BWEN Broadwind Inc

W HERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Available Information

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Information filed with the SEC by us can be inspected and copied at the Public Reference Room maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may also obtain copies of this information by mail from the Public Reference Room of the SEC at prescribed rates. Further information on the operation of the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. can be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains a web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information about issuers, such as us, who file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is http://www.sec.gov .

Our web site address is www.bwen.com. The information on our web site, however, is not, and should not be deemed to be, a part of this prospectus.

This prospectus and any prospectus supplement are part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC and do not contain all of the information in the registration statement. The full registration statement may be obtained from the SEC or us, as provided below. Forms of the indenture and other documents establishing the terms of the offered securities are or may be filed as exhibits to the registration statement. Statements in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement about these documents are summaries and each statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the document to which it refers. You should refer to the actual documents for a more complete description of the relevant matters. You may inspect a copy of the registration statement at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. or through the SEC’s website, as provided above.

Incorporation by Reference

The SEC’s rules allow us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, and subsequent information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede that information. Any statement contained in a previously filed document incorporated by reference will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus modifies or replaces that statement.

We incorporate by reference our documents listed below and any future filings made by us with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act between the date of this prospectus and the termination of the offering of the securities described in this prospectus. We are not, however, incorporating by reference any documents or portions thereof, whether specifically listed below or filed in the future, that are not deemed “filed” with the SEC, including our Compensation Committee report and performance graph or any information furnished pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K or related exhibits furnished pursuant to Item 9.01 of Form 8-K.

This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement incorporate by reference the documents set forth below that have previously been filed with the SEC:

• Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the SEC on February 23, 2017;

• Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2017 and June 30, 2017, filed with the SEC on May 2, 2017 and August 1, 2017, respectively;

• Our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on March 14, 2017;

• Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 30, 2017, February 1, 2017 (and as amended on March 24, 2017), February 27, 2017, April 5, 2017, April 28, 2017, July 31, 2017 and August 11, 2017;

• The description of our common stock as set forth in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on April 8, 2009 (File No. 001-34278) pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, including any amendment thereto or report filed for the purpose of updating such description; and

• The description of our Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock Purchase Rights contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on February 13, 2013 (File No. 001-34278) pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act and the Amendment to Form 8-A filed with the SEC on February 8, 2016, including any other amendment thereto or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this registration statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which is also incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement.  Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this registration statement.

You may request a free copy of any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus (other than exhibits, unless they are specifically incorporated by reference in the documents) by writing or telephoning us at the following address: 3240 South Central Avenue, Cicero, Illinois 60804, Attention: Corporate Secretary, telephone: number (708) 780-4800.  Exhibits to the filings will not be sent, however, unless those exhibits have specifically been incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement.

If we decide to issue any preferred stock pursuant to this prospectus, we will describe in a prospectus supplement the terms of the preferred stock, including, if applicable, the following:

• the title of the series and stated value;

• the number of shares of the series of preferred stock offered, the liquidation preference per share, if applicable, and the  offering price;

• the applicable dividend rate(s) or amount(s), period(s) and payment date(s) or method(s) of calculation thereof;

• the date from which dividends on the preferred stock will accumulate, if applicable;

• any procedures for auction and remarketing;

• any provisions for a sinking fund;

• any applicable provision for redemption and the price or prices, terms and conditions on which preferred stock may be redeemed;

• any securities exchange listing;

• any voting rights and powers;

• whether interests in the preferred stock will be represented by depository shares;

• the terms and conditions, if applicable, of conversion into shares of our common stock, including the conversion price or rate or manner of calculation thereof;

• a discussion of any material U.S. federal income tax considerations;

• the relative ranking and preference as to dividend rights and rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or the winding up of our affairs;

• any limitations on issuance of any series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on parity with such series of preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or the winding up of our affairs; and

• any other specific terms, preferences, rights, limitations or restrictions of such series of preferred stock.

A stockholder who together with its affiliates and associates beneficially owned 4.9% or more of common stock as of February 12, 2013 is deemed not to be an acquiring person, so long as such stockholder does not acquire any additional shares of common stock without the prior written approval of Broadwind, other than pursuant to or as a result of (a) a reduction in the amount of common stock outstanding; (b) any unilateral grant of any common stock by Broadwind or (c) any issuance of common stock by Broadwind or any share dividend, share split or similar transaction effected by Broadwind in which all holders of common stock are treated equally.  Such a stockholder is a “grandfathered person” for purposes of the Rights Plan.

