic metal reinforcement  
processing plant.

Regular inspection of the facilities and processing of effluents at 
waste water treatment plants.

Rubber mix production
Production in 49 sites supplying 68 factories worldwide.

Fire-prone situation.

Pursuit at Group level of a program to equip all facilities with sprin-
kler devices and risk confinement through fragmented operations.

Textile reinforcement production
Production in 3 sites.

Vapor and gas emitted while manufacturing adhesives.

Installation of air purifiers at every plant.

158   2008 Michelin Annual Report

FIRE RISK

Fire  is  the  Group’s  main  industrial  hazard,  both  at  process  and 
raw  material  and  finished  product  storage  levels.  The  number 
of  significant  fire  starts  reported  Group-wide  is,  however,  very 
limited.

For more than five years, no fire nor in fact any other industrial 
accident,  resulted  in  serious  damage  to  personnel,  Group  or 
third-party  assets  or  environmental  impact  for  the  neighboring 
communities.

Efficient  control  of  fire  hazards  hinge  on  a  detailed  evaluation 
approach  and  proper  implementation  of  means  of  prevention, 
protection and intervention.

● Michelin took the initiative of an ambitious test program, 
aimed at improving and sharing technical knowledge in the area 
of automatic protection by sprinkler systems of tire warehouses 
and in the area of environmental impact of tire fires.

This  series  of  tests  completed  between  2001  and  2006  in  the 
United States and in France, involved the main tire manufacturers, 
supply  chain  specialists  and  a  specialized  parts  manufacturer, 
under  the  umbrella  of  SNCP  (Syndicat  National  du  Caoutchouc 
et des Polymères).

This innovative program was conducted on significant quantities 
of stored  tires  (2,000  to 4,000 tires per real life test), arranged 
in  actual  storage  conditions.  Some  21  preliminary  tests  and 
12  real  life  tests  were  conducted  with  a  variety  of  tire  storage 
configurations.  The  tests  enabled  a  benchmarking  of  different 
types of sprinklers and to assess the efficiency of wetting agents 
in conjunction with fire-fighting water.

The  findings  of  these  tests  have  led  to  improvements  in 
fire  protection  for  existing  warehouses  and  to  measure  the 
effectiveness  of  new  technologies  for  future  infrastructures, 
while  safely  optimizing  their  operations.  They  also  produced 
further  information  on  the  environmental  impact  of  such  fires 
based on analysis of smoke components, fire fighting water and 
atmospheric dispersion.

● A robust approach to fire risk control: Michelin developed 
its  own  standards  of  major  industrial  and  fire  risk  control:  the 
High Protected Risk Michelin (HPRM) standard.

HPRM is based on three mainstays:
- prevention (an array of hazard prevention measures),

- protection (automatic protection devices and passive measures 
to segregate risks in order to minimize consequences in the event 
of serious damage),

-  intervention  (early  detection,  fast-reaction  personnel  and 
equipment).

The  Group-level  risk  control  expert  team  is  supported  by  a 
network  of  site-based  operational  counterparts  who  ensure 
gradual implementation of Group  standards in all facilities. The 
condition of, and measures taken by, sites are reviewed against 
HPRM  standards.  The  progress  targets  that  are  identified  are 
prioritized as part of multi-annual progress plans drawn up by all 
industrial and logistics sites.

Moreover,  new  projects  (construction,  revamping,  expansion, 
introduction  of  new  manufacturing  processes  and  so  on),  are 
subject to prior approval by Environment and Prevention experts 
who ensure compliance with HPRM standards.

The  Group’s  global  internal  control  approach  is  based  on 
a  proprietary  tool  (EC-HPRM,  High  Protected  Risk  Michelin 
Compliance  Assessment)  developed  and  deployed  at  central 
level. This application serves to assess site conformity to internal 
standards. It entered into mainstream application on January 1, 
2008.

●  Leveraging  test  experimentation  and  exchanging  best 
practices:  further  to  the  success  obtained  through  use  of  the 
Michelin “SECURISTAT” data collection and processing software 
for  events  in  connection  with  industrial  hazards  deployed  since 
2004,  the  Group-level  fire  prevention  department  developed  a 
system to build on the experience obtained internally and from 
third parties: events are analyzed and the conclusions drawn from 
them are shared across the Group to drive further progress.

“SEVESO“ CLASSIFICATION

The “Seveso III” European directive aims to prevent major chemical 
hazards at industrial sites and to limit their consequences for man 
and the environment. It induces site classification with reference 
to  the  volume  of  site  hazardous  substance  inventory.  The  level 
of regulatory disclosure requirements and prevention measures is 
based on this classification. At the end of 2008, out of more than 
40  Michelin  European  sites,  2  were  classified  “high-level”  and  
8 “low-level” risk sites.

Risk Transfer to Insurance Companies

In  addition  to  a  proactive  protection  and  prevention  policy, 
the  Group’s  insurance  strategy  is  based  on  the  following  three 
principles:

1. Risk Assessment

A Group’s risk map, based on a method shared by all entities, is 
used to assess the level of coverage required.

2. Transfer of High-Intensity Risk

Michelin has set up integrated global insurance programs, within 
the  limits  of  the  insurance  and  reinsurance  markets,  to  cover 
high-intensity  risks.  These  address  mainly  “Property  Damages” 
and “Casualty”.

PROPERTY DAMAGE

A EUR 500 million limit insurance program has been subscribed. 
To ensure continued operations under the best financial terms in 
case of loss, this insurance scheme includes a EUR 50 million ICW 
(Increased Cost of Work) extension.

CASUALTY

This program includes three key aspects:

● Product Liability,
● General Liability insurance which is subscribed in FOS (Freedom 
of Services) in European Union countries and provides umbrella 
coverage in excess of local contracts, for all other countries,

●  Environmental  Impairment  Liability  coverage  for  all  Group 
companies.

Legal  Fees/Defense  Costs  and  Product  Recall  Expenses  are 
excluded from these coverages.

Other insurance programs cover lower-level risk. 

3. Group captive insurance companies

The  Group  fully  owns  several  “captive”  insurance  companies  
whose role is to cover medium-level risk. This internal mutualisation 
aims to reduce Group insurance costs.

Captive  companies,  with 
resources, mainly handle:

limits  commensurate  with  their 

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   159

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For all these reasons, Michelin is not in a position to guarantee the 
successful  implementation  of  its  horizon  2010  strategy.  Should 
major  obstacles  prevent  this  strategy  from  being  implemented, 
this  could  have  a  negative  impact  on  the  Group’s  operations, 
financial standing and results.

Risks in connection with the raw material
environment

Raw  material  purchases  account  for  a  significant  share  of 
Michelin  Group’s  charges,  representing  close  to  a  half  of  all 
Group purchases in 2008. Although Michelin’s policy has always 
been one of integrating raw material price increases into its sales 
prices, one may not take it for granted that a further hike in raw 
material costs can again be offset by an increase in selling price. 
Moreover, it is to be noted that the Group is not in a position to 
hedge  its  raw  material  purchases,  as  hedging  instruments  have 
not so far been efficient enough.

●  “Property  Damages”,  with  a  EUR  30  million  each  and  every 
loss,

● “Product Liability” in the USA and Canada, with a USD 5 million 
maximum exposure per claim,

● “Product Recall Expenses” with a EUR 20 million per event.

The  aggregate  premiums  for  financial  year  2008  amounted  to 
EUR 55 million*.

* This amount includes premiums paid to captive companies.

Legal Risk

Michelin  employs  policies  and  procedures  to  assure  compliance 
with  laws  and  regulations  applicable  to  its  business  practices. 
Management is not aware of any law or regulation (i) presently 
(ii)  already  promulgated  and  scheduled  for 
in  effect  or 
implementation, the effect of which would have a material adverse 
effect on the Company’s operations or financial standing.

Group companies can acquire legal liability as a result of operations 
connected with tire design, development, manufacture, sales and 
distribution.  Michelin’s  quality  systems  and  ongoing  research 
and  development  (which  is  in  significant  part  focused  on  tire 
performance  and  customer  safety)  are  employed  by  the  Group 
companies, in part, to promote safety – therefore also mitigating 
risk.

Group companies can be exposed to legal claims in the following 
areas:  products  liability  claims  (chiefly  in  the  United  States); 
claims  associated  with  the  sale  and  distribution  of  products; 
claims regarding social obligations (for example, post-retirement 
benefits); claims associated with intellectual property (for example 
infringement claims); and, claims regarding alleged occupational 
disease.

In 2005, a group of Michelin pension fund beneficiaries in Canada 
started  a  legal  action  against  the  Canadian  subsidiary  of  the 
Group aimed at forcing that subsidiary to pay a sum of CAD 350 
million to said pension fund. The sum was revised downwards to 
CAD 268.9 million at December 31, 2005.

The Group believes that the Company was entitled to reduce, or 
not make some of its annual contributions, due to excess capital 
generated by the management of the defined benefit plan, up to 
the above-mentioned amount. Nova Scotia’s Supreme Court ruled 
in  Michelin  Canada’s  favor  on  October  30,  2007.  The  plaintiffs 

filed an appeal for this decision. By a decision of November 20, 
2008,  which  has  become  final,  Nova  Scotia’s  Court  of  Appeal 
dismissed the appeal.

The Group had made no provision for this claim.

As part of their ordinary day-to-day business, certain companies 
within  the  Group  are  parties  to  legal  proceedings.  A  number 
of  such  legal  proceedings  involve  alleged  asbestos  exposure 
claims  or  employment-related  discrimination  claims.  Although 
the  outcome  of  such  pending  actions  can  be  unpredictable, 
the  Group  currently  considers  that  such  claims  will  not  have  a 
materially adverse affect on its financial status.

As  at  December  31,  2008,  there  existed  no  claim,  arbitration 
proceeding  or  exceptional  event  which  Management  deemed 
likely to have or have had a materially adverse impact on Group 
financial standing, earnings, business or assets.

Risks arising from competition

Michelin  Group 
is  confronted  with  significant  worldwide 
competition;  this  is  intensifying,  particularly  on  the  part  of 
competitors  from  Asian  countries.  Although  the  Group  is 
pursuing a continuous innovation strategy, accelerating the pace 
of its development in the high-growth markets and enhancing its 
competitiveness position, this competitive situation could impact 
Group operations, financial position and results negatively.

Risks in connection with non-completion
of the “2010 Horizon” plan

Michelin Group’s strategy for the next two years is clear: leverage 
ongoing  innovation,  accelerate  the  pace  of  development  in  the 
high-growth  markets  and  achieve  substantial  competitiveness 
gains. The Group’s ability to implement this strategy successfully 
could be jeopardized by external factors having a negative impact 
on  its  business.  These  include  (i)  increasingly  strong  worldwide 
competition  characterized  by  the  emergence  of  new  players 
with  improved  technological  know-how,  (ii)  lasting  industrial 
overcapacity leading to a general downward pressure on prices, 
(iii) a bearish economic environment, particularly in the developed 
economies,  (iv)  the  significant  investment  reduction  measures 
decided  by  the  Group  for  2009  and  finally  (v)  a  resumption  of 
significant  external  cost  increases,  in  particular  that  of  raw 
materials.

160   2008 Michelin Annual Report

Social and Environmental Information for 2008
as per the law on New Economic Regulations (NRE)

Since  the  beginning  of  2002,  Michelin  has  implemented 
its  Sustainable  Development  approach 
called  Michelin 
Performance  and  Responsibility.  The  basic  principles  are  set 
forth  in  its  Performance  and  Responsibility  Charter,  which  can 
be downloaded from Michelin’s www.michelin.com website and 
is  also  available  on  request.  Proper  understanding  of  the  social 
and  environmental  issues  arising  from  its  operations  are  a  key 
aspect  of  Michelin’s  Sustainable  Development  approach  which 
makes it possible to identify the most relevant progress areas for 
a more balanced and responsible approach to its own activities, 
its industrial sector, and to contribute to a better mobility, a more 
sustainable mobility.

The  update  Michelin  Performance  and  Responsibility  Report 
2007, published in May 2008 and the Michelin Performance and 

Responsibility Report 2007-2008, published in May 2009, provide 
a detailed review of ongoing measures to ensure fully responsible 
pursuit of the Group’s growth and economic performance targets. 
The reader is highly encouraged to take note of it.

Pages 161 to 176 of this report set forth the information pursuant 
to the French Commercial Code, clause L225-102-1 and relevant 
application  decrees  of  February  20  and  April  30,  2002  which 
requires  French  companies  to  disclosure  in  their  Annual  Report 
“information  on  the  social  and  environmental  impact  of  their 
activities”.

As  in  previous  years  and  in  the  spirit  of  continuous  progress, 
Michelin continues to deploy its set of global indicators based on 
data supplied by all of its 68 industrial sites in 19 countries and 
more than 170 countries with commercial presence. The Group’s 

aim  is  to  obtain  as  precise  as  possible  an  understanding  of  its 
social  and  environmental  responsibilities  on  all  of  its  sites  and 
to  make  further  progress  every  year  in  this  field.  Group  scope 
applies  in  all  instances  except  for  situations  where  the  relevant 
scope is indicated.

the 

For 
third  consecutive  year,  PriceWaterhouseCoopers 
performed at the request of Michelin a production process and 
data  audit  of  a  number  of  indicators  published  in  the  present 
report. The audit was expanded in 2007 and then again in 2008 
to  certain  environmental  and  social  data.  The  opinion  resulting 
from this review appears on pages 177-178.

The  data  related  to  the  indicators  followed  by  two  stars  in  the 
tables below has been audited during this review. 

Social Information 2008

1 A. NUMBER OF GROUP EMPLOYEES, BREAKDOWN OF MALE/FEMALE EMPLOYEES, CHANGE IN NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES, FIXED-TERM CONTRACTS, OVERTIME AND THIRD-PARTY MANPOWER

Group employees as of December 31, 2008
(all work contracts included)

Headcount**

Europe

73,697

North America

South America

Asia Pacific

22,987

6,201

13,476

Africa 
Middle East
1,204

Group Total 

117,565

Group employees as of December 31, 2008
(Full time equivalent, all work contracts included)

Headcount**

Europe

67,596

North America

South America

Asia Pacific

22,215

5,783

13,457

Africa 
Middle East
1,202

Group Total 

110,252

 ** The data related to these indicators has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers (see pages 177-178).

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   161

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Breakdown of male and female employees
(all work contracts included)
Female employees as a percentage of headcount as of December 31, 2008

Production workers

Administrative and technical staff

Management

Scope: Group excluding Euromaster and TCI.

Overall, the percentage of women relative to total headcount was 13.9%.

Change in number of employees in 2008
(all work contracts included)

Natural attrition

Negotiated redundancies
Early retirement

New hires

Scope: Group excluding Euromaster and TCI.

Fixed-term contracts

In 2008, fixed-term contracts accounted for 1.3% of total Group 
payroll.

Overtime, third-party manpower

Overtime can be used to cope with staff availability issues and to 
adjust to customer needs. In 2008, overtime accounted for 4.7% 
of the number of hours worked by production workers within the 
Group. The rate varies from 1.7% in Africa and the Middle East to 
9.5% in North America. 

In  2008,  compensation  paid  in  connection  with  overtime 
amounted to 2.1% of Group total payroll (all status).

Third-party manpower working on Group sites accounted for an 
average of 3.5% of total Group headcount (full-time equivalent), 
and varied from 0% (no third-party manpower) in Africa and the 
Middle  East  to  7.3%  in  South  America  (Group  data,  excluding 
Euromaster and TCI).

162   2008 Michelin Annual Report

Europe

North America

South America

Asia Pacific

7.8%

26.0%

16.9%

14.0%

28.1%

13.1%

7.6%

26.3%

12.7%

4.9%

26.3%

15.7%

Africa  
Middle East

0.8%

24.9%

9.3%

Europe

North America

South America

Asia Pacific

4,990

3,504
1,385

5,892

1,071

854
539

2,412

505

299
0

1,169

1,021

743
8

1,790

Africa  
Middle East 

168

113
0

195

Group

8.6%

26.4%

15.8%

Group

7,755

5,513
1,932

11,458

1 B. INFORMATION CONCERNING STAFF DOWNSIZING PLANS, JOB 
RETENTION INITIATIVES, RETRAINING AND SEVERANCE SUPPORT 
MEASURES

Michelin  Group’s  industrial  strategy  involves  an  acceleration  of 
production capacity increases in the growth tire markets (Eastern 
Europe,  Asia,  South  America)  and  increasing  competitiveness 
in the developed ones where the markets are mature (Western 
Europe, North America, Japan).

This  growth  and  consolidation  strategy  does  not  go  without 
industrial  reorganization  and  restructuring  plans,  like  those 
conducted in 2008 in Spain, France (Toul), Hungary, Italy (Turin), 
Poland, United Kingdom, Canada, USA, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, 
where more than 5,500 employees were subject to severance or 
occupational  reclassification  plans.  Natural  attrition  (retirement 
and turnover) of some 20,000 employees in Western Europe and 
North America from 2006 to 2010 will facilitate such restructurings.
In  such  circumstances,  Michelin  Group  systematically  deploys 

a  full  range  of  initiatives,  generally  going  beyond  minimal  legal 
requirements to avoid redundancies if possible and support every 
staff member individually. These include:
(cid:116)  permanent  system  to  facilitate  and  anticipate  internal  and 
external mobility (France, Italy), with job search training (resumes, 
interviews, following of labor market);
(cid:116) intra-Group redeployment, at the same location or at another 
location  within  the  Group,  including  expatriation:  priority  was 
given  to  these  measures,  implemented  in  2008  particularly  in 
France, Hungary, Italy, United Kingdom; generally accompanied by 
assistance in locating housing and employment for the spouse;
(cid:116)  use  of  early  retirement  and  similar  provisions  including  CATS 
agreement  in  France,  “mobilita  corta”  and  “mobilita  lunga”  in 
Italy, standard and “contrato de relevo” gradual early retirement 
plans  in  Spain,  similar  plans  in  the  United  Kingdom  that  have 
helped reduce departures outside the company;
(cid:116)  Group-financed  external  job  search  services  by  dedicated 
support offices and outplacement entities.

 
 
In  Europe  and  Canada,  Michelin  Development  promotes  job 
creation  in  the  regions  where  the  Group  operates  (see  below 
paragraph 10 on the territorial impact of job promotion operations 
and  local  development);  these  actions  facilitate  reclassification 
outside  of  the  Group  but  also  maintain  or  increase  the  local 
economic dynamism by the creation of many jobs.

In 2008, Michelin introduced, due to the closing of the Kleber site 
in  Toul,  involving  the  suppression  of  826  jobs,  the  Professional 
Transition  Workshop  (Ateliers  de  Transition  Professionnelle/ATP) 
system,  to  support  successive  groups  of  employees  who  joined 
the Kleber Mobility Program in their job searchs with a number of 
ressources inlcuding: advisers, information workshops to discover 
other trades (robotics, masonry, welding, industrial of domestic 
electricity...),  a  parternship  with  ANPE  (National  Employment 
Association  in  France)  and  a  Documentation  center.  All  these 
means proved their effectiveness: at the end of December 2008, 
more than 333 employees had found a new activity. In addition, 
Michelin Development is also in action in the area of Toul and the 
first  three  planned  and  externally  developed  projects  will  allow 
the creation of more than 450 new jobs.

In  Italy,  a  job  search  office  was  set  up  on  all  the  Group  sites, 
to  facilitate  internal  and  external  evolutions  of  the  employees 
affected by the implementation of the Industrial Plan. Announced 
at  the  end  of  October  2008,  it  will  extend  until  2010  and  will 
concern  680  people.  By  the  end  of  2008,  73  employees  had 
found a solution, either in-house, or in another company, or by 
the creation of their own activity.

2. LABOR ORGANIZATION AND WORKING HOURS, PART-TIME 
WORK, ABSENTEEISM

Labor organization

Working  hours  in  the  Group’s  68  industrial  plants  and  dozens 
of  research,  logistical,  sales  and  administrative  sites,  are  fixed 
pursuant to legal provisions which vary from country to country. 
For full-time employees who are not working in shifts, the annual 
work time varies from 1,661.4 hours in France to 2,304 hours per 
year in Colombia, and 213 days in France to 262 days in the US.

Shift  work  serves  to  optimize  industrial  facility  utilization  by 
enabling maximum production time (up to 360 days/year, 7 days/
week). Shift workers enjoy significantly reduced overall work time  

and additional compensation. On a Group-wide basis, more than 
60,000  people  work  in  shifts,  mostly  3x8  hour  shifts,  but  also 
4x8, 5x8, 2x12 and week-end shifts, reflecting different industrial, 
legal as well as local practices.

Part-time work

Part-time  work  contracts  are  available  in  most  countries  where 
the Group has industrial operations. Overall, 2.0% of the Group’s 
workforce work part time across all job categories.

Percentage of part-time male and female employees, by 
status, in overall headcount as of December 31, 2008

Production workers
Administrative 
and technical staff

Management

Total

Female
3.7%

7.6%

11.0%

6.2%

Male
1.6%

0.6%

0.7%

1.3%

Total
1.8%

2.4%

2.3%

2.0%

 Scope: Group excluding Euromaster and TCI.

Absenteeism
Absenteeism  on  Michelin  sites  in  the  majority  of  countries 
concerned tends to be lower than national rates in similar sectors. 
For the Group, the total, all causes included was 4.2% (number of 
hours of absence versus expected number of hours worked).

Sick leave

Injury leave Long-term sick leave

2.3%

0.2%

1.8%

Total 
Group
4.2%

3. CHANGE IN PAYROLL AND WELFARE COSTS, EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEN AND WOMEN, PROFIT-SHARING, BONUSES, COMPANY 
SAVINGS PROGRAMS

2008
Total payroll 
(EUR million)

Production 
workers

Administrative/technical 
staff

Managers

Fixed-term 
contracts

Severance pay 
and restructuring

Taxes, provisions, 
pre-payments

4,605.5

1,911.0

1,764.3

584.5

60.8

-6.4

291.3

The  total  figure  “taxes,  provisions,  pre-payments”  includes  taxes,  provisions  for  retirement  benefits,  stock-option  pre-payments  and  other  long-term  pre-
payments.
Change in payroll and welfare costs

In 2008, payroll and benefits costs accounted for 28.1% of net 
sales, amounting to EUR 4,605.5 million, of which EUR 1,024.5 
million social charges borne by employers.

Group payroll and social charges breakdown as follows:

(EUR thousands)

Wages and salaries

Social security costs

Defined benefit plans 
and severance costs

Share option plan costs

3,296,125

1,024,522

274,419

10,477

71.6%

22.2%

6.0%

0.2%

TOTAL

4,605,543

100.0%

The Group’s pay policy is designed to offer competitive compensation 
in  each  country,  through  an  optimal  balance  between  employee 
satisfaction  and  Group  economic  performance.  This  key  aspect 
is  the  subject  of  careful  management  as  pay  levels  have  a  direct 
impact on the cost of sales and therefore the Group’s capacity to 
maintain its position against its competitors. The Group’s pay policy, 
managed with a long-term view, rewards individual responsibility, 
performance in achieving common objectives, career path, and local 
practice and market developments. All categories of staff, including 
production  workers,  benefit  from  customized  pay  packages  that 
reflect individual contributions to Group development.

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   163

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Profit-sharing and variable pay programs were set up in different 
countries and employee categories. For its managers in particular, 
Michelin  has  a  dynamic  variable  pay  policy  that  recognizes  the 
achievement  of  individual  objectives,  long-term  performance, 
cooperation  ability  as  well  as  common  goals.  For  the  sake  of 
consistency, Michelin’s manager compensation policy is governed 
by similar rules and processes in the different countries.

Since  pay  scales  are  pegged  to  specific  local  criteria,  reflecting 
widely differing situations from country to country (inflation from 
0.9% to 15.1%), an average figure would be quite meaningless. 
For  reference  purposes,  taking  France  (which  has  the  largest 
headcount  with  more  than  28,000  employees  as  at  December 
31, 2008, including Euromaster) and where inflation ran at 1.0%, 
pay increases in 2008 were as follows:

Production workers
Administrative and technical staff
Management
(France numbers)

+3.2%
+3.9%
+4.5%

Equal opportunities for men and women

In each country, the average wage differential between men and 
women  is  calculated  for  each  employee  category,  for  the  three 
levels  of  responsibility  where  women  are  most  represented  in 
order to obtain an indicator as meaningful as possible. A weighted 
average based on country’s headcount is then calculated for the 
Group.

Group average pay differential between female and male 
employees

Status
Production workers
Administrative and technical staff
Management

Differential
-3.12%
-2.50%
-5.45%

The  differential  can  be  attributed  to  company  seniority,  thus 
experience and responsibility, generally lower among women. In 
addition, new hires generally at the beginning of their career are 
replacing older employees who are retiring which make it difficult 
to follow statistically. Pay policy and the methods of performance 
evaluations  are  strictly  identical  for  men  and  women  in  each 
personnel category and country. Performance evaluations based 
on  anything  other  than  professional  criteria,  listed  in  internal 
policies, would be contrary with the group’s most fundamental 
principles of equity.

164   2008 Michelin Annual Report

Profit-sharing, bonuses, company savings programs

4. PROFESSIONAL RELATIONS, COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

In  addition  to  basic  and  variable  pay  pegged  to  individual  and 
corporate results, and in addition to overtime and compensation 
directly related to the nature of work performed, where applicable, 
Michelin’s employees enjoy different types of bonus depending on 
local laws and practices. These include profit-sharing agreements, 
employee health-insurance scheme, collective retirement savings 
plan and company savings programs (with company contributions 
up to 50% of employee contributions). Eighteen countries have 
introduced such programs, benefiting more than 74,000 Group 
employees. The levels of those complements vary widely from one 
country to another and can account for up to 30% an individual’s 
salary.

At  Manufacture  Française  des  Pneumatiques  Michelin,  a  profit 
sharing  program  was  concluded  with  the  trade  unions  for  the 
2008-2010  period.  Multiple  indicators  are  used  to  calculate 
bonuses:  these  include  the  number  and  achievement  rate  of 
progress ideas, reduction of the Group’s environmental footprint 
per  ton  of  tires  produced  (reduction  in  waste  generated  and 
discharged,  reduction  in  emissions  of  CO
  and  VOC  –  Volatile 
2
Organic  Compounds,  reduced  consumption  of  energy  and 
water), the frequency of accidents at the workplace, achievement 
of production targets. The amount of the bonus, which is paid in 
the first quarter of the following year, can account for up to 5% 
of total salary.

The share of profit paid in 2008 in relation to 2007 profit sharing 
entitlements amounted to approximately EUR 30 million, including 
an exceptional payment of EUR 9 million, or on average 4.5% of 
gross salary.

The following countries have one or more branch agreement(s): 
Belgium,  Brazil,  Colombia,  France,  Germany,  Hungary,  Italy, 
Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Spain, 
Sweden,  Thailand,  the  United  Kingdom,  and  the  USA.  Overall, 
these  agreements  apply  to  more  than  62,000  employees,  or 
upwards of 95% of the headcount in the countries concerned.

In  2008,  1,969  official  meetings  were  arranged  with  employee 
representatives in 22 countries (2,044 in 20 countries in 2007). 
These  meetings,  over  and  above  the  formal  and  informal 
exchanges they gave rise to, led to multiple agreements.

In  2008,  48  branch  agreements  were  signed  with  employee 
representatives  in  12  countries,  applicable  to  nearly  53,000 
employees. In several countries, collective agreements signed in 
previous years were in force in 2008. 

Examples of agreements signed in 2008:

Europe

(cid:116)  Spain:  agreement  to  exceptional  flexibility  measures  during 
periods of reduced activity (changes in the worked days, rest days, 
stops); agreement to increase to five teams for the activity at the 
Vitoria  site  and  to  three  teams  at  Aranda,  in  order  to  increase 
productivity;

(cid:116)  France:  at  MFPM,  modification  in  employer’s  contribution  to 
PERCO  collective  retirement  savings  plan;  at  Pneu  Laurent  Tire, 
agreement  on  the  Estimated  Management  of  Employment  and 
Competencies (GPEC), on training, agreement on the equality men/
women (wages, greater gender balance, conciliation professional 
life/private  life,  maternity/adoption  leave),  on  communication, 
greater  gender  balance  within  the  personnel  representatives, 
agreement  on  the  elements  of  total  compensation;  at  Kléber, 
agreement on the means available to the personnel representatives 
in the circumstances of the closure of activities at the Toul site;

(cid:116) Poland: Agreement on internal rules, rights and duties of the 
employees, in coherence with the Labor Act;

(cid:116) United Kingdom: agreement on salary increases for production 
workers for 2009 through 2011;

(cid:116)(cid:1) Serbia:  general  agreements  on  new  hires,  non  competition, 
employee guarantees, staffing and overstaffing, working hours, 
break hours, vacation, pay, turnover.

North America

5. OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENE AND SAFETY 

(cid:116) Mexico: agreement on salary, hours and working conditions;
(cid:116) United States: regular meetings with USWA (United Steelworkers 
of  America)  representatives  to  share  information  on  Company 
business, address topical issues, and discuss themes of common 
interest.

South America

(cid:116)  Brazil:  annual  collective  agreements  setting  general  working 
conditions and pay increases with Rio de Janeiro’s Rubber Workers 
Union  for  2008  and  2009;  annual  agreement  on  the  amount 
and  terms  for  payment  of  employee  profit  sharing  schemes;  
in  PEM  (1)  and  PMB  (2)  rubber  tree  plantations,  general  annual 
agreement on working conditions and pay; agreement on general 
working conditions and pay at the Resende plant;

(cid:116)  Colombia:  agreement  on  a  Voluntary  profit  sharing  scheme, 
open  to  unionized  and  non-unionized  production  workers; 
introduction  of  a  Collective  agreement  (without  trade  union 
agreement) for a six-month interim period from August 2008.

Asia

(cid:116) Thailand: agreement with the unions on the salary increases for 
2008, 2009, 2010; agreement on medical payment responsibility 
for the employees and their families. 

Numerous methods for communicating 

Great importance is attached to employee communications, directly 
and  with  employee  representatives.  Many  methods  of  sharing 
information and exchanges exist at the Group sites. Every year, they 
are counted, and their degree of diffusion in the countries.

There  are  around  20  different  channels  for  diffusing  distinct 
information  and  around  10  different  channels  for  consultation 
largely  utilized  in  the  Group.  Each  country  concerned  uses  on 
average  12  of  them,  including  such  media  as  intranets,  e-mail, 
family  days,  corporate  magazines  (sites,  countries  and  entities), 
specialized pamphlets, daily, weekly and monthly team meetings, 
video magazines such as the Group’s “Forward” video magazine, 
meetings with employee representatives, surveys and polls on the 
group  intranet,  roundtables,  forums,  bulletin  boards/poles  and 
so on.

(1) Plantation Edouard Michelin
(2) Plantation Michelin Bahia

Risk prevention in the area of industrial hygiene
The  Group  central  team  in  charge  of  industrial  hygiene  relies 
on  the  support  of  a  network  of  hygiene  correspondents  in  the 
Group, on “Materials” Experts in the Research Center as well as 
on occupational doctors. It conducts a program to control risks 
in two main areas: chemical risks at the work post and asbestos 
risks, and ensure the establishment of risk analysis and follow-up 
exposure reference documents. 

Concerning  asbestos,  a  compliance  review  was  conducted  in 
2007  on  all  industrial  sites  allowing  to  have  a  precise  inventory 
of materials containing captive asbestos (i.e. not likely to release 
fibers in the atmosphere) still present in buildings or equipment. 
Like many companies, Michelin used asbestos in the ‘60s and ‘70s 
as thermal insulator (heat insulating pipes and curing presses) as 
well as friction parts (brakes).

A risk analysis tool, developed in conjunction with Bureau Veritas, 
a certified agency, and based on the Group’s situation, enables 
to classify the situations and prioritize the extractions of materials 
containing captive asbestos each year. In order to control the risk 
from a personnel and environment perspective, these operations 
are supervised by a Group level manager.

