2013 S-3 Registration Statement

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 15, 2013
Registration No. 333-            
  
 
 
 
 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 
 
 
 
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
 
 
 
 
 
MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 
 
 
 
Iowa
 
42-1206172
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
 
 
 
 
 
102 South Clinton Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
(319) 356-5800
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)
 
 
 
 
 
Charles N. Funk
President and Chief Executive Officer
MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc.
102 South Clinton Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
(319) 356-5800
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
 
 
 
 
 
Copies to:
Robert M. Fleetwood
Brad A. Kopetsky
Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP
200 West Madison Street, Suite 3900
Chicago, Illinois 60606
(312) 984-3100
 
 
 
 
 
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.
If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. £ 
If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. T
If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. £
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. £ 
If this form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. £ 
If this form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. £ 



Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
 
Large accelerated filer £
Accelerated filer T
Non-accelerated filer £
Smaller reporting company £
 
 
 
 
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
 
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
 
 
 
 
 
Title of each class of
 securities to be registered
Amount to be
 registered(1)
Proposed maximum
offering price per
 unit (1)
Proposed maximum
 aggregate
offering price(1)
Amount of
registration fee(1)(7)
Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share(2)
 
$
$
$
Preferred Stock, no par value per share(2)
 
 
 
 
Debt Securities(3)
 
 
 
 
Warrants(4)
 
 
 
 
Subscription Rights(5)
 
 
 
 
Units
 
 
 
 
Depositary Shares(6)
 
 
 
 
Total:
 
 
$
25,000,000.00

$
0.00

(1)
Calculated in accordance with Rule 457(o). The proposed maximum offering price per security will be determined from time to time by the registrant in connection with the issuance of the securities registered by this registration statement. The proposed maximum aggregate offering price has been estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee. In no event will the aggregate maximum offering price of all securities issued under this registration statement exceed $25,000,000.00. The amount registered is not specified as to each class of securities to be registered hereunder pursuant to General Instruction II.D to Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(2)
Shares of preferred stock or common stock may be issued in primary offerings, upon conversion of debt securities or preferred stock registered hereby or upon the exercise of warrants or subscription rights to purchase preferred stock or common stock.

(3)
The debt securities being registered hereunder may consist of one or more series of senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities or junior subordinated debt securities, or any combination thereof, as more fully described herein.

(4)
Warrants exercisable for common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares or debt securities.

(5)
Rights evidencing the right to purchase common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares or debt securities.

(6)
The depositary shares registered hereunder will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to a deposit agreement. If the registrant elects to offer to the public fractional interests in shares of preferred stock, then depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing the fractional interests and the shares will be issued to the depositary under the deposit agreement.

(7)
All of the $25,000,000.00 of securities registered pursuant to this registration statement (collectively, the “Unsold Securities”) consist of unsold securities previously registered by the registrant on its Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed on February 11, 2010 and declared effective on February 26, 2010 (File No. 333-164870) (the “Prior Registration Statement”). As of the date hereof, all of the Unsold Securities remain unsold. In connection with the filing of the Prior Registration Statement, the registrant paid a registration fee of $1,782.50 in respect of such Unsold Securities. In accordance with Question 212.24 of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Division of Corporation Finance's Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations regarding Securities Act Rules, the registrant is not required to pay any additional fee with respect to the $25,000,000.00 of Unsold Securities being included in this registration in reliance on Rule 415(a)(6), because such Unsold Securities (and associated fees) are being moved from the Prior Registration Statement to this registration statement. Accordingly, the “Amount of Registration Fee” above reflects no fee being due, as no new securities are being registered on this registration statement.

The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine. 
 
 
 
 
 




The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed.  These securities may not be sold until the registration statement containing this prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective.  This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION DATED FEBRUARY 15, 2013

PROSPECTUS
$25,000,000.00

MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc.
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
Subscription Rights
Units
Depositary Shares

 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
We may offer and sell, from time to time, in one or more offerings, together or separately, any combination of the securities described in this prospectus. The aggregate initial offering price of the securities that we offer will not exceed $25,000,000.00. This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to these securities and the general manner in which they may be offered. The specific terms of any securities to be offered, and the specific manner in which they may be offered, will be described in one or more supplements to this prospectus. This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by the applicable prospectus supplement. Before investing, you should carefully read this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement.
We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis. If an offering of securities involves any underwriters, dealers or agents, then the applicable prospectus supplement will name the underwriters, dealers or agents and will provide information regarding any fee, commission or discount arrangements made with those underwriters, dealers or agents.
Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “MOFG.” Our principal executive offices are located at 102 South Clinton Street, Iowa City, Iowa 52240 and our telephone number is (319) 356-5800.
 ________________
Investing in our securities involves risks. You should refer to the section entitled “Risk Factors” on page 1 of this prospectus, as well as the risk factors included in the applicable prospectus supplement and certain of our periodic reports and other information that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission and carefully consider that information before buying our securities.
 ________________
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
These securities are not savings accounts, deposits or other obligations of any bank and are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.
 ________________
 The date of this prospectus is  , 2013.




TABLE OF CONTENTS


Table of Contents

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we refer to as the SEC, using a shelf registration process on Form S-3. Under the shelf registration rules, using this prospectus, together with the applicable prospectus supplement, we may sell from time to time, in one or more offerings, on a continuous or delayed basis, the securities described in this prospectus for an aggregate initial offering price of up to $25,000,000.00. The registration statement that contains this prospectus (including the exhibits to the registration statement) contains additional information about us and the securities we are offering under this prospectus. You can read that registration statement at the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov or at the SEC office mentioned under the heading “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell any of these securities, we will provide one or more prospectus supplements containing specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplements may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If information in the applicable prospectus supplement is inconsistent with the information in this prospectus, then the information in such prospectus supplement will apply and will supersede the information in this prospectus. You should carefully read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find Additional Information,” before you invest.
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different or additional information. If anyone provides you with different or additional information, you should not rely on it.
You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement or any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of that document.
Neither we nor anyone acting on our behalf is making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
In this prospectus, the terms “MidWestOne,” “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, collectively, unless the context requires otherwise. References in this prospectus to the “Bank” mean MidWestOne Bank, an Iowa state-chartered bank with its main office in Iowa City, Iowa.
RISK FACTORS
An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully read and consider the risk factors incorporated by reference in this prospectus, as well as those contained in any applicable prospectus supplement, as the same may be updated from time to time by our future filings with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. You should also refer to other information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, including our financial statements and the related notes incorporated by reference herein. Additional risks and uncertainties not known to us or that we deem immaterial may also materially and adversely affect our business and operations.
MIDWESTONE FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
We are a bank holding company headquartered in Iowa City, Iowa. Our principal assets are the shares of stock of our bank subsidiary, MidWestOne Bank, and our nonbank subsidiary, MidWestOne Insurance Services, Inc. As of September 30, 2012, we had total assets of approximately $1.7 billion, total deposits of approximately $1.3 billion and total shareholders' equity of approximately $171.5 million.
We conduct a full-service community banking, trust and insurance agency business through our wholly-owned subsidiaries.  MidWestOne Bank is an Iowa state-chartered bank headquartered in Iowa City, Iowa, with office locations in Belle Plaine, Burlington, Cedar Falls, Conrad, Coralville, Davenport, Fairfield, Fort Madison, Melbourne, North English, North Liberty, Oskaloosa, Ottumwa, Parkersburg, Pella, Sigourney, Waterloo and West Liberty, Iowa.  MidWestOne Insurance Services, Inc., headquartered in Oskaloosa, Iowa, is a full-service insurance agency that offers a wide range of insurance plans to individuals and businesses through offices in Pella, Melbourne and Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Our full-service banking businesses include the customary consumer and commercial products and services that banks provide. Deposit products offered include checking and other demand deposit accounts, NOW accounts, savings accounts,

