EX-99.1 2 ex99_1.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 ex99_1.htm

EXHIBIT 99.1
 
 

 
This presentation contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Future
operating results may be affected by various uncertainties and risk factors, many
of which are beyond the control of The Laclede Group, Inc., including weather
conditions, governmental and regulatory policy and action, the competitive
environment and economic factors. For a more complete description of these
uncertainties and risk factors, see The Laclede Group’s Form 10-K for the year
ended September 30, 2008 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
 

 
Company Overview
 Public Utility Holding
 Company Formed 2001
 Strong Utility Platform
 Growth Components
 Complementary to Core
 Demonstrated Strategic
 Success
 S&P Small Cap 600
 Company
 
 

 
Strategic Execution
 Six Consecutive Years of Record Earnings
  Acquisition and organic growth
 Utility Operations
  Strong rate case results
  Stability of earnings
  Operational improvements
 Non-Utility Components
  Logical extension of core utility business
  Continued growth of Laclede Energy Resources (LER)
  Developed and sold SM&P Utility Resources, Inc.
  Ongoing systematic evaluation of new opportunities
 Highly Experienced Management
 
 

 
 
Laclede Group
Laclede Gas FMB
Laclede Gas CP
S&P
A
A
A-1
Moody’s
 
A3
P-2
Fitch
A-
A+
F1
Accessible Liquidity
 Strong Credit Ratings
 Continued Access to Capital Markets
  Utility issued First Mortgage Bonds in September 2008
 Short-Term Liquidity
  Commercial Paper remains accessible
  Lines of credit available as backup or for draw
  New seasonal line of credit for Utility
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
Natural Gas Industry
 
 

 
 
 
Natural Gas Industry
 
 

 
Source: American Gas Association
Natural Gas Industry
 Natural gas meets almost one-fourth of U.S.
 energy needs
 98 percent of U.S. natural gas supply is
 produced in North America
 Cleanest burning fossil fuel
  Significant component in current and future
 green initiatives
 
 

 
Source: American Gas Association
Natural Gas Industry
 AGA’s recommendations to optimize natural gas’
 role in president-elect Obama’s environmental and
 economic goals:
  Develop policies that ensure more natural gas is used
 directly in America’s homes and businesses
  Increase access to domestic supplies of natural gas
  Measure “total energy efficiency” of end-use appliances
 and products
  Extend or make permanent the current dividend tax rate
  Fund energy infrastructure/natural gas pipeline repair
 and replacement projects
 
 

 
 
 

 
150 Years of Service
 Established as The
 Laclede Gas Light
 Company in 1857
 Original Dow Jones
 index company
 Largest LDC in
 Missouri
 
 

 
Our System & Strengths
 630,000 Customers (83%
 Market Saturation)
 Over 16,000 Miles of Pipe
 Diversified Gas Supply
 Significant Storage
 Capacity
  Market area: 5 Bcf natural
 gas, 3 Bcfe liquid propane
  Upstream system: 23 Bcf
 
 

 
Upstream Pipeline Transportation Network
 
 

 
Hedging Program
 Minimizes Gas Price Volatility
  Hedging only
 Covers Up to 70 Percent of Normal
 Purchases
 Disciplined Approach
  Price and time driven hedging components
  NYMEX futures and options
 Gains, Losses, and Expenses Included in
 PGA
 
 

 
Regulation
 Missouri Public Service Commission
 Constructive Outcomes
  August 2007: $38.6 MM increase in non-gas
 revenues
  Enhanced Rate Design
  Infrastructure System Replacement Surcharge
 (ISRS)
  Reduced reliance on off-system sales
  Enhanced Gas Supply Incentive Program (GSIP)
 
 

 
Enhanced Rate Design
 Traditional Rate Design
  Lower monthly customer charge
  Recovery through volumetric rate
  Exposure to weather and customer conservation
 Laclede Design (Effective November 2002)
  Margin recovery through first rate block
 Enhanced Laclede Design (Effective August 2007)
  Shifts additional recovery into higher customer charge
  Reduction of first rate block
  Mitigates exposure to weather and customer
 conservation
 Conservation Programs
 
 

 
ISRS
 Infrastructure System Replacement Surcharge
 (ISRS)
 Enacted in 2003
 Allows Recovery Between Rate Cases of Facility-
 Related Expenditures
  Compliance with state and federal safety requirements
 Recovers Depreciation, Property Taxes, and Rate of
 Return
 Reset After Each Rate Case
  $1.6 MM approved January 2008
  $1.9 MM approved June 2008
  $1.9 MM filed November 2008
 