Chemical risk management at the work post remains the highest 
priority. The core team was strengthened in 2007, continued in 
2008. As for asbestos, a work post risk analysis tool was developed 
with the assistance of Bureau Veritas. Its deployment during 2009 
will enable Michelin to characterize the situations precisely and if 
necessary program actions to manage the risk.

Finally, the company continues the introduction of a centralized 
expert  information  system  dedicated  to  industrial  hygiene. 
Guided by the Group best practices, this tool ensures world-wide 
consistency of all Group finished and semi-finished product safety 
documentation  as  well  as  compliance  with  both  local  laws  and 
regulations  and  Group  standards.  This  safety  documentation 
fact  sheets,  Workstation  Product  Safety 
includes  safety 
Instructions, labels and transportation documents.

Occupational health

Individual health is monitored internally or by third party physicians 
coordinated  by  the  Group’s  head  physician.  A  Guide  for  health 
service  activities,  defining  the  organization,  priorities  and  areas 
for  action  of  medical  services  for  each  Geographic  Zone  was 
developed  based  on  good  internal  and  external  practices.  The 
internal document is expected to be updated regularly.

Where  existing  public  health  facilities  or  services  are  deemed 
inadequate, Michelin takes steps to improve them (as in isolated 
sites located in emerging countries).

In  China  Michelin  is  building  cooperation  with  Shanghai’s 
and  Shenyang’s  hospitals  to  organize  better  care  to  local  and 
expatriate employees, notably in the area of nosocomial infection 
prevention.

In  Africa,  the  Group’s  health  services  also  act  as  advisors  and 
service  providers  to  SIPH  (Société  Internationale  de  Plantations 
d’Hévéas). Pursuant to a Michelin physician’s mission in Ghana in 
2007, a Group nurse performed an additional mission in 2008 at 
the Ghana-based Takorady plantation on behalf of SIPH, in order 
to improve the organization of local medical care, and particularly 
emergency aid, and to improve the medical personnel’s training 
and sanitary education.

In 2008, actions concerning emergency first-aid were pursued: 

(cid:116)  finalization  of  introduction  of  defibrillators  and  installation  of 
this equipment in China;
(cid:116) first-aid training: more than 90% sites have launched training 
programs with the objective of having 10% of the Group’s staff 
trained in all industrial sites;
(cid:116) improve the quality of training courses with a minimum 8-hour 
standard  training  course,  followed  up  with  a  4-hour  annual 
refresher course: since 2008, all of the new training cycles were 
conducted according to this standard and already account for the 
bulk of modules.

In 2008, Michelin continued its AIDS prevention action, focusing 
on the worst-hit countries. In a context where AIDS awareness is 
often  inadequate  or  difficult,  the  Group  multiplied  AIDS  public 
awareness  campaigns  among  Michelin  employees  and  local 
populations. 

In  all  countries  where  the  Group  operates,  depending  on  the 
needs  and  specific  local  requirements,  public  health  campaigns 
were  held  for  the  benefit  of  Michelin’s  personnel  and  their 
families: coaching on heavy load handling, back and articulation 
pain  prevention,  sedentary-related  diseases,  advice  on  diet  and 
healthy living, tobacco and alcohol dependence…

With  respect  to  the  risk  of  bird  flue,  the  Group  developed  an 
action  plan  to  deal  with  the  epidemic  risk,  adjusted  to  local 
situations based on local authorities’ involvement and resources 
aimed  at  protection  and  prevention  (medical  treatment  stocks 
and masks at certain sites).

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   165

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Safety at the workplace

For  all  Michelin  group  sites,  work  accident  frequency  rate 
continues to decline, and is, for the first time, below 2:

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

Frequency rate**
Severity rate**

9.93
0.46

5.73
0.32

3.61
0.25

2.55
0.21

2.39
0.21

1.85
0.21

  **  The  data 
related 
PricewaterhouseCoopers (see pages 177-178).

these 

to 

indicators  has  been  audited  by 

Number of accidents with work stoppage

2001 
4,200
2002 

2003 

3,010

2004 

2005 

2006 

2007 

1,662

988

626

438

390

311

4,200

3,010

1,662

988

626

438

390

311

2002 2003

2008  
2001
The number of accidents was divided by 13 over seven years.

2006 2007 2008

2004 2005

Frequency  rate  (TF  for  “taux  de  fréquence”)  represents  the 
number  of  accidents  with  work  stoppage  in  excess  of  one  day 
divided by 1 million hours worked. Severity rate (TG for “taux de 
gravité”)  is  the  number  of  days  of  work  stoppage  following  an 
accident by thousand of hours worked.

In  2008,  30  sites  posted  zero  accidents  (TF=0).  The  year  2008 
saw an improvement of more than 50% in the results of South 
American  plants.  In  Europe,  the  improvements  were  significant 
in  many  countries  (Germany,  Hungary,  Poland,  Russia,  Spain). 
Elsewhere in the world, the trend is for stabilization or degradation 
of results.

2008  was  a  safety  progress  year,  underlined  by  the  following 
actions: 

(cid:116) employee safety involvement continues to increase, more than 
one  out  of  two  persons  in  the  Group  took  part  in  a  monthly 
safety action;

(cid:116)  introduction  of  specific  programs  on  four  risks  (traffic,  work 
at  a  height,  energies  confinement  and  electric  distribution); 
these  programs  integrate  the  best  operational  on  Group  sites. 

166   2008 Michelin Annual Report

This  approach  managed  by  a  Group  international  steering 
committee was extremely rich in regards to feedback;

(cid:116) new training program for first line supervisors “Manage safety 
in my self managed team”. In total, 2,000 people will be trained in 
2008 and 2009. This training course is a follow up to the training 
offered  to  shop  managers  “Manage  safety  in  my  Workshop” 
which aims at guaranteeing the accident prevention file at each 
work post. These training courses make it possible to define the 
roles  and  responsibilities  for  each  level  of  the  hierarchy  and  to 
train everyone involved on the operational tools developed for all 
Group industrial sites;
(cid:116)(cid:1)progressive introduction of prevention indicators complementing 
the  severity  and  frequency  indicators.  A  study  was  initiated  in 
2008 to highlight the key success factors and thus determine the 
right  prevention  indicator.  This  indicator  will  be  deployed  in  all 
industrial sites in the coming years. Participation rate is of course 
also a component of this indicator;
(cid:116) a fire prevention campaign was initiated in 2008. An employee 
awareness kit was deployed to all industrials sites. This campaign 
was reinforced by the introduction of a prevention and protection 
diagnostic tool.

Work post ergonomics

After the first phase of development, the ergonomics professional 
network is strengthening its operating procedures to accelerate 
the  progress.  In  particular,  the  on-site  ergonomic  steering 
committees contributed to the deployment of work post action 
plans. In addition, analytical and tailored decision support tools 
that  take  into  account  the  ergonomics  of  equipment  continues 
with  significant  results  (e.g.,  the  Atlas  project  improved  tire 
handling in the warehouse). In 2009, it will finally be possible on 
the  seven  group  benchmark  projects  initiated  in  2007  to  build 
prototypes to validate industrial solutions.

Interim agencies

The preventive approach initiated with interim agencies continues. 
An  action  plan  has  been  established  and  the  following  actions 
have been deployed: 
(cid:116)  safety  charter  signed  by  Michelin  and  each  of  the  interim 
agencies; 
(cid:116)  self  evaluations  and  action  plans  created  in  partnership  with 
local agencies at each site; 
(cid:116)  best  practices  determined  from  field  audits,  conducted  in 
partnership with local agencies at each site; 
(cid:116) annual meeting with Michelin and the managing director of the 
interim agencies.

The results obtained are encouraging, as the frequency rate was 
divided by 2 in three years.

Internal communications for the benefit of workplace safety 

Internal  communication  is  key  to  the  Group’s  safety  policy  and 
a  number  of  communication  initiatives  were  launched  to  help 
deployment.

In  2008  the  main  communication  themes  were:  overall  safety 
programs, fire prevention on the four principal reasons for fires 
start and sharing best practices between sites. 

that  exist  between 

The  synergies 
internal 
communication tools permit maximal effectiveness of actions: TV 
network,  bulletin  boards,  team  meeting  presentations,  intranet 
for managers and other specific documents. 

the  Group’s 

The  new  “Michelin  Safety  Award”  enables  to  share  “zero 
accident” best practices by disseminating the specifics of the sites 
that win in internal communications.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Workplace road safety

Breakdown of training hours by staff category:

A road safety program at the workplace was continued in 2008, 
consistent  with  Michelin’s  action  to  promote  more  sustainable 
and safer mobility. Michelin worked alongside public and private 
partners  under  national  and  worldwide  programs  aimed  at 
curbing road accidents. 

Accident  risks  for  Group  personnel  commuting  to  work  or 
traveling  on  business  were  covered  by  internal  campaigns  in 
2008.  They  encouraged  safer  driving  practices  and  improved 
travel management. 

With regard to education activities in 2008, Michelin introduced 
a half day training courses for all of marketing and sales new hires 
on road safety.

A road safety awareness kit was made available to all employees 
in Michelin industrial countries. “Driving and Behaving” events in 
addition to games and competitions continued. Communication 
campaigns on the video magazine “Forward” were utilized before 
summer holidays and at the beginning of winter, supplemented 
by mailings to employee’s homes in France and Germany.

All  these  programs  result  from  implementation  of  long-term 
commitments taken by the Group through road safety charters 
signed alongside national and European bodies. 

6. TRAINING 

In  conjunction  with  active  career  management,  the  Group’s 
training policy aims to offer all employees the training they need 
to work efficiently and evolve professionally. Particular attention 
is  paid  to  the  quality  of  initial  training  upon  entry  into  each 
function.

The Group’s 2008 training access rate (number of training hours 
compared to number of hours worked) was 4.2% (versus 3.7% 
in 2007). This rate is indicative of the efforts made in the training 
area.

From a quantitative point of view, the number of training hours 
for 2008 was 6.9 million hours, compared with 6.3 million hours 
in 2007, or an average of 69 hours per employee and 87 hours 
per trainee, versus 63 and 74 hours respectively in 2007.

Training hours 

Percentage

Production 
workers

5,022,836

73.0%

Administrative 
and 
technical staff
1,581,630

23.0%

Management

Total

273,102

4.0%

6,877,568

100.0%

On-the-job training accounted for the bulk of the Group’s training 
courses in 2008, in line with Michelin’s policy of contributing to 
the development of individual skills and employability.

These  statistics  were  calculated  by  using  average  headcount 
during the year and a quota of 1,700 hours worked for the year. 

7. THE GROUP’S DIVERSITY APPROACH

Michelin’s  diversity  approach  has  been  structured  for  several 
years according to five areas: cultures and nationalities, gender, 
ethnicity, age and physical abilities. It relies on a network of about 
20 people, led by a Group level manager. The network actively 
shares best practices between countries in the five areas. 

The  diversity  approach  continued  to  be  deployed  in  2008:  a 
review  of  the  hiring  process  in  France  was  conducted  in  order 
to identify improvement areas, diversity network training on the 
question of age and aging, many awareness sessions, the Global 
Diversity  Convention  held  in  the  presence  of  Michel  Rollier, 
network meetings, and many “micro” local actions. 

Employment of disabled people

The question of disabled worker employment is highly complex 
from a legal point of view. As countries have their own regulations 
on  this  subject,  obligations  vary  widely.  They  range  from  a 
minimum hiring obligation (fourteen countries, recommending a 
variable percentage from 0.5% in Thailand to 7% in Italy) to no 
effective obligation (as in Canada, the USA, Russia and Serbia), 
with  intermediate  situations  based  on  incentive  programs  (as 
in  the  Netherlands  and  Colombia).  Several  countries  apply  a 
financial  penalty  if  the  percentage  is  not  respected.  Generally 
speaking,  the  disabled  are  protected  by  law  as  in  the  United  

Kingdom, Canada or the United States, with respect to both the 
confidential  nature  of  the  disability  and  the  right  to  continued 
employment.

Handicaps  are  recognized  based  on  an  individual  statement 
which,  in  certain  countries,  such  as  Brazil  and  Russia,  must  be 
validated  by  an  official  medical  commission.  Such  individual 
statements are prerequisites in certain countries like the United 
States for a person to be included in the statistics. Owing to the 
dissuading  effect  of  individual  declarations,  statistics  should  be 
interpreted cautiously and are probably underestimated, though 
to what extent is difficult to determine.

With  the  above  due  reservations  concerning  the  reliability  of 
disabled  employment  statistics,  the  Group  currently  counts  an 
estimated 2.2% of declared disabled employees (in the relevant 
reporting  headcount  of  99,887  people),  with  major  differences 
between  regions  (Europe:  3.3%,  North  America:  0.8%,  South 
America:  1.4%,  Asia:  0.3%,  Africa  and  the  Middle  East:  0%). 
The differences between countries too are important, from 0% 
declared  disabled  employees  in  several  countries  to  6.4%  in 
France, 0.3% in Thailand, 0.8% in China and Hungary, 1.0% in 
Poland, 1.2% in Spain, 1.4% in Japan and Italy, 1.7% in Brazil, 
1.9% in Romania, 4.1% in Germany, and 4.5% in Canada.

Age 

For  Michelin,  the  question  of  older  workers  takes  on  added 
importance. One third of employees, mostly production workers, 
are more than 50 years old, and this figure will grow in the years 
to come. In this area, several actions were conducted: work post 
ergonomic  improvements,  proposing  job  changes  to  enhance 
the  work  experience,  offering  international  assignments  and  

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   167

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
mentoring new hires. This last action of mentoring demonstrates 
concretely  two  complementary  practical  aspects  of  respect 
for  people,  taking  into  account  the  capabilities  of  the  older 
employees and the educational concern for new hires. In the USA, 
for  the  third  time  Michelin  was  named  to  the  AARP  (American 
Association  of  Retired  Persons)  list  of  2008  best  employers  for 
workers over 50. 

8. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

In all countries where it operates, Michelin contributes to social 
benefits,  by  contributing  funds  to  a  number  of  activities  or 
services  benefiting  staff  and  their  families.  Some  of  them  are 
provided  for  and  defined  by  local  regulations,  and  others  are 
voluntary.  Michelin’s  action  in  this  area  is  wide-ranging:  health 
insurance,  catering,  transportation,  cultural  events,  sports  and 
health  campaigns  conducted  within  work  councils  or  similar 
organizations. The amount of the Group’s annual contribution is 
estimated at a minimum of EUR 25 million.

9. SUBCONTRACTING 

In 2008, third party services having no connection with production 
operations  (cleaning  of  facilities,  machinery  and  work  outfits, 
security,  handling  and  storage,  waste  disposal,  IT,  telecom  and 
administrative operations) accounted for the equivalent of 16.3% 
of payroll, versus 16.0% in 2007.

10. IMPACT OF MICHELIN’S ACTIVITIES IN THE AREAS OF EMPLOY-
MENT AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT: “MICHELIN DEVELOPMENT” 
IN EUROPE AND CANADA 

With the help of its subsidiaries (including Société d’Industrialisation 
et  de  Développement  Economique  in  France),  dedicated  to 
economic activity and employment in the European regions where 
it  has  industrial  operations,  “Michelin  Development”  further 
supported  small  and  medium-sized  companies  along  two  main 
lines:  with  a  focus  on  innovative  projects  geared  to  sustainable 
job  creations,  it  contributed  to  the  award  of  unguaranteed 
reduced  rate  loans  and  delivered  technical  expertise.  In  this  

connection,  Michelin  Development  was  party  to  a  number  of 
“cluster” approaches, facilitating access by innovative companies 
to Research centers and Universities.

In  2008,  in  Europe,  the  Michelin  Development  mission  was 
conducted by a team of 20 persons servicing nearly 160 missions 
including 36 technical consultancies in France. It helped to create 
2,000  jobs  in  contributing  to  the  validation  and  financing  of 
business development projects, mainly in Germany, Spain, France 
(1,100  jobs),  Italy  and  the  UK,  but  also  in  Hungary,  Poland  and 
Romania.  In  Canada,  Michelin  Development  intervened  at  the 
Kitchener site by supporting the granting of loans, contributing 
to the creation of 700 jobs. 

There  is  more  information  in  paragraph  1.b  on  the  details  of 
interventions at Toul and Turin in 2008. 

In  total  since  its  inception  in  1990,  Michelin  Development  has 
provided nearly 1,000 technical advisory missions, including 500 
in  France,  and  helped  create  18,800  jobs,  including  14,000  in 
France.

11. RELATIONS WITH COMMUNITIES, SCHOOLS AND ASSOCIATIONS

Involvement in the local community

Wherever  it  operates,  Michelin  Group  takes  an  active  part  in 
community  life  and  fosters  friendly  and  fruitful  contacts  with 
local organizations including local authorities, municipal services, 
schools  and  associations.  Where  appropriate,  Michelin  takes 
part  in  their  activities  by  contributing  advice,  funds  or  hands-
on support. The Group distinguishes actions that are related to 
the mobility of people and goods, to education and all cultural 
activities, sports and charities.

In 2008, some 16,200 days were spent Group-wide by employees 
members  in  community  relations,  and  more  than  EUR  9.1 
million  were  paid  to  external  groups.  These  contributions  tend 
to be globally correlated to the actual headcount in the regions 
concerned.

With  regard  to  the  contribution  in  days,  by  direct  intervention 
of  Michelin  employees,  education  accounts  for  37%  of  the 
participation (almost 6,000 days); diverse actions represent 46% 
and mobility represents 17%.

Concerning  financial  contributions,  the  bulk  was  channeled 
into  schools  and  education  (54%),  social  relief  (health,  social, 
charity…) and sports and cultural events 37%; the balance of 9% 
was channeled into mobility, road safety issues in particular.

The  actions  aimed  at  local  welfare  (more  than  3,100  actions 
recorded)  are  extremely  varied,  defeating  any  attempt  at  an 
exhaustive overview. Following are some examples:

(cid:116)  North  America:  gifts  to  a  large  American  social  solidarity 
association, direct employee contributions in addition to more than 
2 million dollars contributed from the company, local food banks, 
fire departments, donations and partnerships with schools in the 
vicinity  of  each  site  (including  Querétaro,  Mexico),  partnerships 
with several universities in South Carolina; many interventions in 
schools  to  support  students  in  difficulty  or  sharing  experiences 
on  the  life  of  the  business,  financial  assistance  to  volunteer 
organizations  assisting  the  sick,  disabled,  elderly  and  needy, 
financial support for sports clubs, environmental associations and 
museums; operations that aid with food delivery like “Meals on 
Wheels of Greenville”, blood donation drives, contribution to the 
Red Cross, furnishing tires or financing of emergency vehicles and 
so on.

(cid:116)(cid:1) South  America:  donations  to  food  banks,  in  the  State  of 
Bahia, support to family farming programs, financial support for 
research  on  biodiversity  in  Bahia,  payment  of  monthly  financial 
contributions  to  youth  educational  activities,  alcohol  and  drug 
abuse  awareness  campaigns,  donated  wheel  chairs,  chairs  and 
school  desks  for  the  local  jail,  donated  computers,  printers, 
clothing, renovation of a sensory garden for blind people in Rio 
de Janeiro and furniture (trunks, tables, chairs, etc) and toys to 
an  orphanage;  financing  for  the  second  year  the  development 
of  a  game  on  road  safety  “Na  pista  do  meilhor  Caminho”  in 
partnership  with  Rio  de  Janeiro  Urban  Trafic  Control  Board 
(DETRAN)  to  be  used  in  Rio  de  Janeiro  schools;  in  Colombia, 
financial  contribution  to  the  reconstruction  of  a  hospital  and  a 
teaching support program for underprivileged children.

(cid:116)(cid:1) Europe:  support  to  sports  clubs,  sporting  events,  “Training 
Night”  in  Germany,  financing  of  premises  for  associations; 
“Achtung  Auto”  and  “vado  a  piedi  e  uso  la  testa”  road  safety 
for  schoolchildren,  Operation  “Pedibus”  marking  
lessons 

168   2008 Michelin Annual Report

 
 
the route on foot for schoolchildren; sponsorship of road safety 
actions with local car clubs, “your road…your security”, actions 
“Don’t drink and Drive!”, revamping of homes for disabled people, 
organization of sporting events, donations to sports associations 
for  the  handicap,  IT  equipment  gifts,  donations  to  local  Red 
Cross,  blood  drives,  course  for  people  to  reintegrate  the  job 
market, musical event by Michelin choirs at charity associations, 
gifts to the Ligue Contre la Violence Routière (road crime league) 
for road safety, furniture gifts to a pediatric hospital, tire gifts to 
emergency services, charity or health organizations, financing of 
medical equipment, defibrillators or vehicles for hospitals, material 
support and participation in the life of schools (services such as 
board  of  examiners,  follow-up  on  students  with  difficulties); 
student  meetings;  participation  in  “Girls’  Day”  operation  to 
encourage young women to acquire technical training, company 
meetings with students, “Outstanding Women” day in Romania; 
funding  books  for  local  libraries;  prizes  for  contests,  raffles, 
charity events, advertising in local magazines.

In  Clermont-Ferrand,  since  1911  at  the  initiation  of  Marcel 
Michelin,  very  strong  involvement  in  the  ASM  (Association 
Sportive  Montferrandaise)  sports  club,  both  through  financial 
contributions  and  hands-on  contributions  by  Group  managers: 
ASM provides its 3,000 members 3 training sites and 15 sports 
sections  facilitated  by  400  persons,  paying  special  attention  to 
youth training and monitoring of athletes on health plans.

(cid:116)(cid:1)Africa: tire pressure campaigns, financial support for a disabled 
people association.

(cid:116)(cid:1)Asia Pacific: In China, donation as a result of climatic disasters, 
the earthquake in Sichuan, donation to an orphanage, financial 
support for the building of sports facilities in schools, in Vietnam 
helmet  wearing  campaign  with  the  “Asia  Injury  Prevention 
Foundation”,  financial  support  of  schools  (buildings,  school 
grants,  IT  equipment,  library),  charity  donations,  local  Red 
Cross, donations for local public campaign “Drunk don’t drive” 
education campaign on climate change, grants for playgrounds 
and green spaces for children, gift tires for emergency services.

Michelin’s contribution to road safety

In  line  with  the  commitments  of  its  Michelin  Performance  and 
Responsibility  approach,  the  Group  intends  to  contribute  to 
improving road safety by talking directly to road users. This desire 
is  reflected  in  awareness  campaigns,  education  and  training 
designed  to  eliminate  dangerous  behavior.  The  Road  Safety 
Project  was  deployed  throughout  Europe  during  2008  and  has 
set a global deployment objective by 2010. The renewal of the 
European Road Safety Charter signed in 2004 should take place 
in  2009  and  demonstrate  the  constancy  over  time  of  Michelin 
policy in this subject. 

On  the  one  hand,  Michelin  works  in  collaboration  with  other 
organizations.

Large-scale  programs  were  set  up  with  multiple  private  and 
public  and  national  and  international  partners  including  GRSP 
(Global Road Safety Partnership), an association of international 
organizations  and  multinational  companies  and  also  non-
governmental  organizations.  GRSP  focuses  its  actions  on  the 
countries  where  road  safety  issues  are  most  acute  (Thailand, 
Vietnam, China, Kuwait, South Africa, Poland, Romania, Hungary, 
Brazil)  and  extends  technical  and  legal  support  and  prevention 
advice to the governments to urge them to address the problem. 
In  addition,  Michelin  worked  in  2008  to  create  a  global  youth 
road safety partnership with WHO that will start its activities in 
2009 targeting 16-25 year olds.

And on the other hand, Michelin also acts independently through 
its  campaigns  to  motorists  and  local  community  involvement 
around its sites. 

Michelin  has  identified  the  most  accident-prone  behavior  in 
connection with its core business, tires. In 2008, the “Fill up with 
air” awareness building campaigns were rolled out in 10 countries 
(seven in the European Union and Kuwait, Norway and Turkey), 
giving drivers an opportunity to learn about proper tire inflation 
pressure. In all, some 9,500 cars were checked: 61% had at least 
one under-inflated tire. 

To facilitate proper inflation pressure maintenance, Michelin has 
installed 76 free Michelin Man inflation stations (equipment for  

measuring and adjusting tire pressure in the form of the Michelin 
Man)  in  service  areas  or  parking  lots  accessible  to  the  public  in 
ten countries. In France, 51 Michelin Man inflation stations were 
installed, of which 17 on Michelin sites, and the other 34 through 
a partnership with motorway networks (29 with ASF and 5 with 
COFIROUTE). Michelin Man inflation stations were also installed 
in  Austria,  China,  Germany,  Hungary,  Italy,  Poland,  Romania, 
United Kingdom and USA. 

Michelin  supported  road  safety  promotion  through  protection 
measures for the more vulnerable populations: the youth, cyclists, 
pedestrians. 

For schoolchildren, Michelin has developed an outreach program 
“The safest path” deployed in several countries, e.g. Brazil “Na 
pista do melhor Caminho”, Fossano (Italy) in partnership with the 
municipality. In France, the company organized at Montceau-lès-
Mines, Bassens, Avallon and La Roche-sur-Yon “Michelin Junior 
Bike”  operations,  where  young  cyclists  learn  through  fun  road 
traffic rules. Eight similar operations were conducted in Italy (la 
Spezia,  Pistoia,  Santa-Maria-Maggiore,  Sauze  d’Oulx,  Treviso, 
Carpi, Padova, Verona), affecting more than 7,000 young people 
from  8  to  12  years  old.  Since  1998,  in  Italy  alone,  more  than 
184,000 children have participated in Junior Bike events. 

For  adolescents,  helmet  awareness  campaigns  were  organized 
to  educate  adolescents  on  the  dangers  that  exist  when  driving 
motorcycles,  particularly  in  emerging  countries.  Michelin,  in 
a  6  year  partnership  with  the  German  automobile  club  ADAC, 
continues the program “Achtung Auto” for 14-15 year olds. The 
program has already involved one million children. 

For young adults, Michelin distributes materials in driving schools 
on tire safety for new drivers.

12. SUPPLIER RELATIONS

Michelin  considers  it  to  be  the  company’s  responsibility  to 
implement sustainable development with its suppliers, particularly 
because of the amount of purchases, representing 63% of its net 
sales. By establishing a dialogue, the company intends to select 
its  suppliers  not  only  based  on  the  value  of  their  products  and 
services, but also in terms of their overall performance, including 
social, environmental and ethical activities. 

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   169

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
a  breach  would  constitute  a  cause  for  immediate  relationship 
termination. 

In  2008,  Michelin  also  extensively  covered  the  Europen  REACH 
regulation with its suppliers, to help them with their registrations 
and chemical authorisations and also control its own risks in the 
area of component substitutions.

Along  with  these  external  measures,  Michelin  set  up  within  its 
Purchasing  department  an  Internal  Control  function  in  charge 
of identifying and eliminating fraud risks and of ensuring proper 
implementation  of  the  Group’s  “Purchasing  Ethics”  Referential. 
This  action  was  complemented  by  a  systematic  initiative  to 
identify risks by the Internal Audit Department. The “Purchasing 
Ethics” referential has been an internal communication campaign 
within Michelin’s teams and with the key internal partners. These 
rules  are  displayed  in  all  the  rooms  in  which  meetings  are  held 
with suppliers. 

Finally,  the  launch  of  the  new  Raw  Material  Quality  Assurance 
Suppliers Manual was an opportunity to put the topic of ethics 
in front of suppliers, by systematically sending explanation letters 
to them. 

The  principles  applied  by  the  Purchasing  department  in  vendor 
relations are completely consistent with company values, affirmed 
in  the  Michelin  Performance  and  Responsibility  approach. 
In  particular,  the  Group’s  objective  is  to  develop  sustainable 
relationships with suppliers and to eliminate the risks from non-
compliance with environmental or social legislation. 

These  principles  are  outlined  in  the  Michelin  Purchasing  Code, 
published  four  years  ago,  which  requires  suppliers  to  comply 
with  a  set  of  principles,  particularly  social  and  environmental 
(International  Labor  Organization  conventions,  assessment  and 
control of environmental impacts, ...). 

In  2008,  the  Purchasing  department  continued  its  integration 
into documents and referentials of the provisions of the Michelin 
Purchasing Code. Supplier evaluation questionnaires, internal and 
external  audit  reference  documents,  local  contracts  and  global 
contracts,  indicators  for  evaluating  suppliers  and  performance 
assessments include specifc criteria on respect of values and the 
Michelin Performance and Responsability approach. 

A  maturity  scale,  established  initially  for  the  purchases  of  raw 
materials,  is  now  being  gradually  deployed  for  purchases  of 
capital  goods.  It  was  applied  for  the  first  time  to  Michelin’s 
most important suppliers, with meetings to evaluate and discuss 
results. 

For  example,  the  maturity  scale  shows  with  regards  to  80%  of 
raw material purchases, 58% of these suppliers’ sites are certified 
ISO 14001, an increase compared to 2007. 

The  establishment  of  these  scales  is  accompanied  by  detailed 
supplier  audits,  made  by  Michelin’s  teams  (30  to  40  annually). 
During these visits, Michelin always discusses safety or ergonomics. 
This approach actually meets suppliers’ expectations: considering 
the positive attitude adopted, Michelin is considered by them to 
be the company that best helps them progress in these areas.

This is reinforced in the case of suppliers from emerging countries, 
with  which  purchases  are  growing  significantly.  Michelin  gives 
them  particular  attention  and  they  are  subject  to  regular  visits. 
The  issue  of  child  labor  is  always  considered  very  carefully  and 

170   2008 Michelin Annual Report

2008 Environmental Information

1. THE GROUP’S ENVIRONMENTAL APPROACH

Michelin bases its environmental approach on impact studies of 
its activity. In particular, the lifecycle analysis of tires shows that 
the main impacts on the environment and health are very largely 
due to the fuel consumption caused by rolling resistance, not its 
production phase or end of life treatment. This study also takes 
into account health indicators.

The  Group’s  focus  areas  concern  the  products,  and  the 
manufacturing sites.

1.1 Controlling the impact of Michelin’s products

The lifecycle analysis of a passenger tire shows that over 86% of 
its impact on health and environmental (for a life of 40,000 km) 
relates  to  the  usage  life  phase  and  is  mainly  due  to  its  rolling 
resistance. This proportion rises to 93% for a truck tire, for a life 
of  600,000  km.  In  common  use,  tires  account  for  a  significant 
proportion of vehicle fuel consumption, now estimated at 20% 
for passenger cars and over 30% for truck tires. 

For  Michelin,  the  priority  has  been  the  same  for  many  years: 
to  increase  the  energy  efficiency  of  its  tires  while  improving 
performance, especially safety and durability. By reducing vehicle 
fuel consumption, lower tire rolling resistance also reduces local 
pollution  and  CO
  emissions  emitted  during  use.  Extending  the 
2
lifetime  of  the  tire  also  allows  better  use  of  raw  materials  and 
energy consumed during manufacturing. 

Today  the  high  energy  efficient  passenger  tire,  invented  by 
Michelin  in  1992  under  the  name  of  Michelin  Energy,  offers  a 
reduction in rolling resistance of up to -25% compared to other 
tires  on  the  market.  It  can  lead  to  lower  fuel  consumption  for  
an average European car of 0.2 l/100 km, or on average 4 g of 
CO
2

/km. 

In  truck  tires,  innovations  collectively  known  as  the  Michelin 
Durable  Technologies,  allows  reductions  in  fuel  consumption 

as  well  as  reduced  CO
  emissions.  For  example,  the  MICHELIN 
2
X EnergyTM SaverGreen tire avoids the emission of approximately 
6 tons of CO
 over the tire’s four lives. These technologies also 
2
increase the load capacity and lifespan. The latter has doubled in 
truck tires since 1980. 