1

Table of Contents

money market accounts, certificates of deposit, individual retirement accounts and other time deposits. MidWestOne Bank offers commercial and industrial, agricultural, real estate mortgage and consumer loans. Other products and services include debit cards, automated teller machines, on-line banking, mobile banking, and safe deposit boxes. Our principal service consists of making loans to and accepting deposits from individuals, businesses, governmental units and institutional customers. MidWestOne Bank also has a trust and investment department through which it offers a variety of trust and investment services, including administering estates, personal trusts, conservatorships, pension and profit-sharing funds and providing property management, farm management, custodial, financial planning, investment management and retail brokerage services (the latter of which is provided through an agreement with a third-party registered broker-dealer).
Our principal executive offices are located at 102 South Clinton Street, Iowa City, Iowa 52240, and our phone number is (319) 356-5800.
Additional information about us is included in our filings with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information” and “Documents Incorporated by Reference” in this prospectus.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, we will use the net proceeds we receive from the sale of the securities for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, investments in or advances to our subsidiaries, working capital, capital expenditures, stock repurchases, debt repayment or the financing of possible acquisitions.  The applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular offering of securities by us will identify the use of proceeds for that offering. Until we use the net proceeds from an offering, we may place the net proceeds in temporary investments or deposit them in a bank.
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
The following table reflects our ratio of earnings to fixed charges and earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends for each of the years in the five-year period ended December 31, 2011, as well as for the nine months ended September 30, 2012. We did not pay any preferred stock dividends during the years ended December 31, 2007 or 2008, or during the nine months ended September 30, 2012, because no shares of our preferred stock were outstanding during such periods. Consequently, the ratios of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends for these periods are the same as the ratios of earnings to fixed charges. Preferred stock dividends in the 2009-2011 period consisted solely of the amounts due on our Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, which was issued to the U.S. Department of the Treasury on February 6, 2009, pursuant to its TARP Capital Purchase Program, and redeemed on July 6, 2011.
 
For the nine months ended September 30,
For the years ended December 31,
 
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Excluding interest on deposits
6.27
4.96
3.41
1.64
---(1) 
3.10
Including interest on deposits
2.33
1.90
1.58
1.15
0.18
1.47
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Excluding interest on deposits
6.27
4.08
2.76
1.40
---(1) 
3.10
Including interest on deposits
2.33
1.81
1.50
1.11
0.18
1.47
(1) The earnings coverage ratio for the year ended December 31, 2008, was inadequate to cover the fixed charges and preferred stock dividends. The coverage deficiency for the period was $25.0 million.
For purposes of computing the ratios of earnings to fixed charges and earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends:
earnings represent income from continuing operations before income taxes, plus fixed charges;

2

Table of Contents

fixed charges, excluding interest on deposits, include interest expense (other than on deposits) and the portion of net rental expense deemed to be equivalent to interest on long-term debt, discount amortization and preferred stock dividends; and
fixed charges, including interest on deposits, include all interest expense and the portion of net rental expense deemed to be equivalent to interest on long-term debt, discount amortization and preferred stock dividends.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
General
We have the authority to issue 15,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, and 500,000 shares of preferred stock, no par value per share. As of December 31, 2012, we had 8,480,488 shares of common stock and no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding.
The following description of the material terms of our capital stock is only a summary. This summary does not purport to be a complete description of the terms and conditions of our capital stock in all respects and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to our amended and restated articles of incorporation and by-laws, each of which is incorporated herein by reference, as well as the Iowa Business Corporation Act, or IBCA, and any other documents referenced in the summary and from which the summary is derived.
Common Stock
General. Under our amended and restated articles of incorporation, we have the authority to issue 15,000,000 shares of our common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of which 8,480,488 shares were issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2012. As of December 31, 2012, there were 159,588 shares of our common stock underlying options that have been issued pursuant to our equity incentive plans and 496,614 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under our equity incentive plans. Our common stock is listed for trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “MOFG.”
Each share of our common stock has the same relative rights and is identical in all respects to every other share of our common stock. Our shares of common stock are neither redeemable nor convertible, and the holders thereof have no preemptive or subscription rights to purchase any of our securities.
Voting Rights. Each outstanding share of our common stock is entitled to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders. There is no cumulative voting in the election of directors.
Liquidation Rights. Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of our common stock are entitled to receive, pro rata, our assets which are legally available for distribution, after payment of all debts and other liabilities and subject to the prior rights of any holders of preferred stock then outstanding.
Dividends Payable on Shares of Common Stock. In general, the holders of outstanding shares of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends out of assets legally available therefor at such times and in such amounts as our board of directors may from time to time determine. The ability of our board of directors to declare and pay dividends on our common stock may be affected by both general corporate law considerations and policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, which we refer to herein as the Federal Reserve, applicable to bank holding companies. As an Iowa corporation, we are subject to the limitations of Iowa law, which allows us to pay dividends unless, after such dividend: (i) we would not be able to pay our debts as they become due in the usual course of business; or (ii) our total assets would be less than the sum of our total liabilities plus any amount that would be needed, if we were to be dissolved at the time of the dividend payment, to satisfy the preferential rights upon dissolution of our shareholders whose rights are superior to the rights of our shareholders receiving the distribution. Additionally, as a general matter, the Federal Reserve indicates that the board of directors of a bank holding company should eliminate, defer or significantly reduce the dividends if: (i) the company's net income available to shareholders for the past four quarters, net of dividends previously paid during that period, is not sufficient to fully fund the dividends; (ii) the prospective rate of earnings retention is inconsistent with the company's capital needs and overall current and prospective financial condition; or (iii) the company will not meet, or is in danger of not meeting, its minimum regulatory capital adequacy ratios. The Federal Reserve also possesses enforcement powers over bank holding companies and their nonbank subsidiaries to prevent or remedy actions that represent unsafe or unsound practices or violations of applicable statutes and regulations. Among these powers is the ability to proscribe the payment of dividends by banks and bank holding companies.


