The Laclede Group, Inc. 2,500,000 Corporate Units UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

Exhibit 1.2

Executed Version

The Laclede Group, Inc.

2,500,000 Corporate Units

Dated: June 5, 2014

TABLE OF CONTENTS


		Page

SECTION 1.	Representations and Warranties		3

SECTION 2.	Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing		19

SECTION 3.	Covenants of the Company		20

SECTION 4.	Payment of Expenses		26

SECTION 5.	Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations		26

SECTION 6.	Indemnification		30

SECTION 7.	Contribution		33

SECTION 8.	Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive Delivery		34

SECTION 9.	Termination of Agreement		34

SECTION 10.	Default by One or More of the Underwriters		35

SECTION 11.	Notices		36

SECTION 12.	Parties		36

SECTION 13.	GOVERNING LAW AND TIME		36

SECTION 14.	Effect of Headings		36

SECTION 15.	Definitions		36

SECTION 16.	Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses		41

SECTION 17.	Absence of Fiduciary Relationship		41

SECTION 18.	Research Analyst Independence		42

SECTION 19.	Trial By Jury		42

EXHIBITS


Exhibit A	–	Underwriters
Exhibit B	–	Pricing Term Sheet
Exhibit C	–	Subsidiaries of the Company
Exhibit D	–	List of Persons Subject to Lock-Up
Exhibit E	–	Form of Lock-Up Agreement
Exhibit F	–	Form of Opinion of Akin Gump ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇ LLP
Exhibit G	–	Form of Opinion of ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
Exhibit H	–	Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectuses

The Laclede Group, Inc.

2,500,000 Corporate Units

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

June 5, 2014

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Securities, LLC

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

As Representatives of the several Underwriters

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The Laclede Group, Inc., a Missouri corporation (the “Company”), confirms its agreement with Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC (“Credit Suisse”) and ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Securities, LLC (“▇▇▇▇▇ 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 Credit Suisse and ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo are acting as representatives (each of Credit Suisse and ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo, in such capacity, a “Representative” and, collectively, the “Representatives”), with respect to the issue and sale by the Company of a total of 2,500,000 Corporate Units (as defined herein) (the “Initial Securities”), certain terms of which are set forth on Exhibit B, and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the respective numbers of Initial Securities set forth in said Exhibit A hereto, and with respect to the grant by the Company to the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the option described in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any part of 375,000 additional Corporate Units (the “Option Securities” and, collectively with the Initial Securities, the “Securities”). Certain terms used in this Underwriting Agreement (this “Agreement”) are defined in Section 15 hereof.

Each Corporate Unit will initially consist of (a) a 1/20th, or 5%, undivided beneficial ownership interest in $1,000 principal amount of the Company’s 2014 Series A 2.00% Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes due 2022 (the “Notes”) and (b) a stock purchase contract (a “Purchase Contract”) issued by the Company pursuant to which the holder of such Purchase Contract will purchase from the Company on April 1, 2017, subject to earlier termination or settlement, for an amount in cash equal to the stated amount per Security of $50 (the “Stated Amount”), a number of shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”), as set forth in the Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement. The Notes will be issued pursuant to an Indenture (the “Base Indenture”), as amended by a Supplemental Indenture, each dated as of the Closing Date referred to in Section 2(c) hereof (the “Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Indenture Trustee”).

In accordance with the terms of a Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement (the “Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement”), dated as of the Closing Date, to be entered into between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as purchase contract agent (the “Purchase Contract Agent”), attorney-in-fact for the holders of the Equity Units, collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent”), custodial agent (the “Custodial Agent”) and securities intermediary (the “Securities Intermediary”), a holder of the Corporate Units will initially pledge its ownership interest in the Notes to secure such holder’s obligation to purchase shares of the Common Stock under the Purchase Contracts. The Purchase Contracts will be issued pursuant to the Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement. The Purchase Contracts together with the related Notes are herein referred to as “Corporate Units.” A holder of Corporate Units, at its option, may elect to create “Treasury Units” by substituting pledged U.S. Treasury securities for any pledged ownership interests in the Notes. Unless otherwise indicated, the term “Equity Units” includes both Corporate Units and Treasury Units.

