As
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 10,
2007
Registration
Statement No. 333-______
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
Form
S-3
REGISTRATION
STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
ALLETE,
Inc.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Minnesota
|
41-0418150
|
(State
of incorporation or organization)
|
(I.R.S.
Employer Identification No.)
|
30
West
Superior Street
Duluth,
Minnesota 55802-2093
(218)
279-5000
(Address,
including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
of
registrant’s principal executive offices)
MARK
A. SCHOBER
|
DEBORAH
A. AMBERG, Esq.
|
Senior
Vice President and
|
Senior
Vice President, General Counsel
|
Chief
Financial Officer
|
and
Secretary
|
30
West Superior Street
|
30
West Superior Street
|
Duluth,
Minnesota 55802-2093
|
Duluth,
Minnesota 55802-2093
|
(218)
279-5000
|
(218)
279-5000
|
DONALD
W. STELLMAKER
|
ROBERT
J. REGER, JR., Esq.
|
Treasurer
|
Thelen
Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner LLP
|
30
West Superior Street
|
875
Third Avenue
|
Duluth,
Minnesota 55802-2093
|
New
York, New York 10022-6225
|
(218)
279-5000
|
(212)
603-2000
|
(Names
and
addresses, including zip codes, and telephone numbers, including area codes,
of
agents for service)
Approximate
date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time
after the effective date of this registration statement as determined by
market
conditions and other factors.
If
the
only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant
to
dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. o
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. x
If
this
Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant
to Rule
462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, please check the following box and
list
the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same offering. o
If
this
Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the
Securities Act of 1933, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. o
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 of 1933,
check
the following box. o
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 of
1933,
check the following box. o
CALCULATION
OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title
of Each Class of Securities to be Registered
|
Proposed
Maximum Aggregate Offering Price (1)
|
Amount
of Registration Fee
|
Common
Stock, without par value
|
|
|
Preferred
Share Purchase Rights (2)
|
|
|
First
Mortgage Bonds
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$0
|
(1)
|
An
unspecified aggregate initial offering of the securities of each
identified class is being registered as may from time to time be
offered
by ALLETE, Inc. at unspecified prices, along with an indeterminate
number
of securities that may be issued upon exercise, settlement, exchange
or
conversion of securities offered hereunder. Separate
consideration may or may not be received for securities that are
issuable
upon exercise, settlement, conversion or exchange of other securities
or
that are issued in units. In connection with the securities
offered hereby, except as specified in this paragraph, ALLETE,
Inc. will
pay “pay-as-you-go registration fees” in accordance with Rule
456(b).
|
(2)
|
The
preferred share purchase rights are attached to and will trade
with the
common stock. The value attributable to the preferred share purchase
rights, if any, is reflected in the market price of the common
stock.
|
ALLETE,
Inc. Form S-3 2007
PROSPECTUS
ALLETE,
Inc.
Common
Stock
and
First
Mortgage Bonds
ALLETE,
Inc. may offer any combination of the securities described in this prospectus
in
one or more offerings from time to time in amounts authorized from time to
time.
ALLETE
will provide specific terms of the securities, including the offering prices,
in
supplements to this prospectus. The supplements may also add, update
or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read
this prospectus and any supplements carefully before you invest.
ALLETE’s
common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and trades under the
symbol “ALE.”
ALLETE’s
principal executive offices are located at 30 West Superior Street, Duluth,
Minnesota 55802-2093, telephone number (218) 279-5000.
See
the discussion of risk factors, if any, contained in ALLETE’s annual, quarterly
and current reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under
the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are incorporated by reference into
this
prospectus, to read about certain factors you should consider before purchasing
any of the securities being offered.
ALLETE
may offer the securities to or through underwriters or dealers, directly
to
purchasers or through agents designated from time to time. The
supplements to this prospectus will describe the terms of any particular
plan of
distribution, including any underwriting arrangements. The “Plan of
Distribution” section beginning on page 15 of this prospectus also provides more
information on this topic.
_____________________________________________________
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.
December
10, 2007
ALLETE,
Inc. Form S-3 2007
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
About
this
Prospectus……………………………………………………………………………………………...................................................................................................................................
|
3
|
Where
You Can Find More
Information…………………………………………………………………………..................................................................................................................................
|
3
|
Incorporation
by
Reference………………………………………………………………………………………...................................................................................................................................
|
3
|
Forward-Looking
Statements……………………………………………………………………………………....................................................................................................................................
|
4
|
ALLETE,
Inc……………………………………………………………………………………………………........................................................................................................................................
|
5
|
Use
of
Proceeds…………………………………………………………………………………………………......................................................................................................................................
|
6
|
Consolidated
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed
Charges……………………………………………………………….................................................................................................................................
|
6
|
Description
of Common
Stock……………………………………………………………………………………..................................................................................................................................
|
6
|
Description
of First Mortgage
Bonds……………………………………………………………………………..................................................................................................................................
|
10
|
Plan
of
Distribution……………………………………………………………………………………………….....................................................................................................................................
|
16
|
Legal
Opinions……………………………………………………………………………………………………....................................................................................................................................
|
17
|
Experts……………………………………………………………………………………………………………......................................................................................................................................
|
17
|
ALLETE,
Inc. Form S-3 2007
ABOUT
THIS PROSPECTUS
This
prospectus is part of a registration statement that ALLETE, Inc. filed under
the
Securities Act of 1933 with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC,
using a “shelf” registration process. ALLETE, Inc. is referred to in
this prospectus as “ALLETE.” Under this shelf registration process,
ALLETE may issue and sell any combination of the securities described in
this
prospectus in one or more offerings from time to time.
This prospectus
provides you with a general description of the securities ALLETE may
offer. Each time ALLETE sells securities, ALLETE will provide a
prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms
of
that offering. Material United States federal income tax
considerations applicable to the offered securities will be discussed in
the
applicable prospectus supplement, if necessary. The prospectus
supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this
prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus
supplement together with additional information described under the headings
“Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation by
Reference.”
For
more
detailed information about the securities, you can read the exhibits to the
registration statement. Those exhibits have been either filed with
the registration statement or incorporated by reference to earlier SEC filings
listed in the registration statement.
WHERE
YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
ALLETE
files annual, quarterly and other reports and other information with the
SEC. You can read and copy any information filed by ALLETE with the
SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C.
20549. You can obtain additional information about the Public
Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.
In
addition, the SEC maintains an Internet site (www.sec.gov) that contains
reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding
issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including
ALLETE. ALLETE also maintains an Internet site
(www.allete.com). Information contained on ALLETE’s Internet site
does not constitute part of this prospectus.
INCORPORATION
BY REFERENCE
The
SEC
allows ALLETE to “incorporate by reference” the information that ALLETE files
with the SEC, which means that ALLETE may, in this prospectus, disclose
important information to you by referring you to those documents. The
information incorporated by reference is an important part of this
prospectus. Information that ALLETE files in the future with the SEC
will automatically update and supersede this information. ALLETE is
incorporating by reference the documents listed below and any future filings
ALLETE makes with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 after the date of this prospectus until ALLETE
sells all of these securities:
·
|
ALLETE’s
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2006;
|
·
|
ALLETE’s
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31,
2007, June
30, 2007 and September 30, 2007;
and
|
·
|
ALLETE’s
Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 7, 2007,
July 23,
2007 and December 7, 2007.
|
You
may
request a copy of these documents, at no cost to you, by writing or
calling:
Shareholder
Services
ALLETE
30
West
Superior Street
Duluth,
Minnesota 55802-2093
telephone:
(218) 723-3974
ALLETE,
Inc. Form S-3 2007
ALLETE
will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this
prospectus is delivered, a copy of any or all of the information that has
been
incorporated by reference in this prospectus but not delivered with this
prospectus.