3

Table of Contents

Most of our revenues available for the payment of dividends derive from amounts paid to us by the Bank. There are various statutory limitations that limit the ability of the Bank to pay dividends to us. The Bank is a state-charted bank and is subject to the laws and regulations of the Iowa Superintendent of Banking and to the regulations of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. If a bank's primary banking regulator determines that the bank is engaged or is about to engage in an unsafe or unsound banking practice, the regulator may require, after notice and hearing, that the bank cease and desist from such practice. Depending on the financial condition of the bank, an unsafe or unsound practice could include the payment of dividends. In particular, the federal banking agencies have indicated that paying dividends that deplete a bank's capital base to an inadequate level would be an unsafe and unsound banking practice.
Under the Iowa Banking Act, Iowa state-chartered banks, such as the Bank, generally may pay dividends only out of undivided profits. In addition, the Iowa Superintendent of Banking may restrict the declaration or payment of a dividend by an Iowa state-chartered bank.
Furthermore, the payment of dividends by any financial institution is affected by the requirement to maintain adequate capital pursuant to applicable capital adequacy guidelines and regulations, and a financial institution generally is prohibited from paying any dividends if, following payment thereof, the institution would be undercapitalized. Even notwithstanding the availability of funds for dividends, the FDIC may prohibit the payment of any dividends by an insured bank, such as the Bank, if the FDIC determines such payment would constitute an unsafe or unsound practice.
Preferred Stock
General. We may issue up to 500,000 shares of preferred stock, no par value per share, from time to time in one or more series. Our board of directors, without further approval of the shareholders, has the authority to fix the dividend rights and terms, conversion rights, voting rights, redemption rights and terms, liquidation preferences, sinking funds and any other rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions applicable to each series of preferred stock. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, adversely affect the voting power of the holders of our common stock.
The applicable prospectus supplement and any other offering materials relating to any series of preferred stock issued under the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part will specify the terms of the series, including:
the maximum number of shares in the series and the designation of the series;
the terms on which dividends, if any, will be paid;
the terms on which the shares of the series may be redeemed, if at all;
the liquidation preference, if any;
the terms of any retirement or sinking fund for the purchase or redemption of the shares of the series;
the terms and conditions, if any, on which the shares of the series will be convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or classes of common or preferred stock;
the voting rights, if any, of the shares of the series; and
any or all other preferences and relative, participating, operational or other special rights or qualifications, limitations or restrictions of the shares of the series.
The description of preferred stock above and the description of the terms of a particular series of preferred stock contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and other offering materials, if any, are not complete. You should refer to the applicable certificate of designations with respect to a series of preferred stock for complete information concerning the terms of that series. A copy of the certificate of designations for each series of preferred stock will be filed with the SEC as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or as an exhibit to a filing incorporated by reference in the registration statement.
Anti-Takeover Provisions.
General. Our amended and restated articles of incorporation and by-laws may have the effect of discouraging, delaying or preventing a change in control or an unsolicited acquisition proposal that a shareholder might consider favorable, including a proposal that might result in the payment of a premium over the market price for the shares held by shareholders. These provisions are summarized in the following paragraphs.

4

Table of Contents

Authorized Shares of Capital Stock. Authorized but unissued shares of our common stock and preferred stock under our amended and restated articles of incorporation could (within the limits imposed by applicable law and NASDAQ Marketplace Rules) be issued in one or more transactions that could make a change of control of us more difficult, and therefore more unlikely. The additional authorized shares could be used to discourage persons from attempting to gain control of us by diluting the voting power of shares then outstanding or increasing the voting power of persons who would support the board of directors in a potential takeover situation, including by preventing or delaying a proposed business combination that is opposed by the board of directors although perceived to be desirable by some shareholders.
Limitations on Right to Call Special Meetings; Shareholder Proposal Notice Requirements. Under our amended and restated by-laws, a special meeting of our shareholders may be called only by: (i) the Chairman of our board of directors, our Chief Executive Officer or our President; or (ii) in accordance with Section 490.702 of the IBCA which requires written demand by shareholders owning more than 50% of the total voting power of the outstanding stock entitled to vote on the issue in question. Additionally, our amended and restated by-laws require that shareholder proposals meet certain advanced notice and minimum informational requirements. These provisions could have the effect of delaying until the next annual shareholders' meeting shareholder actions which are favored by the holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities.
State Anti-Takeover Laws. The IBCA contains an anti-takeover provision referred to as the “business combinations with interested shareholders” provision. This provision prevents a corporation from engaging in any business combination with an “interested shareholder” (as defined in the IBCA) for a period of three years following the time that the shareholder became an interested shareholder, unless one of the following conditions applies: (i) prior to the time that the shareholder became an interested shareholder, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder; (ii) upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder, the interested shareholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced; or (iii) at or subsequent to the time the shareholder became an interested shareholder, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of shareholders by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested shareholder.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
General
The debt securities that we may offer using this prospectus consist of notes, debentures or other evidences of indebtedness. Any debt securities that we offer and sell will be our direct obligations. Debt securities may be issued in one or more series. All debt securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time, and unless otherwise provided, a series of debt securities may be reopened, with the required consent of the holders of outstanding debt securities, for issuance of additional debt securities of that series or to establish additional terms of that series of debt securities (with such additional terms applicable only to unissued or additional debt securities of that series). The form of indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and is subject to any amendments or supplements that we may enter into with the trustee(s). The material terms of the indenture are summarized below and we refer you to the indenture for a detailed description of these material terms. Additional or different provisions that are applicable to a particular series of debt securities will, if material, be described in a prospectus supplement relating to the offering of debt securities of that series. These provisions may include, among other things and to the extent applicable, the following:
the title of the debt securities, including, as applicable, whether the debt securities will be issued as senior debt securities, senior subordinated debt securities or subordinated debt securities, and any subordination provisions particular to the series of debt securities;
any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;
if other than 100% of the aggregate principal amount, the percentage of the aggregate principal amount at which we will sell the debt securities (i.e., original issuance discount);
the date or dates, whether fixed or extendable, on which the principal of the debt securities will be payable;
the rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, at which the debt securities will bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which any such interest will accrue, the interest payment dates on which we will pay any such interest, the basis upon which interest will be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months, and, in the case of registered securities, the record dates for the determination of holders to whom interest is payable;

5

Table of Contents

the place or places where the principal of and interest on the debt securities will be payable and, if applicable, where the debt securities may be surrendered for conversion or exchange;
whether we may, at our option, redeem the debt securities, and if so, the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, we may redeem the debt securities, in whole or in part, pursuant to any sinking fund or otherwise;
if other than 100% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities which will be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity date thereof or provable in bankruptcy, or, if applicable, which is convertible or exchangeable;
any obligation we may have to redeem, purchase or repay the debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a holder of debt securities, and the price or prices at which, the currency in which and the period or periods within which, and the other terms and conditions upon which, the debt securities will be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to any such obligation, and any provision for the remarketing of the debt securities;
whether the debt securities will be registered securities or unregistered securities or both, and the rights of the holders of the debt securities to exchange unregistered securities for registered securities, or vice versa, and the circumstances under which any such exchanges, if permitted, may be made;
the denominations, which may be in U.S. dollars or in any foreign currency, in which the debt securities will be issued, if other than denominations of $1,000.00 and any integral multiple thereof;
whether the debt securities will be issued in the form of certificated debt securities, and if so, the form of the debt securities (or forms thereof if unregistered and registered securities are issuable in that series), including the legends required by law or as we deem necessary or appropriate, the form of any coupons or temporary global security which may be issued and the forms of any other certificates which may be required under the indenture or which we may require in connection with the offering, sale, delivery or exchange of the debt securities;
if other than U.S. dollars, the currency or currencies in which payments of principal, interest and other amounts payable with respect to the debt securities will be denominated, payable, redeemable or repurchasable, as the case may be;
whether the debt securities may be issuable in tranches;
the obligations, if any, we may have to permit the conversion or exchange of the debt securities into common stock, preferred stock or other capital stock or property, or a combination thereof, and the terms and conditions upon which such conversion or exchange will be effected (including the initial conversion or exchange price or rate, the conversion or exchange period, the provisions for conversion or exchange price or rate adjustments or any other provisions relative to such obligation), and any limitations on the ownership or transferability of the securities or property into which the debt securities may be converted or exchanged;
any trustees, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars or any other agents with respect to the debt securities;
if the debt securities do not bear interest, the applicable dates required under the indenture for furnishing information to the trustee regarding the holders of the debt securities;
any deletions from, modifications of or additions to (i) the events of default with respect to the debt securities or (ii) the rights of the trustee or the holders of the debt securities in connection with events of default;
any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the covenants with respect to the debt securities;
if the amount of payments of principal of, and make-whole amount, if any, and interest on the debt securities may be determined with reference to an index, the manner in which such amount will be determined;
whether the debt securities will be issued in whole or in part in the global form of one or more debt securities and, if so, the depositary for such debt securities, the circumstances under which any such debt security may be exchanged for debt securities registered in the name of, and under which any transfer of debt securities may be registered in the name of, any person other than such depositary or its nominee, and any other provisions regarding such debt securities;
whether, under what circumstances and the currency in which, we will pay additional amounts on the debt securities to any holder of the debt securities who is not a U.S. person in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether we will have the option to redeem such debt securities rather than pay such additional amounts (and the terms of any such option);

