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This preliminary prospectus supplement relates to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, but the information in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell and are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JUNE 3, 2014

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration No. 333-190388

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(to Prospectus dated June 3, 2014)

 

The Laclede Group, Inc.

2,500,000 Equity Units

(Initially Consisting of 2,500,000 Corporate Units)

This is an offering of Equity Units (“Equity Units”) by The Laclede Group, Inc. (“Laclede”). Each Equity Unit will have a stated amount of $50 and initially will be in the form of a Corporate Unit (“Corporate Unit”) consisting of a purchase contract issued by Laclede to purchase shares of our common stock and a 1/20, or 5%, undivided beneficial ownership interest in $1,000 principal amount of Laclede’s 2014 Series A     % remarketable junior subordinated notes due 2022, which we refer to as the RSNs.

We intend to apply to list the Corporate Units on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, and expect trading to commence within 30 days of the date of initial issuance of the Corporate Units under the symbol “LGA” but there is no guarantee that such listing will be approved. Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the Corporate Units.

Shares of our common stock trade on the NYSE under the symbol “LG.” On June 2, 2014, the last sale price of the shares as reported on the NYSE was $46.76 per share.

Concurrently with this offering of Equity Units, we are offering, by means of a separate prospectus supplement, 9,000,000 shares of our common stock (or 10,350,000 shares of our common stock if the underwriters of that offering exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of common stock). This offering of Equity Units is not contingent on the offering of common stock and the offering of common stock is not contingent upon this offering of Equity Units. See “Concurrent Common Stock Offering” in this prospectus supplement.

Investing in the Equity Units involves risks. Please read “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-34 of this prospectus supplement.

 

 

 

		Per Corporate Unit		Total
Public offering price		$50.00		$
Underwriting discounts and commissions		$		$
Proceeds, before expenses, to Laclede		$		$

We have granted the underwriters the option to purchase from us, within the 13-day period beginning on, and including, the initial closing date for this offering, up to an additional 375,000 Corporate Units.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The underwriters expect to deliver the Corporate Units to purchasers in book-entry form only through The Depository Trust Company on or about                     , 2014.

 

 

 

Credit Suisse		Wells Fargo Securities

 

 

 

J.P. Morgan		RBC Capital Markets

 

Stifel

The date of this prospectus supplement is                    , 2014.

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The purchase contract will obligate you to purchase from Laclede, on April 1, 2017 (or if such day is not a business day, on the following business day), for a price of $50 in cash, the following number of shares of our common stock, subject to anti-dilution adjustments:

 

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if the applicable market value, which is the average volume-weighted average price of our common stock on each trading day during the 20 consecutive scheduled trading day period ending on the third scheduled trading day prior to April 1, 2017, subject to adjustment as described herein if a market disruption event occurs, equals or exceeds $         ,             shares of our common stock;

 

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if the applicable market value is less than $             but greater than $            , a number of shares of our common stock equal to $50 divided by the applicable market value, rounded to the nearest ten thousandth of a share; and

 

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if the applicable market value is less than or equal to $            ,             shares of our common stock.

 

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Laclede will pay you quarterly contract adjustment payments at a rate of     % per year on the stated amount of $50 per Equity Unit, or $             per year, in respect of each purchase contract, subject to our right to defer these payments, as described in this prospectus supplement. No deferral period will extend beyond the purchase contract settlement date. The contract adjustment payments are payable quarterly on January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 of each year (except that if such date is not a business day, contract adjustment payments will be payable on the following business day, without adjustment), commencing on October 1, 2014. The contract adjustment payments will be subordinated to all of our existing and future “Priority Indebtedness” (as defined under “Description of the Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes—Subordination”), and will be structurally subordinated to all liabilities of our subsidiaries.

 

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The RSNs will initially bear interest at a rate of     % per year. The RSNs will be subordinated to all of Laclede’s existing and future “Priority Indebtedness” (as defined under “Description of the Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes—Subordination”). In addition, the RSNs will be structurally subordinated to all liabilities of our subsidiaries.

 

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We will have the right to defer interest payments on the RSNs one or more times for one or more consecutive interest periods without giving rise to an event of default; provided that no deferral period will extend beyond the purchase contract settlement date or the maturity date. The RSNs will be remarketed in 2017 as described in this prospectus supplement. Following any successful remarketing of the RSNs, the interest rate on the RSNs will be reset, interest will be payable on a semi-annual basis and we will cease to have the ability to redeem the RSNs at our option or defer interest payments on the RSNs, all as described under “Description of the Purchase Contracts—Remarketing.”

 

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Your ownership interest in the RSNs (or after a successful optional remarketing, your related ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio or, in certain circumstances, cash) or the Treasury securities, as the case may be, will be pledged to us to secure your obligation under the related purchase contract.

 

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Other than during a blackout period (as defined under “Description of the Equity Units—Creating Treasury Units by Substituting a Treasury Security for an RSN”) or after a successful remarketing of the RSNs, you can create Treasury Units (“Treasury Units”) from Corporate Units by substituting Treasury securities for your pledged ownership interest in the RSNs comprising a part of the Corporate Units. You can also recreate Corporate Units from Treasury Units by substituting an undivided beneficial ownership interest in the RSNs for the Treasury securities previously pledged and comprising a part of your Treasury Units.

 

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If there is a successful optional remarketing of the RSNs and, at such time, you hold Corporate Units, your applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio purchased with the proceeds from the remarketing (or, in certain circumstances, cash) will be used to satisfy your payment obligation under the purchase contract. If there is a successful final remarketing of the RSNs and you hold Corporate Units, the proceeds from the remarketing will be used to satisfy your payment obligation under the purchase contract, unless you have elected to settle with separate cash.

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You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide you with different or additional information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state or jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any free writing prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this prospectus supplement, the date of the accompanying prospectus or the date of such free writing prospectus, as applicable.

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Prospectus Supplement

 

		Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT			S-i
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS			S-i
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY			S-1
RISK FACTORS			S-34
USE OF PROCEEDS			S-45
CAPITALIZATION			S-46
PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK AND DIVIDENDS			S-47
CONCURRENT COMMON STOCK OFFERING			S-48
ACCOUNTING TREATMENT			S-49
DESCRIPTION OF THE EQUITY UNITS			S-50
DESCRIPTION OF THE PURCHASE CONTRACTS			S-56
CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE PURCHASE CONTRACT AND PLEDGE AGREEMENT			S-80
DESCRIPTION OF THE REMARKETABLE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES			S-87
MATERIAL UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES			S-100
ERISA CONSIDERATIONS			S-111
UNDERWRITING			S-113
EXPERTS			S-117
LEGAL MATTERS			S-117
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION			S-118

Prospectus

 

		Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS			1
RISK FACTORS			1
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION			1
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION			2
THE LACLEDE GROUP			3
USE OF PROCEEDS			4
RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES			4
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES			4
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK			13
DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS			17
BOOK-ENTRY SECURITIES			17
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION			19
LEGAL MATTERS			20
EXPERTS			21

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, utilizing a “shelf” registration process. This document contains two parts. The first part consists of this prospectus supplement, which provides you with specific information about the Equity Units that we are selling in this offering and about the offering itself. The second part is the accompanying prospectus, which provides more general information, some of which does not apply to this offering. If the description of this offering varies between this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus or any related free writing prospectus, you should rely on the information contained in this prospectus supplement.

Both this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus include or incorporate by reference important information about us, our securities and other information you should know before investing in our Equity Units. Before purchasing any Equity Units, you should carefully read both this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

The terms “we,” “our,” “us,” the “Company” and “Laclede” refer to The Laclede Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries unless the context suggests otherwise. The term “you” refers to a prospective investor.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain matters contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, excluding historical information, include forward-looking statements. Certain words, such as “may,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “seek” and similar words and expressions identify forward-looking statements that involve uncertainties and risks. Future developments may not be in accordance with our current expectations or beliefs and the effect of future developments may not be those anticipated. Among the factors that may cause results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statement are:

 

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weather conditions and catastrophic events, particularly severe weather in the natural gas producing areas of the country;

 

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volatility in gas prices, particularly sudden and sustained changes in natural gas prices, including the related impact on margin deposits associated with the use of natural gas derivative instruments;

 

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the impact of changes and volatility in natural gas prices on our competitive position in relation to suppliers of alternative heating sources, such as electricity;

 

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changes in gas supply and pipeline availability, including decisions by natural gas producers to reduce production or shut in producing natural gas wells, expiration of existing supply and transportation arrangements that are not replaced with contracts with similar terms and pricing, as well as other changes that impact supply for and access to the markets in which our subsidiaries transact business;

 

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legislative, regulatory and judicial mandates and decisions, some of which may be retroactive, including those affecting

 

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allowed rates of return

 

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incentive regulation

 

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industry structure

 

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purchased gas adjustment provisions

 

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rate design structure and implementation

 

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regulatory assets

 

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non-regulated and affiliate transactions

 

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franchise renewals

 

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environmental or safety matters, including the potential impact of legislative and regulatory actions related to climate change and pipeline safety

 

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taxes

 

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pension and other postretirement benefit liabilities and funding obligations

 

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accounting standards;

 

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the results of litigation;

 

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retention of, ability to attract, ability to collect from, and conservation efforts of, customers;

 

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capital and energy commodity market conditions, including the ability to obtain funds with reasonable terms for necessary capital expenditures and general operations and the terms and conditions imposed for obtaining sufficient gas supply;

 

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discovery of material weakness in internal controls; and

 

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employee workforce issues.

In addition, actual results may differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statement due to the timing and likelihood of the closing of our purchase of all of the outstanding shares of Alabama Gas Corporation (“Alagasco”) from Energen Corporation (“Energen”), and the other risk factors discussed in “Risk Related to the Company’s Acquisition Agreement with Energen” under Item 1A of Part II of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, as amended, which is incorporated by reference.

Readers are urged to consider the risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could affect our business as described in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the information incorporated by reference therein. All forward-looking statements made or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus rely upon the safe harbor protections provided under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We do not, by including this statement, assume any obligation to review or revise any particular forward-looking statement in light of future events.

 

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RISK FACTORS

In considering whether to invest in our Equity Units, you should carefully consider all of the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. In particular, you should consider the risk factors described in our periodic reports filed with the SEC, including those set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2013 and in Item 1A of Part II of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, each as amended, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, as well as the additional risks described below. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or those currently viewed by us to be immaterial may also materially and adversely affect us.

The Corporate Units consist of a purchase contract to acquire our common stock and an interest in RSNs issued by us. When considering an investment in our Corporate Units, you are making an investment decision with respect to our common stock and the RSNs as well as the Corporate Units. You can create Treasury Units from Corporate Units by substituting Treasury securities for the RSNs; you would be making an investment decision with respect to our common stock and the RSNs as well as the Treasury Units in such case. You should carefully review the information in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus about these securities.

Risks Related to Investing in the Equity Units

You assume the risk that the market value of our common stock may decline.

The number of shares of our common stock that you will receive upon the settlement of a purchase contract is not fixed but instead will depend on the average VWAP of our common stock on each trading day of the 20 consecutive scheduled trading day period ending on the third scheduled trading day immediately preceding the purchase contract settlement date (subject to adjustment as described herein if a market disruption event occurs), which we refer to as the applicable market value. There can be no assurance that the market value of common stock you receive on the purchase contract settlement date will be equal to or greater than the effective price per share you paid for our common stock. If the applicable market value of the common stock is less than the reference price of $        , the market value of the common stock issued to you pursuant to each purchase contract on the purchase contract settlement date (assuming that the market value on the purchase contract settlement date is the same as the applicable market value of the common stock) will be less than the effective price per share you paid for the common stock. Accordingly, you assume the risk that the market value of our common stock may decline, and that the decline could be substantial.

In addition, because the number of shares delivered to you on the purchase contract settlement date will be based upon the applicable market value, which is in turn calculated on the basis of the average of the VWAP per share of our common stock on each trading day of the 20 consecutive scheduled trading day period ending on the third scheduled trading day immediately preceding the purchase contract settlement date (subject to adjustment as described herein if a market disruption event occurs), the shares of common stock you receive on the purchase contract settlement date may be worth less than the shares of common stock you would have received had the applicable market value been equal to the VWAP per share of our common stock on the purchase contract settlement date or the average VWAP of our common stock over a different period of days.

The opportunity for equity appreciation provided by an investment in the Equity Units is less than that provided by a direct investment in our common stock.

Your opportunity for equity appreciation afforded by investing in the Equity Units is less than your opportunity for equity appreciation if you directly invested in our common stock. This opportunity is less, because the market value of the common stock to be received by you pursuant to the purchase contract on the purchase contract settlement date (assuming that the market value on the purchase contract settlement date is the

 

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same as the applicable market value of the common stock) will only exceed the effective price per share you paid for our common stock if the applicable market value of the common stock exceeds the threshold appreciation price (which represents an appreciation of approximately     % over the reference price). If the applicable market value of our common stock exceeds the reference price but does not exceed the threshold appreciation price, you will realize no equity appreciation of the common stock for the period during which you own the purchase contract. Furthermore, if the applicable market value of our common stock equals or exceeds the threshold appreciation price, you would receive on the purchase contract settlement date only approximately     % of the value of the shares of common stock you could have purchased with $50.00 at the public offering price of our common stock in the concurrent common stock offering.

The trading prices for the Corporate Units and Treasury Units are expected to be affected by, among other things, the trading prices of our common stock, the general level of interest rates and our credit quality.

The trading prices of Corporate Units, which we intend to apply to list on the NYSE, and Treasury Units in the secondary market are expected to be affected by, among other things, the trading prices of our common stock, the general level of interest rates and our credit quality. It is impossible to predict whether the price of our common stock or interest rates will rise or fall. The price of our common stock could be subject to wide fluctuations in the future in response to many events or factors, including those discussed in the risk factors herein and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2013 and in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2014, each as amended, as well as under “Forward-Looking Information” in this prospectus supplement, many of which events and factors are beyond our control. Fluctuations in interest rates may give rise to arbitrage opportunities based upon changes in the relative value of the common stock underlying the purchase contracts and of the other components of the Equity Units. Any such arbitrage could, in turn, affect the trading prices of the Corporate Units, Treasury Units, RSNs and our common stock.

If you hold Corporate Units or Treasury Units, you will not be entitled to any rights with respect to our common stock, but you will be subject to all changes made with respect to our common stock.

If you hold Corporate Units or Treasury Units, you will not be entitled to any rights with respect to our common stock, such as voting rights and rights to receive dividends or other distributions on our common stock. However, you will be subject to all changes affecting our common stock. You will only be entitled to rights with respect to our common stock if and when we deliver shares of common stock in exchange for Corporate Units or Treasury Units on the purchase contract settlement date, or on the settlement date for any early settlement, as the case may be, and the applicable record date, if any, for the exercise of those rights or the receipt of those dividends or distributions occurs after that date.

The delivery of make-whole shares upon a fundamental change early settlement may not adequately compensate you.

If a fundamental change (as defined below under “Description of the Purchase Contracts—Early Settlement Upon a Fundamental Change”) occurs prior to the 20th business day preceding the purchase contract settlement date and you exercise your fundamental change early settlement right, you will be entitled to receive additional value in respect of make-whole shares unless the stock price (as defined under “Description of the Purchase Contracts—Early Settlement Upon a Fundamental Change” below), is in excess of $         per share (subject to adjustment). A description of how the number of make-whole shares will be determined is set forth under “Description of the Purchase Contracts—Early Settlement Upon a Fundamental Change—Calculation of Make-Whole Shares.” Although the make-whole shares are designed to compensate you for the lost value of your Equity Units as a result of the fundamental change, this feature may not adequately compensate you for such loss.

 

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In addition, in the event that a holder seeks to exercise its fundamental change early settlement right and a registration statement is required to be effective in connection with the exercise of such right but no such registration statement is then effective or a blackout period is continuing, the holder’s exercise of such right will be void unless and until the registration statement is effective. For so long as there is a material business transaction or development that has not yet been publicly disclosed (but in no event for a period longer than 90 days), we will not be required to file such registration statement or provide such a prospectus, and the fundamental change early settlement right will not be available, until we have publicly disclosed such transaction or development; provided that we will use commercially reasonable efforts to make such disclosure as soon as it is commercially reasonable to do so.

The Equity Units provide limited fixed settlement rate adjustments, and an event could occur that adversely affects the value of the Equity Units or our common stock but that does not result in an adjustment to the fixed settlement rates.

The number of shares of common stock that you are entitled to receive on the purchase contract settlement date, or as a result of early settlement of a stock purchase contract, is subject to adjustment for certain events arising from stock splits and combinations, stock dividends, certain cash dividends and certain other events. We will not adjust the number of shares of common stock that you are to receive on the purchase contract settlement date, or as a result of early settlement of a purchase contract, for other events, including without limitation issuances and purchases of our common stock in connection with dividend reinvestment plans, employee stock option grants, ordinary dividends, offerings of common stock by us for cash or in connection with an acquisition, third-party tender and exchange offers and share issuances pursuant to options and other convertible securities outstanding on the date we issue the Equity Units. See “Description of the Purchase Contracts—Anti-dilution Adjustments.” There can be no assurance that an event that adversely affects the value of the Equity Units or our common stock, but does not result in an adjustment to the settlement rate, will not occur. Further, other than as described under “Underwriting,” we are not restricted from issuing additional common stock during the term of the stock purchase contracts and have no obligation to consider your interests for any reason. If we issue additional shares of common stock, it may materially and adversely affect the trading price of our common stock and the Equity Units. If we issue additional shares of common stock, those issuances may materially and adversely affect the price of our common stock and, because of the relationship of the number of shares holders are to receive on the purchase contract settlement date to the price of our common stock, those issuances may adversely affect the trading prices of the Equity Units.

The secondary market for the Corporate Units, Treasury Units or RSNs may be illiquid.

It is not possible to predict how Corporate Units, Treasury Units or RSNs will trade or whether a market for them will be liquid or illiquid. There is currently no market for our Corporate Units, Treasury Units or RSNs. We intend to apply to list the Corporate Units on the NYSE under the symbol “LGA” and expect trading to commence within 30 days of the date of initial issuance of the Corporate Units, although there is no guarantee that the Corporate Units will be approved for listing. If the Treasury Units or the RSNs are separately traded to a sufficient extent that applicable exchange listing or quotation system requirements are met, we may endeavor to list the Treasury Units or the RSNs on the same exchange or quotation system as the Corporate Units. However, there can be no assurance that we will list the Treasury Units or the RSNs. There can be no assurance as to the liquidity of any market that may develop for the Corporate Units, the Treasury Units or the RSNs, your ability to sell these securities or whether a trading market, if one develops, will continue. In addition, in the event a sufficient number of holders of Equity Units were to convert their Treasury Units to Corporate Units or their Corporate Units to Treasury Units, as the case may be, the liquidity of Corporate Units or Treasury Units could be adversely affected. There can be no assurance that the Corporate Units, if approved for listing, will not be de-listed from the NYSE or that trading in the Corporate Units will not be suspended as a result of holders’ elections to create Treasury Units, which could cause the number of Corporate Units to fall below the requirement for listing securities on the NYSE.

 

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Your rights to the pledged securities will be subject to our security interest and may be affected by a bankruptcy proceeding.

Although you will be the beneficial owner of the undivided beneficial ownership interests in RSNs, Treasury securities or applicable ownership interests in the portion of the Treasury portfolio described in the first bullet under “Prospectus Supplement Summary—The Offering—What is the Treasury portfolio?”, as applicable, those securities will be pledged to us through the collateral agent to secure your obligations under the related purchase contracts. Your rights to the pledged securities will be subject to our security interest. Additionally, notwithstanding the automatic termination of the purchase contracts in the event that we become the subject of a case under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, the effectiveness of such termination and the delivery of the pledged securities to you may be contested or delayed as a result of the imposition of the automatic stay under Section 362 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code or by exercise of the bankruptcy court’s power under Section 105(a) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, and claims arising out of the RSNs, like all other claims in bankruptcy proceedings, will be subject to the equitable jurisdiction and powers of the bankruptcy court.

Upon a successful remarketing of the RSNs, the terms of your RSNs will be modified even if you elect not to participate in the remarketing.

When we attempt to remarket the RSNs, the remarketing agent will agree to use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell the RSNs included in the remarketing. Following any successful remarketing of the RSNs, the interest rate on the RSNs will be reset, interest will be payable on a semi-annual basis and we will cease to have the ability to redeem the RSNs at our option or defer interest payments on the RSNs, all as described under “Description of the Purchase Contracts—Remarketing.” If the remarketing is successful, the modified terms will apply to all the RSNs, even if they were not included in the remarketing. However, holders of the RSNs must elect to participate in the remarketing before knowing what the modified terms of the RSNs will be. Whenever we remarket the RSNs, we will notify holders of Corporate Units, Treasury Units and separate RSNs of such remarketing. You may determine that the revised terms of the RSNs you receive are not as favorable to you as you would deem appropriate, and the modified terms may be less favorable to you than the initial terms of the RSNs. For example, the interest rate on the RSNs may be reduced in connection with the remarketing.

The purchase contract and pledge agreement will not be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and the obligations of the purchase contract agent are limited.

The purchase contract and pledge agreement among us, the purchase contract agent and the collateral agent will not be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or the Trust Indenture Act, and the purchase contract agent and collateral agent will not be required to qualify as a trustee under the Trust Indenture Act. You will not have the benefit of the protection of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to the purchase contract and pledge agreement, the purchase contracts or the purchase contract agent. The RSNs constituting a part of the Corporate Units will be issued pursuant to an indenture that has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act. Accordingly, if you hold Corporate Units, you will have the benefit of the protections of the Trust Indenture Act only to the extent applicable to the ownership interests in RSNs included in the Corporate Units. The protections generally afforded the holder of a security issued under an indenture that has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act include:

 

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disqualification of the indenture trustee for “conflicting interests,” as defined under the Trust Indenture Act;

 

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provisions preventing a trustee that is also a creditor of the issuer from improving its own credit position at the expense of the security holders immediately prior to or after a default under such indenture; and

 

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The trading price of the Corporate Units or any separate RSNs may not fully reflect the value of their accrued but unpaid interest.

The Corporate Units and any separate RSNs may trade at a price that does not fully reflect the value of accrued but unpaid interest on the RSNs.

You may not be able to exercise your rights to settle a purchase contract prior to the purchase contract settlement date unless a registration statement under the Securities Act is in effect and a prospectus is available covering the shares of common stock and other securities, if any, deliverable upon early settlement of a purchase contract.

The early settlement rights under the purchase contracts are subject to the condition that, if required under the U.S. federal securities laws, we have a registration statement under the Securities Act in effect on the applicable early settlement date. If such registration statement is so required, we have agreed to use our commercially reasonable efforts to have a registration statement in effect on the applicable early settlement date and have an available prospectus in connection therewith covering the shares of common stock and other securities, if any, deliverable upon settlement of the purchase contract, subject to certain exceptions. In the event that a holder seeks to exercise its early settlement right and a registration statement is required to be effective in connection with the exercise of such right but no such registration statement is then effective, the holder’s exercise of such right will be void unless and until such a registration statement is effective.

The indenture under which the RSNs will be issued does not limit our indebtedness, prevent dividends or generally prevent highly leveraged transactions; there are no financial covenants in the indenture.

Neither we nor any of our subsidiaries are restricted from incurring additional debt or other liabilities, including additional Priority Indebtedness, under the indenture pursuant to which the RSNs will be issued. As of March 31, 2014, we had $25 million principal amount of outstanding long term debt on an unconsolidated basis that will be senior to the RSNs. We do not have any debt securities outstanding that would rank on parity with, or junior to, the RSNs. Additionally, as of March 31, 2014, our current primary operating subsidiary, Laclede Gas, and Alagasco, which we expect to acquire later this year (see “Prospectus Supplement Summary—Pending Alagasco Acquisition”), have approximately $810 million and $250 million, respectively, principal amount of outstanding long-term debt (including securities due within one year), which would be senior to our rights as creditors of those companies. In addition, all of Laclede Gas’ long-term debt is issued under a first mortgage bond indenture that is secured by a lien on substantially all of its utility plant. If we incur additional debt or liabilities, our ability to pay our obligations on the RSNs could be adversely affected. We expect that we will from time to time incur additional debt and other liabilities, including pursuant to the proposed debt offering (see “Prospectus Supplement Summary—Pending Alagasco Acquisition—Sources and Uses”) In addition, except as described under “Description of the Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes—Dividend and Other Payment Stoppages During Interest Deferral and Under Certain Other Circumstances,” we are not restricted under the indenture from paying dividends or issuing or repurchasing our securities.

There are no financial covenants in the indenture. Except for the covenants described under “Description of the Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes—Consolidation, Merger or Sale,” there are no covenants or any other provisions in the indenture which may afford you protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction including one that may or may not result in a change of control of the Company.

The RSNs and the contract adjustment payments are subordinated to our existing and future Priority Indebtedness and are structurally subordinated to any existing or future preferred stock, indebtedness, guarantees and other liabilities of our subsidiaries.

The RSNs and the contract adjustment payments will be obligations exclusively of Laclede and will not be guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries. The RSNs and contract adjustment payments are subordinated to our existing and future Priority Indebtedness (as defined under “Description of the Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes—Subordination”) and will be structurally subordinated to existing or future preferred stock,

 

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indebtedness, guarantees and other liabilities, including trade payables, of our subsidiaries. The indenture under which the RSNs will be issued will not restrict us or our subsidiaries from incurring substantial additional indebtedness in the future.

As of March 31, 2014, we had $25 million principal amount of outstanding long term debt on an unconsolidated basis that will be senior to the RSNs. We do not have any debt securities outstanding that would rank on parity with, or junior to, the RSNs. Additionally, as of March 31, 2014, our current primary operating subsidiary, Laclede Gas, and Alagasco, which we expect to acquire later this year (see “Prospectus Supplement Summary—Pending Alagasco Acquisition”), have approximately $810 million and $250 million, respectively, principal amount of outstanding long-term debt (including securities due within one year), which would be senior to our rights as creditors of those companies.

Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities from us. Our subsidiaries have no obligation to pay any amounts due on the RSNs or the purchase contracts or to provide us with funds to meet our respective payment obligations on the RSNs or purchase contracts. Any payment of dividends, loans or advances by our subsidiaries to us could be subject to statutory or contractual restrictions and will be contingent upon the subsidiaries’ earnings and business considerations. Our right to receive any assets of any of our subsidiaries upon their bankruptcy, liquidation or similar reorganization, and therefore the right of the holders of the RSNs or purchase contracts to participate in those assets, will be structurally subordinated to the claims of that subsidiary’s creditors, including trade creditors. Even if we are a creditor of any of our subsidiaries, our rights as a creditor would be subordinate to any security interest in the assets of our subsidiaries and any indebtedness of our subsidiaries senior to that held by us.

Recent and future regulatory actions and other events may adversely affect the trading price and liquidity of the Equity Units.

We expect that many investors in, and potential purchasers of, the Equity Units will employ, or seek to employ, an arbitrage strategy with respect to the Equity Units. Investors would typically implement such a strategy by selling short the common stock underlying the Equity Units and dynamically adjusting their short position while continuing to hold the Equity Units. Investors may also implement this type of strategy by entering into swaps on our common stock in lieu of or in addition to short selling the common stock.

The SEC and other regulatory and self-regulatory authorities have implemented various rules and taken certain actions, and may in the future adopt additional rules and take other actions, that may impact those engaging in short selling activity involving equity securities (including our common stock). Such rules and actions include Rule 201 of SEC Regulation SHO, the adoption by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. and the national securities exchanges of a “Limit Up-Limit Down” program, the imposition of market-wide circuit breakers that halt trading of securities for certain periods following specific market declines, and the implementation of certain regulatory reforms required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010. Any governmental or regulatory action that restricts the ability of investors in, or potential purchasers of, the Equity Units to effect short sales of our common stock, borrow our common stock or enter into swaps on our common stock could adversely affect the trading price and the liquidity of the Equity Units.

We may defer contract adjustment payments under the purchase contracts, and this may have an adverse effect on the trading prices of the Equity Units.

We may at our option defer the payment of all or part of the contract adjustment payments under the purchase contracts. If we exercise our right to defer contract adjustment payments, the market price of the Equity Units is likely to be adversely affected. As a result of the existence of our deferral rights, the market price of the Equity Units may be more volatile than would otherwise be the case. In addition, there is a risk that we may not be able to pay such deferred contract adjustment payments (including compounded contract adjustment payments

 

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thereon) in the future. If we make such a deferral you may be required to continue to recognize income for U.S. federal income tax purposes in respect of the purchase contracts in advance of your receipt of any corresponding cash payments.

If we exercise our right to defer interest payments on the RSNs, the market price of the Corporate Units and any separate RSNs is likely to be adversely affected.

Prior to any successful remarketing of the RSNs, we may at our option defer interest payments on the RSNs for one or more consecutive interest periods. During any “deferral period” (as defined under “Description of the Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes—Option to Defer Interest Payments” below), holders of the RSNs will receive no current payments and, so long as we are otherwise in compliance with our obligations, holders will have no remedies against us for nonpayment unless we fail to pay all previously deferred interest (including compounded interest thereon) in cash within 30 days of the date due after the end of the deferral period. If we exercise our right to defer interest, the market price of the Corporate Units and any separate RSNs is likely to be adversely affected. As a result of the existence of our deferral rights, the market price of the Corporate Units and any separate RSNs may be more volatile than would otherwise be the case. In addition, there is the risk that we may not be able to pay such deferred interest (including compounded interest thereon) in the future.

You may have to include interest in your taxable income before you receive cash.

If we exercise our right to defer interest payments on the RSNs, you will be required to accrue income, in the form of original issue discount, for U.S. federal income tax purposes in respect of your RSNs, even if you normally report income when received and even though you may not receive the cash attributable to that income during the deferral period. See “Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences—U.S. Holders—The RSNs.”

Other tax treatments of the RSNs are possible.

We intend to treat the RSNs as “variable rate debt instruments” that are subject to applicable U.S. Treasury regulations that apply to “reset bonds.” Under this treatment, except as described above, you will be required to take into account interest payments on the RSNs at the time the interest is paid or accrued in accordance with your regular method of tax accounting. However, because there are no U.S. Treasury regulations, rulings or other authorities that address the U.S. federal income tax treatment of debt instruments that are substantially similar to the RSNs, alternative characterizations of the RSNs are possible. For example, the RSNs could be treated as “contingent payment debt instruments” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In that event, you would generally be required to (1) accrue interest income based on a projected payment schedule and comparable yield, which may be higher than the stated interest rate on the RSNs, regardless of your regular method of tax accounting, and (2) treat any gain recognized on a sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of an RSN as ordinary income. See “Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences—U.S. Holders—The RSNs—Possible Alternative Characterizations.”

The U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Equity Units are not entirely clear.

Although the IRS has issued a Revenue Ruling addressing the treatment of units similar to the Equity Units, no statutory, judicial or administrative authority directly addresses all aspects of the treatment of the Equity Units or instruments similar to the Equity Units for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the conclusions in the Revenue Ruling would apply to the Equity Units. As a result, the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of the Equity Units are not entirely clear. In addition, there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will agree with the characterization of the RSNs as indebtedness for U.S. federal income tax purposes. You should consult with your tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of an investment in the Equity Units. See “Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences.”

 

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Under certain circumstances, you may be treated as receiving a taxable distribution on our common stock even though you do not receive any actual distribution.

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, you may be treated as receiving a constructive distribution from us with respect to the purchase contract if (1) the fixed settlement rates are adjusted (or fail to be adjusted) and, as a result of the adjustment (or failure to adjust), your proportionate interest in our assets or earnings and profits is increased, and (2) the adjustment (or failure to adjust) is not made pursuant to a bona fide, reasonable anti-dilution formula. For example, if the fixed settlement rates are adjusted as a result of a distribution that is taxable to the holders of our common stock, such as a cash dividend, you will be deemed to have received a “constructive distribution” of our stock. Thus, under certain circumstances, an adjustment to the fixed settlement rates might give rise to a taxable deemed dividend to you even though you do not actually receive any cash or other distribution in connection with such adjustment. If you are a non-U.S. holder (as defined under “Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences”), such deemed dividend may be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a 30% rate, unless an income tax treaty reduces or eliminates such tax. See “Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences—U.S. Holders—Purchase Contracts” and “Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences—Non-U.S. Holders—U.S. Federal Withholding Tax.”

We will report contract adjustment payments as ordinary income and we will withhold tax on contract adjustment payments made to non-U.S. holders.

We intend to treat contract adjustment payments as taxable ordinary income to a U.S. holder (as defined under “Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences”) when received or accrued, in accordance with the U.S. holder’s regular method of tax accounting. We intend to treat any contract adjustment payments paid to a non-U.S. holder (as defined under “Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences”) as payments generally subject to withholding tax at a 30% rate, unless an income tax treaty reduces or eliminates such tax and the holder satisfies the relevant certification requirements. See “Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences—U.S. Holders—Purchase Contracts” and “Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences—Non-U.S. Holders—U.S. Federal Withholding Tax.” Persons considering the purchase of Equity Units should consult their tax advisors concerning the possible alternative characterization and tax treatment of Equity Units and the contract adjustment payments.

Non-U.S. holders may be subject to U.S. federal income tax in connection with a sale, exchange or other disposition of the purchase contracts or our common stock.

We believe that we may have been, may currently be, or may become, a USRPHC. As a result, non-U.S. holders of the purchase contracts or our common stock may be subject to United States federal income tax in respect of payments in connection with a sale, exchange or other disposition of the purchase contracts or our common stock. Certain exceptions to this tax may apply if our common stock or the purchase contracts are regularly traded on an established securities market, as discussed in “Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences—Non-U.S. Holders—Sale, Exchange, Remarketing or Other Taxable Disposition of the Equity Units, the RSNs, the Treasury Securities, the Treasury Portfolio, the Purchase Contract or Common Stock.” We expect that our common stock will be regularly traded on an established securities market, but this cannot be assured. We do not know if the purchase contracts will be regularly traded on an established securities market. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of the exception for certain interests in publicly traded corporations.

Risks Related to the Transaction.

The Transaction may not be completed or may be approved subject to unfavorable regulatory conditions, which could adversely affect anticipated benefits or our business, financial condition, results of operations or stock price.

On April 5, 2014, we entered into a definitive stock purchase agreement with Energen to acquire 100 percent of the common stock of Alagasco, which management expects to complete in 2014 subject to customary

 

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closing conditions, including regulatory approval from the Alabama Public Service Commission (APSC). The APSC or interveners in the approval proceedings, could seek to block or challenge the acquisition or the APSC could impose restrictions they deem necessary or desirable in the public interest as a condition to approving the acquisition. There can be no assurance as to the receipt or timing of this approval. The stock purchase agreement requires us to use our reasonable best efforts to obtain this approval, which may include conditions or restrictions that could have an adverse effect on the anticipated benefits of the acquisition or on our business, financial condition or results of operation. In addition, if this approval is not received, or not received on terms that satisfy the conditions set forth in the stock purchase agreement, then we will not be obligated to complete the Transaction. The waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, was terminated early on May 7, 2014.

In addition, the stock purchase agreement contains other customary closing conditions which may not be satisfied or waived or may take longer than anticipated to satisfy. The Transaction subjects us to a number of additional risks, including the following:

 

•

our estimate of the costs to complete the acquisition and the operating performance after the completion of the acquisition may vary significantly from actual results;

 

•

both before and after the closing of the acquisition, the attention of management may be diverted to the acquisition and the subsequent integration of Alagasco rather than to current operations or the pursuit of other opportunities that could be beneficial to Laclede;

 

•

the potential loss of key employees of Laclede or of Alagasco who may be uncertain about their future roles if and when the acquisition is completed; and

 

•

the trading price of Laclede’s common stock may decline to the extent that the current market price reflects a market assumption that the Transaction will be completed.

