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Tower Automotive Announces Record Operating Results for the 2nd Quarter/6 Months

20 July 2000

Tower Automotive Announces Record Operating Results for the Second Quarter and Six Months Ended June 30, 2000

    GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Tower Automotive, Inc. today announced record 
operating results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2000.

    For the second quarter of 2000, revenues were $681 million, a 28 percent
increase, compared with $531 million in the 1999 period.  Operating income
rose 29 percent to $76 million from $59 million reported last year.  Net
income for the second quarter of 2000 was $39 million, or 68 cents per diluted
share outstanding, versus $33 million, or 58 cents per diluted share, in the
comparable 1999 period.

    For the six months ended June 30, 2000, revenues were $1,366 million, a
33 percent increase, compared with $1,029 million in the same period for 1999.
Operating income rose 32 percent to $148 million from $112 million reported
last year.  Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2000 was $76 million,
or $1.32 per diluted share outstanding, versus $61 million, or $1.08 per
diluted share, in the comparable 1999 period.

    In commenting on second-quarter and six-month results, Dugald K. Campbell,
president and chief executive officer of Tower Automotive, said, "We are
pleased with our second-quarter and six-month results.  The performance of our
recent acquisitions, including Active, Dr. Meleghy and Algoods, along with our
enterprise-wide focus on improving shareholder value, continue to positively
affect our operating results."

    On May 3, 2000, the company acquired all of the outstanding common stock
of Algoods, Inc. ("Algoods") for total consideration of approximately
$33 million.  Algoods manufactures aluminum heat shields and impact discs for
the North American automotive industry from aluminum mini-mill and
manufacturing operations located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  Its primary
customer is DaimlerChrysler.

    On July 7, 2000, the company announced that it completed the acquisition
of the remaining 60 percent equity interest in Metalurgica Caterina S.A.
("Caterina"), a supplier of structural stampings and assemblies to the
Brazilian automotive market.  This remaining interest was acquired for
consideration of approximately $42 million.  Tower Automotive acquired the
initial 40 percent equity interest in Caterina in March 1998.

    Tower Automotive, Inc., produces a broad range of assemblies and modules
for vehicle structures and suspension systems for the automotive
manufacturers, including Ford, DaimlerChrysler, GM, Honda, Toyota, Nissan,
Auto Alliance, Fiat, BMW and Volkswagen.  Products include body structural
assemblies such as pillars and package trays, control arms, suspension links,
engine cradles and full frame assemblies.  The company is based in Grand
Rapids, Mich., and has its corporate office in Minneapolis, Minn.

                   TOWER AUTOMOTIVE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
               CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
         (Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts - unaudited)

                             Three Months Ended          Six Months Ended
                                  June 30,                    June 30,
                             2000          1999         2000          1999

    Revenues               $681,020      $530,680   $1,366,384    $1,029,252

    Cost of sales           566,649       443,651    1,140,291       862,776

     Gross profit           114,371        87,029      226,093       166,476

    Selling, general and
     administrative expenses 33,431        24,584       68,087        47,004

    Amortization expense      5,118         3,741       10,217         7,191

     Operating income        75,822        58,704      147,789       112,281

    Interest expense, net    13,534         7,262       26,731        14,529

     Income before provision
      for income taxes       62,288        51,442      121,058        97,752

    Provision for income
     taxes                   24,916        20,577       48,424        39,101

     Income before equity in
      earnings of joint
      ventures and minority
      interest               37,372        30,865       72,634        58,651

    Equity in earnings of
     joint ventures           4,540         4,382        9,020         7,295

    Minority interest -
     dividends on trust
     preferred securities,
     net                     (2,619)       (2,619)      (5,238)       (5,242)

    Net income              $39,293       $32,628      $76,416       $60,704

    Basic earnings per
     common share             $0.83         $0.69        $1.62         $1.30

    Basic shares
     outstanding             47,250        46,965       47,107        46,766

    Diluted earnings per
     common share             $0.68         $0.58        $1.32         $1.08

    Diluted shares
     outstanding             64,359        64,143       64,143        63,967


                   TOWER AUTOMOTIVE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                         CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                            (Amounts in thousands)

                                                      June 30,    December 31,
    Assets                                              2000          1999
                                                    (unaudited)

    Current assets:
     Cash and cash equivalents                         $9,386         $3,617
     Accounts receivable                              413,947        353,351
     Inventories                                      115,404        110,897
     Prepaid tooling and other                         81,584         90,191
      Total current assets                            620,321        558,056
    Property, plant and equipment, net              1,170,166      1,075,861
    Investments in joint ventures                     316,620        290,705
    Goodwill and other assets, net                    708,404        627,928
                                                   $2,815,511     $2,552,550

    Liabilities and Stockholders' Investment
    Current liabilities:
     Current maturities of long-term debt and
      capital lease obligations                       $21,367        $13,876
     Accounts payable                                 290,244        276,673
     Accrued liabilities                              131,835        140,567
      Total current liabilities                       443,446        431,116

    Long-term debt, net of current maturities         847,091        699,678
    Obligations under capital leases,
     net of current maturities                         18,830         21,543
    Convertible subordinated notes                    200,000        200,000
    Deferred income taxes                              74,016         50,736
    Other noncurrent liabilities                      162,719        163,592
      Total noncurrent liabilities                  1,302,656      1,135,549

    Mandatorily redeemable trust convertible
     preferred securities                             258,750        258,750

    Stockholders' investment:
     Preferred stock                                       --             --
     Common stock                                         474            469
     Additional paid-in capital                       451,521        437,210
     Retained earnings                                370,938        294,522
     Warrants to acquire common stock                      --          2,000
     Deferred income stock plan                        (8,942)        (4,484)
     Accumulated other comprehensive loss              (3,332)        (2,582)
      Total stockholders' investment                  810,659        727,135
                                                   $2,815,511     $2,552,550