forms3asr.htm

 

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 14, 2008


Registration No. 333-_______
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM S-3
 
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
 
TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
 
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
 
Illinois
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
36-3228472
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
2701 Spruce Street
Quincy, IL 62301
(217) 228-6011
 
(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number,
Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)
 
Cheri T. Holley
Vice President and General Counsel
2701 Spruce Street
Quincy, IL 62301
(217) 228-6011
 
(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number,
Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)
 
Copies To:
Barbara A. Bowman
Bodman LLP
6th Floor at Ford Field
1901 St. Antoine Street
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 259-7777
 


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. T
 
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 filed 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. T
 
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. £
 
Calculation of Registration Fee
 
Title of each class of securities to be registered 
Amount to be registered 
Proposed maximum offering price per unit 
Proposed maximum aggregate offering price 
 Amount of registration fee 
Common Stock, no par value, Preferred Stock, no par value, Debt Securities 
(1)(2)
(1)(2)
(1)(2)
(3)

(1)  
Omitted pursuant to Form S-3 General Instruction II.E.
 
(2) An unspecified number of the securities of each identified class of securities is being registered for possible issuance from time to time at indeterminate prices. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities. In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act, we are deferring payment of all applicable registration fees.
 
(3) Deferred in reliance upon Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r).
 



PROSPECTUS
 

 
TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC. LOGO
 
TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
 
Common Stock, no par value
Preferred Stock, no par value
Debt Securities

 
From time to time, we may offer any combination of the securities described in this prospectus, at prices and upon terms to be determined on the basis of market conditions at the time we make the offer. We may also offer common stock or preferred stock upon conversion of debt securities, or common stock upon conversion of preferred stock.
 
We will provide the specific terms of these offers and sales in supplements to this prospectus. This prospectus may not be used to sell any securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement. You should read this prospectus and the supplement carefully before you invest. We may offer securities directly to investors or through agents, underwriters or dealers. If any agents, underwriters or dealers are involved in the sale of any of our securities, their names and any applicable purchase prices, fees, commissions or discount arrangements will be set forth in the prospectus supplement.
 
Our common stock currently trades on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, under the symbol “TWI”. On March 13, 2008, the last reported sale price of our common stock was $33.99 per share.
 
Investing in our securities involves risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 1 of this prospectus and in the prospectus supplement.
_______________________________
 
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 March 14, 2008
 


TABLE OF CONTENTS
 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
 
ii
 
OUR BUSINESS
    1  
RISK FACTORS
    1  
NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
    1  
THE SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER
    2  
RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
    4  
USE OF PROCEEDS
    5  
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
    5  
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
    7  
LEGAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES
    13  
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
    17  
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
    19  
INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION FILED WITH THE SEC
    19  
LEGAL MATTERS
    20  
EXPERTS
    20  
 
 
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
 
This prospectus is part of a registration statement utilizing the “shelf registration” process that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, to permit us to offer and sell the securities described in this prospectus in one or more transactions. The plan of distribution of the securities is described in this prospectus under the heading “Plan of Distribution.”
 
As permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC, the registration statement filed by us includes additional information not contained in this prospectus. You may read the registration statement and the other reports we file with the SEC at the SEC’s web site or at the SEC’s offices described below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”
 
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time securities are sold, 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. We or an authorized underwriter or agent may also furnish you with a free writing prospectus relating to an offering of our securities. You should carefully read this prospectus, the prospectus supplement, and any free writing prospectus, together with additional information described in this prospectus under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”
 
You should rely only on the information provided in this prospectus, the prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus, including any information incorporated by reference. For more details on information incorporated herein by reference, you should review the discussion contained under the heading “Incorporation of Information Filed with the SEC.” We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, the prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus. We are offering the securities only in jurisdictions where offers are permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, the prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus is accurate at any date other than the date indicated on the cover page of these documents.
 
    Except as otherwise indicated and unless the context otherwise requires, throughout this prospectus the words “our company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Titan International, Inc. and its subsidiaries and “Titan International” refers to Titan International, Inc., not including its subsidiaries.
 
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OUR BUSINESS
 
We are leading manufacturers of wheels, tires and assemblies for off-highway vehicles used in the agricultural, earthmoving/construction and consumer markets.  Our earthmoving/construction market also includes products supplied to the U.S. government, while the consumer market includes products for all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and recreational/utility trailer applications.  We manufacture both wheels and tires for the majority of these market applications, allowing us to provide the value-added service of delivering complete wheel and tire assemblies.  We offer a broad range of products that are manufactured in relatively short production runs to meet the specifications of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and/or the requirements of aftermarket customers.
 
As one of the few companies dedicated to the off-highway wheel and tire market, our engineering and manufacturing resources are focused on addressing the real-life concerns of the end-users of our products.  Our team of experienced designers and engineers is working on new and improved engineered products.
 
In 2008, we plan to enter the giant off-the-road (OTR) tire market, which will include 57-inch and 63-inch giant radial tires, the largest tires in the world.  To enter the giant OTR tire market, we are investing in a large capital expansion project at our Bryan, Ohio, location.  We have also worked on adding OTR tire capacity through a production realignment of aligning synergies through retooling, retraining personnel and redistribution of equipment.
 
In 2007, our agricultural market sales represented 62% of net sales, the earthmoving/construction market represented 33% and the consumer market represented 5% of net sales.
 
The address of our principal executive offices is 2701 Spruce Street, Quincy, Illinois 62301, and our telephone number is (217) 228-6011.
 
RISK FACTORS
 
Investing in our securities involves risks. You should review carefully the risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial may also significantly impair our business operations.
 
NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some of the statements contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, the prospectus supplement or in any free writing prospectus may include forward-looking statements that reflect our current views with respect to our plans, objectives, expectations, prospects and other future events. These statements include forward-looking statements both with respect to us, specifically, and our industry, in general. We make these statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that include the words “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “may,” “should,”
 

 
“anticipate,” “will” and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature identify forward-looking statements for purposes of the federal securities laws or otherwise.
 
All forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and there are or will be important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. We believe that these factors include, but are not limited to, those factors set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus and under the captions “Business,” “Legal Proceedings,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” and “Controls and Procedures” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, all of which you should review carefully. Please consider our forward-looking statements in light of those risks as you read this prospectus, the prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
 
If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materializes, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may vary materially from what we anticipate. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or individuals acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this Note. Before purchasing any securities, you should consider carefully all of the factors set forth or referred to in this prospectus, the prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus that could cause actual results to differ.
 
THE SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER

We may offer shares of our common stock and preferred stock and various series of debt securities from time to time under this prospectus at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of any offering. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer a type or series of securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and other important terms of the securities, including, to the extent applicable:
 
·  
designation or classification;
·  
aggregate principal amount or aggregate offering price;
·  
maturity, if applicable;
·  
original issue discount, if any;
·  
rates and times of payment of interest or dividends, if any;
·  
redemption, exercise, exchange or sinking fund terms, if any;
·  
ranking;
·  
restrictive covenants, if any;
·  
voting or other rights, if any;
·  
conversion prices, if any; and
·  
important United States federal income tax considerations.

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The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus or in documents we have incorporated by reference. However, no prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus will offer a security that is not registered and described in this prospectus at the time of the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
 
THIS PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE USED TO OFFER OR SELL SECURITIES UNLESS IT IS ACCOMPANIED BY A PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.
 
We may sell the securities directly to investors or to or through agents, underwriters or dealers. We, and our agents or underwriters, reserve the right to accept or reject all or part of any proposed purchase of securities. If we do offer securities through agents or underwriters, we will include in the applicable prospectus supplement:
 
·  
the names of those agents or underwriters;
·  
applicable fees, discounts and commissions to be paid to them;
·  
details regarding over-allotment options, if any; and
·  
the net proceeds to us.

Common Stock.  We may issue shares of our common stock from time to time. The holders of common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders and do not have cumulative voting rights. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any then outstanding shares of preferred stock, the holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends as may be declared by our board of directors out of legally available funds. Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities and the liquidation preferences of any outstanding shares of preferred stock.
 
Preferred Stock.  We may issue shares of our preferred stock from time to time, in one or more series. Our board of directors will determine the voting powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions of the preferred stock, including dividend rights, conversion rights, preemptive rights, voting rights, terms of redemption or repurchase, liquidation preferences, sinking fund terms and the number of shares constituting any series or the designation of any series. Convertible preferred stock will be convertible into our common stock or exchangeable for our other securities. Conversion may be mandatory or at your option and would be at prescribed conversion rates.
 
If we sell any series of preferred stock under this prospectus, we will fix the powers, designations, preferences, and rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such series of the preferred stock in the statement of resolution establishing series relating to that series. We will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of any statement of resolution establishing series that describes the terms of the series of preferred stock we are offering before the issuance of the related series of preferred stock. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement (and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you) related to the series of preferred stock being offered, as well as the complete statement of resolution establishing series that contains the terms of the applicable series of preferred stock.
 
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Debt Securities.  We may offer debt securities from time to time, in one or more series, as either senior or subordinated debt or as senior or subordinated convertible debt. The senior debt securities will rank equally with any other unsecured and unsubordinated debt. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner described in the instrument governing the debt, to all of our senior indebtedness. Convertible debt securities will be convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock or our other securities. Conversion may be mandatory or at your option and would be at prescribed conversion rates.
 
The debt securities will be issued under one or more indentures, which are contracts between us and a national banking association or other eligible party, as trustee. In this prospectus, we have summarized certain general features of the debt securities. We urge you, however, to read the applicable prospectus supplement (and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you) related to the series of debt securities being offered, as well as the complete indentures, which contain the terms of the debt securities. Forms of indentures have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and supplemental indentures and forms of debt securities containing the terms of the debt securities being offered will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or will be incorporated by reference from reports that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND
EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
Our ratio of earnings to fixed charges and ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends for each of the previous five years ended December 31 were as follows:
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2003
   
2004
   
2005
   
2006
   
2007
 
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
    n/a       2.06       1.25       1.48       1.49  
Earnings deficiency (dollars in thousands)
  $ 33,147     $     $     $     $  
 
For the purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, "earnings" represents income from continuing operations before income taxes, plus fixed charges. "Fixed charges" consist of interest expense including amortization of debt issuance costs and that portion of rental expense considered to be a reasonable approximation of interest.
 
For the year ended December 31, 2003, earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges and the dollar amount of coverage deficiency is disclosed in the above table, in thousands.
 
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USE OF PROCEEDS
 
Unless we indicate otherwise in the prospectus supplement, we expect to use the net proceeds we receive from the sale of our securities to augment our working capital and for general corporate purposes, including, but not limited to, research and development activities, capital expenditures, potential acquisitions and other business opportunities. We may set forth in a prospectus supplement additional information on our intended use for the net proceeds received from the sale of any securities sold pursuant to that prospectus supplement.
 
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
General. Our authorized capital stock consists of 60,000,000 shares of common stock, without par value, and 4,000,000 shares of preferred stock, without par value. As of March 13, 2008, there were 27,432,856shares of our common stock outstanding and 3,144,500 shares were held in our treasury. No shares of our preferred stock are issued and outstanding. The following description of our capital stock and certain provisions of our articles of incorporation is a summary. The description below is qualified in its entirety by the provisions of our articles of incorporation, which have been filed as an exhibit to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1998, and the provisions of our bylaws and the applicable provisions of the Illinois Business Corporation Act. For information on how to obtain copies of our articles of incorporation and bylaws, which are exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, see “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”
 
Common Stock.  The issued and outstanding shares of our common stock are validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable. Holders of shares of our outstanding common stock are entitled to receive dividends if our board of directors decides to declare any dividends. Our common stock is neither redeemable nor convertible. Upon our liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to receive, pro rata, our assets that are legally available for distribution, after payment of all debts and other liabilities. Each outstanding share of common stock is entitled to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders. Our articles of incorporation do not allow for cumulative voting in the election of directors.
 