The stock purchase agreement contains certain termination rights for both us and Energen, including, among others, the right to terminate if the Transaction is not completed by May 1, 2015 (subject to extension to August 3, 2015, under certain circumstances related to fulfillment of the regulatory approval closing conditions).

The occurrence of any of these events individually or in combination could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations or the trading price of our common stock.

We expect to issue significant debt, common stock and Equity Units to provide permanent financing for the Transaction in lieu of or to refund borrowings under the Bridge Loan Facility, and, as a result, we are subject to market risks including market demand for debt offerings, interest rate volatility, and adverse impacts on our credit ratings.

In connection with the stock purchase agreement, we have obtained a commitment from the Banks for the Bridge Loan Facility, which may be used to finance a significant portion of the Transaction and pay related fees and expenses in the event that permanent financing is not completed at the time of the closing of the Transaction. The permanent financing is anticipated to also include a mix of Equity Units and long-term debt and, depending on market conditions, may include other instruments.

Although we and our advisers believe we have taken prudent steps to position Laclede and its subsidiaries for successful capital raises, there can be no assurance as to the ultimate cost or availability of funds to complete the permanent financing.

Among other risks, the planned increase in indebtedness may:

 

•

make it more difficult for us to repay or refinance our debts as they become due during adverse economic and industry conditions;

 

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•

limit our flexibility to pursue other strategic opportunities or react to changes in our business and the industry in which we operate and, consequently, place us at a competitive disadvantage to competitors with less debt;

 

•

require an increased portion of our cash flows from operations to be used for debt service payments, thereby reducing the availability of cash flows to fund working capital, capital expenditures, dividend payments and other general corporate purposes;

 

•

result in a downgrade in the credit rating of our indebtedness, which could limit our ability to borrow additional funds or increase the interest rates applicable to our indebtedness;

 

•

result in higher interest expense in the event of increases in market interest rates for both long-term debt as well as short-term commercial paper, bank loans or borrowings under our line of credit at variable rates;

 

•

reduce the amount of credit available to support hedging activities; and

 

•

require that additional terms, conditions or covenants be placed on us.

Among other risks, the issuance of additional equity by Laclede pursuant to the offering hereby may:

 

•

be dilutive to our existing shareholders and earnings per share;

 

•

impact our capital structure and cost of the capital;

 

•

be adversely impacted by movements in the overall equity markets or the utility or natural gas utility industry sectors of that market, which could impact the offering price of our new equity or necessitate the use of other equity or equity-like instruments such as preferred stock, convertible preferred shares, or convertible debt; and

 

•

impact our ability to make our current and future dividend payments.

In addition, in order to maintain investment-grade credit ratings, we may consider it appropriate to reduce the amount of indebtedness outstanding following the Transaction. This may be accomplished in several ways, including issuing additional shares of common stock or securities convertible into shares of our common stock, reducing discretionary uses of cash or a combination of these and other measures. The specific measures that management may ultimately decide to use to maintain or improve our credit ratings and their timing will depend upon a number of factors, including market conditions and forecasts at the time those decisions are made.

The Transaction and associated costs and integration efforts, and continued integration efforts with respect to MGE, may adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations, which may negatively affect the market price of our common stock.

While management currently anticipates that the Transaction will be accretive to our net economic earnings per share beginning in fiscal year 2015, this expectation is based on preliminary estimates which may materially change. We may encounter additional transaction and integration-related costs, may fail to realize all of the anticipated benefits of the acquisitions of Alagasco and MGE or be subject to other factors that affect those preliminary estimates.

The diversion of management’s attention and any delays or difficulties encountered in connection with the Transaction and the integration of Alagasco and MGE’s operations could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition or prospects after the acquisition is ultimately consummated.

In addition, we expect to incur costs associated with the acquisition of Alagasco, as well as transaction fees and other costs related to the Transaction. We also will incur integration costs in connection with the acquisitions of Alagasco, and we are incurring such costs for the MGE acquisition. Management is in the early stages of assessing the magnitude of these costs for Alagasco and additional unanticipated costs may be incurred in the integration of the business.

 

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Any of these factors could cause a decrease in the price of our common stock.

The summary unaudited pro forma financial information contained elsewhere in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement may not be representative of the combined results of Laclede, MGE and Alagasco after the consummation of the acquisition of MGE and the Transaction, and accordingly, you have limited financial information on which to evaluate the integrated companies.

The summary unaudited pro forma financial information is presented for informational purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the financial position or results of operations that would have actually occurred had the acquisition of MGE and the Transaction been completed at or as of the dates indicated, nor is it indicative of our future operating results or financial position. The summary unaudited pro forma financial information does not reflect future events that may occur after the closing of the Transaction, including the potential realization of operating cost savings or costs related to the planned integration of Alagasco, and does not consider potential impacts of current market conditions on revenues or expenses. The summary unaudited pro forma financial information presented in this prospectus supplement is based in part on certain assumptions regarding the acquisition of MGE and the Transaction that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. We cannot assure you that our assumptions will prove to be accurate over time.

We will be subject to business uncertainties while the Transaction is pending.

The preparation required to complete the Transaction may place a significant burden on management and internal resources. The additional demands on management and any difficulties encountered in completing the Transaction, including the transition and integration process, could adversely affect our financial results.

Failure to complete the Transaction could negatively affect our stock price as well as our future business and financial results.

If the Transaction is not completed, we will be subject to a number of risks, including:

 

•

we must pay costs related to the Transaction, including legal, accounting, financial advisory, filing and printing costs, whether the Transaction is completed or not;

 

•

we could be subject to litigation related to the failure to complete the Transaction or other factors, which litigation may adversely affect our business, financial results and stock price; and

 

•

if we complete the offering of our common stock contemplated by this prospectus supplement, we would be subject to significant earnings per share dilution if we do not find other attractive investment opportunities or undertake other means to reduce our overall shares outstanding.

The Transaction may not achieve its intended results, including anticipated synergies and cost savings.

Although we expect that the Transaction will result in various benefits, including a significant amount of synergies, cost savings and other financial and operational benefits, there can be no assurance regarding when or the extent to which we will be able to realize these synergies, cost-savings or other benefits. Achieving the anticipated benefits, including synergies and cost savings, is subject to a number of uncertainties, including whether the businesses acquired can be operated in the manner we intend and whether our costs to finance the Transaction will be consistent with our expectations. Events outside of our control, including but not limited to regulatory changes or developments, could also adversely affect our ability to realize the anticipated benefits from the Transaction. Thus the integration of Alagasco’s business may be unpredictable, subject to delays or changed circumstances, and we can give no assurance that the acquired businesses will perform in accordance with our expectations or that our expectations with respect to integration, synergies or cost savings as a result of the Transaction will materialize. In addition, our anticipated costs to achieve the integration of Alagasco may differ significantly from our current estimates. The integration may place an additional burden on our management and internal resources, and the diversion of management’s attention during the integration process could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and expected operating results.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate that we will receive net proceeds of approximately $         million from the sale of our Equity Units in this offering after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses. We estimate that we will receive net proceeds of approximately $         million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase up to 375,000 additional Equity Units.

In addition, we estimate that we will receive net proceeds, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses, of approximately $         million, from our concurrent common stock offering (approximately $         million if the underwriters of such offering exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of common stock). The common stock offering is not contingent on the completion of this offering and this offering is not contingent on the completion of the common stock offering.

We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering, together with cash on hand, short-term debt and proceeds from the concurrent offering of common stock and future issuance of debt securities by us, to fund a portion of the cash consideration payable in connection with the Transaction. However, the consummation of this offering is not conditioned on the closing of the Transaction. If we do not consummate the Transaction, we will retain broad discretion to use all of the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes. See “Prospectus Supplement Summary—Pending Alagasco Acquisition” in this prospectus supplement.

We currently intend to use the proceeds from the settlement of the purchase contracts to repay debt or for other general corporate purposes. We do not intend to use such proceeds to repurchase shares of our common stock.

Until the Transaction is consummated (or it is determined that it will not be) these net proceeds will be held in cash or cash equivalents.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our historical consolidated cash and cash equivalents and capitalization as of March 31, 2014:

 

•

on an actual basis; and

 

•

on an as-adjusted (unaudited) basis, after giving effect to:

 

•

the Transaction;

 

•

the issuance and sale of the Equity Units, including the RSNs included therein, offered hereby (assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional Equity Units);

 

•

the issuance and sale of the common stock offered in the concurrent common stock offering (assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of common stock for the concurrent common stock offering); and

 

•

the proposed issuance and sale of debt securities to finance the Transaction (which also depends on the net proceeds from this offering of the Equity Units and the concurrent offering of our common stock).

The historical data in the table are derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, our historical financial statements, including accompanying notes, incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. You should also read this table in conjunction with the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation” and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto from our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2013 and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended December 31, 2013 and March 31, 2014, each as amended. See “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus supplement.

 

		As of March 31, 2014
		Actual				As Adjusted
		($ in Thousands)
Cash and Equivalents		$	10,931			$	29,851
Short-term Debt			36,000				186,780
Long-term Debt			832,817				1,082,712
Proposed Long-term Debt(1)			—				675,000
2014 Series A     % Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes due 2022(2)			—				125,000
Total Debt			868,817				2,069,492
Common Stock Equity			1,106,622				1,484,090	(3)
Total Capitalization			1,975,439				3,553,582
Total Long-term Capitalization		$	1,939,439			$	3,366,802
Long-term Debt/Long-term Capitalization			43	%			56	%

 

(1)	Represents estimated gross proceeds of a debt offering of $675 million but without deduction for discounts and other fees and expenses

(2)	The 2014 Series A     % remarketable junior subordinated notes due 2022 are a component of Equity Units. The As Adjusted amount will increase by approximately $18.8 million if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional Equity Units in full.

(3)

Based on the net proceeds of the concurrent common stock offering at $46.68 per share, the closing price on May 30, 2014 and an adjustment of approximately $18.0 million representing the estimated present value of the contract adjustments payable in connection with the Equity Units. The As Adjusted amount will increase by approximately $60.7 million if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full.

If the Transaction closes, the proceeds of this offering will be used in accordance with the Sources and Uses table set forth on page S-5 and, until so used or used for general corporate purposes, will be held in cash or cash equivalents. See “Prospectus Supplement Summary—Pending Alagasco Acquisition” in this prospectus supplement for a description of the Transaction.

 

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PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK AND DIVIDENDS

Our common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “LG.” The following table sets forth on a per share basis the high and low sales prices for consolidated trading in our common stock as reported on the NYSE and dividends for the quarters indicated. The closing price of our common stock on June 2, 2014 was $46.76.

 

		Price Range of Common Stock								Dividend Declared Per Share
		High				Low
Fiscal Year 2012
First Quarter		$	42.81			$	37.23			$	0.415
Second Quarter			43.00				38.58				0.415
Third Quarter			40.39				36.53				0.415
Fourth Quarter			43.47				39.63				0.415
Fiscal Year 2013
First Quarter			44.04				37.35				0.425
Second Quarter			42.89				37.43				0.425
Third Quarter			48.50				41.83				0.425
Fourth Quarter			47.84				42.84				0.425
Fiscal Year 2014
First Quarter			47.82				43.96				0.44
Second Quarter			47.48				43.95				0.44
Third Quarter (through June 2, 2014)			47.47				44.75				0.44

The number of registered shareholders of our common stock at March 31, 2014 was 3,923. We expect to continue our policy of paying regular cash dividends, although there is no assurance as to future dividends because they are dependent on future earnings, capital requirements, financial condition and any contractual restriction or restrictions that may be imposed by our existing or future debt instruments. See “Description of Capital Stock—Description of Common Stock” in the accompanying prospectus.

Quarterly dividends on our common stock have been paid since 1946. However, the declaration of dividends is at the discretion of our Board of Directors and is not guaranteed. The amount of dividends on our common stock, if any, will depend upon the rights of holders of any preferred stock or preference stock we may issue in the future, our results of operations and financial condition, future capital expenditures and investments, any applicable regulatory and contractual restrictions and other factors that our Board of Directors considers relevant.

In addition, substantially all of the utility plant of Laclede Gas is subject to the liens of its first mortgage bonds. The mortgage contains several restrictions on Laclede Gas’ ability to pay cash dividends on its common stock. These provisions are applicable regardless of whether the stock is publicly held or, as has been the case since the formation of The Laclede Group, Inc., as a holding company, held solely by Laclede. Under the most restrictive of these provisions, no cash dividend may be declared or paid if, after the dividend, the aggregate net amount spent for all dividends after September 30, 1953, would exceed a maximum amount determined by a formula set out in the mortgage. Under that formula, the maximum amount is the sum of $8 million plus earnings applicable to its common stock (adjusted for stock repurchases and issuances) for the period from September 30, 1953 to the last day of the quarter before the declaration or payment date for the dividends. As of March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, the amount under the mortgage’s formula that was available to pay dividends was $906 million and $393 million, respectively. Thus, all of Laclede Gas’ retained earnings were free from such restrictions as of those dates.

On April 24, 2014, our Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.440 per share payable on July 2, 2014 to shareholders of record on June 11, 2014.

 

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CONCURRENT COMMON STOCK OFFERING

Concurrently with this offering of Equity Units, under a separate prospectus supplement dated the date hereof, we are offering 9,000,000 shares of common stock (10,350,000 shares if the underwriters of such offering exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of common stock) in an underwritten public offering. The common stock offering is not contingent on the completion of this offering and this offering is not contingent upon the completion of the common stock offering. We plan to use the proceeds from the common stock offering and the proceeds of this offering to fund a portion of the consideration for the Transaction and pay certain fees and expenses relating to the Transaction. See “Use of Proceeds.”

The foregoing description and other information regarding the common stock offering is included herein solely for informational purposes. Nothing in this prospectus supplement should be construed as an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any common stock included in the common stock offering.

 

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ACCOUNTING TREATMENT

The net proceeds from the sale of the Corporate Units will be allocated between the purchase contracts and the RSNs in proportion to their respective fair market values at the time of issuance. The present value of the contract adjustment payments will be initially charged to shareholders’ equity, with an offsetting credit to liabilities. This liability is accreted over the life of the purchase contract by interest charges to the income statement based on a constant rate calculation. Subsequent contract adjustment payments reduce this liability.

The purchase contracts are forward transactions in our common stock. Upon settlement of each purchase contract, we will receive $50 on the purchase contract and will issue the requisite number of shares of our common stock. The $50 that we receive will be credited to shareholders’ equity.

Before the issuance of our common stock upon settlement of the purchase contracts, the purchase contracts will be reflected in our diluted earnings per share calculations using the treasury stock method. Under this method, the number of shares of our common stock used in calculating diluted earnings per share (based on the settlement formula applied at the end of the reporting period) is deemed to be increased by the excess, if any, of the number of shares that would be issued upon settlement of the purchase contracts over the number of shares that could be purchased by us in the market (at the average market price during the period) using the proceeds receivable upon settlement. Consequently, we anticipate that there will be no dilutive effect on our earnings per share except during periods when the average market price of our common stock is above the threshold appreciation price of $            .

Both the Financial Accounting Standards Board and its Emerging Issues Task Force continue to study the accounting for financial instruments and derivative instruments, including instruments such as the Equity Units. It is possible that our accounting for the purchase contracts and the RSNs could be affected by any new accounting rules that might be issued by these groups.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF THE EQUITY UNITS

In this Description of the Equity Units, “Laclede,” “we,” “us,” “our” and the “Company” refer only to The Laclede Group, Inc. and any successor obligor, and not to any of its subsidiaries.

The following is a summary of some of the terms of the Equity Units. This summary, together with the summaries of the terms of the purchase contracts, the purchase contract and pledge agreement and the RSNs set forth under the captions “Description of the Purchase Contracts,” “Certain Provisions of the Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement” and “Description of the Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes” in this prospectus supplement, contain a description of the material terms of the Equity Units, but are only summaries and are not complete. This summary is subject to and is qualified by reference to all the provisions of the purchase contract and pledge agreement, the subordinated indenture (as defined under “Description of the Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes—Ranking”), the first supplemental indenture (as defined under “Description of the Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes—Ranking”), the RSNs and the form of remarketing agreement, which has been attached as an exhibit to the purchase contract and pledge agreement, including the definitions of certain terms used therein, forms of which have been or will be filed and incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus form a part.

General

We will issue the Equity Units under the purchase contract and pledge agreement among us and U.S. Bank National Association (“U.S. Bank”), as purchase contract agent (the “purchase contract agent”), collateral agent (the “collateral agent”), custodial agent (the “custodial agent”) and securities intermediary. The Equity Units may be either Corporate Units or Treasury Units. The Equity Units will initially consist of 2,500,000 Corporate Units (or 2,875,000 Corporate Units if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional Equity Units in full), each with a stated amount of $50.

Each Corporate Unit offered will consist of:

 

•

a purchase contract under which

 

•

the holder will agree to purchase from us, and we will agree to sell to the holder, on April 1, 2017 (or if such day is not a business day, the following business day), which we refer to as the “purchase contract settlement date,” or earlier upon early settlement, for $50, a number of shares of our common stock equal to the applicable settlement rate described under “Description of the Purchase Contracts—Purchase of Common Stock,” “Description of the Purchase Contracts—Early Settlement” or “Description of the Purchase Contracts—Early Settlement Upon a Fundamental Change,” as the case may be, plus, in the case of an early settlement upon a fundamental change, the number of make-whole shares; and

 

•

we will pay the holder quarterly contract adjustment payments at the rate of     % per year on the stated amount of $50, or $         per year, subject to our right to defer such contract adjustment payments as described under “Description of the Purchase Contracts—Contract Adjustment Payments,” and

either:

 

•

a 1/20, or 5%, undivided beneficial ownership interest in a $1,000 principal amount 2014 Series A     % remarketable junior subordinated note due 2022 issued by us, and under which we will pay to the holder 1/20, or 5%, of the interest payment on a $1,000 principal amount RSN at the initial rate of     %, or $         per year per $1,000 principal amount of RSNs, subject to our right to defer such interest payments as described under “Description of the Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes—Option to Defer Interest Payments;” or

 

•

following a successful optional remarketing, the applicable ownership interest in a portfolio of U.S. Treasury securities, which we refer to as the “Treasury portfolio.”

 

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“Applicable ownership interest” means, with respect to the Treasury portfolio,

 

(1)

a 1/20, or 5%, undivided beneficial ownership interest in $1,000 face amount of U.S. Treasury securities (or principal or interest strips thereof) included in the Treasury portfolio that mature on or prior to the purchase contract settlement date; and

 

(2)

for the scheduled interest payment occurring on the purchase contract settlement date, a     % undivided beneficial ownership interest in $1,000 face amount of U.S. Treasury securities (or principal or interest strips thereof) that mature on or prior to the purchase contract settlement date.

If U.S. Treasury securities (or principal or interest strips thereof) that are to be included in the Treasury portfolio in connection with a successful optional remarketing have a yield that is less than zero, the Treasury portfolio will consist of an amount in cash equal to the aggregate principal amount at maturity of the U.S. Treasury securities described in clauses (1) and (2) above. If the provisions set forth in this paragraph apply, references to “Treasury security” and “U.S. Treasury securities (or principal or interest strips thereof)” in connection with the Treasury portfolio will, thereafter, be deemed to be references to such amount of cash.

So long as the Equity Units are in the form of Corporate Units, the related undivided beneficial ownership interest in the RSN or the applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio described in clause (1) of the definition of “applicable ownership interest” above (or $50 in cash, if the immediately preceding paragraph applies), as the case may be, will be pledged to us through the collateral agent to secure the holders’ obligations to purchase our common stock under the related purchase contracts.

Creating Treasury Units by Substituting a Treasury Security for an RSN

Each holder of 20 Corporate Units may create, at any time other than after a successful remarketing or during a blackout period (as defined below), 20 Treasury Units by substituting for an RSN a zero-coupon U.S. Treasury security (for example, CUSIP No. 912820PE1) with a principal amount at maturity equal to $1,000 and maturing on February 15, 2017, which we refer to as a “Treasury security.” This substitution would create 20 Treasury Units and the RSN would be released from the pledge under the purchase contract and pledge agreement and delivered to the holder and would be tradable and transferable separately from the Treasury Units. Because Treasury securities and RSNs are issued in integral multiples of $1,000, holders of Corporate Units may make the substitution only in integral multiples of 20 Corporate Units. After a successful remarketing, holders may not create Treasury Units from Corporate Units or recreate Corporate Units from Treasury Units.

Each Treasury Unit will consist of:

 

•

a purchase contract under which

 

•

the holder will agree to purchase from us, and we will agree to sell to the holder, on the purchase contract settlement date, or earlier upon early settlement, for $50, a number of shares of our common stock equal to the applicable settlement rate, plus, in the case of an early settlement upon a fundamental change, the number of make-whole shares; and

 

•

we will pay the holder quarterly contract adjustment payments at the rate of     % per year on the stated amount of $50, or $         per year, subject to our right to defer the contract adjustment payments; and

 

•

a 1/20, or 5%, undivided beneficial ownership interest in a Treasury security.

The term “blackout period” means the period (1) if we elect to conduct an optional remarketing, from 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on the second business day (as defined below) immediately preceding the first day of the optional remarking period until the settlement date of such optional remarketing or the date we announce that such remarketing was unsuccessful and (2) after 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on the second business day immediately preceding the first day of the final remarketing period.

 

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The term “business day” means any day that is not a Saturday or Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or required by law or executive order to close or a day on which the corporate trust office of the purchase contract agent is closed for business.

The Treasury Unit holder’s beneficial ownership interest in the Treasury security will be pledged to us through the collateral agent to secure the holder’s obligation to purchase our common stock under the related purchase contracts.

To create 20 Treasury Units, a holder is required to:

 

•

deposit with the collateral agent a Treasury security that has a principal amount at maturity of $1,000, which must be purchased in the open market at the expense of the Corporate Unit holder, unless otherwise owned by the holder; and

 

•

transfer to the purchase contract agent 20 Corporate Units, accompanied by a notice stating that the holder of the Corporate Units has deposited a Treasury security with the collateral agent, and requesting that the purchase contract agent instruct the collateral agent to release the related RSN.

Upon receiving instructions from the purchase contract agent and receipt of the Treasury security, the collateral agent will release the related RSN from the pledge and deliver it to the purchase contract agent on behalf of the holder, free and clear of our security interest. The purchase contract agent then will:

 

•

cancel the 20 Corporate Units;

 

•

transfer the related RSN to the holder; and

 

•

deliver 20 Treasury Units to the holder.

The Treasury security will be substituted for the RSN and will be pledged to us through the collateral agent to secure the holder’s obligation to purchase shares of our common stock under the related purchase contracts. The RSN thereafter will trade and be transferable separately from the Treasury Units.

Holders who create Treasury Units will be responsible for any taxes, governmental charges or other fees or expenses (including, without limitation, fees and expenses payable to the collateral agent) attributable to such collateral substitution. See “Certain Provisions of the Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement—Miscellaneous.”

Recreating Corporate Units

Each holder of 20 Treasury Units will have the right, at any time, other than during a blackout period or after a successful remarketing, to substitute for the related Treasury security held by the collateral agent an RSN having a principal amount equal to $1,000. This substitution would recreate 20 Corporate Units and the applicable Treasury security would be released from the pledge under the purchase contract and pledge agreement and delivered to the holder and would be tradable and transferable separately from the Corporate Units. Because Treasury securities and RSNs are issued in integral multiples of $1,000, holders of Treasury Units may make this substitution only in integral multiples of 20 Treasury Units. After a successful remarketing, holders may not recreate Corporate Units from Treasury Units.

To recreate 20 Corporate Units, a holder is required to:

 

•

deposit with the collateral agent an RSN having a principal amount of $1,000, which must be purchased in the open market at the expense of the Treasury Unit holder, unless otherwise owned by the holder; and

 

•

transfer to the purchase contract agent 20 Treasury Units, accompanied by a notice stating that the holder of the Treasury Units has deposited an RSN having a principal amount of $1,000 with the collateral agent and requesting that the purchase contract agent instruct the collateral agent to release the related Treasury security.

 

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Upon receiving instructions from the purchase contract agent and receipt of the RSN having a principal amount of $1,000, the collateral agent will promptly release the related Treasury security from the pledge and promptly instruct the securities intermediary to transfer such Treasury security to the purchase contract agent for distribution to the holder, free and clear of our security interest. The purchase contract agent then will:

 

•

cancel the 20 Treasury Units;

 

•

transfer the related Treasury security to the holder; and

 

•

deliver 20 Corporate Units to the holder.

The $1,000 principal amount RSN will be substituted for the Treasury security and will be pledged to us through the collateral agent to secure the holder’s obligation to purchase shares of our common stock under the related purchase contracts. The Treasury security thereafter will trade and be transferable separately from the Corporate Units.

Holders who recreate Corporate Units will be responsible for any taxes, governmental charges or other fees or expenses (including, without limitation, fees and expenses payable to the collateral agent) attributable to the collateral substitution. See “Certain Provisions of the Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement—Miscellaneous.”

Payments on the Equity Units

Holders of Corporate Units and Treasury Units will receive quarterly contract adjustment payments payable by us at the rate of     % per year on the stated amount of $50 per Equity Unit. We will make all contract adjustment payments on the Corporate Units and the Treasury Units quarterly in arrears on January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 of each year (except that if any such date is not a business day, contract adjustment payments will be payable on the following business day, without adjustment), commencing October 1, 2014. Unless the purchase contracts have been terminated (as described under “Description of the Purchase Contracts—Termination” below), we will make such contract adjustment payments until the earliest of the purchase contract settlement date, the fundamental change early settlement date (in the case of a fundamental change early settlement, as described under “Description of the Purchase Contracts—Early Settlement Upon a Fundamental Change” below) and the most recent contract adjustment payment date on or before any other early settlement with respect to the related purchase contracts (in the case of an early settlement as described under “Description of the Purchase Contracts—Early Settlement” below). If the purchase contracts have been terminated, our obligation to pay the contract adjustment payments, including any accrued and unpaid contract adjustment payments and deferred contract adjustment payments (including compounded contract adjustment payments thereon), will cease. In addition, holders of Corporate Units will receive quarterly cash distributions consisting of their pro rata share of interest payments on the RSNs (or distributions on the applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio, as applicable), equivalent to the rate of     % per year. There will be no interest payments in respect of the Treasury securities that are a component of the Treasury Units, but to the extent that such holders of Treasury Units continue to hold the RSNs that were delivered to them when they created the Treasury Units, such holders will continue to receive the scheduled interest payments on their separate RSNs for as long as they hold the RSNs.

We have the right to defer payment of quarterly contract adjustment payments and of interest on the RSNs as described under “Description of the Purchase Contracts—Contract Adjustment Payments” and “Description of the Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes—Option to Defer Interest Payments,” respectively.

Listing

We intend to apply to list the Corporate Units on the NYSE and expect trading to commence within 30 days of the initial issuance of the Corporate Units under the symbol “LGA.” Except in connection with early settlement, fundamental change early settlement, a termination event or settlement on the purchase contract settlement date with separate cash, unless and until substitution has been made as described in “—Creating Treasury Units by Substituting a Treasury Security for an RSN” or “—Recreating Corporate Units,” neither the

 

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RSN or applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio component of a Corporate Unit nor the Treasury security component of a Treasury Unit will trade separately from Corporate Units or Treasury Units. The RSN or applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio component will trade as a unit with the purchase contract component of the Corporate Units, and the Treasury security component will trade as a unit with the purchase contract component of the Treasury Units. In addition, if Treasury Units or RSNs are separately traded to a sufficient extent that the applicable exchange listing requirements are met, we may endeavor to cause the Treasury Units or RSNs to be listed on the exchange on which the Corporate Units are then listed, including, if applicable, the NYSE. However, there can be no assurance that we will list the Treasury Units or the RSNs.

Ranking

The RSNs, which are included in the Equity Units, will be our junior subordinated obligations, subordinated to our existing and future Priority Indebtedness (as defined under “Description of the Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes—Subordination”). The RSNs will be issued under our indenture (defined under “Description of the Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes—Ranking”).

In addition, our obligations with respect to contract adjustment payments will be subordinate in right of payment to our existing and future Priority Indebtedness (as defined under “Description of the Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes—Subordination”).

The RSNs and our obligations with respect to contract adjustments payments will be structurally subordinated to existing or future preferred stock and indebtedness, guarantees and other liabilities, including trade payables, of our subsidiaries.

Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities from us. Our subsidiaries have no obligation to pay any amounts due on the RSNs or the purchase contracts or to provide us with funds to meet our respective payment obligations on the RSNs or purchase contracts. Any payment of dividends, loans or advances by our subsidiaries to us could be subject to statutory or contractual restrictions and will be contingent upon the subsidiaries’ earnings and business considerations. Our right to receive any assets of any of our subsidiaries upon their bankruptcy, liquidation or similar reorganization, and therefore the right of the holders of the RSNs or purchase contracts to participate in those assets, will be structurally subordinated to the claims of that subsidiary’s creditors, including trade creditors. Even if we are a creditor of any of our subsidiaries, our rights as a creditor would be subordinate to any security interest in the assets of our subsidiaries and any indebtedness of our subsidiaries senior to that held by us. As of March 31, 2014, our current primary operating subsidiary, Laclede Gas, and Alagasco, which we expect to acquire later this year (see “Prospectus Supplement Summary—Pending Alagasco Acquisition”), have approximately $810 million and $250 million, respectively, principal amount of outstanding long-term debt (including securities due within one year), which would be senior to our rights as creditors of those companies. In addition, all of Laclede Gas’ long-term debt is issued under a first mortgage bond indenture that is secured by a lien on substantially all of its utility plant.

Voting and Certain Other Rights

Prior to the delivery of shares of common stock under each purchase contract, such purchase contract shall not entitle the holder of the Corporate Units or Treasury Units to any rights of a holder of shares of our common stock, including, without limitation, the right to vote or receive any dividends or other payments or distributions or to consent to or to receive notice as a shareholder or other rights in respect of our common stock.

Agreed U.S. Federal Income Tax Treatment

Each beneficial owner of an Equity Unit, by purchasing a Corporate Unit, will be deemed to have agreed (unless otherwise required by any taxing authority) (1) to be treated as the owner of each of the purchase contract, the related RSN and the applicable ownership interests in the Treasury portfolio or Treasury security, as

 

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the case may be, for U.S. federal, state and local income tax purposes, (2) to treat the RSN as indebtedness for all U.S. federal, state and local tax purposes, and (3) to allocate, as of the issue date, 100% of the purchase price paid for the Corporate Units to its ownership interest in the RSNs and 0% to each purchase contract, which will establish its initial tax basis in each purchase contract as $0 and the beneficial owner’s initial tax basis in the RSN as $50. This position will be binding on each beneficial owner of each Equity Unit, but not on the IRS. See “Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences.”

Repurchase of the Equity Units

We may purchase from time to time any of the Equity Units that are then outstanding by tender, in the open market, by private agreement or otherwise, subject to compliance with applicable law.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF THE PURCHASE CONTRACTS

In this Description of the Purchase Contracts, “Laclede,” “we,” “us,” “our” and the “Company” refer only to The Laclede Group, Inc. and any successor obligor, and not to any of its subsidiaries.

The following is a summary of some of the terms of the purchase contracts. The purchase contracts will be issued pursuant to the purchase contract and pledge agreement among us, the purchase contract agent, the collateral agent, the custodial agent and the securities intermediary. The summaries of the purchase contracts and the purchase contract and pledge agreement contain a description of the material terms of the contracts but are only summaries and are not complete. This summary is subject to and is qualified by reference to all the provisions of the purchase contract and pledge agreement, the subordinated indenture (as defined under “Description of the Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes—Ranking”), the first supplemental indenture (as defined under “Description of the Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes—Ranking”), the RSNs and the form of remarketing agreement, including the definitions of certain terms used therein, forms of which have been or will be filed and incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus form a part.

Purchase of Common Stock

Each purchase contract that is a component of a Corporate Unit or a Treasury Unit will obligate its holder to purchase, and us to issue and deliver, on April 1, 2017 (or if such day is not a business day, the following business day) (the “purchase contract settlement date”), for $50 in cash a number of shares of our common stock equal to the settlement rate (together with cash, if applicable, in lieu of any fractional shares of common stock in the manner described below), in each case, unless the purchase contract terminates prior to that date or is settled early at the holder’s option. The number of shares of our common stock issuable upon settlement of each purchase contract on the purchase contract settlement date (which we refer to as the “settlement rate”) will be determined as follows, subject to adjustment as described under “—Anti-dilution Adjustments” below:

 

(1)

If the applicable market value of our common stock is equal to or greater than the “threshold appreciation price” of $        , the settlement rate will be              shares of our common stock (we refer to this settlement rate as the “minimum settlement rate”).

 

Accordingly, if the applicable market value of our common stock is greater than the threshold appreciation price, the aggregate market value of the shares of common stock issued upon settlement of each purchase contract will be higher than the stated amount, assuming that the market price of the common stock on the purchase contract settlement date is the same as the applicable market value of the common stock. If the applicable market value is the same as the threshold appreciation price, the aggregate market value of the shares issued upon settlement will be equal to the stated amount, assuming that the market price of the common stock on the purchase contract settlement date is the same as the applicable market value of the common stock.

 

(2)

If the applicable market value of our common stock is less than the threshold appreciation price but greater than the “reference price” of $        , which will be the public offering price of our common stock in the concurrent common stock offering, the settlement rate will be a number of shares of our common stock equal to $50 divided by the applicable market value, rounded to the nearest ten thousandth of a share.

 

Accordingly, if the applicable market value of our common stock is less than the threshold appreciation price, but greater than the reference price, the aggregate market value of the shares of common stock issued upon settlement of each purchase contract will be equal to the stated amount, assuming that the market price of the common stock on the purchase contract settlement date is the same as the applicable market value of the common stock.

 

(3)

If the applicable market value of our common stock is less than or equal to the reference price of $        , the settlement rate will be              shares of our common stock, which is equal to the stated amount divided by the reference price (we refer to this settlement rate as the “maximum settlement rate”).

 

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Accordingly, if the applicable market value of our common stock is less than the reference price, the aggregate market value of the shares of common stock issued upon settlement of each purchase contract will be less than the stated amount, assuming that the market price on the purchase contract settlement date is the same as the applicable market value of the common stock. If the market price of the common stock is the same as the reference price, the aggregate market value of the shares will be equal to the stated amount, assuming that the market price of the common stock on the purchase contract settlement date is the same as the applicable market value of the common stock.

The threshold appreciation price is equal to $50 divided by the minimum settlement rate (such quotient rounded to the nearest $0.0001), which is $         and represents appreciation of approximately     % over the reference price.

If you elect to settle your purchase contract early in the manner described under “—Early Settlement,” the number of shares of our common stock issuable upon settlement of such purchase contract will be             , the minimum settlement rate, subject to adjustment as described under “—Anti-dilution Adjustments.” If you elect to settle your purchase contract early upon a fundamental change, the number of shares of our common stock issuable upon settlement will be determined as described under “—Early Settlement Upon a Fundamental Change.” We refer to the minimum settlement rate and the maximum settlement rate as the “fixed settlement rates.”