6

Table of Contents

whether the debt securities, in whole or specified parts, will be defeasible, and, if the securities may be defeased, in whole or in specified part, any provisions to permit a pledge of obligations other than certain government obligations to satisfy the requirements of the indenture regarding defeasance of securities and, if other than by resolution of our board of directors, the manner in which any election to defease the debt securities will be evidenced;
whether the debt securities will be secured by any property, assets or other collateral and, if so, a general description of the collateral and the terms of any related security, pledge or other agreements;
the persons to whom any interest on the debt securities will be payable, if other than the registered holders thereof on the regular record date therefor;
any restrictions, conditions or requirements for transfer of the debt securities; and
any other material terms or conditions upon which the debt securities will be issued.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will issue debt securities in fully registered form without coupons and in denominations of $1,000.00 and in integral multiples of $1,000.00, and interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. If any interest payment date or the maturity date falls on a day that is not a business day, then the payment will be made on the next business day without additional interest and with the same effect as if it were made on the originally scheduled date.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the trustee will act as paying agent and registrar for the debt securities under the indenture. We may also act as paying agent under the indenture.
The applicable prospectus supplement will contain a description of U.S. federal income tax consequences relating to the debt securities, to the extent applicable.
Covenants
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe any covenants, such as restrictive covenants restricting us or any of our subsidiaries from incurring, issuing, assuming or guarantying any indebtedness or restricting us or any of our subsidiaries from paying dividends or acquiring any of our or its capital stock.
Consolidation, Merger and Transfer of Assets
The indenture permits a consolidation or merger between us and another entity and/or the sale, conveyance or lease by us of all or substantially all of our property and assets; provided, however, that:
the resulting or acquiring entity, if other than us, is organized and existing under the laws of a U.S. jurisdiction and assumes all of our responsibilities and liabilities under the indenture, including the payment of all amounts due on the debt securities and performance of the covenants in the indenture;
immediately after the transaction, and giving effect to the transaction, no event of default under the indenture exists; and
we have delivered to the trustee an officers' certificate stating that the transaction and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with the transaction, the supplemental indenture, comply with the indenture and that all conditions precedent to the transaction contained in the indenture have been satisfied.
If we consolidate or merge with or into any other entity, or sell or lease all or substantially all of our assets in compliance with the terms and conditions of the indenture, the resulting or acquiring entity will be substituted for us in the indenture and the debt securities with the same effect as if it had been an original party to the indenture and the debt securities. As a result, such successor entity may exercise our rights and powers under the indenture and the debt securities, in our name, and, except in the case of a lease, we will be released from all our liabilities and obligations under the indenture and under the debt securities.

7

Table of Contents

Notwithstanding the foregoing, we may transfer all of our property and assets to another entity if, immediately after giving effect to the transfer, such entity is our wholly-owned subsidiary. The term “wholly-owned subsidiary” means any subsidiary in which we and/or our other wholly-owned subsidiaries own all of the outstanding capital stock.
Modification and Waiver
Under the indenture, some of our rights and obligations and some of the rights of the holders of the debt securities may be modified or amended with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities affected by the modification or amendment. However, the following modifications and amendments will not be effective against any holder without its consent:
a change in the stated maturity date of any payment of principal or interest;
a reduction in the principal amount of, or interest on, any debt securities;
an alteration or impairment of any right to convert at the rate or upon the terms provided in the indenture;
a change in the currency in which any payment on the debt securities is payable;
an impairment of a holder's right to sue us for the enforcement of payments due on the debt securities; or
a reduction in the percentage of outstanding debt securities required to consent to a modification or amendment of the indenture or required to consent to a waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the indenture or certain defaults under the indenture.
Under the indenture, the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities may, on behalf of all holders of the debt securities:
waive compliance by us with certain restrictive provisions of the indenture; and
waive any past default under the indenture in accordance with the applicable provisions of the indenture, except a default in the payment of the principal of, or interest on, any series of debt securities.
Finally, we and the indenture trustee may, from time to time, amend the indenture without the consent of holders of the debt securities for certain purposes, including but not limited to:
to evidence the succession of another entity to us or successive successions and the assumption by such entity of our covenants, agreements and obligations under the indenture;
to add additional events of default for the protection of the holders of debt securities;
to add covenants for the protection of the holders of debt securities; and
to make certain other administrative modifications which do not materially and adversely affect the interests of the holders of debt securities.
Events of Default
Unless we indicate otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, “event of default” under the indenture will mean, with respect to any series of debt securities, any of the following:
failure to pay interest on any debt security for 30 days after the payment is due;
failure to pay the principal of any debt security when due, either at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise;
failure on our part to observe or perform any other covenant or agreement in the indenture that applies to the debt securities for 90 days after we have received written notice of the failure to perform in the manner specified in the indenture; and
certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization.
If an event of default occurs and continues, the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series may declare the entire principal of all the debt securities to be due and payable immediately, except that, if the event of default is caused by certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization,

8

Table of Contents

the entire principal of all of the debt securities of such series will become due and payable immediately without any act on the part of the trustee or holders of the debt securities. If such a declaration occurs, the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series can, subject to conditions, rescind the declaration.
The indenture requires us to furnish to the trustee, not less often than annually, a certificate from our principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer, as the case may be, as to such officer's knowledge of our compliance with all conditions and covenants under the indenture. The trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any default, except defaults in the payment of principal of, or interest on, any debt securities if the trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of notice is in the best interests of the holders. For purposes of this paragraph, “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an event of default under the indenture.
The trustee is not obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request, order or direction of any holders of debt securities, unless the holders offer the trustee satisfactory security or indemnity. If satisfactory security or indemnity is provided, then, subject to other rights of the trustee, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities may direct the time, method and place of:
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee; or
exercising any trust or power conferred upon the trustee.
The holder of a debt security will have the right to begin any proceeding with respect to the indenture or for any remedy only if:
the holder has previously given the trustee written notice of a continuing event of default;
the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities have made a written request of, and offered reasonable indemnity to, the trustee to begin such proceeding;
the trustee has not started such proceeding within 60 days after receiving the request; and
no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the trustee under the indenture.
However, the holder of any debt security will have an absolute right to receive payment of principal of, and interest on, the debt security when due and to institute suit to enforce payment.
Satisfaction and Discharge; Defeasance
Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, if at any time,
we have paid the principal of and interest on all the debt securities of any series, except for debt securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid in accordance with the indenture, as and when the same has become due and payable;
we have delivered to the trustee for cancellation all debt securities of any series theretofore authenticated, except for debt securities of such series which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in the indenture; or
all the debt securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the trustee for cancellation have become due and payable, or are by their terms are to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year, and we have deposited with the trustee, in trust, sufficient money or government obligations, or a combination thereof, to pay the principal, any interest and any other sums due on the debt securities, on the dates the payments are due or become due under the indenture and the terms of the debt securities;
then the indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to the debt securities of such series, except for (i) rights of registration of transfer and exchange, and our right of optional redemption, (ii) substitution of mutilated, defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities, (iii) rights of holders to receive payments of principal thereof and interest thereon upon the original stated due dates therefor (but not upon acceleration) and remaining rights of the holders to receive mandatory sinking fund payments, if any, (iv) the rights, obligations and immunities of the trustee under the indenture, and (v) the rights of the holders of such series of debt securities as beneficiaries thereof with respect to the property so deposited with the trustee payable to all or any of them.

