The Laclede Group, Inc.
File No. 1-16681
FORM U-3A-2
Statement by Holding Company Claiming Exemption
Under Rule U-3A-2 from the Provisions of the
Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935
THE LACLEDE GROUP, INC.
(name of company)
hereby files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, pursuant
to Rule 2, its statement claiming exemption as a holding company from the
provisions of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, and submits the
following information:
1. Name, state of organization, location and nature of business
of claimant and every subsidiary thereof, other than any exempt wholesale
generator (EWG) or foreign utility company in which claimant directly or
indirectly holds an interest.
The Laclede Group, Inc., a Missouri corporation incorporated October 18,
2000, is a holding company that directly or indirectly holds interests in the
following subsidiaries, each of whom is organized under the laws of the State
of Missouri:
a. Laclede Gas Company, a public utility that was incorporated in
1857. Its service area includes the City of St. Louis, St.
Louis County, the City of St. Charles and parts of St. Charles
County, the town of Arnold, and parts of Jefferson, Franklin,
St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Iron, Madison and Butler
Counties, all in Missouri.
b. Laclede Pipeline Company, which operates a propane pipeline
that connects Laclede Gas' propane storage facilities in St.
Louis County, Missouri to propane supply terminal facilities
located at Wood River and Cahokia, Illinois. Laclede Gas
vaporizes the propane to supplement its natural gas supply and
meet the peak demands on the distribution system.
c. Laclede Investment Corporation, which invests in other
enterprises and has made loans to several joint ventures
engaged in real estate development.
d. Laclede Energy Resources, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of
Laclede Investment, which engages in non-utility efforts to
market natural gas and related activities.
e. Laclede Gas Family Services, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary
of Laclede Energy Resources, which is a registered insurance
agency in the State of Missouri, that promotes the sale of
supplemental hospitalization, accident, supplemental Medicare
and life insurance by Life Insurance Company of North America,
Washington National Insurance Company, Fidelity Security Life
Insurance Company and Union Fidelity Life Insurance Company.
f. Laclede Development Company, which participates in real estate
developments, primarily through joint ventures.
g. Laclede Venture Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Laclede
Development, which offers services for the compression natural
gas to third parties who desire to use or to sell compressed
natural gas in vehicles.
The business address of the Claimant and each of its subsidiaries,
except Laclede Energy Resources, Inc., is:
720 Olive Street
St. Louis, MO 63101
The business address of Laclede Energy Resources, Inc. is:
68 N. Elam
St. Louis, MO 63088
2. A brief description of the properties of claimant and each of
its subsidiary public utility companies used for the generation, transmission
and distribution of electric energy for sale, or for the production,
transmission, and distribution of natural or manufactured gas, indicating
the location of principal generating plants, transmission lines, producing
fields, gas manufacturing plants, and electric and gas distribution
facilities, including all such properties which are outside the State in
which claimant and its subsidiaries are organized and all transmission or
pipelines which deliver or receive electric energy or gas at the borders of
such State.
The Claimant's properties consist primarily of the utility
properties of Laclede Gas. Laclede Gas' properties consist primarily of
natural gas distribution systems and related facilities and local offices all
in the State of Missouri. As of December 31, 2000 Laclede Gas had a natural
gas storage field in Missouri designed to provide annual withdrawals of 5.5
million MMBTus of gas based on the inventory level that Laclede Gas plans to
maintain; a contractual right to store approximately 23.1 Bcf of natural gas
in Louisiana and a liquefied propane storage cavern that has a natural gas
equivalent of 3 Bcf.
3. The following information for the last calendar year with
respect to claimant and each of its subsidiary public utility companies.
a. Number of kwh. of electric energy sold (at retail or wholesale),
and mcf. of natural gas or manufactured gas distributed at retail.
CLAIMANT SUBSIDIARY
-------- ----------
The Laclede Group, Inc. Laclede Gas Company
None 84,273,896 Mcf.
b. Number of kwh. of electric energy and Mcf. of natural or
manufactured gas distributed at retail outside the State in which
each such company is organized.