The rights of the holders of our common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of holders of shares of any preferred stock that we may designate and issue in the future.
 
 Preferred Stock.  Our articles of incorporation authorize the issuance of four million shares of preferred stock, no par value per share. Our board of directors is authorized to provide for the issuance of shares of preferred stock in one or more series, and to fix for each series voting rights, if any, designation, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and such qualifications, limitations, or restrictions as provided in a resolution or resolutions adopted by our board of director
 
We will fix the rights, powers, designations, preferences, limitations or restrictions of the preferred stock of each series in the resolution relating to that series. We will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from
 
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reports that we file with the SEC, the form of any statement of resolution establishing series that describes the terms of the series of preferred stock we are offering before the issuance of that series of preferred stock. This description will include, as applicable:
 
·  
the title and stated value;
·  
the number of shares we are offering;
·  
the liquidation preference per share;
·  
the purchase price;
·  
the dividend rate, period and payment date and method of calculation for dividends;
·  
whether dividends will be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends will accumulate; 
·  
the procedures for any auction and remarketing, if any;
·  
the provisions for redemption or repurchase, if applicable, and any restrictions on our ability to exercise those redemption and repurchase rights;
·  
any listing of the preferred stock on any securities exchange or market;
·  
whether the preferred stock will be convertible into our common stock, and, if applicable, the conversion price, or how it will be calculated, and the conversion period;
·  
preemptive rights, if any;
·  
restrictions on transfer, sale or other assignment, if any;
·  
whether interests in the preferred stock will be represented by depositary shares;
·  
a discussion of any material or special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the preferred stock;
·  
the relative ranking and preferences of the preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights if we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs;
·  
any limitations on 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 if we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs; and
·  
any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the preferred stock.

If we issue shares of preferred stock under this prospectus, the shares will be fully paid and non-assessable.
 
Options.  As of December 31, 2007, 149,950 shares of our common stock were issuable upon exercise of options that were outstanding under our 1993 Stock Incentive Plan, 216,000 shares of our common stock were issuable upon exercise of options that were outstanding under our 1994 Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan, and 333,250 shares of our common stock were issuable upon exercise of options that were outstanding under our 2005 Equity Incentive Plan. As of December 31, 2007, an additional 1,217,720 shares were reserved for issuance under the 2005 Equity Incentive Plan.
 
Special Meetings of Stockholders .  Our bylaws provide that special meetings of our shareholders may be called only by our chairman of the board, our president, our board of directors or by the holders of not less than one-fifth of all the outstanding shares entitled to vote on the matter for which the meeting is being called or the purpose or purposes stated in the meeting notice.
 
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Authorized But Unissued Shares.  The authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock are available for future issuance without shareholder approval (except as may be required by applicable law or the rules of the NYSE). These additional shares may be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital, corporate acquisitions and employee benefit plans.
 
Transfer Agent and Registrar.  The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is LaSalle Bank N.A.
 
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

We may offer the debt securities from time to time as either senior or subordinated debt or as senior or subordinated convertible debt. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any future debt securities we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any debt securities that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any debt securities offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. Unless the context requires otherwise, whenever we refer to the indentures, we also are referring to any supplemental indentures that specify the terms of a particular series of debt securities.
 
We will issue the senior debt securities under the senior indenture that we will enter into with the trustee named in the senior indenture. We will issue the subordinated debt securities under the subordinated indenture that we will enter into with the trustee named in the subordinated indenture. The indentures will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. We use the term “debenture trustee” to refer to either the trustee under the senior indenture or the trustee under the subordinated indenture, as applicable.
 
The following summaries of material provisions of the senior debt securities, the subordinated debt securities and the indentures are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the indenture applicable to a particular series of debt securities. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements and any related free writing prospectuses related to the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, as well as the indenture that contains the terms of the debt securities. Except as we may otherwise indicate, the terms of the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture are identical.
 
General.  We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the following terms relating to a series of debt securities:
 
·  
the title;
·  
the principal amount being offered, and if a series, the total amount authorized and the total amount outstanding;
·  
any limit on the amount that may be issued;
·  
whether or not we will issue the series of debt securities in global form, the terms and who the depositary will be;

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·  
the maturity date;
·  
whether and under what circumstances, if any, we will pay additional amounts on any debt securities held by a person who is not a United States person for tax purposes, and whether we can redeem the debt securities if we have to pay such additional amounts;
·  
the annual interest rate, which may be fixed or variable, or the method for determining the rate and the date interest will begin to accrue, the dates interest will be payable and the regular record dates for interest payment dates or the method for determining such dates;
·  
whether or not the debt securities will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt;
·  
the terms of the subordination of any series of subordinated debt;
·  
the place where payments will be payable;
·  
restrictions on transfer, sale or other assignment, if any;
·  
our right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the maximum length of any such deferral period;
·  
the date, if any, after which, and the price at which, we may, at our option, redeem the series of debt securities pursuant to any optional or provisional redemption provisions and the terms of those redemption provisions;
·  
the date, if any, on which, and the price at which we are obligated, pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund or analogous fund provisions or otherwise, to redeem, or at the holder’s option to purchase, the series of debt securities and the currency or currency unit in which the debt securities are payable;
·  
whether the indenture will restrict our ability and/or the ability of our subsidiaries to:
·  
incur additional indebtedness;
·  
issue additional securities;
·  
create liens;
·  
pay dividends and make distributions in respect of our capital stock and the capital stock of our subsidiaries;
·  
redeem capital stock;
·  
place restrictions on our subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends, make distributions or transfer assets;
·  
make investments or other restricted payments;
·  
sell or otherwise dispose of assets;
·  
enter into sale-leaseback transactions;
·  
engage in transactions with stockholders and affiliates;
·  
issue or sell stock of our subsidiaries; or
·  
effect a consolidation or merger;
·  
whether the indenture will require us to maintain any interest coverage, fixed charge, cash flow-based, asset-based or other financial ratios;
·  
a discussion of any material or special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the debt securities;
·  
information describing any book-entry features;
·  
provisions for a sinking fund purchase or other analogous fund, if any;
·  
the applicability of the provisions in the indenture on discharge;