9

Table of Contents

Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may elect with respect to any debt securities of any series either:
to defease and be discharged from all of our obligations with respect to such debt securities, with certain exceptions described below, which we refer to herein as defeasance; or
to be released from our obligations with respect to such debt securities under such covenants as may be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, and any omission to comply with those obligations will not constitute a default or an event of default with respect to such debt securities, which we refer to herein as covenant defeasance.
We must comply with the following conditions before the defeasance or covenant defeasance can be effected:
we must irrevocably deposit with the indenture trustee or other qualifying trustee, under the terms of an irrevocable trust agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the trustee, trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the holders of such debt securities, sufficient money or government obligations, or a combination thereof, to pay the principal, any interest and any other sums on the due dates for those payments; and
we must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of such debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may be, to be effected with respect to such debt securities and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may be, had not occurred.
In connection with defeasance, any irrevocable trust agreement contemplated by the indenture must include, among other things, provision for: (i) payment of the principal of and interest on such debt securities, if any, appertaining thereto when due (by redemption, sinking fund payments or otherwise); (ii) the payment of the expenses of the trustee incurred or to be incurred in connection with carrying out such trust provisions; (iii) rights of registration, transfer, substitution and exchange of such debt securities in accordance with the terms stated in the indenture; and (iv) continuation of the rights, obligations and immunities of the trustee as against the holders of such debt securities as stated in the indenture.
The accompanying prospectus supplement may further describe any provisions permitting or restricting defeasance or covenant defeasance with respect to the debt securities of a particular series.
Global Securities
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, each debt security offered by this prospectus will be issued in the form of one or more global debt securities representing all or part of that series of debt securities. This means that we will not issue certificates for that series of debt securities to the holders. Instead, a global debt security representing that series will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a securities depositary and registered in the name of the depositary or a nominee of the depositary. Any such depositary must be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act. We will describe the specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to a series of debt securities to be represented by a global security in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Notices
We will give notices to holders of the debt securities by mail at the addresses listed in the security register. In the case of notice in respect of unregistered securities or coupon securities, we may give notice by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in New York, New York.
Governing Law
The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, except to the extent the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or the Trust Indenture Act, is applicable.
The Trustee
General. We will enter into the indenture with a trustee that is qualified to act under the Trust Indenture Act and with any other trustees chosen by us and appointed in a supplemental indenture for a particular series of debt securities.

10

Table of Contents

Resignation or Removal of Trustee. If the trustee has or acquires a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the trustee must either eliminate its conflicting interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and the indenture. Any resignation will require the appointment of a successor trustee under the indenture in accordance with the terms and conditions of the indenture.
The trustee may resign or be removed by us with respect to one or more series of debt securities and a successor trustee may be appointed to act with respect to any such series. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of any series may remove the trustee with respect to the debt securities of such series.
Annual Trustee Report to Holders of Debt Securities. The trustee will be required to submit certain reports to the holders of the debt securities regarding, among other things, the trustee's eligibility to serve as such, the priority of the trustee's claims regarding advances made by it, and any action taken by the trustee materially affecting the debt securities.
Certificates and Opinions to Be Furnished to Trustee. The indenture provides that, in addition to other certificates or opinions specifically required by other provisions of the indenture, every application by us for action by the trustee must be accompanied by a certificate from one or more of our officers and an opinion of counsel (who may be our counsel) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent to such action have been complied with by us.
Certain Relationships in the Ordinary Course. From time to time, we may maintain deposit accounts and conduct other banking transactions with the trustee to be appointed under the indenture or its affiliates in the ordinary course of business.
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
The following describes some of the general terms and provisions of warrants we may issue. Warrants may be issued independently or together with any other securities offered by any prospectus supplement and other offering materials, if any, and may be attached to or separate from those securities. Warrants may be issued under warrant agreements to be entered into between us and a warrant agent or may be represented by individual warrant certificates, all as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement and other offering materials, if any. The warrant agent, if any, for any series of warrants will act solely as our agent and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants.
The applicable prospectus supplement and any other offering materials relating to any warrants we may issue will specify the terms of the warrants, including:
the title and aggregate number of the warrants;
the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued;
the title, amount and terms of the securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants;
the title, amount and terms of the securities offered with the warrants and the number of warrants issued with each such security;
the date, if any, on and after which the warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable;
the price at which the related securities may be purchased upon exercise of the warrants;
the exercise period for the warrants;
the minimum or maximum number of warrants which may be exercised at any one time;
any applicable anti-dilution, redemption or call provisions;
any applicable book-entry provisions; and
any other terms of the warrants.
Before exercising their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise, including the right to receive dividends, if any, or payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, or to exercise voting rights, if any.

11

Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS
This section describes the general terms of the subscription rights to purchase common stock or other securities that we may offer to shareholders using this prospectus. The following description is only a summary, does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable forms of subscription agent agreement and subscription certificate for a full understanding of all terms of any series of subscription rights. The forms of the subscription agent agreement and the subscription certificate will be filed with the SEC as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or as an exhibit to a filing incorporated by reference in the registration statement. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information” for information on how to obtain copies.
Subscription rights may be issued independently or together with any other security and may or may not be transferable. As part of any subscription rights offering, we may enter into a standby underwriting or other arrangement under which the underwriters or any other person would purchase any securities that are not purchased in such subscription rights offering. If we issue subscription rights, they will be governed by a separate subscription agent agreement that we will sign with a bank or trust company, as rights agent, that will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. The rights agent will act solely as our agent and will not assume any obligation to any holders of subscription rights certificates or beneficial owners of subscription rights.
The prospectus supplement relating to any subscription rights we offer will describe the specific terms of the offering and the subscription rights, including the record date for shareholders entitled to the subscription rights distribution, the number of subscription rights issued and the number of shares of common stock that may be purchased upon exercise of the subscription rights, the exercise price of the subscription rights, the date on which the subscription rights will become effective and the date on which the subscription rights will expire, and certain U.S. federal income tax considerations.
In general, a subscription right entitles the holder to purchase for cash a specific number of shares of common stock or other securities at a specified exercise price. The rights are normally issued to shareholders as of a specific record date, may be exercised only for a limited period of time and become void following the expiration of such period. If we determine to issue subscription rights, we will accompany this prospectus with the applicable prospectus supplement that will describe, among other things:
the record date for shareholders entitled to receive the subscription rights;
the number of shares of common stock or other securities that may be purchased upon exercise of each subscription right;
the exercise price of the subscription rights;
whether the subscription rights are transferable;
the period during which the subscription rights may be exercised and when they will expire;
the steps required to exercise the subscription rights;
whether the subscription rights include “oversubscription rights” so that the holder may purchase more securities if other holders do not purchase their full allotments; and
whether we intend to sell the shares of common stock or other securities that are not purchased in the rights offering to an underwriter or other purchaser under a contractual “standby” commitment or other arrangement.
If fewer than all of the subscription rights issued in any rights offering are exercised, we may offer any unsubscribed securities directly to persons other than shareholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to standby arrangements, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
After the close of business on the expiration date, all unexercised subscription rights will become void.
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
As specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may issue units consisting of one or more debt securities, shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock or warrants or any combination of such securities, including guarantees of any securities.