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 that term is defined
in
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) made by or on behalf
of
ALLETE which are made in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, 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 and uncertainties, which are beyond
ALLETE’s 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, regulatory actions and legislation, 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 and 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), zoning and permitting of land held
for
resale and environmental
regulation;
|
·
|
effects
of restructuring initiatives in the electric
industry;
|
·
|
economic
and geographic factors, including political and economic
risks;
|
·
|
changes
in and compliance with laws and
policies;
|
·
|
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;
|
·
|
changes
in the real estate market;
|
·
|
pricing
and transportation of commodities;
|
ALLETE,
Inc. Form S-3 2007
·
|
changes
in tax rates or policies or in rates of
inflation;
|
·
|
unanticipated
project delays or changes in project
costs;
|
·
|
availability
of construction materials and skilled construction labor for capital
projects;
|
·
|
unanticipated
changes in operating expenses and capital
expenditures;
|
·
|
global
and domestic economic conditions;
|
·
|
ALLETE’s
ability to access capital markets and bank
financing;
|
·
|
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
factors that could cause ALLETE’s results and performance to differ from those
projected in forward-looking statements are set forth in the discussion of
risk
factors, if any, contained in ALLETE’s annual, quarterly and current reports
filed with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are
incorporated by reference into this prospectus and in any prospectus
supplement. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date
on which that 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 those factors, nor can it assess the impact
of
each of those 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. You should
also refer to ALLETE’s reports and other information incorporated by reference
herein for any additional factors.
ALLETE,
INC.
ALLETE
is
a diversified company that has provided fundamental products and services
since
1906. These include our former operations in the water, paper,
telecommunications and automotive industries and the core
Energy and Real Estate businesses we operate
today.
Energy
is comprised of Regulated Utility, Nonregulated Energy Operations and Investment
in ATC.
·
|
Regulated
Utility includes retail and wholesale rate regulated electric,
natural gas and water services in northeastern Minnesota and northwestern
Wisconsin under the jurisdiction of state and federal regulatory
authorities.
|
·
|
Nonregulated
Energy Operations includes coal mining activities in North
Dakota, approximately 50 megawatts of nonregulated generation and
Minnesota land sales.
|
·
|
Investment
in ATC includes an equity ownership interest in American
Transmission Company LLC.
|
Real
Estate includes Florida real estate operations.
Other
includes investments in emerging technologies, and earnings on cash and
short-term investments.
ALLETE,
Inc. Form S-3 2007
USE
OF PROCEEDS
Unless
otherwise stated in the prospectus supplement, ALLETE will add the net proceeds
from the sale of the securities to its general funds. ALLETE will use
its general funds for corporate purposes, including, without limitation,
capital
investments in its existing business, acquisitions made by or on behalf of
it or
its subsidiaries, to repay short-term borrowings and to repay, redeem or
repurchase outstanding long-term debt obligations. ALLETE will
temporarily invest any proceeds that it does not immediately need to use
in
short-term instruments.
CONSOLIDATED
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
ALLETE’s
consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of its last five
fiscal
years is as follows:
|
2006
|
2005
|
2004
|
2003
|
2002
|
5.16
|
1.66
|
1.74
|
1.51
|
1.35
|
ALLETE’s
consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the nine months ended
September 30, 2007 was 5.65.
DESCRIPTION
OF COMMON STOCK
General. The
following statements describing ALLETE’s common stock are not intended to be a
complete description. For additional information, please see ALLETE’s
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. Each of these documents has
been previously filed with the SEC and they are exhibits to the registration
statement filed with the SEC of which this prospectus is a
part. Reference is also made to the laws of the State of
Minnesota.
ALLETE
has the following capital stock authorized by its Articles of Incorporation:
43,333,333 shares of common stock, without par value, and 3,616,000 shares
of
preferred stock. As of the date of this prospectus, 30,825,618 shares
of common stock were issued and outstanding and no shares of preferred stock
were issued and outstanding.
Dividend
Rights. ALLETE’s common stock is entitled to dividends only
after ALLETE has provided for dividends and any sinking fund requirements
on any
issued and outstanding preferred stock. ALLETE’s Articles of
Incorporation contain provisions which would restrict net income available
for
the payment of cash dividends on outstanding common stock in the event that
shares of ALLETE’s preferred stock were outstanding and certain common stock
equity capitalization ratios were not met.
Voting
Rights (Non-Cumulative Voting). Holders of ALLETE’s common stock
are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at any meeting of
shareholders. Each share of ALLETE’s common stock, as well as each
share of any of ALLETE’s issued and outstanding preferred stock, is entitled to
one vote. Since the holders of these shares do not have cumulative
voting rights, the holders of more than 50 percent of the shares voting can
elect all directors. If that happens, the holders of the remaining
shares voting (less than 50 percent) cannot elect any
directors. In addition, whenever dividends on any of ALLETE’s
preferred stock are in default in the amount of four full quarterly payments
or
more, and until all the dividends in default are paid, the holders of ALLETE’s
preferred stock are entitled, as one class, to elect a majority of the
directors. ALLETE’s common stock, as one class, would then elect the
minority.
ALLETE,
Inc. Form S-3 2007
The
Articles of Incorporation include detailed procedures and other provisions
relating to these rights and their termination, including:
·
|
terms
of directors elected;
|
The
Articles of Incorporation contain provisions that make it difficult to obtain
control of ALLETE through transactions not having the approval of the Board
of
Directors. These provisions include:
·
|
a
provision requiring the affirmative vote of 75 percent of the outstanding
shares of all classes of ALLETE’s capital stock, present and entitled to
vote, in order to authorize certain mergers or consolidations,
or sales or
leases of a significant amount of assets, of ALLETE, and other
significant
transactions that may have an effect on the control of
ALLETE. Any of those transactions are required to meet certain
“fair price” and procedural requirements. Neither a 75 percent
shareholder vote nor a “fair price” is required for any of those
transactions that have been approved by a majority of the “Disinterested
Directors,” as that term is defined in the Articles of
Incorporation;
|
·
|
a
provision permitting a majority of the Disinterested Directors
to
determine whether the above requirements have been satisfied;
and
|
·
|
a
provision providing that some parts of the Articles of Incorporation
cannot be altered unless approved by 75 percent of the outstanding
shares
of all classes of ALLETE’s capital stock, present and entitled to vote,
unless the alteration is recommended to the shareholders by a majority
of
the Disinterested Directors. The parts of the Articles of
Incorporation that cannot be altered except as stated above include
some
parts relating to:
|
-
|
mergers
or consolidations, or sales or leases of a significant amount of
assets,
of ALLETE, and other significant transactions that may have an
effect on
the control of ALLETE; and
|
-
|
the
number, election, terms of office and removal of directors of ALLETE
and
the way in which vacancies on the Board of Directors are
filled.
|
Liquidation
Rights. After ALLETE has satisfied creditors and the
preferential liquidation rights of any of its outstanding preferred stock,
the
holders of its common stock are entitled to share ratably in the distribution
of
all remaining assets.
Miscellaneous. Holders
of ALLETE’s common stock have no preemptive or conversion
rights. ALLETE’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock
Exchange. The transfer agents and registrars for ALLETE’s common
stock are Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and ALLETE.
