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) - DECEMBER 12, 2006 ALLETE, INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) MINNESOTA 1-3548 41-0418150 (State or other (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer jurisdiction of Identification No.) incorporation or organization) 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 8 - OTHER EVENTS ITEM 8.01 OTHER EVENTS. Reference is made to ALLETE, Inc.'s (ALLETE or Company) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 (2005 Form 10-K), for background information on the following update. Ref. Page 8 - Contract Status for Minnesota Power Large Power Customers On December 12, 2006, Minnesota Power, an operating division of ALLETE, announced it has reached an agreement with PolyMet Mining, Inc. (PolyMet) to provide all of its electric service needs through 2018 at its proposed copper, nickel and precious metals mining operation located in northeastern Minnesota. PolyMet plans to begin commercial operations at its mine and process plant complex near Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota, by late 2008, pending completion of financing arrangements and receipt of regulatory approvals. Once fully operational, it is anticipated that PolyMet will require approximately 70 megawatts of electric power, becoming one of Minnesota Power's larger industrial customers. The PolyMet electric service agreement will require the approval of the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. PolyMet is based in Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PolyMet Mining Corp., an investor-owned Canadian mining company whose principal assets are the NorthMet polymetallic deposit, one of the world's largest non-ferrous deposits, and the nearby Erie processing plant. ------------------------------ 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 December 15, 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, which are beyond our control and may cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those that may be projected. These statements 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: - 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 and pandemic diseases; - war and acts of terrorism; - wholesale power market conditions; - population growth rates and demographic patterns; - 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; - 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 Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period 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 December 15, 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. December 15, 2006 Mark A. Schober ------------------------------------------------- Mark A. Schober Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer ALLETE Form 8-K dated December 15, 2006 3