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·  
whether the debt securities are to be offered at a price such that they will be deemed to be offered at an “original issue discount” as defined in paragraph (a) of Section 1273 of the Internal Revenue Code;
·  
the denominations in which we will issue the series of debt securities, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof;
·  
the currency of payment of debt securities if other than U.S. dollars and the manner of determining the equivalent amount in U.S. dollars; and
·  
any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the debt securities, including any additional events of default or covenants provided with respect to the debt securities, and any terms that may be required by us or advisable under applicable laws or regulations.

Conversion or Exchange Rights.  We will set forth in the prospectus supplement the terms on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock or our other securities, if applicable. We will include provisions as to whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option. We may include provisions pursuant to which the number of shares of our common stock or our other securities that the holders of the series of debt securities receive would be subject to adjustment.
 
Consolidation, Merger or Sale.  Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the indentures will not contain any covenant that restricts our ability to merge or consolidate, or sell, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets. However, any successor to or acquirer of such assets must assume all of our obligations under the indentures or the debt securities, as appropriate. If the debt securities are convertible into or exchangeable for our other securities or securities of other entities, the person with whom we consolidate or merge or to whom we sell all of our property must make provisions for the conversion of the debt securities into securities that the holders of the debt securities would have received if they had converted the debt securities before the consolidation, merger or sale.
 
Events of Default Under the Indenture.  Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the following are events of default under the indentures with respect to any series of debt securities that we may issue:
 
·  
if we fail to pay interest when due and payable and our failure continues for 90 days and the time for payment has not been extended or deferred;
·  
if we fail to pay the principal, premium or sinking fund payment, if any, when due and payable and the time for payment has not been extended or delayed;
·  
if we fail to observe or perform any other covenant contained in the debt securities or the indentures, other than a covenant specifically relating to another series of debt securities, and our failure continues for 90 days after we receive notice from the debenture trustee or holders of at least 50% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series; and
·  
if specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur.


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If an event of default with respect to debt securities of any series occurs and is continuing, other than an event of default specified in the last bullet point above, the debenture trustee or the holders of at least 50% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series, by notice to us in writing, and to the debenture trustee if notice is given by such holders, may declare the unpaid principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, due and payable immediately. If an event of default specified in the last bullet point above occurs with respect to us, the principal amount of and accrued interest, if any, of each issue of debt securities then outstanding shall be due and payable without any notice or other action on the part of the debenture trustee or any holder.
 
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of an affected series may waive any default or event of default with respect to the series and its consequences, except defaults or events of default regarding payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, unless we have cured the default or event of default in accordance with the indenture. Any waiver shall cure the default or event of default.
 
Subject to the terms of the indentures, if an event of default under an indenture shall occur and be continuing, the debenture trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under such indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the applicable series of debt securities, unless such holders have offered the debenture trustee reasonable indemnity. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the debenture trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the debenture trustee, with respect to the debt securities of that series, provided that:
 
·  
the direction so given by the holder is not in conflict with any law or the applicable indenture; and
·  
subject to its duties under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the debenture trustee need not take any action that might involve it in personal liability or might be unduly prejudicial to the holders not involved in the proceeding.

A holder of the debt securities of any series will have the right to institute a proceeding under the indentures or to appoint a receiver or trustee, or to seek other remedies only if:
 
·  
 the holder has given written notice to the debenture trustee of a continuing event of default with respect to that series;
·  
the holders of at least 50% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request, and such holders have offered reasonable indemnity to the debenture trustee to institute the proceeding as trustee; and
·  
the debenture trustee does not institute the proceeding, and does not receive from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series other conflicting directions within 90 days after the notice, request and offer.

These limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a holder of debt securities if we default in the payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on, the debt securities.
 
10


We will periodically file statements with the debenture trustee regarding our compliance with specified covenants in the indentures.
 
Modification of Indenture; Waiver.  We and the debenture trustee may change an indenture without the consent of any holders with respect to specific matters:
 
·  
 to fix any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the indenture;
·  
to comply with the provisions described above under “Consolidation, Merger or Sale;”
·  
to comply with any requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the qualification of any indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939;
·  
to add to, delete from or revise the conditions, limitations, and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms, or purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of debt securities, as set forth in the indenture;
·  
to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the debt securities of any series as provided under “General,” to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of the indenture or any series of debt securities, or to add to the rights of the holders of any series of debt securities;
·  
to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor trustee;
·  
to provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of certificated debt securities and to make all appropriate changes for such purpose;
·  
to add to our covenants such new covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the protection of the holders, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and the continuance, of a default in any such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an event of default; or
·  
to change anything that does not materially adversely affect the interests of any holder of debt securities of any series.

In addition, under the indentures, the rights of holders of a series of debt securities may be changed by us and the debenture trustee with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series that is affected. However, unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, we and the debenture trustee may make the following changes only with the consent of each holder of any outstanding debt securities affected:
 
·  
 extending the fixed maturity of the series of debt securities;
·  
reducing the principal amount, reducing the rate of or extending the time of payment of interest, or reducing any premium payable upon the redemption of any debt securities; or
·  
reducing the percentage of debt securities the holders of which are required to consent to any amendment, supplement, modification or waiver.