The “applicable market value” means, as determined by us, the average volume-weighted average price, or VWAP, of our common stock on each trading day during the 20 consecutive scheduled trading day period ending on the third scheduled trading day immediately preceding the purchase contract settlement date (the “market value averaging period”). The “VWAP” of our common stock means, for the relevant trading day, the per share VWAP on the principal exchange or quotation system on which our common stock is listed or admitted for trading as displayed under the heading Bloomberg VWAP on Bloomberg page LG <EQUITY> AQR (or its equivalent successor if that page is not available) in respect of the period from the scheduled open of trading on the relevant trading day until the scheduled close of trading on the relevant trading day (or if such VWAP is unavailable, the market price of one share of our common stock on such trading day determined, using a volume-weighted average method, by a nationally recognized independent investment banking firm retained for this purpose by us).

A “trading day” means, for purposes of determining a VWAP or closing price, a day (i) on which the principal exchange or quotation system on which our common stock is listed or admitted for trading is scheduled to be open for business and (ii) on which there has not occurred or does not exist a market disruption event.

A “market disruption event” means any of the following events:

 

•

any suspension of, or limitation imposed on, trading by the principal exchange or quotation system on which our common stock is listed or admitted for trading during the one-hour period prior to the close of trading for the regular trading session on such exchange or quotation system (or for purposes of determining VWAP any period or periods prior to 1:00 p.m. New York City time aggregating one half hour or longer) and whether by reason of movements in price exceeding limits permitted by the relevant exchange or quotation system or otherwise relating to our common stock or in futures or option contracts relating to our common stock on the relevant exchange or quotation system; or

 

•

any event (other than a failure to open or, except for purposes of determining VWAP, a closure as described below) that disrupts or impairs the ability of market participants during the one-hour period prior to the close of trading for the regular trading session on the principal exchange or quotation system on which our common stock is listed or admitted for trading (or for purposes of determining VWAP any period or periods prior to 1:00 p.m. New York City time aggregating one half hour or longer) in general to effect transactions in, or obtain market values for, our common stock on the relevant exchange or quotation system or futures or options contracts relating to our common stock on any relevant exchange or quotation system; or

 

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•

the failure to open of the principal exchange or quotation system on which futures or options contracts relating to our common stock are traded or, except for purposes of determining VWAP, the closure of such exchange or quotation system prior to its respective scheduled closing time for the regular trading session on such day (without regard to after hours or other trading outside the regular trading session hours) unless such earlier closing time is announced by such exchange or quotation system at least one hour prior to the earlier of the actual closing time for the regular trading session on such day and the submission deadline for orders to be entered into such exchange or quotation system for execution at the actual closing time on such day.

If a market disruption event occurs on any scheduled trading day during the market value averaging period, we will notify investors on the calendar day on which such event occurs.

If 20 trading days for our common stock have not occurred during the market value averaging period, all remaining trading days will be deemed to occur on the third scheduled trading day immediately prior to the purchase contract settlement date and the VWAP of our common stock for each of the remaining trading days will be the VWAP of our common stock on that third scheduled trading day or, if such day is not a trading day, the closing price as of such day.

The “closing price” per share of our common stock means, on any date of determination, the closing sale price or, if no closing sale price is reported, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the principal U.S. securities exchange on which our common stock is listed, or if our common stock is not so listed on a U.S. securities exchange, the average of the last quoted bid and ask prices for our common stock in the over-the-counter market as reported by OTC Markets Group Inc. or similar organization, or, if those bid and ask prices are not available, the market value of our common stock on that date as determined by a nationally recognized independent investment banking firm retained by us for this purpose.

We will not issue any fractional shares of our common stock upon settlement of a purchase contract. Instead of a fractional share, the holder will receive an amount of cash equal to the percentage of a whole share represented by such fractional share multiplied by the closing price of our common stock on the trading day immediately preceding the purchase contract settlement date (or the trading day immediately preceding the relevant settlement date, in the case of early settlement). If, however, a holder surrenders for settlement at one time more than one purchase contract, then the number of shares of our common stock issuable pursuant to such purchase contracts will be computed based upon the aggregate number of purchase contracts surrendered.

Unless:

 

•

a holder has settled early the related purchase contracts by delivery of cash to the purchase contract agent in the manner described under “—Early Settlement” or “—Early Settlement Upon a Fundamental Change”;

 

•

a holder of Corporate Units has settled the related purchase contracts with separate cash in the manner described under “—Notice to Settle with Cash”; or

 

•

an event described under “—Termination” has occurred;

then, on the purchase contract settlement date,

 

•

in the case of Corporate Units where there has not been a successful optional or final remarketing, the holder will be deemed to have exercised its put right as described under “—Remarketing” (unless it shall have elected not to exercise such put right by delivering cash as described thereunder) and to have elected to apply the proceeds of the put price to satisfy in full the holder’s obligation to purchase our common stock under the related purchase contracts;

 

•

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proceeds of the applicable ownership interests in the Treasury portfolio when paid at maturity or an amount of cash equal to the stated amount of $50 per Corporate Unit will be applied to satisfy in full the holder’s obligation to purchase common stock under the related purchase contracts and any excess proceeds will be delivered to the purchase contract agent for the benefit of the holders of Corporate Units;

 

•

in the case of Corporate Units where the RSNs have been successfully remarketed during the final remarketing period, the portion of the remarketing proceeds sufficient to satisfy the holder’s obligation to purchase our common stock under the related purchase contracts will be applied to satisfy in full the holder’s obligation to purchase common stock under the related purchase contracts and any excess proceeds will be delivered to the purchase contract agent for the benefit of the holders of Corporate Units; and

 

•

in the case of Treasury Units, the proceeds of the related Treasury securities, when paid at maturity, will be applied to satisfy in full the holder’s obligation to purchase our common stock under the related purchase contracts and any excess proceeds will be delivered to the purchase contract agent for the benefit of the holders of Treasury Units.

The common stock will then be issued and delivered to the holder or the holder’s designee on the purchase contract settlement date. We will pay all stock transfer and similar taxes attributable to the initial issuance and delivery of the shares of our common stock pursuant to the purchase contracts, unless any such tax is due because the holder requests such shares to be issued in a name other than such holder’s name.

Prior to the settlement of a purchase contract, the shares of our common stock underlying each purchase contract will not be outstanding, and the holder of the purchase contract will not have any voting rights, rights to dividends or other distributions or other rights of a holder of our common stock by virtue of holding such purchase contract.

By purchasing a Corporate Unit or a Treasury Unit, a holder will be deemed to have, among other things:

 

•

irrevocably appointed the purchase contract agent as its attorney-in-fact to enter into and perform the related purchase contract and the purchase contract and pledge agreement in the name of and on behalf of such holder;

 

•

agreed to be bound by the terms and provisions of the Corporate Units or Treasury Units, as applicable, including, but not limited to, the terms of the related purchase contract and the purchase contract and pledge agreement, for so long as the holder remains a holder of Corporate Units or Treasury Units;

 

•

consented to and agreed to be bound by the pledge of such holder’s right, title and interest in and to its undivided beneficial ownership interest in RSNs, the portion of the Treasury portfolio (or cash) described in the first clause of the definition of “applicable ownership interest,” or the Treasury securities, as applicable, and the delivery of such collateral by the purchase contract agent to the collateral agent; and

 

•

agreed to the satisfaction of the holder’s obligations under the purchase contracts with the proceeds of the pledged undivided beneficial ownership in the RSNs, Treasury portfolio (or cash), Treasury securities or put price, as applicable, in the manner described above.

Remarketing

We have agreed to enter into a remarketing agreement with one or more remarketing agents, the “remarketing agent,” no later than 20 days prior to the first day of the final remarketing period or, if we elect to conduct an optional remarketing, no later than 20 days prior to the first day of the optional remarketing period.

During a blackout period that relates to each remarketing period:

 

•

you may not settle a purchase contract early;

 

•

you may not create Treasury Units; and

 

•

you may not recreate Corporate Units from Treasury Units.

 

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We refer to each of an “optional remarketing” and a “final remarketing” as a “remarketing.” In a remarketing, the RSNs that are a part of Corporate Units (except, in the case of a final remarketing, where the holder has elected to settle the purchase contract through payment of separate cash) and any separate RSNs whose holders have elected to participate in the remarketing, as described under “Description of the Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes—Remarketing of the RSNs That Are Not Included in Corporate Units,” will be remarketed.

Following any successful remarketing of the RSNs:

 

•

the interest rate on the RSNs may be reset as described below and under “Description of the Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes—Interest Rate Reset” below;

 

•

interest will be payable on the RSNs semi-annually on April 1 and October 1 of each year;

 

•

the RSNs will cease to be redeemable at our option, and the provisions described under “Description of the Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes—Redemption at Our Option” and “—Redemption Procedures” will no longer apply to the RSNs; and

 

•

we will cease to have the ability to defer interest payments on the RSNs, and the provisions described under “Description of the Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes—Option to Defer Interest Payments” will no longer apply to the RSNs.

All such modifications will take effect only if the remarketing is successful, without the consent of holders, on the optional remarketing settlement date or the purchase contract settlement date, as the case may be, and will apply to all RSNs, whether or not included in the remarketing. All other terms of the RSNs will remain unchanged.

In order to remarket the RSNs, the remarketing agent, in consultation with us, may reset the interest rate on the RSNs (either upward or downward) in order to produce the required price in the remarketing, as discussed under “—Optional Remarketing” and “—Final Remarketing” below.

We will use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that, if required by applicable law, a registration statement, including a prospectus, with regard to the full amount of the RSNs to be remarketed will be effective under the securities laws in a form that may be used by the remarketing agent in connection with the remarketing (unless a registration statement is not required under the applicable laws and regulations that are in effect at that time or unless we conduct any remarketing in accordance with an exemption under the securities laws).

We will separately pay a fee to the remarketing agent for its services as remarketing agent. Holders whose RSNs are remarketed will not be responsible for the payment of any remarketing fee in connection with the remarketing.

Optional Remarketing

Unless a termination event has occurred, we may elect, at our option, to engage the remarketing agent pursuant to the terms of the remarketing agreement, to remarket the RSNs over a period selected by us that begins on or after December 29, 2016 (the second business day immediately preceding the last interest payment date prior to the purchase contract settlement date) and ends any time on or before March 15, 2017 (the eighth calendar day immediately preceding the first day of the final remarketing period). We refer to this period as the “optional remarketing period,” a remarketing that occurs during the optional remarketing period as an “optional remarketing” and the date the RSNs are priced in an optional remarketing as the “optional remarketing date.” In any optional remarketing, the aggregate principal amount of the RSNs that are a part of Corporate Units and any separate RSNs whose holders have elected to participate in the optional remarketing, as described under “Description of the Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes—Remarketing of the RSNs That Are Not Included

 

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in Corporate Units,” will be remarketed. If we elect to conduct an optional remarketing, the remarketing agent will use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a price for the RSNs that results in proceeds of at least 100% of the aggregate of the Treasury portfolio purchase price (as defined below) and the separate RSNs purchase price (as defined below). To obtain that price, the remarketing agent may, in consultation with us, reset the interest rate, as described under “Description of the Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes—Interest Rate Reset.” We will request that the depository notify its participants holding Corporate Units, Treasury Units and separate RSNs of our election to conduct an optional remarketing no later than five business days prior to the date we begin the optional remarketing.

Notwithstanding anything in this prospectus supplement to the contrary, we may not elect to conduct an optional remarketing if we are then deferring interest on the RSNs. See “Description of the Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes—Option to Defer Interest Payments.”

An optional remarketing on any remarketing date will be considered successful if the remarketing agent is able to remarket the RSNs for a price of at least 100% of the Treasury portfolio purchase price and the separate RSNs purchase price.

Following a successful optional remarketing of the RSNs, on the optional remarketing settlement date (as defined below), the portion of the remarketing proceeds equal to the Treasury portfolio purchase price will, except as described below, be used to purchase the Treasury portfolio and the remaining proceeds attributable to the RSNs underlying the Corporate Units will be remitted to the purchase contract agent for distribution pro rata to the holders of such Corporate Units. The portion of the proceeds attributable to the separate RSNs sold in the remarketing will be remitted to the custodial agent for distribution on the optional remarketing settlement date pro rata to the holders of such separate RSNs.

If we elect to conduct an optional remarketing and the remarketing is successful:

 

•

settlement with respect to the remarketed RSNs will occur on the third business day following the optional remarketing date, unless the remarketed RSNs are priced after 4:30 p.m. New York time on the optional remarketing date, in which case settlement will occur on the fourth business day following the optional remarketing date (we refer to such settlement date as the “optional remarketing settlement date”);

 

•

the interest rate on the RSNs will be reset by the remarketing agent in consultation with us on the optional remarketing date and will become effective on the optional remarketing settlement date, if applicable;

 

•

the other modifications to the terms of the RSNs, as described under “—Remarketing,” will become effective;

 

•

after the optional remarketing settlement date, your Corporate Units will consist of a purchase contract and the applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio (or cash), as described herein; and

 

•

you may no longer create Treasury Units or recreate Corporate Units from Treasury Units.

If we do not elect to conduct an optional remarketing during the optional remarketing period or no optional remarketing succeeds for any reason, the RSNs will continue to be a component of the Corporate Units or will continue to be held separately and the remarketing agent will use its commercially reasonable efforts to remarket the RSNs during the final remarketing period.

For the purposes of a successful optional remarketing, “Treasury portfolio purchase price” means the lowest aggregate ask-side price quoted by a primary U.S. government securities dealer in New York City to the quotation agent selected by us between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on the optional remarketing date for the purchase of the Treasury portfolio for settlement on the optional remarketing settlement date; provided that if the Treasury portfolio consists of cash, “Treasury portfolio purchase price” means the amount of such cash.

 

 

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Following a successful optional remarketing and receipt of the proceeds, the collateral agent will purchase, at the Treasury portfolio purchase price, a Treasury portfolio consisting of:

 

•

U.S. Treasury securities (or principal or interest strips thereof) that mature on or prior to the purchase contract settlement date in an aggregate amount at maturity equal to the principal amount of the RSNs underlying the undivided beneficial ownership interests in RSNs included in the Corporate Units on the optional remarketing date; and

 

•

U.S. Treasury securities (or principal or interest strips thereof) that mature on or prior to the purchase contract settlement date in an aggregate amount equal to the aggregate interest payment (assuming no reset of the interest rate) that would have been paid to the holders of the Corporate Units on the purchase contract settlement date on the principal amount of the RSNs underlying the undivided beneficial ownership interests in RSNs included in the Corporate Units on the optional remarketing date.

If U.S. Treasury securities (or principal or interest strips thereof) that are to be included in the Treasury portfolio in connection with a successful optional remarketing have a yield that is less than zero, the Treasury portfolio will consist of an amount in cash equal to the aggregate principal amount at maturity of the U.S. Treasury securities described in the bullet points above. If the provisions set forth in this paragraph apply, references in this prospectus supplement to a “Treasury security” and “U.S. Treasury securities (or principal or interest strips thereof)” in connection with the Treasury portfolio will, thereafter, be deemed to be references to such amount in cash.

The applicable ownership interests in the Treasury portfolio will be substituted for the undivided beneficial ownership interests in RSNs that are components of the Corporate Units and the portion of the Treasury portfolio described in the first bullet above will be pledged to us through the collateral agent to secure the Corporate Unit holders’ obligation under the purchase contracts. On the purchase contract settlement date, for each Corporate Unit, $50 of the proceeds from the Treasury portfolio will automatically be applied to satisfy the Corporate Unit holder’s obligation to purchase common stock under the purchase contract. In addition, proceeds from the portion of the Treasury portfolio described in the second bullet, which will equal the interest payment (assuming no reset of the interest rate) that would have been paid on the RSNs that were components of the Corporate Units at the time of remarketing, will be paid on the purchase contract settlement date to the holders of the Corporate Units.

If we elect to remarket the RSNs during the optional remarketing period and a successful remarketing has not occurred on or prior to March 15, 2017 (the last day of the optional remarketing period), we will cause a notice of the failed remarketing to be published no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the business day immediately following the last date of the optional remarketing period. This notice will be validly published by making a timely release to any appropriate news agency, including Bloomberg Business News and the Dow Jones News Service. We will similarly cause a notice of a successful remarketing of the RSNs to be published no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the business day immediately following the date of such successful remarketing.

On each business day during any optional remarketing period, we have the right in our sole and absolute discretion to determine whether or not an optional remarketing will be attempted. At any time and from time to time during the optional remarketing period prior to the announcement of a successful optional remarketing, we have the right to postpone any optional remarketing in our sole and absolute discretion.

Final Remarketing

Unless a termination event or a successful optional remarketing has previously occurred, we will remarket the RSNs during the five business day period ending on, and including, March 29, 2017 (the third business day immediately preceding the purchase contract settlement date). We refer to this period as the “final remarketing period,” the remarketing during this period as the “final remarketing” and the date the RSNs are priced in the

 

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final marketing as the “final remarketing date.” In the final remarketing, the aggregate principal amount of the RSNs that are a part of Corporate Units (except where the holder has elected to settle the purchase contract through payment of separate cash) and any separate RSNs whose holders have elected to participate in the final remarketing will be remarketed. The remarketing agent will use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a price for the RSNs to be remarketed that results in proceeds of at least 100% of the principal amount of all the RSNs offered in the remarketing. To obtain that price, the remarketing agent, in consultation with us, may reset the interest rate on the RSNs as described under “Description of the Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes—Interest Rate Reset.” We will request that the depository notify its participants holding Corporate Units, Treasury Units and separate RSNs of the final remarketing no later than seven days prior to the first day of the final remarketing period. In such notice, we will set forth the dates of the final remarketing period, applicable procedures for holders of separate RSNs to participate in the final remarketing, the applicable procedures for holders of Corporate Units to create Treasury Units and for holders of Treasury Units to recreate Corporate Units, the applicable procedures for holders of Corporate Units to settle their purchase contracts early and any other applicable procedures, including the procedures that must be followed by a holder of separate RSNs in the case of a failed remarketing if a holder of separate RSNs wishes to exercise its right to put its RSNs to us as described below and under “Description of the Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes—Put Option upon Failed Remarketing.” We have the right to postpone the final remarketing in our sole and absolute discretion on any day prior to the last three business days of the final remarketing period.

A remarketing during the final remarketing period will be considered successful if the remarketing agent is able to remarket the RSNs for a price of at least 100% of the aggregate principal amount of all the RSNs offered in the remarketing.

If the final remarketing is successful:

 

•

settlement with respect to the remarketed RSNs will occur on the purchase contract settlement date;

 

•

the interest rate of the RSNs will be reset by the remarketing agent in consultation with us, and will become effective on the reset effective date, which will be the purchase contract settlement date, as described under “Description of the Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes—Interest Rate Reset” below;

 

•

the other modifications to the terms of the RSNs, as described under “—Remarketing,” will become effective; and

 

•

the collateral agent will remit the portion of the proceeds it receives equal to the total principal amount of the RSNs underlying the Corporate Units to us to satisfy in full the Corporate Unit holders’ obligations to purchase common stock under the related purchase contracts, any excess proceeds attributable to RSNs underlying Corporate Units that were remarketed will be remitted to the purchase contract agent for distribution pro rata to the holders of such RSNs and proceeds from the final remarketing attributable to the separate RSNs remarketed will be remitted to the custodial agent for distribution pro rata to the holders of the remarketed separate RSNs.

Unless a termination event has occurred, a holder has effected an early settlement or a fundamental change early settlement, or there has been a successful optional remarketing, each Corporate Unit holder has the option at any time on or after the date we give notice of a final remarketing to notify the purchase contract agent at any time prior to 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on the second business day immediately prior to the first day of the final remarketing period of its intention to settle the related purchase contracts on the purchase contract settlement date with separate cash and to provide that cash on or prior to the business day immediately prior to the first day of the final remarketing period, as described under “—Notice to Settle with Cash.” The RSNs of any holder of Corporate Units who has not given this notice or failed to deliver the cash will be remarketed during the final remarketing period. In addition, holders of RSNs that do not underlie Corporate Units may elect to participate in the remarketing as described under “Description of the Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes—Remarketing of RSNs That Are Not Included in Corporate Units.”

 

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If, in spite of using its commercially reasonable efforts, the remarketing agent cannot remarket the RSNs during the final remarketing period at a price equal to or greater than 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the RSNs offered in the remarketing, a condition precedent set forth in the remarketing agreement has not been fulfilled or a successful remarketing has not occurred for any other reason, in each case resulting in a “failed remarketing,” holders of all RSNs will have the right to put their RSNs to us for an amount equal to the principal amount of their RSNs (the “put price”). The conditions precedent in the remarketing agreement will include, but not be limited to, the timely filing with the SEC of all material related to the remarketing required to be filed by us, the truth and correctness of certain representations and warranties made by us in the remarketing agreement, the furnishing of certain officer’s certificates to the remarketing agent, and the receipt by the remarketing agent of customary “comfort letters” from our auditors and opinions of counsel. A holder of Corporate Units will be deemed to have automatically exercised this put right with respect to the RSNs underlying such Corporate Units unless the holder has provided a written notice to the purchase contract agent of its intention to settle the purchase contract with separate cash as described below under “—Notice to Settle with Cash” prior to 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on the second business day immediately prior to the purchase contract settlement date, and on or prior to the business day immediately preceding the purchase contract settlement date has delivered the $50 in cash per purchase contract. Settlement with separate cash may only be effected in integral multiples of 20 Corporate Units. If a holder of Corporate Units elects to settle with separate cash, upon receipt of the required cash payment, the related RSNs underlying the Corporate Units will be released from the pledge under the purchase contract and pledge agreement and delivered promptly to the purchase contract agent for delivery to the holder. The holder of the Corporate Units will then receive the applicable number of shares of our common stock on the purchase contract settlement date. The cash received by the collateral agent upon this settlement with separate cash may be invested in permitted investments, as defined in the purchase contract and pledge agreement, and the portion of the proceeds equal to the aggregate purchase price of all purchase contracts of such holders will be paid to us on the purchase contract settlement date. Any excess funds received by the collateral agent in respect of any such permitted investments over the aggregate purchase price remitted to us in satisfaction of the obligations of the holders under the purchase contracts will be distributed to the purchase contract agent for ratable payment to the applicable holders who settled with separate cash. Unless a holder of Corporate Units has elected to settle the related purchase contracts with separate cash and delivered the separate cash on or prior to the business day immediately preceding the purchase contract settlement date, the holder will be deemed to have elected to apply the put price against the holder’s obligations to pay the aggregate purchase price for the shares of our common stock to be issued under the related purchase contracts, thereby satisfying the obligations in full, and we will deliver to the holder our common stock pursuant to the related purchase contracts.

If a successful final remarketing has not occurred on or prior to March 29, 2017 (the last day of the final remarketing period), we will cause a notice of the failed remarketing of the RSNs to be published no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the business day immediately following the last date of the final remarketing period. This notice will be validly published by making a timely release to any appropriate news agency, including Bloomberg Business News and the Dow Jones News Service.

 

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Early Settlement

Subject to the conditions described below, a holder of Corporate Units or Treasury Units may settle the related purchase contracts at any time prior to 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on the second business day immediately preceding the purchase contract settlement date, other than during a blackout period in the case of Corporate Units. An early settlement may be made only in integral multiples of 20 Corporate Units or 20 Treasury Units; however, if the Treasury portfolio has replaced the RSNs as a component of the Corporate Units following a successful optional remarketing, holders of Corporate Units may settle early only in integral multiples of             Corporate Units. In order to settle purchase contracts early, a holder of Equity Units must deliver to the purchase contract agent at the corporate trust office of the purchase contract agent or its agent, in each case, in the continental United States of America, (1) a completed “Election to Settle Early” form, along with the Corporate Unit or Treasury Unit certificate, if they are in certificated form and (2) a cash payment in immediately available funds in an amount equal to:

 

•

$50 times the number of purchase contracts being settled; plus

 

•

if the early settlement date occurs during the period from the close of business on any record date next preceding any contract adjustment payment date to the opening of business on such contract adjustment payment date, an amount equal to the contract adjustment payments payable on such contract adjustment payment date, unless we have elected to defer the contract adjustment payments payable on such contract adjustment payment date.

So long as you hold Equity Units as a beneficial interest in a global security certificate deposited with the depository, procedures for early settlement will also be governed by applicable depository procedures and standing arrangements between the depository and the purchase contract agent.

The early settlement right is also subject to the condition that, if required under U.S. federal securities laws, we have a registration statement under the Securities Act in effect with respect to the shares of common stock and other securities, if any, deliverable upon settlement of a purchase contract. We have agreed that, if such a registration statement is required, we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to (1) have a registration statement in effect covering those shares of common stock and other securities, if any, to be delivered in respect of the purchase contracts being settled and (2) provide a prospectus in connection therewith, in each case in a form that may be used in connection with the early settlement right (it being understood that if there is a material business transaction or development that has not yet been publicly disclosed, we will not be required to file such registration statement or provide such a prospectus, and the early settlement right will not be available, until we have publicly disclosed such transaction or development; provided that we will use commercially reasonable efforts to make such disclosure as soon as it is commercially reasonable to do so). In the event that a holder seeks to exercise its early settlement right and a registration statement is required to be effective in connection with the exercise of such right but no such registration statement is then effective, the holder’s exercise of such right will be void unless and until such a registration statement is effective.

Upon early settlement, except as described below in “—Early Settlement Upon a Fundamental Change,” we will sell, and the holder will be entitled to buy, the minimum settlement rate of             shares of our common stock (or in the case of an early settlement following a reorganization event, such number of exchange property units, as described under “—Reorganization Events” below) for each purchase contract being settled (regardless of the market price of our common stock on the date of early settlement), subject to adjustment under the circumstances described under “—Anti-dilution Adjustments” below. We will cause, on the third business day after the applicable early settlement date, (1) the shares of our common stock to be issued and (2) the related RSNs or applicable ownership interests in the Treasury portfolio or Treasury securities, as the case may be, underlying the Equity Units and securing such purchase contracts to be released from the pledge under the purchase contract and pledge agreement, and delivered to the purchase contract agent for delivery to the holder. Upon early settlement, the holder will be entitled to receive any accrued and unpaid contract adjustment payments (including any accrued and unpaid deferred contract adjustment payments and compounded contract

 

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adjustment payments thereon) to, but excluding, the contract adjustment payment date immediately preceding the early settlement date. The holder’s right to receive future contract adjustment payments will also terminate.

If the purchase contract agent receives a completed “Election to Settle Early” form (along with the Corporate Unit or Treasury Unit certificate, if they are in certificated form) and payment of $50 for each purchase contract being settled (and, if required, an amount equal to the contract adjustment payments payable on the next contract adjustment payment date) prior to 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on any business day and all conditions to early settlement have been satisfied, then that day will be considered the early settlement date. If the purchase contract agent receives the foregoing at or after 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on any business day or at any time on a day that is not a business day, then the next business day will be considered the early settlement date.

Early Settlement Upon a Fundamental Change

If a “fundamental change” (as defined below) occurs prior to the 20th business day preceding the purchase contract settlement date, then, following the fundamental change, each holder of a purchase contract, subject to certain conditions described in this prospectus supplement, will have the right to accelerate and settle the purchase contract early on the fundamental change early settlement date (defined below) at the settlement rate determined as if the applicable market value equaled the stock price (as defined below), plus an additional make-whole amount of shares (such additional make-whole amount of shares being hereafter referred to as the “make-whole shares”). We refer to this right as the “fundamental change early settlement right.”

We will provide each of the holders and the purchase contract agent with a notice of the completion of a fundamental change within 10 business days after the effective date of a fundamental change. The notice will specify (1) a date (subject to postponement as described below, the “fundamental change early settlement date”), which will be at least 10 days after the date of the notice but no later than the earlier of 20 days after the date of such notice and one business day prior to the purchase contract settlement date, on which date we will deliver shares of our common stock to holders who exercise the fundamental change early settlement right, (2) the date by which holders must exercise the fundamental change early settlement right, (3) the applicable settlement rate and number of make-whole shares, (4) the amount and kind (per share of common stock) of the cash, securities and other consideration receivable by the holder upon settlement and (5) the amount of accrued and unpaid contract adjustment payments (including any deferred contract adjustment payments and compounded contract adjustment payments thereon), if any, that will be paid upon settlement to holders exercising the fundamental change early settlement right. To exercise the fundamental change early settlement right, you must deliver to the purchase contract agent at the corporate trust office of the purchase contract agent or its agent, in each case, in the continental United States of America, during the period beginning on the date we deliver notice that a fundamental change has occurred and ending at 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day immediately preceding the fundamental change early settlement date (such period, subject to extension as described below, the “fundamental change exercise period”), the certificate evidencing your Corporate Units or Treasury Units if they are held in certificated form, and payment of $50 for each purchase contract being settled in immediately available funds.

A “fundamental change” will be deemed to have occurred if any of the following occurs:

 

(1)

a “person” or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act has become the direct or indirect “beneficial owner,” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of shares of our common stock representing more than 50% of the voting power of our common stock;

 

(2)

(A) we are involved in a consolidation with or merger into any other person, or any merger of another person into us, or any other similar transaction or series of related transactions (other than a merger, consolidation or similar transaction that does not result in the conversion or exchange of outstanding shares of our common stock), in each case, in which 90% or more of the outstanding shares of our common stock are exchanged for or converted into cash, securities or other property, greater than 10% of the value of which consists of cash, securities or other property that is not (or will not be upon or

 

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immediately following the effectiveness of such consolidation, merger or other transaction) common stock listed on the NYSE, the NASDAQ Global Select Market or the NASDAQ Global Market (or any of their respective successors) or (B) the consummation of any sale, lease or other transfer in one transaction or a series of related transactions of all or substantially all of our consolidated assets to any person other than one of our subsidiaries;

 

(3)

our common stock ceases to be listed on at least one of the NYSE, the NASDAQ Global Select Market and the NASDAQ Global Market (or any of their respective successors); or

 

(4)

our shareholders approve our liquidation, dissolution or termination.

If you exercise the fundamental change early settlement right, we will deliver to you on the fundamental change early settlement date for each purchase contract with respect to which you have elected fundamental change early settlement, a number of shares (or exchange property units, if applicable) equal to the settlement rate described above plus the additional make-whole shares. In addition, on the fundamental change early settlement date, we will pay you the amount of any accrued and unpaid contract adjustment payments (including any deferred contract adjustment payments and compounded contract adjustment payments thereon) to, but excluding, the fundamental change early settlement date, unless the date on which the fundamental change early settlement right is exercised occurs following any record date and prior to the related scheduled contract adjustment payment date, and we are not deferring the related contract adjustment payment, in which case we will instead pay all accrued and unpaid contract adjustment payments to the holder as of such record date. You will also receive on the fundamental change early settlement date the RSNs or the applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio or Treasury securities underlying the Corporate Units or Treasury Units, as the case may be, with respect to which you are effecting a fundamental change early settlement, which, in each case, shall have been released from the pledge under the purchase contract and pledge agreement. If you do not elect to exercise your fundamental change early settlement right, your Corporate Units or Treasury Units will remain outstanding and will be subject to normal settlement on the purchase contract settlement date.

We have agreed that, if required under the U.S. federal securities laws, we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to (1) have in effect throughout the fundamental change exercise period a registration statement covering the common stock and other securities, if any, to be delivered in respect of the purchase contracts being settled and (2) provide a prospectus in connection therewith, in each case in a form that may be used in connection with the fundamental change early settlement (it being understood that for so long as there is a material business transaction or development that has not yet been publicly disclosed (but in no event for a period longer than 90 days), we will not be required to file such registration statement or provide such a prospectus, and the fundamental change early settlement right will not be available, until we have publicly disclosed such transaction or development; provided that we will use commercially reasonable efforts to make such disclosure as soon as it is commercially reasonable to do so). In the event that a holder seeks to exercise its fundamental change early settlement right and a registration statement is required to be effective in connection with the exercise of such right but no such registration statement is then effective or a blackout period is continuing, the holder’s exercise of such right will be void unless and until such a registration statement is effective and no blackout period is continuing. The fundamental change exercise period will be extended by the number of days during such period on which no such registration statement is effective or a blackout period is continuing (provided that the fundamental change exercise period will not be extended beyond the fourth business day preceding the purchase contract settlement date) and the fundamental change early settlement date will be postponed to the third business day following the end of the fundamental change exercise period. If, but for the proviso contained in the immediately preceding sentence, the fundamental change early settlement date would occur on or after the purchase contract settlement date, we will deliver to any holder of purchase contracts on the purchase contract settlement date the applicable number of make-whole shares in addition to a number of shares equal to the settlement rate, determined as if the applicable market value were equal to the relevant stock price.

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only in integral multiples of 20 Corporate Units. If the Treasury portfolio has replaced the RSNs as a component of Corporate Units, holders of the Corporate Units may exercise the fundamental change early settlement right only in integral multiples of             Corporate Units.

A holder of Treasury Units may exercise the fundamental change early settlement right only in integral multiples of 20 Treasury Units.

Calculation of Make-Whole Shares. The number of make-whole shares per purchase contract applicable to a fundamental change early settlement will be calculated by us and will be determined by reference to the table below, based on the date on which the fundamental change occurs or becomes effective (the “effective date”) and the “stock price” in the fundamental change, which will be:

 

•

in the case of a fundamental change described in clause (2) above where the holders of our common stock receive only cash in the fundamental change, the cash amount paid per share of our common stock; or

 

•

otherwise, the average of the closing prices of our common stock over the 20 trading-day period ending on the trading day immediately preceding the effective date of the fundamental change.

 

Stock Price on Effective Date

Effective Date

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

June    , 2014

April 1, 2015

April 1, 2016

April 1, 2017

The stock prices set forth in the second row of the table (i.e., the column headers) will be adjusted upon the occurrence of certain events requiring anti-dilution adjustments to the fixed settlement rates in a manner inversely proportional to the adjustments to the fixed settlement rates.

Each of the make-whole share amounts in the table will be subject to adjustment in the same manner and at the same time as the fixed settlement rates as set forth under “—Anti-dilution Adjustments.”

The exact stock price and effective date applicable to a fundamental change may not be set forth on the table, in which case:

 

•

if the stock price is between two stock prices on the table or the effective date is between two effective dates on the table, the amount of make-whole shares will be determined by straight line interpolation between the make-whole share amounts set forth for the higher and lower stock prices and the two effective dates based on a 365-day year, as applicable;

 

•

if the stock price is in excess of $         per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner as the stock prices set forth in the second row of the table as described above), then the make-whole share amount will be zero; and

 

•

if the stock price is less than $         per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner as the stock prices set forth in the second row of the table as described above) (the “minimum stock price”), then the make-whole share amount will be determined as if the stock price equaled the minimum stock price, using straight line interpolation, as described above, if the effective date is between two effective dates on the table.

Notice to Settle with Cash

Unless a termination event has occurred, a holder effects an early settlement or a fundamental change early settlement with respect to the underlying purchase contract, or a successful remarketing has occurred, a holder of Corporate Units may settle the related purchase contract with separate cash by delivering the Corporate Unit

 

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certificate, if in certificated form, to the purchase contract agent at the corporate trust office of the purchase contract agent or its agent, in each case, in the continental United States of America, with the completed “Notice to Settle with Cash” form at any time on or after the date we give notice of a final remarketing and prior to 4:00 p.m., New York City time on the second business day immediately preceding the first day of the final remarketing period or, if there has been a failed final remarketing, on the second business day immediately preceding the purchase contract settlement date. Holders of Corporate Units may only cash-settle Corporate Units in integral multiples of 20 Corporate Units.

The holder must also deliver to the securities intermediary the required cash payment in immediately available funds. Such payment must be delivered prior to 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on the first business day immediately preceding the final remarketing period or, if there has been a failed remarketing, on the first business day immediately preceding the purchase contract settlement date.

Upon receipt of the cash payment, the related RSN will be released from the pledge arrangement and transferred to the purchase contract agent for distribution to the holder of the related Corporate Units. The holder of the Corporate Units will then receive the applicable number of shares of our common stock on the purchase contract settlement date.

If a holder of Corporate Units that has given notice of its election to settle with cash fails to deliver the cash by the applicable time and date specified above, such holder shall be deemed to have consented to the disposition of its RSNs in the final remarketing, or to have exercised its put right (as described under “—Remarketing” above), in each case, as applicable.

Any cash received by the collateral agent upon cash settlement may, upon our written direction, be invested in permitted investments, as defined in the purchase contract and pledge agreement, and the portion of the proceeds equal to the aggregate purchase price of all purchase contracts of such holders will be paid to us on the purchase contract settlement date. Any excess funds received by the collateral agent in respect of permitted investments over the aggregate purchase price remitted to us in satisfaction of the obligations of the holders under the purchase contracts will be distributed to the purchase contract agent for payment to the holders who settled with cash.

Contract Adjustment Payments

Contract adjustment payments in respect of Corporate Units and Treasury Units will be fixed at a rate per year of     % of the stated amount of $50 per purchase contract. Contract adjustment payments payable for any period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. Contract adjustment payments will accrue from the date of issuance of the purchase contracts and will be payable quarterly in arrears on January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 of each year, commencing October 1, 2014.

Contract adjustment payments will be payable to the holders of purchase contracts as they appear on the books and records of the purchase contract agent at the close of business on the relevant record dates, which will be the 15th day of the month immediately preceding the month in which the relevant payment date falls (whether or not a business day). These distributions will be paid through the purchase contract agent, which will hold amounts received in respect of the contract adjustment payments for the benefit of the holders of the purchase contracts relating to the Equity Units. Subject to any applicable laws and regulations, each such payment will be made as described under “Certain Provisions of the Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement—Book-Entry System.”

If any date on which contract adjustment payments are to be made on the purchase contracts related to the Corporate Units or Treasury Units is not a business day, then payment of the contract adjustment payments payable on that date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a business day, and no interest or payment will be paid in respect of the delay.

 

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For the avoidance of doubt, subject to our right to defer contract adjustment payments, all record holders of purchase contracts on any record date will be entitled to receive the full contract adjustment payment due on the related contract adjustment payment date regardless of whether the holder of such purchase contract elects to settle such purchase contract early (whether at its option or in connection with a fundamental change) following such record date.

Our obligations with respect to contract adjustment payments will be subordinated and junior in right of payment to our obligations under any of our Priority Indebtedness (as defined under “Description of the Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes—Subordination”) and will rank on parity with the RSNs.

We may, at our option and upon prior written notice of at least one business day before the record date to the purchase contract agent and the holders, defer all or part of the contract adjustment payments, but not beyond the purchase contract settlement date (or, with respect to an early settlement upon a fundamental change, not beyond the fundamental change early settlement date or, with respect to an early settlement other than upon a fundamental change, not beyond the contract adjustment payment date immediately preceding the early settlement date).

Deferred contract adjustment payments will accrue additional contract adjustment payments at the rate equal to     % per annum (which is equal to the rate of total distributions on the Corporate Units), compounded on each contract adjustment payment date, to, but excluding, the contract adjustment payment date on which such deferred contract adjustment payments are paid. We refer to additional contract adjustment payments that accrue on deferred contract adjustment payments as “compounded contract adjustment payments.” We may pay any such deferred contract adjustment payments (including compounded contract adjustment payments thereon) on any scheduled contract adjustment payment date; provided that in order to pay deferred contract adjustment payments on any scheduled contract adjustment payment date other than the purchase contract settlement date, we must deliver written notice thereof to holders of the Equity Units and the purchase contract agent on or before the relevant record date. If the purchase contracts are terminated (upon the occurrence of certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or similar reorganization with respect to us), the right to receive contract adjustment payments and deferred contract adjustment payments (including compounded contract adjustment payments thereon) will also terminate.

If we exercise our option to defer the payment of contract adjustment payments, then, until the deferred contract adjustment payments (including compounded contract adjustment payments thereon) have been paid, we will not (1) declare or pay any dividends on, or make any distributions on, or redeem, purchase or acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any shares of our capital stock, (2) make any payment of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, or repay, repurchase or redeem any of our debt securities that rank on parity with, or junior to, the contract adjustment payments, or (3) make any guarantee payments under any guarantee by us of securities of any of our subsidiaries if our guarantee ranks on parity with, or junior to, the contract adjustment payments.

The restrictions listed above do not apply to:

 

(a)

purchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of our capital stock in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of employees, officers, directors, agents or consultants or a stock purchase or dividend reinvestment plan, or the satisfaction of our obligations pursuant to any contract or security outstanding on the date that the contract adjustment payment is deferred requiring us to purchase, redeem or acquire our capital stock;

 

(b)

any payment, repayment, redemption, purchase, acquisition or declaration of dividends described in clause (1) above as a result of a reclassification of our capital stock, or the exchange or conversion of all or a portion of one class or series of our capital stock, for another class or series of our capital stock;

 

(c)

the purchase of fractional interests in shares of our capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of our capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, or in connection with the settlement of stock purchase contracts outstanding on the date that the contract adjustment payment is deferred;

 

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(d)

dividends or distributions paid or made in our capital stock (or rights to acquire our capital stock), or repurchases, redemptions or acquisitions of capital stock in connection with the issuance or exchange of capital stock (or of securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our capital stock) and distributions in connection with the settlement of stock purchase contracts outstanding on the date that the contract adjustment payment is deferred;

 

(e)

redemptions, exchanges or repurchases of, or with respect to, any rights outstanding under a shareholder rights plan outstanding on the date that the contract adjustment payment is deferred or the declaration or payment thereunder of a dividend or distribution of or with respect to rights in the future;

 

(f)

payments on the RSNs, any trust preferred securities, subordinated debentures, junior subordinated debentures or junior subordinated notes, or any guarantees of any of the foregoing, in each case, that rank equal in right of payment to the contract adjustment payments, so long as the amount of payments made on account of such securities or guarantees and the purchase contracts is paid on all such securities and guarantees and the purchase contracts then outstanding on a pro rata basis in proportion to the full payment to which each series of such securities, guarantees or purchase contracts is then entitled if paid in full; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, we will not be permitted under the purchase contract and pledge agreement to make contract adjustment payments in part; or

 

(g)

any payment of deferred interest or principal on, or repayment, redemption or repurchase of, parity or junior securities that, if not made, would cause us to breach the terms of the instrument governing such parity or junior securities.

Anti-dilution Adjustments

Each fixed settlement rate will be subject to the following adjustments:

 

(1)

Stock Dividends. If we pay or make a dividend or other distribution on our common stock in common stock, each fixed settlement rate in effect at the opening of business on the day following the date fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or other distribution will be increased by dividing:

 

•

each fixed settlement rate by

 

•

a fraction, the numerator of which will be the number of shares of our common stock outstanding at the close of business on the date fixed for such determination and the denominator will be the sum of such number of shares and the total number of shares constituting the dividend or other distribution.

If any dividend or distribution in this paragraph (1) is declared but not so paid or made, the new fixed settlement rates shall be readjusted, on the date that our board of directors determines not to pay or make such dividend or distribution, to the fixed settlement rates that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared.

 

(2)

Stock Purchase Rights. If we issue to all or substantially all holders of our common stock rights, options, warrants or other securities (other than pursuant to a dividend reinvestment, share purchase or similar plan), entitling them to subscribe for or purchase shares of our common stock for a period expiring within 45 days from the date of issuance of such rights, options, warrants or other securities at a price per share of our common stock less than the current market price (as defined below) calculated as of the date fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such rights, options, warrants or other securities, each fixed settlement rate in effect at the opening of business on the day following the date fixed for such determination will be increased by dividing:

 

•

each fixed settlement rate by

 

•

a fraction, the numerator of which will be the number of shares of our common stock outstanding at the close of business on the date fixed for such determination plus the number of shares of our common stock which the aggregate consideration expected to be received by us upon the exercise of

 

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such rights, options, warrants or other securities would purchase at such current market price and the denominator of which will be the number of shares of our common stock outstanding at the close of business on the date fixed for such determination plus the number of shares of our common stock so offered for subscription or purchase.

If any right, option, warrant or other security described in this paragraph (2) is not exercised or converted prior to the expiration of the exercisability or convertibility thereof (and as a result no additional shares of common stock are delivered or issued pursuant to such rights or warrants), the new fixed settlement rates shall be readjusted, as of the date of such expiration, to the fixed settlement rates that would then be in effect had the increase with respect to the issuance of such rights, options, warrants or other securities been made on the basis of delivery or issuance of only the number of shares of common stock actually delivered.

For purposes of this clause (2), in determining whether any rights, options, warrants or other securities entitle the holders to subscribe for or purchase shares of the common stock at a price per share of our common stock less than the current market price on the date fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such rights, options, warrants or other securities, and in determining the aggregate price payable to exercise such rights, options, warrants or other securities, there shall be taken into account any consideration received by us for such rights, options, warrants or other securities and any amount payable on exercise or conversion thereof, the value of such consideration, if other than cash, to be determined in good faith by our board of directors.

 

(3)

Stock Splits; Reverse Splits; and Combinations. If outstanding shares of our common stock shall be subdivided, split or reclassified into a greater number of shares of common stock, each fixed settlement rate in effect at the opening of business on the day following the day upon which such subdivision, split or reclassification becomes effective shall be proportionately increased, and, conversely, in case outstanding shares of our common stock shall each be combined or reclassified into a smaller number of shares of common stock, each fixed settlement rate in effect at the opening of business on the day following the day upon which such combination or reclassification becomes effective shall be proportionately reduced.

 

(4)

Debt, Asset or Security Distributions. If we, by dividend or otherwise, distribute to all or substantially all holders of our common stock evidences of our indebtedness, assets or securities (but excluding any rights, options, warrants or other securities referred to in paragraph (2) above, any dividend or distribution paid exclusively in cash referred to in paragraph (5) below (in each case, whether or not an adjustment to the fixed settlement rates is required by such paragraph) and any dividend paid in shares of capital stock of any class or series, or similar equity interests, of or relating to a subsidiary or other business unit of ours in the case of a spin-off referred to below, or dividends or distributions referred to in paragraph (1) above), each fixed settlement rate in effect immediately prior to the close of business on the date fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such distribution shall be increased by dividing:

 

•

each fixed settlement rate by

 

•

a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the current market price of our common stock calculated as of the date fixed for such determination less the then fair market value (as determined in good faith by our board of directors) of the portion of the assets, securities or evidences of indebtedness so distributed applicable to one share of our common stock and the denominator of which shall be such current market price.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the then fair market value (as determined in good faith by our board of directors) of the portion of the assets, securities or evidences of indebtedness so distributed applicable to one share of our common stock exceeds the current market price of our common stock on the date fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such distribution, in lieu of the foregoing increase, each holder of a purchase contract shall receive, for each purchase contract, at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of shares of our common stock, the amount of such distributed assets,

 

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securities or evidences of indebtedness that such holder would have received if such holder owned a number of shares of our common stock equal to the maximum settlement rate on the record date for such dividend or distribution.

In the case of the payment of a dividend or other distribution on our common stock of shares of capital stock of any class or series, or similar equity interests, of or relating to a subsidiary or other business unit of ours, which are or will, upon issuance, be listed on a U.S. securities exchange or quotation system, which we refer to as a “spin-off,” each fixed settlement rate in effect immediately before the close of business on the date fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to receive that distribution will be increased by dividing:

 

•

each fixed settlement rate by

 

•

a fraction, the numerator of which is the current market price of our common stock and the denominator of which is such current market price plus the fair market value, determined as described below, of those shares of capital stock or similar equity interests so distributed applicable to one share of common stock.

The adjustment to the fixed settlement rate under the preceding paragraph will occur on:

 

•

the 10th trading day from and including the effective date of the spin-off; or

 

•

if the spin-off is effected simultaneously with an initial public offering of the securities being distributed in the spin-off and the ex date for the spin-off occurs on or before the date that the initial public offering price of the securities being distributed in the spin-off is determined, the issue date of the securities being offered in such initial public offering.

For purposes of this section, “initial public offering” means the first time securities of the same class or type as the securities being distributed in the spin-off are offered to the public for cash.

Subject to the immediately following paragraph, the fair market value of the securities to be distributed to holders of our common stock means the average of the closing sale prices of those securities on the principal U.S. securities exchange or quotation system on which such securities are listed or quoted at that time over the first 10 trading days following the effective date of the spin-off. Also, for purposes of such a spin-off, the current market price of our common stock means the average of the closing sale prices of our common stock on the principal U.S. securities exchange or quotation system on which our common stock is listed or quoted at that time over the first 10 trading days following the effective date of the spin-off.

If, however, an initial public offering of the securities being distributed in the spin-off is to be effected simultaneously with the spin-off and the ex date for the spin-off occurs on or before the date that the initial public offering price of the securities being distributed in the spin-off is determined, the fair market value of the securities being distributed in the spin-off means the initial public offering price, while the current market price of our common stock means the closing sale price of our common stock on the principal U.S. securities exchange or quotation system on which our common stock is listed or quoted at that time on the trading day on which the initial public offering price of the securities being distributed in the spin-off is determined.

If any dividend or distribution described in this paragraph (4) is declared but not so paid or made, the new fixed settlement rates shall be readjusted, as of the date our board of directors determines not to pay or make such dividend or distribution, to the fixed settlement rates that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared.

 

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(5)

Cash Distributions. If we, by dividend or otherwise, make distributions to all or substantially all holders of our common stock exclusively in cash during any quarterly period in an amount that exceeds $0.440 per share per quarter in the case of a regular quarterly dividend (such per share amount being referred to as the “reference dividend”), then immediately after the close of business on the date fixed for determination of the stockholders entitled to receive such distribution, each fixed settlement rate in effect immediately prior to the close of business on such date will be increased by dividing:

 

•

each fixed settlement rate by

 

•

a fraction, the numerator of which will be equal to the current market price on the date fixed for such determination less the amount, if any, by which the per share amount of the distribution exceeds the reference dividend and the denominator of which will be equal to such current market price.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (x) the amount by which the per share amount of the cash distribution exceeds the reference dividend exceeds (y) the current market price of our common stock on the date fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such distribution, in lieu of the foregoing increase, each holder of a purchase contract shall receive, for each purchase contract, at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of shares of our common stock, the amount of distributed cash that such holder would have received if such holder owned a number of shares of our common stock equal to the maximum settlement rate on the record date for such cash dividend or distribution.

The reference dividend will be subject to an inversely proportional adjustment whenever each fixed settlement rate is adjusted, other than pursuant to this paragraph (5). For the avoidance of doubt, the reference dividend will be zero in the case of a cash dividend that is not a regular quarterly dividend.

If any dividend or distribution described in this paragraph (5) is declared but not so paid or made, the new fixed settlement rate shall be readjusted, as of the date our board of directors determines not to pay or make such dividend or distribution, to the fixed settlement rate that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared.

 

(6)

Tender and Exchange Offers. In the case that a tender offer or exchange offer made by us or any subsidiary for all or any portion of our common stock shall expire and such tender or exchange offer (as amended through the expiration thereof) requires the payment to stockholders (based on the acceptance (up to any maximum specified in the terms of the tender offer or exchange offer) of purchased shares) of an aggregate consideration having a fair market value per share of our common stock that exceeds the closing price of our common stock on the trading day next succeeding the last date on which tenders or exchanges may be made pursuant to such tender offer or exchange offer, then, immediately prior to the opening of business on the day after the date of the last time (which we refer to as the “expiration time”) tenders or exchanges could have been made pursuant to such tender offer or exchange offer (as amended through the expiration thereof), each fixed settlement rate in effect immediately prior to the close of business on the date of the expiration time will be increased by dividing:

 

•

each fixed settlement rate by

 

•

a fraction (1) the numerator of which will be equal to (a) the product of (i) the current market price on the date of the expiration time and (ii) the number of shares of common stock outstanding (including any tendered or exchanged shares) on the date of the expiration time less (b) the amount of cash plus the fair market value of the aggregate consideration payable to stockholders pursuant to the tender offer or exchange offer (assuming the acceptance by us of purchased shares (as defined below)), and (2) the denominator of which will be equal to the product of (x) the current market price on the date of the expiration time and (y) the result of (i) the number of shares of our common stock outstanding (including any tendered or exchanged shares) on the date of the expiration time less (ii) the number of all shares validly tendered, not withdrawn and accepted for payment on the date of the expiration time (such actually validly tendered or exchanged shares, up to any maximum acceptance amount specified by us in the terms of the tender offer or exchange offer, being referred to as the “purchased shares”).

 

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For purposes of paragraphs (2) and (4) (except as otherwise expressly provided therein with respect to spin-offs) above, the “current market price” per share of our common stock or any other security on any day means the average VWAP of our common stock or such other security on the principal U.S. securities exchange or quotation system on which our common stock or such other security, as applicable, is listed or quoted at that time for the 10 consecutive trading days preceding the earlier of the trading day preceding the day in question and the trading day before the “ex date” with respect to the issuance or distribution requiring such computation. For purposes of paragraph (5) above, the “current market price” per share of our common stock means the closing price of our common stock on the trading day immediately preceding the ex date for the relevant cash dividend or distribution. For purposes of paragraph (6) above, the “current market price” per share of our common stock means the closing price of our common stock on the trading day next succeeding the last date on which tenders or exchanges may be made pursuant to the relevant tender offer or exchange offer. The term “ex date,” when used with respect to any issuance or distribution on our common stock or any other security, means the first date on which our common stock or such other security, as applicable, trades, regular way, on the principal U.S. securities exchange or quotation system on which our common stock or such other security, as applicable, is listed or quoted at that time, without the right to receive the issuance or distribution.

We currently do not have a shareholders rights plan with respect to our common stock. To the extent that we have a shareholders rights plan involving the issuance of share purchase rights or other similar rights to all or substantially all holders of our common stock in effect upon settlement of a purchase contract, you will receive, in addition to the common stock issuable upon settlement of any purchase contract, the related rights for the common stock under the shareholders rights plan, unless, prior to any settlement of a purchase contract, the rights have separated from the common stock, in which case each fixed settlement rate will be adjusted at the time of separation as if we made a distribution to all holders of our common stock as described in clause (4) above, subject to readjustment in the event of the expiration, termination or redemption of the rights under the shareholder rights plan.

You may be treated as receiving a constructive distribution from us with respect to the purchase contract if (1) the fixed settlement rates are adjusted (or fail to be adjusted) and, as a result of the adjustment (or failure to adjust), your proportionate interest in our assets or earnings and profits is increased, and (2) the adjustment (or failure to adjust) is not made pursuant to a bona fide, reasonable anti-dilution formula. For example, if the fixed settlement rate is adjusted as a result of a distribution that is taxable to the holders of our common stock, such as a cash dividend, you will be deemed to have received a “constructive distribution” of our stock. Thus, under certain circumstances, an adjustment to the fixed settlement rates might give rise to a taxable dividend to you even though you will not receive any cash in connection with such adjustment. In addition, non-U.S. holders (as defined in “Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences”) may, in certain circumstances, be deemed to have received a distribution subject to U.S. federal withholding tax. See “Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences—U.S. Holders—Purchase Contracts” and “Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences— Non-U.S. Holders—U.S. Federal Withholding Tax.”

In addition, we may increase the fixed settlement rates if our board of directors deems it advisable to avoid or diminish any income tax to holders of our common stock resulting from any dividend or distribution of shares (or rights to acquire shares) or from any event treated as a dividend or distribution for income tax purposes or for any other reasons. We may only make such a discretionary adjustment if we make the same proportionate adjustment to each fixed settlement rate.

Adjustments to the fixed settlement rates will be calculated by us to the nearest ten thousandth of a share. No adjustment to the fixed settlement rates will be required unless the adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least one percent in one or both fixed settlement rates. If any adjustment is not required to be made because it would not change one or both fixed settlement rates by at least one percent, then the adjustment will be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All anti-dilution adjustments will be made not later than the time at which we are required to determine the relevant settlement rate or amount of make-whole shares (if applicable) in connection with any settlement with respect to the purchase contracts.

 

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No adjustment to the fixed settlement rates will be made if holders of Equity Units participate, as a result of holding the Equity Units and without having to settle the purchase contracts that form part of the Equity Units, in the transaction that would otherwise give rise to an adjustment as if they held a number of shares of our common stock equal to the maximum settlement rate, at the same time and upon the same terms as the holders of common stock participate in the transaction.

The fixed settlement rates will not be adjusted (subject to our right to increase them if our board of directors deems it advisable as described in the third preceding paragraph):

 

•

upon the issuance of any shares of our common stock pursuant to any present or future plan providing for the reinvestment of dividends or interest payable on our securities and the investment of additional optional amounts in shares of our common stock under any plan;

 

•

upon the issuance of options, restricted stock or other awards in connection with any employment contract, executive compensation plan, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of any one or more employees, officers, directors, consultants or independent contractors or the exercise of such options or other awards;

 

•

upon the issuance of any shares of our common stock pursuant to any option, warrant, right or exercisable, exchangeable or convertible security outstanding as of the date the Equity Units were first issued;

 

•

for a change in the par value or no par value of the common stock; or

 

•

for accumulated and unpaid contract adjustment payments.

We will, as promptly as practicable after the fixed settlement rate is adjusted, provide written notice of the adjustment to the holders of Equity Units and the purchase contract agent.

If an adjustment is made to the fixed settlement rates, an adjustment also will be made to the reference price and the threshold appreciation price on an inversely proportional basis solely to determine which of the clauses of the definition of settlement rate will be applicable to determine the settlement rate with respect to the purchase contract settlement date or any fundamental change early settlement date.

If any adjustment to the fixed settlement rates becomes effective, or any effective date, expiration time, ex date or record date for any stock split or reverse stock split, tender or exchange offer, issuance, dividend or distribution (relating to a required fixed settlement rate adjustment) occurs, during the period beginning on, and including, (i) the open of business on a first trading day of the 20 scheduled trading-day period during which the applicable market value is calculated or (ii) in the case of the optional early settlement or fundamental change early settlement, the relevant early settlement date or the date on which the fundamental change early settlement right is exercised and, in each case, ending on, and including, the date on which we deliver shares of our common stock under the related purchase contract, we will make appropriate adjustments to the fixed settlement rates and/or the number of shares of our common stock deliverable upon settlement with respect to the purchase contract, in each case, consistent with the methodology used to determine the anti-dilution adjustments set forth above. If any adjustment to the fixed settlement rates becomes effective, or any effective date, expiration time, ex date or record date for any stock split or reverse stock split, tender or exchange offer, issuance, dividend or distribution (relating to a required fixed settlement rate adjustment) occurs, during the period used to determine the “stock price” or any other averaging period hereunder, we will make appropriate adjustments to the applicable prices, consistent with the methodology used to determine the anti-dilution adjustments set forth above.

 

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Reorganization Events

The following events are defined as “reorganization events”:

 

•

any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into another person or of another person with or into the Company or a similar transaction (other than a consolidation, merger or similar transaction in which the Company is the continuing corporation and in which the shares of our common stock outstanding immediately prior to the merger or consolidation are not exchanged for cash, securities or other property of the Company or another person);

 

•

any sale, transfer, lease or conveyance to another person of the property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety, as a result of which the shares of our common stock are exchanged for cash, securities or other property;

 

•

any statutory exchange of the common stock of the Company with another corporation (other than in connection with a merger or acquisition); and

 

•

any liquidation, dissolution or termination of the Company (other than as a result of or after the occurrence of a termination event described below under “—Termination”).

Following the effective date of a reorganization event, the settlement rate shall be determined by reference to the value of an exchange property unit, and we shall deliver, upon settlement of any purchase contract, a number of exchange property units equal to the number of shares of our common stock that we would otherwise be required to deliver. An “exchange property unit” is the kind and amount of common stock, other securities, other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) receivable in such reorganization event (without any interest thereon, and without any right to dividends or distribution thereon which have a record date that is prior to the applicable settlement date) per share of our common stock by a holder of common stock that is not a person with which we are consolidated or into which we are merged or which merged into us or to which such sale or transfer was made, as the case may be (we refer to any such person as a “constituent person”), or an affiliate of a constituent person, to the extent such reorganization event provides for different treatment of common stock held by the constituent person and/or the affiliates of the constituent person, on the one hand, and non-affiliates of a constituent person, on the other hand. In the event holders of our common stock (other than any constituent person or affiliate thereof) have the opportunity to elect the form of consideration to be received in such transaction, the exchange property unit that holders of the Corporate Units or Treasury Units are entitled to receive will be deemed to be (x) the weighted average of the types and amounts of consideration received by the holders of our common stock that affirmatively make an election or (y) if no holders of our common stock affirmatively make such an election, the types and amounts of consideration actually received by the holders of our common stock.

In the event of such a reorganization event, the person formed by such consolidation or merger or the person which acquires our assets shall execute and deliver to the purchase contract agent an agreement providing that the holder of each Equity Unit that remains outstanding after the reorganization event (if any) shall have the rights described in the preceding paragraph. Such supplemental agreement shall provide for adjustments to the amount of any securities constituting all or a portion of an exchange property unit and/or adjustments to the fixed settlement rates, which, for events subsequent to the effective date of such reorganization event, shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the adjustments provided for under “—Anti-dilution Adjustments” above. The provisions described in the preceding two paragraphs shall similarly apply to successive reorganization events.

In connection with any reorganization event, we will also adjust the reference dividend based on the number of shares of common stock comprising an exchange property unit and (if applicable) the value of any non-stock consideration comprising an exchange property unit. If an exchange property unit is composed solely of non-stock consideration, the reference dividend will be zero.

 

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Termination

The purchase contract and pledge agreement provides that the purchase contracts and the obligations and rights of us and of the holders of Corporate Units and Treasury Units thereunder (including the holders’ obligation and right to purchase and receive shares of our common stock and to receive accrued and unpaid contract adjustment payments, including deferred contract adjustment payments and compounded contract adjustment payments thereon) will immediately and automatically terminate upon the occurrence of a termination event (as defined below).

Upon any termination event, the Equity Units will represent the right to receive the RSNs underlying the undivided beneficial interest in the RSNs, applicable ownership interests in the Treasury Portfolio, or the Treasury securities, as the case may be, forming part of such Equity Units. Upon the occurrence of a termination event, we will promptly give the purchase contract agent, the collateral agent and the holders written notice of such termination event and the collateral agent will release the related interests in the RSNs, applicable ownership interests in the Treasury portfolio or Treasury securities, as the case may be, from the pledge arrangement and transfer such interests in the RSNs, applicable ownership interests in the Treasury portfolio or Treasury securities to the purchase contract agent for distribution to the holders of Corporate Units and Treasury Units. If a holder is entitled to receive RSNs in an aggregate principal amount that is not an integral multiple of $1,000, we will issue upon request of the purchase contract agent RSNs in denominations of $50 and integral multiples thereof in exchange for RSNs in denominations of $1,000 or integral multiples thereof. In addition, if any holder is entitled to receive, with respect to its applicable ownership interests in the Treasury portfolio or its pledged Treasury securities, any securities having a principal amount at maturity of less than $1,000, the purchase contract agent will dispose of such securities for cash and pay the cash received to the holder in lieu of such applicable ownership in the Treasury portfolio or such Treasury securities. Upon any termination event, however, such release and distribution may be subject to a delay. In the event that the Company becomes the subject of a case under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, such delay may occur as a result of the automatic stay under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and continue until such automatic stay has been lifted. Moreover, claims arising out of the RSNs will be subject to the equitable jurisdiction and powers of the bankruptcy court.

A “termination event” means any of the following events with respect to the Company:

 

(1)

at any time on or prior to the purchase contract settlement date, a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall have been entered adjudicating the Company a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code or any other similar applicable federal or state law and such decree or order shall have been entered more than 90 days prior to the purchase contract settlement date and shall have continued undischarged and unstayed for a period of 90 consecutive days;

 

(2)

at any time on or prior to the purchase contract settlement date, a decree or order of a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall have been entered for the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, trustee, assignee, sequestrator or other similar official in bankruptcy or insolvency of the Company or of all or any substantial part of the Company’s property, or for the winding up or liquidation of the Company’s affairs, and such decree or order shall have been entered more than 90 days prior to the purchase contract settlement date and shall have continued undischarged and unstayed for a period of 90 consecutive days; or

 

(3)

at any time on or prior to the purchase contract settlement date, the Company shall institute proceedings to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or shall consent to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or shall file a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code or any other similar applicable federal or state law, or shall consent to the filing of any such petition, or shall consent to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, trustee, assignee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of all or any substantial part of the Company’s property, or shall make an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due.

 

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Pledged Securities and Pledge

The undivided beneficial ownership interests in the RSNs, or, following a successful optional remarketing, the applicable ownership interests in the Treasury portfolio (as described under the first bullet of the definition of “Treasury portfolio”), that are a component of the Corporate Units or, if substituted, the beneficial ownership interest in the Treasury securities that are a component of the Treasury Units, collectively, the “pledged securities,” will be pledged to the collateral agent for our benefit pursuant to the purchase contract and pledge agreement to secure your obligation to purchase shares of our common stock under the related purchase contracts. The rights of the holders of the Corporate Units and Treasury Units with respect to the pledged securities will be subject to our security interest therein. No holder of Corporate Units or Treasury Units will be permitted to withdraw the pledged securities related to such Corporate Units or Treasury Units from the pledge arrangement except:

 

•

in the case of Corporate Units, to substitute a Treasury security for the related RSN, as provided under “Description of the Equity Units—Creating Treasury Units by Substituting a Treasury Security for an RSN;”

 

•

in the case of Treasury Units, to substitute an RSN for the related Treasury security, as provided under “Description of the Equity Units—Recreating Corporate Units;” and

 

•

upon early settlement, settlement through the payment of separate cash or termination of the related purchase contracts.

Subject to our security interest and the terms of the purchase contract and pledge agreement, each holder of a Corporate Unit (unless the Treasury portfolio has replaced the RSNs as a component of the Corporate Unit), will be entitled through the purchase contract agent and the collateral agent to all of the proportional rights and preferences of the related RSNs (including distribution, voting, redemption, repayment and liquidation rights). Each holder of Treasury Units and each holder of Corporate Units (if the Treasury portfolio has replaced the RSNs as a component of the Corporate Units), will retain beneficial ownership of the related Treasury securities or the applicable ownership interests in the Treasury portfolio, as applicable, pledged in respect of the related purchase contracts. We will have no interest in the pledged securities other than our security interest.

Except as described in “Certain Provisions of the Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement—General,” upon receipt of distributions on the pledged securities, the collateral agent will distribute such payments to the purchase contract agent, which in turn will distribute those payments to the holders in whose names the Corporate Units or Treasury Units are registered at the close of business on the record date for the distribution.

 

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CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE PURCHASE CONTRACT AND PLEDGE AGREEMENT

In this Description of the Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement, “Laclede,” “we,” “us,” “our” and the “Company” refer only to The Laclede Group, Inc. and any successor obligor, and not to any of its subsidiaries.

The following is a summary of some of the other terms of the purchase contract and pledge agreement. The summary contains a description of additional material terms of the agreement but is only a summary and is not complete. This summary is subject to and is qualified by reference to all the provisions of the purchase contract and pledge agreement, including the definitions of certain terms used therein, the form of which has been or will be filed and incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus form a part.

General

Except as described under “—Book-Entry System” below, payments on the Corporate Units and Treasury Units will be payable, the purchase contracts will be settled, and transfers of the Corporate Units and Treasury Units will be registrable at, the office of the purchase contract agent or its agent, in each case, in the continental United States of America. In addition, if the Corporate Units or Treasury Units do not remain in book-entry form, we will make payments on the Corporate Units and Treasury Units by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as shown on the security register or, if the holder timely so requests, by a wire transfer to the account designated by the holder by a prior written notice.

Shares of common stock will be delivered on the purchase contract settlement date (or earlier upon early settlement), or, if the purchase contracts have terminated, the related pledged securities will be delivered (subject to delays, including potentially as a result of the imposition of the automatic stay under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, as described under “Description of the Purchase Contracts—Termination”) at the corporate trust office of the purchase contract agent or its agent upon presentation and surrender of the applicable Corporate Unit or Treasury Unit certificate, if in certificated form.

If Corporate Units or Treasury Units are in certificated form and the holder fails to present and surrender the certificate evidencing the Corporate Units or Treasury Units to the purchase contract agent on or prior to the purchase contract settlement date, the shares of common stock issuable upon settlement with respect to the related purchase contract will be registered in the name of the purchase contract agent or its nominee. The shares, together with any distributions, will be held by the purchase contract agent as agent for the benefit of the holder until the certificate is presented and surrendered or the holder provides satisfactory evidence that the certificate has been destroyed, lost or stolen, together with any indemnity that may be required by the purchase contract agent and us.

If the purchase contracts terminate prior to the purchase contract settlement date, the related pledged securities are transferred to the purchase contract agent for distribution to the holders, and a holder fails to present and surrender the certificate evidencing the holder’s Corporate Units or Treasury Units, if in certificated form, to the purchase contract agent, the related pledged securities delivered to the purchase contract agent and payments on the pledged securities will be held by the purchase contract agent as agent for the benefit of the holder until the applicable certificate is presented, if in certificated form, or the holder provides the evidence and indemnity described above.

No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of the Corporate Units or Treasury Units, except for any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith.

The purchase contract agent will have no obligation to invest or to pay interest on any amounts it holds pending payment to any holder.

 

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Modification

The purchase contract and pledge agreement will contain provisions permitting us, the purchase contract agent and the collateral agent, to modify the purchase contract and pledge agreement without the consent of the holders for any of the following purposes:

 

•

to evidence the succession of another person to our obligations;

 

•

to add to the covenants for the benefit of holders or to surrender any of our rights or powers under the purchase contract and pledge agreement;

 

•

to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment of a successor purchase contract agent or a successor collateral agent or securities intermediary;

 

•

to make provision with respect to the rights of holders pursuant to the requirements applicable to reorganization events; and

 

•

to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provisions that may be inconsistent with any other provision in the purchase contract and pledge agreement or to make such other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under the purchase contract and pledge agreement that do not adversely affect the interests of any holders of Equity Units; it being understood that any amendment made to conform the provisions of the purchase contract and pledge agreement to the description of such agreement, the Equity Units and the purchase contracts contained in the preliminary prospectus supplement for the Equity Units as supplemented and/or amended by the related pricing term sheet will be deemed not to adversely affect the interests of the holders.

