UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 8, 2009
AVISTA CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Washington | 1-3701 | 91-0462470 | ||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
| 1411 East Mission Avenue, Spokane, Washington | 99202-2600 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 509-489-0500
Web site: http://www.avistacorp.com
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| ¨ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Section 5 – Corporate Governance and Management
| Item 5.02 | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
On May 8, 2009, the Board of Directors of Avista Corporation (Avista Corp. or the Company) elected Marc Racicot to serve as a director on the board effective August 1, 2009. Mr. Racicot, 60, served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Insurance Association from August 2005 until February 2009. Prior to that, he was a partner at the law firm of Bracewell & Giuliani, LLP from 2001 to 2005. He is a former governor (1993 to 2001) and attorney general (1989 to 1993) of the state of Montana. Mr. Racicot presently serves as a director for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and Allied Capital Corporation. In addition, he serves on the board of Jobs for America’s Graduates and as a member of the Board of Visitors for the University of Montana School of Law.
Mr. Racicot will stand for election to the board at the next annual meeting of shareholders on May 13, 2010. Mr. Racicot was appointed to serve on the Energy, Environmental & Operations and Finance Committees of the board. As a director, Mr. Racicot will receive compensation consistent with the other non-employee directors of Avista Corp. as disclosed in Avista Corp.’s Definitive Proxy Statement filed on March 24, 2009.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| AVISTA CORPORATION (Registrant) | ||||
| Date: May 14, 2009 | /s/ Marian M. Durkin | |||
| Marian M. Durkin Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer | ||||