Discharge.  Each indenture provides that we can elect to be discharged from our obligations with respect to one or more series of debt securities, except for specified obligations, including obligations to:
 
·  
register the transfer or exchange of debt securities of the series;

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·  
replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities of the series;
·  
maintain paying agencies;
·  
hold monies for payment in trust;
·  
recover excess money held by the debenture trustee;
·  
compensate and indemnify the debenture trustee; and
·  
appoint any successor trustee.

In order to exercise our rights to be discharged, we must deposit with the debenture trustee money or government obligations sufficient to pay all the principal of, any premium, if any, and interest on, the debt securities of the series on the dates payments are due.
 
Form, Exchange and Transfer.  We will issue the debt securities of each series only in fully registered form without coupons and, unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. The indentures provide that we may issue debt securities of a series in temporary or permanent global form and as book-entry securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company or another depositary named by us and identified in a prospectus supplement with respect to that series. See “Legal Ownership of Securities” for a further description of the terms relating to any book-entry securities.
 
At the option of the holder, subject to the terms of the indentures and the limitations applicable to global securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the holder of the debt securities of any series can exchange the debt securities for other debt securities of the same series, in any authorized denomination and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.
 
Subject to the terms of the indentures and the limitations applicable to global securities set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the debt securities may present the debt securities for exchange or for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or with the form of transfer endorsed thereon duly executed if so required by us or the security registrar, at the office of the security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by us for this purpose. Unless otherwise provided in the debt securities that the holder presents for transfer or exchange, we will impose no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange, but we may require payment of any taxes or other governmental charges.
 
We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement the security registrar, and any transfer agent in addition to the security registrar, that we initially designate for any debt securities. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of each series.
 
If we elect to redeem the debt securities of any series, we will not be required to:
 
·  
issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any debt securities of that series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of any debt securities that may be selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing; or

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·  
register the transfer of or exchange any debt securities so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any debt securities we are redeeming in part.

Information Concerning the Debenture Trustee.  The debenture trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of an event of default under an indenture, undertakes to perform only those duties as are specifically set forth in the applicable indenture. Upon an event of default under an indenture, the debenture trustee must use the same degree of care as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the debenture trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers given it by the indentures at the request of any holder of debt securities unless it is offered reasonable security and indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that it might incur.
 
Payment and Paying Agents.  Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make payment of the interest on any debt securities on any interest payment date to the person in whose name the debt securities, or one or more predecessor securities, are registered at the close of business on the regular record date for the interest.
 
We will pay principal of and any premium and interest on the debt securities of a particular series at the office of the paying agents designated by us, except that unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make interest payments by check that we will mail to the holder or by wire transfer to certain holders. Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will designate the corporate trust office of the debenture trustee in the City of New York as our sole paying agent for payments with respect to debt securities of each series. We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement any other paying agents that we initially designate for the debt securities of a particular series. We will maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series.
 
All money we pay to a paying agent or the debenture trustee for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the holder of the debt security thereafter may look only to us for payment thereof.
 
 Governing Law.  The indentures and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is applicable.
 
 Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities.  The subordinated debt securities will be unsecured and will be subordinate and junior in priority of payment to certain of our other indebtedness to the extent described in a prospectus supplement. The subordinated indenture does not limit the amount of subordinated debt securities that we may issue, nor does it limit us from issuing any other secured or unsecured debt.
 
LEGAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

We can issue securities in registered form or in the form of one or more global securities. We describe global securities in greater detail below. We refer to those persons who have
 
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securities registered in their own names on the books that we or any applicable trustee or depositary maintain for this purpose as the “holders” of those securities. These persons are the legal holders of the securities. We refer to those persons who, indirectly through others, own beneficial interests in securities that are not registered in their own names, as “indirect holders” of those securities. As we discuss below, indirect holders are not legal holders, and investors in securities issued in book-entry form or in street name will be indirect holders.
 
Book-Entry Holders.  We may issue securities in book-entry form only, as we will specify in the applicable prospectus supplement. This means securities may be represented by one or more global securities registered in the name of a financial institution that holds them as depositary on behalf of other financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system. These participating institutions, which are referred to as participants, in turn, hold beneficial interests in the securities on behalf of themselves or their customers.
 
Only the person in whose name a security is registered is recognized as the holder of that security. Securities issued in global form will be registered in the name of the depositary or its participants. Consequently, for securities issued in global form, we will recognize only the depositary as the holder of the securities, and we will make all payments on the securities to the depositary. The depositary passes along the payments it receives to its participants, which in turn pass the payments along to their customers who are the beneficial owners. The depositary and its participants do so under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers; they are not obligated to do so under the terms of the securities.
 
As a result, investors in a book-entry security will not own securities directly. Instead, they will own beneficial interests in a global security, through a bank, broker or other financial institution that participates in the depositary’s book-entry system or holds an interest through a participant. As long as the securities are issued in global form, investors will be indirect holders, and not holders, of the securities.
 
Street Name Holders.  We may terminate a global security or issue securities in non-global form. In these cases, investors may choose to hold their securities in their own names or in “street name.” Securities held by an investor in street name would be registered in the name of a bank, broker or other financial institution that the investor chooses, and the investor would hold only a beneficial interest in those securities through an account he or she maintains at that institution.
 
For securities held in street name, we will recognize only the intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions in whose names the securities are registered as the holders of those securities, and we will make all payments on those securities to them. These institutions pass along the payments they receive to their customers who are the beneficial owners, but only because they agree to do so in their customer agreements or because they are legally required to do so. Investors who hold securities in street name will be indirect holders, not holders, of those securities.
 
Legal Holders.  Our obligations, as well as the obligations of any applicable trustee and of any third parties employed by us or a trustee, run only to the legal holders of the securities. We do not have obligations to investors who hold beneficial interests in global securities, in
 
14


street name or by any other indirect means. This will be the case whether an investor chooses to be an indirect holder of a security or has no choice because we are issuing the securities only in global form.
 