The purchase contract and pledge agreement will contain provisions allowing us, the purchase contract agent and the collateral agent, subject to certain limited exceptions, to modify the terms of the purchase contracts or the purchase contract and pledge agreement with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority of the outstanding Equity Units, with holders of Corporate Units and Treasury Units voting as a single class. However, no such modification may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding purchase contract affected thereby:

 

•

subject to our right to defer contract adjustment payments, change any payment date;

 

•

impair the holders’ right to institute suit for the enforcement of a purchase contract or payment of any contract adjustment payments (including compounded contract adjustment payments);

 

•

except as required pursuant to any anti-dilution adjustment, reduce the number of shares of our common stock purchasable under a purchase contract, increase the purchase price of the shares of our common stock on settlement of any purchase contract, change the purchase contract settlement date or change the right to early settlement or fundamental change early settlement in a manner adverse to the holders or otherwise adversely affect the holder’s rights under any purchase contract, the purchase contract and pledge agreement or remarketing agreement in any respect;

 

•

increase the amount or change the type of collateral required to be pledged to secure a holder’s obligations under the purchase contract and pledge agreement;

 

•

impair the right of the holder of any purchase contract to receive distributions on the collateral, or otherwise adversely affect the holder’s rights in or to such collateral;

 

•

reduce any contract adjustment payments or any deferred contract adjustment payments (including compounded contract adjustment payments) or change any place where, or the coin or currency in which, any contract adjustment payment is payable; or

 

•

reduce the percentage of the outstanding purchase contracts whose holders’ consent is required for the modification, amendment or waiver of the provisions of the purchase contracts and the purchase contract and pledge agreement.

 

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However, if any amendment or proposal would adversely affect only the Corporate Units or only the Treasury Units, then only the affected class of holders will be entitled to vote on such amendment or proposal, and such amendment or proposal will not be effective except with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority of such class or, if referred to in the seven bullets above, each holder affected thereby.

No Consent to Assumption

Each holder of a Corporate Unit or a Treasury Unit will be deemed under the terms of the purchase contract and pledge agreement, by the purchase of such Corporate Unit or Treasury Unit, to have expressly withheld any consent to the assumption under Section 365 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code or otherwise, of the related purchase contracts by us, our receiver, liquidator or trustee or person or entity performing similar functions in the event that we become a debtor under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code or other similar state or federal law providing for reorganization or liquidation.

Consolidation, Merger and Conveyance of Assets as an Entirety

We will agree not to merge or consolidate with any other person or sell or convey all or substantially all of our assets to any person unless (i) either we are the continuing entity, or the successor entity (if other than us) is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or a State thereof or the District of Columbia and such corporation expressly assumes all of our responsibilities and liabilities under the purchase contracts, the Corporate Units, the Treasury Units, the purchase contract and pledge agreement, the remarketing agreement (if any) and the indenture by one or more supplemental agreements in form satisfactory to the purchase contract agent, the collateral agent and the indenture trustee, executed and delivered to the purchase contract agent, the collateral agent and the indenture trustee by such corporation, and (ii) we or such successor corporation, as the case may be, will not, immediately after such merger or consolidation, or such sale or conveyance, be in default in the performance of any of its obligations or covenants under such agreements.

In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance, and upon any such assumption by the successor corporation, such successor corporation shall succeed to and be substituted for us, with the same effect as if it had been named in the purchase contracts, the Corporate Units, the Treasury Units, the purchase contract and pledge agreement and the remarketing agreement (if any) as us and (other than in the case of a lease) we shall be relieved of any further obligation under the purchase contracts, the Corporate Units, the Treasury Units, the purchase contract and pledge agreement and the remarketing agreement (if any).

Title

We, the purchase contract agent and the collateral agent may treat the registered owner of any Corporate Units or Treasury Units as the absolute owner of the Corporate Units or Treasury Units for the purpose of making payment (subject to the record date provisions described above), settling the related purchase contracts and for all other purposes.

Replacement of Equity Unit Certificates

In the event that physical certificates have been issued, any mutilated Corporate Unit or Treasury Unit certificate will be replaced by us at the expense of the holder upon surrender of the certificate to the purchase contract agent at the corporate trust office of the purchase contract agent or its agent, in each case, in the continental United States of America. Corporate Unit or Treasury Unit certificates that become destroyed, lost or stolen will be replaced by us at the expense of the holder upon delivery to us and the purchase contract agent of evidence of their destruction, loss or theft satisfactory to us and the purchase contract agent. In the case of a destroyed, lost or stolen Corporate Unit or Treasury Unit certificate, an indemnity satisfactory to the purchase contract agent and us may be required at the expense of the holder before a replacement certificate will be issued.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, we will not be obligated to issue any Corporate Unit or Treasury Unit certificates on or after the business day immediately preceding the purchase contract settlement date or the date on which the purchase contracts have terminated. The purchase contract and pledge agreement will provide that, in lieu of the delivery of a replacement Corporate Unit or Treasury Unit certificate, the purchase contract agent, upon delivery of the evidence and indemnity described above, will, in the case of the purchase contract settlement date, deliver the shares of common stock issuable pursuant to the purchase contracts included in the Corporate Units or Treasury Units evidenced by the certificate, or, if the purchase contracts have terminated prior to the purchase contract settlement date, transfer the pledged securities included in the Corporate Units or Treasury Units evidenced by the certificate.

Governing Law

The purchase contracts and the purchase contract and pledge agreement and the remarketing agreement will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York (without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof).

Information Concerning the Purchase Contract Agent

U.S. Bank (or its successor) will be the purchase contract agent. The purchase contract agent will act as the agent for the holders of Corporate Units and Treasury Units. The purchase contract agent will not be obligated to take any discretionary action in connection with a default under the terms of the Corporate Units, the Treasury Units or the purchase contract and pledge agreement.

The purchase contract and pledge agreement will contain provisions limiting the liability of the purchase contract agent. The purchase contract and pledge agreement also will contain provisions under which the purchase contract agent may resign or be replaced. Such resignation or replacement will be effective upon the appointment of a successor.

In addition to serving as the purchase contract agent and collateral agent, as described below, U.S. Bank will serve as the custodial agent and securities intermediary under the purchase contract and pledge agreement and as the “indenture trustee” for the RSNs. We and certain of our affiliates maintain banking and credit relationships with U.S. Bank. U.S. Bank also serves as trustee of some of our pension plans. U.S. Bank and its affiliates have purchased, and are likely to purchase in the future, our securities and securities of our affiliates.

Information Concerning the Collateral Agent

U.S. Bank (or its successor) will be the collateral agent. The collateral agent will act solely as our agent and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any of the holders of the Corporate Units and the Treasury Units except for the obligations owed by a pledgee of property to the owner thereof under the purchase contract and pledge agreement and applicable law.

The purchase contract and pledge agreement will contain provisions limiting the liability of the collateral agent. The purchase contract and pledge agreement also will contain provisions under which the collateral agent may resign or be replaced. Such resignation or replacement will be effective upon the appointment of a successor.

Miscellaneous

The purchase contract and pledge agreement will provide that we will indemnify the purchase contract agent and pay all fees and expenses related to (1) the retention of the purchase contract agent, the collateral agent, the custodial agent and the securities intermediary and (2) any enforcement by the purchase contract agent of the

 

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rights of the holders of the Corporate Units and Treasury Units. Holders who elect to substitute the related pledged securities, thereby creating Treasury Units or recreating Corporate Units, however, will be responsible for any fees or expenses payable in connection with such substitution, as well as for any commissions, fees or other expenses incurred in acquiring the pledged securities to be substituted. We will not be responsible for any such fees or expenses. The purchase contract agent shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by the purchase contract and pledge agreement at the request or direction of any of the holders pursuant to the purchase contract and pledge agreement, unless such holders shall have offered to the purchase contract agent security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the purchase contract agent against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

The purchase contract and pledge agreement will also provide that any court of competent jurisdiction may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under the purchase contract and pledge agreement, or in any suit against the purchase contract agent for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as purchase contract agent, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the purchase contract agent, to any suit instituted by any holder, or group of holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% of the outstanding Equity Units, or to any suit instituted by any holder for the enforcement of any interest on any RSNs owed pursuant to such holder’s applicable ownership interests in RSNs or contract adjustment payments on or after the respective payment date therefor in respect of any Equity Unit held by such holder, or for enforcement of the right to purchase shares of our common stock under the purchase contracts constituting part of any Equity Unit held by such holder.

Book-Entry System

The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, which we refer to along with its successors in this capacity as the “depository,” will act as securities depository for the Corporate Units and Treasury Units. The Corporate Units and Treasury Units will be issued only as fully registered securities registered in the name of Cede & Co., the depository’s nominee, or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. One or more fully registered global security certificates, representing the total aggregate number of Corporate Units and Treasury Units, will be issued and will be deposited with the depository or its custodian and will bear a legend regarding the restrictions on exchanges and registration of transfer referred to below.

The laws of some jurisdictions may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in the Corporate Units and Treasury Units so long as the Corporate Units and Treasury Units are represented by global security certificates.

DTC advises that it is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. The depository holds securities that its participants (“direct participants”) deposit with the depository. The depository also facilitates the post-trade settlement among direct participants of sales and other securities transactions in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between participants’ accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct participants include U.S. and Non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. The depository is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (“DTCC”). DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation, and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to the depository’s system is also available to others, including securities

 

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brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations that clear transactions through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant, either directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to the depository and its participants are on file with the SEC.

If (1) the depository notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue its services as depository and no successor depository has been appointed within 90 days after our receipt of such notice; (2) the depository ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act when the depository is required to be so registered and we receive notice of such cessation, and no successor depository has been appointed within 90 days after our receipt of such notice or our becoming aware of such cessation; or (3) any Event of Default (as defined in “Description of the Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes—Events of Default”) has occurred and is continuing or any other event has occurred and is continuing, which after notice or lapse of time, would become an Event of Default with respect to the RSNs, or we have failed to perform any of our obligations under the purchase contract and pledge agreement, the Corporate Units, the Treasury Units or the purchase contracts, and any beneficial owner requests that its beneficial interest be exchanged for a physical certificate, then (x) we will prepare definitive certificates with respect to such Corporate Units or Treasury Units, as applicable, and will deliver such certificates to the purchase contract agent and (y) upon surrender of the global security certificates representing Corporate Units or Treasury Units by the depository, accompanied by registration instructions, we will cause definitive certificates to be delivered to the beneficial owners in accordance with instructions provided by the depository. We and the purchase contract agent will not be liable for any delay in delivery of such instructions and may conclusively rely on, and will be authorized and protected in relying on, such instructions. Each definitive certificate so delivered will evidence Corporate Units or Treasury Units, as applicable, of the same kind and tenor as the global security certificate so surrendered in respect thereof.

As long as the depository or its nominee is the registered owner of the global security certificates, the depository or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner and holder of the global security certificates and all Corporate Units and Treasury Units represented by these certificates for all purposes under the Corporate Units, Treasury Units and the purchase contract and pledge agreement. Except in the limited circumstances referred to above, owners of beneficial interests in global security certificates:

 

•

will not be entitled to have the Corporate Units or the Treasury Units represented by these global security certificates registered in their names; and

 

•

will not be considered to be owners or holders of the global security certificates or any Corporate Units or Treasury Units represented by these certificates for any purpose under the Corporate Units, Treasury Units or the purchase contract and pledge agreement.

All payments on the Corporate Units and Treasury Units represented by the global security certificates and all transfers and deliveries of related RSNs, Treasury securities and common stock will be made to the depository or its nominee, as the case may be, as the holder of the securities.

Ownership of beneficial interests in the global security certificates will be limited to participants or persons that may hold beneficial interests through institutions that have accounts with the depository or its nominee. Ownership of beneficial interests in global security certificates will be shown only on, and the transfer of those ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depository or its nominee, with respect to participants’ interests, or any participant, with respect to interests of persons held by the participant on their behalf. Procedures for settlement of purchase contracts on the purchase contract settlement date or upon early settlement will be governed by arrangements among the depository, participants and persons that may hold beneficial interests through participants designed to permit settlement without the physical movement of certificates. Payments, transfers, deliveries, exchanges and other matters relating to beneficial interests in global security certificates may be subject to various policies and procedures adopted by the depository from time to time. None of us, the purchase contract agent or any agent of us or the purchase contract agent will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the depository’s or any participant’s records relating to, or for payments made on account of, beneficial interests in global security certificates, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any of the depository’s records or any participant’s records relating to these beneficial ownership interests.

 

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Although the depository has agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of interest in the global security certificates among participants, the depository is under no obligation to perform or continue to perform these procedures, and these procedures may be discontinued at any time. We will not have any responsibility for the performance by the depository or its direct participants or indirect participants under the rules and procedures governing the depository.

The information in this section concerning the depository and its book-entry system has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we have not attempted to verify the accuracy of this information.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF THE REMARKETABLE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES

In this Description of the Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes, “Laclede,” “we,” “us,” “our” and the “Company” refer only to The Laclede Group, Inc. and any successor obligor, and not to any of its subsidiaries.

The following summary description sets forth certain terms and provisions of the 2014 Series A     % remarketable junior subordinated notes due 2022 (the “RSNs”), and to the extent inconsistent therewith replaces the description of the general terms and provisions of the subordinated debt securities set forth in the accompanying base prospectus, to which we refer you. Because this description is a summary, it does not describe every aspect of the RSNs and should be read together with the forms of RSNs, the subordinated indenture (as defined under “Description of the Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes—Ranking”) under which the RSNs will be issued, the first supplemental indenture (as defined under “Description of the Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes—Ranking”) establishing the terms of the RSNs. The subordinated indenture is filed as an exhibit to, and incorporated by reference in, the registration statement of which the accompanying base prospectus is a part. In this summary, we refer to the subordinated indenture, as supplemented by the first supplemental indenture, together, as the “indenture.”

The indenture and its associated documents contain the full legal text of the matters described in this section. The indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”), and you should refer to the Trust Indenture Act for provisions that apply to the RSNs.

General

We will issue the RSNs as debt securities under the subordinated indenture. We may issue an unlimited amount of other securities under the subordinated indenture which are on parity with the RSNs.

The RSNs will be our unsecured and subordinated obligations and will be subordinated to all of our Priority Indebtedness (as defined under “—Subordination”). Additional information about our current outstanding indebtedness and the relative priorities of our indebtedness is described below under “—Ranking.”

The RSNs will be issued in fully registered form only, without coupons. Any RSNs that are issued as separate securities as a result of the creation of Treasury Units or in connection with an early settlement, early settlement upon a fundamental change, a remarketing, a termination or a settlement with separate cash will be initially represented by one or more fully registered global securities (the “global securities”) deposited with the indenture trustee, as custodian for DTC, as depository, and registered in the name of DTC or DTC’s nominee. A beneficial interest in a global security will be shown on, and transfers or exchanges thereof will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC and its participants, as described below under “—Book-Entry Issuance—The Depository Trust Company.” The authorized denominations of the RSNs will be $1,000 and any larger amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000. However, if a holder is entitled to receive RSNs in an aggregate principal amount that is not an integral multiple of $1,000 upon termination of the purchase contracts as described under “Description of the Purchase Contracts—Termination” above, we will issue upon request the purchase contract agent RSNs in denominations of $50 and integral multiples thereof. Except in certain circumstances described below, the RSNs that are issued as global securities will not be exchangeable for RSNs in definitive certificated form.

Each Corporate Unit includes a 1/20, or 5%, undivided beneficial ownership interest in an RSN having a principal amount of $1,000 that corresponds to the stated amount of $50 per Corporate Unit.

The RSNs will not be subject to a sinking fund provision and, prior to the purchase contract settlement date, will not be subject to defeasance. After the purchase contract settlement date, the RSNs will be subject to defeasance as described under “Description of Debt Securities—Junior Subordinated Debt Securities—Satisfaction and Discharge” in the accompanying base prospectus. The entire principal amount of the RSNs will

 

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mature and become due and payable, together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon (other than deferred interest payments and compound interest thereon, with respect to any deferral period that begins prior to the purchase contract settlement date, which will be due and payable at the end of such deferral period as described below under “—Option to Defer Interest Payments”), on April 1, 2022. As described below under “—Put Option upon Failed Remarketing,” holders will have the right to require us to purchase their RSNs under certain circumstances. Except as set forth under “—Put Option upon Failed Remarketing” and “—Dividend and Other Payment Stoppages During Interest Deferral and Under Certain Other Circumstances,” the indenture will not contain any financial covenants or restrict us from paying dividends, making investments, incurring indebtedness or repurchasing our securities. Except for the covenants described under “—Consolidation, Merger or Sale,” the indenture does not contain provisions that afford holders of the RSNs protection in the event we are involved in a highly leveraged transaction or other similar transaction that may adversely affect such holders. The indenture does not limit our ability to issue or incur other debt or issue preferred stock.

The RSNs are initially being offered in the principal amount of $125,000,000. If we issue additional Corporate Units as a result of the underwriters’ exercise of their option to buy additional Corporate Units, we may, without the consent of the holders of the RSNs, increase the principal amount of the RSNs and issue up to an additional $18,750,000 principal amount of RSNs having the same ranking, interest rate, maturity and other terms as the RSNs. Any such new RSNs, together with the existing RSNs, will constitute a single class of securities under the indenture. The existing RSNs and any new RSNs having the same terms as the RSNs offered hereby subsequently issued under the indenture will be treated as a single class for all purposes under the indenture, including, without limitation, voting waivers and amendments.

We will not pay any additional amounts to holders of the RSNs that are not U.S. persons in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge.

Ranking

The RSNs will be issued by us under an indenture (the “subordinated indenture”) between us and U.S. Bank (referred to herein as the “indenture trustee”), as supplemented by a supplemental indenture, the terms of which are described in this prospectus supplement (the “first supplemental indenture” and, together with the subordinated indenture, the “indenture”). We may issue under the subordinated indenture additional debt securities that rank on parity with to the RSNs.

The RSNs will be unsecured and will rank junior in payment to all of our existing and future Priority Indebtedness, as described under “—Subordination.” The RSNs will also be effectively subordinated to all liabilities of our subsidiaries. All of our existing indebtedness is Priority Indebtedness. See “—Subordination.”

Because we are a holding company and conduct all of our operations through our subsidiaries, our ability to meet our obligations under the RSNs is dependent on the earnings and cash flows of those subsidiaries and the ability of those subsidiaries to pay dividends or to advance or repay funds to us. Holders of the RSNs will generally have a junior position to claims of creditors of our subsidiaries, including trade creditors, debtholders, secured creditors, taxing authorities, guarantee holders and any preferred stockholders. As of March 31, 2014, we had $25 million principal amount of outstanding long-term debt on an unconsolidated basis that will be senior to the RSNs. We do not have any debt securities outstanding that would rank on parity with, or junior to, the RSNs. Additionally, as of March 31, 2014, our current primary operating subsidiary, Laclede Gas, and Alagasco, which we expect to acquire later this year (see “Prospectus Supplement Summary—Pending Alagasco Acquisition”), have approximately $810 million and $250 million, respectively, principal amount of outstanding long-term debt (including securities due within one year), which would be senior to our rights as creditors of those companies. In addition, all of Laclede Gas’ long-term debt is issued under a first mortgage bond indenture that is secured by a lien on substantially all of its utility plant. The provisions of the indenture do not limit the amount of indebtedness or preferred stock issuable by our subsidiaries. We and our subsidiaries expect to incur additional indebtedness from time to time.

 

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Principal and Interest

The RSNs will mature on April 1, 2022 (the “stated maturity date”) and will initially bear interest from the date of original issuance at the rate of     % per annum. Subject to any deferral as described below under “—Option to Defer Interest Payments,” and subject to the changes to the interest payment dates made pursuant to a successful remarketing, interest will be payable quarterly on January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 of each year (each, an “interest payment date”), commencing on October 1, 2014, and at maturity. Subject to certain exceptions, the indenture provides for the payment of interest on an interest payment date only to persons in whose names the RSNs are registered at the close of business on the record date; which will be the close of business on the 15th day of the calendar month immediately preceding the calendar month in which the applicable interest payment date falls (whether or not a business day). Notwithstanding the foregoing, any interest payable at maturity will be paid to the person to whom principal is payable. Interest will be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months, and with respect to any period less than a full calendar month, on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in a 30-day month.

If any interest payment date, redemption date, maturity date or the date (if any) on which we are required to purchase the RSNs is not a business day, then the applicable payment will be made on the next succeeding day that is a business day, and no interest will accrue or be paid in respect of such delay. “Business day,” for purposes of the indenture, means any day that is not a Saturday or Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or required by law or executive order to close or a day on which the corporate trust office of the indenture trustee is closed for business.

The interest rate on the RSNs may be reset in connection with a successful remarketing, as described below under “—Interest Rate Reset.” However, if there is not a successful remarketing, the interest rate will not be reset and the RSNs will continue to bear interest at the initial interest rate, all as described below under “—Interest Rate Reset.” Except in the case of a failed final remarketing, interest on the RSNs following the optional remarketing settlement date or the purchase contract settlement date, as applicable, will be payable on a semi-annual basis.

Option to Defer Interest Payments

Prior to any successful remarketing of the RSNs, we may elect at one or more times to defer payment of interest on the RSNs for one or more consecutive interest periods. However, we will not be permitted to defer the interest payable on the purchase contract settlement date or the maturity date, and no interest payment may be deferred beyond the purchase contract settlement date or the maturity date.

Deferred interest on the RSNs will bear interest at the interest rate applicable to the RSNs, compounded on each interest payment date to, but excluding, the interest payment date on which such deferred interest is paid, subject to applicable law. As used in this prospectus supplement, a “deferral period” refers to the period beginning on an interest payment date with respect to which we elect to defer interest and ending on the earlier of (i) the next interest payment date on which we have paid all accrued and previously unpaid interest (including compounded interest thereon) on the RSNs and (ii) (a) the purchase contract settlement date, in the case of a deferral period that begins prior to the purchase contract settlement date, or (b) the maturity date, in the case of a deferral period that begins after the purchase contract settlement date.

We will give the holders of the RSNs and the indenture trustee written notice of our election to begin a deferral period at least one business day before the record date for the interest payment date on which we intend to begin a deferral period. However, our failure to pay interest on any interest payment date will itself constitute the commencement of a deferral period (and will not constitute a default) unless we pay such interest within five business days after the interest payment date, whether or not we provide a notice of deferral. We may pay deferred interest (including compounded interest thereon) in cash on any scheduled interest payment date occurring on or prior to (i) the purchase contract settlement date, in the case of a deferral period that begins prior

 

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to the purchase contract settlement date, or (ii) the maturity date, in the case of a deferral period that begins after the purchase contract settlement date; provided that in order to end a deferral period on any scheduled interest payment date other than the purchase contract settlement date or the maturity date, we must deliver written notice thereof to holders of the RSNs and the indenture trustee on or before the relevant record date.

In connection with any successful remarketing during the final remarketing period, all accrued and unpaid deferred interest (including compounded interest thereon) will be paid to the holders of the RSNs (whether or not such RSNs were remarketed in such remarketing) on the purchase contract settlement date in cash.

If we have paid all deferred interest (including compounded interest thereon) on the RSNs, we can again defer interest payments on RSNs as described above. The indenture does not limit the number or frequency of interest deferral periods.

If we have not paid all such deferred amounts (including compounded interest thereon) in cash for a period of 30 days following the end of the deferral period, we will be in default under the indenture. See “Description of Debt Securities—Junior Subordinated Debt Securities—Events of Default” in the accompanying base prospectus. We currently do not intend to exercise our option to defer interest on the RSNs.

In connection with any successful remarketing of the RSNs, the interest deferral provisions will cease to apply to the RSNs.

Dividend and Other Payment Stoppages During Interest Deferral and Under Certain Other Circumstances

We have agreed that if a deferral period is continuing with respect to the RSNs or we have given notice of a deferral period and the deferral period has not yet commenced, then until all deferred interest (including compounded interest thereon) has been paid, we will not:

 

(i)

declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any shares of our capital stock;

 

(ii)

make any payment of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, or repay, repurchase or redeem any of our debt securities that rank on parity with, or junior to, the RSNs; or

 

(iii)

make any guarantee payments under any guarantee by us of debt securities if the guarantee ranks on parity with, or junior to, the RSNs.

The restrictions listed above do not apply to:

 

(a)

purchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of our capital stock in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of employees, officers, directors, agents or consultants or a stock purchase or dividend reinvestment plan, or the satisfaction of our obligations pursuant to any contract or security outstanding on the date the payment of interest is deferred requiring us to purchase, redeem or acquire our capital stock;

 

(b)

any payment, repayment, redemption, purchase, acquisition or declaration of dividends described in clause (i) above as a result of a reclassification of our capital stock, or the exchange or conversion of all or a portion of one class or series of our capital stock, for another class or series of our capital stock;

 

(c)

the purchase of fractional interests in shares of our capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of our capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, or in connection with the settlement of stock purchase contracts outstanding on the date the payment of interest is deferred;

 

(d)

dividends or distributions paid or made in our capital stock (or rights to acquire our capital stock), or repurchases, redemptions or acquisitions of capital stock in connection with the issuance or exchange of capital stock (or of securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our capital stock) and distributions in connection with the settlement of stock purchase contracts outstanding on the date the payment of interest is deferred;

 

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(e)

redemptions, exchanges or repurchases of, or with respect to, any rights outstanding under a shareholder rights plan outstanding on the date the payment of interest is deferred or the declaration or payment thereunder of a dividend or distribution of or with respect to rights in the future;

 

(f)

payments on the RSNs, any trust preferred securities, subordinated debentures, junior subordinated debentures or junior subordinated notes, or any guarantees of any of the foregoing, in each case, that rank equal in right of payment to the RSNs, so long as the amount of payments made on account of such securities or guarantees is paid on all such securities and guarantees then outstanding on a pro rata basis in proportion to the full payment to which each series of such securities and guarantees is then entitled if paid in full; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, we will not be permitted under the indenture to make interest payments in part; or

 

(g)

any payment of deferred interest or principal on, or repayment, redemption or repurchase of, parity or junior securities that, if not made, would cause us to breach the terms of the instrument governing such parity or junior securities.

Remarketing

The RSNs will be remarketed as described under “Description of the Purchase Contracts—Remarketing.”

Following any successful remarketing of the RSNs:

 

•

the interest rate on the RSNs may be reset as described below and under “—Interest Rate Reset” below;

 

•

interest will be payable on the RSNs semi-annually on April 1 and October 1 of each year;

 

•

the RSNs will cease to be redeemable at our option, and the provisions described under “—Redemption at Our Option” and “—Redemption Procedures” below will no longer apply to the RSNs; and

 

•

we will cease to have the ability to defer interest payments on the RSNs, and the provisions described under “—Option to Defer Interest Payments” above will no longer apply to the RSNs.

All such modifications will take effect only if the remarketing is successful, without the consent of holders, on the optional remarketing settlement date or the purchase contract settlement date, as the case may be, and will apply to all RSNs, whether or not included in the remarketing. All other terms of the RSNs will remain unchanged.

We will use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that, if required by applicable law, a registration statement, including a prospectus, with regard to the full amount of the RSNs to be remarketed will be effective under the securities laws in a form that may be used by the remarketing agent in connection with the remarketing (unless a registration statement is not required under the applicable laws and regulations that are in effect at that time or unless we conduct any remarketing in accordance with an exemption under the securities laws).

In order to remarket the RSNs, the remarketing agent, in consultation with us, may reset the interest rate on the RSNs (either upward or downward) in order to produce the required price in the remarketing, as discussed under “Description of the Purchase Contracts—Remarketing.”

Remarketing of RSNs That Are Not Included in Corporate Units

At any time after we give notice of a remarketing (other than during a blackout period), holders of RSNs that do not underlie Corporate Units may elect to have their RSNs remarketed in such remarketing in the same manner as RSNs that underlie Corporate Units by delivering their RSNs along with a notice of this election to the custodial agent. The custodial agent will hold the RSNs separate from the collateral account in which the pledged securities will be held. Holders of RSNs electing to have their RSNs remarketed will also have the right to make or withdraw such election at any time on or prior to 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on the second business day

 

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immediately preceding the first day of an optional remarketing period or final remarketing period, as the case may be, in each case, other than during a blackout period. In the event of a successful remarketing during the optional remarketing period, each holder of separate RSNs that elects to have its RSNs remarketed will receive, for each $1,000 principal amount of RSNs sold, the remarketing price per RSN. The “remarketing price per RSN” means, for each $1,000 principal amount of RSNs, an amount in cash equal to the quotient of the Treasury portfolio purchase price divided by the number of RSNs having a principal amount of $1,000 included in such remarketing that are held as components of Corporate Units. For the purposes of determining the proceeds that the remarketing agent will seek to obtain for the RSNs in an optional remarketing, the “separate RSNs purchase price” means the amount in cash equal to the product of (1) the remarketing price per RSN and (2) the number of RSNs having a principal amount of $1,000 included in such remarketing that are not part of Corporate Units. In the event of a successful remarketing during the final remarketing period, each holder of separate RSNs that elects to have its RSNs remarketed will receive an amount, for each $1,000 principal amount of RSNs, equal to $1,000 in cash. Any accrued and unpaid interest on such RSNs, including any accrued and unpaid deferred interest (including compounded interest thereon), will be paid in cash by us, on the purchase contract settlement date.

Interest Rate Reset

In the case of a successful remarketing, the interest rate on the RSNs may be reset on the date of a successful remarketing and the relevant reset rate will become effective on the settlement date of the remarketing, which will be, in the case of an optional remarketing, the third business day following the optional remarketing date (or, if the remarketed RSNs are priced after 4:30 p.m. New York time on the optional remarketing date, the fourth business day following the optional remarketing date) and, in the case of the final remarketing period, the purchase contract settlement date. If a reset occurs pursuant to a successful optional remarketing, the reset rate will be the interest rate determined by the remarketing agent, in consultation with us, as the rate the RSNs should bear in order for the remarketing proceeds to equal at least 100% of the Treasury portfolio purchase price plus the separate RSNs purchase price, if any. If a reset occurs pursuant to a successful final remarketing, the reset rate will be the interest rate determined by the remarketing agent, in consultation with us, as the rate the RSNs should bear in order for the remarketing proceeds to equal at least 100% of the principal amount of the RSNs being remarketed. In any case, a reset rate may be higher or lower than the initial interest rate of the RSNs depending on the results of the remarketing and market conditions at that time. However, in no event will the reset rate exceed the maximum rate permitted by applicable law. In addition, following a successful remarketing, interest on RSNs will be payable on a semi-annual basis on April 1 and October 1 of each year.

If the RSNs are not successfully remarketed, the interest rate will not be reset and the RSNs will continue to bear interest at the initial annual interest rate of     %.

The remarketing agent is not obligated to purchase any RSNs that would otherwise remain unsold in the remarketing. None of the Company, the remarketing agent or any agent of the Company or the remarketing agent will be obligated in any case to provide funds to make payment upon tender of RSNs for remarketing.

Put Option upon Failed Remarketing

If the RSNs have not been successfully remarketed on or prior to the last day of the final remarketing period, holders of RSNs will have the right to require us to purchase their RSNs on the purchase contract settlement date, upon at least two business days’ prior notice in the case of RSNs that are not included in Corporate Units, at a price equal to the principal amount of such RSNs. In such circumstances, holders of RSNs that underlie Corporate Units will be deemed to have exercised such put right as described under “Description of the Purchase Contracts—Remarketing,” unless they settle the related purchase contracts with separate cash.

 

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Redemption at Our Option

We may redeem the RSNs at our option only if there has been a failed final remarketing. In that event, any RSNs that remain outstanding after the purchase contract settlement date will be redeemable on or after April 1, 2019 at our option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but excluding the redemption date. We may at any time irrevocably waive the right to redeem the RSNs for any specified period (including the remaining term of the RSNs). We may not redeem the RSNs if the RSNs have been accelerated and such acceleration has not been rescinded or unless all accrued and unpaid interest has been paid in full on all outstanding RSNs for all interest periods terminating on or prior to the redemption date. Following a successful remarketing of the RSNs, the RSNs will cease to be redeemable at our option.

Redemption Procedures

We will send notice of any optional redemption to the registered holder of the RSNs being redeemed not less than 20 days and not more than 60 days before the redemption date. The notice of redemption will identify, among other things, the redemption date, the redemption price and that on the redemption date, the redemption price will become due and payable and that RSNs called for redemption will cease to accrue interest on and after the redemption date (unless there is a default on payment of the redemption price). Prior to the redemption date, we will deposit with the paying agent or the indenture trustee money sufficient to pay the redemption price of the RSNs to be redeemed on that date. If we redeem less than all of the RSNs, and the RSNs are issued as global securities, the RSNs to be redeemed will be selected by DTC in accordance with applicable DTC procedures. If the RSNs to be redeemed are not issued as global securities, the indenture trustee will choose the RSNs to be redeemed by lot or in any manner that it deems fair.

In the event the final remarketing fails and you do not settle the related purchase contracts with separate cash, if you hold RSNs as part of Corporate Units you will be deemed to exercise your option to put the RSNs to us unless you elect to settle the purchase contracts with separate cash as described under “Description of the Purchase Contracts—Notice to Settle with Cash,” and we will apply the put price against your obligations under the purchase contracts. This remedy has the effect similar to an automatic redemption of the RSNs, but we do not have to give you prior notice or follow any of the other redemption procedures.

We may block the transfer or exchange of (i) all RSNs during a period of 15 days prior to the date on which notice of selection of the RSNs for optional redemption is given or (ii) any RSN being redeemed, except with respect to the unredeemed portion of any RSN being redeemed solely in part.

The “Description of Debt Securities—General—Redemption” section of the accompanying base prospectus does not apply to the RSNs.

Events of Default

The Events of Default and related provisions set forth under “Description of Debt Securities—Junior Subordinated Debt Securities—Events of Default” in the accompanying base prospectus will apply to the RSNs. In addition, an “Event of Default” with respect to the RSNs will occur if we fail to pay the purchase price of any RSN on the purchase contract settlement date, if required under “—Put Option upon Failed Remarketing” above.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of outstanding RSNs may waive a default or Event of Default, other than a default in the payment of principal of, or interest on, the RSNs (including the redemption price or purchase price of the RSNs, if applicable), or a default or Event of Default with respect to a covenant or provision that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding RSN.

If any portion of the amount payable on the RSNs upon acceleration is considered by a court to be unearned interest, the court could disallow recovery of such portion.

 

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Consolidation, Merger or Sale

We will agree not to merge or consolidate with any other corporation or sell or convey all or substantially all of our assets to any person unless (i) either we are the continuing corporation, or the successor corporation (if other than us) is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or a State thereof or the District of Columbia and such corporation expressly assumes the due and punctual payment of the principal of and interest on the RSNs, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of the indenture to be performed by us by supplemental indenture in form satisfactory to the indenture trustee, executed and delivered to the indenture trustee by such corporation, and (ii) we or such successor corporation, as the case may be, will not, immediately after such merger or consolidation, or such sale or conveyance, be in default in the performance of any such covenant or condition.

In case of any such consolidation, merger or conveyance, such successor corporation will succeed to and be substituted for us, with the same effect as if it had been named as us in the indenture, and in the event of such conveyance (other than by way of a lease), we will be discharged of all of our obligations and covenants under the indenture and the RSNs.

This “—Consolidation, Merger or Sale” section replaces the “Description of Debt Securities—General—Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets” section of the accompanying base prospectus in its entirety.

