Laclede Gas Company $100,000,000 2.000% Series First Mortgage Bonds due 2018 $250,000,000 3.400% Series First Mortgage Bonds due 2023 $100,000,000 4.625%Series First Mortgage Bonds due 2043 UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

EX-1.1 2 d582130dex11.htm EX-1.1 EX-1.1

Exhibit 1.1

Executed Copy

 

 

Laclede Gas Company

$100,000,000 2.000% Series First Mortgage Bonds due 2018

$250,000,000 3.400% Series First Mortgage Bonds due 2023

$100,000,000 4.625% Series First Mortgage Bonds due 2043

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

Dated: August 6, 2013

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties

     2   

SECTION 2. Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing

     15   

SECTION 3. Covenants of the Company

     16   

SECTION 4. Payment of Expenses

     20   

SECTION 5. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations

     21   

SECTION 6. Indemnification

     23   

SECTION 7. Contribution

     26   

SECTION 8. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive Delivery

     27   

SECTION 9. Termination of Agreement

     27   

SECTION 10. Default by One or More of the Underwriters

     28   

SECTION 11. Notices

     28   

SECTION 12. Parties

     29   

SECTION 13. GOVERNING LAW AND TIME

     29   

SECTION 14. Effect of Headings

     29   

SECTION 15. Definitions

     29   

SECTION 16. Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses

     32   

SECTION 17. Absence of Fiduciary Relationship

     33   

SECTION 18. Research Analyst Independence

     33   

SECTION 19. Trial By Jury

     34   

 

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EXHIBITS

Exhibit A – Underwriters

Exhibit B – Form of Pricing Term Sheet

Exhibit C – Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectuses

Exhibit D – Form of Opinion of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

Exhibit E – Form of Opinion of Mark C. Darrell, Esq.

 

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Laclede Gas Company

$100,000,000 2.000% Series First Mortgage Bonds due 2018

$250,000,000 3.400% Series First Mortgage Bonds due 2023

$100,000,000 4.625% Series First Mortgage Bonds due 2043

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

August 6, 2013

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

550 South Tryon Street, 5th Floor

Charlotte, North Carolina 28202

As Representative of the several Underwriters

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Laclede Gas Company, a Missouri corporation (the “Company”), confirms its agreement with Wells Fargo Securities, LLC (“Wells Fargo”) and each of the other Underwriters named in Exhibit A hereto (collectively, the “Underwriters,” which term shall also include any underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 10 hereof), for whom Wells Fargo is acting as representative (in such capacity, the “Representative”), with respect to the issue and sale by the Company and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the respective principal amounts set forth in said Exhibit A hereto of $450,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s (a) 2.000% Series First Mortgage Bonds due 2018 (the “Bonds due 2018”), (b) 3.400% Series First Mortgage Bonds due 2023 (the “Bonds due 2023”) and (c) 4.625% Series First Mortgage Bonds due 2043 ((the “Bonds due 2043” and, together with the Bonds due 2018 and the Bonds due 2023, the “Securities”). The Securities are to be issued pursuant to the Company’s Mortgage and Deed of Trust dated as of February 1, 1945, as amended and supplemented and as it will be further amended and supplemented by the Thirty-Second Supplemental Indenture relating to the Securities to be dated as of August 13, 2013 (such further supplemental indenture, the “Supplemental Indenture”) with UMB Bank & Trust, n.a. (who is now acting, under the terms of such Mortgage and Deed of Trust, in place of Mississippi Valley Trust Company), as trustee (the “Trustee”). Such Mortgage and Deed of Trust, as so amended and supplemented, including by the Supplemental Indenture, is hereinafter referred to as the “Mortgage.” Certain terms used in this Underwriting Agreement (this “Agreement”) are defined in Section 15 hereof.

The Company understands that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of the Securities as soon as the Representative deems advisable after this Agreement has been executed and delivered.

The Company has prepared and previously delivered to you a preliminary prospectus supplement dated August 6, 2013 relating to the Securities and a related prospectus dated August 6, 2013 (the “Base Prospectus”). Such preliminary prospectus supplement and Base Prospectus,

 

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including the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act, are hereinafter called, collectively, the “Pre-Pricing Prospectus.” Promptly after the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will prepare and file with the Commission a prospectus supplement dated August 6, 2013 (the “Prospectus Supplement”) and will file the Prospectus Supplement and the Base Prospectus with the Commission, all in accordance with the provisions of Rule 430B and Rule 424(b), and the Company has previously advised you of all information (financial and other) that will be set forth therein. The Prospectus Supplement and the Base Prospectus, in the form first furnished to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offering of the Securities (whether to meet the request of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173(d) or otherwise), including the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act, are herein called, collectively, the “Prospectus.”

SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties.

(a) Representations and Warranties by the Company. The Company represents and warrants to each Underwriter as of the date hereof, as of the Applicable Time and as of the Closing Date (as defined in Section 2(b) hereof) and agrees with each Underwriter, as follows:

(1) Status as a Well-Known Seasoned Issuer. (A) At the respective times the Registration Statement or any amendments thereto were filed with the Commission, (B) at the time of the most recent amendment to the Registration Statement for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the 1933 Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act or form of prospectus), (C) at any time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of paragraph (c) of Rule 163) made any offer relating to the Securities in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163 and (D) at the date hereof, the Company was and is a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405, including not having been and not being an “ineligible issuer” as defined in Rule 405 (without taking into account any determination made by the Commission pursuant to paragraph (2) of the definition of such term in Rule 405). The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement,” as defined in Rule 405 and the Securities, since their registration on the Registration Statement, have been and remain eligible for registration by the Company on such “automatic shelf registration statement.” The Company has not received from the Commission any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) objecting to the use of the automatic shelf registration statement form. Any written communication that was an offer relating to the Securities made by the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this sentence only, of paragraph (c) of Rule 163) prior to the filing of the Registration Statement has been filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 163 and otherwise complied with the requirements of Rule 163, including without limitation the legending requirement, to qualify such offer for the exemption from Section 5(c) of the 1933 Act provided by Rule 163.

(2) Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act and the Securities have been duly registered under the 1933 Act pursuant to the Registration Statement. The Registration

 

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Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective under the 1933 Act, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued under the 1933 Act, no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated by the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information has been complied with. The Registration Statement was initially filed with the Commission on August 6, 2013.