For example, once we make a payment or give a notice to the holder, we have no further responsibility for the payment or notice even if that holder is required, under agreements with depositary participants or customers or by law, to pass it along to the indirect holders but does not do so. Similarly, we may want to obtain the approval of the holders to amend an indenture, to relieve us of the consequences of a default or of our obligation to comply with a particular provision of the indenture or for other purposes. In such an event, we would seek approval only from the holders, and not the indirect holders, of the securities. Whether and how the holders contact the indirect holders is up to the holders and applicable law.
 
Special Considerations For Indirect Holders.  If you hold securities through a bank, broker or other financial institution, either in book-entry form or in street name, you should check with your own institution to find out:
 
·  
how it handles securities payments and notices;
·  
whether it imposes fees or charges;
·  
how it would handle a request for the holders’ consent, if ever required;
·  
whether and how you can instruct it to send you securities registered in your own name so you can be a holder, if that is permitted in the future;
·  
how it would exercise rights under the securities if there were a default or other event triggering the need for holders to act to protect their interests; and
·  
if the securities are in book-entry form, how the depositary’s rules and procedures will affect these matters.

Global Securities.  A global security is a security that represents one or any other number of individual securities held by a depositary. Generally, all securities represented by the same global securities will have the same terms. Each security issued in book-entry form will be represented by a global security that we deposit with and register in the name of a financial institution or its nominee that we select. The financial institution that we select for this purpose is called the depositary. Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, known as DTC, will be the depositary for all securities issued in book-entry form.
 
A global security may not be transferred to or registered in the name of anyone other than the depositary, its nominee or a successor depositary, unless special termination situations arise. We describe those situations below under “Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated.” As a result of these arrangements, the depositary, or its nominee, will be the sole registered owner and holder of all securities represented by a global security, and investors will be permitted to own only beneficial interests in a global security. Beneficial interests must be held by means of an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the depositary or with another institution that does. Thus, an investor whose security is represented by a global security will not be a holder of the security, but only an indirect holder of a beneficial interest in the global security.
 
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If the prospectus supplement for a particular security indicates that the security will be issued in global form only, then the security will be represented by a global security at all times unless and until the global security is terminated. If termination occurs, we may issue the securities through another book-entry clearing system or decide that the securities may no longer be held through any book-entry clearing system.
 
Special Considerations For Global Securities.  The rights of an indirect holder relating to a global security will be governed by the account rules of the investor’s financial institution and of the depositary, as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. We do not recognize an indirect holder as a holder of securities and instead deal only with the depositary that holds the global security.
 
If securities are issued only in the form of a global security, an investor should be aware of the following:
 
·  
an investor cannot cause the securities to be registered in his or her name, and cannot obtain non-global certificates for his or her interest in the securities, except in the special situations we describe below;
·  
an investor will be an indirect holder and must look to his or her own bank or broker for payments on the securities and protection of his or her legal rights relating to the securities, as we describe above;
·  
an investor may not be able to sell interests in the securities to some insurance companies and to other institutions that are required by law to own their securities in non-book-entry form;
·  
an investor may not be able to pledge his or her interest in a global security in circumstances where certificates representing the securities must be delivered to the lender or other beneficiary of the pledge in order for the pledge to be effective;
·  
the depositary’s policies, which may change from time to time, will govern payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to an investor’s interest in a global security. We and any applicable trustee have no responsibility for any aspect of the depositary’s actions or for its records of ownership interests in a global security, nor do we or the trustee supervise the depositary in any way;
·  
the depositary may, and we understand that DTC will, require that those who purchase and sell interests in a global security within its book-entry system use immediately available funds, and your broker or bank may require you to do so as well; and
·  
financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system, and through which an investor holds its interest in a global security, may also have their own policies affecting payments, notices and other matters relating to the securities.

There may be more than one financial intermediary in the chain of ownership for an investor. We do not monitor and are not responsible for the actions of any of those intermediaries.
 
Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated.  In a few special situations described below, the global security will terminate and interests in it will be exchanged for physical certificates representing those interests. After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold securities directly or in street name will be up to the investor. Investors must consult their
 
16


own banks or brokers to find out how to have their interests in securities transferred to their own name, so that they will be direct holders. We have described the rights of holders and street name investors above.
 
Unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the global security will terminate when the following special situations occur:
 
·  
if the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling, unable or no longer qualified to continue as depositary for that global security and we do not appoint another institution to act as depositary within 90 days;
·  
if we notify any applicable trustee that we wish to terminate that global security; or
·  
if an event of default has occurred with regard to securities represented by that global security and has not been cured or waived.

The prospectus supplement may also list additional situations for terminating a global security that would apply only to the particular series of securities covered by the applicable prospectus supplement. When a global security terminates, the depositary, and not we or any applicable trustee, is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions that will be the initial direct holders.
 
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities from time to time pursuant to underwritten public offerings, negotiated transactions, block trades or a combination of these methods. We may sell the securities through underwriters or dealers, through agents, or directly to one or more purchasers. We may distribute securities from time to time in one or more transactions:
 
·  
at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;
·  
at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;
·  
at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or at negotiated prices.

A prospectus supplement or supplements will describe the terms of the offering of the securities, including:
 
·  
the name or names of the underwriters, if any;
·  
the purchase price of the securities and the proceeds we will receive from the sale;
·  
any over-allotment options under which underwriters may purchase additional securities from us;
·  
any agency fees or underwriting discounts and other items constituting agents’ or underwriters’ compensation;
·  
any public offering price;
·  
any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and
·  
any securities exchange or market on which the securities may be listed.

Only underwriters named in the prospectus supplement will be underwriters of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement.
 

