EX-99 2 thdq07earnings.htm THE LACLEDE GROUP EARNINGS RELEASE DATED JULY 27, 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 Third

Quarter 2007 Earnings, Declares Dividend

 

St. Louis, July 27, 2007 - The Laclede Group, Inc. (NYSE: LG) today released earnings results for the third quarter of its fiscal year 2007 and declared a quarterly dividend of 36 ½ cents per share on its common stock, payable October 1, 2007, to shareholders of record on September 11, 2007.   

Consolidated earnings for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 were $9.3 million, compared with $2.7 million for the same period last year, as each of Laclede Group’s business segments reported improved quarterly results. Diluted earnings per share were $.43 for the third quarter this year compared to $.13 for the quarter ended June 30, 2006.

Quarterly results reported by Laclede Group’s core subsidiary, Laclede Gas Company, Missouri’s largest natural gas distribution utility, improved by $5.0 million compared to the same quarter last year, primarily due to higher utility sales volumes resulting from an unseasonably cold weather pattern in April, lower bad debt expense, and increased earnings on sales of natural gas and upstream pipeline capacity to entities outside of the traditional utility service area.

Net income for SM&P Utility Resources, Inc., Laclede Group’s non-regulated underground facility locating and marking service business, increased $1.0 million compared to the same quarter last year, primarily attributable to new business in existing markets and lower operating expenses.

 

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Laclede Energy Resources, Inc. (LER), Laclede Group’s non-regulated gas commodity service provider, posted earnings for the quarter totaling $3.9 million, an increase of $.2 million compared to the same period last year. LER achieved increased sales volume this year over last. However, the beneficial impact of higher sales was largely offset by reduced margins from the unprecedented levels a year ago.

Laclede Group’s consolidated income for the nine-month period ended June 30, 2007 was $49.2 million, compared to $49.8 million for the same period last year. Diluted earnings per share for the nine-month period were $2.29, compared to $2.34 reported for the same period last year.

Laclede Gas’ net income for the nine months ended June 30 increased $2.1 million, primarily due to the effect of higher utility sales volumes primarily attributable to colder weather, lower bad debt expense and higher Infrastructure System Replacement Surcharge revenues. These factors were partially offset by higher operating and depreciation expenses this year.

SM&P’s results for the same period improved $.6 million, primarily attributable to the effect of settlement costs associated with employment-related litigation recorded during the same period last year and the addition of new business in existing markets this year, which was partially offset by higher operating expenses this year.

LER has continued to report year-over-year growth in sales volumes. However, as previously reported, margins this year were reduced as volatility in Gulf Coast markets stabilized. The decrease in the nine-month consolidated earnings reflects a $3.6 million decline in LER’s earnings that was largely offset by improved results reported by Laclede Gas and SM&P as noted above.

Laclede Group’s earnings are generally seasonal in nature and typically correspond with the heating season for Laclede Gas Company, its largest subsidiary.

 

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In addition, Laclede Gas Company declared a quarterly dividend of 31 ¼ cents per share on Preferred Stock, Series B, and a quarterly dividend of 28 ½ cents per share on Preferred Stock, Series C, payable on September 30, 2007, to shareholders of record on September 11, 2007.

For further details concerning Laclede Group’s third 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-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2007, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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UNAUDITED

 

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME

 

THE LACLEDE GROUP, INC.

 

(Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

June 30,

 

Nine Months Ended

June 30,

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING REVENUES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gas distribution

 

$ 185,696

 

$ 148,690

 

$ 1,027,777

 

$ 1,049,374

 

Non-Regulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Services

 

51,707

 

50,417

 

118,270

 

116,434

 

Gas marketing

 

218,771

 

130,372

 

548,088

 

559,437

 

Other

 

1,753

 

1,063

 

4,187

 

3,312

 

Total operating revenues

 

457,927

 

330,542

 

1,698,322

 

1,728,557

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural and propane gas

 

121,490

 

90,305

 

746,589

 

773,732

 

Other operation expenses

 

29,283

 

31,029

 

99,779

 

101,898

 

Maintenance

 

5,830

 

5,480

 

17,488

 

15,735

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

8,565

 

8,275

 

25,630

 

22,536

 

Taxes, other than income taxes

 

13,360

 

14,014

 

60,467

 

62,911

 

Total regulated operating expenses

 

178,528

 

149,103

 

949,953

 

976,812

 

Non-Regulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Services

 

43,806

 

44,153

 

114,920

 

114,063

 

Gas marketing

 

212,948

 

124,599

 

531,497

 

535,945

 

Other

 

1,305

 

1,406

 

3,478

 

3,108

 

Total operating expenses

 

436,587

 

319,261

 

1,599,848

 

1,629,928

Operating Income

 

21,340

 

11,281

 

98,474

 

98,629

Other Income and (Income Deductions) – Net

 

1,029

 

1,385

 

5,403

 

3,849

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Charges:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest on long-term debt

 

5,626

 

5,417

 

16,877

 

16,703

 

Interest on long-term debt to unconsolidated affiliate trust

 

894

 

894

 

2,680

 

2,680

 

Other interest charges

 

1,825

 

2,589

 

8,199

 

7,753

 

Total interest charges

 

8,345

 

8,900

 

27,756

 

27,136

Income Before Income Taxes

 

14,024

 

3,766

 

76,121

 

75,342

Income Tax Expense

 

4,752

 

1,026

 

26,920

 

25,480

Net Income

 

9,272

 

2,740

 

49,201

 

49,862

Dividends on Redeemable Preferred Stock – Laclede Gas

 

10

 

12

 

33

 

37

Net Income Applicable to Common Stock

 

$ 9,262

 

$ 2,728

 

$ 49,168

 

$ 49,825

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding

 

21,478

 

21,269

 

21,434

 

21,230

Basic Earnings Per Share of Common Stock

 

$ 0.43

 

$ 0.13

 

$ 2.29

 

$ 2.35

Diluted Earnings Per Share of Common Stock

 

$ 0.43

 

$ 0.13

 

$ 2.29

 

$ 2.34

 

 

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