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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2025
Subsequent Events [Abstract]  
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
On May 5, 2024, ALLETE entered into the Merger Agreement. The Merger Agreement provides that, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, Alloy Merger Sub will merge with and into ALLETE, with ALLETE continuing as the surviving corporation in the Merger and becoming a subsidiary of Alloy Parent.

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, which has been unanimously approved by the board of directors of ALLETE and approved and adopted by the shareholders of ALLETE, at the effective time of the Merger (Effective Time), each share of common stock, without par value, of ALLETE (ALLETE common stock) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than shares of ALLETE common stock held by any holder who properly exercises dissenters’ rights under Minnesota law in respect of such shares and any shares of ALLETE common stock held by an affiliate of Alloy Parent) shall be converted into the right to receive $67.00 in cash, without interest (Merger Consideration). The aggregate equity value of the ALLETE common stock acquired by Parent will be approximately $3.9 billion as calculated as of May 5, 2024.

In addition, at the Effective Time, each restricted stock unit (RSU) with respect to ALLETE common stock subject to time-based vesting that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be cancelled and converted into a contingent right to receive an amount in cash, without interest, equal to the Merger Consideration, payable (i) in the case of such right converted from unvested RSUs, upon the same vesting conditions as applied to the corresponding RSU or (ii) in the case of such right converted from vested RSUs, as soon as reasonably practicable following the closing date of the Merger (the Closing Date). Each performance share award with respect to ALLETE common stock that is outstanding and unvested immediately prior to the Effective Time and was issued prior to the execution of the Merger Agreement will be cancelled and converted into a right to receive, without interest, the Merger Consideration multiplied by the number of shares of ALLETE common stock subject to the award, determined based on attainment of the greater of target and actual performance as of the last business day immediately preceding the Closing Date. A pro rata portion (based on the elapsed portion of the performance period at that time) of these converted performance share awards will be paid out as soon as reasonably practicable following the Closing Date, with the remainder of the award being subject to time-vesting for the remainder of the applicable performance period. Performance share awards issued following the signing of the Merger Agreement will also be cancelled and converted into a contingent right to receive, without interest, the Merger Consideration multiplied by the number of shares of ALLETE common stock subject to the performance share award, determined at the target level of performance, and shall be subject to time-based vesting following the Merger. Further, purchase rights accumulated during the offering period in effect under the Company’s ESPP immediately prior to closing will be automatically exercised into shares of ALLETE common stock no later than five business days prior to the Closing Date, and the ESPP will be terminated as of immediately prior to the Closing Date.

Consummation of the Merger is subject to various closing conditions, including: (1) approval of the shareholders of ALLETE; (2) receipt of all required regulatory approvals without the imposition of a Burdensome Condition (as defined in the Merger Agreement); (3) absence of any law or order prohibiting the consummation of the Merger; (4) subject to materiality qualifiers, the accuracy of each party’s representations and warranties; (5) each party’s compliance in all material respects with its obligations and covenants under the Merger Agreement; and (6) the absence of a material adverse effect with respect to the Company. The Merger Agreement contains certain termination rights for ALLETE and Alloy Parent, which were described in a Current Report of Form 8-K filed by ALLETE on May 6, 2024. In the Merger Agreement, among other things, ALLETE has agreed, subject to certain exceptions, to, and to cause each of its subsidiaries to conduct its business in the ordinary course, consistent with past practice, from the date of the Merger Agreement until the Effective Time, and not to take certain actions prior to the closing of the Merger without the prior written consent of Alloy Parent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, except where ALLETE seeks Alloy Parent’s consent to enter into a material new line of business or cease operations of an existing material line of business). The Merger Agreement also provides that ALLETE may notify Alloy Parent of our intent to raise equity capital of up to a total of $300 million in the second half of 2025, subject to certain parameters. If Alloy Parent declines to participate in the equity capital raises or fails to provide timely notice with respect thereto, ALLETE will have the right to issue ALLETE common stock in the public markets for an amount equal to any unfunded amounts under such equity capital raises.
NOTE 11. AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (Continued)

On July 10, 2024, ALLETE filed a definitive proxy statement relating to the special meeting of the shareholders held on August 21, 2024. At the special meeting, the shareholders of ALLETE voted to approve and adopt the Merger Agreement and approve the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, among other matters.

On July 19, 2024, ALLETE filed requests for approval of the Merger with the MPUC, PSCW and FERC. On October 7, 2024, the MPUC issued an order referring the docket to the Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings for a contested case proceeding and requesting the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) issue a report and recommendation by July 15, 2025. On July 11, 2025, ALLETE announced a settlement agreement with the Minnesota Department of Commerce (MN DOC). As part of the agreement, the MN DOC will support the acquisition of ALLETE as being consistent with the public interest and recommend approval by the MPUC. On July 15, 2025, the ALJ issued its report, which included a non-binding recommendation to deny the acquisition of ALLETE. The MPUC is expected to make its decision in 2025.

ALLETE received approval from FERC on December 19, 2024, and in an order dated June 3, 2025, the PSCW approved the acquisition. ALLETE also received approval from CFIUS and all required international approvals in the third quarter of 2024. On January 31, 2025, ALLETE filed notification and report forms with the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission under the HSR Act with the applicable waiting periods expiring in the first quarter of 2025. Approval of the Merger from these and other regulators is required for consummation of the Merger.