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EXCEL - IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT - ALLETE INCFinancial_Report.xls
EX-95 - EXHIBIT 95 - ALLETE INCale3-31x2015exx95.htm
EX-32 - EXHIBIT 32 - ALLETE INCale3-31x2015exx32.htm
EX-31.B - EXHIBIT 31.B - ALLETE INCale3-31x2015exx31b.htm
EX-31.A - EXHIBIT 31.A - ALLETE INCale3-31x2015exx31a.htm
10-Q - 10-Q - ALLETE INCale3-31x201510xq.htm


 
Exhibit 99
For Release:
May 7, 2015
Investor Contacts:
Tim Thorp
 
218-723-3953
 
tthorp@allete.com
 
 
NEWS
 
Vince Meyer
 
218-723-3952
 
vmeyer@allete.com

ALLETE, Inc. first quarter earnings per share rise by six percent

DULUTH, Minn. – ALLETE, Inc. (NYSE:ALE) today reported first quarter 2015 earnings of 85 cents per share on net income of $39.9 million and operating revenue of $320.0 million, compared to first quarter 2014 earnings of 80 cents per share on net income of $33.5 million and operating revenue of $296.5 million. Included in this year’s quarterly results were transaction fees of $3.0 million after-tax, or six cents per share, related to the acquisition of U.S. Water Services. The first quarter of 2014 included transaction fees of $1.4 million after-tax, or three cents per share, for the ALLETE Clean Energy acquisition of three wind facilities.

“These strong financial results continue the earnings momentum we have had over the past few years,” said ALLETE Chairman, President and CEO Al Hodnik. “Looking forward, we believe our recent acquisitions of U.S. Water Services and by ALLETE Clean Energy will complement our core regulated utility, balance exposure to business cycles and changing demand, and provide long-term earnings growth.”

ALLETE’s Regulated Operations segment, which includes Minnesota Power, Superior Water, Light and Power and the company’s investment in the American Transmission Co., recorded net income of $41.4 million, an increase of $7.5 million over the first quarter of 2014. Total regulated utility sales increased 7.4 percent from the first quarter a year ago, primarily due to the commencement of the Minnkota Power sales agreement in June of 2014. Increases in cost recovery rider revenue and production tax credits were partially offset by increased depreciation and interest expense.

The Investments and Other segment, which includes the newly-acquired U.S. Water Services, ALLETE Clean Energy and BNI Coal, recorded a net loss of $1.5 million, which included the $3.0 million after-tax U.S. Water Services transaction fees. Net income at ALLETE Clean Energy increased from last year due to a full quarter of operations in 2015 from acquisitions it made last year. Last year’s results also included the aforementioned ACE transaction fees of $1.4 million after-tax.

First quarter 2015 earnings also included 11 cents of dilution due to additional shares of common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2015. The additional shares were primarily used to finance construction and acquisition activity.

Financial results were in line with Company expectations, and ALLETE’s full-year earnings guidance range of $3.00 to $3.20 per share, excluding transaction fees, remains unchanged. More details about earnings guidance for the year will be discussed in our conference call scheduled for today.

ALLETE Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President Alan R. Hodnik and Chief Financial Officer Steven Q. DeVinck will present an overview of results and discuss other factors affecting performance during a conference call beginning today at 10 a.m. Eastern time.

Interested parties may listen to the conference live by calling (877) 303-5852, or by accessing the webcast on ALLETE’s Web site, www.allete.com. A replay of the call will be available through May 9, 2015 by dialing (855) 859-2056, pass code 22647307. The webcast will be accessible for one year at www.allete.com.

ALLETE is an energy company headquartered in Duluth, Minn. In addition to its electric utilities, Minnesota Power and Superior Water, Light and Power of Wisconsin, ALLETE owns BNI Coal in Center, N.D., ALLETE Clean Energy, based in Duluth, U.S. Water Services headquartered in St. Michael, Minn. and has an eight percent equity interest in the American Transmission Co. More information about ALLETE is available at www.allete.com.








The statements contained in this release and statements that ALLETE may make orally in connection with this release that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and investors are directed to the risks discussed in documents filed by ALLETE with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

ALLETE's press releases and other communications may include certain non-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) financial measures. A "non-GAAP financial measure" is defined as a numerical measure of a company's financial performance, financial position or cash flows that excludes (or includes) amounts that are included in (or excluded from) the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in the company's financial statements

Non-GAAP financial measures utilized by the Company include presentations of earnings (loss) per share. ALLETE's management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors by removing the effect of variances in GAAP reported results of operations that are not indicative of changes in the fundamental earnings power of the Company's operations. Management believes that the presentation of the non-GAAP financial measures is appropriate and enables investors and analysts to more accurately compare the company's ongoing financial performance over the periods presented.





