American Axle & Manufacturing Commences Tender Offer and Consent Solicitation for its 6.25% Senior Notes Due 2021

DETROIT, March 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. (AAM) (NYSE: AXL), announced today that its wholly-owned subsidiary, American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc. ("AAM" or the "Company") has commenced an offer to purchase for cash (the "Tender Offer") any and all of its outstanding 6.25% senior notes due 2021 (CUSIP No. 02406P AM2) and a solicitation of consents to certain proposed amendments to the indenture governing the notes (the "Consent Solicitation").

Holders who validly tender their notes prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on March 23, 2018, unless extended (the "Early Tender Time"), will be eligible to receive $1,018.75 for each $1,000 principal amount of notes tendered and not validly withdrawn (which includes an "Early Tender Premium" of $30.00 per $1,000 principal amount of notes).  Holders who validly tender their notes after the Early Tender Time and prior to 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on April 9, 2018, unless extended (the "Expiration Time"), will be eligible to receive $988.75 for each $1,000 principal amount of notes tendered and will not receive the Early Tender Premium.

Holders will also receive a cash payment equal to the accrued and unpaid interest from the most recent interest payment date on the notes up to, but not including, the applicable settlement date. Holders who validly tender their notes by the Early Tender Time will be eligible to receive payment on the initial settlement date, which is currently expected to occur on or about March 26, 2018, following the Early Tender Time and satisfaction or waiver of the Tender Offer conditions. Holders tendering after the Early Tender Time and prior to the Expiration Time will be eligible to receive payment on the final settlement date following the Expiration Time.

Tendered notes may be withdrawn (thereby revoking the related consent) before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on March 23, 2018, unless extended by the Company and except in certain limited circumstances. Any extension, delay, termination or amendment of the Tender Offer will be followed as promptly as practicable by a public announcement thereof.

Concurrently with the Tender Offer, the Company is soliciting from holders consents to the proposed amendments to the indenture governing the notes to eliminate most of the covenants and certain default provisions applicable to the notes as well as shorten the notice required to be given to holders from 30 days to 2 business days in the case of a redemption of the notes. Adoption of the proposed amendments requires the consent of holders of at least a majority of the outstanding principal amount of the notes.

The Tender Offer is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including a financing condition. There is no minimum amount of notes that must be tendered in the Tender Offer and the Tender Offer is not conditioned upon the successful completion of the Consent Solicitation. Holders who validly tender their notes pursuant to the Tender Offer will be deemed to have delivered their consents by virtue of such tender.  Holders may not tender their notes without delivering consents or deliver consents without tendering their notes effecting the proposed amendments to the indenture governing the notes.

The complete terms and conditions of the Tender Offer and Consent Solicitation are described in the Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement dated March 12, 2018, copies of which may be obtained from D.F. King & Co., Inc., the tender and information agent for the Tender Offer and Consent Solicitation, at (866) 829-0541 (US toll-free) or, for banks and brokers, (212) 269-5550, or by email at axl@dfking.com.

The Company has engaged Citigroup Global Markets Inc. to act as dealer manager and solicitation agent in connection with the Tender Offer and Consent Solicitation. Questions regarding the terms of the Tender Offer may be directed to Citigroup Global Markets at (800) 558-3745 (US toll-free) and (212) 723-6106 (collect).

This announcement is not an offer to purchase, a solicitation of an offer to purchase or a solicitation of consents with respect to any securities. The Tender Offer and Consent Solicitation are being made solely by the Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement dated March 12, 2018 and related Consent and Letter of Transmittal dated March 12, 2018.  No offer, solicitation or purchase will be made in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or purchase would be unlawful.

About AAM
AAM is a global Tier 1 supplier to the automotive, commercial and industrial markets. AAM designs, engineers, validates and manufactures driveline, metal forming, powertrain and casting products, employing over 25,000 associates, operating at more than 90 facilities in 17 countries, to support its customers on global and regional platforms with a continued focus on delivering operational excellence, technology leadership and quality.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
In this press release, we make statements concerning our expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, and future events or performance. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made and/or management's good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events and are subject to risks and may differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to: reduced purchases of our products by General Motors Company (GM), FCA US LLC (FCA), or other customers; reduced demand for our customers' products (particularly light trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) produced by GM and FCA); our ability to respond to changes in technology, increased competition or pricing pressures; our ability to develop and produce new products that reflect market demand; lower-than-anticipated market acceptance of new or existing products; our ability to attract new customers and programs for new products; risks inherent in our global operations (including adverse changes in trade agreements, such as NAFTA, tariffs, immigration policies, political stability, taxes and other law changes, potential disruptions of production and supply, and currency rate fluctuations); a significant disruption in operations at one or more of our key manufacturing facilities; global economic conditions; our ability to successfully integrate the business and information systems of Metaldyne Performance Group, Inc. (MPG) and to realize the anticipated benefits of the merger; risks related to disruptions to ongoing business operations as a result of the merger with MPG, including disruptions to management time; risks related to a failure of our information technology systems and networks, and risks associated with current and emerging technology threats and damage from computer viruses, unauthorized access, cyber attack and other similar disruptions; negative or unexpected tax consequences; liabilities arising from warranty claims, product recall or field actions, product liability and legal proceedings to which we are or may become a party, or the impact of product recall or field actions on our customers; our ability to achieve the level of cost reductions required to sustain global cost competitiveness; supply shortages or price increases in raw materials, utilities or other operating supplies for us or our customers as a result of natural disasters or otherwise; our ability or our customers' and suppliers' ability to successfully launch new product programs on a timely basis; our ability to realize the expected revenues from our new and incremental business backlog; our ability to maintain satisfactory labor relations and avoid work stoppages; our suppliers', our customers' and their suppliers' ability to maintain satisfactory labor relations and avoid work stoppages; price volatility in, or reduced availability of, fuel; potential liabilities or litigation relating to, or assumed in, the MPG merger; potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the completion of the merger with MPG; our ability to protect our intellectual property and successfully defend against assertions made against us; our ability to attract and retain key associates; availability of financing for working capital, capital expenditures, research and development (R&D) or other general corporate purposes including acquisitions, as well as our ability to comply with financial covenants; our customers' and suppliers' availability of financing for working capital, capital expenditures, R&D or other general corporate purposes; changes in liabilities arising from pension and other postretirement benefit obligations; risks of noncompliance with environmental laws and regulations or risks of environmental issues that could result in unforeseen costs at our facilities or reputational damage; adverse changes in laws, government regulations or market conditions affecting our products or our customers' products; our ability or our customers' and suppliers' ability to comply with regulatory requirements and the potential costs of such compliance; and other unanticipated events and conditions that may hinder our ability to compete. It is not possible to foresee or identify all such factors and we make no commitment to update any forward-looking statement or to disclose any facts, events or circumstances after the date hereof that may affect the accuracy of any forward-looking statement.

For more information:

Investor Contact
Jason P. Parsons 
Director, Investor Relations 
(313) 758-2404 
jason.parsons@aam.com

Media Contact
Christopher M. Son
Executive Director, Marketing & Communications
(313) 758-4814
chris.son@aam.com

Or visit the AAM website at www.aam.com.

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SOURCE American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc.