Wisconsin Regulators Approve Proposed ALLETE Transaction With Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Global Infrastructure Partners

Rhea-AI Summary

ALLETE (NYSE: ALE) has received approval from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) for its proposed transaction with Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments) and Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP). This follows previous approvals from shareholders and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

Under the merger agreement announced in May 2024, CPP Investments and GIP will acquire all ALLETE outstanding common shares for $67 per share in cash, representing a total value of $6.2 billion including debt assumption. The company still requires approval from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC).

Post-acquisition, ALLETE will maintain local management and operations. Its utilities, Minnesota Power and Superior Water, Light and Power, will continue under MPUC, PSCW, and FERC regulation. The transaction is expected to complete in mid-2025 and should not impact utility customers' retail or municipal rates.

Positive

• Transaction value of $6.2 billion represents immediate cash value for shareholders
• Maintains local management and operations structure
• No impact on customer utility rates
• Multiple regulatory approvals already secured (PSCW, FERC, shareholders)

Negative

• Transaction still pending final MPUC regulatory approval
• Extended completion timeline (mid-2025)

DULUTH, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ALLETE, Inc. (NYSE: ALE) announced that the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) today approved the company’s proposed transaction with Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments) and Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP).

“The PSCW’s decision brings us another step closer to completing this transaction for the benefit of our customers, our communities, and our employees after the resounding approval from our shareholders last year as well as the approval of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC),” said ALLETE Chair, President, and CEO Bethany Owen. “As we plan our long-term energy and infrastructure investments, we appreciate the commission’s timely consideration and approval of our transaction and look forward to the tremendous opportunities it creates.”

PSCW approval was needed because ALLETE owns Superior Water, Light and Power, a regulated utility that delivers electricity, natural gas and water to Wisconsin customers. Owen said ALLETE continues to work on securing the last major regulatory approval for the transaction from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC).

As previously announced in May 2024, under the terms of the merger agreement CPP Investments and GIP will acquire all outstanding common shares of ALLETE for $67 per share in cash, or $6.2 billion, without interest, including the assumption of debt. Following close, ALLETE will remain locally managed and operated. Its utilities, Minnesota Power and SWL&P, will continue to be regulated by the MPUC, the PSCW and FERC. The acquisition is not expected to impact retail or municipal rates for utility customers. ALLETE expects to complete the transaction in mid-2025, subject to remaining regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. For more information, please visit ALLETEforward.com.

About ALLETE, Inc.

ALLETE, Inc. is an energy company headquartered in Duluth, Minnesota. In addition to its electric utilities, Minnesota Power and Superior Water, Light and Power of Wisconsin, ALLETE owns ALLETE Clean Energy, based in Duluth, Minnesota; BNI Energy in Bismarck, North Dakota; and New Energy Equity, headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland; and has an 8% equity interest in the American Transmission Co. More information about ALLETE is available at www.allete.com. ALE-CORP

ALLETE calculates and reports carbon emissions based on the GHG Protocol. Details are in ALLETE’s Corporate Sustainability Report.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS DISCLAIMER

This communication contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding the proposed acquisition of ALLETE, regulatory approvals, the expected timetable for completing the proposed transaction and any other statements regarding ALLETE’s future expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, financial conditions, assumptions or future events or performance that are not historical facts. This information may involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the timing to consummate the proposed transaction; the risk that the conditions to closing of the proposed transaction may not be satisfied; the risk that a regulatory approval that may be required for the proposed transaction is not obtained or is obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated; and the diversion of management’s time on transaction-related issues.

When used in this communication, or any other documents, words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “target,” “could,” “goal,” “intend,” “objective,” “plan,” “project,” “seek,” “strategy,” “target,” “may,” “will” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of management at the time that these statements were prepared and are inherently uncertain. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties, as well as other risks and uncertainties that could cause ALLETE’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward looking statements, are described in greater detail under the heading “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in ALLETE’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and in subsequently filed Forms 10-Q and 8-K, and in any other SEC filings made by ALLETE. Management cautions against putting undue reliance on forward-looking statements or projecting any future results based on such statements or present or prior earnings levels. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and ALLETE does not undertake any obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, new information, future events, changes in its expectations or other circumstances that exist after the date as of which the forward-looking statements were made.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250313636490/en/

Media Contact:

Amy Rutledge

Director- Corporate Communications

218-723-7400

arutledge@allete.com

Source: ALLETE, Inc.

FAQ

What is the purchase price per share for ALLETE (ALE) in the CPP Investments and GIP acquisition?

CPP Investments and GIP will acquire ALLETE shares for $67 per share in cash.

What is the total value of the ALLETE (ALE) acquisition deal?

The total transaction value is $6.2 billion, including the assumption of debt.

When is ALLETE's (ALE) acquisition expected to close?

The transaction is expected to complete in mid-2025, subject to remaining regulatory approvals.

Will ALLETE's acquisition affect customer utility rates?

The acquisition is not expected to impact retail or municipal rates for utility customers.

What regulatory approvals are still needed for ALLETE's (ALE) acquisition?

The company still needs approval from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC).