-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, UMg7Xz/e1yJ2oA122PAQDSM/7Dm78/eDMpybNt/5uReA76nGYZdb9wblH0jJNa80 nZ6R3cfndqzWmDwEwaDUFg== 0001126956-07-000009.txt : 20070125 0001126956-07-000009.hdr.sgml : 20070125 20070125085754 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001126956-07-000009 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20070125 ITEM INFORMATION: Results of Operations and Financial Condition ITEM INFORMATION: Regulation FD Disclosure ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20070125 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20070125 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: LACLEDE GROUP INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001126956 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION [4924] IRS NUMBER: 742976504 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MO FISCAL YEAR END: 0930 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-16681 FILM NUMBER: 07551287 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 720 OLIVE ST CITY: ST LOUIS STATE: MO ZIP: 63101 BUSINESS PHONE: 3143420500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 720 OLIVE ST STREET 2: RM 1517 CITY: ST LOUIS STATE: MO ZIP: 63101 8-K 1 firstquarter07earnings8-k.htm FIRST QUARTER 2007 EARNINGS RELEASE 8-K

 


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):

January 25, 2007

 

The Laclede Group, Inc.

720 Olive Street

St. Louis, Missouri 63101

314-342-0500


(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(Registrant’s telephone number including area code)

 

Missouri


1-16681


74-2976504


(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

(Commission File Number)

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

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 13e-4(c))

 



 

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition

See Item 7.01

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure

On January 25, 2007, the Company issued its earnings news release announcing its unaudited results for the quarter ended December 31, 2006. The text of that release is included in Exhibit 99.1 attached to this report.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits

99.1 Press release of The Laclede Group, Inc. dated January 25, 2007.

 

 


 

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 hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

 

THE LACLEDE GROUP, INC.


Date: January 25, 2007

 

By: 


/s/B. C. Cooper

 

 

 

B. C. Cooper

Chief Financial Officer

 

 


 

Exhibit Index

 

 

Exhibit
Number

Description

 

 

99.1

Press release of The Laclede Group, Inc. dated January 25, 2007.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

EX-99 2 firstqtr07earnings8kex.htm EARNINGS PRESS RELEASE FOR FIRST QUARTER 2007

 

NEWS RELEASE

THE LACLEDE GROUP

720 Olive Street, St. Louis, MO 63101

 

 

CONTACT: George Csolak

 

(314) 342-0652

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

The Laclede Group Reports

First Quarter 2007 Earnings

 

ST. LOUIS, January 25, 2007 — The Laclede Group (NYSE: LG) today released earnings results for the first quarter of its fiscal year 2007.

Consolidated earnings for the quarter ended December 31, 2006 were $19.1 million compared to $26.2 million for the same period last year. The decrease in Laclede Group’s earnings is largely attributable to lower margins on sales of natural gas made in Gulf Coast markets, as market volatility in that region stabilized from the unprecedented levels experienced a year ago. Earnings per share were $.89 for the first quarter this year compared to $1.23 for the quarter ended December 31, 2005.

Earnings reported by Laclede Gas Company, Missouri’s largest natural gas distribution utility, were $15.7 million, down $4.5 million compared to last year. The Utility’s earnings declined primarily as a result of lower margins on sales of natural gas to entities outside of its traditional service area, as well as higher operating and depreciation expenses.

Laclede Energy Resources (LER), Laclede Group’s non-regulated natural gas commodity services provider, posted earnings that were $1.6 million lower compared to

 

1

 


 

 

the same period last year. Despite higher wholesale sales volumes during the quarter this year, LER’s earnings were down due to lower margins as mentioned previously.

The results of SM&P Utility Resources, Laclede Group’s non-regulated underground facility locating and marking business, declined $.9 million compared with the same period last year. While revenues were higher, the earnings decline resulted from higher operating expenses, primarily due to growth and expansion.

For further details concerning The Laclede Group’s fiscal 2007 first quarter results, see the accompanying unaudited Statements of Consolidated Income.

Note: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company's future operating results may be affected by various uncertainties and risk factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control, 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 Company's Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2006, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

# # #

 

2

 


 

 

UNAUDITED

 

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME

 

THE LACLEDE GROUP, INC.

(Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING REVENUES

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gas distribution

 

$ 348,488

 

$ 411,401

 

 

Non-Regulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

Services

 

36,429

 

35,458

 

 

Gas marketing

 

153,467

 

241,332

 

 

Other

 

1,177

 

1,044

 

 

Total operating revenues

 

539,561

 

689,235

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural and propane gas

 

251,523

 

312,039

 

 

Other operation expenses

 

33,680

 

33,105

 

 

Maintenance

 

5,598

 

4,988

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

8,497

 

6,083

 

 

Taxes, other than income taxes

 

18,759

 

19,639

 

 

Total regulated operating expenses

 

318,057

 

375,854

 

 

Non-Regulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

Services

 

36,361

 

33,919

 

 

Gas marketing

 

147,668

 

232,474

 

 

Other

 

1,077

 

851

 

 

Total operating expenses

 

503,163

 

643,098

 

Operating Income

 

36,398

 

46,137

 

Other Income and (Income Deductions) – Net

 

3,303

 

1,285

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Charges:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest on long-term debt

 

5,626

 

5,643

 

 

Interest on long-term debt to unconsolidated affiliate trust

 

893

 

893

 

 

Other interest charges

 

3,434

 

2,123

 

 

Total interest charges

 

9,953

 

8,659

 

Income Before Income Taxes

 

29,748

 

38,763

 

Income Tax Expense

 

10,649

 

12,583

 

Net Income

 

19,099

 

26,180

 

Dividends on Redeemable Preferred Stock – Laclede Gas

 

12

 

12

 

Net Income Applicable to Common Stock

 

$ 19,087

 

$ 26,168

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding

 

21,381

 

21,191

 

Basic Earnings Per Share of Common Stock

 

$ 0.89

 

$ 1.23

 

Diluted Earnings Per Share of Common Stock

 

$ 0.89

 

$ 1.23

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----