Description
of Preferred Share Purchase Rights. The following statements
describing ALLETE’s preferred share purchase rights, each a “Right," are not
intended to be a complete description. For additional information,
please see the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of July 12,
2006,
or the Rights Plan, between ALLETE and the Corporate Secretary of ALLETE,
as
Rights Agent, which sets forth the terms of the Rights. The Rights
Plan has been previously filed with the SEC and is an exhibit to the
registration statement filed with the SEC of which this prospectus is a
part. Reference is also made to the laws of the State of
Minnesota.
ALLETE,
Inc. Form S-3 2007
On
July
12, 2006, the Board of Directors of ALLETE amended the terms of the Rights
Agreement, dated July 14, 1996 between ALLETE and the Corporate Secretary
of ALLETE. Pursuant to the Rights Plan, ALLETE will issue rights
certificates, or “Right Certificates,” to the record holders of its common stock
when certain events occur, as discussed below. Each record holder of
ALLETE’s common stock will receive a Right Certificate, evidencing one Right for
each share of common stock so held, subject to adjustment. Except as
described below, each Right, when exercisable, currently entitles the registered
holder to purchase from ALLETE one and one-half one-hundredths (three
two-hundreths) of a share of Junior Serial Preferred Stock A, without par
value,
or Serial Preferred. The purchase price is $90 per one one-hundredth
of a share of Serial Preferred, or the Purchase Price. The Purchase
Price is subject to adjustment.
Initially,
no separate Right Certificates were distributed. Until the
Distribution Date, ALLETE’s common stock certificates together
with a copy of a summary of the Rights Plan are proof of the
Rights. The “Distribution Date” is the earlier to occur
of:
·
|
10
days following a public announcement that a person or group of
affiliated
or associated persons (an “Acquiring Person”) has acquired, or obtained
the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 15 percent or more
of the
outstanding shares of ALLETE’s common stock, or the “Stock Acquisition
Date;” or
|
·
|
15
business days following the commencement of (or a public announcement
of
an intention to make) a tender or exchange offer where a person
or group
would become the beneficial owner of 15 percent or more of ALLETE’s
outstanding shares of common stock. At any time before a person
becomes an Acquiring Person, the Board of Directors may extend
the
15-business day time period.
|
Until
the
Distribution Date (or the earlier redemption, expiration or termination of
the
Rights), the Rights will be transferred only with ALLETE’s common
stock. The transfer of any certificates for ALLETE’s common stock,
with or without a copy of the summary of Rights Plan, will also constitute
the
transfer of the Rights associated with those common stock
certificates. As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date,
ALLETE will mail separate certificates evidencing the Rights to holders of
record of ALLETE’s common stock as of the close of business on the Distribution
Date. After the Distribution Date, separate certificates for the
Rights alone will be given as proof of the Rights.
Each
whole share of ALLETE’s Serial Preferred will have a minimum preferential
quarterly dividend rate equal to the greater of $51 per share or, subject
to
adjustment, 100 times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends
and
100 times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash
dividends or other distributions other than a dividend payable in shares
of
common stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of common
stock. If ALLETE liquidates, no distribution will be made to the
holders of shares of ALLETE’s stock ranking junior to the Serial Preferred until
the holders of ALLETE’s Serial Preferred have received a liquidation preference
of $100 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends and
distributions. Holders of ALLETE’s Serial Preferred will be entitled
to receive notice of and to vote at any meeting of ALLETE’s
shareholders. Each whole share of ALLETE’s Serial Preferred is
entitled to one vote. These shares do not have cumulative voting
rights.
ALLETE’s
Articles of Incorporation provide that whenever dividends on any of ALLETE’s
preferred stock are in default in the amount of four quarterly payments,
and
until all the dividends in default are paid, the holders of ALLETE’s Serial
Preferred and other preferred stock will be entitled, together as one class,
to
elect a majority of directors. Holders of ALLETE’s common stock would
then elect the minority. If, in any merger or other transaction,
shares of ALLETE’s common stock are exchanged for or converted into stock or
other securities, cash and/or any other property, each whole share of ALLETE’s
Serial Preferred will be entitled to receive, subject to adjustment, 100
times
the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or other property (payable
in kind), as the case may be, for or into which each share of ALLETE’s common
stock is exchanged or converted. ALLETE cannot redeem the shares of
Serial Preferred.
ALLETE,
Inc. Form S-3 2007
The
Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will expire at
the
earliest of:
·
|
July 11,
2009 (“Final Expiration Date”);
|
·
|
the
redemption of the Rights as described below;
or
|
·
|
the
exchange of all Rights for ALLETE’s common stock as described
below.
|
If
any
person (other than ALLETE, its affiliates or any person receiving newly-issued
shares of common stock directly from ALLETE) becomes the beneficial owner
of 15
percent or more of the then outstanding shares of common stock, each holder
of a
Right will have a right to receive, upon exercise at the then current exercise
price of the Right, common stock (or, in the discretion of the Board of
Directors, cash, property or other securities of ALLETE) with a value equal
to
two times the exercise price of the Right. The Rights Plan contains
an exemption for any common stock ALLETE issues directly to any
person. This exemption applies even if the person would become the
beneficial owner of 15 percent or more of ALLETE’s common stock, provided
that such person does not acquire any additional shares of ALLETE’s common
stock. Examples of situations where ALLETE might issue common stock
directly include private placements or acquisitions where ALLETE’s common stock
is used as consideration.
If,
following the Stock Acquisition Date, ALLETE is acquired in a merger or other
business combination transaction or 50 percent or more of its assets or earning
power are sold, ALLETE will make proper provision so that each holder of
a Right
will, after the transaction, have the right to receive, upon exercise at
the
then current exercise price of the Right, common stock of the acquiring or
surviving company with a value equal to two times the exercise price of the
Right.
If
the
events described in the preceding two paragraphs happen, otherwise called
“Triggering Events,” any Rights that an Acquiring Person beneficially owns, or
transferred to certain persons, will immediately become null and
void.
The
Purchase Price payable and the number of shares of ALLETE’s Serial Preferred or
other securities or property issuable if the Rights are exercised, are subject
to adjustment. An adjustment would be made to prevent dilution, if
there was a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, split, combination,
consolidation or reclassification of, ALLETE’s Serial Preferred or its common
stock, or a reverse split of its outstanding shares of Serial Preferred or
common stock.
ALLETE’s
Board of Directors may exchange the Rights at an exchange ratio of one share
of
common stock per Right, subject to adjustment, at any time that is:
·
|
after
the acquisition by a person or group of affiliated or associated
persons
of beneficial ownership of 15 percent or more of the outstanding
common stock; and
|
·
|
before
the acquisition by that person or group of 50 percent or more of
the
outstanding common stock.
|
This
exchange ratio is subject to adjustment and does not include Rights that
have
become null and void.
With
certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required
until
cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least one percent in the
Purchase Price. ALLETE will not be required to issue fractional
shares of Serial Preferred or common stock (other than fractions in multiples
of
one one-hundredths of a share of Serial Preferred). Instead, ALLETE
may make an adjustment in cash based on the market price of the Serial Preferred
or common stock on the last trading date before the date of
exercise.
ALLETE’s
Board of Directors may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a
price
of $.005 per Right, or the “Redemption Price,” any time before a person becomes
an Acquiring Person. At its option, ALLETE may pay the Redemption
Price in cash, shares of its common stock or other consideration that its
Board
of Directors deems appropriate. If ALLETE redeems the Rights, the
Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be
to
receive the Redemption Price.