The Board may, in its sole discretion, exempt any person or group who would otherwise be an acquiring person from being deemed an acquiring person for purposes of the Rights Plan if it determines at any time prior to the time at which the rights are no longer redeemable that the beneficial ownership of such person would not jeopardize, endanger or limit (in timing or amount) the availability of Broadwind’s NOLs and other tax benefits.  Any such person or group is an “exempted person” under the Rights Plan.  The Board, in its sole discretion, may subsequently make a contrary determination and such person would then become an acquiring person.

An “exempted transaction” is a transaction that the Board determines is an exempted transaction and, unlike the determination of an exempted person, such determination is irrevocable.

Initially, the rights are associated with our common stock and evidenced by common stock certificates or, in the case of uncertificated shares of common stock, the book-entry records evidencing the common stock, and are transferable with and only with the underlying shares of common stock.  Subject to certain exceptions, the rights become exercisable and trade separately from the common stock only upon the “distribution date,” which occurs upon the earlier of:

• ten days following a public announcement (such date, the “stock acquisition date”) that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons at any time after the close of business on February 12, 2013 has become an acquiring person (unless, prior to the expiration of Broadwind’s right to redeem the rights, such person or group is determined by the Board to be an exempted person, in which case the stock acquisition date will be deemed not to have occurred); or

• ten business days (or later date if determined by the Board prior to such time as any person or group becomes an acquiring person) following the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer which, if consummated, would result in a person or group becoming an acquiring person.

In addition, if the Board determines in good faith that a person became an acquiring person inadvertently and such person divests as promptly as practicable a sufficient number of shares of common stock so that such person would no longer be an acquiring person, then such person will not be deemed to be an acquiring person.

Until the distribution date, the surrender for transfer of any shares of common stock outstanding will also constitute the transfer of the rights associated with those shares.

As soon as practicable after the distribution date, separate certificates or book-entry statements will be mailed to holders of record of our common stock as of the close of business on the distribution date.  From and after the distribution date, the separate rights certificates or book-entry records alone will represent the rights.  Except as otherwise provided in the Section 382 Rights Agreement, only shares of common stock issued prior to the distribution date will be issued with rights.

The rights are not exercisable until the distribution date and, unless earlier redeemed or exchanged by us as described below, will expire upon the earliest of:

• the close of business on February 22, 2019;

• the time at which the rights are redeemed;

• the time at which the rights are exchanged;

• the close of business on the effective date of the repeal of Section 382 of the Code or any successor statute if the Board determines that the Rights Plan is no longer necessary or desirable for the preservation of certain tax benefits; and

• the close of business on the first day of a taxable year of Broadwind to which the Board determines that certain tax benefits may not be carried forward.

In the event that a person or group becomes an acquiring person (a “flip-in event”), each holder of a right (other than any acquiring person and certain related parties, whose rights automatically become null and void) will have the right to receive, upon exercise, common stock having a value equal to two times the exercise price of the right.  If an insufficient number of shares of common stock is available for issuance, then the Board would be required to substitute cash, property or other securities of Broadwind for the common stock.  The rights may not be exercised following a flip-in event while Broadwind has the ability to cause the rights to be redeemed, as described later in this summary.

For example, at an exercise price of $14.00 per right, each right not owned by an acquiring person (or by certain related parties) following a flip-in event would entitle its holder to purchase $28.00 worth of common stock (or other consideration, as noted above) for $14.00.  Assuming that the common stock had a per share value of $3.50 at that time, the holder of each valid right would be entitled to purchase eight shares of common stock for $14.00.

The exercise price payable, and the number of shares of preferred stock or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the rights are subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution:

• in the event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the preferred stock;

• if holders of the preferred stock are granted certain rights, options or warrants to subscribe for preferred stock or convertible securities at less than the current market price of the preferred stock; or

• upon the distribution to holders of the preferred stock of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular quarterly cash dividends) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).

With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the exercise price will be required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the exercise price.  No fractional shares of preferred stock will be issued and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the preferred stock on the last trading day prior to the date of exercise.

In general, Broadwind may redeem the rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.001 per right (subject to adjustment and payable in cash, common stock or other consideration deemed appropriate by the Board) at any time until ten days following the stock acquisition date.  Immediately upon the action of the Board authorizing any redemption, the rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of rights will be to receive the redemption price.

