SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, DC 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported) - JULY 5, 2006 ALLETE, INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) MINNESOTA 1-3548 41-0418150 (State or other jurisdiction of (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer incorporation or organization) Identification No.) 30 WEST SUPERIOR STREET DULUTH, MINNESOTA 55802-2093 (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code) (218) 279-5000 (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions: / / Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) / / Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) / / Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) / / Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
SECTION 2 - FINANCIAL INFORMATION ITEM 2.03 CREATION OF A DIRECT FINANCIAL OBLIGATION OR AN OBLIGATION UNDER AN OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENT OF A REGISTRANT On July 5, 2006, the Collier County Industrial Development Authority (Issuer) issued $27.8 million of Industrial Development Variable Rate Demand Refunding Revenue Bonds Series 2006 due 2025 (Refunding Bonds) on behalf of ALLETE, Inc. (ALLETE). The proceeds of the Refunding Bonds will be used to redeem a portion of ALLETE's outstanding Collier County Industrial Development Refunding Revenue Bonds 6.5% Series 1996 due 2025. Under a Financing Agreement between the Collier County Industrial Development Authority and ALLETE dated as of July 1, 2006 (Financing Agreement), ALLETE is obligated to make payments to the Issuer sufficient to pay all principal and interest on the Refunding Bonds. These ALLETE obligations under the Financing Agreement are supported by a direct pay letter of credit. The Letter of Credit Agreement dated as of July 5, 2006, among ALLETE, Participating Banks and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent and Issuing Bank contains customary covenants, including a requirement that ALLETE maintain a maximum ratio of funded debt to total capital of 0.65 to 1.00. The Letter of Credit Agreement also contains customary events of default, including a cross default provision. ---------------------------------------------- READERS ARE CAUTIONED THAT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH ALLETE'S DISCLOSURES UNDER THE HEADING: "SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995" LOCATED ON PAGE 2 OF THIS FORM 8-K. ALLETE Form 8-K dated July 7, 2006 1
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995 In connection with the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, ALLETE is hereby filing cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause ALLETE's actual results to differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) made by or on behalf of ALLETE in this Current Report on Form 8-K, in presentations, in response to questions or otherwise. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects," "will likely result," "will continue," "could," "may," "potential," "target," "outlook" or similar expressions) are not statements of historical facts and may be forward-looking. Forward-looking statements involve estimates, assumptions, risks and uncertainties and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, and are accompanied by, the following important factors, in addition to any assumptions and other factors referred to specifically in connection with such forward-looking statements, which are difficult to predict, contain uncertainties, are beyond ALLETE's control and may cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements: - ALLETE's ability to successfully implement its strategic objectives; - ALLETE's ability to manage expansion and integrate acquisitions; - prevailing governmental policies and regulatory actions, including those of the United States Congress, state legislatures, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, various local and county regulators, and city administrators, about allowed rates of return, financings, industry and rate structure, acquisition and disposal of assets and facilities, real estate development, operation and construction of plant facilities, recovery of purchased power and capital investments, present or prospective wholesale and retail competition (including but not limited to transmission costs), and zoning and permitting of land held for resale; - effects of restructuring initiatives in the electric industry; - economic and geographic factors, including political and economic risks; - changes in and compliance with environmental and safety laws and policies; - weather conditions; - natural disasters; - war and acts of terrorism; - wholesale power market conditions; - ALLETE's ability to obtain viable real estate for development purposes; - population growth rates and demographic patterns; - the effects of competition, including competition for retail and wholesale customers; - pricing and transportation of commodities; - changes in tax rates or policies or in rates of inflation; - unanticipated project delays or changes in project costs; - unanticipated changes in operating expenses and capital expenditures; - global and domestic economic conditions; - ALLETE's ability to access capital markets; - changes in interest rates and the performance of the financial markets; - competition for economic expansion or development opportunities; - ALLETE's ability to replace a mature workforce, and retain qualified, skilled and experienced personnel; and - the outcome of legal and administrative proceedings (whether civil or criminal) and settlements that affect the business and profitability of ALLETE. Additional disclosures regarding factors that could cause ALLETE's results and performance to differ from results or performance anticipated by this report are discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A of ALLETE's 2005 Form 10-K and Part II, Item 1A of ALLETE's Form 10-Q for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2006. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and ALLETE undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which that statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all of these factors, nor can it assess the impact of each of these factors on the businesses of ALLETE or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by ALLETE in this Form 8-K and in its other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission that attempt to advise interested parties of the factors that may affect ALLETE's business. 2 ALLETE Form 8-K dated July 7, 2006
SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. ALLETE, Inc. July 7, 2006 Mark A. Schober ------------------------------------------------- Mark A. Schober Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer ALLETE Form 8-K dated July 7, 2006 3