(3) Registration Statement, Prospectus and Disclosure at Time of Sale. At the respective times that the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto became effective, at each time subsequent to the filing of the Registration Statement that the Company filed an Annual Report on Form 10-K (or any amendment thereto) with the Commission, at each deemed effective date with respect to the Underwriters pursuant to paragraph (f)(2) of Rule 430B, and at the Closing Date, the Registration Statement and any amendments to any of the foregoing complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations and the 1939 Act and did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

At the respective times the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto was filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) or issued, at the Closing Date, and at any time when a prospectus is required (or, but for the provisions of Rule 172, would be required) by applicable law to be delivered in connection with sales of Securities (whether to meet the requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173(d) or otherwise), neither the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto included or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

As of the Applicable Time (except in the case of clause (z) below) and as of each time prior to the Closing Date that an investor agrees (orally or in writing) to purchase or, if applicable, reconfirms (orally or in writing) an agreement to purchase any Securities from the Underwriters, neither (x) the Pricing Term Sheet (as defined in Section 3(l) below), any other Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, issued at or prior to the Applicable Time and the Pre-Pricing Prospectus as of the Applicable Time, all considered together (collectively, the “General Disclosure Package”), nor (y) any individual Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, nor (z) any Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectuses issued subsequent to the Applicable Time, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

Each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing filed as part of the Registration Statement or any

 

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amendment thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act, or delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offering of the Securities, complied when so filed or when so delivered, as the case may be, in all material respects with the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations.

The representations and warranties in the preceding paragraphs of this Section 1(a)(3) do not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Underwriters as aforesaid consists of the information described as such in Section 6(b) hereof.

At the respective times that the Registration Statement or any amendment to any of the foregoing were filed and as of the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement that the Company or any other offering participant made a bona fide offer of the Securities within the meaning of paragraph (h)(2) of Rule 164; and without limitation to the foregoing, the Company has at all relevant times met, meets and will at all relevant times meet the requirements of Rule 164 for the use of a free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405) in connection with the offering contemplated hereby.

The copies of the Registration Statement and any amendments to any of the foregoing and the copies of each preliminary prospectus, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433 and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing, that have been or subsequently are delivered to the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Securities (whether to meet the request of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173(d) or otherwise) were and will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T of the Commission. For purposes of this Agreement, references to the “delivery” or “furnishing” of any of the foregoing documents to the Underwriters, and any similar terms, include, without limitation, electronic delivery.

Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offering and sale of the Securities did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus that has not been superseded or modified.

(4) Incorporated Documents. The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus, at the respective times they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations and did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

 

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(5) Independent Accountants. Deloitte & Touche LLP are independent public accountants as required by the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act, the 1934 Act Regulations and the PCAOB. Grant Thornton LLP are independent certified public accountants with respect to the Company under Rule 101 of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Code of Professional Conduct and its interpretations and rulings.

(6) Financial Statements. The financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules (if any) and notes, present fairly the financial position of the Company at the dates indicated and the results of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company for the periods specified; to the best knowledge of the Company, the financial statements of the gas distribution operations of Missouri Gas Energy, a division of Southern Union Company, as a stand-alone business (“MGE”), included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules (if any) and notes, present fairly the financial position of MGE at the dates indicated and the results of operations, changes in parent’s equity and cash flows of MGE for the periods specified; and all such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved and comply with all applicable accounting requirements under the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations, as applicable. The supporting schedule included in the Registration Statement presents fairly, in accordance with GAAP, the information required to be stated therein. The information in the Pre-Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus under the captions “Summary Historical and Pro Forma Financial Information—Our Summary Historical Financial Information” presents fairly the information shown therein and has been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The pro forma financial statements and the related notes thereto included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein, have been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements and have been properly compiled on the bases described therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein; and the information appearing in the Pre-Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus under the caption “Summary Historical and Pro Forma Financial Information—Summary Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Information” presents fairly the information shown therein and has been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the pro forma financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. No other pro forma financial statements, and no financial statements of any entity or business other than the Company and MGE, are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus. The Company’s ratios of earnings to fixed charges included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and

 

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the Prospectus comply with Item 503(d) of Regulation S-K of the Commission. All “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined in the rules and regulations of the Commission), if any, contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus comply with Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K of the Commission, to the extent applicable.

(7) No Material Adverse Change in Business. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (in each case exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto subsequent to the date of this Agreement), (A) there has been no material adverse change, or any development that could reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change, in the condition (financial or other), results of operations, business, properties, management or business prospects of the Company, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, nor any material adverse change, or any development that could reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change, in the condition (financial or other), results of operations, business, properties. management or business prospects of MGE such that the Company has the right to terminate its obligations to acquire MGE under the applicable acquisition agreement or to decline to consummate the acquisition of MGE as a result of such material adverse change (any such change or development described in this clause (A), a “Material Adverse Effect”); (B) except as otherwise disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (in each case exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto subsequent to the date of this Agreement), neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, MGE with respect to itself, has incurred any liability or obligation or entered into any transaction or agreement that, individually or in the aggregate, is material, and neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, MGE has sustained any loss or interference with its business or operations from fire, explosion, flood, earthquake or other natural disaster or calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or disturbance or court or governmental action, order or decree that could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and (C) except for regular quarterly cash dividends on the Common Stock in amounts per share that are consistent with past practice, there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock.

(8) Good Standing of the Company. The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Missouri and has power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement; and the Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(9) Subsidiaries. The Company has no subsidiaries.

 

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(10) Capitalization. The capitalization of the Company as of June 30, 2013 is as set forth in the column entitled “Actual” and in the corresponding line items under the caption “Capitalization” in the Pre-Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus and, at the time of the purchase of the Securities by the Underwriters on the Closing Date, the capitalization of the Company will be as set forth in the column entitled “As Adjusted” and in the corresponding line items under such caption, in each case except for issuances, if any, subsequent to June 30, 2013 pursuant to employee or director stock option, stock purchase or other equity incentive plans or any dividend reinvestment plan described in the Pre-Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, upon the exercise of options issued pursuant to any such stock option, stock purchase or other equity incentive plans as so described, or upon the exercise of options described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus). The shares of issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; and none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company was issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company or any other person or entity.

(11) Due Authorization. The Company has full right, power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents.

(12) Authorization of Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

(13) The Mortgage. The Mortgage has been duly authorized by the Company and, on the Closing Date, will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, when executed and delivered by the Trustee, will constitute a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by certain laws and judicial decisions of the United States of America and the State of Missouri (where the property covered thereby is located) affecting the remedies for the enforcement of the security provided for therein, which laws do not make inadequate the remedies necessary for the realization of the benefits of such security, and by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by general principles of equity; and the Mortgage has been duly qualified under the 1939 Act and the Trustee has filed a Form T-1 as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

(14) The Securities. The Securities have been duly authorized and, at the Closing Date, will have been duly executed by the Company and, when duly authenticated by the Trustee and delivered against payment of the purchase price therefor as provided in this Agreement, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by general principles of equity, and will be in the form contemplated by, and entitled to the benefits of, the Mortgage.

 

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(15) Description of the Securities and the Mortgage. The Securities and the Mortgage conform and will conform in all material respects to the respective statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and are and will be in substantially the respective forms filed or incorporated by reference, as the case may be, as exhibits to the Registration Statement.

(16) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts. The Company is not in violation of its Organizational Documents or in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any Company Document, except for such defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. The execution and delivery of, and the performance by the Company of its obligations under, the Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated therein and in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including the issuance and sale of the Securities and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described in the Pre-Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”) and compliance by the Company with its obligations under the Transaction Documents do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default, Termination Event or Repayment Event under, or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien (other than the Lien of the Mortgage) upon any property or assets of the Company pursuant to, any Company Documents, except for such conflicts, breaches, defaults or Liens that would neither, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect nor materially and adversely affect the performance by the Company of its obligations under the Transaction Documents, nor will such action result in any violation of (i) the provisions of the Organizational Documents of the Company or (ii) any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any government, government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its assets, properties or operations, except, in the case of clause (ii), for such violations that would neither, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect nor materially and adversely affect the performance by the Company of its obligations under the Transaction Documents.

(17) Absence of Labor Dispute. No labor dispute with the employees of the Company exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent, and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of the principal suppliers, manufacturers, customers or contractors of the Company that might reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(18) Absence of Proceedings. There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or affecting the Company that is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pre-Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus (other than as disclosed therein), or that might reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect or to materially and adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated in the Transaction Documents or the performance by the Company of its

 

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obligations under the Transaction Documents; and the aggregate of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which the Company is a party or of which any of its property or assets is the subject that are not described in the Registration Statement, the Pre-Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(19) Accuracy of Descriptions and Exhibits. The information in the Pre-Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus under the captions “Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations” and the information in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012 under the captions “Business—Regulatory Matters,” “Legal Proceedings,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies—Regulated Operations” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Regulatory and Other Matters” (as such information has been modified, supplemented or superseded by information included in the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or incorporated by reference therein from reports filed by the Company with the Commission subsequent to the date of filing of such Annual Report on Form 10-K), in each case to the extent that it constitutes matters of law, summaries of legal matters, summaries of provisions of the Company’s charter or bylaws, the Securities, the Mortgage or any other instruments or agreements, summaries of legal proceedings, or legal conclusions, is correct in all material respects; all descriptions in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus of any other Company Documents are accurate in all material respects; and there are no franchises, contracts, indentures, mortgages, deeds of trust, loan or credit agreements, bonds, notes, debentures, evidences of indebtedness, leases or other instruments, agreements or documents required to be described or referred to in the Registration Statement, the Pre-Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus or the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein that have not been so described and filed as required.

(20) Absence of Further Requirements. (A) The Missouri Public Service Commission of the State of Missouri (the “MPSC”) has issued one or more orders authorizing the issuance and sale of the Securities, which orders are in full force and effect; and no other filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency, domestic or foreign, (B) no authorization, approval, vote or consent of any holder of capital stock or other securities of the Company or creditor of the Company, (C) no authorization, approval, waiver or consent under any Company Document and (D) no authorization, approval, vote or consent of any other person or entity is necessary or required for the authorization, execution, delivery or performance by the Company of its obligations under the Transaction Documents, for the offering, issuance, sale or delivery of the Securities to be sold by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, or for the consummation of any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, in each case on the terms contemplated by the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except (i) such as have been obtained or made, (ii) under the

 

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1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act, the 1934 Act Regulations and the 1939 Act and (iii) that no representation is made as to such as may be required under state or foreign securities laws.

(21) Possession of Licenses and Permits. The Company possesses such permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations (collectively, “Governmental Licenses”) issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by it; and, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Company is in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, all such Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and effect; and the Company has not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses that individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, might reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(22) Title to Property. The Company has good and sufficient title to the properties described as owned by it in and as subject to the lien of the Mortgage, subject only to excepted encumbrances as defined in the Mortgage and all other restrictions, exceptions, defects and limitations of title as permitted under the Mortgage to the extent they do not materially impair the Company’s use of its properties in its business (collectively, the “Exceptions”); subject to Section 1(a)(23) hereof, the description of such properties set forth in the Mortgage is adequate to constitute the Mortgage a lien thereon and the Mortgage, subject only to the Exceptions, constitutes a valid, direct and first mortgage lien upon such properties, which include substantially all of the permanent physical properties and Franchises (as defined below) (other than those expressly excepted in the Mortgage); all permanent physical properties and Franchises (other than those expressly excepted in or released from the Mortgage) that have been or hereafter may be acquired by the Company after the date of the Supplemental Indenture have become or, upon such acquisition, will become subject to the lien of the Mortgage, subject, however, to the Exceptions and except as limited by bankruptcy law. As used herein, “Franchises” mean all franchises of the Company in or relating to real estate or the occupancy of lands to the extent the granting of a lien or mortgage thereon is permitted by applicable law.

(23) Status of Lien. Upon the recordation of the Supplemental Indenture in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Missouri pursuant to Section 443.451 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, the lien created by the Supplemental Indenture will become effective as to and enforceable against third parties; and all permanent physical properties and Franchises (other than those expressly excepted in or released from the Mortgage) presently owned by the Company are subject to the lien of the Mortgage, subject to the Exceptions.

(24) Investment Company Act. The Company is not, and upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated and the receipt and application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Use Of Proceeds” will not be, an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company” (as such terms are defined in the 1940 Act).

 

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(25) Environmental Laws. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, (A) the Company is not in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, policy or rule of common law or any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, including any judicial or administrative order, consent, decree or judgment, relating to pollution or protection of human health, the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including, without limitation, laws and regulations relating to the release or threatened release of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum or petroleum products (collectively, “Hazardous Materials”) or to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), (B) the Company has all permits, authorizations and approvals required under any applicable Environmental Laws and is in compliance with their requirements, (C) there are no pending or threatened administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, Liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigation or proceedings relating to any Environmental Law against the Company and (D) there are no events or circumstances that might reasonably be expected to form the basis of an order for clean-up or remediation, or an action, suit or proceeding by any private party or governmental body or agency, against or affecting the Company relating to Hazardous Materials or any Environmental Laws.

(26) Absence of Registration Rights. There are no persons or entities with registration rights or other similar rights to have any securities (debt or equity) (A) registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or included in the offering contemplated by this Agreement or (B) otherwise registered by the Company under the 1933 Act.

(27) Tax Returns. The Company has filed all federal, state and local tax returns that are required to be filed (or have obtained extensions thereof), except where the failure so to file would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, and has paid all taxes (including, without limitation, any estimated taxes) required to be paid and any other assessment, fine or penalty, to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable, except for any such tax, assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate actions and except for such taxes, assessments, fines or penalties the nonpayment of which would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(28) Insurance. The Company is insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which they are engaged; all policies of insurance and any fidelity or surety bonds insuring the Company or its business, assets, employees, officers and directors are in full force and effect; the Company is in compliance with the terms of such policies and instruments in all material respects; and the Company has no reason to

 

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believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers at a cost that would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(29) Accounting and Disclosure Controls. The Company maintains and has established and maintained effective “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Rule 13a-15 of the 1934 Act Regulations). The Company maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there has not been, at any time during the Company’s three consecutive fiscal years ended with and including the Company’s most recent fiscal year for which audited financial statements are included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or at any time subsequent thereto, any material weakness (as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X of the Commission) in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and, since the end of the Company’s most recent fiscal year for which audited financial statements are included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Company has established, maintained and periodically evaluates the effectiveness of “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 of the 1934 Act Regulations); such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the 1934 Act and the interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement are recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer or officers and principal financial officer or officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.