Pursuant to a Remarketing Agreement, to be entered into by the Company, the Purchase Contract Agent, as the purchase contract agent and attorney-in-fact for the holders of the Equity Units, and the remarketing agent(s) named therein (the “Remarketing Agents”) in such form and dated as of such date as to be determined by the parties thereto (the “Remarketing Agreement”), the Notes will be remarketed, subject to certain terms and conditions. The Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement, the Indenture and the Remarketing Agreement are each herein referred to as a “Units Agreement” and are herein collectively referred to as the “Units Agreements.”

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

The Company has prepared and previously delivered to you a preliminary prospectus supplement dated June 3, 2014 relating to the Securities and a related prospectus dated June 3, 2014 (the “Base Prospectus”). Such preliminary prospectus supplement and Base Prospectus, 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 June 5, 2014 (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, as of the Closing Date, and as of each Option Closing Date (if any) referred to 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 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 the time the Company filed the Annual Report (including 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 (and, if any Option Securities are purchased, at the applicable Option 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, if any Option Securities are purchased, at the applicable Option 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, 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 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 Representatives 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, or to any statements in or omissions from the Statement of Eligibility of the Indenture Trustee under the Indenture. The Indenture has been qualified under and conforms in all material respects to the 1939 Act.

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 ▇▇▇▇▇, 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 (if any), 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.

(5) Independent Accountants. Deloitte & Touche LLP (“D&T”) are independent public accountants with respect to the Company as required by the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act, the 1934 Act Regulations and the PCAOB. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP (“GT”) are independent certified public accountants with respect to Missouri Gas Energy, formerly a division of Southern Union Company, as a stand-alone business (“MGE”), under Rule 101 of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Code of Professional Conduct and its interpretations and rulings. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) are independent public accountants with respect to Alabama Gas Corporation, an Alabama corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Energen Corporation (“Alagasco”), as required by the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act, the 1934 Act Regulations and the PCAOB.

(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, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries at the dates indicated and the results of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the periods specified; to the best knowledge of the Company, the financial statements of each of MGE and Alagasco included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules (if any) and notes, present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of MGE and Alagasco, respectively, at the dates indicated and the results of operations, changes in equity and cash flows of MGE and Alagasco, respectively, 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 all material respects, 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, in all material respects, 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, in all material respects, 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, in all material respects, 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, MGE and Alagasco, are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus. 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 and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, 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 Alagasco such that the Company has the right to terminate its obligations to acquire Alagasco under the applicable acquisition agreement or to decline to consummate the acquisition of Alagasco 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 or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, nor, to the Company’s knowledge, Alagasco 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 or any of its subsidiaries nor, to the Company’s knowledge, Alagasco 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, the Securities and the Units Agreements; 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) Good Standing of Subsidiaries. Each subsidiary of the Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation or limited liability company, as the case may be, in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, 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 or the

Prospectus and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation or limited liability company, as the case may be, to transact business and is in good standing in each 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; except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each such subsidiary that is a corporation and all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests, membership interests or other similar interests of each such subsidiary that is a limited liability company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any Lien. The only subsidiaries of the Company are the subsidiaries listed on Exhibit C hereto and Exhibit C hereto accurately sets forth whether each such subsidiary is a corporation or limited liability company and the jurisdiction of organization of each such subsidiary.

(10) Capitalization. The capitalization of the Company as of March 31, 2014 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 Initial Securities by the Underwriters on the Closing Date and as of each Option Closing Date (if any), the authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock 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 any Option Securities issued by the Company pursuant to this Agreement and issuances, if any, subsequent to March 31, 2014 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) Authorization of Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

(12) Authorization of Common Stock. The aggregate maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Purchase Contracts comprising a part of the Corporate Units (including the aggregate maximum number of “make-whole shares” (as such term is defined in the Prospectus) issuable upon settlement of the Purchase Contracts in connection with a “fundamental change” (as such term is defined in the Prospectus)) have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance and, when issued and delivered by the Company pursuant to the Purchase Contracts and Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth therein, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; and the issuance and sale of such shares of

Common Stock to be sold by the Company will not be subject to any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company or any other person or entity.