12

Table of Contents

The applicable prospectus supplement and any other offering materials relating to any units issued under the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part will specify the terms of the units, including:
the terms of the units and of any of the debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, warrants and guarantees comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances the securities comprising the units may be traded separately;
a description of the terms of any unit agreement governing the units; and
a description of the provisions for the payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units.
DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
This section outlines certain provisions of the deposit agreement that will govern any depositary shares, the depositary shares themselves and the depositary receipts. This information may not be complete in all respects and is subject to and qualified in its entirely by reference to the relevant deposit agreement and depositary receipt with respect to the depositary shares relating to any particular series of preferred stock. A copy of the depositary agreement and form of depositary receipt relating to any depositary shares we issue will be filed with the SEC as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or as an exhibit to a filing incorporated by reference in the registration statement. The specific terms of any depositary shares we may offer will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. If so described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the terms of that series of depositary shares may differ from the general description of terms presented below.
General
We may offer fractional interests in shares of our preferred stock, rather than full shares of preferred stock. If we do, we will provide for the issuance by a depositary to the public of receipts for depositary shares, each of which will represent a fractional interest in a share of a particular series of preferred stock.
The shares of any series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares will be deposited under a separate deposit agreement between us and a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus of such amount as may be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, which we refer to in this section as the depositary. We will name the depositary in the applicable prospectus supplement. Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, each owner of a depositary share will have a fractional interest in all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock underlying the depositary share. Those rights include any dividend, voting, redemption, conversion and liquidation rights.
The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued under the deposit agreement. Purchasers of fractional interests in shares of the related series of preferred stock will receive depositary receipts as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, purchasers will not be entitled to receive the whole shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares.
Dividends
The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions in respect of the preferred stock underlying the depositary shares to each record holder of depositary shares based on the number of the depositary shares owned by that holder on the relevant record date. The depositary will distribute only that amount which can be distributed without attributing to any holder of depositary shares a fraction of one cent, and any balance not so distributed will be added to and treated as part of the next sum received by the depositary for distribution to record holders of depositary shares.
If there is a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property to the entitled record holders of depositary shares, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make that distribution. In that case the depositary may, with our approval, adopt the method it deems equitable and practicable for making that distribution, including any sale of property and distribution of the net proceeds from this sale to the concerned holders.
The deposit agreement will also contain provisions relating to how any subscription or similar rights offered by us to holders of the preferred stock will be made available to the holders of depositary shares.

13

Table of Contents

Conversion or Exchange Rights
If any series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares is subject to conversion or exchange, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe the rights or obligations of each record holder of depositary receipts to convert or exchange the depositary shares.
Redemption
If the series of the preferred stock underlying the depositary shares is subject to redemption, all or a part of the depositary shares will be redeemed from the redemption proceeds of that series of the preferred stock held by the depositary. The redemption price per depositary share will bear the same relationship to the redemption price per share of preferred stock that the depositary share bears to the underlying preferred stock. Whenever we redeem preferred stock held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem, as of the same redemption date, the number of depositary shares representing the preferred stock redeemed. If less than all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or pro rata as determined by the depositary.
After the date fixed for redemption, the depositary shares called for redemption will no longer be outstanding. When the depositary shares are no longer outstanding, all rights of the holders will cease, except the right to receive money or other property that the holders of the depositary shares were entitled to receive upon the redemption. Payments will be made when holders surrender their depositary receipts to the depositary.
Voting Rights
When the depositary receives notice of any meeting at which the holders of the preferred stock may vote, the depositary will mail information about the meeting contained in the notice, and any accompanying proxy materials, to the record holders of the depositary shares relating to the preferred stock. Each record holder of such depositary shares on the record date, which will be the same date as the record date for the preferred stock, will be entitled to instruct the depositary as to how the preferred stock underlying the holder's depositary shares should be voted.
Taxation
Owners of depositary shares will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as if they were owners of the preferred stock represented by the depositary shares. If necessary, the applicable prospectus supplement will provide a description of U.S. federal income tax consequences relating to the purchase and ownership of the depositary shares and the preferred stock represented by the depositary shares.
Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement
The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the deposit agreement may be amended by agreement between us and the depositary at any time. However, certain amendments as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement will not be effective unless approved by the record holders of at least a majority of the depositary shares then outstanding. A deposit agreement may be terminated by us or the depositary only if:
all outstanding depositary shares relating to the deposit agreement have been redeemed; or
there has been a final distribution on the preferred stock of the relevant series in connection with our liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our business and the distribution has been distributed to the holders of the related depositary shares.
Charges of Depositary
We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. We will pay associated charges of the depositary for the initial deposit of the preferred stock and any redemption of the preferred stock. Holders of depositary shares will pay transfer and other taxes and governmental charges and any other charges that are stated to be their responsibility in the deposit agreement.

14

Table of Contents

Resignation and Removal of Depositary
The depositary may resign at any time by delivering notice to us. We may also remove the depositary at any time. Resignations or removals will take effect when a successor depositary is appointed and it accepts the appointment.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the securities offered by this prospectus to one or more underwriters or dealers for resale, through agents, directly to purchasers or through a combination of any such methods of sale. The name of any such underwriter, dealer or agent involved in the offer and sale of the securities, the amounts underwritten and the nature of its obligation to take the securities will be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. We have reserved the right to sell the securities directly to investors on our own in those jurisdictions where we are authorized to do so. The sale of the securities may be effected in transactions: (i) on any national or international securities exchange or quotation service on which the securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale; (ii) in the over-the-counter market; (iii) in transactions otherwise than on such exchanges or in the over-the-counter market; or (iv) through the writing of options.
In addition, we may issue the securities as a dividend or distribution or in a subscription rights offering to our existing security holders. In some cases, we or dealers acting with us or on our behalf may also purchase securities and re-offer them to the public by one or more of the methods described above. This prospectus may be used in connection with any offering of our securities through any of these methods or other methods described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
We, our agents and underwriters may offer and sell the securities at a fixed price or prices that may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.
We may solicit offers to purchase securities directly from the public from time to time. We also may designate agents from time to time to solicit offers to purchase securities from the public on our behalf. If required, the prospectus supplement relating to any particular offering of securities will name any agents designated to solicit offers, and will include information about any commissions we may pay the agents in that offering.
We may sell securities from time to time to one or more underwriters who would purchase the securities as principal for resale to the public, either on a firm-commitment or best-efforts basis. If we use underwriters to sell securities, we may enter into an underwriting agreement with them at the time of the sale and will name them in the applicable prospectus supplement. In connection with the sale of the securities, underwriters may be deemed to have received compensation from us in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may also receive commissions from purchasers of the securities for whom they may act as agents. Any underwriting compensation paid by us to underwriters or agents in connection with the offering of the securities, and any discounts, concessions or commissions allowed by underwriters to participating dealers, will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement to the extent required by applicable law. Underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters or commissions (which may be changed from time to time) from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents.
Dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters, 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 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act.
If so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers from certain specified institutions to purchase offered securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. Such contracts will be subject to any conditions set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, and the prospectus supplement will set forth the commission payable for solicitation of such contracts. The underwriters and other persons soliciting such contracts will have no responsibility for the validity or performance of any such contracts.
If we offer securities in a subscription rights offering to our existing security holders, we may enter into a standby underwriting agreement with dealers, acting as standby underwriters. We may pay the standby underwriters a commitment fee for the securities they commit to purchase on a standby basis. If we do not enter into a standby underwriting arrangement, we may retain a dealer-manager to manage a subscription rights offering for us.
Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled, under agreements entered into with us, to indemnification against and contribution towards certain civil liabilities, including any liabilities under the Securities Act.