The Company’s independent public accountants and the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors have been advised of all material weaknesses, if any, and significant deficiencies (as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X of the Commission), if any, in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and of all fraud, if any, whether or not material, involving management or other employees who have a role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, in each case that occurred or existed, or was first detected, at any time during the Company’s five consecutive fiscal years ended with and including the Company’s most recent fiscal year for which audited financial statements are included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or at any time subsequent thereto.

 

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(30) Compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply in all material respects with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act with which any of them is required to comply, including Section 402 thereof related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 thereof related to certifications.

(31) Absence of Manipulation. The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

(32) Statistical and Market-Related Data. Any statistical, demographic, market-related and similar data included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable and accurate and accurately reflect the materials upon which such data is based or from which it was derived.

(33) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person or entity acting on behalf of the Company is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that has resulted or would result in a violation by any such person or entity of the FCPA, including, without limitation, any offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA and the Company, and, to the knowledge of the Company, its other affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and that are reasonably expected to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

(34) Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company are and have been conducted at all times in material compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

(35) OFAC. Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person or entity acting on behalf of the Company is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC; and the Company will not directly or indirectly use any of the proceeds from the sale of the

 

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Securities by the Company in the offering contemplated by this Agreement, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available any such proceeds to any joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person or entity currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

(36) ERISA Compliance. None of the following events has occurred or exists that might reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect: (i) a failure to fulfill the obligations, if any, under the minimum funding standards of Section 302 of ERISA with respect to a Plan (as defined below) determined without regard to any waiver of such obligations or extension of any amortization period; (ii) an audit or investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any other federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory agency with respect to the employment or compensation of employees by the Company; or (iii) any breach of any contractual obligation, or any violation of law or applicable qualification standards, with respect to the employment or compensation of employees by the Company. None of the following events has occurred or is reasonably likely to occur that, individually or in the aggregate, could result in a Material Adverse Effect: (A) a material increase in the aggregate amount of contributions required to be made to all Plans in the current fiscal year of the Company compared to the amount of such contributions made in the Company’s most recently completed fiscal year; (B) a material increase in the “accumulated post-retirement benefit obligations” (within the meaning of Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 715) of the Company compared to the amount of such obligations in the Company’s most recently completed fiscal year; (C) any event or condition giving rise to a liability under Title IV of ERISA; or (D) the filing of a claim by one or more employees or former employees of the Company related to its or their employment. For purposes of this paragraph and the definition of ERISA, the term “Plan” means a plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, which is subject to Title IV of ERISA, other than a “multiemployer plan,” as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA) with respect to which the Company may have any liability.

(37) Lending and Other Relationship. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) the Company has no lending or similar relationship with any Underwriter or any bank or other lending institution affiliated with any Underwriter; (ii) the Company will not, directly or indirectly, use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities by the Company hereunder to reduce or retire the balance of any loan or credit facility extended by any Underwriter or any of its “affiliates” or “associated persons” (as such terms are used in FINRA Rule 5121) or otherwise direct any such proceeds to any Underwriter or any of its “affiliates” or “associated persons” (as so defined); and (iii) there are and have been no transactions, arrangements or dealings between the Company, on one hand, and any Underwriter or any of its “affiliates” or “associated persons” (as so defined), on the other hand, that, under FINRA Rule 5110 or 5121, must be disclosed in a submission to FINRA in connection with the offering of the Securities contemplated hereby or disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or Prospectus.

 

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(38) Offering Materials. Without limitation to the provisions of Section 16 hereof, the Company has not distributed and will not distribute, directly or indirectly (other than through the Underwriters), any “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act) or other offering materials in connection with the offering or sale of the Securities, other than the Pre-Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus, any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing that are filed with the SEC and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses (as defined in Section 16 hereof).

(39) No Restrictions on Dividends. The Company is not a party to or otherwise bound by any instrument or agreement that limits or prohibits or could limit or prohibit, directly or indirectly, the Company from paying any dividends or making other distributions on its capital stock, or from repaying any loans or advances from, or (except for instruments or agreements that by their express terms prohibit the transfer or assignment thereof or of any rights thereunder) transferring any of its properties or assets to, the Company, except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(40) Brokers. There is not a broker, finder or other party that is entitled to receive from the Company any brokerage or finder’s fee or other fee or commission as a result of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for underwriting discounts and commissions in connection with the sale of the Securities to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement.

(41) Interactive Data. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

(b) Certificates. Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company (whether signed on behalf of such officer or the Company) and delivered to the Representative or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

SECTION 2. Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing.

(a) The Securities. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, the aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth in Exhibit A hereto, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase the aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth opposite its name in Exhibit A hereto plus any additional principal amount of Securities that such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 10 hereof, at a price equal to, in the case of the Bonds due 2018, 99.0220% of the principal amount thereof, in the case of the Bonds due 2023, 99.0470% of the principal amount thereof and in the case of the Bonds due 2043, 98.4980% of the principal amount thereof.

 

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(b) Payment. Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of, the Securities shall be made at the offices of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, 1540 Broadway, New York, New York 10036, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company, at 9:00 A.M. (New York City time) on August 13, 2013 (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10 hereof), or such other time not later than five business days after such date as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company (such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called “Closing Date”).

Payment shall be made to the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a single bank account designated by the Company, in each case against delivery to the Representative for the respective accounts of the Underwriters of the Securities to be purchased by them with any transfer taxes payable in connection therewith duly paid by the Company. It is understood that each Underwriter has authorized the Representative, for its account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for the Securities that it has agreed to purchase. Wells Fargo, individually and not as Representative of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase price for the Securities, if any, to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been received by the Closing Date, but such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder.

(c) Delivery of Securities. The Company shall make one or more global certificates (collectively, the “Global Securities”) representing each of the Bonds due 2018, the Bonds due 2023 and the Bonds due 2043 available for inspection by the Representative not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on the business day prior to the Closing Date and, on or prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall deliver the Global Securities to DTC or to the Trustee, acting as custodian for DTC, as applicable. Delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters on the Closing Date shall be made through the facilities of DTC unless the Representative shall otherwise instruct.

SECTION 3. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants with each Underwriter as follows:

(a) Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission Requests. The Company, subject to Section 3(b) hereof, will comply with the requirements of Rule 430B and Rule 433 and will notify the Representative immediately, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement shall become effective, or when any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall have been filed, (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission (and shall promptly furnish the Representative with a copy of any comment letters and any transcript of oral comments, and shall furnish the Representative with copies of any written responses thereto a reasonable amount of time prior to the proposed filing thereof with the Commission and will not file any such response to which the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object), (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or for additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the

 

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Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing, or any notice from the Commission objecting to the use of the form of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or of the loss or suspension of any exemption from any such qualification, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes, or of any examination pursuant to Section 8(e) of the 1933 Act concerning the Registration Statement and (v) if the Company becomes the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the 1933 Act in connection with the offering of the Securities. The Company will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order and the suspension or loss of any qualification of the Securities for offering or sale and any loss or suspension of any exemption from any such qualification, and if any such stop order is issued, or any such suspension or loss occurs, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment. The Company shall pay the required Commission filing fees relating to the Securities within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1)(i) of the 1933 Act Regulations without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the 1933 Act Regulations, except to the extent such filing fees have been paid prior to the date hereof.