At any time after there is an acquiring person and prior to the acquisition by the acquiring person of 50% or more of the outstanding shares of our common stock, we may exchange the rights (other than rights owned by the acquiring person which will have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of common stock, or one one-thousandth of a share of preferred stock (or of a share of a class or series of our preferred stock having equivalent rights, preferences and privileges), per right (subject to adjustment).

Until a right is exercised, its holder will have no rights as a stockholder of Broadwind, including the right to vote or to receive dividends.  While the distribution of the rights will not result in the recognition of taxable income by us or our stockholders, stockholders may, depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income after a triggering event.

Broadwind and the rights agent may from time to time amend or supplement the Section 382 Rights Agreement without the consent of the holders of the rights.  After the stock acquisition date, however, no amendment can materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of the rights (other than the acquiring person or any affiliate or associate thereof).

Provisions of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws and Delaware Law that May Have an Anti-Takeover Effect

Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws .  The Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that a special meeting of stockholders may be called only by the Chief Executive Officer, the Chairman of the Board, president, or any two members of the Board. Stockholders are not permitted to call, or to require that the Board call, a special meeting of stockholders.

Delaware Takeover Statute.  The Company’s certificate of incorporation provides that the Company will not be subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), which, subject to certain exceptions, prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any business combination (as defined below) with any interested stockholder (as defined below) for a period of three years following the date that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless: (i) prior to such date, the Board of Directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder; (ii) on consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the number of shares outstanding those shares owned (x) by persons who are directors and also officers and (y) by employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or (iii) on or subsequent to such date, the business combination is approved by the Board of Directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.

Section 203 of the DGCL defines “business combination” to include: (i) any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder; (ii) any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation involving the interested stockholder; (iii) subject to certain exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the

corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder; (iv) any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; or (v) the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation.  In general, Section 203 of the DGCL defines an “interested stockholder” as any entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by such entity or person.

Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals.  Our bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of the Board or a committee of the Board.

Options

At September 26, 2017, there were 593,583 unissued shares of common stock subject to outstanding options and restricted stock units.

• any terms relating to the modification of the warrants; and

• any terms, procedures and limitations relating to the transferability, exchange or exercise of the warrants.

If a dealer is utilized in the sale of the securities being offered by this prospectus, the securities will be sold to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale.  The names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction will be specified in a prospectus supplement.

Any compensation paid to underwriters, dealers or agents in connection with the offering of the securities, and any discounts, concessions or commissions allowed by underwriters to participating dealers will be provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. Underwriters, dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and any discounts and commissions received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions. We may enter into agreements to indemnify underwriters, dealers and agents against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments they may be required to make in respect thereof and to reimburse those persons for certain expenses.

Any common stock will be listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, but any other securities may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. To facilitate the offering of securities, certain persons participating in the offering may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities. This may include over-allotments or short sales of the securities, which involve the sale by persons participating in the offering of more securities than were sold to them. In these circumstances, these persons would cover such over-allotments or short positions by making purchases in the open market or by exercising their over-allotment option, if any. In addition, these persons may stabilize or maintain the price of the securities by bidding for or purchasing securities in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby selling concessions allowed to dealers participating in the offering may be reclaimed if securities sold by them are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. These transactions may be discontinued at any time.

We may engage in at the market offerings into an existing trading market in accordance with Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act. In addition, we may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement so indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment). In addition, we may otherwise loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities short using this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement. Such financial institution or other third party may transfer its economic short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a concurrent offering of other securities.

The specific terms of any lock-up provisions in respect of any given offering will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

In compliance with the guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., or FINRA, the maximum consideration or discount to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker dealer may not exceed 8% of the aggregate proceeds of the offering.

The underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with us, or perform services for us, in the ordinary course of business for which they receive compensation.

result of KPMG’s consent to the incorporation by reference of its audit report on Broadwind’s past financial statement incorporated by reference in this registration statement.

The financial statements of Red Wolf Company, LLC as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2016, and for the years ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2016,  incorporated herein by reference, have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of Moore Beauston Woodham LLP, Red Wolf’s independent registered public accounting firm, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

The consolidated financial statements of Broadwind Energy, Inc. as of December 31, 2016 and for the year then ended December 31, 2016 incorporated herein by reference, from the Broadwind Energy, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 have been audited by RSM US LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report incorporated herein by reference, in reliance upon such report and upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.