In  sixteen  years,  more  than  600  million  Michelin  high  energy 
efficiency  tires  have  been  sold  worldwide  and  have  already 
accounted for an estimated savings of 10 billion liters of fuel and 
27  million  tons  of  CO
  not  being  emitted  into  the  atmosphere, 
2
the equivalent of what could be captured by over one billion trees 
in one year. The method of calculation is described in document 
UTAC (Minutes 07/08882).

Further rolling resistance reductions, while improving or at least 
maintaining the other tire performance criteria at the same level, 
remains the Group’s key Research and Development objective. 

Finally,  Michelin  is  becoming  very  active  in  the  establishment 
and operation of tire’s end of life value chains, either by material 
recovery  (floors,  surfaces,  molded  objects,  embankments...)  or 
energy recovery (fuel for cement plants or steel mills). There are 
more details of this in the Michelin Performance and Responsibility 
reports. 

1.2  Improving  the  environmental  performance  of 
sites 

Improving  environmental  performance  of  the  Group’s  sites 
implies  reliance  on  adequate  global  measurements.  Therefore, 
in  2005,  Michelin  developed  an  environmental  performance 
indicator  called  MEF  (Michelin  site  Environmental  Footprint) 
including  Michelin’s  six  most  relevant  environmental  challenges 
for the mid-term. 

MEF  integrates  the  consumption  of  resources  (water,  energy), 
emissions  (carbon  dioxide  (CO
),  volatile  organic  compounds 
2
(VOC)) and waste (generated quantity, quantity in landfills). Each 
criterion  is  weighted  according  to  its  significance  (see  diagram 
below) and calculated for actual tire production tonnages.

MEF  (Michelin  site  Environmental  Footprint)  Indicator: 
Components and weighting

Basic components

Weighting

MEF
site

 Down by -30%
by 2013

Consumption 
of resources

Emissions 
in the air

Waste

Energy 

Water 

VOC 

CO2 

Quantity 
generated 

Quantity send 
to landfill 

  15

  15

  25

  15

  15

  15

Since  2005,  the  Group  continues  its  effort  to  reduce  the 
environmental impact of its sites through the monitoring of MEF. 
A first target of -20% in 2011 compared to 2005 was reached in 
2008, so a new target of -30% by 2013, still compared to 2005, 
was  defined.  The  MEF  is  integrated  into  the  Group’s  scorecard 
and is subject to quarterly reporting. 

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   171

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The 2008 detailed results on the six components of the MEF are in the table below.

MEF (Michelin site Environmental Footprint) Indicator evolution between 2005 and 2008

2013 objective compared to 2005

MEF

-30%

2005

100

2006

92.9

2007

83.6

2008

78.6

Changes over 
2005-2008 
-21.4%

MEF six criteria changes

Energy consumption

Water consumption

VOC emissions

CO
 emissions
2

Waste generated

Landfill

Unit

2005

2006

2007

2008

Changes over 2005-2008

Gj/t* PP

m3/t PP

kg/t PP

t/t PP

kg/t PP

kg/t PP

17.4

15.0

4.27

1.53

140

17.2

14.9

3.97

1.48

130

15.6

13.3

3.48

1.37

128

15.3

12.8

3.13

1.35

127.5

33

26

20

16.2

-12.1%

-14.7%

-26.7%

-11.8%

-8.9%

-50.9%

* t PP = ton of tire produced. In this document when the word “ton” is used it refers to metric ton.
The data related to these indicators has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers (see pages 177-178).

1.3  Managing industrial site emissions  
and renewable energies

Michelin  Group  is  committed  to  contributing  to  global  efforts 
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the road transportation 
and  industrial  sectors.  As  such,  the  reduction  of  CO
  emissions 
2
per ton of product linked to industrial activities reached -11.8% 
compared to 2005 throughout the Group. 

The  deployment  of  actions  in  the  field  of  energy  efficiency 
continues. The Group, in connection with the deployment of its 
Renewable  Energy  Policy  (EnR),  made  a  diagnosis  of  all  its  sites 
in  order  to  build  a  portfolio  of  projects  that  help  reduce  CO
2
impact. 

Several  installations  have  emerged  in  recent  years:  two  wind 
turbines provide more than 20% of the electricity needs of the 
plant in Dundee, Scotland, the synthetic rubber plant of Bassens 
is supplied up to 15% from heat recovered from the combustion 
of industrial and hospital waste and four sites in Germany (Bad 
Kreuznach,  Homburg,  Bamberg,  Landau)  have  equipped  their 
roofs with photovoltaic panels with a power of 9MW. 

Other projects are underway: the extension of solar installations 
in Germany on two new sites (Ulm, Karlsruhe), installation of a 
wind turbine unit in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, production of 
energy by burning biomass at Bourges in France. 
Others projects are also in the preliminary phase.

1.4 Scope of environmental disclosures

The Group tracks the quality and completeness of data and figures 
presented below cover all Michelin industrial activities as well as 
research and development activities and rubber tree plantations. 
The site of Tigar, in Serbia, newly integrated by the Group, will 
enter the reporting perimeter in 2010.

2. REVIEW OF STATUTORY INDICATORS 

2.1 Atmospheric emissions
2.1.1 Greenhouse gas effect 

CO
  emissions  of  the  Group  amounted  to  1.35  ton  per  ton  of 
2
finished products in 2008, a decrease of 1.4% compared to 2007. 

Direct  CO
  emissions  by  Group-owned  boilers  in  2008  were  at 
2
0.60  t  by  metric  ton  of  finished  product,  down  6.3%  versus 
2007.

In European Union countries, emissions are subject to regulations 
(the Kyoto Protocol for the 2008-2012 period) providing for CO
2
emission rights or quotas, entering in 2008 the second phase of 
its  implementation.  As  in  previous  years,  Michelin’s  European 
site emissions were below attributed quotas, with a reduction of 
more than 150,000 tons of CO
 emitted into the atmosphere in 
2
2008 compared to 2007. 

Indirect emissions of CO
 associated with the purchase of electric 
2
and thermal energy (steam) are estimated at 0.75 tons per ton of 
finished products, up 4.2% compared to 2007 (0.72 ton per ton). 
This is mainly due to outsourcing of steam supply at one of the 
Group’s  Italian sites, Cuneo at the beginning of 2008. 

Thanks to optimized operations and introduction of the Group’s 
best industrial practices, the Group’s energy consumption in GJ 
(gigajoule) continued to decline overall by 1.3% in 2008. However, 
the  decrease  in  production,  particularly  marked  in  the  fourth 
quarter of 2008 has resulted in reduced tons of finished product 
thus  slightly  increasing  the  energy  consumption/produced  ton 
ratio (+1.9%). 

172   2008 Michelin Annual Report

 
 
In addition, Michelin applies a strong policy in the area of renewable energies which contributes to reducing fossil fuel-related emissions, 
either directly through choice of energy supplies, or indirectly through clean technologies introduced at its sites: an equivalent emission 
of more than 30,000 tonnes of CO
 has been avoided in 2008.
2

Site
Bamberg, Hombourg, Bad Kreuznach, 
Landau (Germany)
Dundee (United Kingdom)
Bassens (France) 

Technology
Photovoltaic

Windmill
Recovering heat generated by   
an incinerator located 1 km away 

CO2 volume not emitted 

 /year indirect
- 7,200 t CO
2

- 4,000 t CO
 /year indirect
2
- 20,000 t CO
 /year direct
2

2.1.2 Other atmospheric emissions*

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)

Group  relative  VOC  emissions  (3.13  kg/t  of  finished  product) 
were  down  10%  between  2007  and  2008.  The  year  2008 
saw  continued  deployment  of  new  and  innovative  production 
processes designed to cut solvent consumption and emissions. 

As  the  following  graph  concerning  Europe’s  Passenger  car  and 
Light  truck  manufacturing  operations  shows,  significant  (-72%) 
reductions were achieved since 1992 when the reduction program 
started.

Solvent Consumption
Europe Passenger Car and Light Truck (g/kg)
1992: 
Base 100

92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08

* correspond to “acidification” and “photochemical” pollution items defined 
by ministerial decree of April 30, 2002.

End 2008: - 72%

2.2.2 Discharges to the aquatic environment

The  main  substances  that  could  be  emitted  by  Group  plants 
are  Total  Suspended  Solids  and  Total  Hydrocarbons.  This  is  not 
specific  to  Michelin’s  processes  but  inherent  in  most  industrial 
activities.

Wire  processing  and  synthetic  elastomer  production  also  use 
water  in  their  manufacturing  processes,  and  could  respectively 
emit metal (copper, zinc) or hydrocarbon residues: Michelin uses 
water treatment processes suitable to each need at these sites.

2.3 Ground level discharge

Michelin’s operations do not generate continuous discharges into 
the ground or water tables.

The Group’s approach to deal with the risk of accidental spillage is 
based on MEMS (Michelin Environmental Management System). 
This  comprises  a  set  of  physical  measures  (ground  protection, 
leak prevention) and behavioral  instructions (production worker 
procedures  to  identify  hazardous  operations  and  for  remedial 
action in the event of an accident).

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the 
The  Group  Environment 
construction and equipping of new industrial projects require a 
high level of soil protection, derived from the strictest standards 
and are often more stringent than local regulations.

requirements  applicable 

to 

2.4 Waste

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)
Specific NOx emissions from Group boilers are 0.82 kg per metric 
ton of finished product (0.89 kg/t calculated in 2007).

Sulfur Oxides (SOx)
Sulfur  oxide  (SOx)  emissions  are  1.08  kg/t  of  finished  product 
(1.27 kg/t calculated in 2007) 

The 2008 results show a continued reduction in emissions from 
the  baseline  set  in  2005.  One  of  the  primary  reasons  for  the 
decrease in sulfur dioxide emission is related to the growing use, 
in certain countries, of gas in place of other fossil fuels.

2.2 Water consumption and discharges to the 
aquatic environment

2.2.1 Water consumption 

Michelin  plants  mainly  use  water  to  cool  the  plants  and  as  a 
heat  transfer  fluid.  After  proper  treatment,  water  used  is  either 
discharged to the environment or to local water treatment plants.

Michelin’s  specific  water  consumption  amounted  to  12.8  m3 
per metric ton of finished product, down 3.8% from 2007. This 
variation is due to a strong commitment from the Group’s three 
sites that consume the most water. They have reduced their need 
by an average of 7.5% in 2008.

In 2008, the Group continued its actions to reduce the amount 
of waste going to landfill. The gross amount of waste generated 
by  production  of  one  metric  ton  of  tires  was  stable  compared 
to 2007 at 127.5 kg and the amount ultimately sent to landfills 
from 20 kg to 16.2 kg, which is an improvement of 19%. Overall 
since 2005, the amount of waste generated in the manufacture 
of one ton of tires decreased from 140 kg to 127.5 kg (reduction 
of  8.9%)  and  the  amount  of  waste  disposal  from  33  kg  to  
16.2 kg (50.9% reduction). 

The Group set a target to reduce the amount of waste disposal 
by 75% by 2013 compared to 2005 contributing to 30% progress 
set for 2013 of the MEF.

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   173

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.5 Resource consumption

Energy

The Group’s energy consumption by metric ton of tire produced 
decreased  from  15.6  GJ  to  15.3  GJ,  a  decrease  of  1.9%  versus 
2007.

The  cross-functional  entity  set  up  to  improve  energy  efficiency 
of  the  industrial  sites  deployed  its  energy  audit  methodology, 
identifying  best  practices,  and  published  the  best  of  them  in  a 
Group  level  referential.  At  the  end  of  2008,  77  sites  had  been 
audited  and  action  plans  prepared.  A  second  complementary 
diagnostic phase started, which shows an application rate of best 
practices  at  84%.  A  scorecard  for  monitoring  the  sites’  energy 
performance  was  established  in  North  America  and  Europe.  
Michelin’s policy of developing renewable energy projects continues 
with  the  objective  of  environmental  and  economic  performance 
gains. Projects are under study, for example in the area of steam 
production from biomass.

2.6 Ecosystem and Biodiversity Preservation

Michelin, and indeed all industry, relies on “ecosystem services”, 
and  is  acutely  aware  of  their  importance  and  fragility.  Indeed, 
50% of the rubber used by Michelin is a renewable raw material: 
natural rubber, the product of the rubber tree.

Anxious  to  use  in  a  sustainable  manner,  what  the  ecosystems 
provide,  Michelin  is  currently  active  in  several  areas  to  limit 
the  impact  of  its  activities  and  to  protect  ecosystems  and 
biodiversity: 
(cid:116) implementing actions, for a number of years, to preserve the 
fragile environment around some of the sites (see below);
(cid:116) integration of these issues into the Michelin Performance and 
Responsibility approach;
(cid:116)  progressive  development,  within  the  group,  of  the  ESR 
(Ecosystem Services Review);
(cid:116)  compliance  with  local  environmental  regulations  concerning 
ecosystems 
environmental 
requirements where they are more stringent;
(cid:116)  introduction  of  new  processes  and  equipment  to  limit  water 
consumption;
(cid:116) design of lighter tires, using fewer raw materials, that are more 
energy efficient and longer lasting.

combined  with  Group-level 

Michelin’s actions on the plantation of Bahia 
Under  the  Ouro  Verde  (“Green  Gold”)  project  conducted  on 
Michelin’s  rubber  plantation  of  Bahia  in  Brazil,  Michelin  has 
been working since 2003 to preserve the primary Atlantic Forest 
that  is  exceptionally  rich  in  biodiversity,  but  is  threatened  by 
deforestation. 

The  Center  for  the  Study  of  Biodiversity  was  installed  there.  It 
provides scientists worldwide with an open-air laboratory on the 
Atlantic Forest. The center can accommodate up to 16 researchers, 
with the equipment necessary for their work. Michelin has helped 
to  finance  some  research  activities,  including  36  studies  on 
biodiversity. Visitors are able to enjoy educational walking trails.  

The local population has not been forgotten either. The program 
“Know  the  Atlantic  Forest”  aims  to  sensitize  local  communities 
about  environmental  issues  by  leading  guided  tours  of  the 
reserve  in  small  groups  or  field  trips  for  schools.  The  Michelin 
Environmental Reference center provides detailed information on 
the Atlantic Forest. 

Michelin’s actions on the site of Almería 
Established in 1973, the Test Center of Almería (CEMA) occupies 
4,500  hectares  of  which  1,500  hectares  lie  in  the  heart  of  the 
Natural Park of Cabo de Gata-Nijar in Andalusia, southern Spain. 
This natural park, created in 1987, is located in a desert area with 
the lowest rainfall in Europe. It is home to numerous varieties of 
flora and fauna, including many species found only in this zone. 

These actions have helped preserve a specimen of the “Dracaena 
Draco” tree from the Canary Islands that is located on the center 
and is over 500 years old! 

The test center has been certified ISO 14001 since 2005. 

A first in Hungary 
In 2008, the first ESR (Ecosystem Services Review) was conducted 
at the site of Nyiregyhaza in Hungary. The review was performed 
using a methodology developed by the WBCSD (World Business 
Council  for  Sustainable  Development)  and  to  which  one  of    
Michelin’s engineers was trained. The methodology was adapted 
to the tire industry and highlights the dependence of an industrial 
site to its environment. This review identified that the site can be 
susceptible to conditions which it does not directly control, such 
as air pollution, and as a result steps have been taken to remedy 
the problem.

174   2008 Michelin Annual Report

2.7 Pollution Risk Prevention

The subject is treated in the above paragraphs, as well as in the 
“Industrial Risk” section page 158.

2.8 Progress Approach

2.8.1  Certification  and  evaluation,  statutory  conformity 
guarantee

The strength and consistency of the environmental policy of the 
Group’s industrial sites hinges on: 

(cid:116) firstly, the Michelin Environmental Management System (MEMS), 
designed to allow each of its sites to control the daily and long 
term environmental impacts;
(cid:116)  secondly,  the  Group’s  Environmental  Requirements,  which 
define the level of performance asked of a Michelin site, a level 
which in some cases exceeds local regulatory requirements. 

Obtaining  ISO14001  certification  as  external  validation  of 
Michelin’s commitment to environmental issues is also part of the 
approach.

the 

following 

MEMS  environmental  management  covers 
aspects:
(cid:116)(cid:1) ensuring  compliance  with  local  regulations  and  Michelin 
standards;
(cid:116)(cid:1)obligation to define and achieve, each year, progress objectives 
adapted to local issues;
(cid:116)(cid:1)prevention mechanisms for the risks of accidental pollution.
The Group’s objective is to implement MEMS in all sites acquired 
more  than  five  years  ago.  At  the  end  of  2008,  94%  of  the 
industrial  sites,  Technology  Centers  and  plantations  acquired 
more than five years ago were using MEMS. This approach is in 
the process of being introduced in the logistics sites.

The Group’s Environmental Requirements by definition apply to 
all  new  installations  or  intallation  modifications  and  allow  the 
Group to pursue a goal of environmental excellence in its sites. 
With regard to existing facilities (industrial sites and technology 
center), reviews of the differences from Group requirements were 
performed for nearly 94% of sites, with the goal of building and 
planning actions to achieve the Group targets. 

 
As of the end of 2008, the Group manufactures 99.5% of its tires 
at sites certified ISO 14001. The Group’s two rubber plantations, 
the main sites of the Technology Center and all the semi-finished 
products  facilities  were  also  certified.  Although  MEMS  is  not  a 
preriquisite  for  ISO  140001  certification,  it  has  clearly  helped 
achieve it.

2.8.2 Environmental Governance and Internal 
Organization

To  guarantee  the  robustness  of  risk  analysis  and  the  relevance 
of the solutions that are adopted, Michelin Group has adopted 
a  network  structure  to  respond  to  its  environment,  hygiene, 
workplace safety and industrial hazard prevention issues.

The  Group’s  Environment  and  Prevention  network  comprises  a 
hundred  or  so  experts  who  operate  in  different  countries  and 
Product Lines, in addition to a dedicated team in each site. The 
head of the Environment and Prevention network reports to the 
Group’s Executive Council and manages a dedicated budget.

An improvement objective is defined each year in the Annual Plan 
through the MEF indicator (see above). The Group raised its MEF 
target from -20% in 2011 to -30% at the end of 2013. The regular 
deployment of this objective in all Group operations ensures that 
realistic targets are set. Progress in the MEF is reviewed quarterly 
by the Prevention and Industrial Performance Department and is 
part of the Group’s scorecard.

2.8.3 Employee training and information

MEMS deployment and specific training has raised environmental 
awareness on the part of the 88,000 or so employees of Michelin’s 
certified  sites.  The  training  courses,  which  are  tailored  to  each 
type of workstation, cover the main impact factors specific to site 
operations. In addition, employees benefit from regular refresher 
courses.

2.9 Provisions for environmental risks,  
environment-related expenditure 

The aggregate “environmental risk” provisions amounted to EUR 
6.1 million as of December 31, 2008.

The Group spent EUR 23 million in its industrial facilities in 2008 
for projects to enhance its environmental performance. Please see 
the breakdown in the following table. The amount was calculated 
on the basis of the definition of Recommendation n° 2003-R02 

of  October  21,  2003  of  Conseil  National  de  la  Comptabilité  
Français  that  excludes  routine  maintenance,  operating  and 
waste  elimination  expenses  from  the  scope  of  environmental 
expenditure.  This  only  takes  into  account  the  “additional 
expenses” and therefore also excludes the environmental portion 
of industrial investments.

(in EUR thousands)

Investments

Operating expenses

Total expenses

Air pollution prevention 

Surface water pollution prevention

Underground water and ground 
pollution prevention
Other

Total

2.10 Other information 

2.10.1 Odor and Noise Nuisance

Odor  nuisance  from  Group  operations,  although  entirely 
innocuous,  is  a  concern  for  those  factories  that  process  certain 
types of natural rubber indispensable for tire manufacturing and 
that are located in or near urban areas.

A  standard  solution  across  the  Group  is  continuing  to  be  put 
in  place.  The  solution,  using  effluent  thermal  oxidation  is  now 
operational in six European plants. The Group is researching into 
even more efficient and environmentally friendly techniques for 
odor suppression.

More  generally,  site  teams,  supported  by  Group  experts,  take 
every step to reduce the odor, sound or other nuisance generated 
by its industrial activities for local residents.

2.10.2 Relations with environmental protection associations

Wherever  appropriate,  Michelin  Group  fosters  close  ties  with 
environmental  protection  associations  and  bodies  dedicated  to 
environmental respect. 

2008
6,142

2,661

993
7,215

17,012

2008
666

730

1,070
3,512

5,978

2008
6,808

3,392

2,064
10,727

22,990

2007
19,181

4,809

3,192
7,273

34,455

Michelin  North  America’s  efforts  in  terms  of  commitment  to 
and action towards environmental protection are acknowledged 
by  EPA  (the  Environmental  Protection  Agency):  since  2005,  ten 
sites  were  selected  to  take  part  in  the  ‘EPA  Performance  Track 
Program’. In order to be eligible, in addition to compliance with 
current  legislations,  sites  have  to  display  a  socially  responsible 
approach.  This  includes  having  a  set  of  objectives  for  ongoing 
environmental  performance  progress  and  having  a  system  in 
place for environmental impact management.

Michelin  North  America  also  works  in  partnership  with  many 
associations and public authorities that are active in particular in 
the area of energy savings (such as the Alliance to Save Energy) 
and in transportation-related emission reductions (such as EPA’s 
Smartways Program).

With respect to the renewable energy policy implementation in 
Europe and the United States, in 2007, Michelin joined the Green 
Power Market Development Group, led by the World Resources 
Institute (WRI) NGO.

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   175

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3. DATA RECAP TABLE

The last column provides the correspondence between the Michelin and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) indicators.

Water consumption **

Energy consumption** 

of which: Michelin stationary sources 

Steam

Power
Greenhouse gas emissions**

of which: Michelin direct stationary source emissions 

Indirect steam emissions 

Indirect energy emissions 
Michelin Emissions avoided (direct + indirect)
Sulfur dioxide emissions*

Nitrogen dioxide emissions*

Volatile Organic Compound Emissions**

Waste production**

Waste disposal volume**

Environmental management (% of finished products manufactured at ISO 14001 certified sites)**

2005
15.0 m3/t

17.4 GJ/t

2006
14.9 m3/t

2007
13.3 m3/t

17.2 GJ/t

15.6 GJ/t

9

1.2

5.4
1.37 t/t

0.64

0.13

0.59

12,400 t
1.27 kg/t

0.89 kg/t

3.48 kg/t

10.6

1.0

5.7
1.53 t/t

0.75

0.11

0.66

1.65 kg/t

1.01 kg/t

4.27 kg/t

140 kg/t

33 kg/t

94.8%

10.5

1.1

5.6
1.48 t/t

0.73 

0.12

0.63

1.22 kg/t

0.85 kg/t

3.97 kg/t

130 kg/t

26 kg/t

99.4%

2008
12.8 m3/t

15.3 GJ/t

8.5

1.3

5.5
1.35 t/t

0.60

0.15

0.60

31,200 t
1.08 kg/t

0.82 kg/t

3.13 kg/t

2008 / 2007
-3.8%

GRI Indicators 
EN8

-1.9%

-5.6%

+8.3%

+1.9%
-1.4%

-6.3%

 +15.4%

+1.7%

+57.5%
-15.0%

-7.9%

-10.1%

-0.4%

-19.0%

EN3-EN4

EN3

EN4

EN4
EN16

EN16

EN16

EN16

EN18
EN20

EN20

EN20

EN22

EN22

128 kg/t

127.5 kg/t

20 kg/t

99.5%

16.2 kg/t

99.5%

* Unmeasured sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide emissions are estimated by the Environment department on the basis of emission data supplied by the Environment and Prevention Reporting Referential. Estimated emissions account for less 
than 1% of the Group’s overall emissions.

** The data related to these indicators has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers (see pages 177-178).

For more information on Michelin Group’s environmental policy, please refer to Michelin’s Performance and Responsibility Report 2005-2006 published in May 2007, the 2007 update published in May 
2008 and the Report 2007-2008 (to be published in May 2009).

176   2008 Michelin Annual Report

Review report from one of the statutory auditors, 
PricewaterhouseCoopers audit,
on the processes used to compile certain social and environmental information, 
and on certain social, and environmental indicators 

This is a free translation into English of the Statutory Auditor’s review report 
issued in the French language and is provided solely for the convenience of 
English speaking readers. The review report should be read in conjunction 
with, and construed in accordance with, French law and professional auditing 
standards applicable in France.

To Michelin Group management,

Further to your request and in our capacity as Statutory Auditor of 
the Michelin Group, we have carried out a review for the purpose 
of enabling us to express moderate assurance on the processes 
used  to  compile  certain  social  and  environmental  information 
published by the Michelin Group in its Annual Report for 2008:

(cid:116) Social information includes indicators for “Frequency rate” and 
“Severity rate” for workplace accidents, “Headcount”, “Full-time 
equivalent  Headcount”,  “Absenteeism”,  “Training  access  rate”, 
and “Male/female distribution by status and geographic zone”;

(cid:116)  Environmental  indicators  include  all  indicators  shown  in  the 
“Data Recap Table”.

We  have  also  carried  out  a  review  for  the  purpose  of  enabling 
us  to  express  moderate  assurance  on  certain  of  the  social  and 
environmental  indicators  listed  above  (marked  “**”  on  pages 
161, 166, 172 and 176 of this 2008 Annual Report).

These  processes,  together  with  the  indicators  set  forth  in  this 
2008  Annual  Report,  are  the  responsibility  of  the  “Prevention 
and Industrial Performance Department”, the “Personnel Group 
Service”,  and  the  Michelin  Group  “Michelin  Performance  and 
Responsibility  Department”,  in  accordance  with  the  Group’s 
internal  reporting  standards.  These  standards  are  available  on 
request from the Group’s head office.

Our  responsibility  is  to  express  our  conclusion  on  these  data 
compilation processes as well as on theses indicators, based on 
our work.

Nature and scope of our work

We performed the procedures described below to obtain moderate 
assurance that no material irregularities exist with regard to the 
processes  used  to  compile  certain  social  and  environmental 
information as well as certain social and environmental indicators 
published. We did not perform all of the procedures required to 
obtain reasonable assurance (a higher level of assurance).

We  performed  the  following  procedures  with  regard  to  the 
processes  used  to  compile  the  social  and  environmental 
information:

(cid:116) We assessed the procedures used to report the above-mentioned 
social  and  environmental  information  in  light  of  the  relevance, 
reliability, objectivity and understandability of such information;

(cid:116)  We  conducted  interviews  with  the  persons  responsible  for 
compiling and consolidating the data and applying the procedures 
at Group level, in order to verify that the procedures had been 
properly understood and implemented. We also met with people 
from the following divisions and departments: the “Finance Group 
Service”, the “Personnel Group Service / Training”; the “Personnel 
Group  Service  /  Global  Compensation”,  the  “Prevention  and 
Industrial Performance Department / Environment and Hygiene”, 
the “Prevention and Industrial Performance Department / Safety 
of People and Goods;

(cid:116)  We  also  compiled  and  sent  a  questionnaire  to  20  Group 
sites  in  11  countries,  in  order  to  determine  whether  social  and 
environmental reporting procedures were properly applied;

(cid:116) We performed consistency checks on a test basis in order to verify 
that the data had been correctly centralized and consolidated.

In addition to the work regarding the above-mentioned reporting 
procedures,  for  the  social  and  environmental  indicators  marked 
“**” in this 2008 Annual Report we selected a sample of industrial 
plants (Aranda, Campo Grande, Cataroux, Cuneo, Opelika, Pictou, 
Shenyang, Tuscaloosa, Valladolid and Waterville) on the basis of 
their contribution to the Group’s consolidated data. We checked, 
on site, that the procedures had been properly understood and 
implemented  at  these  selected  sites  and  performed  in-depth 
checks on a test basis to verify the calculations and reconcile the 

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   177

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
data with the supporting documents. The contribution of these 
sites to the consolidated data was as follows:

We  were  assisted  in  our  work  by  experts  from  our  Sustainable 
Development department.

(cid:116)  Contribution  to  overall  social  indicators:  13%  of  the  Group’s 
total headcount, expressed as full time equivalents and 18% of 
hours worked;

(cid:116)  Contribution  to  overall  environmental  indicators:  energy 
consumption: 21%; water consumption: 21%; SO
 emissions: 23%; 
X
NO
  emissions:  15%;  VOC  emissions:  20%;  tire  manufacturing: 
X
23%; Waste production: 19%; Waste disposal volume: 25%.

Conclusion

Based on our work, no material irregularities came to light causing 
us to believe that the following processes and indicators do not 
comply with the Michelin Group’s reporting indicators for 2008:

(cid:116)  the  processes  used  to  compile  social  and  environmental 
information  for  the  above-mentioned  indicators  in  accordance 
with the Group's internal reporting standards; and

(cid:116)  the  indicators  reviewed  (marked  “**”  in  this  2008  Annual 
Report)  in  accordance  with  the  Group's  internal  reporting 
standards applicable in 2008.

Neuilly-sur-Seine, February 18, 2009

PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit
Christian Marcellin  
Partner 
Statutory Auditor 

Sylvain Lambert
Partner
Sustainable Development Department

178   2008 Michelin Annual Report

 
 
 
 
Production Sites

68 (1) production sites in 19 countries

PASSENGER CAR AND LIGHT TRUCK PRODUCT LINE:  
37 (1) SITES IN 18 COUNTRIES

TRUCK TIRE PRODUCT LINE (INCLUDING RETREAD FACILITIES):  
28 SITES IN 16 COUNTRIES

SPECIALTY TIRES: 16 SITES IN 7 COUNTRIES

France: Bourges, Le Puy en Velay, Montceau-lès-Mines, Troyes
Spain: Lasarte,Valladolid, Vitoria
Poland: Olsztyn
Serbia: Pirot
United States: Lexington, Norwood, Kansas City
Brazil: Campo Grande
Thailand: Nongkae, Phrapadaeng

France : Cholet, Clermont-Ferrand (2 sites), Lille,  
Montceau-lès-Mines, Roanne
Germany: Bad-Kreuznach, Bamberg
Spain: Lasarte(2), Valladolid, Vitoria
Hungary: Nyiregyhaza
Italy: Cuneo, Turin(2)
Poland: Olsztyn
United Kingdom: Dundee
Russia: Davydovo
Romania: Victoria
Serbia: Pirot
United  States:  Ardmore,  Columbia,  Dothan,  Fort-Wayne, 
Greenville (2 sites), Opelika, Tuscaloosa
Canada : Bridgewater, Pictou
Mexico: Queretaro
Brazil: Resende
Colombia: Cali
China: Shenyang, Shanghai
Japan: Ota
Thailand: Laem Chabang, Phrapadaeng

(1) Excluding the Toul site that stopped producing at the end of 2008 and is in 
the process of being reconverted.

(2) End of Passenger Car / Light Truck production announced.

France: Avallon, Clermont-Ferrand, La Roche-sur-Yon, Tours
Germany: Homburg, Karlsruhe, Orianenburg
Spain: Aranda, Valladolid
Hungary: Budapest
Italy: Alessandria
Poland: Olsztyn
United Kingdom: Ballymena, Stoke on Trent
Romania: Zalau
Algeria: Hussein-Dey
United States: Spartanburg, Covington, Duncan, Asheboro
Canada: Waterville
Mexico: Queretaro
Brazil: Campo Grande, Resende
Colombia: Bogota
China: Shenyang
Thailand: Nongkae, Phrapadaeng

Tangible fixed assets are dealt with in note 14 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements.

Important Agreements

There were no significant agreements other than those concluded in the ordinary course of business.

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   179

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In its capacity as major player 
in the mobility scene  
and a signatory of the European 
Road Safety Charter, Michelin 
is strongly committed to reducing 
traffic accidents worldwide.

200,000

In Europe, the Michelin Junior Bike event 
raised awareness among 200,000 children 
about the need to wear a protective helmet.

180 2008 Michelin Annual Report 

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Through its Performance and
Responsibility approach, Michelin 
is committed to contributing to better
mobility. The Challenge Bibendum
event and innovations designed 
to lower rolling resistance are part 
of the environmental answer. 
And, for mobility to be also safer,
Michelin is developing innovative
products and plays an active role 
in road accident prevention.

Other Legal and Financial  
Information

182
185
194
197
211
214
215
215
216
219

• General Information Regarding Compagnie Générale des Etablissements Michelin
• Additional Information Regarding the Issuer’s Capital
• Additional Information Regarding Management and Supervisory Bodies
• Corporate Financial Statements as of December 31, 2008
• Statutory Auditors’ Report on the Financial Statements 
• Statutory Auditors’ Special Report on Regulated Agreements and Commitments with Third Parties
• Incorporation of 2006 and 2007 Financial Statements by Reference 
• Person Accountable for the Reference Document and the Annual Financial Report
• Annual Information Document 
• Correspondence Table

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181

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
General information regarding  
Compagnie Générale des Etablissements Michelin

Historical Background 
and Evolution of the Company

The origins of Compagnie Générale des Etablissements Michelin 
dates  back  to  Barbier,  Daubrée  and  Cie,  a  Limited  Partnership 
by Shares set up on July 15, 1863 in France in Clermont-Ferrand 
(Puy-de-Dôme). The corporate name Michelin et Cie was adopted 
in 1889, the year when the first tire patent was filed.

In  1940,  the  company  adopted  the  name  Manufacture  de 
Caoutchouc  Michelin  and,  up  to  1951,  it  managed  its  French 
operations directly and its international operations (industrial and 
trading activities) indirectly, through its foreign subsidiaries.

On October 15, 1951, Manufacture Française Des Pneumatiques 
Michelin was created to receive all of the Group’s French industrial 
assets,  while  Manufacture  de  Caoutchouc  Michelin  became 
Compagnie Générale des Etablissements Michelin.

Michelin Group Structure

Michelin Group Development

Compagnie  Générale  des  Etablissements  Michelin  (C.G.E.M.)  is 
the  Group’s  parent  company  to  which  all  Michelin  affiliates  are 
directly or indirectly related. Its two main shareholdings are:

(cid:116)  Manufacture Française des Pneumatiques Michelin (M.F.P.M.), 
40%  held  by  C.G.E.M.  The  remaining  60%  are  held  by 
Compagnie Financière Michelin. M.F.P.M. coordinates all France-
based  industrial,  sales  and  research  operations.  It  invoices  the 
corresponding  services  and  the  research  expenses  to  the  other 
Group companies based on a proportional allocation method.

(cid:116)  Compagnie  Financière  Michelin  (C.F.M.),  100%  held  by 
C.G.E.M. 

In its capacity as shareholder, C.F.M. coordinates the operations of 
most Group industrial, trading and research Companies outstide 
of France.

Michelin opened its first plants outside of France as early as 1906 
(Italy), 1927 (England), 1931 (Germany) and 1934 (Spain).

Michelin’s growth was boosted in the 1960’s with construction of 
a number of plants, first in France, then abroad and particularly in 
the Americas in the 1970’s. Starting in 1985, Michelin set up Joint 
Ventures to establish a foothold in Asia. Since 1995, Michelin has 
also developed its foothold in Eastern Europe.

According to generally accepted rankings, its growth since 1960 
propelled Michelin from world No.10 to No.6 in 1970 and world 
No.2  in  1980,  behind  Goodyear.  At  the  end  of  the  ’80s,  when 
Bridgestone  acquired  the  American  Firestone  and  Michelin 
took  over  Uniroyal  Goodrich,  the  gap  between  the  biggest  tire 
manufacturers  was  bridged,  with  annual  rankings  depending 
more on exchange rate fluctuations and calculation method than 
on  actual  sales  volumes.  Accordingly,  three  tire  manufacturers, 
Bridgestone, Goodyear and Michelin currently account for nearly 
50% of world tire sales. 

In 1960, the Group’s foreign assets were transferred to a single 
holding, Compagnie Financière Michelin, with its head office at 
Granges-Paccot, Canton of Fribourg (Switzerland).

C.G.E.M.  and  C.F.M.  have  negotiated  agreements  with  the 
Group’s  operating  entities  governing  the  services  rendered  to 
them.

As  a  result,  Compagnie  Générale  des  Etablissements  Michelin, 
which has been the Group’s parent company since 1951, has no 
industrial operations of its own.

Until  1987,  virtually  all  of  the  shares  of  Compagnie  Financière 
Michelin were held by Compagnie Générale des Etablissements 
Michelin. In 1987, part of a new share issue was offered to public 
investors, who then owned about 6% of Compagnie Financière 
Michelin’s  equity.  Its  bearer  shares  were  quoted  on  the  Zurich 
Stock Exchange. That same year, Compagnie Financière Michelin 
acquired an interest of about 20% in Manufacture Française des 
Pneumatiques Michelin, a stake that was raised to 60% in 1993.

Both  Companies  have  assigned  Manufacture  Française  des 
Pneumatiques Michelin (M.F.P.M.) the mission of providing these 
services, M.F.P.M. in turn being compensated for its services by 
the operating companies pursuant to the cost plus method.

Intra Group transactions cover multiple areas (intangible assets, 
all  kinds  of  services,  equipment,  raw  materials,  semi-finished 
and  finished  products)  and  represent  sizeable  volumes.  The 
corresponding compensation or prices are set using methods that 
vary  depending  on  the  transaction  concerned.  However,  these 
methods are all based on the fair competition principle adopted 
by  the  Member  States  of  the  OECD  which  is  described  in  the 
"Principles governing transfer prices for the use of multinational 
businesses and income tax authorities".

Incorporation Documents and Bylaws (1)

CORPORATE NAME

COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN

TRADE AND COMPANIES REGISTER

855 200 887 R.C.S. CLERMONT-FERRAND

(1) The full text of the bylaws is available from the Company’s website at www.
michelin.com/corporate.

182   2008 Michelin Annual Report

INCORPORATION AND EXPIRATION DATES

The  Company  was  incorporated  on  July  15,  1863  and  is  due 
to  expire  on  December  31,  2050,  unless  wound  up  earlier  or 
extended as stipulated in the Bylaws.

HEAD OFFICE

12, cours Sablon – CLERMONT-FERRAND (Puy-de-Dôme)

LEGAL STATUS / GOVERNING LAW

Partnership  Limited  by  Shares  governed  by  articles  L.  226-1  to 
L.226-14 of the French Commercial Code.

GENERAL PARTNERS (ARTICLE 1 OF THE BYLAWS)

● Mr Michel Rollier, Managing Partner

● Société Auxiliaire de Gestion – SAGES (Clermont-Ferrand trade 
and companies register No 870 200 466), a simplified joint stock 
company  chaired  by  Mr.  Edouard  de  Royère,  whose  purpose  is 
on the one hand to act as General Partner of CGEM, and on the 
other hand, in the absence of any acting Managing Partner, to act 
as its Managing General Partner and to convene an Extraordinary 
Shareholders  Meeting  to  appoint  a  new  Managing  General 
Partner. Since 2007, SAGES’ shareholding includes members of the 
founding family, Michelin current or former top executives, and 
qualified third-party personnalities. All 3 colleges are represented 
in equal proportions within its governing body.

So that SAGES may assume its responsibilities as C.G.E.M. General 
Partner, a portion of its distributable earnings (exclusively from the 
statutory share of profits paid by C.G.E.M.) is allocated to a special 
reserve  account  called  “contingency  reserve  fund“,  earmarked 
for  the  liquidation  of  losses  resulting  from  the  activation  of  its 
responsibility as General Partner, or, as the case may be, as the 
Company’s  Managing  Partner.  At  least  50%  of  the  amounts 
allocated to this reserve are invested in C.G.E.M. shares.

CORPORATE PURPOSE (ARTICLE 2 OF THE BYLAWS)

● All operations and transactions directly or indirectly related to all 
stages of production, processing and sale of all forms of rubber 
regardless of use;

●  All  industrial,  commercial  and  financial  operations,  especially 
with respect to:
–  tires,  their  components  and  accessories  and  manufactured 

rubber in general,

–  all mechanical engineering applications, particularly in the area 
of motor and industrial vehicles, components, spare parts and 
accessories,

The  balance  of  net  income,  plus,  as  the  case  may  be,  earnings 
brought  forward  from  the  previous  year,  is  attributable  to 
shareholdings. 

–  the  production,  sale  and  use  of  natural  or  synthetic  chemical 
products  and  by-products,  especially  all  kinds  of  elastomers, 
plastics, fibers and resins, and generally all chemical industry-
related  operations  and  products  especially  in  the  above 
specialties and operations;

–  the filing, acquisition, use, assignment or sale of all intangible 
property  rights,  particularly  patents  and  related  rights, 
trademarks,  and  manufacturing  processes  related  to  the 
business purpose;

● By all means, undertaken directly or via subsidiaries, including 
setting up of new companies, joint ventures and Economic Interest 
Groups (GIE), or partnerships, capital contributions, subscriptions, 
purchase  or  exchange  of  securities  or  ownership  rights,  in  any 
company  conducting  business  which  may  relate  to  the  above 
purpose, including mergers;

● And generally, all commercial, industrial, real estate, securities 
and  financial  operations  directly  or  indirectly  related  in  part  or 
in whole to any of the above purposes or to all similar or related 
purposes.

MANAGEMENT PARTNERSHIP (ARTICLE 10 OF THE BYLAWS) (1)

The  Company  is  managed  by  one  or  more  Managing  Partners, 
being individuals, who may be General Partners or Non-General 
Partners.

The  Managing  Partners,  acting  jointly  or  separately,  are  vested 
with the broadest powers to act in any circumstances in the name 
of the Company. 

FINANCIAL YEAR (ARTICLE 29 OF THE BYLAWS)

From January 1 to December 31.

STATUTORY ALLOCATION OF PROFITS (ARTICLE 30 OF THE  
BYLAWS)

Twelve percent (12%) of the net earnings for the financial year, 
capped  to  1%  of  the  consolidated  net  earnings,  is  allocated  to 
the  General  Partners.  The  balance,  if  any,  is  transferred  to  the 
share  of  earnings  to  be  appropriated.  The  net  profits  include 
net income for the financial year after deduction of the general 
and  administrative  costs  and  other  expenses  of  the  Company, 
including all depreciation and reserves deemed necessary.

(1) Also refer to information provided in the Corporate Governance section on 
page 146.

From this shall be deducted an optional amount to be allocated, 
upon  a  recommendation  by  the  Managing  Partners  toward 
creating or increasing one or more reserve or contingency funds, 
over which the General Partners will no longer possess any right.

The  balance  of  net  income  attributable  to  shareholdings,  after 
the above deductions, will be available for distribution.

SHAREHOLDERS MEETINGS

(cid:116)(cid:1)(cid:47)(cid:80)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:80)(cid:71)(cid:1)(cid:46)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:9)(cid:34)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:77)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:19)(cid:18)(cid:1)(cid:80)(cid:71)(cid:1)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:35)(cid:90)(cid:77)(cid:66)(cid:88)(cid:84)(cid:10)(cid:27)
Notice  of  Shareholders  Meetings  is  given  in  accordance  with 
applicable legal provisions.

(cid:116)(cid:1) (cid:36)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:84)(cid:1) (cid:80)(cid:71)(cid:1) (cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:1) (cid:9)(cid:34)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:77)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:1) (cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:1) (cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:1) (cid:19)(cid:21)(cid:1) (cid:80)(cid:71)(cid:1) (cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:1)
(cid:35)(cid:90)(cid:77)(cid:66)(cid:88)(cid:84)(cid:10)(cid:27)
Shareholders  may  attend  the  Annual  Shareholders  Meetings 
irrespective of the number of shares held by them, provided they 
are fully paid up.

Shareholders  may  only  attend  provided  they  are  registered  in 
the Company’s records at least three days before the date of the 
Meeting.

(cid:116)(cid:1) (cid:36)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:84)(cid:1) (cid:71)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:1) (cid:70)(cid:89)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:84)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:1) (cid:87)(cid:80)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:1) (cid:83)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:84)(cid:1) (cid:111)(cid:1) (cid:69)(cid:80)(cid:86)(cid:67)(cid:77)(cid:70)(cid:1) (cid:87)(cid:80)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:1)
(cid:83)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:9)(cid:34)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:77)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:1)(cid:80)(cid:71)(cid:1)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:35)(cid:90)(cid:77)(cid:66)(cid:88)(cid:84)(cid:10)(cid:27)
Except  as  otherwise  provided  by  law,  each  shareholder  at  the 
Meeting  has  as  many  votes  as  the  number  of  shares  he  or  she 
owns or represents, without limitation.

Owners or proxies of owners of fully-paid shares registered in the 
same  shareholder’s  name  for  at  least  four  years  shall  have  two 
votes per share, without limitation. 

In  the  event  of  a  capital  increase,  by  incorporation  of  reserves, 
profits or share premiums, a double voting right shall be conferred, 
upon  issuance,  to  owners  of  registered  shares  in  proportion  to 
the existing shareholding to which this right was attached.

Transfer  upon  inheritance,  community  liquidation  between 
spouses or donation between inter vivos for the benefit of their 
spouse  or  a  parent  assign  will  not  cancel  the  right  acquired  or 
interrupt the periods provided above.

Double voting rights will cease as of right for any share transferred 
for any other cause.

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   183

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(cid:116)(cid:1)(cid:51)(cid:70)(cid:81)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:66)(cid:67)(cid:77)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:73)(cid:80)(cid:77)(cid:69)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:84)(cid:27)(cid:1)

The  Bylaws  do  not  provide  for  an  obligation  to  disclose  to  the 
Company shareholdings exceeding certain thresholds.

CHANGE OF CONTROL

Owing to its corporate structure as a Partnership Limited by Shares 
involving the presence of General Partners, any shareholder who 
would gain control of the company’s capital and corresponding 
voting rights would not be in a position to exercise control over 
the Company without prior unanimous approval of the General 
Partners,  which  would  be  required  in  particular  to  take  the 
following decisions:
● appointment of new Managing Partners,
● amendment of the Bylaws,
● appointment of new General Partners.

Documents for public consultation

The historical financial information, Reference Documents, letters 
to Shareholders, Shareholder meeting documentation (Notice of 
Meetings, Minutes of Meetings), the Company’s Bylaws, and all 
“regulated information“ pursuant to article 221-1 of Règlement 
général de l’Autorité des Marchés Financiers (and in particular the 
press releases, quarterly information, and the Interim and Annual 
Reports,  also  available  in  the  official  French  site  www.info-
financiere.fr)  may  be  downloaded  from  the  corporate  website 
at  www.michelin.com/corporate  (Finance  section)  in  French 
and  in  English,  and,  as  the  case  may  be,  at  the  head  office  for 
consultation.

184   2008 Michelin Annual Report

Additional Information regarding the Issuer’s Capital

Table of change in capital

Year

Nature of operations

As at December 31, 2004

2005

2006

2007

Capital increase resulting from exercise of share subscription options 

Capital increase resulting from exercise of share subscription options 

Capital increase resulting from exercise of share subscription options 

Capital increase resulting from conversion of “OCEANE“ convertible bonds

2008

Capital increase resulting from conversion of “OCEANE“ convertible bonds

Capital increase reserved to Group employees

Capital increase resulting from exercise of share subscription options 

Number  
of shares

600

264,693

346,830

21

0

952,733

45,520

Change in capital

Nominal ( €)

Premium ( €)

Capital after the operation

Amount ( €) Cumulated number 
of shares

286,774,050

143,387,025

1,200

529,386

693,660

42

0

26,400

286,775,250

143,387,625

10,901,156

287,304,636

143,652,318

6,032,866

287,998,296

143,999,148

2,138

287,998,338

143,999,169

0

287,998,338

143,999,169

1,905,466

46,683,917

289,903,804

144,951,902

91,040

1,562,777

289,994,844

144,997,422

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Statement of current mandates and authorizations

GRANTED BY THE JOINT SHAREHOLDERS MEETING OF MAY 12, 2006

Issues reserved to employees

Operations / Securities concerned

Resolution No

Term 
of authorization (expiry)

Comments

Used in the financial  
year

Capital increase (ordinary shares)

Stock options (share subscription and/
or purchase options)

16th

17th

26 months (July 2008)

capped at 2% of current issued capital

38 months (July 2009)

capped at 2% of current issued capital
(Call price set at face value)

EUR 1,905,466 capital increase (1)

EUR 91,040 capital increase (2) 

(1) See information on the 2008 Group’s Employee Shareholder Plan in the previous table and on page 190 to 192.
(2) Please refer to the previous table and to the table on page 189.

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   185

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GRANTED BY THE JOINT SHAREHOLDERS MEETING OF MAY 16, 2008

Issues with pre-emptive rights 

Operations / Securities concerned

Resolution N°

Term of mandate (expiry) Maximum amount of the issue on the basis 
of a EUR 45 share price (in euros)

Maximum nominal amount 
of capital increase (in euros) 

Used in the financial  
year

Capital increase (ordinary shares and securities 
giving access to capital) 

11th

26 months (July 2010)

2.25 billion
(ordinary shares)

100 million (1) (2) or 35% of 
current issued capital

Capital increase through incorporation of  
reserves

15th

26 months (July 2010)

1.8 billion

80 million

(1) EUR 100 million capping of global nominal amount of capital increase for operations authorized under the 11th, 12th and 16th resolution (20th resolution).
(2) Amount that can be raised by a maximum of 15% in the event of excess demand and subject to the respective ceilings set in the 11th and 12th resolutions (13th resolution).
(3) EUR 2 billion capping of global nominal amount for all bond or debt issues giving access to capital or not, authorized by the 10tth, 11th, 12th and 17th resolutions (20th resolution).

1 billion (3)
(securities giving access to capital)

None

None

None

Issues without pre-emptive rights 

Operations / Securities concerned

Resolution N°

Term of mandate (expiry)

Maximum amount of the issue on the 
basis of a EUR 45 share price (in euros)

Maximum nominal amount 
of capital increase (in euros) 

Used in the financial  
year

Capital increase (ordinary shares and securities giving 
access to capital) 

12th

26 months (July 2010)

1.283 billion
(ordinary shares)

57 million (1) (2) (3) (or 20% of 
current issued capital)

700 million (4)
(securities giving access to capital)

Capital increase (ordinary shares) to remunerate  
share contributions in the event of public exchange 
offerings or contributions in kind

16th

26 months (July 2010)

1.283 billion

57 million (5)

(1) EUR 100 million capping of global nominal amount of capital increase for operations authorized under the 11th, 12th and 16th resolutions (20th resolution).
(2) Amount that can be raised by a maximum of 15% in the event of excess demand and subject to the respective ceilings set in the 11th and 12th resolutions (13th resolution).
(3) With the authorization to freely determine the issuing price of ordinary shares, capped at 10% of the Company’s capital per year (14th resolution).
(4) EUR 2 billion capping of global nominal amount for all bond or debt issues giving access to capital or not, authorized by the 10th, 11th, 12th and 17th resolutions (20th resolution).
(5) Amount to be included in the calculation of the overall maximum amount of capital increase authorized under the 12th resolution.

None

None

None

Issues reserved to employees

Operations / Securities concerned

Resolution N°

Term of mandate (expiry)

Limits

Free (ordinary) share allocations

Capital increase (ordinary shares)

18th

19th

38 months (July 2011)

capped at 0.5% of capital

26 months (July 2010)

capped at 2% of current  issued capital

Used in the financial  
year
None

None

186   2008 Michelin Annual Report

Debt instruments not giving access to capital / bond issues

Operations / Securities concerned

Resolution N°

Term of mandate (expiry) Maximum nominal amount of the issue (in euros)

Bond issues 

Issuance of securities giving entitlement to debt instruments 
that do not give access to capital

10th

17th

26 months (July 2010)

26 months (July 2010)

1 billion (1)

1 billion (1)

(1) EUR 2 billion capping of global nominal amount for all bond or debt issues giving access to capital or not, authorized by the 10th, 11th, 12th and 17th resolutions (20th resolution).

Share buyback program

Operations / Securities concerned

Resolution No

Term of mandate (expiry)

Limits

Shares

9th

18 months (November 
2009)

Statutory limit of 10% of the capital
Maximum buying price: € 100
Minimum selling price: € 60

Used in the financial  
year

None

None

Used in the financial 
year
None

As at December 31, 2008 the number of shares publicly held is of 
144,997,422 corresponding to 100% of voting rights.

Potential capital

At the date of registration of the present document and to the 
Company’s knowledge:

(cid:85)(cid:202)(cid:22)(cid:195)(cid:195)(cid:213)(cid:105)(cid:96)(cid:202)(cid:195)(cid:105)(cid:86)(cid:213)(cid:192)(cid:136)(cid:204)(cid:136)(cid:105)(cid:195)(cid:202)(cid:125)(cid:136)(cid:219)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:125)(cid:202)(cid:62)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:105)(cid:195)(cid:195)(cid:202)(cid:204)(cid:156)(cid:202)(cid:86)(cid:62)(cid:171)(cid:136)(cid:204)(cid:62)(cid:143)

●  Alliance  Bernstein  L.P.  Company  held  as  at  February  9,  2009, 
5,945,502 shares and the same number of voting rights.

OCEANE

● Capital Research and Management Company held as at January 
23,  2009,  13,725,789  shares  and  the  same  number  of  voting 
rights.

● Franklin Resources Inc. Company held as at October 27, 2008, 
9,416,112 shares and the same number of voting rights.

●  UBS  AG  Company  held  as  at  February  20,  2009,  7,775,450 
shares and the same number of voting rights,

● No other Shareholder directly or indirectly holds more than 5% 
of capital and voting rights

● There is no shareholders’ agreement in existence.

Number of treasury shares held in portfolio: 0.

No  significant  change  occurred  in  the  breakdown  of  capital 
during the last three years.

The Company issued in March 2007 a bond issue convertible or 
swappable with new or existing shares (OCEANE), which was fully 
subscribed. The corresponding issue contract prospectus (number 
07-082)  was  approved  by  Autorité  des  Marchés  Financiers  on 
March 12, 2007.

The main characteristics of this bond issue are as follows:

●  Listing place: Euronext Paris
●  ISIN Code: FR0010449264
●  bond  issue  date,  ownership  and  payment  date:  March  21, 

2007

●  Term of the borrowing: 9 years and 286 days
●  total nominal amount: EUR 699,999,913.16 
●  number of bonds issued: 6,742,438
●  number  of  bonds  outstanding  on  December  31,  2008: 

6,742,417

●  par value of each bond: EUR 103.82 
●  bond issue price: par
●  nominal rate – Interest: none (zero-coupon bonds)
●  gross annual actuarial rate: 3.07% (in the absence of conversion 
and/or  swap  of  shares  and  providing  there  is  no  early 
redemption)

●  normal amortization of the bonds: in full on January 1, 2017 at 

a unit redemption price of EUR 139.57

●  early redemption at the Company’s discretion from March 21, 
2011  if,  over  20  consecutive  trading  days,  the  average  share 
price and that of the current conversion or swap rate have been 
130% above the anticipated redemption price

●  conversion  or  swap  rate  (subject  to  change  as  per  applicable 
legal  and  contract  issue  provisions)  set  at  the  issue  date  and 
applicable on the present report’s publication date: 1 ordinary 
share for 1 bond.

SHARE SUBSCRIPTION OPTIONS:

See detailed information on page below of this Report.

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   187

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(cid:85)(cid:202)(cid:31)(cid:62)(cid:221)(cid:136)(cid:147)(cid:213)(cid:147)(cid:202)(cid:171)(cid:156)(cid:204)(cid:105)(cid:152)(cid:204)(cid:136)(cid:62)(cid:143)(cid:202)(cid:195)(cid:133)(cid:62)(cid:192)(cid:105)(cid:202)(cid:86)(cid:62)(cid:171)(cid:136)(cid:204)(cid:62)(cid:143)(cid:202)(cid:62)(cid:195)(cid:202)(cid:62)(cid:204)(cid:202)(cid:12)(cid:105)(cid:86)(cid:105)(cid:147)(cid:76)(cid:105)(cid:192)(cid:202)(cid:206)(cid:163)(cid:93)(cid:202)(cid:211)(cid:228)(cid:228)(cid:110)

(In number of shares with a nominal value of EUR 2)

(cid:10)(cid:62)(cid:171)(cid:136)(cid:204)(cid:62)(cid:143)(cid:202)(cid:136)(cid:195)(cid:195)(cid:213)(cid:105)(cid:96)(cid:202)(cid:62)(cid:195)(cid:202)(cid:62)(cid:204)(cid:202)(cid:12)(cid:105)(cid:86)(cid:105)(cid:147)(cid:76)(cid:105)(cid:192)(cid:202)(cid:206)(cid:163)(cid:93)(cid:202)(cid:211)(cid:228)(cid:228)(cid:110)

OCEANE
In the event of redemption with new shares for the full 6,742,417 bonds outstanding as at December 31, 
2008 (1): 1 share for 1 bond with a nominal value of EUR 103.82 (also redeemable with existing shares)
Maturity: January 2017

(cid:52)(cid:73)(cid:66)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:84)(cid:86)(cid:67)(cid:84)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:74)(cid:81)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:80)(cid:81)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:80)(cid:86)(cid:85)(cid:84)(cid:85)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:1)(cid:37)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:78)(cid:67)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:1)(cid:20)(cid:18)(cid:13)(cid:1)(cid:19)(cid:17)(cid:17)(cid:25)

Plan dated May 19, 2002: options callable at EUR 44 from May 19, 2006 to May 18, 2011

Plan dated May 19, 2003: options callable at EUR 32.25 from May 19, 2007 to May 18, 2012

Plan dated November 24, 2003: options callable at EUR 34 from November 24, 2007 to November 23, 2012

Plan dated May 17, 2004: options callable at EUR 40 from May 17, 2008 to May 16, 2013

Plan dated July 5, 2004: options callable at EUR 44.50 from July 5, 2008 to July 4, 2013

Plan dated May 23, 2005: options callable at EUR 48 from May 23, 2009 to May 22, 2014

Plan dated November 7, 2005: options callable at EUR 48 from November 7, 2009 to November 6, 2014

Plan dated May 15, 2006: options callable at EUR 58 from May 15, 2010 to May 14, 2015

Plan dated May 14, 2007: options callable at EUR 91 from May 14, 2011 to May 13, 2016

Plan dated May 19, 2008: options callable at EUR 62 from May 19, 2012 to May 18, 2017

(cid:53)(cid:80)(cid:85)(cid:66)(cid:77)(cid:1)(cid:79)(cid:86)(cid:78)(cid:67)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:1)(cid:80)(cid:71)(cid:1)(cid:84)(cid:73)(cid:66)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:84)(cid:86)(cid:67)(cid:84)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:74)(cid:81)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:80)(cid:81)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:80)(cid:86)(cid:85)(cid:84)(cid:85)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:72)

(cid:31)(cid:62)(cid:221)(cid:136)(cid:213)(cid:147)(cid:202)(cid:171)(cid:156)(cid:204)(cid:105)(cid:152)(cid:204)(cid:136)(cid:62)(cid:143)(cid:202)(cid:195)(cid:133)(cid:62)(cid:192)(cid:105)(cid:202)(cid:86)(cid:62)(cid:171)(cid:136)(cid:204)(cid:62)(cid:143)(cid:202)(cid:62)(cid:195)(cid:202)(cid:62)(cid:204)(cid:202)(cid:12)(cid:105)(cid:86)(cid:105)(cid:147)(cid:76)(cid:105)(cid:192)(cid:202)(cid:206)(cid:163)(cid:93)(cid:202)(cid:211)(cid:228)(cid:228)(cid:110)(cid:202)(cid:173)(cid:179)(cid:199)(cid:176)(cid:228)(cid:123)(cid:175)(cid:174)

(1) Out of total of 6,742,438 bonds issued: 21 conversions in 2007, none in 2008.

Maximum number of new 
shares 

Capital
(in EUR)

(cid:19)(cid:25)(cid:26)(cid:13)(cid:26)(cid:26)(cid:21)(cid:13)(cid:25)(cid:21)(cid:21)

6,742,417

215,451

103,897

173,515

155,700

120,100

216,000

874,950

133,900

1,165,250

310,000

(cid:20)(cid:13)(cid:21)(cid:23)(cid:25)(cid:13)(cid:24)(cid:23)(cid:20)

(cid:20)(cid:18)(cid:17)(cid:13)(cid:21)(cid:18)(cid:24)(cid:13)(cid:19)(cid:17)(cid:21)

Stock Options

Since the stock option plan was introduced in 2002, Michelin has 
been pursuing a cautious and fair stock option allocation policy. 
The options are granted at the market price prevailing at the time 
of  granting,  without  any  markdown  or  redefinition  of  the  call 
price should it fall “out of the money“, because of a share price 
fall. The stock options are callable for a period of five years after 
a blocking period of four years.

By  decision  of  the  Annual  Shareholders  Meeting  of  May  12, 
2006,  the  Managing  Partners  have  been  authorized  to  grant 
share  subscription  or  purchase  options  to  senior  managers  and 
employees. The total amount of such share subscription options 
has  been  capped  at  3,000,000  shares  or  2%  of  current  issued 
capital.

When  stock  options  are  granted  to  Group  Executive  Council 
members, these are granted following the Annual Shareholders 
Meeting, after consultation with the Supervisory Board.

188   2008 Michelin Annual Report

(cid:85)(cid:202)(cid:45)(cid:204)(cid:62)(cid:204)(cid:213)(cid:195)(cid:202)(cid:156)(cid:118)(cid:202)(cid:204)(cid:133)(cid:105)(cid:202)(cid:45)(cid:133)(cid:62)(cid:192)(cid:105)(cid:202)(cid:195)(cid:213)(cid:76)(cid:195)(cid:86)(cid:192)(cid:136)(cid:171)(cid:204)(cid:136)(cid:156)(cid:152)(cid:202)(cid:156)(cid:171)(cid:204)(cid:136)(cid:156)(cid:152)(cid:202)(cid:171)(cid:143)(cid:62)(cid:152)(cid:195)(cid:202)(cid:204)(cid:156)(cid:202)(cid:12)(cid:105)(cid:86)(cid:105)(cid:147)(cid:76)(cid:105)(cid:192)(cid:202)(cid:206)(cid:163)(cid:93)(cid:202)(cid:211)(cid:228)(cid:228)(cid:110)(cid:202)

Date of the Annual Shareholders Meeting

Date of the decision by the Managing 
Partners

Total number of shares open for  
subscription or purchase

Plan No 1
18/05/2001

Plan No 2
18/05/2001

Plan No 3
18/05/2001

Plan No 4
18/05/2001

Plan No 5
18/05/2001

Plan No 6
14/05/2004

Plan No 7
14/05/2004

Plan No 8
12/05/2006

Plan No 9
12/05/2006

Plan No 10
12/05/2006

19/05/2002

19/05/2003

24/11/2003

17/05/2004

05/07/2004

23/05/2005

07/11/2005

15/05/2006

14/05/2007

19/05/2008

716,600

243,000

226,200

179,900

129,100

218,500

913,350

136,700

1,188,230

310,000

First calling date

19/05/2006

19/05/2007

24/11/2007

17/05/2008

05/07/2008

23/05/2009

07/11/2009

15/05/2010

14/05/2011

19/05/2012

Expiry date

Call Price

Call Conditions

Number of options called / subscribed to  
December 31, 2008

Stock options cancelled

Stock options outstanding as at  
December 31, 2008

18/05/2011

18/05/2012

23/11/2012

16/05/2013

04/07/2013

22/05/2014

06/11/2014

14/05/2015

13/05/2016

18/05/2017

€ 44.00

€ 32.25

€ 34.00

€ 40.00

€ 44.50

€ 48.00

€ 48.00

€ 58.00

€ 91.00

€ 62.00

458,155

42,994

134,903

4,200

39,785

12,900

22,200

2,000

600

8,400

0

2,500

2,000

36,400

0

2,800

0

22,980

0

0

215,451

103,897

173,515

155,700

120,100

216,000

874,950

133,900

1,165,250

310,000

(cid:85)(cid:202)(cid:47)(cid:133)(cid:105)(cid:202)(cid:31)(cid:62)(cid:152)(cid:62)(cid:125)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:125)(cid:202)(cid:42)(cid:62)(cid:192)(cid:204)(cid:152)(cid:105)(cid:192)(cid:195)(cid:189)(cid:202)(cid:45)(cid:171)(cid:105)(cid:86)(cid:136)(cid:62)(cid:143)(cid:202)(cid:44)(cid:105)(cid:171)(cid:156)(cid:192)(cid:204)(cid:202)
The Joint Shareholders Meeting of May 12, 2006 had authorized 
the  allocation  of  stock  option  purchase  and  subscription  plans 
to  the  Company  and  Company  subsidiary  senior  managers  and 
employees  pursuant  to  the  provisions  of  article  L.225-180  of 
the French Commercial Code; the number of shares that can be 
issued as a result of share subscription option calls is limited to 
3,000,000, or 2% of issued capital.