(b) Filing of Amendments. The Company will give the Representative notice of its intention to file or prepare any amendment to the Registration Statement, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment, supplement or revision to any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, whether pursuant to the 1933 Act or otherwise, and the Company will furnish the Representative with copies of any such documents within a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing or use, as the case may be, and will not file or use any such document to which the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object. The Company has given the Representative notice of any filings made pursuant to the 1934 Act or the 1934 Act Regulations within 48 hours prior to the Applicable Time. The Company will give the Representative notice of its intention to make any filing pursuant to the 1934 Act or the 1934 Act Regulations from the Applicable Time through the Closing Date (or, if later, through the end of the period during which the Prospectus is required (or, but for the provisions of Rule 172, would be required) to be delivered by applicable law (whether to meet the requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173(d) or otherwise)) and will furnish the Representative with copies of any such documents a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing, as the case may be, and will not file or use any such document to which the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object.

(c) Delivery of Registration Statements. The Company has furnished or will deliver to the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, copies of the Registration Statement and of each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein and documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein or otherwise deemed to be a part thereof) and copies of all consents and certificates of experts.

 

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(d) Delivery of Prospectuses. The Company has delivered to each Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of each preliminary prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto as such Underwriter reasonably requested, and the Company hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes permitted by the 1933 Act. The Company will furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, during the period when the Prospectus is required (or, but for the provisions of Rule 172, would be required) to be delivered by applicable law (whether to meet the request of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173(d) or otherwise), such number of copies of the Pre-Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing as such Underwriter may reasonably request.

(e) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws. The Company will comply with the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Securities as contemplated by this Agreement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. If at any time when a prospectus is required (or, but for the provisions of Rule 172, would be required) by applicable law to be delivered in connection with sales of the Securities (whether to meet the request of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173(d) or otherwise), any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary (or if the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters shall notify the Company that, in its judgment, it is necessary) to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus so that the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made or then prevailing, not misleading or if it is necessary (or, if the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters shall notify the Company that, in its judgment, it is necessary) to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act or the 1934 Act Regulations, the Company will promptly notify the Representative of such event or condition and of its intention to file such amendment or supplement (or, if the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters shall have notified the Company as aforesaid, the Company will promptly notify the Representative of its intention to prepare such amendment or supplement) and will promptly prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 3(b) hereof, such amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such untrue statement or omission or to comply with such requirements, and, in the case of an amendment or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to have such amendment become effective as soon as practicable, and the Company will furnish to the Underwriters such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Underwriters may reasonably request. If at any time an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement or if an event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary (or, if the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters shall notify the Company that, in its judgment, it is necessary) to amend or supplement such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus so that it will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances

 

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under which they were made or then prevailing, not misleading, or if it is necessary (or, if the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters shall notify the Company that, in its judgment, it is necessary) to amend or supplement such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations, the Company will promptly notify the Representative of such event or condition and of its intention to file such amendment or supplement (or, if the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters shall have notified the Company as aforesaid, the Company will promptly notify the Representative of its intention to prepare such amendment or supplement) and will promptly prepare and, if required by the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations, file with the Commission, subject to Section 3(b) hereof, such amendment or supplement as may be necessary to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission or to comply with such requirements, and the Company will furnish to the Underwriters such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Underwriters may reasonably request.

(f) Blue Sky and Other Qualifications. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts, in cooperation with the Underwriters, to qualify the Securities for offering and sale, or to obtain an exemption for the Securities to be offered and sold, under the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) as the Representative may designate and to maintain such qualifications and exemptions in effect for so long as required for the distribution of the Securities (but in no event for a period of not less than one year from the date of this Agreement); provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject. In each jurisdiction in which the Securities have been so qualified or exempt, the Company will file such statements and reports as may be required by the laws of such jurisdiction to continue such qualification or exemption, as the case may be, in effect for so long as required for the distribution of the Securities (but in no event for a period of not less than one year from the date of this Agreement).

(g) Rule 158. The Company will timely file such reports pursuant to the 1934 Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings statement for the purposes of, and to provide to the Underwriters the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act.

(h) Use of Proceeds. The Company will use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Securities in the manner specified in the Pre-Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus under “Use of Proceeds.”

(i) Restriction on Sale of Securities. From and including the date of this Agreement through and including the earlier to occur of (i) Closing Date and (ii) the date of the termination of the fixed price offering restrictions applicable to the Underwriters, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of Wells Fargo, issue, offer, pledge, assign, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option or right to sell or otherwise transfer or dispose

 

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of any debt securities of the Company that are similar to the Securities (other than the Securities issued under this Agreement) or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for any debt securities of the Company that are similar to the Securities.

(j) Reporting Requirements. The Company, during the period when the Prospectus is required (or, but for the provisions of Rule 172, would be required) by applicable law to be delivered (whether to meet the request of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173(d) or otherwise), will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations within the time periods required by the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations.

(k) Preparation of Prospectus. Immediately following the execution of this Agreement, the Company will, subject to Section 3(b) hereof, prepare the Prospectus, which shall contain the public offering price and terms of the Securities, the plan of distribution thereof and such other information as may be required by the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations or as the Company may deem appropriate, and will file or transmit for filing with the Commission, in accordance with the provisions of Rule 430B and in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)), the Prospectus.

(l) Pricing Term Sheet. The Company will prepare a pricing term sheet (the “Pricing Term Sheet”) reflecting the final terms of the Securities, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B and otherwise in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, and shall file such Pricing Term Sheet as an “issuer free writing prospectus” pursuant to Rule 433 prior to the close of business on the business day following the date hereof; provided that the Company shall furnish the Representative with copies of any the Pricing Term Sheet a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing and will not use or file any such document to which the Representative or counsel to the Underwriters shall reasonably object.

SECTION 4. Payment of Expenses.