Modification of Indenture

Without Holder Consent

Without the consent of any holders of RSNs, we and the indenture trustee may from time to time amend and/or supplement the indenture and the RSNs for the following purposes:

 

•

to evidence the succession of another corporation to us, or successive successions, and the assumption by such successor corporation of our covenants, agreements and obligations pursuant to the provisions described under “—Consolidation, Merger or Sale;”

 

•

to add to our covenants such further covenants, restrictions or conditions as we in good faith consider to be for the protection of the holders of the RSNs, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a default in any such additional covenants, restrictions or conditions a default or an Event of Default; provided that such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular grace period or an immediate enforcement upon such default or limit the remedies available to the indenture trustee upon such default;

 

•

to change or eliminate any provision of the indenture; provided, however, that any such change or elimination becomes effective only when there are no RSNs outstanding, or the RSNs are not entitled to the benefit of such provision;

 

•

as determined by us in good faith, to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained in the indenture that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions contained therein, or to make such other provision in regard to matters or questions arising under the indenture; provided that such action will not adversely affect the interest of the holders of the RSNs in any material respect;

 

•

to mortgage or pledge to the indenture trustee as security for the RSNs any property or assets that we may desire to mortgage or pledge as security for the RSNs;

 

•

to qualify, or maintain the qualification of, the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;

 

•

following the purchase contract settlement date, to supplement any of the provisions of the RSNs to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of the RSNs pursuant to the indenture, provided that any such action will not adversely affect the interests of any holder of any RSN in any material respect;

 

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•

to set forth the terms of the RSNs following a successful remarketing to incorporate the reset interest rate and semi-annual interest payment dates and to eliminate the RSN’s optional redemption and interest deferral provisions; and

 

•

to conform the terms of the indenture and the RSNs to the descriptions thereof contained in the “Description of the Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes,” “Description of the Equity Units,” “Description of the Purchase Contracts” and “Certain Provisions of the Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement” sections in the preliminary prospectus supplement for the Equity Units, as supplemented and/or amended by the related pricing term sheet.

With Holder Consent

Under the indenture, supplemental indentures for the purposes of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the RSNs under the indenture may be entered into by us, when authorized by board resolution, and the indenture trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the RSNs. However, no such supplemental indenture shall:

 

•

change the maturity of the RSNs, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of any interest thereon or on any overdue principal amount or reduce the principal amount thereof, or change the provisions pursuant to which the rate of interest on the RSNs is determined if such change could reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce the minimum rate of interest thereon (if any), or reduce any amount payable upon any redemption thereof, or reduce the amount to be paid at maturity or make the principal thereof or any interest thereon or on any overdue principal amount payable in any coin or currency other than U.S. dollars without the consent of the holder of each RSN so affected;

 

•

reduce the percentage of RSNs, the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture, without the consent of the holders of all RSNs then outstanding;

 

•

modify any of the provisions of the indenture relating to modifications, waivers of our compliance with covenants thereunder or direction of the indenture trustee by holders of RSNs, except to increase the percentage of holders who must consent thereto or to provide that certain other provisions cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holders of all RSNs then outstanding;

 

•

modify the provisions relating to the subordination of the RSNs in a manner adverse to the holders thereof without the consent of the holder of each RSN so affected;

 

•

modify the put right of holders of the RSNs upon a failed remarketing in a manner materially adverse to the holders without the consent of the holder of each RSN so affected; or

 

•

modify the remarketing provisions of the RSNs in a manner materially adverse to the holders without the consent of the holder of each RSN so affected.

For the avoidance of doubt, the immediately preceding sentence will not limit our ability to modify the terms of the RSNs in connection with a remarketing that is made in accordance with the terms of the indenture.

A supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of the indenture expressly included solely for the benefit of holders of securities other than the RSNs, or which modifies the rights of the holders of securities other than the RSNs with respect to such covenant or other provision, will be deemed not to affect the rights under the indenture of the holders of the RSNs.

We may omit to comply with any covenant or condition contained in the indenture if holders of a majority in principal amount of the RSNs waive such compliance.

The “Description of Debt Securities—Junior Subordinated Debt Securities—Modification and Waiver” section of the accompanying base prospectus does not apply to the RSNs.

 

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Subordination

The RSNs will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Priority Indebtedness as defined below.

If:

 

•

we make a payment or distribution of any of our assets to creditors upon our dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization, whether in bankruptcy, insolvency or otherwise;

 

•

a default beyond any grace period has occurred and is continuing with respect to the payment of principal, interest or any other monetary amounts due and payable on any Priority Indebtedness; or

 

•

the maturity of any Priority Indebtedness has been accelerated because of a default on that Priority Indebtedness,

then the holders of Priority Indebtedness generally will have the right to receive payment, in the case of the first instance, of all amounts due or to become due upon that Priority Indebtedness, and, in the case of the second and third instances, of all amounts due on that Priority Indebtedness, or we will make provision for those payments, before the holders of any RSNs have the right to receive any payments of principal or interest on their RSNs.

“Priority Indebtedness” means the principal, premium, interest and any other payment in respect of any of the following:

 

•

all of our current and future indebtedness for borrowed or purchase money whether or not evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other similar written instruments;

 

•

our obligations under synthetic leases, finance leases and capitalized leases;

 

•

our obligations for reimbursement under letters of credit, surety bonds, banker’s acceptances, security purchase facilities or similar facilities issued for our account;

 

•

any of our other indebtedness or obligations with respect to derivative contracts, including commodity contracts, interest rate, commodity and currency swap agreements, forward contracts and other similar agreements or arrangements; and

 

•

all indebtedness of others of the kinds described in the preceding categories which we have assumed, endorsed or guaranteed or with respect to which we have a similar contingent obligation.

However, “Priority Indebtedness” will not include trade accounts payable, accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business, indebtedness to our subsidiaries, and any other indebtedness that effectively by its terms, or expressly provides that it, ranks on parity with, or junior to, the RSNs.

Priority Indebtedness will be entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions in the indenture irrespective of the amendment, modification or waiver of any term of the Priority Indebtedness. We may not amend the indenture to change the subordination provisions without the consent of each holder of Priority Indebtedness that the amendment would adversely affect.

The RSNs will be unsecured and will be subordinated to all of our existing and future senior and subordinated debt, and any other debt that is expressly excluded from the definition of “Priority Indebtedness,” as described above. The RSNs will be effectively subordinated to all liabilities of our subsidiaries.

Holders of the RSNs should recognize that contractual provisions in the indenture may prohibit us from making payments on the RSNs. The RSNs are subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner stated in the indenture, to all of our Priority Indebtedness, as defined above.

The indenture does not restrict or limit in any way our ability to incur Priority Indebtedness. As of March 31, 2014, we had $25 million principal amount of outstanding long term debt on an unconsolidated basis

 

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that will be senior to the RSNs. We do not have any debt securities outstanding that would rank on parity with, or junior to, the RSNs. Additionally, as of March 31, 2014, our current primary operating subsidiary, Laclede Gas, and Alagasco, which we expect to acquire later this year (see “Prospectus Supplement Summary—Pending Alagasco Acquisition”), have approximately $810 million and $250 million, respectively, principal amount of outstanding long-term debt (including securities due within one year), which would be senior to our rights as creditors of those companies. In addition, all of Laclede Gas’ long-term debt is issued under a first mortgage bond indenture that is secured by a lien on substantially all of its utility plant.

The “Description of Debt Securities—Junior Subordinated Debt Securities—Subordination” section of the accompanying base prospectus does not apply to the RSNs.

Title

Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any RSN, we, the indenture trustee and any agent of ours or the indenture trustee may deem and treat the person in whose name such RSN is registered as the absolute owner of such RSN (whether or not payments in respect of such RSN are overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing thereon) for the purpose of receiving payment of or an account of the principal of and interest on such RSN and for all other purposes; and neither we nor the indenture trustee nor any agent of ours or the indenture trustee will be affected by any notice to the contrary.

Governing Law

The indenture and the RSNs provide that they will be governed by and for all purposes construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York (without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof).

The Indenture Trustee

The trustee under the indenture will be U.S. Bank. We and certain of our affiliates maintain banking and credit relationships with U.S. Bank. U.S. Bank also serves as trustee of some of our pension plans. U.S. Bank and its affiliates have purchased, and are likely to purchase in the future, our securities and securities of our affiliates.

Book-Entry Issuance—The Depository Trust Company

The RSNs that form a part of the Corporate Units will be issued in fully registered form and will be registered in the name of the purchase contract agent. The RSNs that do not form a part of the Corporate Units will be evidenced by one or more global notes registered in the name of DTC’s nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. Such global notes will be deposited with the indenture trustee as custodian for DTC. See “Certain Provisions of the Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement—Book-Entry System” for a description of DTC.

Purchases of the RSNs under the DTC system must be made by or through direct participants, which will receive a credit for the RSNs on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each RSN (“beneficial owner”) is in turn to be recorded on the direct and indirect participants’ records. Beneficial owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchases, but beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transactions, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct or indirect participant through which they purchased the RSNs. Transfers of ownership interests on the RSNs are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of direct and indirect participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in RSNs, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the RSNs is discontinued.

To facilitate subsequent transfers, all RSNs deposited by direct participants with DTC are registered in the name of DTC’s nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of

 

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DTC. The deposit of the RSNs with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other nominee do not effect any change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the RSNs; DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts the RSNs are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The direct and indirect participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct participants, by direct participants to indirect participants, and by direct participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners, will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Notices will be sent to DTC.

Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (nor such other DTC nominee) will consent or vote with respect to the RSNs unless authorized by a direct participant in accordance with DTC’s procedures. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an omnibus proxy to us as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns the voting or consenting rights of Cede & Co. to those direct participants to whose accounts the RSNs are credited on the record date. We believe that these arrangements will enable the beneficial owners to exercise rights equivalent in substance to the rights that can be directly exercised by a registered holder of the RSNs.

Payments of principal and interest on the RSNs will be made to Cede & Co. (or such other nominee of DTC). DTC’s practice is to credit direct participants’ accounts upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from us or the indenture trustee, on the payable date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC’s records. Payments by participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices and will be the responsibility of each participant and not of DTC, the indenture trustee or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of principal and interest to Cede & Co. (or other such nominee of DTC) is our responsibility. Disbursement of such payments to direct participants will be the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the beneficial owners is the responsibility of direct and indirect participants.

In a few special situations described below, a book-entry security representing Laclede securities will terminate and interests in it will be exchanged for physical certificates representing the securities. After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold securities directly or in street name will be up to you. You must consult your bank, broker or other financial institution to find out how to have your interests in the securities transferred to your name, so that you will be a direct holder.

The special situations for termination of a global security representing the RSNs are:

 

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DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depository for that global security or DTC ceases to be a “clearing agency” registered under the Exchange Act and we are unable to find a qualified replacement for DTC within 90 days; or

 

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any Event of Default with respect to the RSNs has occurred and is continuing, or any other event has occurred and is continuing, which after notice or lapse of time, would become an Event of Default with respect to the RSNs, and any beneficial owner requests that its beneficial interest be exchanged for a physical certificate.

DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depository with respect to the RSNs at any time by giving us or the indenture trustee reasonable notice. In the event no successor securities depository is obtained, certificates for the RSNs will be printed and delivered.

The information in this section concerning DTC’s book-entry system has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but neither we nor the underwriters take any responsibility for the accuracy of this information.

 

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The indenture trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under the indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any RSN (including any transfers between or among direct participant of DTC or beneficial owners of interests in any RSN) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, the indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

Neither the indenture trustee nor any agent shall have any responsibility or liability for any actions taken or not taken by DTC.

 

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MATERIAL UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

The following discussion describes the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. holders (as defined below) and non-U.S. holders (as defined below) of the purchase, ownership and disposition of Equity Units acquired in this offering and our common stock acquired under a purchase contract. This discussion is based on current provisions of the Code, U.S. Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, and administrative rulings and judicial decisions, each as in effect as of the date of this prospectus supplement. These authorities may change, possibly with retroactive effect, and any such change could affect the accuracy of the statements and conclusions set forth herein.

For purposes of this discussion, the term “U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner of Equity Units that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

 

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an individual citizen or resident of the United States;

 

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a corporation (or any other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia;

 

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an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or

 

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a trust (i) if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (ii) that has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States person for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

For purposes of this discussion, the term “non-U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner of Equity Units that is neither a U.S. holder nor a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

If an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds Equity Units, the tax treatment of a person treated as a partner in such partnership generally will depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Persons that for U.S. federal income tax purposes are treated as a partner in a partnership holding Equity Units should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences to them of the ownership and disposition of Equity Units.

This discussion is limited to beneficial owners who purchase the Equity Units in the initial offering at their “issue price” (the first price at which a substantial amount of the Equity Units is sold for cash (excluding sales to bond houses, brokers or similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement agents or wholesalers)) and who hold the Equity Units as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment). This discussion does not address the tax considerations applicable to subsequent purchasers of the Equity Units. This discussion does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to a particular beneficial owner in light of such beneficial owner’s particular circumstances, including alternative minimum tax and Medicare contribution tax consequences, or that may apply to beneficial owners subject to special rules under the U.S. federal income tax laws (including, for example, financial institutions, dealers in securities, traders in securities that elect mark-to-market treatment, insurance companies, tax-exempt entities, entities or arrangements treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes, certain former citizens or former long-term residents of the United States, beneficial owners who hold the Equity Units as part of a hedge, straddle, constructive sale or conversion transaction, shareholders in “controlled foreign corporations” or “passive foreign investment companies” that hold the Equity Units). This discussion also does not address U.S. federal tax laws other than those pertaining to the income tax, nor does it address any aspects of U.S. state, local, non-U.S. or other taxes. Accordingly, prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, state, local, non-U.S. income and other tax considerations of the purchase ownership and disposition of the Equity Units or common stock acquired under a purchase contract.

The IRS has issued a Revenue Ruling addressing certain aspects of instruments similar to the Equity Units. In the Revenue Ruling, the IRS concluded that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, an interest in a unit comprising a note and a purchase contract would be treated as a separate interest in such note and a separate

 

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interest in such purchase contract. The IRS also concluded that the notes issued as part of such unit were treated as debt for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, the terms of the Equity Units, which are complex financial instruments, vary in some respects from the terms of the units addressed by the IRS in the Revenue Ruling, and there is no statutory, judicial or administrative authority directly addressing the tax treatment of instruments with substantially identical terms as the Equity Units. Thus, no assurance can be given that the conclusions in the Revenue Ruling would apply to the Equity Units. As a result, the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Equity Units are not entirely clear. We have not sought any rulings concerning the treatment of the Equity Units, and the tax consequences described herein are not binding on the IRS or the courts, either of which could disagree with the explanations or conclusions contained in this summary.

THIS SUMMARY IS NOT INTENDED TO CONSTITUTE A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF ALL TAX CONSEQUENCES RELATING TO THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF THE EQUITY UNITS, RSNS, TREASURY SECURITIES, TREASURY PORTFOLIO, PURCHASE CONTRACTS OR OUR COMMON STOCK. PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE PARTICULAR TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM (INCLUDING THE APPLICATION AND EFFECT OF ANY STATE, LOCAL AND NON-U.S. INCOME AND OTHER TAX LAWS) OF PURCHASING, OWNING AND DISPOSING OF THE EQUITY UNITS, RSNS, TREASURY SECURITIES, TREASURY PORTFOLIO, PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND OUR COMMON STOCK.

U.S. Holders

Equity Units

Allocation of Purchase Price

The terms of the Equity Units are similar to the units considered in the Revenue Ruling noted above, although they vary in some respects. Based on that Revenue Ruling, although the matter is not free from doubt, a U.S. holder’s acquisition of a Corporate Unit pursuant to this offering will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as an acquisition of a unit consisting of two components—a separate undivided beneficial ownership interest in each of the RSN and the purchase contract constituting such Corporate Unit. Unless the context otherwise requires, each reference herein to “RSN” or “RSNs” (or “Treasury security” or “Treasury securities” or “Treasury portfolio”) is a reference to a beneficial owner’s undivided beneficial interest in the RSNs (or the Treasury securities or the Treasury portfolio). Assuming a Corporate Unit is treated as consisting of two components (the RSN and the purchase contract), the RSNs will be treated as indebtedness for all U.S. tax purposes, and we, and you, by your acceptance of a beneficial ownership interest in the RSNs, agree to treat the RSNs as indebtedness for all U.S. tax purposes. The remainder of this discussion assumes that a holder of an Equity Unit will be treated as owning the RSN (or Treasury portfolio, if applicable) and the purchase contract and that the RSN will be treated as indebtedness of the Company.

The purchase price of each Corporate Unit will be allocated between the RSN and the purchase contract in proportion to their respective fair market values at the time of purchase. Such allocation will establish a U.S. holder’s initial tax basis in the RSN and the purchase contract. We will report the initial fair market value of each RSN as $50 and the initial fair market value of the purchase contract as $0 and by purchasing a Corporate Unit, a U.S. holder will be deemed to agree to such allocation. This allocation is not, however, binding on the IRS. The remainder of this discussion assumes that this allocation of the purchase price will be respected for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Ownership of RSNs, Treasury Securities or Treasury Portfolio

We and, by purchasing Corporate Units, each U.S. holder agree to treat the RSNs, the Treasury securities or the applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio constituting a part of the Equity Units as owned separately by such U.S. holder for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and the remainder of this discussion assumes such treatment.

Sale, Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of the Equity Units

Upon a sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of an Equity Unit (collectively, a “disposition”), a U.S. holder will be treated as having sold, exchanged or disposed of each of the purchase contract and its undivided

 

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beneficial ownership interest in the RSN or the Treasury securities or the Treasury portfolio, as the case may be, that constitute such Equity Units. The proceeds realized on such disposition will be allocated between the purchase contract and the RSN or the Treasury securities or the Treasury portfolio, as the case may be, in proportion to their respective fair market values at the time of such disposition. As a result, as to each of the purchase contract and the RSN or the Treasury securities or the Treasury portfolio, as the case may be, a U.S. holder generally will recognize gain or loss upon such disposition equal to the difference between (i) the portion of the proceeds received by such U.S. holder that is allocable to the purchase contract and the RSN or the Treasury securities or the Treasury portfolio, as the case may be, and (ii) such U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the purchase contract and such RSN or Treasury securities or Treasury portfolio, respectively. For purposes of determining gain or loss, the proceeds received by such U.S. holder upon such disposition (i) will not include any amount properly attributable to accrued but unpaid interest on the RSN or the Treasury portfolio, which amount will be taxable as ordinary interest income to the extent not previously included in income by such U.S. holder, and (ii) may not include any amount properly attributable to accrued contract adjustment payments, which amount may be treated as ordinary income to the extent not previously included in income by such U.S. holder. In the case of the RSNs, the Treasury securities or the Treasury portfolio, any such gain or loss generally will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if, at the time of such disposition, the U.S. holder held such RSNs, Treasury securities or Treasury portfolio for a period of more than one year. In the case of the purchase contract, any such gain or loss will generally be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if, at the time of such disposition, the U.S. holder held such purchase contract for a period of more than one year. Long-term capital gains recognized by non-corporate U.S. holders are subject to reduced rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

If the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of an Equity Unit by a U.S. holder occurs when the purchase contract has a negative value, the U.S. federal income tax consequences are, in the absence of any authorities on point, unclear. U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding a disposition of an Equity Unit at a time when the purchase contract has a negative value.

The RSNs

Treatment of the RSNs

Under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations, the possibility that stated interest on a debt instrument will not be timely paid will be ignored in determining whether a debt instrument is issued with OID if such contingency is “remote.” We believe, and intend to take the position, that as of the date of this prospectus supplement, the likelihood that we will exercise our option to defer payments of interest under the terms of the RSNs is remote within the meaning of the applicable U.S. Treasury regulations. Based on the foregoing and our interpretation of the current U.S. Treasury regulations, we intend to treat the RSNs as “variable rate debt instruments” that are subject to applicable U.S. Treasury regulations that apply to “reset bonds” and that mature, solely for purposes of the OID rules, on the date immediately preceding the purchase contract settlement date, for an amount equal to 100% of their principal amount. The remainder of this discussion assumes that the RSNs will be treated in the manner described above. However, there are no U.S. Treasury regulations, rulings or other authorities that address the U.S. federal income tax treatment of debt instruments that are substantially similar to the RSNs, and therefore the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the RSNs is unclear. See “—Possible Alternative Characterizations” below.

Interest Income and Original Issue Discount

Based on the above, we believe the RSNs will not be treated as issued with OID. In such case, subject to the discussion below, the RSNs will not be subject to the special OID rules, at least upon initial issuance, so that, as stated above, U.S. holders will generally be taxed on the stated interest on the notes as ordinary income at the time it is paid or accrued in accordance with their regular method of tax accounting.

 

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However, OID will result if we exercise our right to defer payments of interest on the RSNs. In that event, we intend to treat the RSNs as reissued with OID and U.S. holders would generally be required to accrue such OID as ordinary income, using the constant-yield method prescribed by the U.S. Treasury regulations, prior to the receipt of the cash attributable thereto.

Tax Basis in the RSNs

A U.S. holder’s initial tax basis in an RSN will equal the portion of the purchase price for the Equity Unit allocated to the RSN as described under “—Equity Units—Allocation of Purchase Price” above. A U.S. holder’s tax basis in the RSNs would be increased by the amounts of accrued OID, if any, and decreased by all payments on the RSNs other than payments of qualified stated interest. If the RSNs are treated as reissued as described under “—The RSNs—Interest Income and Original Issue Discount” above, no payment of interest thereafter will be qualified stated interest.

Sale, Exchange, Remarketing or Other Taxable Disposition of RSNs

Upon a sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of an RSN (including upon the remarketing of the RSNs), a U.S. holder will recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized by such U.S. holder on such disposition of the RSN and such U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the RSN, except to the extent such U.S. holder is treated as receiving accrued but unpaid interest, which is taxable as ordinary interest income if not previously included in such U.S. holder’s income. Any such gain or loss generally will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if, at the time of such disposition, the U.S. holder held such RSN for a period of more than one year. Long-term capital gains recognized by non-corporate U.S. holders are subject to reduced rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

If a U.S. holder does not participate in the remarketing, any reset of the interest rate and/or modification of the redemption provisions of the RSNs in connection with the remarketing generally will not cause such U.S. holder to be treated as having sold, exchanged or otherwise disposed of its RSNs.

Possible Alternative Characterizations

As mentioned above, there are no U.S. Treasury regulations, rulings or other authorities that address the U.S. federal income tax treatment of debt instruments that are substantially similar to the RSNs, and therefore the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the RSNs is unclear and other alternative characterizations are possible. For example, it is possible that the RSNs could be treated as “contingent payment debt instruments” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In that event, a U.S. holder would generally be required, among other things, to (1) accrue interest income based on a projected payment schedule and comparable yield, which may be a higher rate than the stated interest rate on the RSNs, regardless of such U.S. holder’s regular method of tax accounting, and (2) treat as ordinary income, rather than capital gain, any gain recognized on a sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of an RSN.

U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding alternative characterizations and treatments of the RSNs.

Treasury Securities

Substitution of Treasury Securities to Create Treasury Units and Substitution of RSNs to Recreate Corporate Units

U.S. holders of Corporate Units who deliver Treasury securities to the collateral agent in substitution for RSNs generally will not recognize gain or loss upon their delivery of such Treasury securities or their receipt of the RSNs. Similarly, U.S. holders of Treasury Units who deliver RSNs to the collateral agent in substitution for Treasury securities will not recognize gain or loss upon their delivery of such RSNs or their receipt of the Treasury securities. In each case, the U.S. holder will continue to take into account items of income otherwise

 

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includible with respect to such Treasury securities and RSNs, and its adjusted tax bases in, and holding periods for, the Treasury securities, the RSNs and the purchase contract will not be affected by such delivery and release.

Interest Income, Original Issue Discount and Acquisition Discount

Treasury Strips

If a Treasury Unit, or following a successful remarketing, the Treasury portfolio contains Treasury strips, a U.S. holder will be required to treat its ownership interest in the Treasury securities constituting part of the Treasury Unit or Treasury Portfolio as an interest in a bond that is originally issued on the date the holder acquires the Treasury securities and, in the case of Treasury securities with a maturity of more than a year, has OID equal to the excess of the amount payable at maturity of the Treasury securities over the purchase price thereof, or, in the case of Treasury securities with a maturity of a year or less, was acquired with acquisition discount equal to the excess of the amount payable at maturity of the Treasury securities over the purchase price thereof. A U.S. holder will be required to include any OID in income on a constant yield to maturity basis over the period between the purchase date of the Treasury securities and the maturity date of the Treasury securities, regardless of the holder’s method of tax accounting and in advance of the receipt of cash attributable to the OID. A U.S. holder that is a cash method taxpayer will not report acquisition discount until the Treasury securities mature or the holder sells, exchanges or otherwise disposes of the Treasury securities in a taxable transaction, unless the holder elects to accrue the acquisition discount on a current basis. If a U.S. holder does not elect to accrue acquisition discount on a current basis, any interest expense on indebtedness used to purchase or carry the Treasury securities, to the extent it does not exceed the daily portions of acquisition discount with respect to the Treasury securities, will be deferred until the acquisition discount is recognized. A U.S. holder that is an accrual method taxpayer (or a cash method taxpayer that elects to accrue acquisition discount) will be required to accrue the acquisition discount on a straight-line basis unless the holder elects to accrue the acquisition discount on a constant yield to maturity basis. Amounts of OID or acquisition discount included in a U.S. holder’s gross income will increase the holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Treasury securities.

Other Treasury Securities

Following a successful remarketing, if the Treasury portfolio contains interest-paying securities that are not Treasury strips, a U.S. holder will be required to recognize ordinary income to the extent of such U.S. holder’s pro rata portion of the interest paid with respect to such Treasury securities. In the case of any Treasury security with a maturity of one year or less from the date of its issue (a “short-term Treasury security”), a U.S. holder will be required to treat the acquisition discount (i.e., the excess of the amount payable at maturity with respect to such short-term Treasury security over such U.S. holder’s tax basis in such short-term Treasury security) in the manner described above under “—Treasury Securities—Interest Income, Original Issue Discount and Acquisition Discount.”

Tax Basis in Disposition of the Applicable Ownership Interest in the Treasury Portfolio

A U.S. holder’s initial tax basis in such U.S. holder’s applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio will equal such U.S. holder’s proportionate share of the amount paid by the collateral agent for the Treasury portfolio. A U.S. holder’s initial tax basis in a Treasury security constituting part of a Treasury Unit generally will equal the amount paid by such U.S. holder. A U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the applicable Treasury security will be increased by the amount of OID or acquisition discount included in such U.S. holder’s gross income with respect thereto and decreased by the amount of cash received other than any payments of qualified stated interest with respect to the Treasury portfolio.

Upon the disposition or maturity of a U.S. holder’s Treasury securities (or pro rata portion of the Treasury securities in the Treasury portfolio), such U.S. holder will recognize gain or loss on the difference between the amount realized and their adjusted tax basis in such Treasury securities. Such gain or loss will generally be capital gain or loss, except to the extent of any accrued OID or acquisition discount which will be treated as ordinary income.

 

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Purchase Contracts

Contract Adjustment Payments

There is no direct authority addressing the treatment of the contract adjustment payments, and such treatment is, therefore, unclear. Contract adjustment payments may constitute taxable ordinary income to U.S. holders when received or accrued, in accordance with their regular method of tax accounting. To the extent we are required to file information returns with respect to contract adjustment payments, we intend to report such payments as taxable ordinary income to U.S. holders. The following discussion assumes that the contract payments are so treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, other treatments are possible. In addition, if we exercise our right to defer contract adjustment payments, a U.S. holder may be required to continue to recognize income for U.S. federal income tax purposes in respect of the purchase contracts in advance of the receipt of any corresponding cash payments. U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors concerning the treatment of contract adjustment payments, including the possibility that any contract adjustment payment may be treated as a purchase price adjustment, rebate or payment analogous to an option premium, rather than being includible in income on a current basis, as well as the treatment of deferred contract adjustment payments, if any. The treatment of contract adjustment payments and deferred contract adjustment payments, if any, could affect a U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in a purchase contract or our common stock received under a purchase contract or the amount realized by a U.S. holder upon the sale or other disposition of an Equity Unit or the termination of a purchase contract.

Acquisition of Our Common Stock Under a Purchase Contract

A U.S. holder generally will not recognize gain or loss on the purchase of our common stock under a purchase contract, except with respect to any cash paid to such U.S. holder in lieu of a fractional share of our common stock, which should be treated as paid in respect of such fractional share. A U.S. holder’s aggregate initial tax basis in our common stock received under a purchase contract should generally equal the purchase price paid for such common stock plus the properly allocable portion of such U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis (if any) in the purchase contract, less the portion of such purchase price and adjusted tax basis allocable to the fractional share. The holding period for our common stock received under a purchase contract will commence on the day following the acquisition of such common stock.

Early Settlement of Purchase Contract

A U.S. holder will not recognize gain or loss on the receipt of its ownership interest in the RSNs, the Treasury securities or the Treasury portfolio upon early settlement of a purchase contract, and will have the same adjusted tax basis in such RSNs or Treasury securities or the Treasury portfolio as before such early settlement.

Termination of Purchase Contract

If a purchase contract terminates, a U.S. holder generally will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized (if any) upon such termination and such U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis (if any) in the purchase contract at the time of such termination. Such gain or loss generally will be capital gain or loss. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. A U.S. holder will not recognize gain or loss on the return of such U.S. holder’s ownership interest in the RSNs, the Treasury securities or the Treasury portfolio upon termination of the purchase contract and will have the same adjusted tax basis in such RSNs, Treasury securities or the Treasury portfolio as before such termination.

Adjustment to Settlement Rate

A U.S. holder may be treated as having received a constructive distribution from us if (1) the settlement rate is adjusted (or fails to be adjusted) and as a result of such adjustment (or failure to adjust), the proportionate interest of such U.S. holder in our assets or earnings and profits is increased and (2) the adjustment (or failure to

 

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adjust) is not made pursuant to a bona fide, reasonable anti-dilution formula. An adjustment in the settlement rate would not be considered made pursuant to such a formula if the adjustment were made to compensate a U.S. holder for taxable distributions with respect to our common stock. Thus, under certain circumstances, an increase in (or failure to decrease) the settlement rate might give rise to a taxable dividend to U.S. holders even though such U.S. holders would not receive any cash related thereto. Any deemed distributions will be taxable as a dividend, return of capital or capital gain in accordance with the earnings and profits rules described below.

Ownership and Disposition of Our Common Stock Acquired under the Purchase Contract

Any distribution on our common stock generally will be treated as a dividend to a U.S. holder of our common stock to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles at the end of the tax year in which the distribution occurs. Distributions on our common stock that do constitute dividends generally will be “qualified dividends” subject to preferential rates of U.S. federal income tax, if received by a non-corporate U.S. holder (and provided certain other requirements are met), and eligible for the dividends-received deduction., if received by a corporate U.S. holder (subject to exceptions and restrictions). To the extent the distribution exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits, the excess will be treated first as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common stock and thereafter as gain from the sale or exchange of that stock.

Upon a disposition of our common stock, a U.S. holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized and its adjusted tax basis in such common stock. Such gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holder’s holding period in respect of such common stock is more than one year. Long-term capital gains recognized by non-corporate U.S. holders are subject to reduced rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

Information reporting generally will apply to payments made by us on, or the proceeds from the sale or other disposition of, the Equity Units (or any component thereof) or shares of our common stock, unless the U.S. holder establishes that it is an exempt recipient. In addition, U.S. federal backup withholding may apply to such payments if the U.S. holder fails to provide a properly completed and executed IRS Form W-9 providing such U.S. holder’s correct taxpayer identification number and certifying that such U.S. holder is not subject to backup withholding or otherwise fails to establish an exemption.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against a U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that the required information is furnished timely to the IRS.

Non-U.S. Holders

By purchasing Corporate Units, each Non-U.S. holder agrees to treat the RSNs, the Treasury securities or the applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio constituting a part of the Equity Units as owned separately by such non-U.S. holder for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

U.S. Federal Withholding Tax

Interest on the RSNs, the Treasury Securities and the Treasury Portfolio

Subject to the discussion below under “—Information Reporting and Backup Withholding” and “—FATCA Legislation,” payments of interest (including OID and acquisition discount) on the RSNs, the Treasury securities and the Treasury portfolio to a non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax under the “portfolio interest exemption,” provided that:

 

•

such interest is not effectively connected with such non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States;

 

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•

the non-U.S. holder does not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote;

 

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the non-U.S. holder is not a “controlled foreign corporation” with respect to which we are a “related person” within the meaning of the Code; and

 

•

either (a) the beneficial owner of the RSNs provides a properly completed and executed IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or other applicable form or successor form) certifying, under penalties of perjury, that it is not a “U.S. person” (as defined in the Code) and providing its name and address or (b) a financial institution that holds the RSNs on behalf of the beneficial owner certifies, under penalties of perjury, that it has received such properly completed and executed IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or other applicable form or successor form) from the beneficial owner and provides a copy thereof.

If a non-U.S. holder cannot satisfy one of the last three requirements described above and interest on the RSNs, the Treasury securities and the Treasury portfolio is not exempt from withholding because it is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States, payments of interest on the RSNs, the Treasury securities and the Treasury portfolio will generally be subject to withholding tax at a rate of 30%, or the rate specified by an applicable treaty.

Any interest payments that are effectively connected with such non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, are attributable to a permanent establishment of the non-U.S. holder in the United States) generally are not subject to U.S. federal withholding tax, provided that the non-U.S. holder complies with applicable certification and other requirements. Instead, such payments generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis and at the graduated U.S. federal income tax rates in the same manner as if such non-U.S. holder were a U.S. person. A non-U.S. holder that is a corporation may be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty) of its “effectively connected earnings and profits” for the taxable year, subject to certain adjustments.

Dividends and Other Distributions with Respect to Our Common Stock and Contract Adjustment Payments

Any distribution on our common stock generally will be treated as a dividend to a non-U.S. holder of our common stock to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles at the end of the tax year in which the distribution occurs. To the extent the distribution exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits, the excess will be treated first as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of the non-U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common stock and thereafter as gain from the sale or exchange of that stock and will be treated as described below under “—Sale, Exchange, Remarketing or Other Taxable Disposition of the Equity Units, the RSNs, the Treasury Securities, the Treasury Portfolio, the Purchase Contract or Common Stock.”

Subject to the discussion below, U.S. federal withholding tax generally will apply to dividends, if any (and generally any deemed or constructive dividends resulting from certain adjustments or failures to make an adjustment with respect to the purchase contracts as described under “—U.S. Holders—Purchase Contracts—Adjustment to Settlement Rate”), paid on the shares of common stock acquired under the purchase contract. It is possible that U.S. withholding tax on deemed dividends would be withheld from any interest or other amounts paid to a non-U.S. holder. We also expect U.S. federal withholding tax to be withheld on any contract adjustment payments made to a non-U.S. holder with respect to a purchase contract.

Accordingly, dividends, if any (including any deemed or constructive dividends), paid with respect to shares of common stock and contract adjustment payments made to a non-U.S. holder generally will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a rate of 30%, or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty, unless effectively connected with such non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United

 

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States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, attributable to a permanent establishment of the non-U.S. holder in the United States) and such non-U.S. holder provides a properly completed and executed IRS Form W-8ECI (or successor form). In order to claim an exemption from or reduction of withholding under an applicable income tax treaty, a non-U.S. holder generally must furnish a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or successor form) prior to the payment date. Non-U.S. holders eligible for an exemption from or reduced rate of U.S. federal withholding tax under an applicable income tax treaty may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim with the IRS. Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding their entitlement to benefits under an applicable income tax treaty and the requirements for claiming any such benefits.

Any dividend payments (including deemed or constructive dividends) or contract adjustment payments to a non-U.S. holder that are effectively connected with such non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, are attributable to a permanent establishment of the non-U.S. holder in the United States) generally are not subject to U.S. federal withholding tax, provided that the non-U.S. holder complies with applicable certification and other requirements. Instead, such payments generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis and at the graduated U.S. federal income tax rates in the same manner as if such non-U.S. holder were a U.S. person. A non-U.S. holder that is a corporation may be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty) of its “effectively connected earnings and profits” for the taxable year, subject to certain adjustments.

