Detroit, Michigan American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. (AAM), which is traded as AXL on the NYSE, announced that today it filed a shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) with respect to possible secondary sales of up to approximately 14.0 million shares of common stock. All of the 14.0 million shares are owned by Blackstone Capital Partners II Merchant Banking Fund L.P. and its affiliated funds (collectively, “Blackstone”). Blackstone sponsored AAM’s 1997 re-capitalization with an initial 82% ownership position. After an initial public offering in January 1999, and secondary offerings in August 2001 and March 2002, Blackstone’s current beneficial ownership position of AAM is 26%.

Stephen A. Schwarzman, President & CEO of The Blackstone Group said, “Blackstone has no immediate plans to sell any of these shares, but rather, the filing represents advance preparation and increased flexibility for a longer term, orderly exit strategy from our investment in AAM.”

Assuming the sale of all of the shares being registered, Blackstone will no longer be a beneficial owner of any AXL common stock.

The shelf registration statement provides that Blackstone may from time to time sell its shares in negotiated transactions directly with purchasers, in block or other institutional trades or through one or more underwritten public offerings. AAM is not selling any shares in this offering and will not receive any proceeds from the offering.

A registration statement related to these securities has been filed with the SEC but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold, nor may offers to buy be accepted, prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sales of these securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state. Once available, a written prospectus may be obtained from American Axle & Manufacturing at 1840 Holbrook Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48212-3488, Attention – Investor Relations.

AAM is a world leader in the manufacture, engineering, design and validation of driveline systems and related components and modules, chassis systems and forged products for trucks, buses, sport utility vehicles and passenger cars. In addition to its 14 locations in the United States (in Michigan, New York and Ohio), AAM also has offices and facilities in Brazil, England, Germany, Japan, Mexico and Scotland.

Certain statements contained in this press release which are not historical facts contain forward-looking information with respect to the Company’s plans, projections or future performance, the occurrence of which involves risk and uncertainties that could cause the company’s actual results or plans to differ materially from those expected by the company which include risk factors described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.