(a) Expenses. The Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations, including (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto (in each case including exhibits) and any costs associated with electronic delivery of any of the foregoing, (ii) the word processing and delivery to the Underwriters of this Agreement, the Supplemental Indenture and such other documents as may be required in connection with the offering, purchase, sale, issuance or delivery of the Securities, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates for the Securities and the issuance and delivery of the Securities to be sold by the Company to the Underwriters, including any issue or other transfer taxes and any stamp or other taxes or duties payable in connection with the sale, issuance or delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters, (iv) the fees and disbursements of the counsel, accountants and other advisors to the Company, (v) the qualification or exemption of the Securities under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(f) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation of a blue sky survey and any supplements thereto, (vi) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of

 

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each preliminary prospectus, any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing and any costs associated with electronic delivery of any of the foregoing, (vii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of a blue sky survey and any Canadian “wrapper” and any supplements thereto and any costs associated with electronic delivery of any of the foregoing, (viii) the fees and expenses of the attorneys-in-fact, the custodian and the transfer agent and registrar for the Securities, (ix) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters in connection with, the review, if any, by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Securities, (x) all fees charged by any rating agencies for rating the Securities and all expenses and application fees incurred in connection with the approval of the Securities for clearance, settlement and book-entry transfer through DTC and (xi) the costs and expenses of the Company and any of its officers, directors, counsel or other representatives in connection with presentations or meetings undertaken in connection with the offering of the Securities, including, without limitation, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics and the production and hosting of any electronic road shows, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with road show presentations, and travel, lodging, transportation, and other expenses of the officers, directors, counsel and other representatives of the Company incurred in connection with any such presentations or meetings.

(b) Termination of Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated by the Representative in accordance with the provisions of Section 5, 9(a)(i), 9(a)(iii)(A) or 9(a)(v) hereof, the Company shall reimburse the Underwriters for all of their out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters.

SECTION 5. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement, or in certificates signed by any officer of the Company (whether signed on behalf of such officer or the Company) delivered to the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters, to the performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to the following further conditions:

(a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall have become effective, and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued under the 1933 Act or proceedings therefor initiated or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission, any request on the part of the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representative and the Commission shall not have notified the Company of any objection to the use of the form of the Registration Statement. The Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) (without reliance upon clause (8) of Rule 424(b)) and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus required to be filed with the Commission shall have been filed in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 433, and, prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have provided evidence satisfactory to the Representative of such timely filings.

(b) Opinion of Counsel for Company. At the Closing Date, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of the Closing Date, of each of (i)

 

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Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, counsel for the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, together with signed or reproduced copies of such opinion for each of the other Underwriters, to the effect set forth in Exhibit D hereto and to such further effect as the Representative may reasonably request and (ii) Mark C. Darrell, Esq., Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of The Laclede Group, Inc., the parent company of the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, together with signed or reproduced copies of such opinion for each of the other Underwriters, to the effect set forth in Exhibit E hereto and to such further effect as the Representative may reasonably request.

(c) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters. At the Closing Date, the Representative shall have received the favorable letter, dated as of the Closing Date, of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, counsel for the Underwriters (“Underwriters’ Counsel”), together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters, with respect to the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and such other matters as the Representative may reasonably request.

(d) Officers’ Certificate. At the Closing Date, there shall not have been, since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (in each case exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto subsequent to the date of this Agreement), any material adverse change or any development that could reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change in the condition (financial or other), results of operations, business, properties, management or business prospects of the Company, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, and, at the Closing Date, the Representative shall have received a certificate, signed on behalf of the Company by the President or a Senior Vice President of the Company and the Chief Financial Officer or principal accounting officer of the Company, dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that (i) there has been no such material adverse change, (ii) the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct at and as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of the Closing Date, (iii) the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date under or pursuant to this Agreement and (iv) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated by the Commission and the Commission has not notified the Company of any objection to the use of the form of the Registration Statement.

(e) Accountant’s Comfort Letter. At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Representative shall have received the letter of each of (i) Deloitte & Touche LLP (“D&T”) and (ii) Grant Thornton LLP (“GT”), in each case dated the date of this Agreement and in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative and addressed to the Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters, confirming that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the 1933 Act with respect to, in the case of D&T, the

 

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Company and, in the case of GT, MGE and are in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualifications of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Commission and containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements of the Company and MGE, as the case may be, and certain financial information included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses (other than any electronic road show) and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing, including, in the case of D&T, the pro forma financial statements included therein.

(f) Bring-down Comfort Letter. At the Closing Date, the Representative shall have received the letter of each of D&T and GT, in each case dated as of the Closing Date and in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in their letters furnished pursuant to Section 5(e) hereof, except that the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three business days prior to the Closing Date.

(g) Additional Documents. At the Closing Date, counsel for the Underwriters shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions, contained in this Agreement, or as the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters may otherwise reasonably request; and all proceedings taken by the Company in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated and in connection with the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Representative.

(h) Termination of Agreement. If any condition specified in this Section 5 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representative by notice to the Company at any time on or prior to the Closing Date and such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 hereof and except that, in the case of any such termination of this Agreement, Sections 1, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18 and 19 hereof shall survive such termination of this Agreement and remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 6. Indemnification.

(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, and its and their officers, directors, employees, partners and members and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act as follows:

(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary

 

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to make the statements therein not misleading, or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or any “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433), or any “road show” (as defined in Rule 433) that does not constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company; and

(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing for or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above,

provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or in any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or in any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Underwriters as aforesaid consists of the information described as such in Section 6(b) hereof.

(b) Indemnification by the Underwriters. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in Section 6(a) hereof, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or in any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use therein. The Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that the information furnished to the Company by the Underwriters through the Representative expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or in any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or

 

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the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), consists exclusively of the following information appearing in the Pre-Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus: (i) the information regarding the concession and reallowance appearing in the third paragraph under the caption “Underwriting” therein, (ii) the information regarding stabilization, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids appearing in the eighth and ninth paragraphs under such caption (but only insofar as such information concerns the Underwriters) and (iii) the information regarding market making by the Underwriters appearing in the seventh paragraph under such caption.

(c) Actions Against Parties; Notification. Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder. Counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected as follows: counsel to the Underwriters and the other indemnified parties referred to in Section 6(a) hereof shall be selected by the Representative, and counsel to the Company, its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall be selected by the Company. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action; provided, however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall the indemnifying party be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for the Underwriters and the other indemnified parties referred to in Section 6(a) hereof and the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for the Company, its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, in each case in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 6 or Section 7 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(d) Settlement Without Consent if Failure to Reimburse. If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this Section 6, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 6(a)(ii) hereof effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.

 

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SECTION 7. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 6 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.

The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate initial public offering price of the Securities as set forth on such cover.

The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or by the Underwriters on the other hand and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing for or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

 

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No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person or entity who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

For purposes of this Section 7, each affiliate of any Underwriter, each officer, director, employee, partner and member of any Underwriter or any such affiliate, and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company. The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to the principal amount of Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Exhibit A hereto and not joint.

SECTION 8. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive Delivery. All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in certificates signed by any officer of the Company (whether signed on behalf of such officer or the Company) and delivered to the Representative or counsel to the Underwriters, shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, any officer, director, employee, partner, member or agent of any Underwriter or any person or entity controlling any Underwriter, or by or on behalf of the Company, any officer, director or employee of the Company or any person or entity controlling the Company and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Securities.

SECTION 9. Termination of Agreement.

