UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 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 9, 2015 (December 8, 2015)
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:
o | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
o | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
o | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
o | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
SECTION 7 – REGULATION FD
Item 7.01 | Regulation FD Disclosure |
ALLETE, Inc. (NYSE:ALE) today initiated its 2016 earnings guidance range of $3.10 to $3.40 per share on net income of $153 million to $168 million. This compares favorably with our current 2015 guidance range of $3.35 to $3.50 per share which includes an estimated $18 million after-tax, or $0.36 per share, fee for the construction and sale of a wind project in 2015 by ALLETE Clean Energy. Our 2016 guidance reflects strong cost control efforts and increased cost recovery rider revenue at Minnesota Power, as well as continued growth at both ALLETE Clean Energy from owned facilities and U.S. Water Services. Key assumptions impacting 2016 guidance are summarized below.
Regulated Operations
• | Increased cost recovery rider revenue due to a full-year impact from the recently completed Boswell 4 environmental project. |
• | Lower operating and maintenance expenses from Minnesota Power due to cost control initiatives. Operating and maintenance expenses are expected to be approximately 5 percent to 10 percent lower than 2014 actual expenses despite known increases for our 200 MW Bison 4 wind facility put in service at the end of 2014. |
• | Higher depreciation expense primarily related to recent asset additions. |
• | The mid-point of our guidance range reflects estimated production levels from our taconite customers of approximately 35 million tons in 2016, which includes the December 1, 2015, demand nominations. Based on nominations received on December 1, 2015, Minnesota Power’s large power taconite customers nominated at approximately 80 percent of full demand levels for January through April of 2016. |
• | Minimal electricity sales to the Nashwauk Public Utilities Commission for electric service to Essar Steel Minnesota’s taconite mine and processing facility. The Nashwauk Public Utilities Commission is a wholesale customer of Minnesota Power. Essar has stated that it expects to achieve full production capability in 2016. |
• | For 2016 earnings guidance purposes, ALLETE is not including any financial impact from a potential rate case at this time. Minnesota Power anticipates making a decision on the timing of its next general rate case during 2016. |
• | Our 2016 guidance includes the expectation of reasonable regulatory outcomes. |
Energy Infrastructure and Related Services Businesses
• | Anticipated earnings growth from ALLETE Clean Energy due to a full year of operations from wind energy facilities that were acquired during 2015 and excludes the impact, if any, of possible acquisitions of renewable energy facilities. ALLETE Clean Energy is targeting acquisitions of existing facilities with a purchase price in the $50 million to $100 million range, and which have long-term power sales agreements in place for the facility’s output. Results for 2015 include the fee for the construction and sale of a wind project. |
• | Increased earnings at U.S. Water Services, which was acquired in February 2015, due to a full year of operations, anticipated revenue growth, and lower amortization expense associated with purchase accounting for inventories and sales backlog, and excludes the impact, if any, of possible strategic tuck-in acquisitions. U.S. Water Services expects to pursue periodic strategic tuck-in acquisitions with a purchase price in the $10 million to $50 million range. Priority will be given to acquisitions which expand its geographic reach, add new technology, or deepen its capabilities to serve its expanding customer base. |
Corporate and Other
• | An effective tax rate of approximately 20 percent in 2016 due to federal production tax credits as a result of wind generation from our Bison wind projects. |
• | Earnings per share dilution between $0.05 and $0.10 as a result of equity issuances in the first quarter of 2015. |
Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s disclosures under the heading “Forward-Looking Statements” located on page 2 of this Form 8-K.
ALLETE, Inc. Form 8-K dated December 9, 2015
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Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this report that are not statements of historical facts are considered “forward-looking” and, accordingly, involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed. Although such forward-looking statements have been made in good faith and are based on reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that the expected results will be achieved. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, future expectations, risks, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, events, uncertainties, financial performance, or growth strategies (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “likely,” “will continue,” “could,” “may,” “potential,” “target,” “outlook” or words of similar meaning) are not statements of historical facts and may be forward-looking.
In connection with the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, we are providing this cautionary statement to identify important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of ALLETE in this Form 8-K, in presentations, on our website, in response to questions or otherwise. 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 in connection with such forward-looking statements that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements:
• | our ability to successfully implement our strategic objectives; |
• | global and domestic economic conditions affecting us or our customers; |
• | changes in and compliance with laws and regulations; |
• | changes in tax rates or policies or in rates of inflation; |
• | the outcome of legal and administrative proceedings (whether civil or criminal) and settlements; |
• | weather conditions, natural disasters and pandemic diseases; |
• | our ability to access capital markets and bank financing; |
• | changes in interest rates and the performance of the financial markets; |
• | project delays or changes in project costs; |
• | changes in operating expenses and capital expenditures and our ability to raise revenues from our customers in regulated rates or sales price increases at our Energy Infrastructure and Related Services businesses; |
• | the impacts of commodity prices on ALLETE and our customers; |
• | our ability to attract and retain qualified, skilled and experienced personnel; |
• | effects of emerging technology; |
• | war, acts of terrorism and cyber attacks; |
• | our ability to manage expansion and integrate acquisitions; |
• | population growth rates and demographic patterns; |
• | wholesale power market conditions; |
• | federal and state regulatory and legislative actions that impact regulated utility economics, including our allowed rates of return, capital structure, ability to secure financing, industry and rate structure, acquisition and disposal of assets and facilities, operation and construction of plant facilities and utility infrastructure, recovery of purchased power, capital investments and other expenses, including present or prospective environmental matters; |
• | effects of competition, including competition for retail and wholesale customers; |
• | effects of restructuring initiatives in the electric industry; |
• | the impacts on our Regulated Operations segment of climate change and future regulation to restrict the emissions of greenhouse gases; |
• | effects of increased deployment of distributed low-carbon electricity generation resources; |
• | the impacts of laws and regulations related to renewable and distributed generation; |
• | pricing, availability and transportation of fuel and other commodities and the ability to recover the costs of such commodities; |
• | our current and potential industrial and municipal customers’ ability to execute announced expansion plans; |
• | zoning and permitting of land held for resale, real estate development or changes in the real estate market. |
• | the success of efforts to realize value from, invest in, and develop new opportunities in, our Energy Infrastructure and Related Services businesses; and |
• | factors affecting Energy Infrastructure and Related Services businesses, including fluctuations in the volume of customer orders, unanticipated cost increases, changes in legislation and regulations impacting the industries in which the customers served operate, the effects of weather, credit worthiness of customers, ability to obtain materials required to perform services, and changing market conditions. |
ALLETE, Inc. Form 8-K dated December 9, 2015
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Forward-Looking Statements (continued)
Additional disclosures regarding factors that could cause our results or performance to differ from those anticipated by this report are discussed in Part 1, Item 1A, under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page 29 of ALLETE’s Annual Report on Form10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2014. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and we undertake 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 Current Report on Form 8‑K and in other reports filed with the SEC that attempt to identify the risks and uncertainties that may affect ALLETE’s business.
ALLETE, Inc. Form 8-K dated December 9, 2015
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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 9, 2015 | /s/ Steven W. Morris | |
Steven W. Morris | ||
Controller | ||
ALLETE, Inc. Form 8-K dated December 9, 2015
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