Tower Automotive, Inc. is a global designer and producer of structural components and assemblies used by automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), including Ford, DaimlerChrysler, Renault/Nissan, Volkswagen Group, General Motors, Toyota, Fiat, Hyundai/Kia, Mazda and Isuzu. The Company's manufacturing operations consist primarily of stamping and welding operations, system and modular assembly operations, roll-forming operations, hydroforming operations, associated coating and other ancillary operations. The Company has over 50 manufacturing, product development and administrative facilities located in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Germany, Belgium, Poland, Slovakia, Italy, France, Spain, Japan, China, Korea, Brazil and India. On February 2, 2005, Tower Automotive, Inc. and 25 of its United States subsidiaries each filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court Southern District of New York. In March 2004, the Company acquired the remaining shares of Seojin Industrial Company Ltd. of South Korea, a supplier of frames, modules and structural components to the Korean automotive industry. During the year ended December 31, 2004, approximately 66% of the Company's revenues were generated from sales in North America. The Company supplies products for many car, light truck and sport utility vehicles (SUVs), including the Ford Five Hundred/Freestyle, Taurus, Focus, Ranger and F-Series pickup trucks, Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups, DaimlerChrysler Caravan/Town & Country, Dodge Ram and Dakota pickup trucks, Toyota Camry, Avalon, Corolla and Tundra, Honda Accord and Civic, and the Nissan Xterra, Pathfinder, Titan/Armada and Infiniti QX56. Approximately 20% of the Company's 2004 revenues were generated from sales in Europe, 12% in Asia and 2% in South America. Body Structures and Assemblies Body structures and assemblies form the basic upper body structure of the vehicle. They include large metal stampings, such as body pillars, roof rails, side sills, parcel shelves and intrusion beams. This category also includes Class A surfaces and assemblies. Class A surfaces include exposed sheet metal components such as body sides, pick-up box sides, door panels and fenders. Body structures and assemblies accounted for approximately 47% of the Company's global revenue during 2004. Lower Vehicle Structures Lower vehicle structures form the basic lower body structure of the vehicle. They include heavy gauge metal stampings from both traditional and hydroforming methods, including pickup truck and SUV full frames, automotive engine and rear suspension cradles, floor pan components and cross members. Critical to the strength and safety of vehicles, these products carry the load of the vehicle and provide crash integrity. Lower vehicle structures accounted for approximately 27% of the Company's global revenue in 2004. Suspension and Powertrain Modules Suspension and powertrain modules include axle assemblies, which consist of stamped metal trailing axles, assembled brake shoes, hoses and tie rods and front and rear structural suspension modules/systems. These modules/systems consist of control arms, suspension links, value-added assemblies and powertrain modules. Suspension and powertrain modules accounted for approximately 16% of the Company 's global revenue in 2004. Suspension Components Suspension components include stamped, formed and welded products, such as control arms, suspension links, track bars, spring and shock towers, and trailing axles. These suspension components are critical to the ride, handling and noise characteristics of a vehicle. Suspension components accounted for approximately 8% of the Company's global revenue in 2004. Others The Company also manufactures a variety of other products, including heat shields and other precision stampings, for its OEM customers. The other product category accounted for approximately 2% of the Company's global revenue during 2004. The Company pr