By virtue of this authorization, 310,000 share subscription options 
were  granted  in  2008  to  69  beneficiaries  (none  of  them  being 
Company  Directors),  callable  from  May  19,  2012,  at  a  price  of 
EUR 62.00.

The  ten  largest  salaried  beneficiaries,  other  than  Company 
Directors:
●  received  106,500  options  (of  which  3  beneficiaries  received 
13,500,  6  beneficiaries  received  10,000  and  one  beneficiary 
received 6,000);
●  called  11,500  options  at  the  price  of  EUR  32.25  per  share 
(options granted on May 19, 2003). 

Moreover, no Company Director received any share purchase or 
subscription option during fiscal 2008.

Clermont-Ferrand, February 9, 2009

Michel Rollier 

Didier Miraton  

Managing Partners

Jean-Dominique Senard

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   189

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Free share allocations 

Since  the  Joint  Shareholders  Meeting  of  May  16,  2008,  the 
Managing  Partners  are  authorized  to  carry  out  prudent  and 
selective  free  share  allocations.  These  allocations  may  not  be 
granted  to  the  Company’s  Directors.  They  are  mainly  targeted 
at  the  Group’s  employees  other  than  executives,  and  designed 
to  empower  and  commit  the  teams  to  attaining  the  Group’s 
economic objectives. 

The  authorization  to  make  free  share  allocations  to  employees 
judiciously complements the authorization given to the Managing 
Partners to conduct a prudent and reasonable stock option policy 
mainly for the benefit of its executives and top executives (other 
than  Company  Directors),  whose  contributions  have  a  direct 
bearing on the Group’s performance and share price.

The share allocations, both in existence or to be issued by virtue 
of  this  authorization  may  not  account  for  more  than  0.5%  of 
capital on the day when they are granted. 

These  allocations  are  reserved  to  beneficiaries  (individuals  or 
classes of employees), who are employees of the Company and 
of  its  French  and  foreign  subsidiaries  (excluding  the  Company’s 
Directors),  among  which  the  Managing  Partners  would  select 
the beneficiaries or class of beneficiaries, the number of shares 
granted  to  each  one  of  them  or to  each  class  of  them  and  the 
terms and criteria of granting. 

The allocation of such shares to their beneficiaries would become 
final  either  after  a  minimum  acquisition  period  of  two  years 
(the beneficiaries would then be bound to hold their shares for 
a minimum of two years following the final acquisition date) or 
after a minimum four-year acquisition period (without minimum 
holding period). 

Such  free  share  allocations  may  only  be  performed  by  the 
Managing Partners provided the following performance condition 
is met: Group operating margin for the preceding financial year is 
above the triggering threshold for the Group component of the 
variable compensation paid to management or:
(cid:116)(cid:1)(cid:1)for 2008, minimum 7% operating margin achieved in 2007,
(cid:116)(cid:1)(cid:1)for 2009, minimum 7.8% operating margin achieved in 2008,
(cid:116)(cid:1)(cid:1)for 2010 or 2011, as per a threshold to be set at a later date.
No free shares have been allocated in financial year 2008.

Employee share ownership 
plan 2008 (Bib’action 2008)

(cid:85)(cid:202)(cid:44)(cid:105)(cid:171)(cid:156)(cid:192)(cid:204)
At the Shareholders Meeting of May 12, 2006, the Shareholders 
granted the Managing Partners the authorization to increase for 
the  third  time  the  Company’s  issued  capital  for  the  benefit  of 
the Company and its subsidiaries’ employees within a maximum 
amount of EUR six million (€ 6,000,000), or 2% of current issued 
capital.  The  term  of  this  authorization  was  26  months  starting 
from the date of the Meeting, or until mid-July 2008.

Upon  termination  of  the  subscription  period,  which  took  place 
between May 12, 2008 and May 30, 2008, the Group recorded 
that  55.98%  of  eligible  employees  across  55  countries  and 
the  5  continents,  applied  for  shares  under  the  third  Employee 
Shareholder  Plan.  In  China,  which  had  been  subject  to  the 
“bonusplan“  scheme  in  2002,  Michelin  was  allowed  by  the 
Chinese financial administration to become one of the first French 
companies to extend standard Employee Shareholder Plan to its 
Chinese employees.

An FCPE (Collective Enterprise Investment Undertaking) scheme 
was implemented in Hungary and Columbia. This was a first-time 
event in Hungary. In Japan, legal amendments adopted since 2003 
had paved the way for implementation of the standard plan.

The strong employee participation to the plan, despite high stock 
market volatility, was a matter for satisfaction within the Group. 
It revealed that Michelin’s personnel understands the economic 
forces at work and that they are confident in the Group’s strength 
and mid- to long-term growth prospects.

The capital increase, effective on June 25, 2008, translated into 
the issue of 952,733 new shares and a nominal capital increase 
of EUR 1,905,466.

Following  the  three  Employee  Shareholder  Plans,  69%  of  the 
Group’s employees have become Shareholders, which is a notable 
achievement among CAC 40 industrial firms.

At December 31, 2008, Michelin employee Shareholders together 
held 3,278,453 shares or 2.26% of capital.

190   2008 Michelin Annual Report

(cid:85)(cid:202)(cid:29)(cid:105)(cid:125)(cid:62)(cid:143)(cid:202)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:118)(cid:156)(cid:192)(cid:147)(cid:62)(cid:204)(cid:136)(cid:156)(cid:152)(cid:202)(cid:192)(cid:105)(cid:171)(cid:156)(cid:192)(cid:204)(cid:195)

COMPLEMENTARY REPORT OF THE MANAGING PARTNERS ON THE 
CAPITAL INCREASE RESERVED TO COMPANY AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES 
EMPLOYEES 

Dear Shareholders,

You will recall that pursuant to its sixteenth resolution, the Joint 
Shareholders Meeting of Compagnie Générale des Etablissements 
Michelin  (hereinafter  ’Michelin’  or  the  ’Company’)  of  May  12, 
2006, authorized the Managing Partners to decide one or several 
capital increases by issuing new shares reserved to the Company's 
and French or foreign subsidiaries’ employees with subscription 
rights being canceled.

Pursuant to provisions of article L.225-16 of the French Commercial 
Code,  we  inform  you  that  by  virtue  of  the  above-mentioned 
authorization,  the  Managing  Partners  of  your  Company  have 
decided  to  carry  out  a  share  capital  increase  reserved  to  the 
employees of the Company and the Company’s French or foreign 
subsidiaries that are 50% held or more and who have joined the 
Group's Savings Scheme.

This  issue  is  performed  with  subscription  rights  being  canceled 
and  for  the  benefit  of  employees  and  former  employees  who 
have joined Michelin Group’s Savings Plan.

The  shares  are  subscribed  directly  in  all  countries  other  than 
Colombia and Hungary where they  are subscribed via the FCPE 
Bib  Invest  Relais  2008  fund,  authorized  on  March  28,  2008  by 
AMF under code number 09873. This FCPE is destined to merge 
with the FCPE Bib Invest fund following completion of the capital 
increase.

The share subscriptions or FCPE share acquisitions give right to a 
contribution by the employer as follows:

(cid:116)(cid:1)(cid:1)1 to 3 shares purchased: 75% of the amount of the reduced-

price share is paid by the employer,

(cid:116)(cid:1)(cid:1)4 to 6 shares purchased: 50% of the amount of the reduced-

price share is paid by the employer,

(cid:116)(cid:1)(cid:1)7 to 9 shares purchased: 25% of the amount of the reduced-

price share is paid by the employer.

The maximum nominal amount of the capital increase was set at 
EUR  2,400,000  by  issuance  of  1,200,000  shares  each  having  a 
nominal value of EUR 2.

Société Générale, for all employees other than the employees of 
Colombian and Hungarian entities, whose accounts are registered 
within the “Bib Invest Relais 2008“ FCPE.

On  May  5,  2008,  the  Managing  Partners  set  the  subscription 
price at EUR 51.00. This subscription price was equal to 80% of 
the  average  of  the  opening  prices  of  the  Michelin  share  at  the 
Paris Euronext market for the twenty trading days preceding that 
date.

The  capital  increase  gave  rise  to  an  information  document, 
pursuant to articles 212-4 (5th) and 212-5 (6th) of AMF’s general 
regulations  and  to  article  14  of  instruction  No  2005-11  dated 
December 13, 2005. This was circulated in a press release pursuant 
to article 221-3 of AMF’s general regulations.

Where total demand be in excess of the number of shares available 
for  subscription,  the  number  of  requested  subscriptions  will  be 
reduced based on the following method, subject to application 
of  the  specific  legal  provisions  pertaining  to  the  employees  of 
companies operating in Japan:

(cid:116)(cid:1)(cid:1)subscription requests will be fully met up to nine shares, either 

directly subscribed or via a FCPE,

(cid:116)(cid:1)(cid:1)beyond  this  level,  they  will  be  allocated  unit  by  unit  to  the 
subscribers  having  requested  more  than  nine  shares,  either 
directly  or  via  an  FCPE,  within  the  limit  of  their  request, 
successively and based on an equal treatment principle,

(cid:116)(cid:1)(cid:1)employees will be informed on behalf of Compagnie Générale 
des Etablissements Michelin, on the one hand, via an allocation 
notice sent in early July 2008 by Société Générale, the account 
holder bank, indicating the number of shares actually allocated 
to them upon completion of the above described share allocation 
process; and on the other hand, through a communication from 
their  employer  entity,  of  the  amount  to  be  paid  by  them  and 
as  per  the  settlement  terms  chosen  by  each  employee  in  his 
or her subscription form. For the employees of Colombian and 
Hungarian companies, the information on the number of FCPE 
shares allocated will be communicated via the “Bib Invest Relais 
2008“ FCPE.

The  subscription  price  payment  terms  are  defined  locally  and 
described  in  the  communication  documents  distributed  to  the 
employees.

The  new  shares,  since  they  belong  to  the  Group’s  Employee 
Savings Plan are not transferable for a period of five years from 
July 1, 2008, except in cases of early recovery. At the end of the 
mandatory holding period, they shall be freely negotiable.

Upon closing of the subscription period, the Managing Partners 
recorded the following results:

(cid:116)(cid:1)(cid:1)952,733  shares  were  ultimately  subscribed  at  the  unit  price 
of  EUR  51,  or  a  nominal  value  of  EUR  2  plus  EUR  49  issue 
premium;

(cid:116)(cid:1)(cid:1)The total number of shares being lower than the total number 
of shares on offer (1,200,000) there was no need to apply the 
reduction rules;

(cid:116)(cid:1)(cid:1)The 952,733 shares were paid for in cash on June 25, 2008, as 
certified  on  the  same  date  by  Société  Générale  in  Clermont-
Ferrand,  in  its  capacity  as  fund  holder  for  the  subscription 
amount corresponding to said shares;

(cid:116)(cid:1)(cid:1)The creation of the 952,733 shares so subscribed and paid for 
represented  a  capital  increase  in  a  nominal  amount  of  EUR 
1,905,466;

(cid:116)(cid:1)(cid:1)The balance between the amount paid for the 952,733 shares, 
or  EUR  48,589,383  and  the  nominal  amount  of  the  shares 
issued, or EUR 1,905,466 corresponds to an issue premium of 
EUR 46,683,917;

(cid:116)(cid:1)(cid:1)Upon  their  creation,  the  new  shares  will  be  subject  to  all 
provisions  of  the  Company’s  bylaws  with  effect  from  January 
1st,  2008;  they  entitle  holders,  with  respect  to  financial  year 
2008 and the following years, to the same dividend as will be 
allocated  to  the  other  shares  enjoying  the  same  rights,  and 
are  fully  assimilated  to  the  other  existing  shares  upon  their 
creation;

(cid:116)(cid:1)(cid:1)The new shares were listed in Euronext Paris on July 10, 2008.
The impact of the new share issue on the Group’s share of equity 
for  the  Michelin  shareholders  prior  to  the  issue  (calculated  on 
the  basis  of  consolidated  equity  as  at  December  31,  2007  and 
of the number of shares comprising the capital at that date) is as 
follows:

In Germany and in Italy, other specific employer contribution rules 
are applicable.

The new shares are registered and in the name of each employee, 
free  of  any  cost,  on  an  account  in  their  name  managed  by 

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   191

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Group share of  
equity in euros
Diluted  
basis (1)

Undiluted 
basis

36.68

36.77

34.30

34.40

Prior to share issue

After the issue of 952,733  
new shares

(1) The dilutive instruments are the share subscription options granted by the 
Company and not yet called, and the OCEANE bonds issued not yet redeemed 
or converted into shares.

The  impact  of  the  new  share  issue  on  the  share  of  capital  for 
a  shareholder  holding  1%  of  the  Company’s  capital  before  the 
issue (calculation on the basis of the number of shares making up 
the capital as of December 31, 2007) is as follows:

Shareholder  
stake as a %
Diluted 
basis(1)

0.94

0.93

Undiluted 
basis

1.00

0.99

Prior to share issue

After the issue of 952,733  
new shares

(1) The dilutive instruments are the share subscription options granted by 
the Company and not yet called, and the OCEANE bonds issued not yet 
redeemed or converted into shares.
The theoretical impact on the current stock market value of the 
Michelin share as calculated based on the average of the twenty 
trading days before the issue is as follows:

Number 
of shares 
before the 
issue

Market 
capitalization 
before the 
issue (EUR)

Number of 
shares after 
the issue

Theoretical market 
capitalization  
after the issue
(EUR)

143,999,169 7,411,925,227 144,951,902

7,459,946,237

COMPLEMENTARY REPORT OF THE STATUTORY AUDITORS ON THE 
CAPITAL INCREASE RESERVED TO COMPANY AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES  
EMPLOYEES 

This  is  a  free  translation  into  English  of  the  statutory  auditors’ 
report issued in the French language and is provided solely for the 
convenience of English speaking readers. This report should be read 
in conjunction with, and construed in accordance with, French law 
and professional auditing standards applicable in France.

DECISION OF ONE OF THE MANAGING PARTNERS DATED MAY 5, 
2008

To the Shareholders of Compagnie Générale des Etablissements 
Michelin

In  our  capacity  as  Statutory  Auditors  for  Compagnie  Générale 
des  Etablissements  Michelin  and  pursuant  to  clause  R.  225-
116  of  the  French  Commercial  Code,  please  find  below  our 
complementary report to the Special Report dated March 7, 2006 
on the share issue with subscription rights being canceled, voted 
by the Extraordinary Shareholders Meeting of May 12, 2006 (16th 
resolution).

The  Shareholders  Meeting  had  authorized  your  Managing 
Partners to set the final conditions governing the operation.

Pursuant  to  this  authorization,  one  of  your  Managing  Partners 
has decided on May 5, 2008, to increase the Company’s capital 
by a maximum amount of EUR 2,400,000, by issuing a maximum 
of 1,200,000 ordinary shares, each with a nominal value of EUR 2 
and an issue premium of EUR 49.

Your  Managing  Partners  drew  up  a  report  on  this  operation 
pursuant to articles R. 225-115 and 116 of the French Commercial 
Code. Our mission is to issue an opinion concerning the fairness 
of the information and data drawn from the financial statements 
and set forth in this report as well as on the proposed cancellation 
of the Shareholders’ pre-emptive subscription rights.

By virtue of applicable laws and regulations, this complementary 
report  as  well  as  the  corresponding  report  from  the  Statutory 
Auditors  are  available  for  consultation  at  the  Company’s  head 
office and will be sent to shareholders on request.

We carried out our mission according to the procedures deemed 
necessary  pursuant  to  the  professional  practices  recommended 
by Compagnie nationale des Commissaires aux Comptes for the 
purposes of this mission. This procedure consisted in verifying:

(cid:116)  the  fairness  of  the  figures  drawn  from  the  annual  financial 
statements  approved  by  your  Managing  Partners.  We  have 
audited  the  annual  financial  statements  pursuant  to  the 
professional  practices  recommended  by  Compagnie  nationale 
des Commissaires aux Comptes.

(cid:116)  the  conformity  of  the  terms  governing  the  operation  to  the 
authorization granted by the Annual Shareholders Meeting and 
the  fairness  of  the  information  set  forth  in  the  complementary 
report  by  one  of  your  Managing  Partners  on  the  choice  of  the 
calculation formulae and of the issue price and its amount.

We have no matters to report regarding:

(cid:116) the fairness of the information and data drawn from the financial 
statements of the Company and set forth in the complementary 
report drawn up by one of your Managing Partners,

(cid:116)  the  conformity  of  the  terms  governing  the  operation  to  the 
authorization granted by the Extraordinary Shareholders Meeting 
of May 12, 2006 and to the indications given to it,

(cid:116) the proposed cancellation of the pre-emptive share subscription 
rights  as  previously  authorized  by  you,  the  choice  of  the  issue 
price calculation formulae and its final amount,

(cid:116) the account of the impact of the share issue on the situation 
of holders of shares and of securities giving access to the capital 
with respect to the shareholders funds and to the stock price.

Neuilly-sur-Seine and Paris, June 26, 2008

PRICEWATERHOUSE COOPERS AUDIT 
              Christian MARCELLIN 

     COREVISE 
     Stéphane MARIE

The Statutory Auditors
Members of the Compagnies Régionales de Versailles et Paris

Clermont-Ferrand,
June 26, 2008

Michel ROLLIER
Managing Partner

192   2008 Michelin Annual Report

 
   
    
Description of the share buyback 
program subject to authorization
of the Joint Annual Shareholders’
Meeting of May 15, 2009
This  description  was  drawn  up  pursuant  to  articles  241-1  and 
following  of  Règlement  Général  de  l’Autorité  des  Marchés 
Financiers (General rules governing French financial markets) and 
pursuant to the provisions of European Regulation No 2273/2003 
of December 22, 2003.

DATE OF THE ANNUAL SHAREHOLDERS MEETING REQUESTED TO 
AUTHORIZE THE SHARE BUYBACK PROGRAM

May 15, 2009.

NUMBER OF SECURITIES AND CAPITAL SHARES DIRECTLY OR  
INDIRECTLY HELD

At the date of publication of this description, the Company did 
not hold, either, directly or indirectly, any treasury stock and had 
no liquidity contract with an investment service provider.

MAXIMUM SHARE OF CAPITAL, MAXIMUM NUMBER AND CHARACTERIS-
TICS OF SHARES THE COMPANY PROPOSES TO ACQUIRE AND MAXIMUM 
PURCHASE PRICE

The maximum portion of capital the Company would be entitled 
to  acquire  is  set  at  10%  of  the  total  number  of  existing  shares 
or  14,499,742  shares  at  the  date  of  this  description.  Based  on 
the  maximum  price  of  €  100  per  share  and  in  light  of  the  fact 
that  the  Company  does  not  currently  hold  any  treasury  stock, 
this  corresponds  to  a  maximum  theoretical  investment  of 
€ 1,449,974,200.

In  accordance  with  the  law,  where  shares  are  bought  back  in 
order  to  be  allocated  to  the  first  objective  above,  the  number 
of shares taken into account for the purposes of calculating the 
10% limit is the number of shares bought back less the number 
of shares sold during the course of the program.

Pursuant  to  provisions  of  article  L.225-210  of  the  French 
Commercial Code, the value of the overall number of shares the 
Company would accordingly hold would be capped to the amount 
of available reserves recorded in the corporate financial statements 
as at December 31, 2008, excluding the legal reserve.

OBJECTIVES OF THE NEW SHARE BUYBACK PROGRAM BY  
DECREASING ORDER OF PRIORITY 

BUYBACK PROGRAM DURATION

18  months  from  the  May  15,  2009  Joint  Shareholders  Meeting 
approval, or until November 15, 2010 included.

OPERATIONS INVOLVING ACQUISITION, SALE OR TRANSFER  
AS PART OF THE PREVIOUS SHARE BUYBACK PROGRAM

In 2008, no such operation was concluded.

(cid:116)(cid:1)Regulation of the Stock Market share price or share liquidity by 
an investment service provider under a liquidity contract drafted 
in accordance with the ethical practices charter adopted by the 
AMF;

(cid:116)(cid:1) The  allocation  of  shares  to  Company  and  its  subsidiaries 
employees  and  executives  pursuant  to  the  applicable  legal 
provisions,  especially  concerning  stock  option  calls  and  free 
allocation of existing shares, or in the event of share contributions 
to operations reserved to employees;

(cid:116)(cid:1)Delivery of shares upon calling of rights attached to marketable 
securities giving access to the Company’s capital;

(cid:116)(cid:1) Custody,  transfer,  exchange  or  contribution  as  settlement  as 
part of external growth operations; 

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   193

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Additional Information regarding  
Management and Supervisory Bodies

Mandates and positions held 
in other companies filled 
during the last five years 
by Company Directors

MANAGING GENERAL PARTNER: MICHEL ROLLIER

2004 – 2005 
Director of Moria SA
Member of Altamo’s Supervisory Board

2006
Unlimited Partner of Compagnie Financière Michelin
Director of Moria SA
Member of Altamo’s Supervisory Board

2007
Unlimited Partner of Compagnie Financière Michelin
Director of Moria SA

2008
Unlimited Partner and Managing Partner of Compagnie 
Financière Michelin
Director of Lafarge (since May 7, 2008)
Director of Moria SA

MANAGING PARTNER: DIDIER MIRATON

2004 – 2005 – 2006 
Head of Michelin’s Technology Center

2007 
Head of Michelin’s Technology Center 

(until he was appointed Managing Partner)
Director of Vilmorin (since December 12, 2007)

2008
Director of Vilmorin

MANAGING PARTNER: JEAN-DOMINIQUE SENARD

2004 
Member of Alcan Group’s Executive Committee 
Chairman of Péchiney SA

2005 – 2006 
Michelin Group CFO

2007
Michelin Group CFO

(until he was appointed Managing Partner)
Director of Compagnie Financière Michelin

2008
Director of Compagnie Financière Michelin

(cid:31)(cid:105)(cid:147)(cid:76)(cid:105)(cid:192)(cid:195)(cid:202)(cid:156)(cid:118)(cid:202)(cid:204)(cid:133)(cid:105)(cid:202)(cid:45)(cid:213)(cid:171)(cid:105)(cid:192)(cid:219)(cid:136)(cid:195)(cid:156)(cid:192)(cid:222)(cid:202)(cid:9)(cid:156)(cid:62)(cid:192)(cid:96)(cid:202)
ERIC BOURDAIS DE CHARBONNIERE

Chairman of Mouvement Européen
Director of Trustees of the Crisis Group
Director of Trustees Friends of Europe
General Commissioner of Europalia
Director of UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business

2008
Chairman of International European Movement
Board Member of Trustees of the International Crisis Group
Board Member of Trustees Friends of Europe
Director of UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business
Member of the Consultative Committee to the Chairman of 
University College Cork
Blue Box Creative Learning Centre sponsor
Member of the European Supervisory Board of Microsoft 
Member of the Supervisory Board of Pfizer Europe
Director of Tiger Developments Europe
Member of the Supervisory Board of APCO Worldwide 
International

2004 – 2005 – 2006
Member of the Supervisory Board of Oddo et Cie
Member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Audit 
Committee of Thomson SA
Member of the Supervisory Board of ING Group

2007
Member of the Supervisory Board of Oddo et Cie
Member of the Board of Directors of Thomson SA
Member of the Supervisory Board of ING Group

2008
Member of the Supervisory Board of Oddo et Cie
Member of the Board of Directors of Thomson SA
Member of the Supervisory Board of ING Group

PAT COX

2005
Chief Executive Officer of European Integration Solutions LLC

2006 – 2007
Chief Executive Officer of European Integration Solutions LLC
Chairman of International Movement, headquarters

FRANÇOIS GRAPPOTTE

2004
Chief Executive Officer of Legrand
Director of BNP Paribas
Director of Valeo
Board Member of F.I.E.E.C.(1)
Board Member of Gimélec (2)
Member of the Board of Promotelec (3)

2005
Chairman of Legrand
Director of BNP Paribas
Director of Valeo
Galeries Lafayette Supervisory Board Member
Board Member of F.I.E.E.C (1)
Board Member of Gimélec (2)
Member of the Board of Promotelec  (3)

2006
Honorary Chairman of Legrand 
Director of BNP Paribas

194   2008 Michelin Annual Report

Director of Valeo
Board Member of F.I.E.E.C. (1)
Board Member of Gimélec (2)
Member of the Board of Promotelec (3)

2007
Honorary Chairman of Legrand 
Director of BNP Paribas
Director of Valeo
Member of the Board of Promotelec (3)

2008
Honorary Chairman of Legrand 
Director of BNP Paribas

(1)  Fédération des Industries Electriques, Electroniques et de Communication.
(2)  Groupement  des  industries  de  l’équipement  électrique,  du  contrôle-
commande et des services associés.
(3)  Promotion de l’installation électrique dans les bâtiments neufs et anciens.

PIERRE MICHELIN

2004 – 2005 – 2006 – 2007 – 2008
No mandate held in other companies

LAURENCE PARISOT

2004 
Chief Executive Officer of Ifop
Chief Executive Officer of Optimum

2005 
Chairwoman of Ifop
Director of BNP Paribas
Director of Havas 
Euro Disney SCA Supervisory Board Member 
Chairwoman of MEDEF

2006 
Chairwoman of Ifop
Director of BNP Paribas
Director of Havas (until June 2006)
Euro Disney SCA Supervisory Board Member (until January 2006)
Chairwoman of MEDEF

2007
Chairwoman of Ifop
Director of BNP Paribas
Director of Coface SA (from February 1, 2007)
Chairwoman of MEDEF

2008
Vice-Chairwoman of Ifop's Directoire
Director of BNP Paribas
Director of Coface SA
Chairwoman of MEDEF

BENOÎT POTIER

2004
Chairman of L’Air Liquide SA’s Directoire
Chief Executive Officer of Air Liquide International
Chief Executive Officer of American Air Liquide Inc. (AAL)
Director of Société d’Oxygène et d’Acétylène d’Extrême-Orient 
(SOAEO)
Chief Executive Officer of Air Liquide International Corporation (ALIC)
Director of Air Liquide Italia Srl., AL Air Liquide España, Air 
Liquide Asia Pte Ltd, Air Liquide Canada Inc.
Director of Air Liquide America Holdings Inc. (AHI)
Chairman of American Air Liquide Holdings Inc. (AALH)
Director of Groupe Danone
Director of Ecole Centrale des Arts & Manufactures

2005
Chairman of L’Air Liquide SA’s Directoire
Chief Executive Officer of Air Liquide International
Chief Executive Officer of American Air Liquide Inc. (AAL)
Director of Société d’Oxygène et d’Acétylène d’Extrême-Orient 
(SOAEO)
Chief Executive Officer of Air Liquide International Corporation 
(ALIC)
Director of Air Liquide Italia Srl., AL Air Liquide España, Air 
Liquide Asia Pte Ltd, Air Liquide Canada Inc.
Director of Air Liquide America Holdings Inc. (AHI)
Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Groupe 
Danone
Director of Ecole Centrale des Arts & Manufactures

2006
Chief Executive Officer of L’Air Liquide, Air Liquide International, 
American Air Liquide Inc, Air Liquide International Corporation
Chairman of American Air Liquide Holdings Inc
Director of Société d’Oxygène et d’Acétylène d’Extême-Orient 
(SOAEO) (until March 2006)
Director of Air Liquide Italia Srl., AL Air Liquide Espana
Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Groupe 
Danone
Director of Ecole Centrale des Arts & Manufactures
Insead France Board Member 

2007
Chief Executive Officer of L’Air Liquide, Air Liquide International, 
American Air Liquide Inc, Air Liquide International Corporation
Chairman of American Air Liquide Holdings Inc
Director of Air Liquide Italia Srl. (until April 2007), AL Air Liquide 
Espana (until May 2007)
Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Groupe 
Danone
Director of Ecole Centrale des Arts & Manufactures
Insead France Board Member  

2008
Chief Executive Officer of L’Air Liquide, Air Liquide International, 
American Air Liquide Inc, Air Liquide International Corporation
Chairman of American Air Liquide Holdings Inc.
Chairman of the the Air Liquide Company Foundation
Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Groupe 
Danone
Director of Ecole Centrale des Arts et Manufactures
Insead France Board Member 
Director of ANSA
Member of the Board of Directors of AFEP 
Director of Cercle de l’industrie

LOUIS GALLOIS

2004
Chairman of SNCF
Member of the Board of Directors of Thales
Member of the Board of Directors of EADS NV

2005
Chairman of SNCF
Member of the Board of Directors of Thales (until May 8, 2005)
Member of the Board of Directors of EADS NV

2006
Chairman of SNCF (until July 2, 2006)
Joint executive chairman of EADS NV (from July 2, 2006)
Chairman of Airbus (since October 3, 2006)

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   195

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Statements

Company Directors have no kinship ties between them.

To the Company’s knowledge, in the last five years, none of the 
Directors was convicted for fraud, was involved in a bankruptcy, 
liquidation or escrow order or was the object of an official claim 
or  sanction  decided  by  statutory  or  regulatory  bodies  and/or 
was  barred  by  a  court  to  act  in  his/her  quality  as  member  of  a 
management,  executive  or  supervisory  board  of  an  issuer  or  to 
take part in the management or running of an issuer.

None of the Directors is party to a service provider contract with 
the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

There is no:

(cid:116)  arrangement  or  agreement  with  the  main  shareholders, 
customers,  suppliers  or  other  parties  pursuant  to  which  said 
directors were chosen as Company directors;

(cid:116)  potential  conflict  of  interest  between  Company  Directors’ 
duties to the Company and their private interests and / or other 
obligations,

(cid:116)  restrictions  accepted  by  said  Directors  to  the  transfer,  after  a 
certain time period, of their stake in the Company’s capital, other 
than  pursuant  to  the  rules  pertaining  to  prevention  of  insider 
dealings, or applicable to Managing General Partners.

2007 
Joint executive chairman of EADS NV (until August 27, 2007)
Chairman of Airbus (until August 27, 2007)
Chairman of EADS NV (since August 27, 2007)

2008
Executive Chairman of EADS NV
Member of the Executive Committee of EADS NV
Chairman of the Shareholders Committee of Airbus 
Director of École Centrale des Arts et Manufactures
Chairman of Fondation Villette-Entreprises

BARBARA DALIBARD

2004
Director of Globecast Holding
Director of Transpact
Chairman of the Supervisory Board of ENV International NV 

(previously Equant NV)
Chairman and Director of Orange Communications 
Luxembourg (until August 26, 2004)

2005 
Director of Globecast Holding
Director of Transpac (until December 25, 2005)
Chairman of the Supervisory Board of ENV International NV 
(previously Equant NV) (until September 20, 2005)
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Equant BV 

(since August 22, 2005)

2006 
Director of Globecast Holding
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Equant BV

2007
Director of Globecast Holding
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Equant BV

2008
Member of Groupe France Télécom’s General Management 
Committee 
Chief Executive Officer of Equant
Director of Globecast Holding

196   2008 Michelin Annual Report

Corporate Financial Statements  
as at December 31, 2008
Compagnie Générale des Établissements Michelin

The Financial Statements of the Company show a profit of EUR 
286,147,074.19, up EUR 8.6 million on financial year 2007, which 
amounted to EUR 277,547,730.64.