(13) Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement. The Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement has been duly authorized and, at the Closing Date, will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the party thereto other than the Company, will constitute a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer and conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally including court decisions interpreting such laws, (ii) general principles of equity, including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity), (iii) the power of courts to award damages in lieu of equitable remedies, (iv) laws and public policy underlying such laws with respect to rights to indemnification and contribution and (v) constitutional bounds on laws that govern the enforceability of choice of law provisions in agreements (the “Enforceability Exceptions”); provided, however, that upon the occurrence of a Termination Event (as defined in the Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement), Section 365(e)(1) of the United States Bankruptcy Code (11 U.S.C. Sections 101-1330, as amended) and Section 541 of the Bankruptcy Code should not substantively limit the provisions of the Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement that require termination of the Purchase Contracts and release of the Collateral Agent’s security interest in the Notes (or the relevant beneficial ownership interest therein) or the Treasury Portfolio (as defined in the Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement) or any Treasury securities comprising a part of a Treasury Unit; and the Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement will conform in all material respects to the respective statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(14) Securities. The Securities and the Purchase Contracts have been duly authorized by the Company and, in the case of the Initial Securities and the Purchase Contracts constituting part of the Initial Securities, at the Closing Date or, in the case of the Option Securities and the Purchase Contracts constituting part of the Option Securities, at any applicable Option Closing Date, will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by parties thereto other than the Company, 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 the Enforceability Exceptions; and the Securities will conform in all material respects to the respective statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(15) Description of Company Stock. The Common Stock, the authorized but unissued Preferred Stock and the Company’s articles of incorporation and bylaws conform in all material respects to the respective statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and such statements conform to the rights set forth in the respective instruments and agreements defining the same.

(16) Remarketing Agreement. The form of the Remarketing Agreement attached as an exhibit to the Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement has been duly authorized by the Company and, when a Remarketing Agreement is executed and delivered by the Company and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Remarketing Agent, it 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 the Enforceability Exceptions; and any Remarketing Agreement will conform in all material respects to the statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(17) The Notes. The Notes are in the form contemplated by the Indenture and have been duly authorized by the Company and, when issued and delivered pursuant to the Indenture, will have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered and 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 the Enforceability Exceptions, and be entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture; and the Notes will conform in all material respects to the statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(18) The Indenture. The Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and, when executed and delivered by the Company and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Indenture Trustee, will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by the Enforceability Exceptions; and the Indenture will conform in all material respects to the statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and at the most recent effective date of the Registration Statement, the Indenture was duly qualified under the 1939 Act.

(19) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is 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, this Agreement, the Securities and the Units Agreements, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein, 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 upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries 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 this Agreement, nor will such action result in any violation of (i) the provisions of the Organizational Documents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries 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 subsidiaries or any of their respective 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 this Agreement.

(20) Absence of Labor Dispute. No labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any subsidiary 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 or any of its subsidiaries that might reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(21) 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 or any of its subsidiaries 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 this Agreement or the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement; and the aggregate of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any of their respective 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.

(22) Accuracy of Descriptions and Exhibits. The information in the Pre-Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus under the captions “Material United States Federal Tax Consequences” and the information in the Annual Report 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,” and in Item 13 thereof under the caption “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence,” in each case to the extent that it constitutes matters of law, summaries of legal matters, summaries of provisions of the Company’s articles of incorporation or bylaws 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.

(23) Absence of Further Requirements. (A) No 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 or any of its subsidiaries, (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 of this Agreement, the Securities or the Units Agreements by the Company, for the offering of the Securities as contemplated by this Agreement, for the issuance, sale or delivery of the Common Stock to be sold by the Company pursuant to the Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement, or for the consummation of any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Securities or the Units Agreements, 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 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations and (iii) that no representation is made as to such as may be required under state or foreign securities laws.