CLAIMANT SUBSIDIARY
-------- ----------
The Laclede Group, Inc. Laclede Gas Company
None None
c. Number of kwh. of electric energy and Mcf. of natural or
manufactured gas sold at wholesale outside the State in which each
such company is organized, or at the State line.
CLAIMANT SUBSIDIARY
-------- ----------
The Laclede Group, Inc. Laclede Gas Company
None 10,064,676
d. Number of kwh. of electric energy and Mcf. of natural or
manufactured gas purchased outside the State in which each such
company is organized or at the State line.
CLAIMANT SUBSIDIARY
-------- ----------
The Laclede Group, Inc. Laclede Gas Company
None 93,894,174 Mcf.
4. The following information for the reporting period with respect
to claimant and each interest it holds directly or indirectly in an EWG or a
foreign utility company, stating monetary amounts in United States dollars:
a. Name, location, business address and description of the
facilities used by the EWG or foreign utility company for the
generation, transmission and distribution of electric energy for
sale or for the distribution at retail of natural or manufactured
gas.
CLAIMANT SUBSIDIARY
-------- ----------
The Laclede Group, Inc. Laclede Gas Company
None None
b. Name of each system company that holds an interest in such
EWG or foreign utility company and description of the interest held.
CLAIMANT SUBSIDIARY
-------- ----------
The Laclede Group, Inc. Laclede Gas Company
None None
c. Type and amount of capital invested, directly or indirectly, by
the holding company claiming exemption; any direct or indirect
guarantee of the security of the EWG or foreign utility company by
the holding company claiming exemption; and any debt or
other financial obligation for which there is recourse, directly or
indirectly, to the holding company claiming exemption or another
system company, other than the EWG or foreign utility company.
CLAIMANT SUBSIDIARY
-------- ----------
The Laclede Group, Inc. Laclede Gas Company
None None
d. Capitalization and earnings of the EWG or foreign utility
company during the reporting period.
CLAIMANT SUBSIDIARY
-------- ----------
The Laclede Group, Inc. Laclede Gas Company
None None
e. Identify any service, sales or construction contract(s) between
the EWG or foreign utility company and a system company, and
describe the services to be rendered or goods sold and fees or
revenues under such agreement(s).
CLAIMANT SUBSIDIARY
-------- ----------
The Laclede Group, Inc. Laclede Gas Company
None None
EXHIBIT A
A consolidating statement of income and surplus of the claimant
and its subsidiary companies for the last calendar year, together with a
consolidating balance sheet of claimant and its subsidiary companies as of
the close of such calendar year.
The reorganization by which The Laclede Group, Inc. became the
holding company of Laclede Gas Company became effective after the close of
business on September 30, 2001. Accordingly, the financial statements
presented are based on the financial statements of Laclede Gas Company and
its former subsidiaries for the calendar year ended December 31, 2000.
EXHIBIT B
An organizational chart showing the relationship of each EWG or
foreign utility company to associate companies in the holding company system.
None.
The above-named claimant has caused this statement to be duly
executed on its behalf by its authorized officer on this first day of
October, 2001.
The Laclede Group, Inc.
By: /s/ Douglas H. Yaeger
--------------------------
Chairman of the Board,
President and Chief
Executive Officer
Corporate Seal
Attest:
/s/ Mary Caola Kullman
--------------------------
Name, title and address of officer to whom notices and correspondence
concerning this statement should be addressed:
Gerald T. McNeive, Jr.