 

 
Advocacy
 Missouri Energy Development Association
  Missouri investor-owned natural gas, electric, and water
 utilities
  Advocates measures to support utility infrastructure and
 services to benefit Missouri citizens and businesses
  Current Chairman: Douglas H. Yaeger
  Legislative achievements
  Infrastructure System Replacement Surcharge
  Fuel Adjustment Clause
  Weather and Conservation Rider
  Environmental Cost Recovery Mechanism
  Missouri Utility Shareholders Association
 
 

 
Operational and Customer Focus
 
 

 
 
 

 
Laclede Energy Resources
 Non-regulated Natural
 Gas Marketer
  Large retail and wholesale
 customer base
  Organically grown
  Flexible pricing alternatives
  Risk management utilizing
 financial markets
  Lock in margins
  Experienced Management
 
 

 
Laclede Energy Resources
 Strong Performance During 2008
  Record earnings exceed fiscal 2006 performance
  15% increase in sales volumes
  Volumes delivered similar to Laclede Gas Company (123
 Bcf vs. 108 Bcf)
 Growth in Overall Portfolio
  Additional transportation capacity and gas supplies
  Increased number of counterparties
 Growth in Sales Base
  New retail / wholesale customers
  Producer services
 
 

 
75% of Business Activity
99% of Business Activity
Current LER Footprint
 
 

 
Drivers of Growth
 Pipeline Expansion Projects
  New marketing opportunities
 Storage Expansion
 New Gas Supply Basins
  Shale plays
 Producer Services
 Additional Markets
  Power generation
  Ethanol business growing in the Midwest
  LDCs
 
 

 
Supply Shift
 
 

 
Growth Potential
 
 

 
 
 

 
Laclede Pipeline Company
 Uniquely Situated LPG
 Pipeline
  Market crossroads
 location
  Only U.S. interstate LPG
 pipeline with LDC
 customer
 
 

 
LPG Pipeline Assets
 March 2006: LPC Filed an Application with FERC
  Provides common carrier LPG transportation in
 interstate commerce
  Allows propane and butane shipments by third parties
  Preserves historic role re: Laclede Gas Company
 peaking needs
 LPC’s FERC Tariff Effective April 1, 2006
 
 

 
 
 

 
SM&P Utility Resources
 Underground Locating and Marking Company -
 Acquired in January 2002
  Grew business
  Developed technological competencies
  Built on industry leadership to provide high-quality
 services
 Divested March 31, 2008
  Sale price: $85 million
  Purchase price: $43 million
  Now is part of a much larger locating entity
  Proceeds used to strengthen balance sheet
  Redeemed $45 million of Trust Preferreds May 5, 2008
 
 

 
 
 

 
Liquidity and Financial Capacity
 Shelf Registration
  Laclede Group: Automatic shelf (pay as you go)
  Well-known seasoned issuer
  Laclede Gas:  $270.0 MM remaining
 Financing Authority
  MPSC:   $372.4 MM remaining
 
 

 
Liquidity and Financial Capacity
 Standing Lines of Credit
  Laclede Group:  $ 50.0 MM
  Laclede Gas:  $320.0 MM
  Expiration extended one year to December 2011
 Seasonal Lines of Credit
  Laclede Gas:  $ 75.0 MM, 11/2008-3/2009
 New Bond Issue
  $80 MM of 6.35%, callable after 5 years, 30-year First
 Mortgage Bonds issued September 2008
 
 

 
Earnings by Segment ($MM)
 
 

 
Net Income ($MM)
 
 

 
Earnings and Dividends Per Share
 
 

 
Historical Stock Price
 
 

 
Return
 Since Laclede Group was formed (October 1,
 2001)*
  Laclede Group CAGR: 15.9%
  S&P 500 Index CAGR: -0.5%
 Current Economy (Beginning July 1, 2008)*
  Laclede Group: 24.5% gain
  S&P 500 Index: 30.8% loss
 
 

 
 
 

 
Key Takeaways
 Strong Core Gas Distribution
 Business
  Stable earnings platform
  Ongoing customer service initiatives
  Focus on internal improvements
 Synergistic Growth Components
  LER and Laclede Pipeline expansion
 opportunities
  Asset-based opportunities
 complementary to core
 Focus on Shareholder Value
  Strengthening of balance sheet
  Earnings and dividend growth