Operating  income  amounted  to  EUR  114.1  million,  down  EUR 
52.3 million. On the one hand, the amount of royalties received 
was slightly lower, and, on the other hand, operating expenses 
rose from EUR 266.3 million to EUR 290.2 million mainly due to 
an  increase  in  the  amount  of  research  expenses  re-invoiced  to 
Compagnie Générale des Etablissements Michelin.

The financial result was positive at EUR 170.6 million versus EUR 
111.5  million  in  2007.  It  has  improved  versus  2007,  a  year  that 
had  been  affected  by  an  allocation  to  provision  of  shares  in 
associated companies amounting to EUR 55 million in connection, 
in  particular,  with  the  impact  of  discontinued  development  of 
new GPS product lines by its ViaMichelin subsidiary.

Non-recurring  income  amounts  to  EUR  1.2  million.  This  mainly 
corresponds  to  intra-group  share  reclassifications  designed  to 
streamline its structure. This involved the transfer of the shares  

of  société  Participation  et  Développement  Industriels  and  of 
Société d'Exportation Michelin, held by Compagnie Générale des 
Etablissements Michelin.

In the balance sheet structure, please note the overall EUR 48.4 
million  increase  of  capital  and  issue  premiums  resulting  from 
completion  of  the  Employee  Shareholder  Plan  2008  and  from 
call of share subscription options.

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   197

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance Sheet at 31 December, 2008
Assets
(in EUR)

(cid:39)(cid:42)(cid:57)(cid:38)(cid:37)(cid:1)(cid:34)(cid:52)(cid:52)(cid:38)(cid:53)(cid:52)
Intangible assets:
Patents, licenses and other rights
Other intangible assets
Assets under construction

(cid:47)(cid:62)(cid:152)(cid:125)(cid:136)(cid:76)(cid:143)(cid:105)(cid:202)(cid:62)(cid:195)(cid:195)(cid:105)(cid:204)(cid:195)(cid:92)
Land
Buildings
Other tangible assets
Assets under construction
Prepayments

(cid:22)(cid:152)(cid:219)(cid:105)(cid:195)(cid:204)(cid:147)(cid:105)(cid:152)(cid:204)(cid:195)(cid:202)(cid:173)(cid:163)(cid:174)(cid:92)
Share in subsidiaries and affiliates
Loans and advances to subsidiaries and affiliates
Other equity interests
Loans
Other investments

(cid:36)(cid:54)(cid:51)(cid:51)(cid:38)(cid:47)(cid:53)(cid:1)(cid:34)(cid:52)(cid:52)(cid:38)(cid:53)(cid:52)
(cid:1)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:156)(cid:213)(cid:152)(cid:204)(cid:195)(cid:202)(cid:192)(cid:105)(cid:86)(cid:105)(cid:136)(cid:219)(cid:62)(cid:76)(cid:143)(cid:105)
(cid:10)(cid:62)(cid:195)(cid:133)(cid:202)(cid:105)(cid:181)(cid:213)(cid:136)(cid:219)(cid:62)(cid:143)(cid:105)(cid:152)(cid:204)(cid:195)(cid:92)
Treasury Stock
Other marketable securities

(cid:10)(cid:62)(cid:195)(cid:133)
(cid:34)(cid:36)(cid:36)(cid:51)(cid:54)(cid:34)(cid:45)(cid:52)
Prepaid expenses (2)

(cid:12)(cid:105)(cid:118)(cid:105)(cid:192)(cid:192)(cid:105)(cid:96)(cid:202)(cid:86)(cid:133)(cid:62)(cid:192)(cid:125)(cid:105)(cid:195)(cid:202)(cid:62)(cid:152)(cid:96)(cid:202)(cid:76)(cid:156)(cid:152)(cid:96)(cid:202)(cid:86)(cid:62)(cid:143)(cid:143)(cid:202)(cid:171)(cid:192)(cid:105)(cid:147)(cid:136)(cid:213)(cid:147)(cid:195)
(cid:10)(cid:156)(cid:152)(cid:219)(cid:105)(cid:192)(cid:195)(cid:136)(cid:156)(cid:152)(cid:202)(cid:143)(cid:156)(cid:195)(cid:195)(cid:105)(cid:195)
(cid:47)(cid:156)(cid:204)(cid:62)(cid:143) (cid:62)(cid:195)(cid:195)(cid:105)(cid:204)(cid:195)
(1) of which due in less than one year

(2) of which due in more than one year

198   2008 Michelin Annual Report

(cid:9)(cid:42)(cid:10)

(cid:9)(cid:42)(cid:42)(cid:10)
(cid:9)(cid:42)(cid:42)(cid:42)(cid:10)
(cid:9)(cid:42)(cid:55)(cid:10)
(cid:173)(cid:22)(cid:202)(cid:179)(cid:202)(cid:22)(cid:22)(cid:202)(cid:179)(cid:202)(cid:22)(cid:22)(cid:22)(cid:202)(cid:179)(cid:202)(cid:22)(cid:54)(cid:174)

Cost

25,952,644.92  
61,296.21  
–  

(cid:19)(cid:23)(cid:13)(cid:17)(cid:18)(cid:20)(cid:13)(cid:26)(cid:21)(cid:18)(cid:15)(cid:18)(cid:20)(cid:1)(cid:1)

102,469.01  
1,836,860.64  
345,575.90  
–  
–  
2,284,905.55  

4,558,929,948.66  
1,336,428,921.28  
3,409,334.75  
–  
20,121.45  

(cid:22)(cid:13)(cid:25)(cid:26)(cid:25)(cid:13)(cid:24)(cid:25)(cid:25)(cid:13)(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:23)(cid:15)(cid:18)(cid:21)(cid:1)(cid:1)
(cid:22)(cid:13)(cid:26)(cid:19)(cid:24)(cid:13)(cid:17)(cid:25)(cid:24)(cid:13)(cid:18)(cid:24)(cid:19)(cid:15)(cid:25)(cid:19)(cid:1)(cid:1)

2008

Amort. 
Depreciation

25,418,947.50  
54,877.76  
–  

(cid:19)(cid:22)(cid:13)(cid:21)(cid:24)(cid:20)(cid:13)(cid:25)(cid:19)(cid:22)(cid:15)(cid:19)(cid:23)(cid:1)(cid:1)

–  
1,797,060.55  
311,373.60  
–  
–  
2,108,434.15  

91,237.41  
–  
–  
–  
–  

(cid:26)(cid:18)(cid:13)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:24)(cid:15)(cid:21)(cid:18)(cid:1)(cid:1)
(cid:19)(cid:24)(cid:13)(cid:23)(cid:24)(cid:20)(cid:13)(cid:21)(cid:26)(cid:23)(cid:15)(cid:25)(cid:19)(cid:1)(cid:1)

Net

533,697.42  
6,418.45  
–  

(cid:22)(cid:21)(cid:17)(cid:13)(cid:18)(cid:18)(cid:22)(cid:15)(cid:25)(cid:24)(cid:1)(cid:1)

102,469.01  
39,800.09  
34,202.30  
–  
–  
176,471.40  

2007

Net

836,565.32  
7,702.13  
–  

(cid:25)(cid:21)(cid:21)(cid:13)(cid:19)(cid:23)(cid:24)(cid:15)(cid:21)(cid:22)(cid:1)(cid:1)

102,469.01  
49,075.76  
45,871.40  
–  
–  

(cid:18)(cid:26)(cid:24)(cid:13)(cid:21)(cid:18)(cid:23)(cid:15)(cid:18)(cid:24)(cid:1)(cid:1)

4,558,838,711.25  
1,336,428,921.28  
3,409,334.75  
–  
20,121.45  

(cid:22)(cid:13)(cid:25)(cid:26)(cid:25)(cid:13)(cid:23)(cid:26)(cid:24)(cid:13)(cid:17)(cid:25)(cid:25)(cid:15)(cid:24)(cid:20)(cid:1)(cid:1)
(cid:22)(cid:13)(cid:25)(cid:26)(cid:26)(cid:13)(cid:21)(cid:18)(cid:20)(cid:13)(cid:23)(cid:24)(cid:23)(cid:15)(cid:17)(cid:17)(cid:1)(cid:1)

4,605,626,027.89  
1,460,120,888.59  
3,035,122.34  
–  
20,121.45  

(cid:23)(cid:13)(cid:17)(cid:23)(cid:25)(cid:13)(cid:25)(cid:17)(cid:19)(cid:13)(cid:18)(cid:23)(cid:17)(cid:15)(cid:19)(cid:24)(cid:1)(cid:1)
(cid:23)(cid:13)(cid:17)(cid:23)(cid:26)(cid:13)(cid:25)(cid:21)(cid:20)(cid:13)(cid:25)(cid:21)(cid:20)(cid:15)(cid:25)(cid:26)(cid:1)(cid:1)

204,380,105.44  

–  

204,380,105.44  

187,742,063.59  

–  
656.08  

(cid:23)(cid:22)(cid:23)(cid:15)(cid:17)(cid:25)(cid:1)(cid:1)
122,553,171.76  

2,111,938.63  

(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:26)(cid:13)(cid:17)(cid:21)(cid:22)(cid:13)(cid:25)(cid:24)(cid:18)(cid:15)(cid:26)(cid:18)(cid:1)(cid:1)
(cid:19)(cid:13)(cid:25)(cid:21)(cid:24)(cid:13)(cid:22)(cid:18)(cid:19)(cid:15)(cid:26)(cid:21)(cid:1)
–  

15.78  

(cid:18)(cid:22)(cid:15)(cid:24)(cid:25)(cid:1)(cid:1)
–  

–  

(cid:18)(cid:22)(cid:15)(cid:24)(cid:25)(cid:1)(cid:1)
(cid:111)
–  

–  
640.30  

(cid:23)(cid:21)(cid:17)(cid:15)(cid:20)(cid:17)(cid:1)(cid:1)
122,553,171.76  

2,111,938.63  

(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:26)(cid:13)(cid:17)(cid:21)(cid:22)(cid:13)(cid:25)(cid:22)(cid:23)(cid:15)(cid:18)(cid:20)(cid:1)(cid:1)
(cid:19)(cid:13)(cid:25)(cid:21)(cid:24)(cid:13)(cid:22)(cid:18)(cid:19)(cid:15)(cid:26)(cid:21)(cid:1)
–  

–  
640.30  

(cid:23)(cid:21)(cid:17)(cid:15)(cid:20)(cid:17)(cid:1)(cid:1)
390,982.17  

536,286.49  

(cid:18)(cid:25)(cid:25)(cid:13)(cid:23)(cid:23)(cid:26)(cid:13)(cid:26)(cid:24)(cid:19)(cid:15)(cid:22)(cid:22)(cid:1)(cid:1)
(cid:21)(cid:13)(cid:22)(cid:21)(cid:23)(cid:13)(cid:21)(cid:18)(cid:18)(cid:15)(cid:21)(cid:23)(cid:1)
–  

(cid:23)(cid:13)(cid:19)(cid:22)(cid:25)(cid:13)(cid:26)(cid:25)(cid:17)(cid:13)(cid:22)(cid:22)(cid:24)(cid:15)(cid:19)(cid:23)

(cid:19)(cid:24)(cid:13)(cid:23)(cid:24)(cid:20)(cid:13)(cid:22)(cid:18)(cid:19)(cid:15)(cid:23)(cid:17)(cid:1)(cid:1)

(cid:23)(cid:13)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:18)(cid:13)(cid:20)(cid:17)(cid:24)(cid:13)(cid:17)(cid:21)(cid:21)(cid:15)(cid:23)(cid:23)

(cid:23)(cid:13)(cid:19)(cid:23)(cid:20)(cid:13)(cid:17)(cid:23)(cid:17)(cid:13)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:24)(cid:15)(cid:26)(cid:17)(cid:1)(cid:1)

1,336,428,921.28  
–  

1,460,120,888.59  
–  

Liabilities
(IN EUR)

(cid:45)(cid:133)(cid:62)(cid:192)(cid:105)(cid:133)(cid:156)(cid:143)(cid:96)(cid:105)(cid:192)(cid:195)(cid:202)(cid:105)(cid:181)(cid:213)(cid:136)(cid:204)(cid:222)
Capital

Paid in capital in excess of par

Revaluation reserve

Reserves

Retained earnings

Net income for the year
Untaxed reserves

(cid:42)(cid:192)(cid:156)(cid:219)(cid:136)(cid:195)(cid:136)(cid:156)(cid:152)(cid:195)(cid:202)(cid:118)(cid:156)(cid:192)(cid:202)(cid:86)(cid:156)(cid:152)(cid:204)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:125)(cid:105)(cid:152)(cid:86)(cid:136)(cid:105)(cid:195)(cid:202)(cid:62)(cid:152)(cid:96)(cid:202)(cid:86)(cid:133)(cid:62)(cid:192)(cid:125)(cid:105)(cid:195)
Provisions for contingencies
Provisions for charges

(cid:29)(cid:136)(cid:62)(cid:76)(cid:136)(cid:143)(cid:136)(cid:204)(cid:136)(cid:105)(cid:195)(cid:202)(cid:173)(cid:163)(cid:174)
Convertibles bond loan
Subordinated issues
Other bond issues
Other liabilities
Bank borrowings  (2)
Financial debt
Other long and short term debt (2)
Accrued taxes and payroll costs
Suppliers of fixed assets and related items
Other liabilities

(cid:1)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:192)(cid:213)(cid:62)(cid:143)(cid:195)
Deferred income (1)

(cid:10)(cid:156)(cid:152)(cid:219)(cid:105)(cid:192)(cid:195)(cid:136)(cid:156)(cid:152)(cid:202)(cid:125)(cid:62)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:195)

(cid:47)(cid:156)(cid:204)(cid:62)(cid:143)(cid:202)(cid:143)(cid:136)(cid:62)(cid:76)(cid:136)(cid:143)(cid:136)(cid:204)(cid:136)(cid:105)(cid:195)(cid:202)(cid:62)(cid:152)(cid:96)(cid:202)(cid:195)(cid:133)(cid:62)(cid:192)(cid:105)(cid:133)(cid:156)(cid:143)(cid:96)(cid:105)(cid:192)(cid:195)(cid:189)(cid:202)(cid:105)(cid:181)(cid:213)(cid:136)(cid:204)(cid:222)

(1) of which due in more than one year

     of which due in less than one year

(2) of which short-term bank loans and overdrafts

(cid:9)(cid:42)(cid:10)

(cid:9)(cid:42)(cid:42)(cid:10)

2008

2007

289,994,844.00  

1,910,014,542.74  

624,772,330.22  

1,276,839,455.47  

281,207,005.56  

286,147,074.19  
61,597,677.21  

(cid:21)(cid:13)(cid:24)(cid:20)(cid:17)(cid:13)(cid:22)(cid:24)(cid:19)(cid:13)(cid:26)(cid:19)(cid:26)(cid:15)(cid:20)(cid:26)(cid:1)(cid:1)

–  
–  

(cid:17)(cid:1)(cid:1)

738,823,673.40  

355,131,712.17  

15,022.98  

294,000,000.00  

–  

17,729,701.12  

2,766,348.66  

–  
92,267,656.94  

287,998,338.00  

1,863,637,079.24  

626,682,176.36  

1,276,770,085.27  

241,845,315.52  

277,547,730.64  

61,597,677.21  

(cid:21)(cid:13)(cid:23)(cid:20)(cid:23)(cid:13)(cid:17)(cid:24)(cid:25)(cid:13)(cid:21)(cid:17)(cid:19)(cid:15)(cid:19)(cid:21)(cid:1)(cid:1)

–  
174,896.00  

(cid:18)(cid:24)(cid:21)(cid:13)(cid:25)(cid:26)(cid:23)(cid:15)(cid:17)(cid:17)(cid:1)(cid:1)

716,771,000.41  

470,981,853.44  

16,382.66  

220,000,000.00  

–  

128,197,667.59  

7,166,879.91  

–  
83,668,759.89  

(cid:9)(cid:42)(cid:42)(cid:42)(cid:10)

(cid:9)(cid:42)(cid:55)(cid:10)

(cid:202)(cid:173)(cid:22)(cid:202)(cid:179)(cid:202)(cid:22)(cid:22)(cid:202)(cid:179)(cid:202)(cid:22)(cid:22)(cid:22)(cid:202)(cid:179)(cid:202)(cid:22)(cid:54)(cid:174)

1,500,734,115.27  

1,626,802,543.90  

–  

(cid:18)(cid:13)(cid:22)(cid:17)(cid:17)(cid:13)(cid:24)(cid:20)(cid:21)(cid:13)(cid:18)(cid:18)(cid:22)(cid:15)(cid:19)(cid:24)(cid:1)(cid:1)
–  

(cid:200)(cid:93)(cid:211)(cid:206)(cid:163)(cid:93)(cid:206)(cid:228)(cid:199)(cid:93)(cid:228)(cid:123)(cid:123)(cid:176)(cid:200)(cid:200)(cid:202)(cid:202)

1,092,252,673.40  

408,481,441.87  
–

4,385.76  

(cid:18)(cid:13)(cid:23)(cid:19)(cid:23)(cid:13)(cid:25)(cid:17)(cid:23)(cid:13)(cid:26)(cid:19)(cid:26)(cid:15)(cid:23)(cid:23)(cid:1)(cid:1)
–  

(cid:200)(cid:93)(cid:211)(cid:200)(cid:206)(cid:93)(cid:228)(cid:200)(cid:228)(cid:93)(cid:211)(cid:211)(cid:199)(cid:176)(cid:153)(cid:228)(cid:202)(cid:202)

1,185,467,000.41  

441,339,929.25  
–

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   199

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Statement of income 2008

(in EUR)

(cid:34)(cid:171)(cid:105)(cid:192)(cid:62)(cid:204)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:125)(cid:202)(cid:192)(cid:105)(cid:219)(cid:105)(cid:152)(cid:213)(cid:105)(cid:202)(cid:173)(cid:163)(cid:174)
Royalties (including export revenues: 345,060,209.49)

Other revenue

(cid:47)(cid:156)(cid:204)(cid:62)(cid:143)(cid:202)(cid:156)(cid:171)(cid:105)(cid:192)(cid:62)(cid:204)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:125)(cid:202)(cid:192)(cid:105)(cid:219)(cid:105)(cid:152)(cid:213)(cid:105)

(cid:34)(cid:171)(cid:105)(cid:192)(cid:62)(cid:204)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:125)(cid:202)(cid:105)(cid:221)(cid:171)(cid:105)(cid:152)(cid:195)(cid:105)(cid:195)(cid:202)(cid:173)(cid:211)(cid:174)
External charges

Taxes other than on income

Wages and salaries

Payroll taxes

Depreciation and amortization:

● Fixed assets

● Deferred charges

Other expenses

(cid:47)(cid:156)(cid:204)(cid:62)(cid:143)(cid:202)(cid:156)(cid:171)(cid:105)(cid:192)(cid:62)(cid:204)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:125)(cid:202)(cid:105)(cid:221)(cid:171)(cid:105)(cid:152)(cid:195)(cid:105)(cid:195)

(cid:34)(cid:171)(cid:105)(cid:192)(cid:62)(cid:204)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:125)(cid:202)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:86)(cid:156)(cid:147)(cid:105)

(cid:22)(cid:152)(cid:204)(cid:105)(cid:192)(cid:105)(cid:195)(cid:204)(cid:202)(cid:62)(cid:152)(cid:96)(cid:202)(cid:156)(cid:204)(cid:133)(cid:105)(cid:192)(cid:202)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:219)(cid:105)(cid:195)(cid:204)(cid:147)(cid:105)(cid:152)(cid:204)(cid:202)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:86)(cid:156)(cid:147)(cid:105)
Dividends from subsidiaries and affiliates  (3)

Interest income (3)

Reversals of allowances

Exchange gains

Net gains on sales of marketable securities

(cid:47)(cid:156)(cid:204)(cid:62)(cid:143)(cid:202)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:204)(cid:105)(cid:192)(cid:105)(cid:195)(cid:204)(cid:202)(cid:62)(cid:152)(cid:96)(cid:202)(cid:156)(cid:204)(cid:133)(cid:105)(cid:192)(cid:202)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:219)(cid:105)(cid:195)(cid:204)(cid:147)(cid:105)(cid:152)(cid:204)(cid:202)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:86)(cid:156)(cid:147)(cid:105)

(cid:22)(cid:152)(cid:204)(cid:105)(cid:192)(cid:105)(cid:195)(cid:204)(cid:202)(cid:62)(cid:152)(cid:96)(cid:202)(cid:156)(cid:204)(cid:133)(cid:105)(cid:192)(cid:202)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:219)(cid:105)(cid:195)(cid:204)(cid:147)(cid:105)(cid:152)(cid:204)(cid:202)(cid:105)(cid:221)(cid:171)(cid:105)(cid:152)(cid:195)(cid:105)
Charges to allowances for impairment in value

Interest expense (4)

Exchange losses

Net losses on sales of marketable securities

(cid:47)(cid:156)(cid:204)(cid:62)(cid:143)(cid:202)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:204)(cid:105)(cid:192)(cid:105)(cid:195)(cid:204)(cid:202)(cid:62)(cid:152)(cid:96)(cid:202)(cid:156)(cid:204)(cid:133)(cid:105)(cid:192)(cid:202)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:219)(cid:105)(cid:195)(cid:204)(cid:147)(cid:105)(cid:152)(cid:204)(cid:202)(cid:105)(cid:221)(cid:171)(cid:105)(cid:152)(cid:195)(cid:105)

(cid:32)(cid:105)(cid:204)(cid:202)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:204)(cid:105)(cid:192)(cid:105)(cid:195)(cid:204)(cid:202)(cid:62)(cid:152)(cid:96)(cid:202)(cid:156)(cid:204)(cid:133)(cid:105)(cid:192)(cid:202)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:219)(cid:105)(cid:195)(cid:204)(cid:147)(cid:105)(cid:152)(cid:204)(cid:202)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:86)(cid:156)(cid:147)(cid:105)

(cid:22)(cid:152)(cid:86)(cid:156)(cid:147)(cid:105)(cid:202)(cid:118)(cid:192)(cid:156)(cid:147)(cid:202)(cid:156)(cid:192)(cid:96)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:62)(cid:192)(cid:222)(cid:202)(cid:62)(cid:86)(cid:204)(cid:136)(cid:219)(cid:136)(cid:204)(cid:136)(cid:105)(cid:195)

200   2008 Michelin Annual Report

2008

2007

401,937,698.11  

2,531,906.44  

429,237,593.81  

3,507,887.16  

(cid:173)(cid:22)(cid:174)

(cid:123)(cid:228)(cid:123)(cid:93)(cid:123)(cid:200)(cid:153)(cid:93)(cid:200)(cid:228)(cid:123)(cid:176)(cid:120)(cid:120)(cid:202)(cid:202)

(cid:123)(cid:206)(cid:211)(cid:93)(cid:199)(cid:123)(cid:120)(cid:93)(cid:123)(cid:110)(cid:228)(cid:176)(cid:153)(cid:199)(cid:202)(cid:202)

282,743,675.79  

258,004,540.45  

3,115,252.12  

2,290,270.86  

761,615.38  

453,229.19  

–  

931,734.07  

(cid:211)(cid:153)(cid:228)(cid:93)(cid:211)(cid:153)(cid:120)(cid:93)(cid:199)(cid:199)(cid:199)(cid:176)(cid:123)(cid:163)(cid:202)(cid:202)

(cid:18)(cid:18)(cid:21)(cid:13)(cid:18)(cid:24)(cid:20)(cid:13)(cid:25)(cid:19)(cid:24)(cid:15)(cid:18)(cid:21)(cid:1)(cid:1)

239,980,000.77  

4,326,947.44  

–  

3,824,524.86  

1,956,082.01  

692,839.80  

441,899.20  

–  

1,384,628.89  

(cid:211)(cid:200)(cid:200)(cid:93)(cid:206)(cid:228)(cid:123)(cid:93)(cid:120)(cid:163)(cid:120)(cid:176)(cid:211)(cid:163)(cid:202)(cid:202)

(cid:18)(cid:23)(cid:23)(cid:13)(cid:21)(cid:21)(cid:17)(cid:13)(cid:26)(cid:23)(cid:22)(cid:15)(cid:24)(cid:23)(cid:1)(cid:1)

234,859,531.55  

8,287,897.71  

–  

(cid:173)(cid:22)(cid:22)(cid:174)

(cid:1)(cid:9)(cid:42)(cid:1)(cid:14)(cid:1)(cid:42)(cid:42)(cid:10)

4,271,435.16  

1,704,057.38  

–  

–  

(cid:202)(cid:173)(cid:22)(cid:22)(cid:22)(cid:174)

(cid:211)(cid:123)(cid:110)(cid:93)(cid:120)(cid:199)(cid:110)(cid:93)(cid:206)(cid:110)(cid:206)(cid:176)(cid:206)(cid:199)(cid:202)(cid:202)

(cid:211)(cid:123)(cid:123)(cid:93)(cid:110)(cid:120)(cid:163)(cid:93)(cid:123)(cid:110)(cid:200)(cid:176)(cid:200)(cid:123)(cid:202)(cid:202)

1,698,898.52  

74,416,433.82  

1,795,352.51  

–  

(cid:199)(cid:199)(cid:93)(cid:153)(cid:163)(cid:228)(cid:93)(cid:200)(cid:110)(cid:123)(cid:176)(cid:110)(cid:120)(cid:202)(cid:202)

(cid:18)(cid:24)(cid:17)(cid:13)(cid:23)(cid:23)(cid:24)(cid:13)(cid:23)(cid:26)(cid:25)(cid:15)(cid:22)(cid:19)(cid:1)(cid:1)

(cid:19)(cid:25)(cid:21)(cid:13)(cid:25)(cid:21)(cid:18)(cid:13)(cid:22)(cid:19)(cid:22)(cid:15)(cid:23)(cid:23)(cid:1)(cid:1)

55,865,745.97  

74,186,319.40  

3,201,671.71  

–  

(cid:163)(cid:206)(cid:206)(cid:93)(cid:211)(cid:120)(cid:206)(cid:93)(cid:199)(cid:206)(cid:199)(cid:176)(cid:228)(cid:110)(cid:202)(cid:202)

(cid:18)(cid:18)(cid:18)(cid:13)(cid:22)(cid:26)(cid:24)(cid:13)(cid:24)(cid:21)(cid:26)(cid:15)(cid:22)(cid:23)(cid:1)(cid:1)

(cid:19)(cid:24)(cid:25)(cid:13)(cid:17)(cid:20)(cid:25)(cid:13)(cid:24)(cid:18)(cid:22)(cid:15)(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:1)(cid:1)

(cid:202)(cid:173)(cid:22)(cid:54)(cid:174)

(cid:1)(cid:9)(cid:42)(cid:42)(cid:42)(cid:1)(cid:14)(cid:1)(cid:42)(cid:55)(cid:10)

(cid:1)(cid:9)(cid:42)(cid:1)(cid:14)(cid:1)(cid:42)(cid:42)(cid:1)(cid:12)(cid:1)(cid:42)(cid:42)(cid:42)(cid:1)(cid:14)(cid:1)(cid:42)(cid:55)(cid:10)

(in EUR)

(cid:32)(cid:156)(cid:152)(cid:135)(cid:192)(cid:105)(cid:86)(cid:213)(cid:192)(cid:192)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:125)(cid:202)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:86)(cid:156)(cid:147)(cid:105)
From revenue transactions

From capital transactions

Reversals of allowances

(cid:47)(cid:156)(cid:204)(cid:62)(cid:143)(cid:202)(cid:152)(cid:156)(cid:152)(cid:135)(cid:192)(cid:105)(cid:86)(cid:213)(cid:192)(cid:192)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:125)(cid:202)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:86)(cid:156)(cid:147)(cid:105)

(cid:32)(cid:156)(cid:152)(cid:135)(cid:192)(cid:105)(cid:86)(cid:213)(cid:192)(cid:192)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:125)(cid:202)(cid:105)(cid:221)(cid:171)(cid:105)(cid:152)(cid:195)(cid:105)(cid:195)
On revenue transactions

On capital transactions

Charges to allowances

(cid:47)(cid:156)(cid:204)(cid:62)(cid:143)(cid:202)(cid:152)(cid:156)(cid:152)(cid:135)(cid:192)(cid:105)(cid:86)(cid:213)(cid:192)(cid:192)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:125)(cid:202)(cid:105)(cid:221)(cid:171)(cid:105)(cid:152)(cid:195)(cid:105)(cid:195)

(cid:32)(cid:105)(cid:204)(cid:202)(cid:152)(cid:156)(cid:152)(cid:135)(cid:192)(cid:105)(cid:86)(cid:213)(cid:192)(cid:192)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:125)(cid:202)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:86)(cid:156)(cid:147)(cid:105)

(cid:22)(cid:152)(cid:86)(cid:156)(cid:147)(cid:105)(cid:202)(cid:204)(cid:62)(cid:221)
Total revenues

Total expenses

(cid:32)(cid:105)(cid:204)(cid:202)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:86)(cid:156)(cid:147)(cid:105)(cid:201)(cid:143)(cid:156)(cid:195)(cid:195)

(1) of which revenues relating to prior years 

(2) of which expenses relating to prior years 

(3) of which revenues from related party transactions

(4) of which expenses from related party transactions

(cid:202)(cid:173)(cid:54)(cid:174)

(cid:202)(cid:173)(cid:54)(cid:22)(cid:174)

(cid:1)(cid:9)(cid:55)(cid:1)(cid:14)(cid:1)(cid:55)(cid:42)(cid:10)

(cid:173)(cid:54)(cid:22)(cid:22)(cid:174)

(cid:9)(cid:42)(cid:1)(cid:12)(cid:1)(cid:42)(cid:42)(cid:42)(cid:1)(cid:12)(cid:1)(cid:55)(cid:10)

(cid:9)(cid:42)(cid:42)(cid:1)(cid:12)(cid:1)(cid:42)(cid:55)(cid:1)(cid:12)(cid:1)(cid:55)(cid:42)(cid:1)(cid:12)(cid:1)(cid:55)(cid:42)(cid:42)(cid:10)

2008

2007

10,467.52  

46,153,076.51  

119,032,620.35  

(cid:163)(cid:200)(cid:120)(cid:93)(cid:163)(cid:153)(cid:200)(cid:93)(cid:163)(cid:200)(cid:123)(cid:176)(cid:206)(cid:110)(cid:202)(cid:202)

–  

163,910,090.85  

–  

(cid:163)(cid:200)(cid:206)(cid:93)(cid:153)(cid:163)(cid:228)(cid:93)(cid:228)(cid:153)(cid:228)(cid:176)(cid:110)(cid:120)(cid:202)(cid:202)

(cid:18)(cid:13)(cid:19)(cid:25)(cid:23)(cid:13)(cid:17)(cid:24)(cid:20)(cid:15)(cid:22)(cid:20)(cid:1)(cid:1)

(cid:173)(cid:163)(cid:153)(cid:93)(cid:123)(cid:199)(cid:120)(cid:176)(cid:228)(cid:228)(cid:174)(cid:202)
818,244,152.30  

532,097,078.11  

(cid:211)(cid:110)(cid:200)(cid:93)(cid:163)(cid:123)(cid:199)(cid:93)(cid:228)(cid:199)(cid:123)(cid:176)(cid:163)(cid:153)(cid:202)(cid:202)

–  

–  

239,693,466.96  

4,890,035.45  

111,583.97  

7,737,340.30  

–  

(cid:199)(cid:93)(cid:110)(cid:123)(cid:110)(cid:93)(cid:153)(cid:211)(cid:123)(cid:176)(cid:211)(cid:199)(cid:202)(cid:202)

49.83  

5,401,843.12  

–  

(cid:120)(cid:93)(cid:123)(cid:228)(cid:163)(cid:93)(cid:110)(cid:153)(cid:211)(cid:176)(cid:153)(cid:120)(cid:202)(cid:202)

(cid:19)(cid:13)(cid:21)(cid:21)(cid:24)(cid:13)(cid:17)(cid:20)(cid:18)(cid:15)(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:1)(cid:1)

(cid:211)(cid:93)(cid:153)(cid:206)(cid:110)(cid:93)(cid:228)(cid:163)(cid:200)(cid:176)(cid:228)(cid:228)(cid:202)(cid:202)
685,445,891.88  

407,898,161.24  

(cid:211)(cid:199)(cid:199)(cid:93)(cid:120)(cid:123)(cid:199)(cid:93)(cid:199)(cid:206)(cid:228)(cid:176)(cid:200)(cid:123)(cid:202)(cid:202)

–  

–  

234,585,520.92  

4,669,734.33  

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   201

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Balance Sheet and the Financial Statements

The  Company's  total  assets  before  appropriation  of  profits  for 
the  financial  year  to  December  31,  2008  amounted  to  EUR 
6,231,307,044.66.