(a) Termination; General. The Representative may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the Company, at any time on or prior to the Closing Date (i) if there has been, at any time on or after the date of this Agreement or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (in each case exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto subsequent to the date of this Agreement), any Material Adverse Effect or any development that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) if there has occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or the international financial markets, any declaration of a national emergency or war by the United States, any outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change in national or international political, financial or economic conditions (including, without limitation, as a result of terrorist activities), in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representative, impracticable or inadvisable to market the Securities or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Securities, or (iii) if (A) trading in any securities of the Company has been suspended or materially limited by the Commission or the NYSE, or (B) trading generally on the NYSE or the Nasdaq Stock Market has been suspended or limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices have been required, by the NYSE or the Nasdaq Stock Market or by order of the Commission, FINRA or any other governmental authority, or (C) a material disruption has occurred in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States or in Europe, or (iv) if a banking

 

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moratorium has been declared by either Federal or New York authorities or (v) if there shall have occurred, at any time on or after the date of this Agreement, any downgrading in the rating of any debt securities of the Company by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the 1934 Act) or any public announcement that any such organization has placed its rating on the Company or any such debt securities under surveillance or review or on a so-called “watch list” (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading, and no implication of a possible downgrading, of such rating) or any announcement by any such organization that the Company or any such debt securities has been placed on negative outlook.

(b) Liabilities. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section 9, such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 hereof and except that Sections 1, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18 and 19 hereof shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 10. Default by One or More of the Underwriters. If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail at the Closing Date to purchase the Securities that it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement (the “Defaulted Securities”), the Representative shall have the right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the Representative shall not have completed such arrangements within such 24-hour period, then:

(1) if the aggregate principal amount of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be purchased on such date, each of the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount of such Defaulted Securities in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters; or

(2) if the aggregate principal amount of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be purchased on such date, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter.

No action taken pursuant to this Section 10 shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.

In the event of any such default that does not result in a termination of this Agreement, the Representative shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements. As used herein, the term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 10.

SECTION 11. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing, shall be effective only upon receipt and shall be mailed, delivered by hand or overnight

 

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courier, or transmitted by fax (with the receipt of such fax to be confirmed by telephone). Notices to the Underwriters shall be directed to the Representative at Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, 550 South Tryon Street, 5th Floor, Charlotte, North Carolina 28288, Attention of Transaction Management, fax no. 704 ###-###-#### (with such fax to be confirmed by telephone to ###-###-####); and notices to the Company shall be directed to it at 720 Olive Street, St. Louis, Missouri, 63101, Attention of Mark C. Darrell, fax no. 314 ###-###-#### (with such fax to be confirmed by telephone to ###-###-####).

SECTION 12. Parties. This Agreement shall each inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters, the Company and their respective successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the Underwriters, the Company and their respective successors and the controlling persons and other indemnified parties referred to in Sections 6 and 7 hereof and their successors, heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors, and said controlling persons and other indemnified parties and their successors, heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person or entity. No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.

SECTION 13. GOVERNING LAW AND TIME. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY SET FORTH HEREIN, SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.

SECTION 14. Effect of Headings; Counterparts. The Section and Exhibit headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof. This Agreement may be executed by any one or more of the parties hereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such respective counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

SECTION 15. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below:

Applicable Time” means 2:30 p.m. (New York City time) on August 6, 2013 or such other time as agreed by the Company and the Representative.

Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Company Documents” means all other contracts, indentures, mortgages, deeds of trust, loan or credit agreements, bonds, notes, debentures, evidences of indebtedness, swap agreements, hedging agreements, leases or other instruments or agreements to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company is subject, including the Mortgage and any other instruments, agreements and documents filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the Company’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K or any subsequent report filed by the Company under the

 

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Exchange Act pursuant to Rule 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K of the Commission; provided that if any instrument, agreement or other document filed or incorporated by reference as such an exhibit has been redacted or if any portion thereof has been deleted or is otherwise not included as part of such exhibit (whether pursuant to a request for confidential treatment or otherwise), the term “Company Documents” shall nonetheless mean such instrument, agreement or other document, as the case may be, in its entirety, including any portions thereof which shall have been so redacted, deleted or otherwise not filed

DTC” means The Depository Trust Company.

EDGAR” means the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System.

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder.

FCPA” means the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. or the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or both, as the context shall require.

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles.

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, relating to the offering of the Securities that (i) is required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, (ii) is a “road show” that is a “written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i), whether or not required to be filed with the Commission, or (iii) is exempt from filing pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the Securities or of the offering that does not reflect the final terms, and all free writing prospectuses that are listed in Exhibit C hereto, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g).

Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is intended for general distribution to prospective investors, as evidenced by its being specified in Exhibit C hereto.

Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not an Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus.

Lien” means any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity.

NYSE” means the New York Stock Exchange.

OFAC” means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department.

Organizational Documents” means the Company’s charter and bylaws.

 

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Pre-Pricing Prospectus” means the preliminary prospectus dated August 6, 2013 relating to the Securities in the form first furnished to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offering of the Securities, including the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act.

PCAOB” means the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).

preliminary prospectus” means any prospectus together with, if applicable, the accompanying prospectus supplement used in connection with the offering of the Securities that omitted the public offering price of the Securities or that was captioned “Subject to Completion,” together with the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act. The term “preliminary prospectus” includes, without limitation, the Pre-Pricing Prospectus.

Registration Statement” means the Company’s registration statement on Form S–3 (Registration No. 333-190388-01), as amended (if applicable), including the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S–3 under the 1933 Act and the Rule 430B Information; provided that any Rule 430B Information shall be deemed part of the Registration Statement only from and after the time specified pursuant to Rule 430B.

Repayment Event” means any event or condition which, either immediately or with notice or passage of time or both, (i) gives the holder of any bond, note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person or entity acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company, or (ii) gives any counterparty (or any person or entity acting on such counterparty’s behalf) under any swap agreement, hedging agreement or similar agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party the right to liquidate or accelerate the payment obligations, or designate an early termination date under such agreement or instrument, as the case may be.

Rule 163,” “Rule 164,” “Rule 172,” “Rule 173(d),” “Rule 401(g)(2),” “Rule 405,” “Rule 424(b)” “Rule 430B,” “Rule 430C,“and “Rule 433” refer to such rules under the 1933 Act.

Rule 430B Information” means the information included in any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) that was omitted from the Registration Statement at the time it first became effective but is deemed to be part of and included in the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430B.

Sarbanes-Oxley Act” means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or implementing the provisions thereof.

Termination Event” means any event or condition which gives any person or entity the right, either immediately or with notice or passage of time or both, to terminate or limit (in whole or in part) any Company Documents or any rights of the Company thereunder, including, without limitation, upon the occurrence of a change of control of the Company or other similar events.

 

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Transaction Documents” means this Agreement, the Mortgage and the Securities, collectively.

1933 Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

1933 Act Regulations” means the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1933 Act.

1934 Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

1934 Act Regulations” means the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1934 Act.

1939 Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

1940 Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the version thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR and all versions thereof delivered (physically or electronically) to the Representative or the Underwriters.