ALLETE,
Inc. Form S-3 2007
The
Rights Plan contains several provisions related to the occurrence of Triggering
Events. ALLETE is prohibited from consolidating, merging, or selling
a majority of its assets or earning power if doing so would be counter to
the
intended benefits of the Rights or would result in the distribution of Rights
to
the shareholders of the other parties to the transaction. The Rights
Plan also provides that once the Rights become exercisable, the Board of
Directors is not permitted to take any action that could reasonably
be foreseen to diminish substantially or otherwise eliminate the intended
benefits of the Rights, provided that this provision does not prevent the
Board
of Directors from exercising its existing authority, under certain
circumstances, to redeem or exchange the Rights, or to further amend the
Plan. Finally, the Rights Plan includes a requirement that certain
provisions to which a counterparty to a proposed consolidation, merger, sale
or
transfer is subject and which would disrupt the intended effects of the Rights
Plan be cancelled, waived, or amended.
If
the
Rights are exercised, issuance of Serial Preferred or common stock
will be subject to any necessary regulatory approvals. Until a Right
is exercised, the holder of the Right will have no rights as ALLETE’s
shareholder, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive
dividends. One million shares of Serial Preferred were reserved for
issuance if the Rights are exercised.
ALLETE
may amend the provisions of the Rights Plan. However, any amendment
adopted after the time that a person becomes an Acquiring Person may not
adversely affect the interests of holders of Rights.
Pursuant
to the Rights Plan, a special committee of the Board of Directors known as
the
IDE Committee, comprising all of the independent directors of ALLETE, is
required to conduct an annual review of the terms and conditions of the Rights
Plan, including whether termination or modification of the Rights Plan is
in the
best interests of ALLETE and its shareholders. The IDE Committee will
annually make recommendations to the Board of Directors based on such
review.
The
Rights have anti-takeover effects. The Rights will cause substantial
dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire ALLETE without
conditioning the offer on the redemption of the Rights or on the acquisition
of
a substantial number of Rights. The Rights beneficially owned by that
person or group may become null and void. The Rights should not
interfere with any merger or other business combination approved by ALLETE’s
Board of Directors. This is because, at any time before a person
becomes an Acquiring Person, ALLETE’s Board of Directors may redeem all of the
then outstanding Rights at the Redemption Price.
DESCRIPTION
OF FIRST MORTGAGE BONDS
General. The
following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of
ALLETE’s first mortgage bonds that ALLETE may offer by this
prospectus. ALLETE will describe the particular terms of the first
mortgage bonds, and provisions that vary from those described below, in one
or
more prospectus supplements.
ALLETE
may issue the first mortgage bonds from time to time in one or more
series. ALLETE will issue the first mortgage bonds under its Mortgage
and Deed of Trust, dated as of September 1, 1945, with Irving Trust Company
(now The Bank of New York) and Richard H. West (Douglas J. MacInnes, successor),
as mortgage trustees (“mortgage trustee” or “mortgage trustees”), which has been
amended and supplemented in the past, may be supplemented prior to the issuance
of these first mortgage bonds and which will be supplemented again by one
or
more supplemental indentures relating to these first mortgage
bonds. The Mortgage and Deed of Trust, as so amended and
supplemented, is referred to in this prospectus as the “mortgage.”
ALLETE,
Inc. Form S-3 2007
This
section briefly summarizes some of the terms of the first mortgage bonds
and
some of the provisions of the mortgage and uses some terms that are not defined
in this prospectus but that are defined in the mortgage. This summary
is not complete. You should read this summary together with the
mortgage and the supplemental indenture establishing the first mortgage bonds
for a complete understanding of all the provisions. References to
certain sections of the mortgage are included in parentheses. The
mortgage and the form of supplemental indenture have been previously filed
with
the SEC, and are exhibits to the registration statement filed with the SEC
of
which this prospectus is a part. In addition, the mortgage is
qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and is therefore
subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. You
should read the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 for a complete understanding
of its
provisions. All first mortgage bonds issued or to be issued under the
mortgage, including the first mortgage bonds offered by this prospectus,
are
referred to herein as “first mortgage bonds.”
All
first
mortgage bonds of one series need not be issued at the same time, and a series
may be re-opened for issuances of additional first mortgage bonds of such
series. This means that ALLETE may from time to time, without notice
to, or the consent of the existing holders of the first mortgage bonds of
a
particular series, create and issue additional first mortgage bonds of such
series. Such additional first mortgage bonds will have the same terms
as the first mortgage bonds of such series in all respects (except for the
payment of interest accruing prior to the issue date of the additional first
mortgage bonds or except for the first payments of interest following the
issue
date of the additional first mortgage bonds) so that the additional first
mortgage bonds may be consolidated and form a single series with the first
mortgage bonds of such series.
Reference
is made to a prospectus supplement relating to each series of first mortgage
bonds offered by this prospectus for the following specific terms of that
series, among others:
·
|
the
designation of the series of first mortgage bonds and aggregate
principal
amount of the first mortgage bonds,
|
·
|
the
percentage or percentages of their principal amount at which the
series
will be issued,
|
·
|
the
offering price of the series,
|
·
|
the
place where the principal of and interest on the series will be
payable,
if other than at The Bank of New York in The City of New
York,
|
·
|
the
date or dates on which the series will
mature,
|
·
|
the
rate or rates at which the series will bear interest, or how the
interest
rate(s) will be determined,
|
·
|
the
times at which such interest will be
payable,
|
·
|
whether
all or a portion of the series will be in global form,
and
|
·
|
redemption
terms or any other terms or provisions relating to the series that
are not
inconsistent with the provisions of the
mortgage.
|
The
first
mortgage bonds may be sold at a discount below their principal
amount. Some of the important United States federal income tax
considerations applicable to first mortgage bonds sold at a discount below
their
principal amount may be described in the prospectus supplement. In
addition, some of the important United States federal income tax or other
considerations applicable to any first mortgage bonds which are denominated
or
payable in a currency or currency unit other than United States dollars may
be
described in the prospectus supplement.
Except
as
may otherwise be described in the prospectus supplement, the covenants contained
in the mortgage will not afford holders of the first mortgage bonds protection
in the event of a highly-leveraged or similar transaction involving ALLETE
or in
the event of a change in control.
ALLETE,
Inc. Form S-3 2007
Form
and Exchanges. The first mortgage bonds offered by this
prospectus will be issued in fully registered form without coupons, unless
otherwise stated in a prospectus supplement. The first mortgage bonds
will be issued in denominations of $1,000 and multiples thereof, or in other
authorized denominations, and will be transferable and exchangeable without
charge (except for stamp taxes, if any, or other governmental charges) at
The
Bank of New York, in The City of New York.
A
holder
of first mortgage bonds may exchange those first mortgage bonds, without
charge,
for an equal aggregate principal amount of first mortgage bonds of the same
series, having the same issue date and with identical terms and provisions,
unless otherwise stated in a prospectus supplement. A holder of first
mortgage bonds may transfer those first mortgage bonds without cost to the
holder, other than for applicable stamp taxes or other governmental charges,
unless otherwise stated in a prospectus supplement. ALLETE may issue
all or some of the first mortgage bonds in “book-entry” form, which means that
they will be represented by global notes, instead of certificates. If
ALLETE issues global notes representing any first mortgage bonds, then a
depository selected by ALLETE will keep a record of the beneficial interests
in
those global notes and record any transfers of those beneficial interests
and
the depository, or its custodian, will hold those global notes. Any
additional requirements as to the form and method of exchange of first mortgage
bonds will be described in a prospectus supplement.