Sale, Exchange, Remarketing or Other Taxable Disposition of the Equity Units, the RSNs, the Treasury Securities, the Treasury Portfolio, the Purchase Contract or Common Stock

Subject to the discussion below under “—Information Reporting and Backup Withholding” and “—FATCA Legislation,” except (i) potentially with respect to any amounts attributable to accrued and unpaid contract adjustment payments, which will be treated as described above under “—U.S. Federal Withholding Tax—Dividends and Other Distributions with Respect to Our Common Stock and Contract Adjustment Payments,” and (ii) with respect to any accrued and unpaid interest (including OID and acquisition discount), which will be treated as described above under “—U.S. Federal Withholding Tax—Interest on the RSNs, the Treasury Securities and the Treasury Portfolio,” a non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax or withholding tax on any gain realized upon the sale, exchange, remarketing or other taxable disposition of Equity Units, the RSNs, the Treasury securities, the Treasury portfolio, purchase contracts or common stock acquired under the purchase contract, as the case may be, unless:

 

•

the gain is effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a permanent establishment of the non-U.S. holder in the United States);

 

•

the non-U.S. holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the disposition and certain other conditions are met; or

 

•

the non-U.S. holder, by virtue of holding a purchase contract or shares of our common stock, is considered to own an interest in a U.S. real property holding corporation (“USRPHC”) and does not meet the criteria for exemption from U.S. federal income tax.

Gain described in the first bullet point above generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at regular graduated U.S. federal income tax rates in the same manner as if such non-U.S. holder were a U.S. person. A non-U.S. holder that is a foreign corporation also may be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty) of its “effectively connected earnings and profits” for the taxable year, subject to certain adjustments.

Gain described in the second bullet point above will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a 30% rate (or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty), which may be offset by U.S. source capital losses, if any, of the non-U.S. holder.

 

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We believe that we may have been, may currently be, or may become, a USRPHC. If we are or become a USRPHC, so long as our common stock continues to be regularly traded on an established securities market, (1) a non-U.S. holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the disposition of our common stock so long as such non-U.S. holder has not held (at any time during the shorter of the five year period preceding the date of disposition or such non-U.S. holder’s holding period) more than 5% (actually or constructively) of our total outstanding common stock and (2) a non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the disposition of a purchase contract if either (A) on the day it acquired its purchase contracts, they had a fair market value less than or equal to 5% of the fair market value of our common stock (in the case where the purchase contracts are not regularly traded) or (B) such non-U.S. holder has not held (at any time during the shorter of the five-year period preceding the date of disposition or such non-U.S. holder’s holding period) more than 5% (actually or constructively) of the purchase contracts (in the case where the purchase contracts are regularly traded). If, however, our common stock (or, if applicable, our purchase contracts) ceases to be regularly traded on an established securities market, a non-U.S. holder held more than 5% (actually or constructively) of our total outstanding common stock (or, if applicable, our purchase contracts) during the relevant period, or the purchase contracts are not regularly traded and such holder’s purchase contracts had a fair market value greater than 5% of the fair market value of our common stock on the date such purchase contracts were acquired, a non-U.S. holder will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the disposition of our common stock or the purchase contract. We expect that our common stock will be regularly traded on an established securities market, but this cannot be assured. We do not know if the purchase contracts will be regularly traded on an established securities market. If the purchase contracts are not regularly traded, a non-US holder may be subject to withholding under certain circumstances. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of the exception for certain interests in publicly traded corporations, including the application of the exception if a non-U.S. holder subsequently acquires additional purchase contracts.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

Information reporting generally will apply to payments of interest, contract adjustment payments and dividends with respect to, or the proceeds from the disposition of, the Equity Units, the RSNs, the Treasury securities, the Treasury portfolio, a purchase contract and common stock purchased under the purchase contract paid to a non-U.S. holder. These reporting requirements apply regardless of whether withholding was reduced or eliminated by an applicable income tax treaty. This information may also be made available to the tax authorities in the country in which a non-U.S. holder resides or is established pursuant to the provisions of a specific treaty or agreement with such tax authorities.

U.S. federal backup withholding is imposed on certain payments to persons that fail to furnish the information required under the U.S. information reporting rules. Payments of interest, contract adjustment payments and dividends with respect to, or the proceeds from the disposition of, the Equity Units, the RSNs, the Treasury securities, the Treasury portfolio, a purchase contract and common stock purchased under the purchase contract generally will be exempt from backup withholding if the non-U.S. holder provides a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or other applicable form or successor form) and the payor does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the non-U.S. holder is a U.S. person, or an exemption is otherwise established.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against a non-U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that the required information is furnished timely to the IRS. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of these rules to their particular circumstances.

FATCA Legislation

Under Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, commonly referred to as “FATCA,” a U.S. federal withholding tax of 30% generally will be imposed on certain payments made after June 30, 2014 to a “foreign financial institution” (as specially defined for purposes of these rules) unless such institution enters into an

 

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agreement with the U.S. tax authorities to withhold on certain payments and to collect and provide to the U.S. tax authorities substantial information regarding U.S. account holders of such institution (which includes certain equity and debt holders of such institution, as well as certain account holders that are foreign entities with U.S. owners). In addition, a U.S. federal withholding tax of 30% generally also will be imposed on certain payments made after June 30, 2014 to a non-financial foreign entity unless such entity provides the withholding agent with a certification identifying its direct and indirect U.S. owners. Under certain circumstances, refunds or credits of such withholding taxes may be available. In certain cases, the relevant foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity may qualify for an exemption from, or be deemed to be in compliance with, these rules. Subject to the discussion of grandfathered obligations below, these withholding taxes would be imposed on interest paid on the RSNs, the Treasury securities or the Treasury portfolio, dividends (including deemed or constructive dividends), if any, paid with respect to shares of our common stock and contract adjustment payments paid with respect to a purchase contract after June 30, 2014, and on gross proceeds from sales or other dispositions of the RSNs, the Treasury securities, the Treasury portfolio and our common stock paid after December 31, 2016, in each case, to foreign financial institutions (including in their capacity as agents or custodians for beneficial owners) or non-financial foreign entities that fail to satisfy the above requirements. However, these withholding taxes are not imposed on payments made on or gross proceeds from sales or other dispositions of certain debt instruments and other “obligations” (within the meaning of such U.S. Treasury regulations, though not including any instruments that are treated as equity for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that are outstanding on July 1, 2014 (provided such obligations are not materially modified subsequent to such date) (such obligations, “grandfathered obligations”). Prospective holders should consult with their tax advisors regarding the possible implications of this legislation and related administrative guidance on their investment in the Equity Units.

 

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ERISA CONSIDERATIONS

ERISA, the Code and similar federal, state, local and foreign laws that are substantively similar or are of similar effect (“Similar Law”) impose certain restrictions on:

 

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employee benefit plans (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) subject to Title I of ERISA (“ERISA Plans”);

 

•

plans described in Section 4975(e)(1) of the Code, including individual retirement accounts and annuities or Keogh plans;

 

•

any entities whose underlying assets include plan assets pursuant to 29 C.F.R. Section 2510.3-101 (as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA) by reason of a plan’s investment in such entities;

 

•

governmental plans, certain church plans (each as defined under ERISA) and foreign plans that are not subject to the provisions of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code but may be subject to Section 503 of the Code and/or Similar Law (“Non-ERISA Plans”) (together with ERISA Plans, plans described in Section 4975(e)(1) of the Code and entities whose underlying assets include plan assets by reason of a plan’s investment in such entities, referred to as a “Plan”); and

 

•

persons who have certain specified relationships to a Plan (“Parties in Interest” as defined under ERISA and “Disqualified Persons” as defined under the Code).

ERISA, the Code and Similar Law impose certain duties on persons who are fiduciaries of a Plan and prohibit certain transactions involving Plan assets and fiduciaries or other Parties in Interest or Disqualified Persons. Under ERISA and the Code, any person who exercises any discretionary authority or control over the administration of a Plan or the management or disposition of assets of a Plan, or who renders investment advice to a Plan for a fee or other compensation, is generally considered a fiduciary of the Plan. Accordingly, among other factors, the investing fiduciary should consider whether:

 

•

the investment would satisfy the prudence and diversification requirements of ERISA or Similar Law, including among other things, the risk of loss on such investment and any limitations on liquidity and marketability of such investment;

 

•

an investment in the Corporate Units (and the securities underlying such Corporate Units) is appropriate for the Plan, taking into account the overall investment policy of the Plan and the composition of the Plan’s investment portfolio;

 

•

the investment would be consistent with the documents and instruments governing the Plan;

 

•

the investment is made solely in the interest of participants and beneficiaries of the Plan;

 

•

the acquisition and holding of Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units) would result in (1) a “prohibited transaction” under Section ERISA or the Code for which there is no applicable exemption or (2) a violation of Similar Law; and

 

•

the investment does not violate ERISA’s prohibition on improper delegation of control over or responsibility for Plan assets.

The Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units) held by a Plan will be deemed to constitute Plan assets. If we or any of our respective affiliates is or becomes a Party in Interest or a Disqualified Person with respect to a Plan subject to ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, such Plan’s acquisition, holding or disposition of the Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units) may constitute or result in a prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA and/or Section 4975 of the Code (e.g., the extension of credit between a Plan and a Party in Interest or Disqualified Person), unless the Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units) are acquired and held pursuant to and in accordance with an applicable exemption. In this regard, the U.S. Department of Labor has issued prohibited transaction class exemptions (“PTCEs”) that may apply to the acquisition and holding of Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the

 

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Corporate Units). These class exemptions include: PTCE 84-14 (respecting transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTCE 90-1 (respecting transactions involving insurance company separate accounts), PTCE 91-38 (respecting transactions involving bank collective investment funds), PTCE 95-60 (respecting transactions involving insurance company general accounts) and PTCE 96-23 (respecting transactions determined by in-house asset managers). In addition, certain statutory prohibited transaction exemptions may be available to provide exemptive relief for a Plan, including, without limitation, the statutory exemption set forth in Section 408(b)(17) of ERISA and Section 4975(d)(20) of the Code regarding transactions with certain service providers who are not exercising investment discretion with respect to the Plan assets involved in the transaction and in which the Plan must pay no more, and receive no less, than “adequate consideration.”

Even if the conditions specified in one or more exemptions are met, the scope of the relief provided by these exemptions may or may not cover all acts that could be construed as prohibited transactions. For example, certain of the exemptions may not afford relief from the prohibition on self-dealing contained in ERISA Section 406(b) and Code Sections 4975(c)(1)(E) and (F). As a result, there can be no assurance that any exemption(s) will be available with respect to any particular transaction involving the Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units).

The Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units) should not be purchased or held by (i) any person investing assets of a Plan (including any insurance company investing assets in a general or separate account, to the extent such assets are deemed to be “plan assets” as a result of a Plan’s investment in such account), unless such purchase and holding will either not constitute a prohibited transaction under ERISA and the Code or will be covered by an applicable exemption or (ii) and person investing assets of a Non-ERISA Plan unless such purchase and holding will not violate applicable Similar Law. Any Plan fiduciary or person that proposes to cause a Plan (or to act on behalf of a Plan) to purchase the Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units) should consult with its own counsel with respect to the potential applicability of ERISA, the Code or Similar Law, the potential consequences in its specific circumstances, and whether any exemption or exemptions would be applicable and determine on its own whether all conditions of such exemption or exemptions have been satisfied. In addition, the investing fiduciary should determine whether the investment in the Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units) satisfies ERISA’s fiduciary standards and other requirements under ERISA, the Code or Similar Law.

Accordingly, by its purchase or holding of the Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units), each purchaser or holder of the Corporate Units will be deemed to have represented and warranted that either:

 

•

the purchaser or holder is not purchasing or holding the Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units) with, or on behalf of, the assets of any Plan; or

 

•

(1) the purchase, holding and disposition of the Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units) satisfies ERISA’s fiduciary standards and other requirements under ERISA, the Code or Similar Law, (2) the purchase, holding and disposition of the Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units) will not result in a non-exempt prohibited transaction under ERISA or the Code, or violate any Similar Law and (3) neither we nor any of our subsidiaries are or will be deemed to be a fiduciary with respect to any Plan.

The sale or transfer of Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units) to a Plan or person acting on behalf of a Plan is in no way a representation by us that the purchase, holding or disposition of Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units) meets the legal requirements for investments by Plans or is appropriate for Plans.

 

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UNDERWRITING

Under the terms and subject to the conditions contained in an underwriting agreement dated                     , 2014, we have agreed to sell to each of the underwriters named below, for whom Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC are acting as representatives, the following respective numbers of Equity Units:

 

Underwriter		Number of Units
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated
Total			2,500,000

The underwriting agreement provides that the underwriters are obligated to purchase all the Equity Units in the offering if any are purchased, other than those Equity Units covered by the option to purchase additional Equity Units described below. The underwriting agreement also provides that if an underwriter defaults the purchase commitments of non-defaulting underwriters may be increased or the offering may be terminated.

We have granted to the underwriters a 13-day option to purchase from us, within the 13 day period beginning on, and including, the initial closing date for this offering, on a pro rata basis, up to 375,000 additional Corporate Units.

Concurrently with this offering of Equity Units, we are offering, by means of a separate prospectus supplement, 9,000,000 shares of our common stock (or 10,350,000 shares of our common stock if the underwriters of that offering exercise in full their option purchase additional shares of common stock). This offering of Equity Units is not contingent on the offering of common stock and the offering of common stock is not contingent upon this offering of Equity Units.

The underwriters propose to offer the Equity Units initially at the public offering price on the cover page of this prospectus supplement and to selling group members at that price less a selling concession of $         per Equity Unit. After the initial public offering the underwriters may change the public offering price and selling concession.

The following table summarizes the compensation and estimated expenses we will pay:

 

		Without Purchase Option				With Purchase Option
Underwriting Discounts and Commissions paid by us		$				$
Expenses payable by us		$				$

We and our directors and executive officers have entered into lock-up agreements with the underwriters prior to the commencement of this offering pursuant to which we and each of these persons, with limited exceptions, for a period of 60 days after the date of this prospectus supplement, may not, without the prior written consent of the representatives, (1) offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of our common stock (including, without limitation, our common stock which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by us or such directors or

 

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executive officers in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and securities which may be issued pursuant to any stock incentive plan, employee stock purchase plan or dividend reinvestment plan) or (2) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of our common stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of our common stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. In addition, our directors and executive officers may not, without the prior written consent of the representatives, during the period ending 60 days after the date of the prospectus supplement, make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any shares of our common stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our common stock.

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

We expect trading of the Corporate Units on the NYSE to commence within 30 days of the date of initial issuance of the Corporate Units under the symbol “LGA.” Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the Corporate Units. In addition, if Treasury Units or notes are separately traded to a sufficient extent that the applicable exchange listing requirements are met, we will endeavor to cause the Treasury Units or notes to be listed on the exchange on which the Corporate Units are then listed, including, if applicable, the NYSE.

In connection with the offering the underwriters may engage in stabilizing transactions, over-allotment transactions, syndicate covering transactions, and penalty bids.

 

•

Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum.

 

•

Over-allotment involves sales by the underwriters of Equity Units in excess of the number of Equity Units the underwriters are obligated to purchase, which creates a syndicate short position. The short position may be either a covered short position or a naked short position. In a covered short position, the number of Equity Units over-allotted by the underwriters is not greater than the number of Equity Units that they may purchase in their option to purchase additional Equity Units. In a naked short position, the number of Equity Units involved is greater than the number of Equity Units in the option to purchase additional Equity Units. The underwriters may close out any covered short position by either exercising their option to purchase additional Equity Units and/or purchasing Equity Units in the open market.

 

•

Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the Equity Units in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. In determining the source of Equity Units to close out the short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of Equity Units available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase Equity Units through their option to purchase additional Equity Units. If the underwriters sell more Equity Units than could be covered by the option to purchase additional Equity Units, a naked short position, the position can only be closed out by buying Equity Units in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there could be downward pressure on the price of the Equity Units in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering.

 

•

Penalty bids permit the representatives to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the Equity Units originally sold by the syndicate member is purchased in a stabilizing or syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions.

These stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of the Equity Units or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the Equity Units. As a result the price of the Equity Units may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. These transactions may be effected on The NYSE or otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

 

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A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the web sites maintained by one or more of the underwriters, or selling group members, if any, participating in this offering and one or more of the underwriters participating in this offering may distribute prospectuses electronically. The representatives may agree to allocate a number of Equity Units to underwriters and selling group members for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Internet distributions will be allocated by the underwriters and selling group members that will make internet distributions on the same basis as other allocations.

Certain of the underwriters and their affiliates have provided in the past to us and our affiliates and may provide from time to time in the future certain commercial banking, financial advisory, investment banking and other services for us and our affiliates in the ordinary course of their business, for which they have received and may continue to receive customary fees and commissions. In particular, certain affiliates of the underwriters are lenders under our credit facility and are parties to the Bridge Loan Facility commitment letter related to the Transaction.

In addition, from time to time, certain of the underwriters and their affiliates may effect transactions for their own account or the account of customers, and hold on behalf of themselves or their customers, long or short positions in our debt or equity securities or loans, and may do so in the future. In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the underwriters and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities or instruments of ours or our affiliates. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long or short positions in such securities and instruments.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom

This document is only being distributed to and is only directed at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) to investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”) or (iii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). The securities are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the European Economic Area

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area that has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a “Relevant Member State”), from and including the date on which the European Union Prospectus Directive (the “EU Prospectus Directive”) is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the “Relevant Implementation Date”) an offer of securities described in this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus may not be made to the public in that Relevant Member State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the shares that has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant Member State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant Member State, all in accordance with the EU Prospectus Directive, except that it may, with effect from and including the Relevant Implementation Date, make an offer of shares to the public in that Relevant Member State at any time:

 

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to legal entities that are authorized or regulated to operate in the financial markets or, if not so authorized or regulated, whose corporate purpose is solely to invest in securities;

 

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to any legal entity which has two or more of (1) an average of at least 250 employees during the last financial year, (2) a total balance sheet of more than €43,000,000 and (3) an annual net turnover of more than €50,000,000, as shown in its last annual or consolidated accounts;

 

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to fewer than 100 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the EU Prospectus Directive) subject to obtaining the prior consent of the representatives for any such offer; or

 

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in any other circumstances that do not require the publication by the issuer of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of securities to the public” in relation to any securities in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the securities, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the EU Prospectus Directive in that Member State, and the expression EU Prospectus Directive means Directive 2003/71/EC and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Switzerland

This document as well as any other material relating to the securities which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus does not constitute an issue prospectus pursuant to Articles 652a or 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations. The securities will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and, therefore, the documents relating to the securities, including, but not limited to, this document, do not claim to comply with the disclosure standards of the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange and corresponding prospectus schemes annexed to the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange. The securities are being offered in Switzerland by way of a private placement, i.e. to a small number of selected investors only, without any public offer and only to investors who do not purchase the securities with the intention to distribute them to the public. The investors will be individually approached by us from time to time. This document as well as any other material relating to the securities is personal and confidential and does not constitute an offer to any other person. This document may only be used by those investors to whom it has been handed out in connection with the offering described herein and may neither directly nor indirectly be distributed or made available to other persons without our express consent. It may not be used in connection with any other offer and shall in particular not be copied or distributed to the public in (or from) Switzerland.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the Dubai International Financial Centre

This prospectus supplement relates to an Exempt Offer in accordance with the Offered Securities Rules of the Dubai Financial Services Authority, or DFSA. This prospectus supplement is intended for distribution only to persons of a type specified in the Offered Securities Rules of the DFSA. It must not be delivered to, or relied on by, any other person. The DFSA has no responsibility for reviewing or verifying any documents in connection with Exempt Offers. The DFSA has not approved this prospectus supplement nor taken steps to verify the information set forth herein and has no responsibility for the prospectus supplement. The securities to which this prospectus supplement relates may be illiquid or subject to restrictions on their resale. Prospective purchasers of the securities offered should conduct their own due diligence on the securities. If you do not understand the contents of this prospectus supplement you should consult an authorized financial advisor.

 

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EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements, and the related financial statement schedule, incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2013, and the effectiveness of The Laclede Group, Inc. and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements and financial statement schedule have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

The audited historical financial statements of Alabama Gas Corporation included in Exhibit 99.1 of The Laclede Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 3, 2014 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

The financial statements of Missouri Gas Energy as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for the period from March 26, 2012 to December 31, 2012, the period from January 1, 2012 to March 25, 2012, and the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement have been so incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of Grant Thornton LLP, independent certified public accountants, upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

LEGAL MATTERS

Certain additional legal matters in connection with the offering will be passed upon for us by Mark C. Darrell, who serves as our Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, New York, New York. Mr. Darrell is a salaried employee and earns stock-based compensation on our common stock. As of March 31, 2014, Mr. Darrell beneficially owned 29,947 shares of our common stock. Pursuant to various stock and employee benefit plans, Mr. Darrell is eligible to purchase and receive shares of our common stock and to receive options to purchase shares of our common stock. Certain legal matters in connection with this offering will be passed upon for the underwriters by Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, New York, New York and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, New York, New York.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

Available Information

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, and other information with the SEC. These SEC filings are available over the Internet at the SEC’s web site at “http://www.sec.gov” or on our own website at “http://www.thelacledegroup.com.” Information contained on our website does not constitute part of this prospectus. You may also read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information on the Public Reference Room.

Incorporation by Reference

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information we file with the SEC, which means we can disclose important information by referring you to those documents. The information we incorporate by reference is an important part of this prospectus supplement and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below. Additional documents that we file with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, between the date of this prospectus supplement and the termination of this offering of our Equity Units are also incorporated herein by reference. These documents contain important information about us and our finances. We are not, however, incorporating, in each case, any documents or information that we are deemed to furnish and not file in accordance with SEC rules.

 

SEC Filings (File No.1-16681)		Period or Date Filed
Annual Report on Form 10-K		Fiscal year ended September 30, 2013 as amended by the Form 10-K/A, filed on May 15, 2014
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q		Quarters ended December 31, 2013, as amended by the Form 10-Q/A, filed on May 15, 2014, and March 31, 2014, as amended by the Form 10-Q/A, filed on May 15, 2014
Current Reports on Form 8-K		Filed on May 20, 2013 (with respect to Item 8.01, other than Exhibit 99.3), August 6, 2013 (with respect to Item 8.01, other than Exhibit 99.2), December 9, 2013, January 15, 2014, January 27, 2014, January 31, 2014, February 21, 2014, April 7, 2014 (with respect to Item 1.01), May 7, 2014 and June 3, 2014.

You may request a copy of these filings at no cost by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

The Laclede Group, Inc.

Attn: Investor Relations

720 Olive Street, 13th Floor

St. Louis, Missouri 63101

(314) 342-0873

 

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PROSPECTUS

 

Senior Debt Securities

Junior Subordinated Debt Securities

Preferred Stock

Common Stock

Stock Purchase Contracts

Stock Purchase Units

We may offer for sale, from time to time, either separately or together in any combination, the securities described in this prospectus. Each time we sell securities pursuant to this prospectus, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the offering and the specific terms of the securities offered. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest. This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

We may sell the offered securities through the solicitation of proposals of underwriters or dealers to purchase the offered securities, through underwriters or dealers on a negotiated basis, through agents or directly to a limited number of purchasers or to a single purchaser. The supplements to this prospectus will describe the terms of any particular plan of distribution, including any underwriting arrangements. Please see the “Plan of Distribution” section of this prospectus.

Investing in our securities involves risks that are described in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus as well as in our annual, quarterly, and current reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

Our common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “LG.”

Our address is 720 Olive Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63101 and our telephone number is 314-342-0500.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is June 3, 2014

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As permitted under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), this prospectus incorporates important information about us that is contained in documents that we file with the SEC but that is not included in or delivered with this prospectus. You may obtain copies of these documents without charge from the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov as well as other sources. See “Where You Can Find More Information.” You may also obtain copies of the incorporated documents, without charge, upon written or oral request to The Laclede Group, Inc., 720 Olive Street, St. Louis, MO 63101, Attention: Investor Services (314-342-0878).

We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any information other than information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. We can take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurances as to the reliability of, any information that others may give you. We will not make an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of those documents. Our business, financial condition, result of operations, and prospects may have changed since that date.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

		Page
About This Prospectus			1
Risk Factors			1
Where You Can Find More Information			1
Forward-Looking Statements			2
The Laclede Group			3
Use of Proceeds			4
Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges			4
Description of Debt Securities			4
Description of Capital Stock			13
Description of Stock Purchase Contracts and Stock Purchase Units			17
Book-Entry Securities			17
Plan of Distribution			19
Legal Matters			20
Experts			21

The distribution of this prospectus may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. This prospectus does not constitute, and may not be used in connection with an offer or solicitation by anyone in any jurisdiction in which the offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making the offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so, or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make the offer or solicitation.

 

 

The terms “we,” “our,” “us” and “Laclede” refer to The Laclede Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries unless the context suggests otherwise. The term “you” refers to a prospective investor.

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may offer and sell, from time to time, any combination of securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. The registration statement we filed with the SEC includes or incorporates by reference exhibits that provide more detail on descriptions of matters discussed in this prospectus. Each time we offer and sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering, including the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities offered. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and the prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. You should read this prospectus and the related exhibits filed with the SEC and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves risks. Before making an investment decision, you should read and carefully consider the risk factors described in our annual, quarterly and current reports filed with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as well as other information we include or incorporate by reference in this prospectus before making an investment decision. The prospectus supplement applicable to each type or series of securities we offer may contain a discussion of additional risks applicable to an investment in us and the particular types of securities we are offering under that prospectus supplement.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, and other information with the SEC. These SEC filings are available over the Internet at the SEC’s web site at “http://www.sec.gov” or on our own website at “http://www.thelacledegroup.com.” Information contained on our website does not constitute part of this prospectus. You may also read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information on the Public Reference Room.

 

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The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information we file with the SEC, which means we can disclose important information by referring you to those documents. The information we incorporate by reference is an important part of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement relating to an offering of our securities and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, from the time we file the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part until we sell all of the securities. These documents contain important information about us and our finances. We are not, however, incorporating, in each case, any documents or information that we are deemed to furnish and not file in accordance with SEC rules.

 

SEC Filings (File No.1-16681)		Period/Date Filed
Annual Report on Form 10-K		Year ended September 30, 2013 (as amended by our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A  filed on May 15, 2014)
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q		Quarters ended December 31, 2013 and March 31, 2014 (each as amended by our applicable Quarterly Report  on Form 10-Q/A filed on May 15, 2014)
Current Reports on Form 8-K		May 20, 2013 (with respect to Item 8.01, other than Exhibit 99.3) August 6, 2013 (with respect to Item 8.01, other than Exhibit 99.2) December 9, 2013 January 15, 2014 January 27, 2014 January 31, 2014 February 21, 2014 April 7, 2014 (with respect to Item 1.01) May 7, 2014 June 3, 2014

You may request a copy of these filings at no cost by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

The Laclede Group, Inc.

Attn: Investor Relations

720 Olive Street, 13th Floor

St. Louis, Missouri 63101

(314) 342-0878

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain matters contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, excluding historical information, include forward-looking statements. Certain words, such as “may,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “seek,” and similar words and expressions identify forward-looking statements that involve uncertainties and risks. Future developments may not be in accordance with our expectations or beliefs and the effect of future developments may not be those anticipated. Among the factors that may cause results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statement are:

 

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weather conditions and catastrophic events, particularly severe weather in the natural gas producing areas of the country;

 

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volatility in gas prices, particularly sudden and sustained changes in natural gas prices, including the related impact on margin deposits associated with the use of natural gas derivative instruments;

 

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the impact of changes and volatility in natural gas prices on our competitive position in relation to suppliers of alternative heating sources, such as electricity;

 

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changes in gas supply and pipeline availability, including decisions by natural gas producers to reduce production or shut in producing natural gas wells, expiration of existing supply and transportation arrangements that are not replaced with contracts with similar terms and pricing, as well as other changes that impact supply for and access to the markets in which our subsidiaries transact business;

 

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legislative, regulatory and judicial mandates and decisions, some of which may be retroactive, including those affecting

 

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allowed rates of return

 

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incentive regulation

 

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industry structure

 

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purchased gas adjustment provisions

 

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rate design structure and implementation

 

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regulatory assets

 

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non-regulated and affiliate transactions

 

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franchise renewals

 

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environmental or safety matters, including the potential impact of legislative and regulatory actions related to climate change and pipeline safety

 

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taxes

 

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pension and other postretirement benefit liabilities and funding obligations

 

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accounting standards, including the effect of potential changes relative to adoption of or convergence with international accounting standards;

 

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the results of litigation;

 

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retention of, ability to attract, ability to collect from, and conservation efforts of, customers;

 

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capital and energy commodity market conditions, including the ability to obtain funds with reasonable terms for necessary capital expenditures and general operations and the terms and conditions imposed for obtaining sufficient gas supply;

 

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discovery of material weakness in internal controls; and

 

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employee workforce issues.

In addition, actual results may differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statement due to the timing and likelihood of the closing of our purchase of all of the outstanding shares of Alabama Gas Corporation from Energen Corporation, and the other risk factors discussed in “Risk Related to the Company’s Acquisition Agreement with Energen” under Item 1A of Part II of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, as amended, which is incorporated by reference.

Readers are urged to consider the risks, uncertainties and other factors that could affect our business as described in this prospectus and the information incorporated by reference herein. All forward-looking statements made or incorporated by reference in this prospectus rely upon the safe harbor protections provided under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We do not, by including this statement, assume any obligation to review or revise any particular forward-looking statement in light of future events.

THE LACLEDE GROUP

We are a public utility holding company. We have two key business segments: Gas Utility and Gas Marketing. The Gas Utility segment includes the regulated operations of Laclede Gas Company, or Laclede Gas. Laclede Gas is a public utility engaged in the retail distribution and sale of natural gas, and is the largest natural gas distribution utility in Missouri, serving more than 1.13 million residential, commercial and industrial customers. Laclede Gas serves St. Louis and eastern Missouri and, since its acquisition of the gas distribution assets of Missouri Gas Energy on September 1, 2013, Kansas City and western Missouri. The Gas Marketing segment includes Laclede Energy Resources, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary engaged in the marketing of natural gas and related activities on a non-regulated basis. For more information about us and our business you should refer to the additional information described under the caption “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

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Our principal offices are located at 720 Olive Street, St. Louis, Missouri, 63101 and our telephone number is 314-342-0500.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless we state otherwise in any applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from any sale of the offered securities for general corporate purposes, including for working capital, repaying indebtedness, and funding capital projects and acquisitions.

We may set forth additional information on the use of net proceeds from a particular offering of securities in the prospectus supplement relating to that offering.

RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The following table sets forth our ratios of earnings to fixed charges for the respective periods indicated:

 

		Fiscal Year Ended September 30,																				12 Months Ended
		2009				2010				2011				2012				2013				March 31, 2014
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges			4.06				3.83				4.42				4.35				3.30				4.14

For purposes of computing the ratios of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of income from continuing operations plus applicable income taxes and fixed charges. Fixed charges include all interest expense and the portion of rent expense deemed representative of the interest component.

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

General

The description below contains summaries of selected provisions of the indentures, including supplemental indentures, under which the unsecured debt securities will be issued. These summaries are not complete. The indentures and the form of the supplemental indentures applicable to the debt securities are exhibits to the registration statement. You should read them for provisions that may be important to you.

We are not required to issue future issues of indebtedness under the indentures described in this prospectus. We are free to use other indentures or documentation, containing provisions different from those described in this prospectus, in connection with future issues of other indebtedness not under this registration statement.

The debt securities will be represented either by global senior debt securities registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), as depository (“Depository”), or its nominee, or by securities in certificated form issued to the registered owners, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. See the information under the heading “Book-Entry Securities” in this prospectus.

Unless otherwise provided, we may reopen a series without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of that series for issuance of additional debt securities of that series. Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, neither indenture described above limits or will limit the aggregate amount of debt, including secured debt, we or our subsidiaries may incur.

 

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The following briefly summarizes the material provisions of the indentures and the debt securities. You should read the more detailed provisions of the applicable indenture, including the defined terms, for provisions that may be important to you. The indentures have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Copies of the indentures may also be obtained from us or the applicable trustee.

The applicable prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities will describe the following terms, where applicable:

 

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the title of the debt securities;

 

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whether the debt securities will be senior or subordinated debt;

 

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the total principal amount of the debt securities;

 

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the percentage of the principal amount at which the debt securities will be sold and, if applicable, the method of determining the price;

 

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the maturity date or dates or the method of determining the maturity date or dates;

 

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the interest rate or the method of computing the interest rate;

 

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the date or dates from which any interest will accrue, or how such date or dates will be determined, and the interest payment date or dates and any related record dates;

 

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the location where payments on the debt securities will be made;

 

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the terms and conditions on which the debt securities may be redeemed at our option;

 

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any of our obligations to redeem, purchase or repay the debt securities at the option of a holder upon the happening of any event and the terms and conditions of redemption, purchase or repayment;

 

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any provisions for the discharge of our obligations relating to the debt securities by deposit of funds or United States government obligations;

 

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whether the debt securities are to trade in book-entry form and the terms and any conditions for exchanging the global security in whole or in part for paper certificates;

 

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any material provisions of the applicable indenture described in this prospectus that do not apply to the debt securities;

 

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any additional events of default; and

 

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any other specific terms of the debt securities.

Federal income tax consequences and other special considerations applicable to any debt securities issued by us at a discount may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Registration, Transfer and Exchange. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, each series of debt securities will initially be issued in the form of one or more global securities, in registered form, without coupons, as described under “Book-Entry Securities.” The global securities will be registered in the name of DTC, as depositary, or its nominee, and deposited with, or on behalf of, the depositary. Except in the circumstances described under “Book-Entry Securities,” owners of beneficial interests in a global security will not be entitled to have debt securities registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of any debt securities and will not be considered the registered holders thereof under the debt indenture.

Debt securities of any series will be exchangeable for other debt securities of the same series of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor. Subject to the terms of the applicable indenture and the limitations applicable to global securities, debt securities may be presented for exchange or registration of transfer, duly endorsed or accompanied by a duly executed instrument of transfer, at the office of any security registrar we may designate for that purpose, without service charge but upon payment of any taxes and other governmental charges as described in the applicable indenture.

 

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Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the security registrar will be the trustee under the applicable indenture. We may at any time designate additional security registrars or rescind the designation of any security registrar or approve a change in the office through which any security registrar acts, except that we will be required to maintain a security registrar in each place of payment for the debt securities of each series.

Payment and Paying Agents. Principal of and interest and premium, if any, on debt securities issued in the form of global securities will be paid in the manner described under “Book-Entry Securities.”

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the principal of and any premium and interest on debt securities of a particular series in the form of certificated securities will be payable at the office of the trustee or at the authorized office of any paying agent or paying agents upon presentation and surrender of such debt securities. We may at any time designate additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying agent or approve a change in the office through which any paying agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series.

All monies we pay to a trustee or a paying agent for the payment of the principal of, and premium or interest, if any, on, any debt security that remain unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest shall have become due and payable will be repaid to us. The holder of such debt security thereafter may look only to us for payment thereof, subject to the laws of unclaimed property.