The Income Statement totals for the year are as follows, in euros:

Expenses  incurred  for  the  creation  and  preservation  of  the 
“Brands” are recognized as expenses for the year.

D) ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

“Other intangible assets” consist of vehicle parking rights, which 
are amortized over 40 years.

Accounts receivables are stated at nominal value.

E) PAID-IN CAPITAL IN EXCESS OF PAR

Total revenues  
Total expenses  

818,244,152.30
532,097,078.11

B) PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

(cid:47)(cid:70)(cid:85)(cid:1)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:80)(cid:78)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:80)(cid:71)(cid:1)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:90)(cid:70)(cid:66)(cid:83)(cid:1)(cid:1)

(cid:19)(cid:25)(cid:23)(cid:13)(cid:18)(cid:21)(cid:24)(cid:13)(cid:17)(cid:24)(cid:21)(cid:15)(cid:18)(cid:26)

(cid:20)(cid:192)(cid:156)(cid:195)(cid:195)(cid:202)(cid:54)(cid:62)(cid:143)(cid:213)(cid:105)(cid:195)

This  item  corresponds  mainly  to  premiums  on  shares  issued  for 
cash or on conversion of bonds, after deducting related costs net 
of tax.

The Company’s financial year covers the 12 months from January 
1st to December 31st.

Fixed  assets  are  kept  at  historical  cost  or  revalued  as  per  the 
1976/1978 legal revaluation.

F) UNTAXED RESERVES

The  following  notes  and  tables  form  an  integral  part  of  the 
financial statement. 

Significant event of the year

Employee Shareholder Plan

(cid:12)(cid:105)(cid:171)(cid:192)(cid:105)(cid:86)(cid:136)(cid:62)(cid:204)(cid:136)(cid:156)(cid:152)

The  straight-line  basis  method 
amortization periods are as follows:

is  applied.  The  following 

(cid:116) Buildings: 30 years,
(cid:116) Other tangible assets: 10 years, except for computer equipment 
which is depreciated over 5 years.

In  May  2008,  952,733  new  shares  were  subscribed  under  the 
Group’s Employee Shareholder Plan. 

C) INVESTMENTS

Summary of significant accounting 
policies 

The  principles  used  to  evaluate  and  determine  Group  earnings 
remain unchanged as compared with previous reporting periods.

Company accounts for the financial year to December 31, 2008, 
have  been  prepared  and  presented  pursuant  to  applicable 
accounting  standards,  and  in  keeping  with  the  principles 
of  prudence,  discreteness  of  accounting  periods  and  going 
concern.

The  main  accounting  policies  applied  by  the  Company  are  as 
follows:

A) INTANGIBLE ASSETS

“Concessions,  patents  and  other  rights”  are  kept  at  cost  of 
acquisition.  Concessions  and  patents  are  amortized  over  12 
months.  Other  rights,  corresponding  primarily  to  purchased 
software,  are  amortized  over  periods  of  either  12  months  or  3 
years, depending on their nature.

(cid:45)(cid:133)(cid:62)(cid:192)(cid:105)(cid:195)(cid:202)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:202)(cid:195)(cid:213)(cid:76)(cid:195)(cid:136)(cid:96)(cid:136)(cid:62)(cid:192)(cid:136)(cid:105)(cid:195)(cid:202)(cid:62)(cid:152)(cid:96)(cid:202)(cid:62)(cid:118)(cid:119)(cid:143)(cid:136)(cid:62)(cid:204)(cid:105)(cid:195)
(cid:116) Gross Values: shares in subsidiaries and affiliates are stated at 
historical cost or at revaluation, in the case of assets held at the 
time of the 1976/1978 legal revaluation.

(cid:116)  Net  Values:  in  the  case  of  subsidiaries  and  affiliates,  interests 
are stated at their useful value, generally based on the statutory 
or  consolidated  group  share  of  net  assets  (as  revalued  where 
applicable)  and  profitability  prospects.  In  case  of  long-term 
decline  of  the  useful  value,  and  if  this  falls  below  gross  book 
value, a provision for impairment is made.

(cid:34)(cid:204)(cid:133)(cid:105)(cid:192)(cid:202)(cid:13)(cid:181)(cid:213)(cid:136)(cid:204)(cid:222)(cid:202)(cid:22)(cid:152)(cid:204)(cid:105)(cid:192)(cid:105)(cid:195)(cid:204)(cid:195)

This  item  includes  shareholdings  that  the  Company  intends  to 
retain but which are not held for purposes directly related to the 
Company’s business.

Other  equity  interests  are  valued  by  the  same  method  as  that 
described above.

Substantially all amounts reported under this item correspond to 
reinvested capital gains set off against write downs of securities 
in application of the former Article 40 of the French General Tax 
Code.

G) CONVERSION OF FOREIGN CURRENCIES

Revenues  and  expenses  in  foreign  currencies  are  converted  at 
their transaction date exchange rate.

Trade payables and receivables, are converted into euros at their 
year-end exchange rate.

Foreign  currency  forward  contracts  that  are  outstanding  at  the 
balance sheet date are recorded at market value in the balance 
sheet.

H) DEFERRED CHARGES AND BOND CALL PREMIUMS

Such charges and premiums relate to:

(cid:116)  Issuance  cost  of  the  2003  subordinated  debt,  amortized  over 
10 years,

(cid:116) The debt repayment premium for the 2003 subordinated debt, 
amortized over 10 years.

I) TAX

Income  tax  expense  in  the  income  statement  includes  both 
current tax and deferred taxes. Deferred tax is provided using the 
liability method.

202   2008 Michelin Annual Report

Fixed assets, depreciation and amortization 

Intangible assets and property, plant and equipment as well as the corresponding depreciation have changed as follows over the year:

(cid:19)(cid:136)(cid:221)(cid:105)(cid:96)(cid:202)(cid:62)(cid:195)(cid:195)(cid:105)(cid:204)(cid:195)
(in EUR)

Intangible assets

Property and Equipment

Investments:

Shares in subsidiaries and affiliates

Loans and advances to subsidiaries and affiliates

Other equity interests

Loans

Other investments

(cid:47)(cid:156)(cid:204)(cid:62)(cid:143)

(cid:12)(cid:105)(cid:171)(cid:192)(cid:105)(cid:86)(cid:136)(cid:62)(cid:204)(cid:136)(cid:156)(cid:152)(cid:202)(cid:62)(cid:152)(cid:96)(cid:202)(cid:62)(cid:147)(cid:156)(cid:192)(cid:204)(cid:136)(cid:226)(cid:62)(cid:204)(cid:136)(cid:156)(cid:152)
(in EUR)

Intangible assets

Property and Equipment

(cid:47)(cid:156)(cid:204)(cid:62)(cid:143)

Gross carrying  
amounts  
at January 1, 2008

25,887,705

2,283,009 

(cid:19)(cid:25)(cid:13)(cid:18)(cid:24)(cid:17)(cid:13)(cid:24)(cid:18)(cid:21)

4,722,840,040

1,460,120,888

3,035,123

–

20,121

(cid:23)(cid:13)(cid:18)(cid:25)(cid:23)(cid:13)(cid:17)(cid:18)(cid:23)(cid:13)(cid:18)(cid:24)(cid:19)

(cid:200)(cid:93)(cid:211)(cid:163)(cid:123)(cid:93)(cid:163)(cid:110)(cid:200)(cid:93)(cid:110)(cid:110)(cid:200)

Accumulated  
depreciation
at January 1, 2008
25,043,438

2,085,592

(cid:211)(cid:199)(cid:93)(cid:163)(cid:211)(cid:153)(cid:93)(cid:228)(cid:206)(cid:228)

Additions,
New loans
accrued interest  
for the year
126,236

1,897

(cid:18)(cid:19)(cid:25)(cid:13)(cid:18)(cid:20)(cid:20)

214,389,451

374,212

–

–

(cid:19)(cid:18)(cid:21)(cid:13)(cid:24)(cid:23)(cid:20)(cid:13)(cid:23)(cid:23)(cid:20)

(cid:211)(cid:163)(cid:123)(cid:93)(cid:110)(cid:153)(cid:163)(cid:93)(cid:199)(cid:153)(cid:200)

Disposals,
decommissioning
Decrease in accrued
loans and interest
–

–

(cid:111)

163,910,091

338,081,418

–

–

–

(cid:22)(cid:17)(cid:18)(cid:13)(cid:26)(cid:26)(cid:18)(cid:13)(cid:22)(cid:17)(cid:26)

(cid:120)(cid:228)(cid:163)(cid:93)(cid:153)(cid:153)(cid:163)(cid:93)(cid:120)(cid:228)(cid:153)

Gross carrying amounts  
at December
31, 2008

26,013,941

2,284,906 

(cid:19)(cid:25)(cid:13)(cid:19)(cid:26)(cid:25)(cid:13)(cid:25)(cid:21)(cid:24)

4,558,929,949

1,336,428,921

3,409,335

–

20,121

(cid:22)(cid:13)(cid:25)(cid:26)(cid:25)(cid:13)(cid:24)(cid:25)(cid:25)(cid:13)(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:23)

(cid:120)(cid:93)(cid:153)(cid:211)(cid:199)(cid:93)(cid:228)(cid:110)(cid:199)(cid:93)(cid:163)(cid:199)(cid:206)

Increases for
the year

Decreases: for asset
disposals

Accumulated depreciation
at December 31, 2008

430,387

22,842

(cid:123)(cid:120)(cid:206)(cid:93)(cid:211)(cid:211)(cid:153)

–

–

–

25,473,825

2,108,434

(cid:211)(cid:199)(cid:93)(cid:120)(cid:110)(cid:211)(cid:93)(cid:211)(cid:120)(cid:153)

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   203

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Provisions

Nature of provisions
(in EUR)

(cid:54)(cid:79)(cid:85)(cid:66)(cid:89)(cid:70)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:87)(cid:70)(cid:84)
(cid:49)(cid:83)(cid:80)(cid:87)(cid:74)(cid:84)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:71)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:1)(cid:68)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:68)(cid:73)(cid:66)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:84)

Impairment(1)

(cid:47)(cid:156)(cid:204)(cid:62)(cid:143)
of which changes related to:
(cid:116) non-recurring expense/income
(cid:116) transfer to revaluation reserve

Amounts 
at January 1, 2008

Increases
for the year

(cid:23)(cid:18)(cid:13)(cid:22)(cid:26)(cid:24)(cid:13)(cid:23)(cid:24)(cid:24)
(cid:23)(cid:18)(cid:13)(cid:22)(cid:26)(cid:24)(cid:13)(cid:23)(cid:24)(cid:24)

117,214,027

(cid:163)(cid:199)(cid:110)(cid:93)(cid:110)(cid:163)(cid:163)(cid:93)(cid:199)(cid:228)(cid:123)

(cid:111)
(cid:111)

–

–

119,032,620

(1,909,846)

At December 31, 2008

(cid:23)(cid:18)(cid:13)(cid:22)(cid:26)(cid:24)(cid:13)(cid:23)(cid:24)(cid:24)
(cid:23)(cid:18)(cid:13)(cid:22)(cid:26)(cid:24)(cid:13)(cid:23)(cid:24)(cid:24)

91,253

(cid:200)(cid:163)(cid:93)(cid:200)(cid:110)(cid:110)(cid:93)(cid:153)(cid:206)(cid:228)

Decreases: 
writebacks for
the year
(cid:111)
(cid:111)

117,122,774

(cid:163)(cid:163)(cid:199)(cid:93)(cid:163)(cid:211)(cid:211)(cid:93)(cid:199)(cid:199)(cid:123)

–

–

(1) Movements in allowances for impairment in value relate to holdings reclassified in other Group companies:
- Allowances: PARDEVI shares 
- Allowances: SEM shares 

114,874,957
4,157,663

Items relating to several balance sheet items

Balance sheet items
(in EUR)

Shares in subsidiaries and affiliates (net book value )
Loans and advances to subsidiaries and affiliates
Other equity interests
Other receivables
Long and short-term debt
Other liabilities

Transactions involving

related companies

4,558,838,711
1,336,428,921
–
145,752,425
17,173,668
89,705,210

other entities  
in which the Company holds an 
equity interest
–
–
3,409,335
–
–
–

Treasury stock 

As at December 31, 2008, the Company had no treasury stock.

204   2008 Michelin Annual Report

Payables or receivables  
represented by trade notes

–
–
–
–
–
–

Maturities of loans and receivables, payables and long and short-term debt

Total

Due within one year

Due in more than one year

Receivables (in EUR)
(cid:39)(cid:74)(cid:89)(cid:70)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:34)(cid:84)(cid:84)(cid:70)(cid:85)(cid:84)
Loans and advances to subsidiaries and affiliates
Loans
Other investments

(cid:36)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:85)(cid:1)(cid:34)(cid:84)(cid:84)(cid:70)(cid:85)(cid:84)
Other receivables

(cid:47)(cid:156)(cid:204)(cid:62)(cid:143)

Debt (in EUR)

Bond issues
Subordinated loan
Other bond issues
Other long and short-term debt
Bank borrowings
Long and short-term debt
Accrued taxes and payroll costs
Suppliers of fixed assets and related accounts
Other liabilities
Deferred income

(cid:47)(cid:156)(cid:204)(cid:62)(cid:143)

1,336,428,922
–
20,121 

204,380,105

(cid:163)(cid:93)(cid:120)(cid:123)(cid:228)(cid:93)(cid:110)(cid:211)(cid:153)(cid:93)(cid:163)(cid:123)(cid:110)

1,336,428,922
–
–

204,380,105

(cid:163)(cid:93)(cid:120)(cid:123)(cid:228)(cid:93)(cid:110)(cid:228)(cid:153)(cid:93)(cid:228)(cid:211)(cid:199)

Total

738,823 673
355,131,712
15,023
294,000,000 (3)
–
17,729,701
2,766,349
–
92,267,657
–

(cid:163)(cid:93)(cid:120)(cid:228)(cid:228)(cid:93)(cid:199)(cid:206)(cid:123)(cid:93)(cid:163)(cid:163)(cid:120)

of which
due within  
one year

–  
1,702,712  
15,023  
294,000,000  
–  
17,729,701  
2,766,349  
–  
92,267,657  
–  

(cid:123)(cid:228)(cid:110)(cid:93)(cid:123)(cid:110)(cid:163)(cid:93)(cid:123)(cid:123)(cid:211)  

of which
due in one  
to five years
–
–
–  
–  
–  
–  
–  
–  
–  
–  

– (cid:202)

(1) 2007-2017 convertible bond issue. The related issuance costs were expensed.
(2) Fixed-rate 6.375% from 2003 until 2013, and variable rate from 2014 to 2033.
(3) In the course of 2006, the Company introduced a commercial paper for EUR 1 billion. The nominal value of the amount outstanding as of December 31, 2008 was equal to EUR 294 million.

Accrued charges

Accrued Charges included in the following balance sheet items (in EUR)
Subordinated loan
Other long and short-term debt
Accrued taxes and payroll costs
Other liabilities

(cid:47)(cid:156)(cid:204)(cid:62)(cid:143)

–
–
20,121

–

(cid:211)(cid:228)(cid:93)(cid:163)(cid:211)(cid:163)

of which
due in more 
than five years
738,823,673 (1)
353,429,000 (2)
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

(cid:163)(cid:93)(cid:228)(cid:153)(cid:211)(cid:93)(cid:211)(cid:120)(cid:211)(cid:93)(cid:200)(cid:199)(cid:206)

Amounts
1,702,712
556,033
489,602
2,360,583

(cid:120)(cid:93)(cid:163)(cid:228)(cid:110)(cid:93)(cid:153)(cid:206)(cid:228)

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   205

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prepaid income and expenses 

Revaluation reserve

Reserves (in EUR)

Prepaid  expenses  correspond 
expenses.
In an amount of  ............................................................................... € 2,111,939

to  operating  and 

financial 

Prepaid income corresponds to operating income.
In an amount of ......................................................................................................................nil.

Capital structure

1. Share capital at January 1, 2008
2. Shares issued during the year
3. Shares cancelled during the year
4. Share capital at December 31, 2008

SHARE SUBSCRIPTION OPTION PLAN

Status of the share subscription option plans to December 31, 2008

Revaluation reserve amounts to € 624,772,330 of which:
●  EUR 32,091 related to land,
●  EUR  624,740,239  related  to  shares 
affiliates.

in  subsidiaries  and 

Reserves at December 31, 2008 break down as follows:

Legal reserve of which EUR 26,943,175
allocated to long-term capital gains
Special long-term capital gains reserve 
Other reserves

(cid:47)(cid:156)(cid:204)(cid:62)(cid:143)(cid:202)

28,799,834
881,419,038
366,620,583

(cid:163)(cid:93)(cid:211)(cid:199)(cid:200)(cid:93)(cid:110)(cid:206)(cid:153)(cid:93)(cid:123)(cid:120)(cid:120)

(cid:47)(cid:86)(cid:78)(cid:67)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:1)
143,999,169
998,253

–  

144,997,422

(cid:49)(cid:66)(cid:83)(cid:1)(cid:87)(cid:66)(cid:77)(cid:86)(cid:70)
EUR 2
EUR 2
–
EUR 2

Grant Date

May 2002

May  2003

November 2003

May 2004

July 2004

May 2005

November 2005

May 2006

May 2007

May 2008

(cid:32)(cid:213)(cid:147)(cid:76)(cid:105)(cid:192)(cid:202)(cid:156)(cid:118)(cid:202)(cid:156)(cid:171)(cid:204)(cid:136)(cid:156)(cid:152)(cid:195)(cid:202)(cid:156)(cid:213)(cid:204)(cid:195)(cid:204)(cid:62)(cid:152)(cid:96)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:125)

206   2008 Michelin Annual Report

Call Date

May 2006

May 2007

Expiry Date

May 2011

May 2012

November 2007

November 2012

May 2008

July 2008

May 2009

May 2013

July 2013

May 2014

November 2009

November 2014

May 2010

May 2011

May 2012

May 2015

May 2015

May 2016

Call Price 
(in EUR)

44.00

32.25

34.00

40.00

44.50

48.00

48.00

58.00

91.00

62.00

Options

December 31, 2008
215,451

December 31, 2007
240,085

103,897

173,515

155,700

120,100

216,000

874,950

133,900

1,165,250

310,000

(cid:206)(cid:93)(cid:123)(cid:200)(cid:110)(cid:93)(cid:199)(cid:200)(cid:206)

118,447

186,645

169,900

120,700

218,500

888,000

136,700

1,182,750

(cid:206)(cid:93)(cid:211)(cid:200)(cid:163)(cid:93)(cid:199)(cid:211)(cid:199)

Revenue

Market risks

Average number of employees

Revenue for the year totaled EUR 401,937,698, consisting entirely 
of royalties received from:

A) CURRENCY RISK

France

Outside France

(cid:47)(cid:156)(cid:204)(cid:62)(cid:143)(cid:202)

56, 877,489

345, 060,209

(cid:123)(cid:228)(cid:163)(cid:93)(cid:202)(cid:153)(cid:206)(cid:199)(cid:93)(cid:200)(cid:153)(cid:110)

At December 31, 2008 the Company had receivables corresponding 
to  royalties  with  a  net  book  value  of  EUR  137  million.  These 
receivables, which are denominated in the Group’s main trading 
currencies,  have  been  converted  into  euros  at  the  year-end 
exchange rate. The Company’s policy is to hedge currency risk.

Extraordinary result

B) EQUITY RISK

Managing Partners
Managers
Technical staff
Administrative employees
Maintenance staff

Employees 
on the  
Company’s 
payroll
2
5
–
18
–

25

Employees 
seconded to the 
Company

–
–
–
–
1

1

The extraordinary result is positive at EUR 1.2 million. This mainly 
corresponds  to  intra-group  share  reclassifications  designed  to 
streamline its structure. This involved the transfer of the shares of 
société Participation et Développement Industriels and of Société 
d'Exportation Michelin, so far held by Compagnie Générale des 
Etablissements Michelin.

Income tax 

Compagnie  Générale  des  Etablissements  Michelin  makes  up, 
together  with  four  French  subsidiaries  directly  or  indirectly 
owned at no less than 95%, a tax entity of which it is the leading 
company.

The tax consolidation agreement provides that all 4 consolidated 
subsidiaries continue to bear their own tax burden regardless of 
such consolidation, the resulting balance being recognized by the 
leading company.

Tax due by the 4 subsidiary companies regardless of consolidation 
would amount to EUR 763,979.

Income tax includes current taxes and deferred taxes.

Income tax for 2008 amounted to a negative EUR -19,475.

The Company holds shares in subsidiaries and affiliates and other 
equity  interests,  which  are  valued  taking  into  account  their  fair 
value to the Company and their probable realizable value.

(cid:47)(cid:156)(cid:204)(cid:62)(cid:143)

Management compensation

As per its bylaws, the Company is administered by:

(cid:116)(cid:1)one or several Managing General Partners who are entitled to 
a share of the income distributed among all the General Partners 
in accordance with the provisions of the bylaws. The Managing 
Partner(s) do not receive any other compensation or other benefits 
in kind;

(cid:116)(cid:1) two  Managing  Partners  having  a  Non-General  Partner  status 
whose compensation is paid by the Company.

The amount allocated to the Managing General Partner in 2008 
for  the  financial  year  2007,  in  the  form  of  a  statutory  share  of 
profits,  amounted  to  EUR  5.3  million  (in  2007  with  respect  to 
financial year 2006, for the Managing General Partner: EUR 4.2 
million).

The  payroll  costs  for  the  Non-General  Managing  Partners 
amounted  to  EUR  1.8  million  in  2008  (versus  2007:  EUR  1.4 
million). This amount breaks down as follows:

(cid:116)(cid:1)Short term benefits: EUR 1.6 million (2007: EUR 1.2 million)
(cid:116)(cid:1)Post-employment benefits: EUR 0.1 million 
(2007: EUR 0.1 million)

(cid:116)(cid:1)Benefits related to the share options plan: 
EUR 0.1 million (2007: EUR 0.1 million)

These amounts do not include compensation in their capacity as 
Group Executive Council members until May 11, 2007.

Retirement benefits

The Company is liable for the payment of the long-service awards 
to employees on retirement, in accordance with the terms of the 
applicable Collective Bargaining Agreement. The present value of 
the  related  obligation  at  December  31,  2008  was  around  EUR 
3.3 million. No provision has been recorded for this amount.

Unrecognized deferred tax assets 
and liabilities

Description of temporary differences
(cid:42)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:66)(cid:84)(cid:70)(cid:84)
(cid:37)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:66)(cid:84)(cid:70)(cid:84)
C3M patent license amortization
“ORGANIC” tax provision

(cid:39)(cid:86)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:85)(cid:66)(cid:89)(cid:1)(cid:69)(cid:70)(cid:67)(cid:85)(cid:1)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:69)(cid:86)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:84)
15% tax rate
3.3% contribution after EUR 
763,000 tax deduction

(cid:47)(cid:156)(cid:204)(cid:62)(cid:143)

Amounts
(cid:111)

2,286,738
651,047
2,937,785
440,668

–

(cid:123)(cid:123)(cid:228)(cid:93)(cid:200)(cid:200)(cid:110)

Compensations of the Statutory Auditors

Compensations invoiced for financial  
year 2008:  
Compensations booked for financial  
year 2008:  

EUR 220,000

EUR 384,000

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   207

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Inventory of securities held as at december 31, 2008

(in EUR)

(cid:13)(cid:181)(cid:213)(cid:136)(cid:204)(cid:222)(cid:202)(cid:62)(cid:152)(cid:96)(cid:202)(cid:156)(cid:204)(cid:133)(cid:105)(cid:192)(cid:202)(cid:171)(cid:62)(cid:192)(cid:204)(cid:136)(cid:86)(cid:136)(cid:171)(cid:62)(cid:204)(cid:136)(cid:156)(cid:152)(cid:195)(cid:202)(cid:133)(cid:62)(cid:219)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:125)(cid:202)(cid:62)(cid:202)(cid:76)(cid:156)(cid:156)(cid:142)(cid:202)(cid:219)(cid:62)(cid:143)(cid:213)(cid:105)(cid:202)(cid:136)(cid:152)(cid:202)(cid:105)(cid:221)(cid:86)(cid:105)(cid:195)(cid:195)(cid:202)(cid:156)(cid:118)(cid:202)(cid:13)(cid:49)(cid:44)(cid:202)(cid:163)(cid:120)(cid:211)(cid:93)(cid:123)(cid:123)(cid:153)(cid:92)
Compagnie Financière Michelin

Manufacture Française des Pneumatiques Michelin

Société de Technologie Michelin

Spika S.A.

Siparex Croissance

Siparex Associés

Société Financière d’Innovation du Sud-Est “Sudinnova“

(cid:48)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:1)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:85)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:9)(cid:66)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:10)

(cid:52)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:27)
Treasury Stock

(cid:36)(cid:66)(cid:84)(cid:73)(cid:1)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:74)(cid:87)(cid:66)(cid:77)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:85)(cid:84)

Number of shares

Book value

22,388,773 shares

3,615,110,164.29

3,199,899 shares

902,568,916.29

100,000 shares

200,000 shares

67,710 shares

134,295 shares

21,786 shares

–

15,244,901.72

25,914,728.79

1,060,103.95

2,013,838.08

335,392.72

(cid:17)(cid:15)(cid:18)(cid:23)

–

(cid:23)(cid:21)(cid:17)(cid:15)(cid:20)(cid:17)

208   2008 Michelin Annual Report

List of subsidiaries and affiliates

Subsidiaries and Affiliates

Capital (1)

(cid:34)(cid:1)(cid:14)(cid:1)(cid:37)(cid:70)(cid:85)(cid:66)(cid:74)(cid:77)(cid:70)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:78)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:67)(cid:80)(cid:86)(cid:85)
(cid:52)(cid:86)(cid:67)(cid:84)(cid:74)(cid:69)(cid:74)(cid:66)(cid:83)(cid:74)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:71)(cid:109)(cid:77)(cid:74)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:84)
(cid:9)(cid:68)(cid:66)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:90)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:1)(cid:67)(cid:80)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:1)(cid:87)(cid:66)(cid:77)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:70)(cid:89)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:80)(cid:71)(cid:1)(cid:18)(cid:6)(cid:1)(cid:1)
(cid:80)(cid:71)(cid:1)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:36)(cid:80)(cid:78)(cid:81)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:90)(cid:8)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:68)(cid:80)(cid:78)(cid:78)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:84)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:10)(cid:27)

Other equity 
before result 
allocation (1)

Percent  
interest
(in %)

Book value
of shares

Outstanding 
loans and 
advances

Guarantees 
given by the 
Company

Cost

Net

Last  
published 
 net sales 
of previous 
financial year

Result 
of previous 
financial 
year (1)

Dividends
received by  
the Company 
during the
financial year

(cid:163)(cid:202)(cid:135)(cid:202)(cid:45)(cid:213)(cid:76)(cid:195)(cid:136)(cid:96)(cid:136)(cid:62)(cid:192)(cid:136)(cid:105)(cid:195)(cid:202)(cid:173)(cid:147)(cid:156)(cid:192)(cid:105)(cid:202)(cid:204)(cid:133)(cid:62)(cid:152)(cid:202)(cid:120)(cid:228)(cid:175)(cid:202)(cid:156)(cid:118)(cid:202)(cid:105)(cid:181)(cid:213)(cid:136)(cid:204)(cid:222)(cid:202)(cid:156)(cid:220)(cid:152)(cid:105)(cid:96)(cid:174)(cid:92)
Compagnie Financière Michelin
Route Louis-Braille 10,  
1763 Granges-Paccot  
(Switzerland)

2,238,949,500
Swiss Francs

4,947,288,759
Swiss Francs

99.99 3,615,110,164
euros

3,615,110,164
euros

1,336,357,721
euros

Société de Technologie Michelin
23, rue Breschet, 63000 
Clermont-Ferrand

Spika S.A.
23, rue Breschet, 63000 
Clermont-Ferrand

15,200,000
euros

1,728,214
euros

100.00

15,244,902
euros

15,244,902
euros

3,000,000
euros

53,732,087
euros

100.00

25,914,729
euros

25,914,729
euros

(cid:211)(cid:202)(cid:135)(cid:202)(cid:1)(cid:118)(cid:119)(cid:143)(cid:136)(cid:62)(cid:204)(cid:105)(cid:195)(cid:202)(cid:173)(cid:163)(cid:228)(cid:202)(cid:204)(cid:156)(cid:202)(cid:120)(cid:228)(cid:175)(cid:202)(cid:156)(cid:118)(cid:202)(cid:105)(cid:181)(cid:213)(cid:136)(cid:204)(cid:222)(cid:202)(cid:156)(cid:220)(cid:152)(cid:105)(cid:96)(cid:174)(cid:92)
Manufacture Française  
des Pneumatiques Michelin
Place des Carmes-Déchaux,  
63000 Clermont-Ferrand

304,000,000
euros

(cid:35)(cid:1)(cid:14)(cid:1)(cid:34)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:78)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:67)(cid:80)(cid:86)(cid:85)(cid:1)
(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:80)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:1)(cid:84)(cid:86)(cid:67)(cid:84)(cid:74)(cid:69)(cid:74)(cid:66)(cid:83)(cid:74)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:71)(cid:109)(cid:77)(cid:74)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:27)
(cid:163)(cid:202)(cid:135)(cid:202)(cid:45)(cid:213)(cid:76)(cid:195)(cid:136)(cid:96)(cid:136)(cid:62)(cid:192)(cid:136)(cid:105)(cid:195)(cid:202)(cid:152)(cid:156)(cid:204)(cid:202)(cid:143)(cid:136)(cid:195)(cid:204)(cid:105)(cid:96)(cid:202)(cid:213)(cid:152)(cid:96)(cid:105)(cid:192)(cid:202)(cid:1)(cid:92)
French companies

Non-French companies

(cid:211)(cid:202)(cid:135)(cid:202)(cid:1)(cid:118)(cid:119)(cid:143)(cid:136)(cid:62)(cid:204)(cid:105)(cid:195)(cid:202)(cid:152)(cid:156)(cid:204)(cid:202)(cid:143)(cid:136)(cid:195)(cid:204)(cid:105)(cid:96)(cid:202)(cid:213)(cid:152)(cid:96)(cid:105)(cid:192)(cid:202)(cid:1)(cid:92)
French companies

Non-French companies

(1) In local currency.