Redemption
and Purchase of First Mortgage Bonds. The first mortgage bonds may be
redeemable mandatorily or at the option of ALLETE upon 30 days notice at
predetermined prices. If the first mortgage bonds are redeemable,
ALLETE may use certain deposited cash and/or proceeds of released property
to
effect the redemption. Reference is made to the prospectus supplement
for the redemption terms of the first mortgage bonds offered by this
prospectus.
If
at the
time notice of redemption is given the redemption moneys are not on deposit
with
The Bank of New York, as mortgage trustee, the redemption may be made subject
to
their receipt before the date fixed for redemption.
Cash
deposited under any provisions of the mortgage (with certain exceptions)
may
generally be applied to the purchase of first mortgage bonds of any
series. (See Mortgage, Article X.)
Subject
to applicable law, including United States federal securities law, ALLETE
may
purchase outstanding first mortgage bonds by tender, in the open market or
by
private agreement.
Sinking
or Improvement Fund. Reference is made to the prospectus
supplement concerning whether or not the first mortgage bonds offered by
this
prospectus are entitled to the benefit of a sinking or improvement fund or
other
provision for amortization prior to maturity. None of the currently
outstanding first mortgage bonds has sinking fund or improvement fund
provisions.
Replacement
Fund. The first mortgage bonds offered by this prospectus are
not entitled to the benefit of any replacement fund.
Special
Provisions for Retirement of First Mortgage Bonds. If, during
any 12 month period, mortgaged property is disposed of by order of or to
any
governmental authority resulting in the receipt by ALLETE of $5 million or
more as proceeds, ALLETE (subject to certain conditions) must apply such
proceeds, less certain deductions, to the retirement of first mortgage
bonds. If this occurs, ALLETE may redeem first mortgage bonds of any
series that are redeemable for such reason at the redemption prices applicable
to those first mortgage bonds. (See Mortgage, Section
64.) Reference is made to the prospectus supplement for information
concerning whether the first mortgage bonds offered by this prospectus are
redeemable for this purpose and, if so, at what redemption prices.
Security. The
first mortgage bonds offered by this prospectus and any other first mortgage
bonds now or hereafter issued under the mortgage will be secured by the
mortgage, which constitutes a first lien on all of the electric generating
plants and other materially important physical properties of ALLETE and
substantially all other properties described in the mortgage as owned by
ALLETE,
other than those expressly excepted. The lien of the mortgage is or
may be subject to the following:
ALLETE,
Inc. Form S-3 2007
·
|
excepted
encumbrances, including defects which ALLETE has the right to cure
and
which do not impair the use of such properties by
ALLETE;
|
·
|
possible
defects in title to reservoir lands, easements or rights of way,
any
property not costing in excess of $25,000, or lands or rights held
for
flowage, flooding or seepage purposes, or riparian
rights;
|
·
|
vendors’
liens, purchase money mortgages and liens on property that already
exist
at the time ALLETE acquires that
property;
|
·
|
liens
for labor, materials, supplies or other objects given priority
by law;
and
|
·
|
liens
for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges given priority
by
law.
|
The
mortgage does not create a lien on the following “excepted
property”:
·
|
merchandise,
equipment, materials or supplies held for sale or other
disposition;
|
·
|
fuel,
oil and similar materials used in the operation of the properties
of
ALLETE;
|
·
|
aircraft,
automobiles and other vehicles, and materials and supplies for
repairing
and replacing the same;
|
·
|
timber,
minerals, mineral rights and
royalties;
|
·
|
receivables,
contracts, leases and operating agreements;
and
|
·
|
materials
or products, including electric energy, that ALLETE generates,
produces or
purchases for sale or use by
ALLETE.
|
The
mortgage contains provisions that impose the lien of the mortgage on property
acquired by ALLETE after the date of the mortgage, other than “excepted
property.” However, if ALLETE consolidates or merges with, or conveys
or transfers all or substantially all of ALLETE’s mortgaged property to another
corporation, the lien created by the mortgage will generally not cover the
property of the successor company, other than the property it acquires from
ALLETE and improvements, replacements and additions to that
property. (See Mortgage, Section 87.)
The
mortgage provides that the mortgage trustees shall have a lien upon the
mortgaged property for the payment of their reasonable compensation, expenses
and disbursements and for indemnity against certain liabilities. This
lien takes priority over the lien securing the first mortgage
bonds. (See Mortgage, Section 96.)
No
stock,
properties or other assets of ALLETE’s subsidiaries are subject to the
mortgage.
Issuance
of Additional First Mortgage Bonds. The maximum principal amount
of first mortgage bonds which may be issued under the mortgage is not limited
so
long as it meets the issuance tests set forth in the mortgage, which are
generally described below. First mortgage bonds of any series may be
issued from time to time on the basis of:
(1)
|
60
percent of property additions after adjustments to offset
retirements;
|
(2)
|
retirement
of first mortgage bonds or qualified lien bonds;
and
|
ALLETE,
Inc. Form S-3 2007
With
certain exceptions in the case of (2) above, ALLETE may not issue first mortgage
bonds unless it meets the “net earnings” test set forth in the mortgage, which
requires adjusted net earnings before income taxes for 12 out of the preceding
15 months of at least twice the annual interest requirements on all first
mortgage bonds at the time outstanding, including the additional issue, and
on
all indebtedness of prior rank. Such adjusted net earnings are
computed after provision for retirement and depreciation of property equal
to
$750,000 plus, for each of the 12 calendar months selected for the net earnings
test, 1/12th of two percent of the net additions to depreciable mortgaged
property made after June 30, 1945 and prior to the beginning of the calendar
year within which that calendar month is included. It is expected
that the first mortgage bonds offered by this prospectus will be issued upon
the
basis of the retirement of first mortgage bonds or property
additions.
Property
additions generally include electric, gas, steam or hot water property acquired
after June 30, 1945. Securities, fuel, aircraft, automobiles or other
vehicles, or property used principally for the production of gathering of
natural gas will not qualify as property additions.
ALLETE
has the right to amend the mortgage without any consent or other action by
holders of any series of first mortgage bonds, including the holders of first
mortgage bonds offered by this prospectus, so as to include nuclear fuel
as well
as similar or analogous devices or substances as property
additions.
The
mortgage contains certain restrictions upon the issuance of first mortgage
bonds
against property subject to liens and upon the increase of the amount of
such
liens. (See Mortgage, Sections 4-8, 20-30, and 46; Fifth
Supplemental, Section 2.)
Release
and Substitution of Property. Property may be released upon the
basis of:
(1)
|
deposit
with the mortgage trustee of cash or, to a limited extent, purchase
money
mortgages;
|
(2)
|
property
additions acquired by ALLETE in the last five years, after adjustments
in
certain cases to offset retirement and after making adjustments
for
qualified lien bonds outstanding against property additions;
and/or
|
(3)
|
waiver
of the right to issue first mortgage
bonds,
|
in
each
case without applying any earnings test. Cash may be withdrawn upon
the bases stated in (2) and (3) above.
When
property released is not funded property, property additions used to effect
the
release may again, in certain cases, become available as credits under the
mortgage, and the waiver of the right to issue first mortgage bonds to effect
the release may, in certain cases, cease to be effective as such a
waiver. Similar provisions are in effect as to cash proceeds of such
property. The mortgage contains special provisions with respect to
qualified lien bonds pledged, and disposition of moneys received on pledged
prior lien bonds. (See Mortgage, Sections 5, 31, 32, 37, 46-50,
59-63, 100 and 118.)
Modification
of the Mortgage. The rights of bondholders may be modified with
the consent of the holders of 66-2/3 percent of the first mortgage bonds
and, if
less than all series of first mortgage bonds are affected, the consent also
of
the holders of 66-2/3 percent of the first mortgage bonds of each series
affected. In general, no modification of the terms of payment of
principal and interest and no modification affecting the lien or reducing
the
percentage required for modification, is effective against any bondholder
without his consent. (See Mortgage, Article XIX; Twenty-first
Supplemental, Section 3.)