Redemption. Any terms for the optional or mandatory redemption of the debt securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, debt securities will be redeemable by us only upon notice not less than 30 (or, in the case of junior subordinated debt securities, 20) nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption, and, if less than all the debt securities of a series are to be redeemed, the particular debt securities to be redeemed will be selected by the method provided for that particular series, or in the absence of any such provision, by the trustee in the manner it deems fair and appropriate and, in the case of debt securities issued in the form of global securities, in accordance with the depository’s applicable procedures.

Any notice of redemption at our option may state that redemption will be conditional upon receipt by the trustee or the paying agent or agents, on or prior to the date fixed for such redemption, of money sufficient to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on, the debt securities and that if that money has not been so received, the notice will be of no force and effect and we will not be required to redeem the debt securities.

Annual Notice to Trustee. We will provide to each trustee an annual statement by an appropriate officer as to our compliance with all conditions and covenants under the applicable indenture.

Notices. Notices to holders of debt securities will be given by mail to the addresses of the holders as they may appear in the security register for the applicable debt securities.

Title. We, the trustee, and any agents of us or the trustee, may treat the person in whose name debt securities are registered as the absolute owner of those debt securities, whether or not those debt securities may be overdue, for the purpose of making payments and for all other purposes irrespective of notice to the contrary.

Governing Law. Each indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

Regarding the Trustee. The Bank of New York Mellon is the trustee under the senior debt indenture. U.S. Bank National Association is the trustee under the junior subordinated debt indenture.

A trustee may resign at any time by giving written notice to us or may be removed at any time by act of the holders of a majority in principal amount of all series of debt securities then outstanding delivered to the trustee and us. No resignation or removal of a trustee and no appointment of a successor trustee will be effective until

 

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the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee.

Each indenture provides that our obligations to compensate the trustee and reimburse the trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances will be secured by a lien prior to that of the applicable senior debt securities upon the property and funds held or collected by the trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of, or interest, if any, on, such securities.

Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets. Each indenture provides that we will not consolidate with or merge into, or sell, lease or convey our property as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any other person unless the successor corporation assumes our obligations under the debt securities and the indentures and is organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

Senior Debt Securities

General. The senior debt securities will be unsecured and issued under the senior debt indenture between us and The Bank of New York Mellon and, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, will rank equally with our other unsecured and senior indebtedness. The senior debt indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of senior debt securities that may be issued under the senior debt indenture. The following summaries of some important provisions of the senior debt indenture (including its supplements) are not complete and are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by, all of the provisions of the senior debt indenture, which is an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

Ranking. The senior debt securities will be our direct unsecured general obligations and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt.

We are a holding company that derives substantially all of our income from our operating subsidiaries and primarily from our utility subsidiary. As a result, our cash flows and consequent ability to service our debt, including the senior debt securities, are dependent upon the earnings of our subsidiaries and distribution of those earnings to us and other payments or distributions of funds by our subsidiaries to us, including payments of principal and interest under intercompany indebtedness. Our operating subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and will have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay any dividends or make any other distributions (except for payments required under the terms of intercompany indebtedness) to us or to otherwise pay amounts due with respect to the senior debt securities or to make specific funds available for such payments. Various financing arrangements, charter provisions and regulatory requirements may impose certain restrictions on the ability of our subsidiaries to transfer funds to us in the form of cash dividends, loans or advances. Furthermore, except to the extent we have a priority or equal claim against our subsidiaries as a creditor, the senior debt securities will be effectively subordinated to debt and preferred stock at the subsidiary level because, as the direct or indirect common shareholder of our subsidiaries, we will be subject to the prior claims of creditors and holders of preferred stock of our subsidiaries.

Events of Default. Each of the following will constitute an event of default under the senior debt indenture with respect to senior debt securities of any series:

 

•

failure to pay principal of or premium, if any, on any senior debt security of that series, as the case may be, within three business days after maturity;

 

•

failure to pay interest on the senior debt securities of such series within 60 days after the same becomes due and payable;

 

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failure to perform or breach of any of our other covenants or warranties in the senior debt indenture (other than a covenant or warranty solely for the benefit of one or more series of senior debt securities other than that series) for 90 days after written notice to us by the trustee or to us and the trustee by the holders of at least 33% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding senior debt securities of that series;

 

•

certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, assignment or receivership; or

 

•

any other event of default specified in the applicable prospectus supplement with respect to senior debt securities of a particular series.

No event of default with respect to the senior debt securities of a particular series necessarily constitutes an event of default with respect to the senior debt securities of any other series issued under the senior debt indenture.

If an event of default with respect to any series of senior debt securities occurs and is continuing, then either the trustee for such series or the holders of at least 33% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding senior debt securities of that series, by notice in writing, may declare the principal amount of and interest on all of the senior debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. However, if the event of default applies to more than one series of senior debt securities under the senior debt indenture, the trustee for that series or the holders of at least 33% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding senior debt securities of all those series, considered as one class, and not the holders of the senior debt securities of any one of such series, may make such declaration of acceleration.

At any time after an acceleration with respect to the senior debt securities of any series has been declared, but before a judgment or decree for the payment of the money due has been obtained, the event or events of default giving rise to such acceleration will be considered waived, and the acceleration will be considered rescinded and annulled, if

 

•

we pay or deposit with the trustee for such series a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest on all senior debt securities of that series, the principal of and premium, if any, on the senior debt securities of that series that have become due otherwise than by acceleration and interest, if any, thereon at the rate or rates specified in such senior debt securities, interest, if any, upon overdue installments of interest at the rate or rates specified in such senior debt securities, to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, and all amounts due to the trustee for that series under the senior debt indenture; or

 

•

any other event or events of default with respect to the senior debt securities of such series have been cured or waived as provided in the senior debt indenture.

However, no such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or impair any related right.

There is no automatic acceleration, even in the event of our bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization.

Other than its duties in case of an event of default, the trustee is not obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under the senior debt indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the holders, unless the holders offer the trustee a reasonable indemnity. If they provide a reasonable indemnity, the holders of a majority in principal amount of any series of senior debt securities will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any power conferred upon the trustee. However, if the event of default relates to more than one series, only the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all affected series will have the right to give this direction. The trustee is not obligated to comply with directions that conflict with law or other provisions of the senior debt indenture.

 

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No holder of senior debt securities of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding under the senior debt indenture, or to exercise any remedy under the senior debt indenture, unless:

 

•

the holder has previously given to the trustee written notice of a continuing event of default;

 

•

the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding senior debt securities of all series in respect of which an event of default shall have occurred and be continuing have made a written request to the trustee and have offered reasonable indemnity to the trustee to institute proceedings; and

 

•

the trustee has failed to institute any proceeding for 60 days after notice and has not received any direction inconsistent with the written request of holders during that period.

However, the limitations discussed above do not apply to a suit by a holder of a debt security for payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on, a senior debt security on or after the applicable due date.

Modification and Waiver. We and the trustee may enter into one or more supplemental indentures without the consent of any holder of senior debt securities for any of the following purposes:

 

•

to evidence the assumption by any permitted successor of our covenants in the senior debt indenture and in the senior debt securities;

 

•

to add additional covenants or to surrender any of our rights or powers under the senior debt indenture;

 

•

to add additional events of default;

 

•

to change, eliminate, or add any provision to the senior debt indenture; provided, however, if the change, elimination, or addition will adversely affect the interests of the holders of senior debt securities of any series in any material respect, such change, elimination, or addition will become effective only:

 

•

when the consent of the holders of senior debt securities of such series has been obtained in accordance with the senior debt indenture; or

 

•

when no debt securities of the affected series remain outstanding under the senior debt indenture;

 

•

to provide collateral security for all but not part of the senior debt securities;

 

•

to establish the form or terms of senior debt securities of any other series as permitted by the senior debt indenture;

 

•

to provide for the authentication and delivery of bearer securities and coupons attached thereto;

 

•

to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment of a successor trustee;

 

•

to provide for the procedures required for use of a noncertificated system of registration for the senior debt securities of all or any series;

 

•

to change any place where principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be payable, debt securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and notices to us may be served; or

 

•

to cure any ambiguity or inconsistency or to make any other provisions with respect to matters and questions arising under the senior debt indenture; provided that such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of senior debt securities of any series in any material respect.

The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the senior debt securities of all series then outstanding may waive our compliance with certain restrictive provisions of the senior debt indenture. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding senior debt securities of any series may waive any past default under the senior debt indenture with respect to that series, except a default in the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest and certain covenants and provisions of the senior debt indenture that cannot be modified or be amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding senior debt security of the series affected.

 

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If the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after the date of the senior debt indenture in such a way as to require changes to the senior debt indenture, the senior debt indenture will be deemed to be amended so as to conform to the amendment of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. We and the trustee may, without the consent of any holders, enter into one or more supplemental indentures to evidence such an amendment.

The consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the senior debt securities of all series then outstanding is required for all other modifications to the senior debt indenture. However, if less than all of the series of senior debt securities outstanding are directly affected by a proposed supplemental indenture, then the consent only of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all series that are directly affected will be required. No such amendment or modification may:

 

•

change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any senior debt security, or reduce the principal amount of any senior debt security or its rate of interest or change the method of calculating such interest rate or reduce any premium payable upon redemption, or change the currency in which payments are made, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or after the stated maturity of any senior debt security, without the consent of the holder;

 

•

reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding senior debt securities of any series whose consent is required for any supplemental indenture or any waiver of compliance with a provision of the senior debt indenture or any default thereunder and its consequences, or reduce the requirements for quorum or voting, without the consent of all the holders of the series; or

 

•

modify certain of the provisions of the senior debt indenture relating to supplemental indentures, waivers of certain covenants and waiver of past defaults with respect to the senior debt securities of any series, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding senior debt security affected thereby.

A supplemental indenture that changes the senior debt indenture solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of senior debt securities, or modifies the rights of the holders of senior debt securities of one or more series, will not affect the rights under the senior debt indenture of the holders of the senior debt securities of any other series.

The senior debt indenture provides that senior debt securities owned by us, any of our affiliates or anyone else required to make payment on the senior debt securities shall be disregarded and considered not to be outstanding in determining whether the required holders have given a request or consent.

We may fix in advance a record date to determine the required number of holders entitled to give any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other act of the holders, but we shall have no obligation to do so. If a record date is fixed for that purpose, the request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other act of the holders may be given before or after that record date, but only the holders of record at the close of business on that record date will be considered holders for the purposes of determining whether holders of the required percentage of the outstanding senior debt securities have authorized or agreed or consented to the request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other act of the holders. For that purpose, the outstanding senior debt securities shall be computed as of the record date. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, election, waiver or other act of a holder shall bind every future holder of the same senior debt securities and the holder of every senior debt security issued upon the registration of transfer of or in exchange for those senior debt securities. A transferee will be bound by acts of the trustee or us taken in reliance upon an act of holders whether or not notation of that action is made upon that senior debt security.

Satisfaction and Discharge. We will be discharged from our obligations on the senior debt securities of a particular series, or any portion of the principal amount of the senior debt securities of such series, if we irrevocably deposit with the trustee sufficient cash or government securities to pay the principal, or portion of principal, interest, any premium and any other sums when due on the senior debt securities of such series at their maturity, stated maturity date, or redemption.

 

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The indenture will be deemed satisfied and discharged when no senior debt securities remain outstanding and when we have paid all other sums payable by us under the senior debt indenture.

Junior Subordinated Debt Securities

General. The junior subordinated debt securities will be unsecured and issued under the junior subordinated debt indenture between us and U.S. Bank National Association and, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, will rank equally with our other unsecured and subordinated indebtedness. The junior subordinated debt indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of junior subordinated debt securities that may be issued under the junior subordinated debt indenture. The following summaries of some important provisions of the junior subordinated debt indenture (including its supplements) are not complete and are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by, all of the provisions of the junior subordinated debt indenture, which is an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

Subordination. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the junior subordinated debt securities will rank subordinated and junior in right of payment, to the extent set forth in the junior subordinated indenture, to all of our “priority indebtedness.”

“Priority Indebtedness” means the principal, premium, interest and any other payment in respect of any of the following:

 

•

all of our current and future indebtedness for borrowed or purchase money whether or not evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other similar written instruments;

 

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our obligations under synthetic leases, finance leases and capitalized leases;

 

•

our obligations for reimbursement under letters of credit, surety bonds, banker’s acceptances, security purchase facilities or similar facilities issued for our account;

 

•

any of our other indebtedness or obligations with respect to derivative contracts, including commodity contracts, interest rate, commodity and currency swap agreements, forward contracts and other similar agreements or arrangements; and

 

•

all indebtedness of others of the kinds described in the preceding categories which we have assumed, endorsed or guaranteed or with respect to which we have a similar contingent obligation.

However, “Priority Indebtedness” will not include trade accounts payable, accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business, indebtedness to our subsidiaries, and any other indebtedness that effectively by its terms, or expressly provides that it, ranks on parity with, or junior to, the junior subordinated debt securities.

If we default in the payment of principal of or interest on any priority indebtedness when it becomes due and payable after any applicable grace period, then, unless and until the default is cured or waived or ceases to exist, we cannot make a payment on account of or redeem or otherwise acquire the junior subordinated debt securities issued under the subordinated indenture. If there is any insolvency, bankruptcy, liquidation or other similar proceeding relating to us, our creditors or our property, then all priority indebtedness must be paid in full before any payment may be made to any holders of junior subordinated debt securities. Holders of junior subordinated debt securities must return and deliver any payments received by them directly to the holders of priority indebtedness until all priority indebtedness is paid in full.

The junior subordinated debt indenture does not limit the total amount of priority indebtedness that may be issued.

Events of Default. The junior subordinated debt indenture provides that events of default regarding any series of junior subordinated debt securities include the following events that shall have occurred and be continuing:

 

•

failure to pay required interest on the series of junior subordinated debt securities for 30 days;

 

•

failure to pay when due principal on the series of junior subordinated debt securities;

 

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•

failure to perform, for 90 days after notice, any other covenant in the junior subordinated indenture applicable to the series of junior subordinated debt securities; and

 

•

certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, whether voluntary or not.

If an event of default regarding junior subordinated debt securities of any series should occur and be continuing, either the junior subordinated debt securities trustee or the holders of at least 25% in total principal amount of outstanding junior subordinated debt securities of a series may declare each junior subordinated debt security of that series immediately due and payable.

Holders of a majority in total principal amount of the outstanding junior subordinated debt securities of any series will be entitled to control certain actions of the junior subordinated debt securities trustee and to waive past defaults regarding that series. The trustee generally will not be required to take any action requested, ordered or directed by any of the holders of junior subordinated debt securities, unless one or more of those holders shall have offered to the trustee reasonable security or indemnity.

Before any holder of any series of junior subordinated debt securities may institute action for any remedy, except payment on that holder’s junior subordinated debt securities when due, the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the junior subordinated debt securities of that series outstanding must request the junior subordinated debt securities trustee to take action. Holders must also offer and give the junior subordinated debt securities trustee satisfactory security and indemnity against liabilities incurred by the trustee for taking that action.

We are required to annually furnish the junior subordinated debt securities trustee a statement as to our compliance with all conditions and covenants under the junior subordinated debt indenture. The junior subordinated debt securities trustee is required, within 90 days after the occurrence of a default with respect to a series of junior subordinated debt securities, to give notice of all defaults affecting that series of junior subordinated debt securities to each holder of such series. However, the junior subordinated debt indenture provides that the junior subordinated debt securities trustee may withhold notice to the holders of the junior subordinated debt securities of any series of any default affecting such series, except payment of principal or interest on holders’ junior subordinated debt securities when due, if we, in some cases with the trustee’s input, consider withholding notice to be in the interests of the holders of the junior subordinated debt securities of that series.

Modification and Waiver. The junior subordinated debt indenture permits us and the junior subordinated debt securities trustee to enter into supplemental indentures without the consent of the holders of the junior subordinated debt securities to:

 

•

establish the form and terms of any series of securities under the junior subordinated debt indenture;

 

•

secure the notes or debentures with property or assets;

 

•

evidence the succession of another corporation to us, and the assumption by the successor corporation of our obligations, covenants and agreements under the subordinated indenture;

 

•

add covenants from us for the benefit of the holders of the junior subordinated debt securities;

 

•

add or change any of the provisions of the junior subordinated debt indenture to permit or facilitate the issuance of junior subordinated debt securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons;

 

•

change or eliminate any provisions of the junior subordinated debt indenture; provided, however, that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there are no junior subordinated debt securities of any series outstanding created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which are entitled to the benefit of such provision;

 

•

qualify, or maintain the qualification of, the junior subordinated debt indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;

 

•

cure any ambiguity or correct or supplement any provision in the junior subordinated debt indenture or any supplement to the junior subordinated debt indenture, provided that the action does not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the junior subordinated debt securities in any material respect; and

 

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•

evidence and provide for the acceptance of a successor trustee.

The junior subordinated debt indenture also permits us and the junior subordinated debt securities trustee, with the consent of the holders of a majority in total principal amount of the junior subordinated debt securities of all series then outstanding and affected (voting as one class), to change in any manner the provisions of the junior subordinated debt indenture or modify in any manner the rights of the holders of the junior subordinated debt securities of each such affected series. We and the trustee may not, without the consent of the holder of each of the junior subordinated debt securities affected, enter into any supplemental indenture to:

 

•

change the time of payment of the principal;

 

•

reduce the principal amount of the junior subordinated debt securities;

 

•

reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest on the junior subordinated debt securities;

 

•

reduce any amount payable upon redemption of the junior subordinated debt securities;

 

•

modify the provisions with respect to the subordination of outstanding junior subordinated debt securities of any series in a manner adverse to the holders thereof; or

 

•

impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on any junior subordinated debt securities when due.

In addition, no modification may reduce the percentage in principal amount of the junior subordinated debt securities of the affected series, the consent of whose holders is required for that modification or for any waiver provided for in the junior subordinated debt indenture.

Before the acceleration of the maturity of any junior subordinated debt securities, the holders, voting as one class, of a majority in total principal amount of the junior subordinated debt securities with respect to which a default or event of default has occurred and is continuing, may, on behalf of the holders of all such affected junior subordinated debt securities, waive any past default or event of default and its consequences, except a default or event of default in the payment of the principal or interest or in respect of a covenant or provision of the applicable indenture or of any junior subordinated debt securities that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each of the junior subordinated debt securities affected.

Satisfaction and Discharge. The junior subordinated debt indenture provides that, at our option, we will be discharged from all obligations in respect of the junior subordinated debt securities of a particular series then outstanding (except for certain obligations to register the transfer of or exchange the junior subordinated debt securities of that series, to replace stolen, lost or mutilated junior subordinated debt securities of that series, and to maintain paying agencies) if all of the securities of such series have become due and payable, or are to become due and payable within one year, and we, in each case, irrevocably deposit in trust with the relevant trustee money and/or securities backed by the full faith and credit of the United States that through the payment of the principal thereof and the interest thereon in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay all the principal and interest on the junior subordinated debt securities of that series on the stated maturities of the junior subordinated debt securities in accordance with the terms thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

General

The following descriptions of our preferred and common stock and the relevant provisions of our articles of incorporation and bylaws are summaries. These summaries are qualified by reference to (1) our articles of incorporation and bylaws that have been previously filed with the SEC and are exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and (2) the applicable provisions of The Missouri General and Business Corporation Law.

 

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Under our articles of incorporation, we are authorized to issue up to 75,000,000 shares of capital stock, consisting of 70,000,000 shares of common stock, $l.00 par value per share, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $25 par value per share. At March 31, 2014, 32,776,595 shares of common stock and no shares of preferred stock were issued and outstanding.

Because we are a holding company and conduct all of our operations through our subsidiaries, our cash flow and ability to pay dividends will be dependent on the earnings and cash flows of our subsidiaries and the distribution or other payment of those earnings to us in the form of dividends, or in the form of loans to or repayments of loans from us. Some of our subsidiaries may have restrictions on their ability to pay dividends including covenants under their borrowing arrangements and mortgage indentures, and possibly also restrictions imposed by their regulators. Currently, the Mortgage and Deed of Trust of Laclede Gas Company, under which it issues its first mortgage bonds, contains a covenant that restricts its ability to pay dividends to us as its sole common stock shareholder. Under that covenant, as of March 31, 2014, $906 million was available to pay dividends. Further, the right of common shareholders to receive dividends may be subject to our prior payment of dividends on any outstanding shares of preferred stock.

Description of Preferred Stock

Our articles of incorporation authorize our board of directors to approve the issuance of preferred stock in one or more series, without shareholder action. Our board can determine the rights, preferences and limitations of each series. Before issuing a series of preferred stock, our board will adopt resolutions creating and designating the series as a series of preferred stock. Our board of directors has the authority to determine or fix the following terms with respect to shares of any series of preferred stock:

 

•

the dividend rate, the dates of payment, and the date from which dividends will accumulate, if dividends are to be cumulative;

 

•

whether and upon what terms the shares will be redeemable;

 

•

whether and upon what terms the shares will have a sinking fund;

 

•

whether and upon what terms the shares will be convertible or exchangeable;

 

•

whether the shares will have voting rights and the terms thereof;

 

•

any amounts payable to the holders upon liquidation or dissolution, if any; and

 

•

any other preferences, qualifications, limitations, restrictions and special or relative rights.

These terms will be described in the prospectus supplement for any series of preferred stock that we offer. In addition, you should read the prospectus supplement relating to the particular series of the preferred stock offered thereby for specific terms, including:

 

•

the title of the series of preferred stock and the number of shares offered;

 

•

the initial public offering price at which we will issue the preferred stock; and

 

•

any additional dividend, liquidation, redemption, sinking fund and other rights, preferences, privileges and limitations and restrictions.

When we issue the preferred stock, the shares will be fully paid and non-assessable. This means that the full purchase price for the outstanding preferred stock will have been paid and the holder of the preferred stock will not be assessed any additional monies for the preferred stock. Unless the applicable prospectus supplement specifies otherwise:

 

•

each series of preferred stock will rank senior to our common stock and equally in all respects with the outstanding shares of each other series of preferred stock; and

 

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holders of the preferred stock will have no preemptive rights to subscribe for any additional securities that we may issue in the future. This means that the holder of preferred stock will have no right, as holder of preferred stock, to buy any portion of preferred or common stock that we may issue in the future.

Description of Common Stock

Listing. Our outstanding shares of common stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “LG.” Any additional common stock we issue will also be listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Liquidation Rights. In the event of any dissolution, liquidation or winding up of our affairs voluntarily or involuntarily, the holders of our common stock will be entitled to receive the remainder, if any, of our assets after the payment of all our debts and liabilities and after the payment in full of any preferential amounts to which holders of any preferred stock may be entitled.

Voting Rights. Except as otherwise provided by law and subject to the voting rights of holders of our preferred stock that may be issued in the future, all voting power rests exclusively in the holders of shares of our common stock. Each holder of our common stock is entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote at a meeting of shareholders, including the election of directors. The common stock votes together as a single class. The holders of our common stock are not entitled to cumulate votes for the election of directors. At annual and special meetings of shareholders, the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock, present in person or by proxy, constitute a quorum.

Miscellaneous. The holders of our common stock have no preemptive or preferential rights to subscribe for or purchase any part of any new or additional issue of stock or securities convertible into stock. The outstanding shares of our common stock and the shares of common stock offered hereby will be, upon payment for them, fully paid and non-assessable. Our common stock does not contain any redemption provisions or conversion rights.

Transfer Agent and Registrar. Computershare Trust Company, N. A. acts as transfer agent and registrar for our common stock. Its address is P. O. Box 43078, Providence, RI 02940-3078. You can reach it at 1-800-884-4225.

Certain Anti-takeover Matters

It is not the intent of our board of directors to discourage legitimate offers to enhance shareholder value. Provisions of our articles of incorporation or bylaws, however, may have the effect of discouraging unilateral tender offers or other attempts to acquire our business. These provisions include the classification of our directors with three-year staggered terms, the requirement that director nominations by shareholders be made not less than 90 nor more than 120 days prior to the date of the shareholder meeting, and the ability of the board, without further action of the holders of common stock, to issue one or more series of preferred stock from time to time, which may have terms more favorable than the common stock, including, among other things, preferential dividend, liquidation, voting and redemption rights.

These provisions might discourage a potentially interested purchaser from attempting a unilateral takeover bid for us on terms that some shareholders might favor. If these provisions discourage potential takeover bids, they might limit the opportunity for our shareholders to sell their shares at a premium.

In addition, our articles of incorporation do not provide for cumulative voting in the election of directors. Cumulative voting permits shareholders to multiply their number of votes by the total number of directors being elected and to cast their total number of votes for one or more candidates in each shareholder’s discretion.

 

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Our bylaws also include provisions setting forth specific conditions and restrictions under which business may be transacted at meetings of shareholders. For example, no business may be transacted at a meeting unless it is:

 

•

specified in the notice of meeting;

 

•

otherwise brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the board of directors or a committee thereof; or

 

•

brought before the meeting by a shareholder of record who provided notice and other specified information in writing to the corporate secretary not less than 90 nor more than 120 days prior to the meeting.

These provisions may restrict the content of the issues to be discussed at a shareholders meeting.

In addition, the issuance of authorized but unissued shares of our common or preferred stock may have an anti-takeover effect. These shares might be issued by our board of directors without shareholder approval in transactions that might prevent or render more difficult or costly the completion of a takeover transaction by, for example, diluting voting or other rights of the proposed acquiror. In this regard, our articles of incorporation grant the board of directors broad powers to establish the rights and preferences of the authorized but unissued preferred stock, one or more series of which could be issued entitling holders to vote separately as a class on any proposed merger or consolidation, to convert the stock into shares of our common stock or possibly other securities, to demand redemption at a specified price under prescribed circumstances related to a change in control or to exercise other rights designed to impede a takeover.

Missouri Shareholder Protection Statutes

We are subject to Missouri corporate statutes that restrict the voting rights of a person who acquires 20% or more of our outstanding common stock as well as that person’s ability to enter into a business combination with us.

The control share acquisition statute provides that shares acquired that would cause the acquiring person’s aggregate voting power to meet or exceed any of three thresholds (20%, 33-1/3% or a majority) have no voting rights unless such voting rights are granted by a majority vote of the holders of the shares not owned by the acquiring person or any of our officers or directors or employee-directors. The statute sets out a procedure under which the acquiring person may call a special shareholders meeting for the purpose of considering whether voting rights should be conferred. Acquisitions as part of a merger or exchange offer arising out of an agreement to which we are a party are exempt from the statute.

The business combination statute restricts transactions between us and a beneficial owner of 20% or more of our voting stock. A business combination is defined in the statute as any of the following transactions with or proposed by an interested shareholder: merger, consolidation, disposition of assets, significant securities issuance, liquidation, dissolution, reclassification of securities, loan, advance, guarantee, pledge or tax credit. Generally the statute prohibits for five years from the date one becomes an interested shareholder a business combination between us and the interested shareholder unless the business combination or the interested shareholder’s stock acquisition was approved by our board of directors on or before that date. An interested shareholder may enter into a business combination with us after the five-year period if it is approved by holders of a majority of the outstanding shares not owned by the interested shareholder or if it meets certain consideration requirements.

Application of the control share acquisition and business combination statutes are automatic unless we take steps to “opt out” of their application. We have not “opted out” of the statutes.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS

AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS

We may issue stock purchase contracts, including contracts obligating you to purchase from us, and us to sell to you, a specified number of shares of our preferred or common stock at a future date or dates. The price per share of stock and the number of shares of stock may be fixed at the time the stock purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula described in the stock purchase contracts. We may issue stock purchase contracts separately or as part of units, often known as stock purchase units, consisting of a stock purchase contract and beneficial interests in:

 

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senior debt securities or junior subordinated debt securities; or

 

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debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. Treasury securities,

securing your obligations to purchase the stock under the stock purchase contract. The stock purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to you or vice versa, and these payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The stock purchase contracts may require you to secure your obligations in a specified manner. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units. The description in the applicable prospectus supplement will not necessarily be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, all of the provisions of the relevant purchase contract and pledge agreement, a form of which is an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

BOOK-ENTRY SECURITIES

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will issue securities, other than our preferred or common stock, to investors in the form of one or more book-entry certificates registered in the name of a depositary or a nominee of a depositary. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the depositary will be DTC. We have been informed by DTC that its nominee will be Cede & Co. Accordingly, Cede & Co. is expected to be the initial registered holder of all securities that are issued in book-entry form.

No person that acquires a beneficial interest in securities issued in book-entry form will be entitled to receive a certificate representing those securities, except as set forth in this prospectus or in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless and until definitive securities are issued under the limited circumstances described below, all references to actions by holders or beneficial owners of securities issued in book-entry form will refer to actions taken by DTC upon instructions from its participants, and all references to payments and notices to holders or beneficial owners will refer to payments and notices to DTC or Cede & Co, as the registered holder of such securities.

DTC has informed us that it is:

 

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a limited-purpose trust company organized under New York banking laws;

 

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a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York banking laws;

 

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a member of the Federal Reserve System;

 

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a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code; and

 

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a “clearing agency” registered under the Securities Exchange Act.

DTC has also informed us that it was created to:

 

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hold securities for “participants”; and

 

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facilitate the computerized settlement of securities transactions among participants through computerized electronic book-entry changes in participants’ accounts, thereby eliminating the need for the physical movement of securities certificates.

 

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Participants have accounts with DTC and include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations. Indirect access to the DTC system also is available to indirect participants such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly.

Persons that are not participants or indirect participants but desire to buy, sell or otherwise transfer ownership of or interests in securities may do so only through participants and indirect participants. Under the book-entry system, beneficial owners may experience some delay in receiving payments as payments will be forwarded by our agent to Cede &Co. as nominee for DTC. These payments will be forwarded to DTC’s participants, which thereafter will forward them to indirect participants or beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not be recognized by the applicable registrar, transfer agent, trustee or depositary as registered holders of the securities entitled to the benefits of the certificate, the applicable indenture or any other instrument governing the securities, as the case may be. Beneficial owners that are not participants will be permitted to exercise their rights as an owner only indirectly through participants and, if applicable, indirect participants.

Under the current rules and regulations affecting DTC, DTC will be required to make book-entry transfers of securities among participants and to receive and transmit payments to participants. Participants and indirect participants with whom beneficial owners of securities have accounts are also required by these rules to make book-entry transfers and receive and transmit such payments on behalf of their respective account holders.

Because DTC can act only on behalf of participants who, in turn, act only on behalf of other participants or indirect participants, and on behalf of certain banks, trust companies and other persons approved by it, the ability of a beneficial owner of securities issued in book-entry form to pledge those securities to persons or entities that do not participate in the DTC system may be limited due to the unavailability of physical certificates for the securities.

DTC has advised us that it will take any action permitted to be taken by a registered holder of any securities under the applicable indenture or any other instrument governing the securities, as the case may be, only at the direction of one or more participants to whose accounts with DTC the securities are credited.

According to DTC, it has provided information with respect to DTC to its participants and other members of the financial community for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a representation, warranty or contract modification of any kind.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, a book-entry security will be exchangeable for definitive securities registered in the names of persons other than DTC or its nominee only if:

 

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DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for the book-entry security or DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act at a time when DTC is required to be so registered;

 

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an event of default has occurred and is continuing under the applicable indenture; or

 

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we execute and deliver to the applicable registrar, transfer agent, trustee and/or depositary an order complying with the requirements of the applicable indenture or any other instrument governing the securities that the book-entry security will be so exchangeable.

Any book-entry security that is exchangeable in accordance with the preceding sentence will be exchangeable for securities registered in such names as DTC directs.

If one of the events described in the immediately preceding paragraph occurs, DTC is generally required to notify all participants of the availability through DTC of definitive securities. Upon surrender by DTC of the book-entry security representing the securities and delivery of instructions for re-registration, the registrar, transfer agent, trustee or depositary, as the case may be, will reissue the securities as definitive securities. After reissuance of the securities, those persons will recognize the beneficial owners of such definitive securities as registered holders of securities.

 

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Except as described above:

 

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a book-entry security may not be transferred except as a whole book-entry security by or among DTC, a nominee of DTC and/or a successor depositary appointed by us; and

 

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DTC may not sell, assign or otherwise transfer any beneficial interest in a book-entry security unless the beneficial interest is in an amount equal to an authorized denomination for the securities evidenced by the book-entry security.

None of us, any trustee, any registrar and transfer agent or any depositary, or any agent of any of them, will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of DTC’s or any participant’s records relating to, or for payments made on account of, beneficial interests in a book-entry security.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the offered securities through the solicitation of proposals of underwriters or dealers to purchase the offered securities, through underwriters or dealers on a negotiated basis, through agents or directly to a limited number of purchasers or to a single purchaser.

The prospectus supplement with respect to each offering of securities will set forth the terms of such offering, including:

 

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the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents;

 

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the purchase price of the offered securities and the proceeds to us from their sale;

 

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any underwriting discounts and commissions and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation;

 

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any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and

 

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any securities exchange on which the offered securities may be listed.

Any initial public offering price, discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

Underwriters

If underwriters are used in the sale, they will acquire the offered securities for their own account and may resell them on one or more occasions in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The offered securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. The underwriter or underwriters with respect to a particular underwritten offering of securities will be named in the prospectus supplement relating to such offering and, if an underwriting syndicate is used, the names of the managing underwriter or underwriters will be set forth on the cover of that prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise set forth in the prospectus supplement relating thereto, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the offered securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the offered securities if any are purchased.

Dealers

If dealers are utilized in the sale of offered securities, we will sell such offered securities to the dealers as principals. The dealers may then resell such offered securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealers at the time of resale. The names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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Agents

The offered securities may be sold directly by us or through agents designated by us from time to time. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of the offered securities will be named, and any commissions payable by us to such agent will be set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, any such agent will be acting on a best-efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

Direct Sales

The offered securities may be sold directly by us to institutional investors or others, who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resale thereof. The terms of any such sales will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Indemnification

Agents, dealers and underwriters and the persons who control them may be entitled under agreements with us to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments which these agents, dealers or underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof. Agents, dealers and underwriters may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us or our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.

Remarketing

The offered securities may also be offered and sold, if so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment under their terms, or otherwise, by one or more firms (“remarketing firms”), acting as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us. Any remarketing firm will be identified and the terms of its agreement, if any, with its compensation will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters, as such term is defined in the Securities Act, in connection with the offered securities they remarket. Remarketing firms may be entitled, under agreements that may be entered into with us, to indemnification or contribution by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and may be customers of, engage in transactions or perform services for us and our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.

No Assurance of Liquidity

The offered securities may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. You should read the prospectus supplement for a discussion of this matter. We cannot assure you there will be a market for any of the offered securities.

LEGAL MATTERS

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, certain legal matters will be passed upon for us by Mark C. Darrell, who serves as our Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, or Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP, New York, New York and for any underwriters by Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, New York, New York. Mr. Darrell is a salaried employee and earns stock-based compensation on our common stock. Pursuant to various stock and employee benefit plans, Mr. Darrell is eligible to purchase and receive shares of our common stock and to receive options to purchase shares of our common stock.

 

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EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements, and the related financial statement schedule, incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, and the effectiveness of The Laclede Group, Inc. and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements and financial statement schedule have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

The audited historical financial statements of Alabama Gas Corporation included in Exhibit 99.1 of The Laclede Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 3, 2014 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

The financial statements of Missouri Gas Energy as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for the period from March 26, 2012 to December 31, 2012, the period from January 1, 2012 to March 25, 2012, and the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, incorporated by reference in this prospectus have been so incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of Grant Thornton LLP, independent certified public accountants, upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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