ST. LOUIS, Nov. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Laclede Group, Inc. (NYSE: LG) today reported overall solid operating results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended September 30, 2012. Highlights include:

Fiscal 2012

The Laclede Group's consolidated net income for its fiscal year ended September 30, 2012, was $62.6 million ($2.79 diluted earnings per share) compared to $63.8 million ($2.86 per share) for fiscal 2011. Fiscal 2012 net economic earnings were $62.6 million ($2.79 per share) compared to $62.4 million ($2.79 per share) last year. Excluding the impact of last year's propane sale, net economic earnings (non-GAAP) grew by $6.3 million or 11%. Both of The Laclede Group's primary business segments, Regulated Gas Distribution and Non-Regulated Gas Marketing, reported increases in year-over-year net income and net economic earnings.

Fourth Quarter

For its fiscal fourth quarter ended September 30, 2012, The Laclede Group reported a consolidated net loss of $0.7 million ($0.03 per share) compared to a net loss of $2.9 million ($0.13 per share) for the same period last year. Net economic earnings (non-GAAP) for the quarter were $0.4 million ($0.02 per share), compared to a loss of $3.1 million ($0.14 per share) last year. The improved results were mainly attributable to the effect of lower seasonal losses reported by the Regulated Gas Distribution segment, partially offset by reduced earnings reported by the Non-Regulated Gas Marketing segment. The Company's earnings are seasonal in nature, and generally correspond to demand for natural gas in the heating season.

"In addition to having a solid year financially, we made excellent progress on our strategic growth initiatives, including making investments to upgrade our pipeline distribution network and IT system," said Suzanne Sitherwood, president and chief executive officer of The Laclede Group. "We also realigned our organizational structure and leadership team including the October 1st appointment of Steven Lindsey as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Distribution Operations. We are positioned to continue to deliver excellent customer service and to pursue growth opportunities in the natural gas marketplace," she added.

REGULATED GAS DISTRIBUTION SEGMENT

Fiscal 2012

Operating revenues for this segment, representing the regulated gas operations of Laclede Gas Company, The Laclede Group's core utility subsidiary, decreased 16% to $763.4 million in fiscal 2012. This decrease from the prior fiscal year was primarily due to lower sales volumes resulting from record warm temperatures in the utility's service territory during the 2011-2012 heating season and lower natural gas commodity prices. The effect of reduced commodity prices on operating revenues was matched by a like reduction in natural gas expense, and had no direct impact on earnings.

Net income was $48.2 million for fiscal 2012, compared to $46.9 million for fiscal 2011. Net income increased primarily due to lower maintenance and customer service expenses and higher Infrastructure System Replacement Surcharge (ISRS) revenues. These factors were partially offset by the adverse effects of significantly warmer weather near the end of the heating season and higher benefit costs.

Fourth Quarter

Earnings are seasonal in nature and generally correspond with the heating season and, as a result, this segment typically reports a net loss in its fiscal fourth quarter. The Regulated Gas Distribution segment reported a net loss totaling $3.2 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, compared to a net loss of $6.1 million for the same period last year. The improvement was primarily due to increased ISRS revenues, higher net investment gains, and lower maintenance and customer service expenses.

Laclede Gas also continued to invest in its distribution system to enhance safety and reliability for its customers and in state-of-the-art technology to provide better service to its customers and to support future growth. For more information on capital expenditures, see the Cash Flows and Capital Structure section presented below.

NON-REGULATED GAS MARKETING SEGMENT

Fiscal 2012

The Non-Regulated Gas Marketing segment includes the operating results of Laclede Energy Resources, Inc. (LER), Laclede Group's non-regulated natural gas service provider. Operating revenues for this segment decreased by 46% from the prior year due to lower per unit natural gas commodity prices, as well as recording a higher percentage of its revenues and natural gas expenses on a net rather than gross basis in 2012 compared to 2011. While LER continues to specialize in procuring and delivering natural gas to meet its customers' needs, the impact on the marketplace of the abundance of natural gas supply has resulted in LER also purchasing and selling natural gas at the same location. In accordance with GAAP, some of these activities are recorded on a net basis, and while this reduces reported operating revenues, it has no direct impact on earnings.

The Non-Regulated Gas Marketing segment reported net income of $12.3 million for fiscal 2012, compared to $10.4 million for the prior year. Net economic earnings (non-GAAP) were $12.3 million for 2012 compared to $9.0 million for 2011, with the improvement primarily due to lower transportation costs resulting from the renewal of contracts. On a GAAP basis, net income was also adversely impacted by the effect of lower net unrealized gains on energy-related derivatives compared to fiscal 2011. 

Fourth Quarter

Net income for the quarter ended September 30, 2012 totaled $1.6 million, compared to $3.2 million for the same period last year. Net economic earnings (non-GAAP) totaled $2.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, compared to $2.9 million for the same period last year. On a net economic earnings basis, the effect of lower sales margins was largely offset by increased transaction volumes. On a GAAP basis, the reduction in net income compared to the prior-year quarter was also attributable to higher net unrealized losses on energy-related derivatives.

OTHER  

Net income reported by The Laclede Group's other operating segments decreased $4.4 million in fiscal 2012, compared to fiscal 2011, largely due to the effect of last year's $6.1 million in earnings from the non-regulated propane sale in April 2011. There was no sale of propane inventories in fiscal 2012. Net income for the quarter ended September 30, 2012 increased $0.9 million compared to the same quarter last year.

