Exhibit 99.1
Company Overview
• Strong utility platform
• Public utility holding
company formed 2001
company formed 2001
• Growth components
complementary to core
complementary to core
• Demonstrated strategic
execution
execution
• S&P Small Cap 600
Company
Company
Natural Gas Industry
Natural Gas Industry
Execution
• Six consecutive years of record earnings
– Acquisition and organic growth
• Utility operations
– Strong regulatory execution
– Operational improvements
– Stability of earnings
• Non-utility components
– Logical extension of core utility business
– Continued growth of Laclede Energy Resources
(LER)
(LER)
– Developed and sold SM&P Utility Resources, Inc.
– Ongoing systematic evaluation of new opportunities
• Experienced management
Our System & Strengths
• Largest LDC in Missouri
– 630,000 Customers (83%
market saturation)
market saturation)
– Over 16,000 miles of pipe
• Diversified gas supply
• Significant storage
capacity
capacity
– Market area: ≈5 Bcf
natural gas, ≈3 Bcfe liquid
propane
natural gas, ≈3 Bcfe liquid
propane
– Upstream system: 23 Bcf
Upstream Pipeline Transportation Network
Regulation and Rate Design
• Missouri Public Service Commission
• Rate design largely decoupled
– Mitigates exposure to weather and customer
conservation
conservation
– Shifts recovery from usage to customer charge
• Infrastructure System Replacement Surcharge
(ISRS)
(ISRS)
– Allows recovery between rate cases of facility-related
expenditures
expenditures
– Recovers depreciation, property taxes, and rate of
return
return
• Long-established Purchased Gas Adjustment
(PGA) clause
(PGA) clause
Advocacy
• Missouri Energy Development Association
(MEDA)
(MEDA)
– Missouri investor-owned natural gas, electric, and
water utilities
water utilities
• Advocates measures to support utility infrastructure and
services to benefit Missouri citizens and businesses
services to benefit Missouri citizens and businesses
– Current Chairman
– Legislative achievements
• Infrastructure System Replacement Surcharge
• Fuel Adjustment Clause for Electric Utilities
• Weather and Conservation Rider
• Environmental Cost Recovery Mechanism
– Missouri Utility Shareholders Association
Operational and Customer Focus
Laclede Energy Resources
• Non-regulated natural
gas marketer
gas marketer
– Organically grown
– Large retail and wholesale
customer base
customer base
– Flexible pricing
alternatives
alternatives
– Risk management utilizing
financial markets
financial markets
• Lock in margins
– Experienced management
• Mostly long-term, firm
transport
transport
• Major markets
– Perryville Hub - 240,000
Dth/D
Dth/D
– St. Louis - 60,000 Dth/D
• Provides arbitrage
opportunities between PRVL,
Ozark, Tetco and NGPL
pipelines
opportunities between PRVL,
Ozark, Tetco and NGPL
pipelines
• Provides diversity in supply
basins to enhance overall
delivery reliability
basins to enhance overall
delivery reliability
Core Transport Capacity
Centerpoint Energy
• Long-term firm transport at
discounted rates
discounted rates
• Significant flexibility on
receipts and deliveries
receipts and deliveries
• Integrates well with
Centerpoint capacity
delivering gas to PRVL Hub
and St. Louis for significant
arbitrage opportunities
Centerpoint capacity
delivering gas to PRVL Hub
and St. Louis for significant
arbitrage opportunities
• Provides redundancy of
supply choices to enhance
overall delivery reliability
supply choices to enhance
overall delivery reliability
Core Transport Capacity
Trunkline Gas Co.
Laclede Energy Resources
• Strong performance
– 15% increase in 2008 sales volumes over 2007
– 2008 volumes delivered similar to Laclede Gas Company (123
Bcf vs. 108 Bcf)
Bcf vs. 108 Bcf)
– Quarter ended December 2008 strongest in history
• 160% increase in net income over quarter ended December 2007
• Growth in overall portfolio
– Additional long-term transportation capacity and gas supplies
– Increased number of counterparties
• Growth in sales base
– New retail / wholesale customers
– Producer services
– Customer asset management
85% of Business Activity
99% of Business Activity
Current LER Footprint
Drivers of Growth
• Pipeline expansion projects
– Additional marketing opportunities
• Storage expansion
• Growing gas supply basins
– Shale plays
• Producer services
• Additional markets
– Power generation
– LDCs
Growth Potential
Laclede Pipeline Company
• Uniquely situated LPG
pipeline
pipeline
– Market crossroads location
– Only U.S. interstate LPG
pipeline with LDC customer
pipeline with LDC customer
• FERC jurisdiction
– Allows transport of various
liquids
liquids
– Creates opportunity to
grow customer base
beyond Laclede Gas
grow customer base
beyond Laclede Gas
– Preserves historic role re:
Laclede Gas Company
peaking needs
Laclede Gas Company
peaking needs
Rocky Mts
LNG
LNG
Canadian Gas
Reduction
Marcellus Shale
Supply Shift
Strategic Storage Opportunities
Strategic Storage Opportunities
Strategic Storage Opportunities
• Assessing and evaluating natural gas
storage assets
storage assets
• Thoughtful, disciplined approach
• Opportunity for sustainable, long term
growth
growth
Laclede Group | Laclede Gas FMB | Laclede Gas CP | |
S&P | A | A | A-1 |
Moody’s | A3 | P-2 | |
Fitch | A- | A+ | F1 |
Strong Credit Ratings and Liquidity
Liquidity and Financial Capacity
• Standing lines of credit
– Laclede Group: $ 50.0 MM
– Laclede Gas: $320.0 MM
• Seasonal lines of credit
– Laclede Gas: $ 75.0 MM
• Recent bond issue
– $80 MM of 6.35%, callable after 5 years, 30-year First
Mortgage Bonds issued September 2008
Mortgage Bonds issued September 2008
Earnings by Segment ($MM)
Net Income ($MM)
2006 | 2007 | 2008 | |
Operating Cash Flow from Continuing Operations (excluding Working Capital) | $ 78.5 | $ 81.9 | $ 96.1 |
Dividends Paid | (29.8) | (31.2) | (32.4) |
Capital Expenditures - Continuing Operations | (58.5) | (56.4) | (55.4) |
Free Cash Flow | $ (9.8) | $ (5.7) | $ 8.3 |
% of Capital Expenditures Internally Generated | 83% | 90% | 115% |
Improving Cash Flow
Earnings and Dividends Per Share
Historical Stock Price
Total Shareholder Return
Total Shareholder Return
Key Takeaways
• Strong core gas distribution
business
business
– Stable earnings platform
– Dedicated customer service
initiatives
initiatives
– Focus on internal improvements
• Synergistic growth
components
components
– LER and Laclede Pipeline
expansion opportunities
expansion opportunities
– Asset-based opportunities
complementary to core
complementary to core
• Focus on shareholder value
– Strengthening of balance sheet
– Earnings and dividend growth