17


If underwriters are used in the sale, they will acquire the securities for their own account and may resell the securities from time to time in one or more 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 the conditions set forth in the applicable underwriting agreement. We may offer the securities to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate. Subject to certain conditions, the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement, other than securities covered by any over-allotment option. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may change from time to time. We may use underwriters with whom we have a material relationship, and we will describe in the prospectus supplement, naming the underwriter, the nature of any such relationship.
 
We may sell securities directly or through agents we designate from time to time. We will name any agent involved in the offering and sale of securities and we will describe any commissions we will pay the agent in the prospectus supplement. Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, our agent will act on a best-efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
 
We may authorize agents or underwriters to solicit offers by certain types of institutional investors to purchase securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. We will describe the conditions to these contracts and the commissions we must pay for solicitation of these contracts in the prospectus supplement.
 
We may provide agents and underwriters with indemnification against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, or contribution with respect to payments that the agents or underwriters may make with respect to these liabilities. Agents and underwriters may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.
 
All securities we may offer, other than common stock, will be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters may make a market in these securities, but will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We cannot guarantee the liquidity of the trading markets for any securities.
 
Any underwriter may engage in over allotment, stabilizing transactions, short-covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”). Over-allotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum price. Syndicate-covering or other short-covering transactions involve purchases of the securities, either through exercise of the over-allotment option or in the open market after the distribution is completed, to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the securities originally sold by the dealer are purchased in a stabilizing or covering transaction to cover short positions. Those activities may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of the activities at any time.
 
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In compliance with guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, the maximum consideration or discount to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker dealer may not exceed 10% of the aggregate amount of the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement.
 
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
 
We are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or Exchange Act, and are required to file annual, quarterly and other reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may inspect and copy these reports, proxy statements and other information at the Public Reference Room maintained by the SEC in Washington, D.C. (100 F Street N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549). Copies of such materials can be obtained from the SEC’s Public Reference Room at prescribed rates. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at (800) SEC-0330. Our SEC filings are also available to the public over the SEC website located at http://www.sec.gov.
 
You may also access the information we file electronically with the SEC through our website at http://www.titan-intl.com. Information contained on our website shall not be deemed to be incorporated herein by reference.
 
INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION FILED WITH THE SEC
 
The SEC allows us to incorporate in this prospectus “by reference” information contained in documents that we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those other documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and documents that we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus will automatically update and, where applicable, modify or supersede any information set forth or incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
 
We incorporate by reference in this prospectus the documents listed below:
 
·  
Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
·  
Our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 29, 2008.
·  
The description of our common stock as described in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed under the Exchange Act on May 10, 1993, and any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating any such description.
·  
Any document 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 and before the termination of this offering (other than any portion of such documents that are not deemed “filed” under the Exchange Act in accordance with the Exchange Act and applicable SEC rules). Information in these subsequent SEC filings will be deemed to be incorporated by reference as of the date we make the filing.

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We will provide without charge to each person (including any beneficial owner) to whom a copy of this prospectus is delivered, upon the written or oral request of any such person, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated into this prospectus by reference, other than exhibits to those documents unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into those documents, or referred to in this prospectus. Requests should be directed to:
 
Cheri T. Holley
Vice President and General Counsel
Titan International, Inc.
2701 Spruce Street
Quincy, IL 62301
(217) 228-6011

LEGAL MATTERS
 
Bodman LLP, Detroit, Michigan will pass upon the validity of the securities being offered by this prospectus. Bodman LLP will rely as to certain matters upon the opinions of Schmiedeskamp, Robertson, Neu & Mitchell, Quincy, Illinois, regarding certain matters under Illinois law.
 
EXPERTS
 
The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

20


PART II
 
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.

The following table itemizes the expenses incurred by the Registrant in connection with the issuance and registration of the securities being registered hereunder. All amounts shown are estimates except the Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee.
 
SEC registration fee
  $   (1)
Printing and engraving expenses
  $   (2)
Legal fees and expenses
  $   (2)
Accounting fees and expenses
  $   (2)
Blue Sky fees and expenses
  $   (2)
Miscellaneous fees and expenses
  $   (2)
Total
  $   (2)

(1) Under SEC Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the SEC registration fee will be paid at the time of any particular offering of securities under the registration statement, and is therefore not currently determinable.
 
(2) These fees are calculated based on the number of issuances and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time.
 
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

We are incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois. Section 8.75 of the Illinois Business Corporation Act of 1983, as amended (the “IBCA”) and Article Eleven of the registrant’s By-Laws provide for indemnification of our directors and officers and certain other persons, and Article Five of our Articles of Incorporation provides for a limitation of director liability. Under Section 8.75 of the IBCA, our directors and officers may be indemnified by us against all expenses incurred in connection with actions (including, under certain circumstances, derivative actions) brought against such director or officer by reason of his or her status as our representative, or by reason of the fact that such director or officer serves or served as a representative of another entity at our request, so long as the director or officer acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, our best interests.
 
As permitted under Section 8.75 of the IBCA, our By-Laws provide that we shall indemnify directors and officers against all expenses incurred in connection with actions (including derivative actions) brought against such director or officer by reason of the fact that he or she is or was our director or officer, or by reason of the fact that such director or officer serves or served as an employee or agent of any entity at our request, unless the act or failure to act on the part of the director or officer giving rise to the claim for indemnification is determined by a court in a final, binding adjudication to have constituted willful misconduct or recklessness.
 
 
II-1


Our Articles of Incorporation limit the liability of a director to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, provided, however, that the Articles do not eliminate or limit director liability for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders, for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, under Section 8.65 of the IBCA (relating to unlawful distributions), or for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.
 
Insurance is maintained on a regular basis against liabilities arising on the part of our directors and officers out of their performance in such capacities or arising on our part out of the foregoing indemnification provisions, subject to certain exclusions and to the policy limits.
 
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS.

