As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 2, 2018

Registration No. 333-      ​

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

TOWER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Tower International, Inc.
17672 Laurel Park Drive North, Suite 400
Livonia, Michigan 48152
(248-675-6000)
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

Jeffrey Kersten
Chief Financial Officer
Tower International, Inc.
17672 Laurel Park Drive North, Suite 400
Livonia, Michigan 48152
(248-675-6000)

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copies of all communications, including communications sent to the agent for service, to:

Peter H. Ehrenberg, Esq.
Lowenstein Sandler LLP
1251 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10020
Tel: (212) 262 - 6700

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: ☐

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box: ☒

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.   ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of  “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act. ☐

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

(1)

In no event will the aggregate offering price of all securities issued from time to time by the registrant under this registration statement exceed $300,000,000 or its equivalent in any other currency, currency units, or composite currency or currencies. The securities covered by this registration statement may be sold separately, together or as units with other securities registered under this registration statement.

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(2)

The proposed maximum aggregate price has been estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

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(3)

Subject to note (1), this registration statement covers such an indeterminate amount of common stock (with accompanying purchase rights, if any), as may be sold, from time to time, at indeterminate prices, by the registrant and such indeterminate number of shares of common stock as may, from time to time, be issued upon conversion or exchange of other securities registered hereunder, to the extent any such securities are, by their terms, convertible or exchangeable for common stock.

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(4)

Subject to note (1), this registration statement covers such an indeterminate number of shares of preferred stock (with accompanying purchase rights, if any) as may be sold from time to time at indeterminate prices by the registrant. Also covered is such an indeterminate amount of common stock (with accompanying purchase rights, if any), (i) as may be issuable or deliverable upon conversion of shares of preferred stock, and (ii) as may be required for delivery upon conversion of shares of preferred stock as a result of anti-dilution provisions.

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(5)

Subject to note (1), this registration statement covers such an indeterminate amount and number of warrants (including subscription rights), representing rights to purchase common stock and preferred stock registered under this registration statement as may be sold from time to time at indeterminate prices by the registrant. Also covered is such an indeterminate number of shares of common stock and preferred stock (in each case, with accompanying purchase rights, if any) (i) as may be issuable or deliverable upon exercise of warrants, and (ii) as may be required for delivery upon exercise of any warrants as a result of anti-dilution provisions.

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(6)

Subject to note (1), this registration statement covers such an indeterminate amount of debt securities as may be sold from time to time at indeterminate prices by the registrant. If any debt securities are issued at a discount from their original stated principal amount, then, for purposes of calculating the total dollar amount of all securities issued under this registration statement, the initial offering price of the debt securities will be treated as the total original principal amount of the debt securities. Also covered is such an indeterminate number of shares of common stock and preferred stock (in each case, with accompanying purchase rights, if any) (i) as may be issuable or deliverable upon the exercise or conversion of debt securities, and (ii) as may be required for delivery upon exercise or conversion of debt securities as a result of anti-dilution provisions.

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(7)

Subject to note (1), this registration statement covers such an indeterminate amount and number of subscription rights, representing rights to purchase common stock, preferred stock, warrants, debt securities and depositary shares registered under this registration statement as may be sold from time to time at indeterminate prices by the registrant. Also covered is such an indeterminate amount of common stock, preferred stock and warrants (in each case, with accompanying purchase rights, if any), debt securities and depositary shares (i) as may be issuable or deliverable upon exercise of subscription rights, and (ii) as may be required for delivery upon exercise of any warrants as a result of anti-dilution provisions.

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(8)

Subject to note (1), this registration statement covers such an indeterminate amount and number of depositary shares as may be sold from time to time at indeterminate prices by the registrant.

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(9)

Each unit will represent an interest in two or more securities, which may or may not be separable from one another.

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The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and does not solicit an offer to buy these securities in any state or other jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

Subject to Completion
Preliminary Prospectus Dated March 2, 2018

$300,000,000

Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Warrants
Debt Securities
Subscription Rights
Depositary Shares
Units

We may offer, issue and sell from time to time, together or separately, in one or more offerings, any combination of  (i) our common stock, (ii) our preferred stock, which we may issue in one or more series, (iii) warrants, (iv) senior or subordinated debt securities, (v) subscription rights, (vi) depositary shares and (vii) units. The debt securities may consist of debentures, notes, or other types of debt and may be senior or subordinated securities. The debt securities, preferred stock, warrants and subscription rights may be convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, common or preferred stock or other securities of ours. The depositary shares may be exchanged for the underlying stock in accordance with the applicable depositary agreement. The units may consist of any combination of the securities listed above.

The aggregate public offering price of the securities that we are offering will not exceed $300,000,000. We will offer the securities in an amount and on terms that market conditions will determine at the time of the offering. Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TOWR.” The last reported sale price for our common stock on March 1, 2018 as quoted on the New York Stock Exchange was $26.15 per share. You are urged to obtain current market quotations of our common stock. We have no preferred stock, warrants, debt securities, subscription rights, depositary shares or units listed on any market. Each prospectus supplement will indicate if the securities offered thereby will be listed on any securities exchange.

Investing in our securities involves risk. You should carefully consider the risks that we have described under the section captioned “Risk Factors” in this prospectus on page 3 before buying our securities.

Should we offer any of the securities described in this prospectus, we will provide you with the specific terms of the particular securities being offered in supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any supplement, together with additional information described under the headings “Additional Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference,” carefully before you invest. This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

We may sell these securities directly to our stockholders or to purchasers or through agents on our behalf or through underwriters or dealers as designated from time to time. If any agents or underwriters are involved in the sale of any of these securities, the applicable prospectus supplement will provide the names of the agents or underwriters and any applicable fees, commissions or discounts.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is            , 2018

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Tower International, Inc. is referred to herein as “Tower”, “the Company”, “we”, “us”, and “our”, unless the context indicates otherwise.

You may only rely on the information contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement that we have referred you to. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. This prospectus, and any accompanying prospectus supplement, does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the securities offered by this prospectus. This prospectus and any future prospectus supplement do not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. Neither the delivery of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement nor any sale made hereunder shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in our affairs since the date of this prospectus or such prospectus supplement or that the information incorporated by reference to this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is correct as of any time after its date.

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may from time to time offer and sell, in one or more offerings, any or all of the securities described in this prospectus, separately or together, up to an aggregate offering price of  $300,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of our securities being offered. When we issue the securities being offered by this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading “Additional Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.”

You should rely only on the information in this prospectus, as supplemented by any applicable prospectus supplement. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely upon it. You should assume that the information in this prospectus was accurate on the date of the front cover of this prospectus only and that the information in any prospectus supplement was accurate on the date of the front cover of that prospectus supplement only. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may change since those dates.

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

The following summary highlights some information from this prospectus. It is not complete and does not contain all of the information that you should consider before making an investment decision. You should read this entire prospectus, including the “Risk Factors” section on page 3 and the disclosures to which that section refers you, the financial statements and related notes and the other more detailed information appearing elsewhere or incorporated by reference into this prospectus before investing in any of the securities described in this prospectus.

About Us

We are a leading global manufacturer of engineered automotive structural metal components and assemblies primarily serving original equipment manufacturers. We offer our automotive customers a broad product portfolio, supplying body-structure stampings, frame and other chassis structures, and complex welded assemblies for small and large cars, crossovers, pickups, and sports utility vehicles.