ALLETE,
Inc. Form S-3 2007
Defaults
and Notice Thereof. Defaults are defined as being:
·
|
failure
to pay principal of any first mortgage
bond;
|
·
|
failure
to pay interest on any first mortgage bond for 60 days after that
interest
is due;
|
·
|
failure
to pay any installments of funds for retirement of first mortgage
bonds
for 60 days after that installment is
due;
|
·
|
failure
to pay principal of or interest on any qualified lien bond beyond
any
applicable grace period for the payment of that principal or
interest;
|
·
|
certain
events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization;
and
|
·
|
the
expiration of 90 days following notice by the mortgage trustee
or holders
of 15 percent of the first mortgage bonds relating to other
covenants. (See Mortgage, Section
65.)
|
The
mortgage trustees may withhold notice of default, except in payment of
principal, interest or funds for retirement of first mortgage bonds, if they
think it is in the interest of the bondholders. (See Mortgage,
Section 66.) Under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, ALLETE is
required to provide to the mortgage trustees an annual statement by an
appropriate officer as to ALLETE’s compliance with all conditions and covenants
under the mortgage.
The
Bank
of New York, as mortgage trustee, or the holders of 25 percent of the first
mortgage bonds may declare the principal and interest due on default, but
a
majority may annul such declaration if the default has been
cured. (See Mortgage, Section 67.) No holder of first
mortgage bonds may enforce the lien of the mortgage without giving the mortgage
trustees written notice of a default and unless holders of 25 percent of
the
first mortgage bonds have requested the mortgage trustees to act and offered
them reasonable opportunity to act and indemnity satisfactory to the mortgage
trustees and they shall have failed to act. (See Mortgage, Section
80.) The holders of a majority of the first mortgage bonds may direct
the time, method and place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy
available to the mortgage trustees, or exercising any trust or power conferred
upon the mortgage trustees, but the mortgage trustees are not required to
follow
such direction if not sufficiently indemnified for expenditures. (See
Mortgage, Section 71.)
Information
about the Mortgage Trustees. The Bank of New York is the
corporate mortgage trustee and Douglas J. MacInnes is the individual mortgage
trustee. In addition to acting as mortgage trustee, The Bank of New
York may also act as trustee under other indentures, trusts and guarantees
of
ALLETE and its affiliates from time to time.
Satisfaction
and Discharge of Mortgage. The mortgage may be satisfied and
discharged if and when ALLETE provides for the payment of all of the first
mortgage bonds and all other sums due under the mortgage. (See
Mortgage, Section 106.)
Evidence
to be Furnished to the Mortgage Trustee. ALLETE will provide to
the mortgage trustee an annual statement by an appropriate officer as to
ALLETE’s compliance with all conditions and covenants under the
mortgage. (See Trust Indenture Act of 1939, Section
314(a)(4).)
ALLETE,
Inc. Form S-3 2007
PLAN
OF DISTRIBUTION
ALLETE
may sell the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus:
·
|
through
underwriters or dealers;
|
·
|
directly
to one or more purchasers.
|
Through
Underwriters or Dealers. If ALLETE uses underwriters in the sale
of the securities, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their
own
account. The underwriters may resell the securities in one or more
transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering
price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The
underwriters may sell the securities directly or through underwriting syndicates
represented by managing underwriters. Unless otherwise stated in the
prospectus supplement relating to any of the securities, the obligations
of the
underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions,
and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities
if they
purchase any of them. If ALLETE uses a dealer in the sale, ALLETE
will sell the securities to the dealer as principal. The dealer may
then resell those securities at varying prices determined at the time of
resale.
Any
initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or
reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.
Through
Agents. ALLETE may designate one or more agents to sell the
securities. Unless stated in a prospectus supplement, the agents will
agree to use their best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of their
appointment.
Directly. ALLETE
may sell the securities directly to one or more purchasers. In this
case, no underwriters, dealers or agents would be involved.
General
Information. A prospectus supplement will state the name of any
underwriter, dealer or agent and the amount of any compensation, underwriting
discounts or concessions paid, allowed or reallowed to them. A
prospectus supplement will also state the proceeds to ALLETE from the sale
of
the securities, any initial public offering price and other terms of the
offering of the securities.
ALLETE
may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers by certain
institutions to purchase the securities at the public offering price and
on
terms described in the related prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed
delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date
in the
future.
The
securities may also be offered and sold, if so indicated in the applicable
prospectus supplement, in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase,
in
accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to their terms, or otherwise,
by one or more firms, which are referred to herein as the “remarketing firms,”
acting as principals for their own accounts or as ALLETE’s agent. Any
remarketing firm will be identified and the terms of its agreement, if any,
with
ALLETE and its compensation will be described in the applicable prospectus
supplement. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters, as
that term is defined in the Securities Act of 1933, in connection with the
securities remarketed thereby.
ALLETE
may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities
not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately-negotiated
transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in
connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities
covered
by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in
short
sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged
by ALLETE or borrowed from ALLETE or others to settle those sales or to close
out any related open borrowings of securities, and may use securities received
from ALLETE in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open
borrowings of securities. The third party in such sale transactions
will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be
identified in the applicable prospectus supplement.
ALLETE,
Inc. Form S-3 2007
ALLETE
may make sales of its common stock to or through one or more underwriters,
dealers or agents in “at-the-market” offerings, and, if ALLETE engages in such
transactions, it will do so pursuant to the terms of a agreement between
ALLETE
and the underwriters, dealers or agents. If ALLETE engages in
at-the-market sales pursuant to a distribution agreement, ALLETE will issue
and
sell shares of its common stock to or through one or more underwriters or
agents, which may act on an agency basis or on a principal basis.
ALLETE
may have agreements to indemnify agents, underwriters and dealers against,
or to
contribute to payments which the underwriters, dealers and agents may be
required to make in respect of, certain civil liabilities, including liabilities
under the Securities Act of 1933.
LEGAL
OPINIONS
The
legality of the common stock and first mortgage bonds will be passed upon
for
ALLETE by Deborah A. Amberg, Esq., Senior Vice President, General Counsel
and
Secretary, and by Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner LLP, New York, New
York, counsel to ALLETE. Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner LLP
may rely as to all matters of Minnesota law upon the opinion of Ms.
Amberg. Ms. Amberg may rely as to all matters of New York law upon
the opinion of Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner LLP.
EXPERTS
The
consolidated financial statements and management’s assessment of the
effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included
in
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated
in this Prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year
ended December 31, 2006, have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports
of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm,
given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and
accounting.
As
of
December 1, 2007, Ms. Amberg owned 5,813 shares of common stock of
ALLETE. Ms. Amberg is acquiring additional shares of ALLETE common
stock at regular intervals as a participant in the Minnesota Power and
Affiliated Companies Retirement Savings and Stock Ownership
Plan. Under the Executive Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan, Ms.
Amberg has:
·
|
outstanding
options to purchase 24,755 shares of ALLETE common stock, of which
14,038
options are fully vested, the remainder of which shall vest between
February 1, 2008 and February 1, 2010, and all of which will expire
ten
years from the date of grant; and
|
·
|
an
award opportunity for up to 5,918 additional performance shares
contingent
upon the attainment of certain performance goals of ALLETE for
the periods
January 1, 2005 through December 31, 2007, January 1, 2006
through December 31, 2008, and January 1, 2007 through December
31,
2009.
|
___________________
You
should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided
in
this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or in any written communication
from ALLETE specifying the final terms of a particular offering of
securities. ALLETE has not authorized anyone else to provide you with
additional or different information. ALLETE is not making an offer of
these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not
permitted. You should not assume that the information in this
prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other
than
the date on the front of those documents or that the information incorporated
by
reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document
incorporated by reference.