778,751,231
euros

39.99

902,568,916
euros

902,568,916
euros

–

–

91,238  
euros

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

254,956,614
Swiss Francs

131,294,457
euros

182,307,304
euros

3,616,245
euros

3,000,000
euros

–

1, 014,539
euros

–

– 4,908,914,361
euros

(4,683,410)
euros

27,999,116
euros

–

–

–

–

–

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   209

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Statement of changes in shareholders equity

(Before appropriation of net income. Company only)

(cid:47)(cid:70)(cid:85)(cid:1)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:80)(cid:78)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:71)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:1)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:90)(cid:70)(cid:66)(cid:83) (in thousands of euros and euros per share)

(cid:47)(cid:70)(cid:85)(cid:1)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:80)(cid:78)(cid:70)

Total: Net income/ (Loss)

Earnings per share: Net income/ (Loss)

(cid:49)(cid:83)(cid:80)(cid:81)(cid:80)(cid:84)(cid:70)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:69)(cid:74)(cid:87)(cid:74)(cid:69)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:69)

Total

Per share

(cid:52)(cid:85)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:78)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:85)(cid:1)(cid:80)(cid:71)(cid:1)(cid:68)(cid:73)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:52)(cid:73)(cid:66)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:73)(cid:80)(cid:77)(cid:69)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:84)(cid:8)(cid:1)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:90)(cid:1)(in thousands of euros)
A) 1 - Shareholders equity at December 31, 2007

2 - Dividend approved by the Ordinary Shareholders Meeting

3 - Shareholders equity at January 1, 2008

B) Capital contributions credited to 2008 opening Shareholders equity:

1 - Change in common stock

2 - Change in other items

(cid:19)(cid:17)(cid:17)(cid:25)

(cid:19)(cid:17)(cid:17)(cid:24)

286,147  

1.97  

144,997  

1.00  

4,636,078  

238,116  

4,397,962  

277,548  

1.93  

230,399  

1.60  

4,560,070  

214,027  

4,346,043  

C) Shareholders equity at January 1, 2008 including capital contributions (A3 + B)

4,397,962  

4,346,043  

D) Movements for the year:

 1 - Change in common stock

 2 - Increase in paid-in capital in excess of par

 3 - Increase in revaluation reserve

4 - Change in other reserves

5 - Change in untaxed reserves

6 - Increase in retained earnings

7 - Net income for the year 2008

E) Shareholders equity at 31 December 2008 before dividends (C + D)

(cid:39)(cid:10)(cid:1)(cid:53)(cid:80)(cid:85)(cid:66)(cid:77)(cid:1)(cid:68)(cid:73)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:52)(cid:73)(cid:66)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:73)(cid:80)(cid:77)(cid:69)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:90)(cid:1)(cid:9)(cid:38)(cid:1)(cid:14)(cid:1)(cid:36)(cid:10)
G) of which: change in Shareholders equity due to structural changes

(cid:41)(cid:10)(cid:1)(cid:36)(cid:73)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:52)(cid:73)(cid:66)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:73)(cid:80)(cid:77)(cid:69)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:90)(cid:1)(cid:70)(cid:89)(cid:68)(cid:77)(cid:86)(cid:69)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:1)(cid:70)(cid:71)(cid:71)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:1)(cid:80)(cid:71)(cid:1)(cid:84)(cid:85)(cid:83)(cid:86)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:66)(cid:77)(cid:1)(cid:68)(cid:73)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:9)(cid:39)(cid:1)(cid:14)(cid:1)(cid:40)(cid:10)
Notes :

D3 : - Amounts transferred to the revaluation reserve during the year

D6 : - Dividends on own shares credited to retained earnings

210   2008 Michelin Annual Report

1,996  

46,377  

(1,910) 

–  

–  

–  

286,147  

4,730,572  

(cid:20)(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:13)(cid:23)(cid:18)(cid:17)(cid:1)(cid:1)
–  

(cid:20)(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:13)(cid:23)(cid:18)(cid:17)(cid:1)(cid:1)

(1,910) 

–  

694  

13,070  

(1,277) 

–  

–  

–  

277,548  

4,636,078  

(cid:19)(cid:26)(cid:17)(cid:13)(cid:17)(cid:20)(cid:22)(cid:1)(cid:1)
–  

(cid:19)(cid:26)(cid:17)(cid:13)(cid:17)(cid:20)(cid:22)(cid:1)(cid:1)

(1,277) 

–

Statutory Auditors’ Report  
(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:39)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:66)(cid:77)(cid:1)(cid:52)(cid:85)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:78)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:85)(cid:84)
(cid:39)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:1)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:90)(cid:70)(cid:66)(cid:83)(cid:1)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:70)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:37)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:78)(cid:67)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:1)(cid:20)(cid:18)(cid:13)(cid:1)(cid:19)(cid:17)(cid:17)(cid:25)

This  is  a  free  translation  into  English  of  the  statutory  auditors’ 
report issued in French and is provided solely for the convenience 
of English speaking users. The statutory auditors’ report includes 
information  specifically  required  by  French  law  in  such  reports, 
whether modified or not. This information is presented below the 
opinion  on  the  financial  statements  and  includes  an  explanatory 
paragraph  discussing  the  auditors’  assessments  of  certain 
significant  accounting  and  auditing  matters.  These  assessments 
were considered for the purpose of issuing an audit opinion on the 
financial statements taken as a whole and not to provide separate 
assurance on individual account captions or on information taken 
outside of the financial statements. 
This report should be read in conjunction with, and construed in 
accordance with, French law and professional auditing standards 
applicable in France.

To the Shareholders of Compagnie Générale des Etablissements 
Michelin

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In compliance with the assignment entrusted to us by your Annual 
General Shareholders’ Meeting, we hereby report to you, for the 
year ended December 31, 2008, on:
(cid:116)  the  audit  of  the  accompanying  financial  statements  of 
Compagnie Générale des Etablissements Michelin;
(cid:116) the justification of our assessments;
(cid:116) the specific verifications and information required by law.
These financial statements have been approved by the Managing 
Partners. Our role is to express an opinion on these consolidated 
financial statements based on our audit.

1. OPINION ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

We  conducted  our  audit  in  accordance  with  professional 
standards  applicable  in  France.  Those  standards  require  that 
we  plan  and  perform  the  audit  to  obtain  reasonable  assurance 
about  whether  the  financial  statements  are  free  of  material 
misstatement. An audit involves performing procedures, on a test 
basis or by selection, to obtain audit evidence about the amounts 
and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes 
evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the 
reasonableness of accounting estimates made by management, 
as well as the overall presentation of the financial statements. We 
believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and 
appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements give a true and fair view of 
the assets and liabilities and of the financial position of the Group 
as at December 31, 2008 and of the results of its operations for 
the year then ended in accordance with the accounting rules and 
principles applicable in France.

2. JUSTIFICATION OF OUR ASSESSMENTS

The financial crisis which has progressively produced an economical 
crisis  has  significant  consequences  for  companies  in  particular 
for  their  revenues  and  their  financing.  Taking  into  account  this 
unfavourable  economical  environment  and  in  accordance  with 
the  requirements  of  article  L.823-9  of  the  French  Commercial 
Code  (Code  de  commerce)  relating  to  the  justification  of  our 
assessments, we bring to your attention the following matters:

(cid:116)  The  Company  makes  an  annual  assessment  of  the  inventory 
value of its shares in subsidiaries and affiliates using the method 
described  in  the  notes  to  the  financial  statements  under  the 
section “Accounting policies - Investments“.

We have examined the methodology used by the Company and its 
implementation based on the available information, and we have 
assessed the fairness of the estimates made by the Company.

These assessments were made in the context of our audit of the 
financial statements taken as a whole, and therefore contributed 
to the opinion we formed which is expressed in the first part of 
this report.

3. SPECIFIC VERIFICATIONS AND INFORMATION

We have also performed the specific verifications required by law.

We have no matters to report regarding:

(cid:116)  the  fair  presentation  and  the  conformity  with  the  financial 
statements of the information given in the Management Report 
of your Managing Partners, and in the documents addressed to 
the  Shareholders  with  respect  to  the  financial  position  and  the 
financial statements,

(cid:116)  the sincere nature of information provided in the Management 
Report  concerning  the  statutory  allocation,  compensation  and 
benefits  granted  to  your  Managing  Partners,  as  well  as  on  the 
commitments taken for their benefit upon entry into, termination 
or change in functions or subsequently.

As required by the law, we also verified that details of the identity 
of Shareholders are disclosed in the Managing Partners’ Report. 

Neuilly-sur-Seine and Paris, February 9, 2009

PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit 
Christian MARCELLIN 

Corevise
Stéphane MARIE

 The Statutory Auditors
 Members of “Compagnies Régionales“ of Versailles and Paris

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   211

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Appropriation of 2008 net income

(cid:34)(cid:78)(cid:80)(cid:86)(cid:79)(cid:85)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:1)(cid:67)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:81)(cid:81)(cid:83)(cid:80)(cid:81)(cid:83)(cid:74)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:69)(cid:1)(in EUR)
Retained earnings brought forward from prior year

Net income

(cid:51)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:80)(cid:78)(cid:78)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:70)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:81)(cid:81)(cid:83)(cid:80)(cid:81)(cid:83)(cid:74)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:84)
Legal Reserve

Special long-term capital gains reserve

Dividends

Statutory share of income attributed to the General Partners in 
accordance with the bylaws

Tax on distributed earnings

Other reserves

Retained earnings

(cid:53)(cid:80)(cid:85)(cid:66)(cid:77)

281,207,005.56  

286,147,074.19  

199,651,00

–  

144,997,422,00

3,573,000,00

–  

–  

418,584,006,75

(cid:22)(cid:23)(cid:24)(cid:13)(cid:20)(cid:22)(cid:21)(cid:13)(cid:17)(cid:24)(cid:26)(cid:13)(cid:24)(cid:22)

(cid:22)(cid:23)(cid:24)(cid:13)(cid:20)(cid:22)(cid:21)(cid:13)(cid:17)(cid:24)(cid:26)(cid:15)(cid:24)(cid:22)(cid:1)(cid:1)

212   2008 Michelin Annual Report

Five-year key figures and ratios

(en EUR)

(cid:42)(cid:1)(cid:14)(cid:1)(cid:52)(cid:73)(cid:66)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:73)(cid:80)(cid:77)(cid:69)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:90)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:1)(cid:90)(cid:70)(cid:66)(cid:83)(cid:14)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:69)

a) Common stock

b) Number of common shares outstanding

c) Number of non-voting preferred shares outstanding

d) Maximum number of future shares to be created

(cid:42)(cid:42)(cid:1)(cid:14)(cid:1)(cid:51)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:86)(cid:77)(cid:85)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:80)(cid:71)(cid:1)(cid:80)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:84)

a) Net revenues

b)

Income before tax. depreciation. amortization
and provision expenses

c)

Income tax

d) Employee profit-sharing

e) Net income

(cid:42)(cid:42)(cid:42)(cid:1)(cid:14)(cid:1)(cid:49)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:1)(cid:84)(cid:73)(cid:66)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:69)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:66)

a) Earnings per share before tax, after depreciation

amortization and provision expenses

b) Earnings per share

c) Dividend  per share

(cid:42)(cid:55)(cid:1)(cid:14)(cid:1)(cid:38)(cid:78)(cid:81)(cid:77)(cid:80)(cid:90)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:69)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:66)

a) Average number of employees

b) Total payroll

c) Total benefits

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

286,774,050 

286,775,250 

287,304,636 

287,998,338 

289,994,844 

143,387,025 

143,387,625 

143,652,318 

143,999,169 

144,997,422 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

358,973,808.26 

394,642,982.30 

419,120,580.51 

429,237,593.81 

401,937,698.11 

232,415,973.57 

196,470,258.86 

252,768,399.13 

336,793,391.81 

169,247,106.55 

27,222,094.00 

11,225,190.00 

192,999.00 

2,938,016.00 

(19,475.00)

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

295,151,971.68 

270,156,351.29 

225,095,285.33 

277,547,730.64 

286,147,074.19 

1.43 

2.06 

1.25 

31 

1.29 

1.88 

1.35 

30 

1.76 

1.57 

1.45 

29 

2.32 

1.93 

1.60 

29 

1.17 

1.97 

1.00 

25 

1,135,963.43 

1,068,495.48 

1,113,338.52 

1,956,082.01 

2,290,270.86 

461,065.13 

410,152.95 

379,481.63 

692,839.80 

761,615.38 

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   213

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Statutory Auditors’ Special Report on Regulated Agreements 
(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:68)(cid:80)(cid:78)(cid:78)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:85)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:88)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:1)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:74)(cid:83)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:81)(cid:66)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:70)(cid:84)
(cid:39)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:1)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:90)(cid:70)(cid:66)(cid:83)(cid:1)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:70)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:37)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:78)(cid:67)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:1)(cid:20)(cid:18)(cid:13)(cid:1)(cid:19)(cid:17)(cid:17)(cid:25)

This is a free translation into English language of the statutory auditors’ special  report on regulated agreements and commitments issued in the French language and is provided solely for the convenience 
of English speaking readers. This report should be read in conjunction with, and construed in accordance with, French law and professional auditing standards applicable in France.

To the Shareholders of Compagnie Générale des Etablissements Michelin

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In our capacity as Statutory Auditors of your Company, we are required to report to Shareholders on regulated agreements and commitments involving directors that have been disclosed to us by the 
Company’s management. Our responsibility does not include identifying any undisclosed agreements.

We have not been informed of any regulated agreement and commitment governed by article L.226-10 of the French Commercial Code.

Neuilly-sur-Seine and Paris, February 9, 2009

PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit 
Christian MARCELLIN 

 Corevise
Stéphane MARIE

The Statutory Auditors
Members of “Compagnies Régionales“ of Versailles and Paris

214   2008 Michelin Annual Report

 
 
Incorporation of 2006 and 2007  
Financial Statements by Reference 

The following information is included by reference in this Reference Document:

(cid:116) Annual and consolidated financial statements for the period ended December 31, 2007 as well as the relevant Statutory Auditors’ reports contained in the Reference Document filed with AMF on 
February 29, 2008 (D.08-080).

(cid:116) Annual and consolidated financial statements for the period ended December 31, 2006 as well as the relevant Statutory Auditors’ reports contained in the Reference Document filed with AMF on March 
2, 2007 (D.07-0133).

Person Accountable for the Reference Document and for the 
Annual Financial Report

Person Accountable for the Reference Document and for the Annual Financial Report

Mr. Michel Rollier, Managing General Partner

Statement of the Person Accountable for the Reference Document and for the Annual Financial Report

To the best of my knowledge, and based on all reasonable measures to this effect, I certify that the information provided in this document is correct and comprehensive and there are no material omissions 
which would alter its content. 

To the best of my knowledge, I certify that the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the applicable accounting standards and give a true and fair view of the Company’s financial 
position and assets and liabilities and that of its subsidiaries included in the scope of consolidation, and that the management report (pp. 24 to 67; 70; 158 to 160; 184 and 187 of this reference document) 
presents a fair account of the important events that occurred during the financial year, and of the results and financial standing and that of its subsidiaries included in the scope of consolidation as well 
as a description of the principal risks and contingencies facing them.

The Statutory Auditors delivered to me an end of mission letter stating that (i) they tested the information concerning the financial situation and statements presented in this Reference Document and 
that (ii) they reviewed the entire Document.

Clermont-Ferrand, March 2, 2009

Mr. Michel ROLLIER
Managing General Partner

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   215

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Annual Information Document 

Press releases

(available in French and in English from the corporate website: www.michelin.com/corporate “Finance“ section and on the official French site: www.info-financiere.fr)

(cid:1)

(cid:53)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:77)(cid:70)(cid:1)
Michelin North America announces commercial truck tire price increase. 
Reference Document 2007 Publication 
Michelin Group Announces Price Increase and New Pricing System for Automaker Customers 
Publication of the Preparatory Documentation for the Joint Shareholders Meeting of May 16, 2008 
Financial information for the 1st quarter to March 31, 2008 
Michelin North America announces price increases 
Capital increase reserved for the current and former employees of the Company 
Michelin China Announces Price Increase for Passenger Car and Light Truck Replacement Tyres 
Michelin North America announces agricultural tire price increase 
Oliver Rubber Company announces price increase 
Michelin announces Truck & Bus tire price increase in Asia-Pacific 
Michelin Increases its Stake in Hankook Tyres to nearly 10% 
Michelin Announces Price Increase for Its Aircraft Tires 
Michelin North America announces price increases 
Michelin Announces Price Increase for Replacement Tires in Japan 
First half 2008 results 
Michelin Adjusts its Investment Plan in North America to New Market Conditions 
Michelin raises its tire prices in Europe 
Oliver Rubber Company announces price increase 
Publication of the First half 2008 financial report 
Michelin says it is on target to meet its competitiveness improvement objectives and unveils two new investment projects in South America and Asia 
Michelin pursues its strategy of modernizing and reorganizing its operations in Italy 
Quarterly information to September 30, 2008 
Michelin North America announces price increase for agricultural tires 
Compliance with AFEP/MEDEF recommendations on the compensation of executive directors of listed companies 
Michelin communicates its restructuring costs in connection with pursuit of its strategy of modernizing and reorganizing its operations in Italy. 
Impact of the decline in tire markets. 
Michelin North America (Canada) announces price increase on commercial truck tires. 
2008 Annual Results 
Reference Document 2008 publication 

(cid:37)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:70)
03/03/2008
03/03/2008
21/03/2008
07/04/2008
28/04/2008
30/04/2008
05/05/2008
07/05/2008
28/05/2008
28/05/2008
10/06/2008
27/06/2008
30/06/2008
01/07/2008
24/07/2008
30/07/2008
28/08/2008
02/09/2008
03/09/2008
19/09/2008
01/10/2008
28/10/2008
29/10/2008
03/11/2008
08/12/2008
15/12/2008
22/12/2008
05/01/2009
13/02/2009
02/03/2009

216   2008 Michelin Annual Report

Other permanent or ad hoc information 

(available in French and in English from the corporate website www.michelin.com/corporate  "Finance" section and from the official French site: www.info-financiere.fr)

(cid:53)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:77)(cid:70)
Disclosure of the total number of voting rights and of the number of shares making up the Company's capital
as at February 29, 2008
as at March 31st, 2008
as at April 30th, 2008
as at May 31st, 2008
as at June 30th, 2008
as at July 31st, 2008
as at August 31st, 2008
as at September 30th, 2008
as at October 31st, 2008
as at November 30th, 2008
as at December 31st, 2008
as at January 31st, 2009
First Half 2008 Financial Report
Reference Document 2007 (including the annual financial report, the internal control report, the description of the share buyback program and information on the fees paid to the 
Statutory Auditors) 
Reference Document 2008 (including the annual financial report, the internal control and corporate government report, the description of the share buyback program, the annual 
information document and information on the fees paid to the Statutory Auditors) 

Information published in Bulletin des Annonces Légales Obligatoires (BALO)

(available from the website www.journal-officiel.gouv.fr)

(cid:53)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:77)(cid:70)
Notice of the Joint Shareholders Meeting 
Draft annual and consolidated 2007 financial statements and proposed appropriation of results
Erratum for the notice of meeting published on March 5, 2008
Notice of the Joint Shareholders Meeting 
First Quarter 2008 Net Sales
Audited annual and consolidated 2007 financial statements and Statutory Auditors' Reports
Interim financial statements
Third Quarter 2008 Net Sales

(cid:37)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:70)

10/03/2008
11/04/2008
13/05/2008
12/06/2008
11/07/2008
06/08/2008
10/09/2008
10/10/2008
12/11/2008
11/12/2008
13/01/2009
06/02/2009
30/07/2008

29/02/2008

02/03/2009

(cid:37)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:70)
March 05, 2008
March 21, 2008
April 07, 2008
April 07, 2008
May 02, 2008
May 30, 2008
Aug. 04, 2008
Oct. 31, 2008

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   217

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Information published in a French newspaper specialized in legal notifications

(available from the newspapers' head offices)

(cid:53)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:77)(cid:70)
"l'Annonceur Légal d'Auvergne et du Centre" :
Avis de convocation de l'Assemblée générale mixte des actionnaires
Nomination de Mme Barbara DALIBARD et M. Louis GALLOIS en qualité de membres du Conseil de surveillance
Augmentation de capital au 25 juin 2008 résultant de la souscription d'achat d'actions réservée aux salariés
Augmentation de capital au 30 juin 2008 résultant de levées d'options de souscription d'actions
Augmentation de capital au 31 décembre 2008 résultant de l'exercice des stocks-options et de la conversion d'OCEANE

"La Montagne" :
Avis de convocation de l'Assemblée générale mixte des actionnaires

(cid:37)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:70)

07/04/2008
22/05/2008
03/07/2008
19/07/2008
12/01/2009

07/04/2008

218   2008 Michelin Annual Report

Correspondence table for the Reference Document 

In order to facilitate reading of the Annual Report which also serves as the Reference Document, please consult the following contents table to identify the disclosures required under European 
Commission Regulation No 809/2004 dated April 29, 2004 for the Reference Document.

(cid:18)(cid:15)(cid:1)(cid:49)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:84)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:34)(cid:68)(cid:68)(cid:80)(cid:86)(cid:79)(cid:85)(cid:66)(cid:67)(cid:77)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:1)

(cid:19)(cid:15)(cid:1)(cid:52)(cid:85)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:90)(cid:1)(cid:34)(cid:86)(cid:69)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:1)

(cid:49)(cid:66)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:84)

(cid:19)(cid:18)(cid:22)

(cid:18)(cid:22)(cid:24)

(cid:20)(cid:15)(cid:1)(cid:52)(cid:70)(cid:77)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:39)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:66)(cid:77)(cid:1)(cid:42)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:78)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:1)

(cid:20)(cid:21)(cid:14)(cid:20)(cid:26)(cid:28)(cid:1)(cid:23)(cid:25)(cid:14)(cid:23)(cid:26)(cid:28)(cid:1)(cid:25)(cid:20)(cid:14)(cid:25)(cid:23)

(cid:21)(cid:15)(cid:1)(cid:51)(cid:74)(cid:84)(cid:76)(cid:1)(cid:39)(cid:66)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:84)(cid:1)

(cid:22)(cid:15)(cid:1)(cid:42)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:78)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:51)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:66)(cid:83)(cid:69)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:42)(cid:84)(cid:84)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:1)
5.1 Historical Background and Evolution of the Company 

5.2 Investments 

(cid:23)(cid:15)(cid:1)(cid:48)(cid:87)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:87)(cid:74)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:1)(cid:80)(cid:71)(cid:1)(cid:80)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:84)(cid:1)
6.1  Main Operations 

6.2 Main Markets 

6.3  Exceptional events having influenced the information provided  

pursuant to points 6.1 and 6.2 

6.4  Degree of issuer dependence upon patents, licenses, industrial,  

commercial and financial contracts and upon manufacturing processes  

6.5  Basis of issuer statements concerning its competitive position 

(cid:24)(cid:15)(cid:1)(cid:48)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:74)(cid:91)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:36)(cid:73)(cid:66)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:1)

(cid:25)(cid:15)(cid:1)(cid:45)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:13)(cid:1)(cid:39)(cid:66)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:74)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:49)(cid:77)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:85)(cid:1)
8.1  Major current or planned tangible investment 

8.2  Environmental considerations having a bearing  

on fixed asset utilization 

(cid:26)(cid:15)(cid:1)(cid:51)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:74)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:1)(cid:80)(cid:71)(cid:1)(cid:39)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:66)(cid:77)(cid:1)(cid:52)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:51)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:86)(cid:77)(cid:85)(cid:84)(cid:1)
9.1 Financial Situation 

9.2 Operating Result 

(cid:18)(cid:17)(cid:15)(cid:1)(cid:36)(cid:66)(cid:84)(cid:73)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:36)(cid:66)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:66)(cid:77)(cid:1)(cid:1)

(cid:18)(cid:18)(cid:15)(cid:1)(cid:51)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:70)(cid:66)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:73)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:37)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:70)(cid:77)(cid:80)(cid:81)(cid:78)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:85)(cid:13)(cid:1)(cid:49)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:85)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:45)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:84)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:1)

(cid:18)(cid:19)(cid:15)(cid:1)(cid:48)(cid:87)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:87)(cid:74)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:1)(cid:80)(cid:71)(cid:1)(cid:78)(cid:66)(cid:83)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:85)(cid:1)(cid:85)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:84)(cid:1)

(cid:18)(cid:20)(cid:15)(cid:1)(cid:49)(cid:83)(cid:80)(cid:71)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:1)(cid:38)(cid:84)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:78)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:1)(cid:39)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:66)(cid:84)(cid:85)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:1)

(cid:18)(cid:21)(cid:15)(cid:1)(cid:46)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:66)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:78)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:85)(cid:13)(cid:1)(cid:38)(cid:89)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:87)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:52)(cid:86)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:87)(cid:74)(cid:84)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:90)(cid:1)(cid:35)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:74)(cid:70)(cid:84)
14.1 Management and Supervisory Bodies 

14.2 Conflict of interest 

(cid:18)(cid:22)(cid:15)(cid:1)(cid:36)(cid:80)(cid:78)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:84)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:38)(cid:78)(cid:81)(cid:77)(cid:80)(cid:90)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:35)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:70)(cid:71)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:84)(cid:1)

(cid:49)(cid:66)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:84)

(cid:18)(cid:21)(cid:26)(cid:14)(cid:18)(cid:22)(cid:22)

(cid:18)(cid:23)(cid:15)(cid:1)(cid:48)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:74)(cid:91)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:80)(cid:71)(cid:1)(cid:46)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:66)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:78)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:85)(cid:13)(cid:1)(cid:38)(cid:89)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:87)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:52)(cid:86)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:87)(cid:74)(cid:84)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:90)(cid:1)(cid:35)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:74)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:1)

(cid:24)(cid:19)(cid:14)(cid:24)(cid:20)(cid:28)(cid:1)(cid:18)(cid:21)(cid:23)(cid:14)(cid:18)(cid:21)(cid:25)

(cid:18)(cid:24)(cid:15)(cid:1)(cid:38)(cid:78)(cid:81)(cid:77)(cid:80)(cid:90)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:1)

17.1 Headcount 

17.2 Employee Shareholder and Stock Option Plans 

17.3 Agreement providing for an employee shareholder plan by the issuer 

(cid:18)(cid:25)(cid:15)(cid:1)(cid:46)(cid:66)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:52)(cid:73)(cid:66)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:73)(cid:80)(cid:77)(cid:69)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:84)(cid:1)

(cid:18)(cid:26)(cid:15)(cid:1)(cid:48)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:88)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:1)(cid:34)(cid:71)(cid:71)(cid:74)(cid:77)(cid:74)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:1)

(cid:18)(cid:23)(cid:18)(cid:14)(cid:18)(cid:24)(cid:17)

68; 161-162

163-164

164

(cid:20)(cid:26)(cid:28)(cid:1)(cid:18)(cid:25)(cid:24)

(cid:18)(cid:20)(cid:22)(cid:14)(cid:18)(cid:20)(cid:23)

(cid:19)(cid:17)(cid:15)(cid:1)(cid:39)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:66)(cid:77)(cid:1)(cid:42)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:78)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:42)(cid:84)(cid:84)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:8)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:84)(cid:84)(cid:70)(cid:85)(cid:84)(cid:13)(cid:1)(cid:71)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:66)(cid:77)(cid:1)(cid:84)(cid:85)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:13)(cid:1)(cid:84)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:51)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:86)(cid:77)(cid:85)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:1)

(cid:18)(cid:22)(cid:25)(cid:14)(cid:18)(cid:23)(cid:17)

182

28-31; 134

17; 42-61

25-27

None

20.1 Periodic Financial Reports 

20.2 Pro forma Financial Information  

N. App.

20.3 Financial Statements 

25

(cid:18)(cid:23)

20.4 Verification of Periodic Annual Reports 

20.5 Date of Publication of the Last Financial Report 

28-31; 107-108; 179

20.6 Interim and Other Financial Reports 

20.7 Dividend Distribution Policy 

171-176

20.8 Legal and Arbitration Proceedings 

20.9 Significant Change in the Financial or Commercial Positions 

62-67 

62-63

(cid:19)(cid:18)(cid:15)(cid:1)(cid:34)(cid:69)(cid:69)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:66)(cid:77)(cid:1)(cid:42)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:78)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)

21.1 Capital 

(cid:25)(cid:22)(cid:28)(cid:1)(cid:26)(cid:22)(cid:14)(cid:26)(cid:26)(cid:28)(cid:1)(cid:18)(cid:18)(cid:23)(cid:14)(cid:18)(cid:20)(cid:21)

21.2 Incorporation Documents and Bylaws 

(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:28)(cid:1)(cid:25)(cid:20)(cid:28)(cid:1)(cid:18)(cid:17)(cid:23)

(cid:23)(cid:24)

(cid:47)(cid:15)(cid:1)(cid:34)(cid:81)(cid:81)(cid:15)

(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:15)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:42)(cid:78)(cid:81)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:85)(cid:1)(cid:34)(cid:72)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:78)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:85)(cid:84)(cid:1)

(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:15)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:42)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:78)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:71)(cid:83)(cid:80)(cid:78)(cid:1)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:74)(cid:83)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:81)(cid:66)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:13)(cid:1)(cid:70)(cid:89)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:1)(cid:84)(cid:85)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:78)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:85)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:1)

(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:85)(cid:1)(cid:69)(cid:74)(cid:84)(cid:68)(cid:77)(cid:80)(cid:84)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:1)

20-23; 194-196

(cid:19)(cid:21)(cid:15)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:37)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:78)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:85)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:71)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:1)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:67)(cid:77)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:1)(cid:68)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:84)(cid:86)(cid:77)(cid:85)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:1)

196

(cid:19)(cid:22)(cid:15)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:42)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:78)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:42)(cid:79)(cid:87)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:85)(cid:1)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:52)(cid:86)(cid:67)(cid:84)(cid:74)(cid:69)(cid:74)(cid:66)(cid:83)(cid:74)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:1)

83-142; 197-210

83-142; 197-210

83-142; 197-210

143; 211; 214

83-142; 197-210

N. App.

39; 70

160

None

185-188

182-184

(cid:18)(cid:24)(cid:26)

(cid:47)(cid:15)(cid:1)(cid:34)(cid:81)(cid:81)(cid:15)

(cid:18)(cid:25)(cid:21)

(cid:19)(cid:17)(cid:26)

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   219

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Design and production: W & CIE 
Copy Writing: Michelin, Information et Conseil 
Photos: © Michelin, © Michelin / Arnaud Childeric, © Michelin / Philippe Gajic, © Michelin / Thierry Gromik 
Citroën, Peugeot,  BMW, Gilera

Inspection N° 10-31-111. March 2009. 

(cid:45)(cid:48)(cid:40)(cid:48)(cid:1)(cid:49)(cid:38)(cid:39)(cid:36)

Financial Agenda for 2009

D Annual Shareholders’ Meeting  

D First Quarter 2009 Financial Information 
D First Half 2009 Results   

May 15, 2009

April 28, 2009
July 31, 2009

D Meetings with Shareholders:
• Marseilles   
• Biarritz   
• Lille 
• Paris   
• Lyons    
• La Rochelle   

April 7, 2009
June 9, 2009
October 6, 2009
October 12, 2009
November 25, 2009
December 8, 2009

D Actionaria – Paris

November 20/21, 2009

Compagnie Générale des Etablissements Michelin
Headquarters: 12, cours Sablon • Clermont-Ferrand (Puy-de-Dôme) • France

This reference document was lodged with Autorité des Marchés Financiers 
on March 2, 2009 pursuant to Clause 212-13 of its General regulations. 
It may be used in connection with a financial operation only when completed 
by the inclusion of a note approved by Autorité des Marchés Financiers.

2008 ANNUAL REPORT

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