Our products are manufactured at facilities strategically located near our customers. We support our manufacturing operations through engineering and sales locations around the world. We are a disciplined, process-driven company with an experienced management team that has a history of implementing sustainable operational improvements. We believe that our engineering, manufacturing, and program management capabilities, our competitive cost and quality, our financial discipline, and our colleague engagement position us for long-term success.

Corporate Information

Tower Automotive, LLC was formed to acquire all of our predecessor’s assets. In October 2010, in connection with our initial public offering, (i) all of our equity owners transferred their equity interests in Tower Automotive, LLC to a newly created limited liability company, Tower International Holdings, LLC, a newly formed entity, (ii) Tower Automotive, LLC converted into a Delaware corporation, which was named Tower International, Inc., and (iii) all of the equity interests in Tower Automotive, LLC were converted into common stock of Tower International, Inc. On October 15, 2010, our common stock began trading on the New York Stock Exchange following our initial public offering. Subsequently, Tower International Holdings, LLC, controlled by Cerberus Capital Management, L.P., sold all of its Tower International stock and we ceased to be a “controlled company” under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange.

Our corporate offices are located at 17672 Laurel Park Drive North, Suite 400, Livonia, Michigan 48152. Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TOWR.” Our telephone number is (248) 675-6000 and our website address is www.towerinternational.com. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and should not be considered to be a part of this prospectus or relied upon in connection herewith.

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risks. Before deciding to purchase any of our securities, you should carefully consider the risks and other information we include or incorporate by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, including, in particular the discussion of risks and uncertainties under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and under similar headings in our subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and annual reports on Form 10-K, as well as the other risks and uncertainties described in any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus and in the other documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and which may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, in the future. See the section “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” in this prospectus. The risks and uncertainties we have described are not the only ones facing our company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our business operations. Additional risk factors may be included in a prospectus supplement relating to a particular offering of securities.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND
PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS

The following table sets forth our consolidated ratios of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013.

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Our earnings were insufficient to cover our fixed charges. The dollar amount of the deficiency in earnings available for fixed charges for the year ended December 31, 2013 was approximately $31.8 million.

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus, including the documents that we incorporate by reference, contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the federal securities laws. The events described in forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus, including the documents that we incorporate by reference, may not occur. Generally, these statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to trends in the operations, financial results, business and products of our Company, and anticipated production trends. The forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “plan”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “project”, as well as other similar expressions and statements regarding our intent, belief, current plans, or expectations Our forward looking statements also include, without limitation, statements regarding our anticipated future financial condition, operating results, free cash flows, adjusted free cash flows, net debt leverage, Adjusted EBITDA, and business and financing plans and models. Any such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections of management. We intend for these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe-harbor provisions for forward-looking statements. We caution you that these statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and are subject to a number of uncertainties, risks and other influences, many of which are beyond our control that may influence the accuracy of the statements and the projections upon which the statements are based. Factors that may affect our results include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K or in other reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Any one or more of these uncertainties, risks and other influences could materially affect our results of operations and whether forward-looking statements made by us ultimately prove to be accurate. Our actual results, performance and achievements could differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether from new information, future events or otherwise.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, we will use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered by this prospectus and the exercise price from the exercise of any convertible securities, if any, for general corporate purposes, which may include acquisitions or investments in businesses, products or technologies that are complementary to our own, increasing our working capital, reducing indebtedness, and capital expenditures.

When particular securities are offered, the prospectus supplement relating to that offering will set forth our intended use of the net proceeds received from the sale of those securities we sell. Pending the application of the net proceeds for these purposes, we expect to invest the proceeds in short-term, interest-bearing instruments or other investment-grade securities.

THE SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER

General

The descriptions of the securities contained in this prospectus, together with the applicable prospectus supplements, summarize all of the material terms and provisions of the various types of securities that we may offer. We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any securities the particular terms of the securities offered by that prospectus supplement. We will indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement whether the terms of the securities differ from the terms we have summarized below. We will also include in the prospectus supplement information, where applicable, about material United States federal income tax considerations relating to the securities, and the securities exchange, if any, on which the securities will be listed.

We may sell from time to time, in one or more offerings:

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common stock;

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preferred stock;

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debt securities;

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warrants to purchase shares of common stock or preferred stock;

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subscription rights to purchase shares of common stock, preferred stock or debt securities;

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depositary shares; and

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units consisting of any combination of the securities listed above.

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In this prospectus, we refer to the common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, subscription rights, depositary shares and units collectively as “securities.” The total dollar amount of all securities that we may sell will not exceed $300,000,000.

If we issue debt securities at a discount from their original stated principal amount, then, for purposes of calculating the total dollar amount of all securities issued under this prospectus, we will treat the initial offering price of the debt securities as the total original principal amount of the debt securities.

This prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following is a summary of all material characteristics of our capital stock as set forth in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws. The summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time (the “DGCL”).

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Common Stock

We are authorized to issue 350,000,000 shares of common stock with a par value of  $0.01 per share. As of February 21, 2018, there were 20,542,397 shares of common stock outstanding.

If we offer shares of our common stock for sale under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that describes the terms of the offering, including the number of shares offered and the offering price.

The following summary of the terms of our common stock is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, copies of which are on file with the SEC as exhibits to previous SEC filings.

Voting Rights

Each outstanding share of common stock is entitled to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. There are no cumulative voting rights

Dividends

Each stockholder is entitled to receive the dividends as may be declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for dividends and, in the event of liquidation, to share pro rata in any distribution of our assets after payment of liabilities and payment of dividends on shares that have preferential dividend rights, if any. Our board of directors is not obligated to declare a dividend. Any future dividends will be subject to the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon, among other things, future earnings, the operating and financial condition of our company, its capital requirements, general business conditions and other pertinent factors.

Other Rights

Upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation, the holders of common stock are entitled to share ratably in all net assets available for distribution to stockholders after payment to creditors and payment of preferential liquidation payments on shares that have preferential dividend rights, if any. Our common stock is not convertible or redeemable and has no preemptive, subscription or conversion rights. There is no conversion, redemption, sinking fund or similar provisions regarding our common stock.

Transfer Agent

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc.

Preferred Stock

We are authorized to issue up to 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, with such designations, rights, and preferences as may be determined from time to time by our board of directors. Accordingly, our board of directors is empowered, without stockholder approval, to issue preferred stock with dividend, liquidation, conversion, voting, or other rights that could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of our common stock. The issuance of preferred stock could have the effect of restricting dividends on our common stock (if any are declared), diluting the voting power of our common stock, impairing the liquidation rights of our common stock, or delaying or preventing a change in control of our company, all without further action by our stockholders. As of the date of this prospectus, no shares of our preferred stock were outstanding.

