ALLETE AND AFFILIATED COMPANIES RETIREMENT SAVINGS AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

Profit-sharing plan.

This plan or any part of it is intended to meet the conditions of 29 CFR 2550.404c-1 (shifting investment responsibility to participants).

Stock bonus plan.

Cash or deferred arrangement described in Code section 401(k) that is part of a qualified defined contribution plan under which employees may elect to defer part of their compensation or receive these amounts in cash.

Employee contributions are allocated to separate accounts under the plan or employer contributions are based in whole or in part on employee deferrals or contributions to the plan. Not applicable to 401(k) plans with only QNECs and/or QMACs or to 403(b)(1) 403(b)(7) or 408 arrangements.

Employee stock ownership plan that is not leveraged.

Participant-directed brokerage accounts provided as an investment option under the plan.

Plan provides for automatic enrollment in plan that has elective contributions deducted from payroll.

Total or partial participant-directed account plan where plan uses a default investment account for participants who fail to direct assets in their account.

Plan sponsor(s) received services of leased employees as defined in Code section 414(n) during the plan year.

Plan sponsor(s) is (are) a member(s) of a controlled group (Code sections 414(b) (c) or (m)).