All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is “contained,” “included” or “stated” in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (and all other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information that is incorporated by reference in or otherwise deemed by 1933 Act Regulations to be a part of or included in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include the filing of any document under the 1934 Act that is incorporated by reference in or otherwise deemed by 1933 Act Regulations to be a part of or included in the Registration Statement, such preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be.

SECTION 16. Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company represents, warrants and agrees that it has not made and, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Representative, it will not make, any offer relating to the Securities that constitutes or would constitute an “issuer free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 433) or that otherwise constitutes or would constitute a “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405) or portion thereof required to be filed with the Commission or required to be retained by the Company pursuant to Rule 433; provided that the prior written consent of the Representative shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, listed on Exhibit C hereto and, to any electronic road show in the form previously provided by the Company to and approved by the Representative. Any such free writing prospectus consented to or deemed to have been consented to as aforesaid is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company represents, warrants and agrees that it has

 

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treated and will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record keeping. For the purposes of clarity, the parties hereto agree that all free writing prospectuses, if any, listed in Exhibit C hereto are Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses.

SECTION 17. Absence of Fiduciary Relationship. The Company acknowledges and agrees that:

(a) each of the Underwriters is acting solely as an underwriter in connection with the sale of the Securities and no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Company, on the one hand, and any of the Underwriters, on the other hand, has been created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, irrespective of whether or not any of the Underwriters has advised or is advising the Company on other matters;

(b) the public offering price of the Securities and the price to be paid by the Underwriters for the Securities set forth in this Agreement were established by the Company following discussions and arms-length negotiations with the Representative;

(c) it is capable of evaluating and understanding, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

(d) it is aware that the Underwriters and their respective affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions that may involve interests that differ from those of the Company and that none of the Underwriters has any obligation to disclose such interests and transactions to the Company by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship or otherwise; and

(e) it waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims it may have against any of the Underwriters for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty and agrees that none of the Underwriters shall have any liability (whether direct or indirect, in contract, tort or otherwise) to it in respect of such a fiduciary duty claim or to any person or entity asserting a fiduciary duty claim on its behalf or in right of it or the Company or any stockholders, employees or creditors of Company.

SECTION 18. Research Analyst Independence. The Company acknowledges that the Underwriters’ respective research analysts and research departments are required to be independent from their respective investment banking divisions and are subject to certain regulations and internal policies, and that such Underwriters’ respective research analysts and research departments may hold views and make statements or investment recommendations or publish research reports with respect to the Company or the offering that differ from the views of their respective investment banking divisions. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any claims that the Company may have against the Underwriters with respect to any conflict of interest that may arise from the fact that the views expressed by their respective research analysts and research departments may be different from or inconsistent with the views or advice communicated to the Company by such Underwriters’ respective investment banking divisions. The Company acknowledges that each of the

 

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Underwriters is a full service securities firm and as such from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, may effect transactions for its own account or the account of its customers and hold long or short positions in debt or equity securities of the Company and other entities that may be the subject of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

SECTION 19. Trial By Jury. The Company (on its own behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its stockholders and affiliates) and each of the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement between the Underwriters and the Company in accordance with its terms.

 

Very truly yours,
LACLEDE GAS COMPANY
By  

/s/ Steven L. Lindsey

  Name:   Steven L. Lindsey
  Title:   President

 

CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED, as of the date first above written:

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC
By  

/s/ Kristine Thomas

  Authorized Signatory

For itself and as Representative of the Underwriters named in Exhibit A hereto.

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]


EXHIBIT A

 

Name of Underwriter

   Principal
Amount of
Bonds
due 2018
     Principal
Amount of
Bonds
due 2023
     Principal
Amount of
Bonds
due 2043
 

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

   $ 61,250,000       $ 153,125,000       $ 61,250,000   

U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.

   $ 20,000,000       $ 50,000,000       $ 20,000,000   

Commerce Bank – Capital Markets Group

   $ 9,250,000       $ 23,125,000       $ 9,250,000   

Fifth Third Securities, Inc.

   $ 4,750,000       $ 11,875,000       $ 4,750,000   

UMB Financial Services, Inc.

   $ 4,750,000       $ 11,875,000       $ 4,750,000   

Total

   $ 100,000,000       $ 250,000,000       $ 100,000,000   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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EXHIBIT B

FORM OF PRICING TERM SHEET

Laclede Gas Company

Pricing Term Sheet

$100,000,000 2.000% Series First Mortgage Bonds due 2018

$250,000,000 3.400% Series First Mortgage Bonds due 2023

$100,000,000 4.625% Series First Mortgage Bonds due 2043

 

Issuer:

   Laclede Gas Company

Ratings (Moody’s / S&P / Fitch)*:

   [Intentionally omitted]

Ratings Outlooks (Moody’s / S&P / Fitch)*:

   [Intentionally omitted]

Security Type:

   First Mortgage Bonds
   Bonds due 2018    Bonds due 2023    Bonds due 2043

Pricing Date:

   August 6, 2013    August 6, 2013    August 6, 2013

Settlement Date:

   August 13, 2013    August 13, 2013    August 13, 2013

Maturity Date:

   August 15, 2018    August 15, 2023    August 15, 2043

Interest Payment Dates:

   February 15 and August 15, beginning February 15, 2014    February 15 and August 15, beginning February 15, 2014    February 15 and August 15, beginning February 15, 2014

Principal Amount:

   $100,000,000    $250,000,000    $100,000,000

Benchmark:

   1.375% due July 31,
2018
   1.750% due May 15,
2023
   3.125% due February 15,
2043

Benchmark Price / Yield:

   99-31 1/4 / 1.380%    92-13 / 2.636%    89-15+ / 3.714%

Spread to Benchmark:

   + 70 bps    + 80 bps    + 95 bps

Yield to Maturity:

   2.080%    3.436%    4.664%

Coupon:

   2.000%    3.400%    4.625%

Public Offering Price:

   99.622%    99.697%    99.373%

Optional Redemption:

   T + 10 bps    T + 15 bps    T + 15 bps

CUSIP / ISIN:

   505588BH5 / US505588BH57    505588BJ1 / US505588BJ14    505588BK8 / US505588BK86

Book-Running Manager:

   Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

Senior Co-Manager:

   U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.

Co-Managers:

  

Commerce Bank – Capital Markets Group

Fifth Third Securities, Inc.

UMB Financial Services, Inc.

 

* Note: A securities rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time.

The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a preliminary prospectus supplement and a prospectus) and a prospectus supplement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for

 

B-1


the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus supplement for this offering, the issuer’s prospectus in that registration statement and any other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by searching the SEC online data base (EDGAR) on the SEC web site at http://www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus supplement and prospectus if you request it by calling Wells Fargo Securities, LLC toll-free at ###-###-#### or e-mailing ***@***.

 

B-2


EXHIBIT C

ISSUER GENERAL USE FREE WRITING PROSPECTUSES

1. Pricing Term Sheet containing the terms of the Securities, substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto.

 

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