If we offer shares of our preferred stock for sale under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that describes the terms of the preferred stock and the offering, including the number of shares offered and the offering price. To the extent required, this description will include:

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the title and stated value;

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the number of shares offered, the liquidation preference per share and the purchase price;

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the dividend rate(s), period(s) and/or payment date(s), or method(s) of calculation for such dividends;

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whether dividends will be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends will accumulate;

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the procedures for any auction and remarketing, if any;

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the provisions for a sinking fund, if any;

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the provisions for redemption, if applicable;

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any listing of the preferred stock on any securities exchange or market;

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whether the preferred stock will be convertible into our common stock, and, if applicable, the conversion price (or how it will be calculated) and conversion period;

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whether the preferred stock will be exchangeable into debt securities, and, if applicable, the exchange price (or how it will be calculated) and exchange period;

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voting rights, if any, of the preferred stock;

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a discussion of any material and/or special U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the preferred stock;

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the relative ranking and preferences of the preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company; and

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any material limitations on the issuance of any class or series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on a parity with the series of preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company.

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Transfer Agent and Registrar for Preferred Stock

The transfer agent and registrar for any series or class of preferred stock will be set forth in each applicable prospectus supplement.

Anti-Takeover Effects of Certain Provisions of Delaware Law and Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, together with Delaware law, contain a number of provisions that could make our acquisition by means of a tender or exchange offer, a proxy contest or otherwise more difficult. Certain of these provisions are summarized below.

Our Board

Our board of directors is divided into three classes with staggered three-year terms. At each annual meeting of stockholders, the successors to directors whose terms then expire will be elected to serve from the time of election and qualification until the third annual meeting following election.

Our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws allow for not less than three and not more than 15 directors. The exact number of directors will be fixed from time to time by our board of directors. In addition, our certificate of incorporation provides that directors may be removed only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of stockholders having the right to vote at least two-thirds in voting power of our outstanding voting stock, voting together as a single class, unless such removal for cause is recommended by our board of directors, in which case such removal for cause will require the affirmative vote of stockholders having the right to vote at least a majority in voting power of our outstanding voting stock, voting together as a single class. Under our bylaws, any vacancy on our board of directors, including a vacancy resulting from an enlargement of our board of directors, may be filled by vote of a majority of our directors then in office. Furthermore, our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that the authorized number of directors determined by our board may be changed only by resolution of our board

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of directors. The classification of our board of directors and the limitations on the ability of our stockholders to remove directors, change the authorized number of directors and fill vacancies could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or discourage a third party from seeking to acquire, control of our company.

By virtue of the listing of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange, a majority of our Board, and each of the members of our Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee must be independent, as defined in the New York Stock Exchange corporate governance standards.

Stockholder Action; Special Meeting of Stockholders; Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations

Our bylaws provide that any action required or permitted to be taken by our stockholders at an annual meeting or special meeting of stockholders may only be taken if it is properly brought before such meeting, and if the acting stockholders have fulfilled certain informational requirements, including apprising us of their derivative holdings in the company, and, in the case of director nominations, whether the nominating stockholder has engaged in any related party transactions with the nominee. Our bylaws provide that stockholders may not propose business to be brought before a special meeting of stockholders. Our certificate of incorporation provides that action may not be taken by written action in lieu of a meeting.

Our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws also provide that special meetings of the stockholders can only be called by the chairman of our board of directors, or by our board of directors pursuant to a resolution approved by a majority of the whole board.

These provisions could have the effect of delaying until the next annual stockholder meeting stockholder actions that are favored by the holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities.

Voting

The DGCL provides generally that the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote on any matter is required to amend a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, unless a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, as the case may be, requires a greater percentage. Our bylaws may be amended or repealed by a majority vote of our board of directors or by stockholders having the right to vote at least two-thirds in voting power of all outstanding voting stock, voting together as a single class. Our certificate of incorporation may be amended with the affirmative vote of stockholders having the right to vote a majority in voting power of our outstanding voting stock, voting together as a single class, except that the affirmative vote of stockholders having the right to vote at least two-thirds in voting power of our outstanding voting stock, voting together as a single class, is required to amend the provisions of our certificate of incorporation relating to our board of directors, stockholder action, business combinations and corporate opportunities.

Business Combinations

We have opted out of Section 203 of the DGCL; however, our certificate of incorporation contains provisions providing that stockholders having the right to vote at least two-thirds in voting power of the outstanding voting stock, voting together as a single class, or a majority of our disinterested directors, is required to approve a Business Combination (as defined in the certificate of incorporation, which generally limits such term to business combinations with entities controlled by persons or entities that beneficially own more than 20% of our outstanding voting stock) without the fulfillment of several pre-conditions, including: certain minimum requirements with respect to the consideration paid in such Business Combination, the form of consideration, the payment of dividends and minimum dividend payments, as well as prohibitions on interested stockholder transactions and procedural requirements related to the delivery of proxy or information statements to be mailed to stockholders in connection with a proposed Business Combination. Under certain circumstances, this provision makes it more difficult for a person who would be an “interested stockholder” to effect various business combinations with our company. This provision may encourage companies interested in acquiring our company to negotiate in advance with our board of directors because the stockholder approval requirement would be avoided if a majority of

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disinterested directors then serving on our board of directors approves the business combination. These provisions also may have the effect of preventing changes in our board of directors and may make it more difficult to accomplish transactions which stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.

“Blank Check” Preferred Stock

As noted above, we are authorized to issue, without any further vote or action by the stockholders, up to 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more classes or series and, with respect to each such class or series, to fix the number of shares constituting the class or series and the designation of the class or series, the voting powers, if any, of the shares of the class or series, and the preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions, of the shares of such class or series. As noted above, the issuance of preferred stock could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of our company.

Corporate Opportunity

Our certificate of incorporation provides that we renounce any interest or expectancy in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any business opportunity which may be a corporate opportunity for the directors, principals, officers, employees and/or other representatives of Cerberus Capital Management, LLP (“CCM”) and the funds, accounts and management and other entities affiliated with CCM, the affiliates thereof, or any member of our board of directors who is not our employee (including any such director who also serves as an officer). We do not renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any such director or officer if such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as our director or officer.

Credit Facility

Under our credit agreements, a change of control may lead the lenders to exercise remedies, such as acceleration of the loan, termination of their obligations to fund additional advances and collection against the collateral securing such loan.

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We summarize below the material provisions that will apply to the warrants unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise. This summary may not contain all information that is important to you. The complete terms of the warrants will be contained in the applicable warrant certificate and warrant agreement. These documents will be included or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should read the warrant certificate and the warrant agreement. You should also read the prospectus supplement, which will contain additional information and which may update or change some of the information below.

General

We may issue, together with common or preferred stock as units or separately, warrants for the purchase of shares of our common or preferred stock. The terms of each warrant will be discussed in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the particular series of warrants. The form(s) of certificate representing the warrants and/or the warrant agreement will be, in each case, filed with the SEC as an exhibit to a document incorporated by reference in the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part on or prior to the date of any prospectus supplement relating to an offering of the particular warrant. The following summary of material provisions of the warrants and the warrant agreements are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the warrant agreement and warrant certificate applicable to a particular series of warrants.

The prospectus supplement relating to any series of warrants that are offered by this prospectus will describe, among other things, the following terms to the extent they are applicable to that series of warrants:

•

the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of the warrants;

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•

the number of shares of our common or preferred stock, if any, issued with the warrants;

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•

the date, if any, on and after which the warrants and any related shares of our common or preferred stock will be separately transferable;

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•

the offering price of the warrants, if any;

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•

the number of shares of our common or preferred stock which may be purchased upon exercise of the warrants and the price or prices at which the shares may be purchased upon exercise;

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the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will begin and the date on which the right will expire;

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•

a discussion of the material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the exercise of the warrants;

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anti-dilution provisions of the warrants, if any;

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call provisions of the warrants, if any; and

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any other material terms of the warrants.