CASH FLOWS AND CAPITAL STRUCTURE

Net cash provided by operating activities for fiscal 2012 was $128.1 million compared to $167.2 million for fiscal 2011. The decrease is primarily attributable to the timing of collections of gas cost under Laclede Gas's Purchased Gas Adjustment Clause, including the net effect of increased cash payments for margin deposits associated with the use of natural gas derivative instruments and changes in the cost of natural gas storage inventories. The decrease is also attributable to the effect of the non-regulated propane sale in fiscal 2011 and increased cash payments for the funding of pension plans in fiscal 2012. Excluding temporary changes in working capital, such as the effect of regulatory timing differences in the recovery of certain costs and the timing of cash payments for income taxes, operating cash flows (non-GAAP) for fiscal 2012 were $104.0 million, which was comparable to $107.0 million in the prior year. See reconciliation of Operating Cash Flows (non-GAAP) to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities (GAAP) on page 10.

Capital expenditures for fiscal 2012 and 2011 were $108.8 million and $67.6 million, respectively. The increase primarily reflects significant investments in information technology as Laclede Gas continues on its previously announced multi-year upgrade of its technology platforms. In addition, Laclede Gas accelerated the replacement of portions of its distribution system totaling 41 miles of main in fiscal 2012, up from 20 miles in the prior year.

The Laclede Group maintains a strong capital structure, which at September 30, 2012, consisted of 36% long-term debt (excluding the current portion that was retired in October 2012), down from 39% at the end of fiscal 2011. Similarly, short-term debt outstanding was $40.1 million at September 30, 2012, down from $46.0 million at September 30, 2011. The Company's objective is to maintain a strong balance sheet, and as previously disclosed, it entered into certain debt commitments during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 to borrow $125 million at rates between 3.0% and 3.4% per annum, with funding delayed until December 2012 and March 2013.

For additional details on The Laclede Group's fiscal results for the fourth quarter and year-end 2012, please see the accompanying Statements of Consolidated Income, Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, and Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST

At 9 a.m. Central (10 a.m. Eastern) today, the Company will host a conference call to discuss its fiscal 2012 fourth quarter and full-year financial results. To access the call, please dial the number below 5-10 minutes prior to the start time.

The call will also be webcast in a listen-only format for the media and general public. The webcast can be accessed at www.TheLacledeGroup.com under the Investor Services tab.

A replay of the call will be available beginning at 11 a.m. Central (12 Noon Eastern) on November 19 and continuing until December 20, 2012, by dialing 1-877-344-7529 (U.S.) or 1-412-317-0088 (Canada/International). The Conference ID is 10020874. The webcast will be available for replay beginning November 19, at www.TheLacledeGroup.com.

ABOUT THE LACLEDE GROUP

Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, The Laclede Group, Inc. is a public utility holding company. Its subsidiary, Laclede Gas Company, the regulated operations of which are included in the Regulated Gas Distribution segment, serves approximately 628,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in St. Louis City and parts of 10 counties in eastern Missouri. The Laclede Group's primary non-utility business, Laclede Energy Resources, Inc., included in the Non-Regulated Gas Marketing segment, provides non-regulated natural gas services. The Laclede Group, Inc. is committed to pursuing growth through 1) developing and investing in emerging technologies; 2) investing in infrastructure; 3) acquiring businesses to which the Company can apply its operating model, and 4) leveraging its current business unit competencies. For more information about The Laclede Group and its subsidiaries, visit www.TheLacledeGroup.com.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND NON-GAAP MEASURES

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, economic factors, the competitive environment, and governmental and regulatory policy and action. For a more complete description of these uncertainties and risk factors, see the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2012, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

This news release includes the non-GAAP financial measures of "net economic earnings," "net economic earnings per share," and "net economic earnings per share excluding 2011 propane sale." Management also uses these non-GAAP measures internally when evaluating the Company's performance. Net economic earnings exclude from net income the after-tax impacts of fair value accounting and timing adjustments associated with energy-related transactions. These adjustments, which primarily impact the Non-Regulated Gas Marketing segment, include net unrealized gains and losses on energy-related derivatives resulting from the current changes in the fair value of financial and physical transactions prior to their completion and settlement, lower of cost or market inventory adjustments, and realized gains and losses on economic hedges prior to the sale of the physical commodity. In calculating net economic earnings, management also excludes from net income the after-tax costs related to acquisition, divestiture, and restructuring activities, if any. "Net economic earnings per share excluding 2011 propane sale," which excludes the impact of the Company's sale of excess propane inventory, provides a more comparable analysis of year-to-year results. Management believes that excluding these items provides a useful representation of the economic impact of actual settled transactions and overall results of ongoing operations. These internal non-GAAP operating metrics should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, GAAP measures such as net income.

This news release also includes the non-GAAP financial measure of "Operating Cash Flows." Management also uses this measure internally when evaluating longer-term cash flow impacts. This measure excludes the effects of temporary changes in working capital, such as the effect of regulatory timing differences in the recovery of certain costs and the timing of cash payments for income taxes. Management believes that excluding these items provides a useful representation of the economic impact of longer-term cash flows generated from business activities. This internal non-GAAP cash flow metric should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, GAAP measures such as net cash provided by operating activities.

SOURCE The Laclede Group, Inc.