ALLETE,
Inc. Form S-3 2007
PART
II. INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item
14.Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The
expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities
being registered, other than underwriting and/or agents compensation,
are:
Filing
fee for registration statement
|
|
$
*
|
Minnesota
mortgage registration tax
|
|
345,000**
|
Legal
and accounting fees
|
|
400,000**
|
Printing
(Form S-3, prospectus, prospectus supplement, etc.)
|
|
50,000**
|
Listing
Fee
|
|
***
|
Fees
of the trustees
|
|
25,000**
|
Rating
agencies’ fees
|
|
125,000**
|
Miscellaneous
|
|
25,000**
|
Total
|
|
$970,000
|
* Under
Rules 456(b) and
457(r) under the Securities Act of 1933, the SEC registration fee will be
paid
at the time of any particular offering of securities under this registration
statement, and is therefore not currently determinable.
** Because
an indeterminate amount of securities is covered by this registration statement,
the expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities
are therefore not currently determinable. The amounts shown are
estimates of expenses for the amount of securities which ALLETE is currently
authorized to issue, but does not limit the amount of securities that may
be
offered.
*** The
listing fee is based upon the principal amount of securities listed, if any,
and
is therefore not currently determinable.
Item
15.Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Section
302A.521 of the Minnesota Business Corporation Act generally provides for
the
indemnification of directors, officers or employees of a corporation made
or
threatened to be made a party to a proceeding by reason of the former or
present
official capacity of the person against judgments, penalties and fines
(including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) where such person, among other
things, has not been indemnified by another organization, acted in good faith,
received no improper personal benefit and with respect to any criminal
proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was
unlawful.
Article
IX of the Articles of Incorporation of ALLETE contains the following
provision:
“No
director of this Corporation shall be personally liable to this Corporation
or
its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty by that
director as a director; provided, however, that this Article IX shall not
eliminate or limit the liability of a director: (a) for any breach of
the director’s duty of loyalty to this Corporation or its stockholders; (b) for
acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct
or a
knowing violation of law; (c) under Minnesota Statutes Section 302A.559 or
80A.23; (d) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper
personal benefit; or (e) for any act or omission occurring prior to the date
when this Article IX becomes effective. If, after the stockholders
approve this provision, the Minnesota Business Corporation Act, Minnesota
Statutes Chapter 302A, is amended to authorize corporate action further
eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability
of a director of this Corporation shall be deemed eliminated or limited to
the
fullest extent permitted by the Minnesota Business Corporation Act, as so
amended. No amendment to or repeal of this Article IX shall apply to
or have any affect on the liability or alleged liability of any director
of this
Corporation for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such director
occurring prior to that amendment or repeal.”
ALLETE,
Inc. Form S-3 2007
Section
13 of the Bylaws of ALLETE contains the following provisions relative to
indemnification of directors and officers:
“The
Corporation shall reimburse or indemnify each present and future Director
and
officer of the Corporation (and his or her heirs, executors and administrators)
for or against all expenses reasonably incurred by such Director or officer
in
connection with or arising out of any action, suit or proceeding in which
such
Director or officer may be involved by reason of being or having been a Director
or officer of the Corporation. Such indemnification for reasonable
expenses is to be to the fullest extent permitted by the Minnesota Business
Corporation Act, Minnesota Statutes Chapter 302A. By affirmative vote
of the Board of Directors or with written approval of the Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, such indemnification may be extended to include agents
and
employees who are not Directors or officers of the Corporation, but who would
otherwise be indemnified for acts and omissions under Chapter 302A of the
Minnesota Business Corporation Act, if such agent or employee were an officer
of
the Corporation.”
“Reasonable
expenses may include reimbursement of attorneys’ fees and disbursements,
including those incurred by a person in connection with an appearance as
a
witness.”
“Upon
written request to the Corporation and approval by the Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, an agent or employee for whom indemnification has been
extended, or an officer or Director may receive an advance for reasonable
expenses if such agent, employee, officer or Director is made or threatened
to
be made a party to a proceeding involving a matter for which indemnification
is
believed to be available under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 302A.”
“The
foregoing rights shall not be exclusive of other rights to which any Director
or
officer may otherwise be entitled and shall be available whether or not the
Director or officer continues to be a Director or officer at the time of
incurring such expenses and liabilities.”
ALLETE
has insurance covering its expenditures which might arise in connection with
the
lawful indemnification of its directors and officers for their liabilities
and
expenses, and insuring officers and directors of ALLETE against certain other
liabilities and expenses.
ALLETE,
Inc. Form S-3 2007
Item
16.Exhibits.
Exhibit
Number Description
of Exhibit
+1(a)
|
-
|
Form
of Underwriting Agreement for common stock.
|
+1(b)
|
-
|
Form
of Underwriting Agreement for first mortgage bonds.
|
*4(a)(1)
|
-
|
Articles
of Incorporation, amended and restated as of May 8, 2001 (filed
as Exhibit
3(b) to the March 31, 2001, Form 10-Q, File No.
1-3548).
|
*4(a)(2)
|
-
|
Amendment
to Articles of Incorporation, effective 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time
on
September 20, 2004 (filed as Exhibit 3 to the September 21, 2004,
Form
8-K, File No. 1-3548).
|
*4(a)(3)
|
-
|
Amendment
to Certificate of Assumed Name, filed with the Minnesota Secretary
of
State on May 8, 2001 (filed as Exhibit 3(a) to the March 31, 2001,
Form
10-Q, File No. 1-3548).
|
*4(b)
|
-
|
Bylaws,
as amended effective August 24, 2004 (filed as Exhibit 3 to the
August 25,
2004, Form 8-K, File No. 1-3548).
|
*4(c)1
|
-
|
Mortgage
and Deed of Trust, dated as of September 1, 1945, between Minnesota
Power
& Light Company (now ALLETE) and The Bank of New York (formerly Irving
Trust Company) and Douglas J. MacInnes (successor to Richard H.
West), Trustees (filed as Exhibit 7(c), File
No. 2-5865).