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Each warrant may entitle the holder to purchase for cash, or, in limited circumstances, by effecting a cashless exercise for, the number of shares of our common or preferred stock at the exercise price that is described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Warrants will be exercisable during the period of time described in the applicable prospectus supplement. After that period, unexercised warrants will be void. Warrants may be exercised in the manner described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

A holder of a warrant will not have any of the rights of a holder of our common or preferred stock before the stock is purchased upon exercise of the warrant. Therefore, before a warrant is exercised, the holder of the warrant will not be entitled to receive any dividend payments or exercise any voting or other rights associated with shares of our common or preferred stock which may be purchased when the warrant is exercised.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar, if any, for any warrants will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

This prospectus describes certain general terms and provisions of debt securities that we may offer. The debt securities may be issued pursuant to, in the case of senior debt securities, a senior indenture, and in the case of subordinated debt securities, a subordinated indenture, in each case in the forms filed as exhibits to this registration statement, which we refer to as the “indentures.” The indentures will be entered into between us and a trustee to be named prior to the issuance of any debt securities, which we refer to as the “trustee.” The indentures will not limit the amount of debt securities that can be issued thereunder and will provide that the debt securities may be issued thereunder and will provide that the debt securities may be issued from time to time in one or more series pursuant to the terms of one or more securities resolutions or supplemental indentures creating such series.

We have summarized below the material provisions that will apply to the indentures and the debt securities unless the applicable prospectus supplement for any offering of debt securities provides otherwise. This summary may not contain all information that is important to you. The complete terms of the debt securities will be contained in the applicable indenture or supplemental indenture. These documents have been or will be included or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should read the indenture and any applicable supplemental indenture. You should also read the prospectus supplement, which will contain additional information and which may update or change some of the information below.

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Terms

When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities, we will describe the specific terms of the securities in a prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement will set forth the following terms, as applicable, of the debt securities offered thereby:

•

the designation, aggregate principal amount, currency or composite currency and denominations;

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the price at which such debt securities will be issued and, if an index formula or other method is used, the method for determining amounts of principal or interest;

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the maturity date and other dates, if any, on which principal will be payable;

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whether or not the debt securities will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt;

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whether the debt securities rank as senior debt, senior subordinated debt, subordinated debt or any combination thereof, and the terms of any subordination;

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the interest rate (which may be fixed or variable), if any;

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the date or dates from which interest will accrue and on which interest will be payable, and the record dates for the payment of interest;

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the manner of paying principal and interest;

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the place or places where principal and interest will be payable;

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the terms of any mandatory or optional redemption by us or any third party including any sinking fund;

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the terms of any conversion or exchange;

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the terms of any redemption at the option of holders or put by the holders;

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any tax indemnity provisions;

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if the debt securities provide that payments of principal or interest may be made in a currency other than that in which debt securities are denominated, the manner for determining such payments;

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the portion of principal payable upon acceleration of a Discounted Debt Security (as defined below);

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•

whether and upon what terms debt securities may be defeased;

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any events of default or covenants in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in the indentures;

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provisions for electronic issuance of debt securities or for debt securities in uncertificated form; and

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any additional provisions or other special terms not inconsistent with the provisions of the indentures, including any terms that may be required or advisable under United States or other applicable laws or regulations, or advisable in connection with the marketing of the debt securities.

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Debt securities of any series may be issued as registered debt securities or uncertificated debt securities, in such denominations as specified in the terms of the series.

Securities may be issued under the indentures as Discounted Debt Securities to be offered and sold at a substantial discount from the principal amount thereof. Special United States federal income tax and other considerations applicable thereto will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such Discounted Debt Securities. “Discounted Debt Security” means a security where the amount of principal due upon acceleration is less than the stated principal amount.

We are not obligated to issue all debt securities of one series at the same time and, unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement, we may reopen a series, without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of that series, for the issuance of additional debt securities of that series. Additional debt

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securities of a particular series will have the same terms and conditions as outstanding debt securities of such series, except for the date of original issuance and the offering price, and will be consolidated with, and form a single series with, such outstanding debt securities.

Ranking

The senior debt securities will rank equally in respect of payment with all of our other senior and unsubordinated debt. Our secured debt, if any, will be effectively senior to the senior debt securities to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to all of our present and future senior indebtedness to the extent and in the manner described in the prospectus supplement and as set forth in the board resolution, officer’s certificate or supplemental indenture relating to such offering.

We have only a stockholder’s claim on the assets of our subsidiaries. This stockholder’s claim is junior to both secured and unsecured claims that creditors of our subsidiaries have against our subsidiaries. Holders of our debt securities will be our creditors and not creditors of any of our subsidiaries. As a result, all the existing and future liabilities of our subsidiaries, including any claims of their creditors, will effectively be senior to the debt securities with respect to the assets of our subsidiaries.

The debt securities will be obligations of Tower International, Inc. To the extent that our ability to service our debt, including the debt securities, may be dependent upon the earnings of our subsidiaries, our ability to do so will be dependent on the ability of our subsidiaries to distribute those earnings to us as dividends, loans or other payments.

Certain Covenants

Any covenants that may apply to a particular series of debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement relating thereto.

Successor Obligor

The indentures provide that, unless otherwise specified in the securities resolution or supplemental indenture establishing a series of debt securities, we shall not consolidate with or merge into, or transfer all or substantially all of our assets to any person in any transaction in which we are not the survivor, unless:

•

the person is organized under the laws of the United States or a jurisdiction within the United States;

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the person assumes by supplemental indenture all of our obligations under the relevant indenture, the debt securities and any coupons;

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immediately after the transaction no Default (as defined below) exists; and

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we deliver to the trustee an officers’ certificate and opinion of counsel stating that the transaction complies with the foregoing requirements and that all conditions precedent provided for in the indenture relating to the transaction have been complied with.

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In such event, the successor will be substituted for us, and thereafter all of our obligations under the relevant indenture, the debt securities and any coupons will terminate.

The indentures provide that these limitations shall not apply if our board of directors makes a good faith determination that the principal purpose of the transaction is to change our state of incorporation.

Exchange of Debt Securities

Registered debt securities may be exchanged for an equal aggregate principal amount of registered debt securities of the same series and date of maturity in such authorized denominations as may be requested upon surrender of the registered debt securities at an agency of the Company maintained for such purpose and upon fulfillment of all other requirements of such agent.

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Default and Remedies

Unless the securities resolution or supplemental indenture establishing the series otherwise provides (in which event the prospectus supplement will so state), an “Event of Default” with respect to a series of debt securities will occur if:

(1)

we default in any payment of interest on any debt securities of such series when the same becomes due and payable and the default continues for a period of 30 days;

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(2)

we default in the payment of all or any part of the principal and premium, if any, of any debt securities of such series when the same becomes due and payable at maturity or upon redemption, acceleration or otherwise and such default shall continue for five or more days;

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(3)

we default in the performance of any of our other agreements applicable to the series and the default continues for 30 days after the notice specified below;

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(4)

a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law (as defined below) that:

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(A)

provides for relief against us in an involuntary case,

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(B)

appoints a Custodian (as defined below) for us or for all or substantially all of our property, or

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(C)

orders the winding up or liquidation of us, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days;

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(5)

we, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

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(A)

commence a voluntary case,

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(B)

consent to the entry of an order for relief against us in an involuntary case,

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(C)

consent to the appointment of a Custodian for us or for all or substantially all of our property, or

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(D)

make a general assignment for the benefit of our creditors; or

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(6)

there occurs any other Event of Default provided for in such series.

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The term “Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11 of the United States Code or any similar Federal or State law for the relief of debtors. The term “Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or a similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

“Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time would be, an Event of Default. A Default under subparagraphs (1), (2), (3) and (6) above is not an Event of Default until the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the series notify us of the Default and we do not cure the Default within the time specified after receipt of the notice.

The trustee may require indemnity satisfactory to it before it enforces the indentures or the debt securities of the series. Subject to certain limitations, holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of the series may direct the trustee in its exercise of any trust or power with respect to such series. Except in the case of Default in payment on a series, the trustee may withhold from securityholders of such series notice of any continuing Default if the trustee determines that withholding notice is in the interest of such securityholders. We are required to furnish the trustee annually a brief certificate as to our compliance with all conditions and covenants under the indentures.

The indentures do not have cross-default provisions. Thus, a default by us on any other debt, including any other series of debt securities, would not constitute an Event of Default.

Amendments and Waivers

The indentures and the debt securities or any coupons of the series may be amended, and any Default may be waived as follows:

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Unless the securities resolution or supplemental indenture otherwise provides (in which event the applicable prospectus supplement will so state), the debt securities and the indentures may be amended with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of all series affected voting as one class. Unless the securities resolution or supplemental indenture otherwise provides (in which event the applicable prospectus supplement will so state), a Default other than a Default in payment on a particular series may be waived with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of the series. However, without the consent of each securityholder affected, no amendment or waiver may:

•

change the fixed maturity of or the time for payment of interest on any debt security;

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reduce the principal, premium or interest payable with respect to any debt security;

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change the place of payment of a debt security or the currency in which the principal or interest on a debt security is payable;

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change the provisions for calculating any redemption or repurchase price with respect to any debt security;

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adversely affect any holders’ right to receive payment of principal and interest or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment;

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reduce the amount of debt securities whose holders must consent to an amendment or waiver;

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make any change that materially adversely affects the right to convert any debt security;

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waive any Default in payment of principal of or interest on a debt security; or

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adversely affect any holder’s rights with respect to redemption or repurchase of a debt security.

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Without the consent of any securityholder, the indentures or the debt securities may be amended to:

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provide for assumption of our obligations to securityholders in the event of a merger or consolidation requiring such assumption;

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cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;

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conform the terms of the debt securities to the description thereof in the prospectus and prospectus supplement offering such debt securities;

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create a series and establish its terms;

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provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee or to facilitate the administration of the trusts by more than one trustee;

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provide for uncertificated or unregistered securities;

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make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any securityholder;

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add to our covenants; or

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to make any other change to the indentures so long as no debt securities are outstanding.

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Conversion Rights

Any securities resolution or supplemental indenture establishing a series of debt securities may provide that the debt securities of such series will be convertible at the option of the holders thereof into or for our common stock or other equity or debt instruments. The securities resolution or supplemental indenture may establish, among other things, (1) the number or amount of shares of common stock or other equity or debt instruments for which $1,000 aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of the series is convertible, as may be adjusted pursuant to the terms of the relevant indenture and the securities resolution; and (2) provisions for adjustments to the conversion rate and limitations upon exercise of the conversion right. The indentures provide that we will not be required to make an adjustment in the conversion rate unless the adjustment would require a cumulative change of at least 1% in the conversion rate. However, we will carry forward any adjustments that are less than 1% of the conversion rate and take them into account in any subsequent adjustment of the conversion rate.

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Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

Debt securities of a series may be defeased in accordance with their terms and, unless the securities resolution or supplemental indenture establishing the terms of the series otherwise provides, as set forth below. We at any time may terminate as to a series all of our obligations (except for certain obligations, including obligations with respect to the defeasance trust and obligations to register the transfer or exchange of a debt security, to replace destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities and coupons and to maintain paying agencies in respect of the debt securities) with respect to the debt securities of the series and any related coupons and the relevant indenture, which we refer to as legal defeasance. We at any time may terminate as to a series our obligations with respect to any restrictive covenants which may be applicable to a particular series, which we refer to as covenant defeasance.

We may exercise our legal defeasance option notwithstanding our prior exercise of our covenant defeasance option. If we exercise our legal defeasance option, a series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. If we exercise our covenant defeasance option, a series may not be accelerated by reference to any covenant which may be applicable to a series.

To exercise either defeasance option as to a series, we must (1) irrevocably deposit in trust with the trustee (or another trustee) money or U.S. Government Obligations (as defined below), deliver a certificate from a nationally recognized firm of independent accountants expressing their opinion that the payments of principal and interest when due on the deposited U.S. Government Obligations, without reinvestment, plus any deposited money without investment will provide cash at such times and in such amounts as will be sufficient to pay the principal and interest when due on all debt securities of such series to maturity or redemption, as the case may be; and (2) comply with certain other conditions. In particular, we must obtain an opinion of tax counsel that the defeasance will not result in recognition of any gain or loss to holders for federal income tax purposes.

“U.S. Government Obligations” means direct obligations of the United States or any agency or instrumentality of the United States, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed by the United States, which, in either case, have the full faith and credit of the United States pledged for payment and which are not callable at the issuer’s option, or certificates representing an ownership interest in such obligations.

Regarding the Trustee

The trustee will be identified in the prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, the trustee will also act as depository of funds, transfer agent, paying agent and conversion agent, as applicable, with respect to the debt securities. In certain circumstances, we or the securityholders may remove the trustee as the trustee under a given indenture. The indenture trustee may also provide additional unrelated services to us as a depository of funds, registrar, trustee or provider of similar services.

Governing Law

The indentures and the debt securities will be governed by New York law, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is applicable.

DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS

We may issue subscription rights to purchase our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities. These subscription rights may be offered independently or together with any other security offered hereby and may or may not be transferable by the stockholder receiving the subscription rights in such offering. In connection with any offering of subscription rights, we may enter into a standby arrangement with one or more underwriters or other purchasers pursuant to which the underwriters or other purchasers may be required to purchase any securities remaining unsubscribed for after such offering.

We summarize below the material provisions that will apply to the subscription rights unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise. This summary may not contain all information that is important to you. The complete terms of the subscription rights will be contained in the applicable subscription agreement. The subscription agreement will be included or incorporated by reference as an

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exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should read the subscription agreement. You should also read the prospectus supplement, which will contain additional information and which may update or change some of the information below.

The prospectus supplement relating to subscription rights that we offer, if any, will, to the extent applicable, include specific terms relating to the offering, including some or all of the following:

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the price, if any, for the subscription rights;

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the exercise price payable for our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities upon the exercise of the subscription rights;

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the number of subscription rights to be issued to each stockholder;

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the number and terms of our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities which may be purchased per each subscription right;

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the extent to which the subscription rights are transferable;

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any other terms of the subscription rights, including the terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the subscription rights;

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the date on which the right to exercise the subscription rights shall commence, and the date on which the subscription rights shall expire;

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the extent to which the subscription rights may include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities or an over-allotment privilege to the extent the securities are fully subscribed; and

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if applicable, the material terms of any standby underwriting or purchase arrangement which may be entered into by us in connection with the offering of subscription rights.