Exhibit Number
Description of Exhibit
1.1
Form of Underwriting Agreement or Purchase Agreement (1)
4.1
Form of Common Stock Certificate (2)
4.2
Specimen Preferred Stock Certificate and Form of Statement of Resolution Establishing Series (1)
4.3
Form of Senior Debt Indenture, between Registrant and one or more trustees to be named
4.4
Form of Subordinated Debt Indenture, between Registrant and one or more trustees to be named
4.5
Form of Senior Note (1)
4.6
Form of Subordinated Note (1)
5.1
Opinion of Bodman LLP (1)
5.2
Opinion of Schmiedeskamp, Robertson, Neu & Mitchell (1)
8.1
Opinion of Bodman LLP re federal tax matters (1)
12.1
Statement of Computation of Ratios
23.1
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
23.2
Consent of Bodman LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1) (1)
23.3
Consent of Schmiedeskamp, Robertson, Neu & Mitchell LLP (included in Exhibit 5.2) (1)
24.1
Power of Attorney (on the signature page hereof)
25.1
Statement of Eligibility of Trustee under the Senior Debt Indenture (1)
25.2
Statement of Eligibility of Trustee under the Subordinated Debt Indenture (1)

(1) If required, this exhibit will be filed in an amendment or as an exhibit to a document to be incorporated by reference herein in connection with an offering of securities.
 
 (2) Filed as Exhibit 4.4 to the Registrant’s Form S-3 filed September 13, 2004, Registration No. 333-118949, and incorporated by reference.
 
 
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ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS.

(a)  We undertake:
 
(1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
 
(i)  To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
 
(ii) 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 SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;
 
(iii)  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 (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in 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:
 
 
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(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, 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 a part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was a part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
 
(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:
 
(A)  Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
 
(B)  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;
 
(C)  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
 
(D)  Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
 
(b)  If the securities registered are to be offered at competitive bidding, the undersigned registrant hereby undertakes (1) to use its best efforts to distribute prior to the opening of bids, to prospective bidders, underwriters, and dealers, a reasonable number of copies of a prospectus which at that time meets the requirements of section 10(a) of the Act, and relates to the securities offered at competitive bidding, as contained in the registration statement, together with any supplements thereto, and (2) to file an amendment to the registration statement reflecting the
 

 
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results of bidding, the terms of the reoffering and related matters to the extent required by the applicable form, not later than the first use, authorized by the issuer after the opening of bids, of a prospectus relating to the securities offered at competitive bidding, unless no further public offering of such securities by the issuer and no reoffering of such securities by the purchasers is proposed to be made.
 
(c)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes 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 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.
 
(d)  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrants pursuant to the provisions described under Item 15 above, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the respective 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, such 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 Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
 

 
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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 Quincy, Illinois, on March 14, 2008.
 
TITAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
 
By: /s/ MAURICE M. TAYLOR JR.
Maurice M. Taylor Jr.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
(the principal executive officer)

 
POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
The undersigned directors and/or officers of Titan International, Inc., an Illinois corporation (the “Registrant”) do hereby make, constitute and appoint Cheri T. Holley and Kent W. Hackamack, and each of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned’s name, place and stead, to sign and affix the undersigned’s name as such director and/or officer of the Registrant to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-3, or any other appropriate form, for the purpose of registering, pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, its securities, and to sign any and all amendments or any and all post-effective amendments to such Registration Statement, or registration statements filed pursuant to Rule 462 under the Securities Act, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and any other regulatory body pertaining to the Registration Statement or the securities covered thereby, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform any and all acts necessary or incidental to the performance and execution of the powers herein expressly granted.
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed on March 14, 2008 by the following persons in the capacities indicated.
 
/s/ MAURICE M. TAYLOR JR                                                                      
Maurice M. Taylor Jr.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

/s/ KENT W. HACKAMACK                                                                      
Kent W. Hackamack
Vice President of Finance and Treasurer
(the principal financial officer and principal accounting officer)
 
 
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/s/ J. MICHAEL A. AKERS                                                           
J. Michael A. Akers, Director

/s/ ERWIN H. BILLIG                                                   
Erwin H. Billig, Director

/s/ RICHARD M. CASHIN, JR.                                                                      
Richard M. Cashin, Jr, Director

/s/ ALBERT J. FEBBO                                                   
Albert J. Febbo, Director

/s/ MITCHELL I. QUAIN                                                           
Mitchell I. Quain, Director

/s/ ANTHONY L. SOAVE                                                           
Anthony L. Soave, Director

 
 
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INDEX OF EXHIBITS
 

Exhibit Number
Description of Exhibit
1.1
Form of Underwriting Agreement or Purchase Agreement (1)
4.1
Form of Common Stock Certificate (2)
4.2
Specimen Preferred Stock Certificate and Form of Statement of Resolution Establishing Series (1)
4.3
Form of Senior Debt Indenture, between Registrant and one or more trustees to be named
4.4
Form of Subordinated Debt Indenture, between Registrant and one or more trustees to be named
4.5
Form of Senior Note (1)
4.6
Form of Subordinated Note (1)
5.1
Opinion of Bodman LLP (1)
5.2
Opinion of Schmiedeskamp, Robertson, Neu & Mitchell (1)
8.1
Opinion of Bodman LLP re federal tax matters (1)
12.1
Statement of Computation of Ratios
23.1
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
23.2
Consent of Bodman LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1) (1)
23.3
Consent of Schmiedeskamp, Robertson, Neu & Mitchell (included in Exhibit 5.2) (1)
24.1
Power of Attorney (on the signature page hereof)
25.1
Statement of Eligibility of Trustee under the Senior Debt Indenture (1)
25.2
Statement of Eligibility of Trustee under the Subordinated Debt Indenture (1)

 (1) If required, this exhibit will be filed in an amendment or as an exhibit to a document to be incorporated by reference herein in connection with an offering of securities.
 
 (2) Filed as Exhibit 4.4 to the Registrant’s Form S-3 filed September 13, 2004, Registration No. 333-118949, and incorporated by reference.