ALLETE, Inc.
Consolidated Statement of Income
Millions Except Per Share Amounts - Unaudited
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
 
2015
2014
 
 
 
Operating Revenue
$320.0
$296.5
Operating Expenses
 
 
Fuel and Purchased Power
86.0
96.2
Transmission Services
14.9
10.8
Cost of Sales
31.2
23.5
Operating and Maintenance
79.7
74.3
Depreciation and Amortization
39.0
32.2
Taxes Other than Income Taxes
12.8
11.2

Total Operating Expenses
263.6
248.2
Operating Income
56.4
48.3
Other Income (Expense)
 
 
Interest Expense
(15.1
)
(12.8
)
Equity Earnings in ATC
3.9
5.1
Other
1.1
2.0
Total Other Expense
(10.1
)
(5.7
)
Income Before Non-Controlling Interest and Income Taxes
46.3
42.6
Income Tax Expense
6.2
8.8
Net Income
40.1
33.8
Less: Non-Controlling Interest in Subsidiaries
0.2

0.3

Net Income Attributable to ALLETE
$39.9
$33.5
Average Shares of Common Stock
 
 
Basic
46.9

41.4

Diluted
47.1

41.6

Basic Earnings Per Share of Common Stock
$0.85
$0.81
Diluted Earnings Per Share of Common Stock
$0.85
$0.80
Dividends Per Share of Common Stock
$0.505
$0.49



Consolidated Balance Sheet
Millions - Unaudited
 
Mar. 31,
Dec. 31,
 
 
Mar. 31,
Dec. 31,
 
2015
2014
 
 
2015
2014
Assets
 
 
 
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
 
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents
$72.1
$145.8
 
Current Liabilities
$402.0
$416.0
Other Current Assets
317.9
273.0
 
Long-Term Debt
1,253.8
1,272.8
Property, Plant and Equipment - Net
3,319.2
3,284.8
 
Deferred Income Taxes
559.5
510.7
Regulatory Assets
358.0
357.3
 
Regulatory Liabilities
101.2
94.2
Investment in ATC
122.3
121.1
 
Defined Benefit Pension & Other
190.4
190.9
Other Investments
114.7
114.4
 
Other Non-Current Liabilities
302.3
265.0
Goodwill and Intangibles - Net
214.3
4.8
 
Shareholders’ Equity
1,770.9
1,611.2
Other Non-Current Assets
61.6
59.6
 
 
 
 
Total Assets
$4,580.1
$4,360.8
 
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
$4,580.1
$4,360.8



 
Three Months Ended
ALLETE, Inc.
March 31,
Income (Loss)
2015
2014
Millions
 
 
Regulated Operations
$41.4
$33.9
Investments and Other
(1.5
)
(0.4
)
Net Income Attributable to ALLETE
$39.9
$33.5
Diluted Earnings Per Share
$0.85
$0.80

Statistical Data
 
 
Corporate
 
 
Common Stock
 
 
High
$59.73
$52.73
Low
$51.16
$47.96
Close
$52.76
$52.42
Book Value
$36.28
$33.11

Kilowatt-hours Sold
 
 
Millions
 
 
Regulated Utility
 
 
Retail and Municipals
 
 
Residential
356
398
Commercial
384
395
Municipals
233
242
Industrial
1,950
1,816
Total Retail and Municipal
2,923
2,851
Other Power Suppliers
891
700
Total Regulated Utility
3,814
3,551
Non-regulated Energy Operations
30
34
Total Kilowatt-hours Sold
3,844
3,585

Regulated Utility Revenue
 
 
Millions
 
 
Regulated Utility Revenue
 
 
Retail and Municipals
 
 
Residential
$35.0
$39.9
Commercial
33.6
35.1
Municipals
16.0
16.5
Industrial
114.7
111.6
Total Retail and Municipals
199.3
203.1
Other Power Suppliers
33.7
29.5
Other
29.8
31.6
Total Regulated Utility Revenue
$262.8
$264.2



This exhibit has been furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.