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DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

We summarize below the material provisions that will apply to depositary shares unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise. This summary may not contain all information that is important to you. The complete terms of the depositary shares will be contained in the depositary agreement and depositary receipt applicable to any depositary shares. These documents will be included or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should read the depositary agreement and the depositary receipt. You should also read the prospectus supplement, which will contain additional information and which may update or change some of the information below.

General

We may offer fractional shares of preferred stock, rather than full shares of preferred stock. If we do so, we may issue receipts for depositary shares that each represent a fraction of a share of a particular series of preferred stock. The prospectus supplement will indicate that fraction. The shares of preferred stock represented by depositary shares will be deposited under a depositary agreement between us and a bank or trust company that meets certain requirements and is selected by us, which we refer to as the “bank depositary.” Each owner of a depositary share will be entitled to all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock represented by the depositary share. The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the depositary agreement. Depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing the fractional shares of preferred stock in accordance with the terms of the offering.

The following summary description of certain common provisions of a depositary agreement and the related depositary receipts and any summary description of the depositary agreement and depositary receipts in the applicable prospectus supplement do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to all of the provisions of such depositary agreement and depositary receipts. The forms of the depositary agreement and the depositary receipts relating to any particular issue of depositary shares will be filed with the SEC each time we issue depositary shares, and you should read those documents for provisions that may be important to you.

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Dividends and Other Distributions

If we pay a cash distribution or dividend on a series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares, the bank depositary will distribute such dividends to the record holders of such depositary shares. If the distributions are in property other than cash, the bank depositary will distribute the property to the record holders of the depositary shares. However, if the bank depositary determines that it is not feasible to make the distribution of property, the bank depositary may, with our approval, sell such property and distribute the net proceeds from such sale to the record holders of the depositary shares.

Redemption of Depositary Shares

If we redeem a series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares, the bank depositary will redeem the depositary shares from the proceeds received by the bank depositary in connection with the redemption. The redemption price per depositary share will equal the applicable fraction of the redemption price per share of the preferred stock. If fewer than all the depositary shares are redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or pro rata as the bank depositary may determine.

Voting the Preferred Stock

Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the preferred stock represented by depositary shares are entitled to vote, the bank depositary will mail the notice to the record holder of the depositary shares relating to such preferred stock. Each record holder of these depositary shares on the record date, which will be the same date as the record date for the preferred stock, may instruct the bank depositary as to how to vote the preferred stock represented by such holder’s depositary shares. The bank depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote the amount of the preferred stock represented by such depositary shares in accordance with such instructions, and we will take all action that the bank depositary deems necessary in order to enable the bank depositary to do so. The bank depositary will abstain from voting shares of the preferred stock to the extent it does not receive specific instructions from the holders of depositary shares representing such preferred stock.

Amendment and Termination of the Depositary Agreement

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement or required by law, the form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the depositary agreement may be amended by agreement between the bank depositary and us. The depositary agreement may be terminated by the bank depositary or us only if:

•

all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed, or

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there has been a final distribution in respect of the preferred stock in connection with the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company, and such distribution has been distributed to the holders of depositary receipts.

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Charges of Bank Depositary

We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. We will pay charges of the bank depositary in connection with the initial deposit of the preferred stock and any redemption of the preferred stock. Holders of depositary receipts will pay other transfer and other taxes and governmental charges and any other charges, including a fee for the withdrawal of shares of preferred stock upon surrender of depositary receipts, as are expressly provided in the depositary agreement for their accounts.

Withdrawal of Preferred Stock

Except as may be provided otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, upon surrender of depositary receipts at the principal office of the bank depositary, subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, the owner of the depositary shares may demand delivery of the number of whole shares of preferred stock and all money and other property, if any, represented by those depositary shares. Partial or fractional shares of preferred stock will not be issued. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holders

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evidence a number of depositary shares in excess of the number of depositary shares representing the number of whole shares of preferred stock to be withdrawn, the bank depositary will deliver to such holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of depositary shares. Holders of preferred stock thus withdrawn may not thereafter deposit those shares under the depositary agreement or receive depositary receipts evidencing depositary shares therefor.

Miscellaneous

The bank depositary will forward to holders of depositary receipts all reports and communications from us that are delivered to the bank depositary and that we are required to furnish to the holders of the preferred stock.

Neither the bank depositary nor we will be liable if we are prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond our control in performing our obligations under the depositary agreement. The obligations of the bank depositary and us under the depositary agreement will be limited to performance in good faith of our duties thereunder, and we will not be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary shares or preferred stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. We may rely upon written advice of counsel or accountants, or upon information provided by persons presenting preferred stock for deposit, holders of depositary receipts or other persons believed to be competent and on documents believed to be genuine.

Resignation and Removal of Bank Depositary

The bank depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its election to do so, and we may at any time remove the bank depositary. Any such resignation or removal will take effect upon the appointment of a successor bank depositary and its acceptance of such appointment. The successor bank depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company meeting the requirements of the depositary agreement.

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

We summarize below the material provisions that will apply to units unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise. This summary may not contain all information that is important to you. The complete terms of the units will be contained in the unit agreement applicable to the units, together with the agreements that govern the underlying securities. The unit agreement and the agreements that govern the underlying securities will be included or incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should read the unit agreement and the agreements that govern the underlying securities. You should also read the prospectus supplement, which will contain additional information and which may update or change some of the information below.

We may issue units comprised of one or more of the other securities described in this prospectus in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security (but, to the extent convertible securities are included in the units, the holder of the units will be deemed the holder of the convertible securities and not the holder of the underlying securities). The unit agreement under which a unit is issued, if any, may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date. The applicable prospectus supplement may describe:

•

the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately;

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•

any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units;

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•

the terms of the unit agreement governing the units;

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•

United States federal income tax considerations relevant to the units; and

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whether the units will be issued in fully registered global form.

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FORMS OF SECURITIES

Each debt security and, to the extent applicable, warrant, subscription right and unit, will be represented either by a certificate issued in definitive form to a particular investor or by one or more global securities representing the entire issuance of securities. Certificated securities in definitive form and global securities will be issued in registered form. Definitive securities name the investor or the investor’s nominee as the owner of the security, and in order to transfer or exchange these securities or to receive payments other than interest or other interim payments, the investor or the investor’s nominee must physically deliver the securities to the trustee, registrar, paying agent or other agent, as applicable. Global securities name a depositary or its nominee as the owner of the debt securities or warrants represented by these global securities. The depositary maintains a computerized system that will reflect each investor’s beneficial ownership of the securities through an account maintained by the investor with its broker/dealer, bank, trust company or other representative, as we explain more fully below.

Global Securities

Registered Global Securities.   We may issue the registered debt securities and, to the extent applicable, warrants, subscription rights, depositary receipts and units in the form of one or more fully registered global securities that will be deposited with a depositary or its nominee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of that depositary or its nominee. In those cases, one or more registered global securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal or face amount of the securities to be represented by registered global securities. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole for securities in definitive registered form, a registered global security may not be transferred except as a whole by and among the depositary for the registered global security, the nominees of the depositary or any successors of the depositary or those nominees.