Senior Vice President Finance and General Counsel
720 Olive Street
Room 1522
St. Louis, MO 63101
EXHIBIT A
---------
LACLEDE GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF INCOME
TWELVE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2000
(UNAUDITED)
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
Laclede Gas
Laclede Laclede Laclede Company and
Laclede Pipeline Development Investment Subsidiary
Gas Company Company Company Company Eliminations Companies
------------- ------------ ------------ ------------- ------------- -------------
Operating Revenues:
Utility operating revenues $ 707,718 $ 2,589 $ - $ - $ - $ 710,307
Non-utility operating revenues 3,094 - 1,370 45,869 (841) 49,492
------------- ------------ ------------ ------------- ------------- -------------
Total Operating Revenues 710,812 2,589 1,370 45,869 (841) 759,799
------------- ------------ ------------ ------------- ------------- -------------
Operating Expenses:
Utility operating expenses
Natural and propane gas 445,757 1,242 - - - 446,999
Other operation expenses 91,391 57 - - - 91,448
Maintenance 18,412 53 - - - 18,465
Depreciation and amortization 25,681 116 - - - 25,797
Taxes, other than income taxes 49,715 8 - - - 49,723
------------- ------------ ------------ ------------- ------------- -------------
Total utility operating expenses 630,956 1,476 - - - 632,432
Non-utility operating expenses 3,041 - 336 45,682 (841) 48,218
------------- ------------ ------------ ------------- ------------- -------------
Total Operating Expenses 633,997 1,476 336 45,682 (841) 680,650
------------- ------------ ------------ ------------- ------------- -------------
Operating Income 76,815 1,113 1,034 187 - 79,149
Other Income and Income Deductions - Net 3,628 - 269 159 (3,179) 877
------------- ------------ ------------ ------------- ------------- -------------
Income Before Interest and Income Taxes 80,443 1,113 1,303 346 (3,179) 80,026
------------- ------------ ------------ ------------- ------------- -------------
Interest Charges:
Interest on long-term debt 15,757 - - - - 15,757
Other interest charges 10,287 - - - (417) 9,870
------------- ------------ ------------ ------------- ------------- -------------
Total Interest Charges 26,044 - - - (417) 25,627
------------- ------------ ------------ ------------- ------------- -------------
Income Before Income Taxes 54,399 1,113 1,303 346 (2,762) 54,399
Income Taxes 19,498 421 529 138 (1,088) 19,498
------------- ------------ ------------ ------------- ------------- -------------
Net Income $ 34,901 $ 692 $ 774 $ 208 $ (1,674) $ 34,901
============= ============ ============ ============= ============= =============
LACLEDE GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATING RETAINED EARNINGS
12 MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2000
(UNAUDITED)
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
Laclede Gas
Laclede Laclede Laclede Company and
Laclede Pipeline Development Investment Subsidiary
Gas Company Company Company Company Eliminations Companies
------------- ------------- ------------- -------------- -------------- -------------
Balance at Beginning of Year $ 203,081 $ 7,515 $ 9,805 $ (6,489) $ (10,831) $ 203,081
Add - Net Income, per statements 34,901 692 774 208 (1,674) 34,901
------------- ------------- ------------- -------------- -------------- -------------
Total 237,982 8,207 10,579 (6,281) (12,505) 237,982
------------- ------------- ------------- -------------- -------------- -------------
Deduct - Cash Dividends Declared:
Preferred stock 91 - - - - 91
Common stock 25,297 - - - - 25,297
------------- ------------- ------------- -------------- -------------- -------------
Total 25,388 - - - - 25,388
------------- ------------- ------------- -------------- -------------- -------------
Balance at End of Year $ 212,594 $ 8,207 $ 10,579 $ (6,281) $ (12,505) $ 212,594
============= ============= ============= ============== ============== =============
LACLEDE GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS
DECEMBER 31, 2000
(UNAUDITED)
