The Laclede Group Announces New Name

New name will unify natural gas companies

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Mar 24, 2016, 09:21 ET

On April 28, The Laclede Group will officially become Spire. To us, it is more than just a name. It's a promise. It inspires that handshake at the front door as we enter your home or business to get the job done right and leave a good memory.

Spire color logo

Spire logo

ST. LOUIS, March 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- To better reflect the company it is becoming, The Laclede Group (NYSE: LG) is unveiling its new name. In three short years, the company has added nearly one million natural gas customers, expanded its geographic coverage and quadrupled in value. The Laclede Group has grown into the fifth largest publicly traded natural gas company in the country and will continue its growth on the national energy stage.

"We proudly announce The Laclede Group is becoming Spire," said Suzanne Sitherwood, president and CEO, The Laclede Group.

"The Laclede Group was named after Pierre Laclede, the founder of St. Louis, and the name Laclede has been an important part of who we are for more than 150 years. In the last few years, however, we've expanded to include businesses with many other names including Alagasco, MGE, Laclede Energy Resources and Spire. We knew we needed a name to better reflect the company we are becoming," said Sitherwood. "With all the pieces in place – the larger scale of our utility business, our focus on organic growth and our investments in infrastructure and emerging technology – we see no limit to what our energy can do for our customers, employees, shareholders and communities."

"Spire is about bringing energy and people together. It's about the energy we provide and how that energy empowers our customers. That's why our new logo consists of two shapes that form a handshake," said Jessica Willingham, VP of communications and marketing, The Laclede Group.

By working together to share resources and ways to inspire customers across the integrated companies, Spire employees will deliver on the company's new mission of answering every challenge, advancing every community and enriching every life through the strength of our energy. At a later date, Laclede's natural gas utilities and subsidiaries will become Spire.

"Our customers will come to know us by our new name - Spire. Our name reminds us there are no limits to what we can achieve together. Because when you champion people by delivering energy that inspires, everything is possible," said Sitherwood.

At a special meeting on April 28, 2016, shareholders will vote on the name change. Effective April 29, 2016, the company's shares will begin trading under the new ticker symbol "SR" on the New York Stock Exchange.

ABOUT THE LACLEDE GROUP
The Laclede Group, Inc. (NYSE: LG), headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, is a public utility holding company whose primary business is the safe and reliable delivery of natural gas service to more than 1.56 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across Missouri and Alabama. Its Gas Utility segment consists of three natural gas utilities: Laclede Gas Company (serving St. Louis and eastern Missouri), Missouri Gas Energy (serving Kansas City and western Missouri) and Alabama Gas Corporation (serving central and northern Alabama, including Birmingham and Montgomery). Laclede's non-utility businesses include Laclede Energy Resources, Inc., providing non-regulated natural gas services, and Spire which provides compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling solutions for transportation fleets. Laclede is committed to transforming its business and pursuing growth by 1) growing its Gas Utility business through prudent infrastructure upgrade investment and organic growth initiatives; 2) acquiring and integrating gas utilities; 3) modernizing its gas supply assets, and 4) investing in innovation and emerging markets. For more information about Laclede and its subsidiaries, visit www.TheLacledeGroup.com.