If not described below, any specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any securities to be represented by a registered global security will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those securities. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements.

Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be limited to persons, called participants, that have accounts with the depositary or persons that may hold interests through participants. Upon the issuance of a registered global security, the depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants’ accounts with the respective principal or face amounts of the securities beneficially owned by the participants. Any dealers, underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of the securities will designate the accounts to be credited. Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary, with respect to interests of participants, and on the records of participants, with respect to interests of persons holding through participants. The laws of some states may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of these securities in definitive form. These laws may impair your ability to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in registered global securities.

So long as the depositary, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a registered global security, that depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the securities represented by the registered global security for all purposes under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement or depositary agreement. Except as described below, owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security will not be entitled to have the securities represented by the registered global security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the securities in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders of the securities under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement or depositary agreement. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a registered global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary for that registered global security and, if that person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which the person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement or depositary agreement. We understand that under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a registered global security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or take under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement or depositary agreement, the depositary for the registered global security would authorize the participants

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holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take that action, and the participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through them to give or take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.

Principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on debt securities and any payments to holders with respect to warrants represented by a registered global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the registered global security. None of the Company, the trustees, the warrant agents or any other agent of the Company, agent of the trustees or agent of the warrant agents will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the registered global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those beneficial ownership interests.

We expect that the depositary for any of the securities represented by a registered global security, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, interest or other distribution of underlying securities or other property to holders on that registered global security, will immediately credit participants’ accounts in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in that registered global security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security held through participants will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of those participants.

If the depositary for any of these securities represented by a registered global security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and a successor depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act is not appointed by us within 90 days, we will issue securities in definitive form in exchange for the registered global security that had been held by the depositary. Any securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a registered global security will be registered in the name or names that the depositary gives to the relevant trustee or warrant agent or other relevant agent of ours or theirs. It is expected that the depositary’s instructions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the registered global security that had been held by the depositary.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

Initial Offering and Sale of Securities

Unless otherwise set forth in a prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus, we may sell the securities being offered hereby, from time to time, by one or more of the following methods:

•

to or through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters;

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through one or more underwriters without a syndicate for them to offer and sell to the public;

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through dealers or agents; and

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to investors directly in negotiated sales or in competitively bid transactions.

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Offerings of securities covered by this prospectus also may be made into an existing trading market for those securities in transactions at other than a fixed price, either:

•

on or through the facilities of the New York Stock Exchange or any other securities exchange or quotation or trading service on which those securities may be listed, quoted, or traded at the time of sale; and/or

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•

to or through a market maker otherwise than on the securities exchanges or quotation or trading services set forth above.

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Those at-the-market offerings, if any, will be conducted by underwriters acting as principal or our agent, which underwriters may also be third-party sellers of securities as described above. The prospectus supplement with respect to the offered securities will set forth the terms of the offering of the offered securities, including:

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•

the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents;

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the purchase price of the offered securities and the proceeds to us from such sale;

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any underwriting discounts and commissions or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation;

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any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers;

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any securities exchange on which such offered securities may be listed; and

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•

the identity any underwriter, agent or dealer involved in the offer and sale of any series of the securities.

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The distribution of the securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions:

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at fixed prices, which may be changed;

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at market prices prevailing at the time of the sale;

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at varying prices determined at the time of sale; or

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•

at negotiated prices.

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Each prospectus supplement will set forth the manner and terms of an offering of securities, including:

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whether that offering is being made through underwriters, through agents or directly to the public;

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the rules and procedures for any auction or bidding process, if used;

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the securities’ purchase price or initial public offering price; and

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the net proceeds we anticipate from the sale of the securities, if any.

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In addition, we may enter into derivative or hedging transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. The applicable prospectus supplement may indicate, in connection with such a transaction, that the third parties may sell securities covered by and pursuant to this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle such sales and may use securities received from us to close out any related short positions. We may also loan or pledge securities covered by this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement to third parties, who may sell the loaned securities or, in an event of default in the case of a pledge, sell the pledged securities pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement.

Sales Through Underwriters

If underwriters are used in the sale of some or all of the securities covered by this prospectus, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account. The underwriters may resell the securities, either directly to the public or to securities dealers, at various times in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions. Unless indicated otherwise in a prospectus supplement, the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities of the series offered if any of the securities are purchased.

Any initial public offering price and any concessions allowed or reallowed to dealers may be changed intermittently.

Sales Through Agents

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, when securities are sold through an agent, the designated agent will agree, for the period of its appointment as agent, to use its specified efforts to sell the securities for our account and will receive commissions from us as will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

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Securities bought in accordance with a redemption or repayment under their terms also may be offered and sold, if so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, in connection with a remarketing by one or more firms acting as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us. Any remarketing firm will be identified and the terms of its agreement, if any, with us and its compensation will be described in the prospectus supplement. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters in connection with the securities remarketed by them.

If so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers by certain specified institutions to purchase securities at a price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a future date specified in the prospectus supplement. These contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, and the prospectus supplement will set forth the commissions payable for solicitation of these contracts.

Direct Sales

We may also sell offered securities directly to institutional investors or others. In such a case, no underwriters or agents would be involved. The terms of such sales will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

General Information

Broker-dealers, agents or underwriters may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from us and/or the purchasers of securities for whom such broker-dealers, agents or underwriters may act as agents or to whom they sell as principal, or both (this compensation to a particular broker-dealer might be in excess of customary commissions).

Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in any distribution of the offered securities may be deemed “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act. Thus, any discounts or commissions they receive in connection with the distribution may be deemed to be underwriting compensation. Those underwriters and agents may be entitled, under their agreements with us, to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution by us to payments that they may be required to make in respect of those civil liabilities. Certain of those underwriters or agents may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us or our affiliates in the ordinary course of business. We will identify any underwriters or agents, and describe their compensation, in a prospectus supplement. Any institutional investors or others that purchase offered securities directly, and then resell the securities, may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts or commissions received by them from us and any profit on the resale of the securities by them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.

We will file a supplement to this prospectus, if required, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, if we enter into any material arrangement with a broker, dealer, agent or underwriter for the sale of securities through a block trade, special offering, exchange distribution or secondary distribution or a purchase by a broker or dealer. Such prospectus supplement will disclose:

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the name of any participating broker, dealer, agent or underwriter;

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the number and type of securities involved;

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the price at which such securities were sold;

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any securities exchanges on which such securities may be listed;

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the commissions paid or discounts or concessions allowed to any such broker, dealer, agent or underwriter where applicable; and

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other facts material to the transaction.

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In order to facilitate the offering of certain securities under this prospectus or an applicable prospectus supplement, certain persons participating in the offering of those securities may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of those securities during and after the offering of those

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securities. Specifically, if the applicable prospectus supplement permits, the underwriters of those securities may over-allot or otherwise create a short position in those securities for their own account by selling more of those securities than have been sold to them by us and may elect to cover any such short position by purchasing those securities in the open market.