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
Laclede Gas
Laclede Laclede Laclede Company and
Laclede Pipeline Development Investment Subsidiary
Gas Company Company Company Company Eliminations Companies
--------------- ---------- ----------- ------------ ------------- ---------------
ASSETS
Utility Plant $ 925,004 $ 5,385 $ - $ - $ - $ 930,389
Less: Accumulated depreciation and
amortization 373,560 2,296 - - - 375,856
--------------- ---------- ----------- ------------ ------------- ---------------
Net Utility Plant 551,444 3,089 - - - 554,533
--------------- ---------- ----------- ------------ ------------- ---------------
Other Property and Investments 42,705 - 3,514 719 (19,026) 27,912
--------------- ---------- ----------- ------------ ------------- ---------------
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents 4,774 340 127 1,860 - 7,101
Notes Receivable - - 13,698 532 (14,230) -
Accounts receivable - net 228,386 5,884 306 11,196 (7,927) 237,845
Materials, supplies, and merchandise 6,024 38 - - - 6,062
Natural gas stored underground for
current use 61,914 - - 23 - 61,937
Propane gas for current use 9,717 - - - - 9,717
Prepayments and other 4,161 - 16 1 - 4,178
Unamortized purchased gas adjustments 11,318 - - - - 11,318
Delayed customer billings 6,208 - - - - 6,208
Deferred income taxes 4,531 - - - - 4,531
--------------- ---------- ----------- ------------ ------------- ---------------
Total Current Assets 337,033 6,262 14,147 13,612 (22,157) 348,897
--------------- ---------- ----------- ------------ ------------- ---------------
Deferred Charges:
Prepaid pension cost 100,714 - - - - 100,714
Regulatory assets 66,566 - - - - 66,566
Other 2,926 - 44 - - 2,970
--------------- ---------- ----------- ------------ ------------- ---------------
Total deferred charges 170,206 - 44 - - 170,250
--------------- ---------- ----------- ------------ ------------- ---------------
Total Assets $ 1,101,388 $ 9,351 $ 17,705 $ 14,331 $ (41,183) $ 1,101,592
=============== ========== =========== ============ ============= ===============
CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES
Capitalization:
Common stock $ 20,744 $ 300 $ 22 $ 10 $ (332) $ 20,744
Paid-in capital 85,837 - 6,189 - (6,189) 85,837
Retained earnings 212,595 8,207 10,579 (6,281) (12,505) 212,595
Treasury stock, at cost (24,017) - - - - (24,017)
--------------- ---------- ----------- ------------ ------------- ---------------
Total common stock equity 295,159 8,507 16,790 (6,271) (19,026) 295,159
Redeemable preferred stock 1,763 - - - - 1,763
Long-term debt (less sinking fund
requirements) 234,394 - - - - 234,394
--------------- ---------- ----------- ------------ ------------- ---------------
Total Capitalization 531,316 8,507 16,790 (6,271) (19,026) 531,316
--------------- ---------- ----------- ------------ ------------- ---------------
Current Liabilities:
Notes payable 204,273 - - 8,757 (14,230) 198,800
Accounts payable 96,774 830 18 11,276 (7,621) 101,277
Current portion of preferred stock 21 - - - - 21
Taxes accrued 32,366 (31 ) 222 173 - 32,730
Other 30,398 - - 449 (306) 30,541
--------------- ---------- ----------- ------------ ------------- ---------------
Total Current Liabilities 363,832 799 240 20,655 (22,157) 363,369
--------------- ---------- ----------- ------------ ------------- ---------------
Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities:
Deferred income taxes 126,046 45 622 (73) - 126,640
Unamortized investment tax credits 6,187 - - - - 6,187
Pension and postretirement benefit costs 22,868 - - - - 22,868
Regulatory liabilities 31,922 - - - - 31,922
Other 19,217 - 53 20 - 19,290
--------------- ---------- ----------- ------------ ------------- ---------------
Total Deferred Credits and Other
Liabilities 206,240 45 675 (53) - 206,907
--------------- ---------- ----------- ------------ ------------- ---------------
Total Capitalization and Liabilities $ 1,101,388 $ 9,351 $ 17,705 $ 14,331 $ (41,183) $ 1,101,592
=============== ========== =========== ============ ============= ===============