|
*4(c)2
|
-
|
Supplemental
Indentures to ALLETE’s Mortgage and Deed of Trust:
|
|
|
|
|
First
|
March
1, 1949
|
2-7826
|
7(b)
|
Second
|
July
1, 1951
|
2-9036
|
7(c)
|
Third
|
March
1, 1957
|
2-13075
|
2(c)
|
Fourth
|
January
1, 1968
|
2-27794
|
2(c)
|
Fifth
|
April
1, 1971
|
2-39537
|
2(c)
|
Sixth
|
August
1, 1975
|
2-54116
|
2(c)
|
Seventh
|
September
1, 1976
|
2-57014
|
2(c)
|
Eighth
|
September
1, 1977
|
2-59690
|
2(c)
|
Ninth
|
April
1, 1978
|
2-60866
|
2(c)
|
Tenth
|
August
1, 1978
|
2-62852
|
2(d)2
|
Eleventh
|
December
1, 1982
|
2-56649
|
4(a)3
|
Twelfth
|
April
1, 1987
|
33-30224
|
4(a)3
|
Thirteenth
|
March
1, 1992
|
33-47438
|
4(b)
|
Fourteenth
|
June
1, 1992
|
33-55240
|
4(b)
|
Fifteenth
|
July
1, 1992
|
33-55240
|
4(c)
|
Sixteenth
|
July
1, 1992
|
33-55240
|
4(d)
|
Seventeenth
|
February
1, 1993
|
33-50143
|
4(b)
|
Eighteenth
|
July
1, 1993
|
33-50143
|
4(c)
|
Nineteenth
|
February
1, 1997
|
1-3548
(1996 Form 10-K)
|
4(a)3
|
Twentieth
|
November
1, 1997
|
1-3548
(1997 Form 10-K)
|
4(a)3
|
Twenty-first
|
October
1, 2000
|
333-54330
|
4(c)3
|
Twenty-second
|
July
1, 2003
|
1-3548
(June 30, 2003 Form 10-Q)
|
4
|
Twenty-third
|
August
1, 2004
|
1-3548
(Sept. 30, 2004 Form 10-Q)
|
4(a)
|
Twenty-fourth
|
March
1, 2005
|
1-3548
(March 31, 2005 Form 10-Q)
|
4
|
Twenty-fifth
|
December
1, 2005
|
1-3548
(March 31, 2006 Form 10-Q)
|
4
|
Twenty-sixth
|
October
1, 2006
|
1-3548
(Dec. 31, 2006 Form 10-K)
|
4(a)(3)
|
4(c)3
|
-
|
Form
of Supplemental Indenture relating to the first mortgage
bonds.
|
*4(d)
|
-
|
Amended
and Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of July 12, 2006, between
ALLETE
and the Corporate Secretary of ALLETE, as Rights Agent (filed as
Exhibit 4
to the July 14, 2006, Form 8-K, File No. 1-3548).
|
5(a)
|
-
|
Opinion
and Consent, dated December 10, 2007, of Deborah A. Amberg, Esq.,
Senior
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of
ALLETE.
|
5(b)
|
-
|
Opinion
and Consent, dated December 10, 2007, of Thelen Reid Brown Raysman
&
Steiner LLP.
|
12
|
-
|
Computation
of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
|
23(a)
|
-
|
Consent
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
|
23(b)
|
-
|
Consent
of Deborah A. Amberg, Esq. (included in opinion, attached hereto
as
Exhibit 5(a)).
|
23(c)
|
-
|
Consent
of Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner LLP (included in opinion,
attached hereto as Exhibit 5(b)).
|
24
|
-
|
Powers
of Attorney (included on the signature pages of this registration
statement).
|
25(a)
|
-
|
Statement
of Eligibility on Form T-1 of The Bank of New York with respect
to the
Mortgage.
|
25(b)
|
-
|
Statement
of Eligibility on Form T-2 of Douglas J. MacInnes with respect
to the
Mortgage.
|
*
|
|
Incorporated
herein by reference as indicated.
|
+
|
|
To
be filed by amendment or pursuant to a report to be filed pursuant
to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 if
applicable.
|
ALLETE,
Inc. Form S-3 2007
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
of
1933;
(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; 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 subsections (i), (ii) and (iii) above do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
subsections is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by
the
registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 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 of
1933, 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
of 1933
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)(x) for the purpose of providing
the
information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 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.
ALLETE,
Inc. Form S-3 2007
(5)
|
That,
for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under
the
Securities Act of 1933 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.
(6)
|
To
file, if applicable, 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 of 1939 in accordance with the rules and
regulations prescribed by the SEC under Section 305(b)(2) of the
Trust
Indenture Act of 1939.
|
(7)
|
That,
for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of
1933, each filing of the registrant’s Annual Report pursuant to Section
13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that
is
incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be
deemed to
be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
herein,
and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed
to be the
initial bona fide offering
thereof.
|
Insofar
as indemnification for
liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to
directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to
the
provisions described under Item 15 of this registration statement, 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
of
1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by any
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of such 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 of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.
ALLETE,
Inc. Form S-3 2007
POWER
OF ATTORNEY
Each
person whose signature appears below hereby authorizes any agent for service
named in this registration statement to execute in the name of each such
person,
and to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, any and all amendments,
including post-effective amendments, to this registration statement, and
appoints any such agent for service as attorney-in-fact to sign in each such
person’s behalf individually and in each capacity stated below and file any such
amendments to this registration statement and ALLETE, Inc. hereby also appoints
each such agent for service as its attorney-in-fact with like authority to
sign
and file any such amendments in its name and behalf.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, ALLETE, Inc. 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
Duluth, State of Minnesota, on the 10th day of
December,
2007.
ALLETE,
Inc.
By /s/ Donald
J.
Shippar_________________________________________________________
|
Donald
J.
Shippar
|
Chairman,
President
and
|
Chief
Executive
Officer
|
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement
has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates
indicated.
Signature
|
Title
|
Date
|
/s/
Donald J. Shippar
Donald
J. Shippar
|
Chairman,
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive
Officer)
|
December
10, 2007
|
/s/
Mark A. Schober
Mark
A. Schober
|
Senior
Vice President and
Chief
Financial Officer
(Principal
Financial Officer)
|
December
10, 2007
|
/s/
Steven Q. DeVinck
Steven
Q. DeVinck
|
Controller
(Principal
Accounting Officer)
|
December
10, 2007
|
|
|
|
ALLETE,
Inc. Form S-3 2007
/s/
Kathleen A. Brekken
Kathleen
A. Brekken
|
Director
|
December
10, 2007
|
/s/
Heidi J. Eddins
Heidi
J. Eddins
|
Director
|
December
10, 2007
|
/s/
Sidney W. Emery. Jr.
Sidney
W. Emery, Jr
|
Director
|
December
10, 2007
|
/s/
James J. Hoolihan
James
J. Hoolihan
|
Director
|
December
10, 2007
|
/s/
Madeleine W. Ludlow
Madeleine
W. Ludlow
|
Director
|
December
10, 2007
|
/s/
George L. Mayer
George
L. Mayer
|
Director
|
December
10, 2007
|
/s/
Douglas C. Neve
Douglas C.
Neve
|
Director
|
December
10, 2007
|
/s/
Roger D. Peirce
Roger
D. Peirce
|
Director
|
December
10, 2007
|
/s/
Jack I. Rajala
Jack
I. Rajala
|
Director
|
December
10, 2007
|
/s/
Bruce W. Stender
Bruce
W. Stender
|
Director
|
December
10, 2007
|
ALLETE,
Inc. Form S-3 2007
Exhibit
Index
4(c)3
|
Form
of Supplemental Indenture relating to the first mortgage
bonds.
|
5(a)
|
Opinion
and Consent, dated December 10, 2007, of Deborah A. Amberg, Esq.,
Senior
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of
ALLETE.
|
5(b)
|
Opinion
and Consent, dated December 10, 2007, of Thelen Reid Brown Raysman
&
Steiner LLP.
|
12
|
Computation
of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
|
23(a)
|
Consent
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
|
23(b)
|
Consent
of Deborah A. Amberg, Esq. (included in opinion, attached hereto
as
Exhibit 5(a)).
|
23(c)
|
Consent
of Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner LLP (included in opinion,
attached hereto as Exhibit 5(b)).
|
24
|
Powers
of Attorney (included on the signature pages of this registration
statement).
|
25(a)
|
Statement
of Eligibility on Form T-1 of The Bank of New York with respect
to the
Mortgage.
|
25(b)
|
Statement
of Eligibility on Form T-2 of Douglas J. MacInnes with respect
to the
Mortgage
|
ALLETE,
Inc. Form S-3 2007