In addition, the underwriters may stabilize or maintain the price of those securities by bidding for or purchasing those securities in the open market and may impose penalty bids, under which selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other broker-dealers participating in the offering are reclaimed if securities previously distributed in the offering are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions or otherwise. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. The imposition of a penalty bid may also affect the price of securities to the extent that it discourages resales of the securities. No representation is made as to the magnitude or effect of any such stabilization or other transactions. Such transactions, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

In order to comply with the securities laws of certain states, if applicable, the securities must be sold in such jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in certain states the securities may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.

Rule 15c6-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 generally requires that trades in the secondary market settle in two business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Your prospectus supplement may provide that the original issue date for your securities may be more than two scheduled business days after the trade date for your securities. Accordingly, in such a case, if you wish to trade securities on any date prior to the second business day before the original issue date for your securities, you will be required, by virtue of the fact that your securities initially are expected to settle in more than two scheduled business days after the trade date for your securities, to make alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.

This prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable pricing supplement in electronic format may be made available on the Internet sites of, or through other online services maintained by, us and/or one or more of the agents and/or dealers participating in an offering of securities, or by their affiliates. In those cases, prospective investors may be able to view offering terms online and, depending upon the particular agent or dealer, prospective investors may be allowed to place orders online.

Other than this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable pricing supplement in electronic format, the information on our or any agent’s or dealer’s website and any information contained in any other website maintained by any agent or dealer:

•

is not part of this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any applicable pricing supplement or the registration statement of which they form a part;

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has not been approved or endorsed by us or by any agent or dealer in its capacity as an agent or dealer, except, in each case, with respect to the respective website maintained by such entity; and

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should not be relied upon by investors.

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There can be no assurance that we will sell all or any of the securities offered by this prospectus.

This prospectus may also be used in connection with any issuance of common stock or preferred stock upon exercise of a warrant if such issuance is not exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

In addition, we may issue the securities as a dividend or distribution or in a subscription rights offering to our existing security holders. In some cases, we or dealers acting with us or on our behalf may also purchase securities and reoffer them to the public by one or more of the methods described above. This prospectus may be used in connection with any offering of our securities through any of these methods or other methods described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

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LEGAL MATTERS

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Lowenstein Sandler LLP, New York, New York. If the validity of the securities offered hereby in connection with offerings made pursuant to this prospectus are passed upon by counsel for the underwriters, dealers or agents, if any, such counsel will be named in the prospectus supplement relating to such offering.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements, and the related financial statement schedule, incorporated in this Prospectus by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we have filed with the SEC relating to the securities being offered hereby. This prospectus does not contain all of the information in the registration statement and its exhibits. The registration statement, its exhibits and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus and their exhibits, all contain information that is material to the offering of the securities hereby. Whenever a reference is made in this prospectus to any of our contracts or other documents, the reference may not be complete. You should refer to the exhibits that are a part of the registration statement in order to review a copy of the contract or documents. The registration statement and the exhibits are available at the SEC’s Public Reference Room or through its Website.

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You can read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at its Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549 and at its regional offices, a list of which is available on the Internet at http://www.sec.gov/contact/addresses.htm. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an Internet site at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers, such as us, that file electronically with the SEC. Additionally, you may access our filings with the SEC through our website at http://www.coffeeholding.com. The information on our website is not part of this prospectus.

We will provide you without charge, upon your oral or written request, with a copy of any or all reports, proxy statements and other documents we file with the SEC, as well as any or all of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus or the registration statement (other than exhibits to such documents unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into such documents). Requests for such copies should be directed to:

Tower International, Inc.
17672 Laurel Park Drive North, Suite 400
Livonia, Michigan 48152
(248-675-6000)
Attention: Corporate Secretary

You should rely only on the information in this prospectus and the additional information described above and under the heading “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” below. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely upon it. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information in this prospectus was accurate on the date of the front cover of this prospectus only. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with it into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede information contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement.

We incorporate by reference the documents listed below that we have previously filed with the SEC:

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our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the SEC on February 28, 2018;

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our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on February 1, 2018 and February 23, 2018; and

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the description of our common stock included in our Form 8-A filed with the SEC on October 12, 2010, and any amendment or report we may file with the SEC for the purpose of updating that description.

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All reports and other documents that we file with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus but before the termination of the offering of the securities hereunder will also be considered to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus from the date of the filing of these reports and documents, and will supersede the information herein; provided, however, that all reports, exhibits and other information that we “furnish” to the SEC will not be considered incorporated by reference into this prospectus. All filings filed by us pursuant to the Exchange Act after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into the prospectus. We undertake to provide without charge to each person (including any beneficial owner) who receives a copy of this prospectus, upon written or oral request, a copy of all of the preceding documents that are incorporated by reference (other than exhibits, unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into these documents). You may request a copy of these materials in the manner set forth under the heading “Additional Information” above.

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$300,000,000

Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Warrants
Debt Securities
Subscription Rights
Depositary Shares
Units

PROSPECTUS

           , 2018

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

The following table sets forth the costs and expenses payable by the registrant in connection with the sale of securities being registered. All amounts are estimates except the SEC registration fee (which has previously been paid).

*

Estimated fees and expenses are not presently known. The foregoing sets forth the general categories of fees and expenses (other than underwriting discounts and commissions) that we anticipate we will incur in connection with the offering of securities under this registration statement. An estimate of the aggregate fees and expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being offered will be included in the applicable prospectus supplement.

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Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law permits indemnification of the registrant’s officers and directors under certain conditions and subject to certain limitations. Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law also provides that a corporation has the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of its officers and directors against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by him or her in such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability under the provisions of Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

Article VII of the registrant’s bylaws provides that the registrant will indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized by law. The rights to indemnity thereunder continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of the person. In addition, expenses incurred by a director or officer in defending any civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the registrant (or was serving at the registrant’s request as a director, officer employee or agent of another entity) will be paid by the registrant in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the registrant as authorized by the registrant’s bylaws.

As permitted by Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, Article VII of the registrant’s certificate of incorporation provides that a director of the registrant will not be personally liable for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the registrant or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

The registrant has purchased directors’ and officers’ liability insurance. The registrant believes that this insurance is necessary to attract and retain qualified directors and officers.

The indemnification agreement for our directors and officers provides that the registrant shall indemnify the director or officer party to each such agreement to the fullest extent permitted by law against all expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably

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incurred by such person, or on his or her behalf, in connection with any proceeding or any action, discovery, event, claim, issue or matter therein or related thereto, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the registrant and, in the case of a criminal proceeding, in addition, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

ITEM 16. EXHIBITS.

*

Filed herewith.

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**

To be filed, if applicable, by amendment or by a report filed under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and incorporated herein by reference.

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***

To be filed pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

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Item 17. Undertakings

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

(a) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

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(b) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than twenty percent (20%) change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement.

(c) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;

Provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(a), (1)(b) and (1)(c) above do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(i) If the Registrant is relying on Rule 430B:

(A) Each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; or

(ii) If the Registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be

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part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrant;

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.

(6) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(7) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

(8) To file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act (“Act”) in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Act.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Livonia, State of Michigan, on this 1st day of March, 2018.

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints James C. Gouin, Jeffrey L. Kersten and Nanette Dudek, and each of them, each with full power to act without the other, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this Registration Statement, and to sign any registration statement for the same offering covered by this Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments or registration statements filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming that each of said such attorneys-in-fact and agents or his substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

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