15

Table of Contents

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. These may include over-allotment, stabilization, syndicate short-covering transactions and penalty bids. Over-allotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which creates a short position. Stabilizing transactions involve bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. Syndicate short-covering transactions involve purchases of securities in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim selling concessions from dealers when the securities originally sold by the dealers are purchased in covering transactions to cover syndicate short positions. These activities may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the securities. As a result, these transactions may cause the price of the securities sold in an offering to be higher than it would otherwise be in the open market. These transactions may be effected on an exchange or automated quotation system, if the securities are listed on that exchange or admitted for trading on that automated quotation system, or in the over-the-counter market or otherwise. These transactions, if commenced, may be discontinued by the underwriters at any time.
The amount of expenses expected to be incurred by us in connection with any issuance of securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in three business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Your prospectus supplement may provide that the original issue date for your securities may be more than three scheduled business days after the trade date for your securities. Accordingly, in such a case, if you wish to trade securities on any date prior to the third business day before the original issue date for your securities, you will be required, by virtue of the fact that your securities initially are expected to settle in more than three scheduled business days after the trade date for your securities, to specify alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.
Underwriters, agents and their affiliates may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us or our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of their businesses. In connection with the distribution of the securities offered under this prospectus, we may enter into swap or other hedging transactions with, or arranged by, underwriters or agents or their affiliates. These underwriters or agents or their affiliates may receive compensation, trading gain or other benefits from these transactions.
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus that are not historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and we are including this statement for purposes of invoking these safe harbor provisions. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by any forward-looking statement. These factors include, among other things, the factors listed below. Forward-looking statements, which may be based upon beliefs, expectations and assumptions of our management and on information currently available to management, are generally identifiable by the use of words such as “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “should”, “could”, “would”, “plans”, “intend”, “project”, “estimate", “forecast”, “may” or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Additionally, we undertake no obligation to update any statement in light of new information or future events, except as required under federal securities law.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated or projected include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) credit quality deterioration or pronounced and sustained reduction in real estate market values could cause an increase in our allowance for credit losses and a reduction in net earnings; (ii) our management's ability to reduce and effectively manage interest rate risk and the impact of interest rates in general on the volatility of our net interest income; (iii) changes in the economic environment, competition, or other factors that may affect our ability to acquire loans or influence the anticipated growth rate of loans and deposits and the quality of the loan portfolio and loan and deposit pricing; (iv) fluctuations in the value of our investment securities; (v) governmental monetary and fiscal policies; (vi) legislative and regulatory changes, including changes in banking, securities and tax laws and regulations and their application by our regulators (particularly with respect to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the extensive regulations to be promulgated thereunder, as well as rules proposed by the federal bank regulatory agencies to implement the Basel III capital accord), and changes in the scope and cost of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance and other coverages; (vii) the ability to attract and retain key executives and employees experienced in banking and financial services;

16

Table of Contents

(viii) the sufficiency of the allowance for loan losses to absorb the amount of actual losses inherent in our existing loan portfolio; (ix) our ability to adapt successfully to technological changes to compete effectively in the marketplace; (x) credit risks and risks from concentrations (by geographic area and by industry) within our loan portfolio; (xi) the effects of competition from other commercial banks, thrifts, mortgage banking firms, consumer finance companies, credit unions, securities brokerage firms, insurance companies, money market and other mutual funds, and other financial institutions operating in our markets or elsewhere or providing similar services; (xii) the failure of assumptions underlying the establishment of allowances for loan losses and estimation of values of collateral and various financial assets and liabilities; (xiii) volatility of rate-sensitive deposits; (xiv) operational risks, including data processing system failures or fraud; (xv) asset/liability matching risks and liquidity risks; (xvi) the risks of mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, including, without limitation, the related time and costs of implementing such transactions, integrating operations as part of these transactions and possible failures to achieve expected gains, revenue growth and/or expense savings from such transactions; (xvii) the costs, effects and outcomes of existing or future litigation; (xviii) changes in general economic or industry conditions, nationally or in the communities in which we conduct business; (xix) changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by state and federal regulatory agencies and the Financial Accounting Standards Board; and (xx) other risk factors detailed in the “Risk Factors” section of the applicable prospectus supplement issued in connection with the issuance of securities and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and elsewhere in our periodic and current reports filed with the SEC.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We are subject to the information requirements of the Exchange Act, which means we are required to file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the internet at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file with the SEC at its Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may also obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information we file with the SEC. This permits us to disclose important information to you by referring to these separately filed documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and the information we file subsequently with the SEC will automatically update the information in this prospectus. This historical and future information that is incorporated by reference in this prospectus is considered to be part of this prospectus and can be obtained at the locations described above under the heading “Where You Can Find Additional Information.” The information included elsewhere in this prospectus and the following documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus is considered to be part of this prospectus:
our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, filed with the SEC on March 9, 2012, including the portions of our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on March 16, 2012 that are incorporated therein;
our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2012, filed with the SEC on May 3, 2012, the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2012, filed with the SEC on August 3, 2012, and the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2012, filed with the SEC on November 2, 2012;
our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 18, 2012, January 26, 2012 (except for information furnished under Item 2.02), April 17, 2012 (except for information furnished under Item 7.01), April 23, 2012, April 24, 2012 (except for information furnished under Item 2.02), July 18, 2012, July 26, 2012 (except for information furnished under Item 2.02), October 17, 2012, October 25, 2012 (except for information furnished under Item 2.02), November 13, 2012 (except for information furnished under Item 7.01), December 27, 2012, January 16, 2013, and January 24, 2013 (except for information furnished under Item 2.02);
the description of our common stock contained under the headings “Summary-Dividend Policy After the Merger; Coordination of Dividends,” “Summary-Differences in the Rights of Shareholders,” “Price Range of Common Stock and Dividend Information,” “Description of ISBF Capital Stock and Comparison of Shareholder Rights” and “Summary of Amendments to ISBF's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws” in the prospectus constituting part of our Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-147628) filed with the SEC on January 22, 2008; and
any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) under the Exchange Act, after the date of this document, excluding any document or portion thereof that has been furnished to and deemed not to be filed with the SEC.

17

Table of Contents

Any statement contained in this prospectus or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in any subsequently filed document which also is, or is deemed to be, incorporated by reference in this prospectus 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 prospectus.
We will provide you with a copy of any information that we incorporate by reference into this prospectus or the registration statement that contains this prospectus, at no cost, by writing or calling us. Requests for such materials should be directed to:
MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc.
Attention: Kenneth R. Urmie, Corporate Secretary
102 South Clinton Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
Telephone number: (319) 356-5800
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters in connection with the offering of securities made by this prospectus generally will be passed upon for us by our special counsel in the State of Iowa, Bradley & Riley PC. Certain other legal matters particular to any offering of debt securities made by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP. If the securities are being distributed in an underwritten offering, certain legal matters will be passed upon for the underwriters by counsel identified in the related prospectus supplement.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc. as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2011, and management's assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011, have been incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in the registration statement in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

18

Table of Contents

PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The following is an estimate, subject to future contingencies, of the expenses to be incurred by us in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered. We will pay all of these expenses.
 
Approximate Amount
SEC Registration Fee
$

Accounting Fees and Expenses
*

Legal Fees and Expenses
*

Transfer Agent and Registrar Fees
*

Printing and Mailing Fees
*

Miscellaneous
*

Total
*

* These fees are not presently known and cannot be estimated at this time, as they will be based upon, among other things, the amount and type of security being offered as well as the number of offerings.
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Under the IBCA, we must indemnify a director who was wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which the director was a party because the director is or was a director of the Company against reasonable expenses incurred by the director in connection with the proceeding.
Under our amended and restated articles of incorporation, we will indemnify and advance expenses to any director or officer of the Company who was or is a party or witness, or is threatened to be made a party or witness, to any threatened, pending or completed claim, action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, including grand jury proceedings, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Company or, while a director or officer of the Company, is or was serving at the request of the Company as a member, director, trustee, officer, partner, employee or agent of another corporation or entity, against reasonable costs, charges, expenses, attorney's fees, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts reasonably paid in settlement to the extent actually incurred by such person in connection with the claim, action, suit or proceeding, or in connection with an appeal thereof, to the full extent of and in a manner consistent with and limited by the IBCA. Entitlement to indemnification is conditioned upon the Company being afforded the opportunity to participate directly on behalf of such officer or director in the claim, action, suit or proceeding or any settlement discussions relating thereto.
Under the IBCA, we may indemnify only those directors and officers who have met the relevant standard of conduct under the IBCA, which includes acting in good faith and not against the best interests of the Company. We may not indemnify a director or officer in connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the Company (except to the extent of the reasonable expenses incurred by the director or officer in the proceeding) or where the director or officer received an improper financial benefit. Additionally, we may not indemnify an officer in connection with any proceeding for liability arising out of conduct that constitutes an intentional infliction of harm on the Company or its shareholders, or an intentional violation of criminal law.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
We also carry directors' and officers' liability insurance in the amount of $9.0 million.

II-1

Table of Contents

Item 16. Exhibits.
Exhibit Number
 
Description
1.1*
 
Form of Underwriting Agreement.
3.1
 
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc. filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Iowa on March 14, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Company's Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-147628) filed with the SEC on January 14, 2008), as amended by the Articles of Amendment (First Amendment) filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Iowa on January 23, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 23, 2009) and the Articles of Amendment (Second Amendment) filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Iowa on February 4, 2009 (containing the Certificate of Designations for the Company's Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 6, 2009).
3.2
 
Amended and Restated By-laws of MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 19, 2011).
4.1*
 
Form of certificate of designations for issuance of preferred stock, no par value per share.
4.2
 
Form of indenture.
4.3*
 
Form of senior debt security.
4.4*
 
Form of subordinated debt security.
4.5*
 
Form of debt warrant agreement (including debt warrant certificate).
4.6*
 
Form of preferred stock warrant agreement (including preferred stock warrant certificate).
4.7*
 
Form of common stock warrant agreement (including common stock warrant certificate).
4.8*
 
Form of subscription certificate.
4.9*
 
Form of subscription agent agreement.
4.10*
 
Form of unit agreement (including unit certificate).
4.11*
 
Form of depositary agreement (including depositary receipt).
4.12*
 
Form of common stock certificate.
4.13*
 
Form of preferred stock certificate.
5.1
 
Opinion of Bradley & Riley PC (including consent).
5.2
 
Opinion of Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP (including consent).
12.1
 
Computation of ratios of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2012 and for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007.
23.1
 
Consent of KPMG LLP.
23.2
 
Consent of Bradley & Riley PC (included in Exhibit 5.1).
23.3
 
Consent of Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP (included in Exhibit 5.2).
24.1
 
Power of attorney (included in the signature page to the registration statement).
25.1*
 
Form T-1 statement of eligibility and qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of the trustee under the senior indenture and subordinated indenture.
 
*    To be filed by amendment or by report filed under the Exchange Act and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 17. Undertakings.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1)    To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i)    to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

II-2

Table of Contents

(ii)    to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii)    to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2)    That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3)    To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4)    That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act, as amended, to any purchaser:
(i)     each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(ii)    each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
(5)    That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i)    any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii)    any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii)    the portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv)    any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

II-3

Table of Contents

(6)    That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(7)    To file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the SEC under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

II-4

Table of Contents

SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Iowa City, State of Iowa, on February 15, 2013.
 
 
 
MIDWESTONE FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
 
/s/ CHARLES N. FUNK
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Charles N. Funk
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
 
/s/ GARY J. ORTALE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gary J. Ortale
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
 
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in their respective capacities and on the respective dates indicated opposite their names. Each person whose signature appears below hereby authorizes each of Charles N. Funk and Gary J. Ortale, each with full power of substitution, to execute in the name and on behalf of such person any post-effective amendment to this registration statement and to file the same, with exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, making such changes in this registration statement as the registrant deems appropriate, and appoints each of Charles N. Funk and Gary J. Ortale, each with full power of substitution, attorney-in-fact to sign any amendment and any post-effective amendment to this registration statement (including any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, and all amendments thereto) and to file the same, with exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
 
Title
 
Date
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ CHARLES N. FUNK
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
February 15, 2013
Charles N. Funk
 
(principal executive officer)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ GARY J. ORTALE
 
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial
 
February 15, 2013
Gary J. Ortale
 
Officer and Treasurer
 
 
 
 
(principal financial officer and principal accounting officer)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ KEVIN W. MONSON
 
Chairman of the Board
 
February 15, 2013
Kevin W. Monson
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ RICHARD R. DONOHUE
 
Director
 
February 15, 2013
Richard R. Donohue
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


II-5

Table of Contents

 
 
 
 
 
/s/ CHARLES S. HOWARD
 
Director
 
February 15, 2013
Charles S. Howard
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ BARBARA J. KNIFF - MCCULLA
 
Director
 
February 15, 2013
Barbara J. Kniff-McCulla
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ JOHN S. KOZA
 
Director
 
February 15, 2013
John S. Koza
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ ROBERT J. LATHAM
 
Director
 
February 15, 2013
Robert J. Latham
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ TRACY S. MCCORMICK
 
Director
 
February 15, 2013
Tracy S. McCormick
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ JOHN P. POTHOVEN
 
Director
 
February 15, 2013
John P. Pothoven
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ ROBERT D. WERSEN
 
Director
 
February 15, 2013
Robert D. Wersen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ STEPHEN L. WEST
 
Director
 
February 15, 2013
Stephen L. West
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ R. SCOTT ZAISER
 
Director
 
February 15, 2013
R. Scott Zaiser
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

II-6

Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Number
 
Description
1.1*
 
Form of Underwriting Agreement.
3.1
 
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc. filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Iowa on March 14, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Company's Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-147628) filed with the SEC on January 14, 2008), as amended by the Articles of Amendment (First Amendment) filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Iowa on January 23, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 23, 2009) and the Articles of Amendment (Second Amendment) filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Iowa on February 4, 2009 (containing the Certificate of Designations for the Company's Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 6, 2009).
3.2
 
Amended and Restated By-laws of MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 19, 2011).
4.1*
 
Form of certificate of designations for issuance of preferred stock, no par value per share.
4.2
 
Form of indenture.
4.3*
 
Form of senior debt security.
4.4*
 
Form of subordinated debt security.
4.5*
 
Form of debt warrant agreement (including debt warrant certificate).
4.6*
 
Form of preferred stock warrant agreement (including preferred stock warrant certificate).
4.7*
 
Form of common stock warrant agreement (including common stock warrant certificate).
4.8*
 
Form of subscription certificate.
4.9*
 
Form of subscription agent agreement.
4.10*
 
Form of unit agreement (including unit certificate).
4.11*
 
Form of depositary agreement (including depositary receipt).
4.12*
 
Form of common stock certificate.
4.13*
 
Form of preferred stock certificate.
5.1
 
Opinion of Bradley & Riley PC (including consent).
5.2
 
Opinion of Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP (including consent).
12.1
 
Computation of ratios of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2012 and for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007.
23.1
 
Consent of KPMG LLP.
23.2
 
Consent of Bradley & Riley PC (included in Exhibit 5.1).
23.3
 
Consent of Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP (included in Exhibit 5.2).
24.1
 
Power of attorney (included in the signature page to the registration statement).
25.1*
 
Form T-1 statement of eligibility and qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of the trustee under the senior indenture and subordinated indenture.
 
*    To be filed by amendment or by report filed under the Exchange Act and incorporated herein by reference.


II-7