(24) Possession of Licenses and Permits. The Company and its subsidiaries possess 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 them; and, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its subsidiaries are 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 neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has 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.

(25) Title to Property. The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property owned by any of them (if any) and good title to all other properties and assets owned by any of them, in each case, free and clear of all Liens (other than the Lien of the Existing Indenture) except such as (a) are described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or (b) are not, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, are not required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pre-Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, do not, individually or in the aggregate, materially affect the value of such property and do not interfere with the use

made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company or any of its subsidiaries; all real property, buildings and other improvements, and all equipment and other property held under lease or sublease by the Company or any of its subsidiaries is held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases or subleases, as the case may be, with, solely in the case of leases or subleases relating to real property, buildings or other improvements, such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property and buildings or other improvements by the Company and its subsidiaries, and all such leases and subleases are in full force and effect; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of any claim of any sort that has been asserted by anyone adverse to the rights of the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any of the leases or subleases mentioned above or affecting or questioning the rights of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to the continued possession of the leased or subleased premises or to the continued use of the leased or subleased equipment or other property except for such claims that, if successfully asserted against the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(26) 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).

(27) 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) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is 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 and its subsidiaries have all permits, authorizations and approvals required under any applicable Environmental Laws and are each 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 or any of its subsidiaries 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 or any of its subsidiaries relating to Hazardous Materials or any Environmental Laws.

(28) Absence of Registration Rights. Except for certain registration rights provided in connection with the offering of the Securities and Purchase Contracts, 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, and there are no persons or entities with co-sale rights, tag-along rights or other similar rights to have any securities (debt or equity) included in the offering contemplated by this Agreement or sold in connection with the sale of Securities.

(29) Parties to Lock-Up Agreements. Each of the persons listed on Exhibit D hereto has executed and delivered to the Representatives a lock-up agreement in the form of Exhibit E hereto. Exhibit D hereto contains a true, complete and correct list of all directors and executive officers of the Company.

(30) NYSE. The outstanding shares of Common Stock are listed on the NYSE. In addition, a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the aggregate maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Purchase Contracts comprising a part of the Corporate Units (including the aggregate maximum number of “make-whole shares” (as such term is defined in the Prospectus) issuable upon settlement of the Purchase Contracts in connection with a “fundamental change” (as such term is defined in the Prospectus)), upon issuance, will be listed on the NYSE.

(31) FINRA Matters. The Company was, at the time the Registration Statement was first filed with the Commission, and at all times thereafter has been, eligible to use Form S-3 pursuant to the standards for that form in effect immediately prior to October 21, 1992. There is and, at all times since the time that the Registration Statement was first filed with the Commission, there has been a “bona fide public market” (as defined in FINRA Rule 5121) for the Common Stock.

(32) Tax Returns. The Company and its subsidiaries have 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 have 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.

(33) Insurance. The Company and its subsidiaries are 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 any of its subsidiaries or their respective businesses, assets, employees, officers and directors are in full force and effect; the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of such policies and instruments in all material respects; and neither the Company nor any such

subsidiary has any reason to 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.

(34) Accounting and Disclosure Controls. The Company and its subsidiaries maintain and have established and maintained effective “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Rule 13a-15 of the 1934 Act Regulations). The Company and its subsidiaries maintain 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, except as otherwise disclosed in the Annual Report and the Quarterly Reports, 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 and its subsidiaries have established, maintained and periodically evaluate 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.

(35) Compliance with the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ 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 ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ 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.

(36) 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.

(37) 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.

(38) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person or entity acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries 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 its subsidiaries, 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.

(39) Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries 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 or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

(40) OFAC. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person or entity acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries 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 Securities by the Company in the offering contemplated by this Agreement, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available any such proceeds to any subsidiary, 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.

(41) 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 any of its subsidiaries; 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 or any of its subsidiaries. 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 and its subsidiaries 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 and its subsidiaries 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 or any of its subsidiaries 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 or any of its subsidiaries may have any liability.

(42) Lending and Other Relationship. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any 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

or any of its subsidiaries, 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.

(43) 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 ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) 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).

(44) No Restrictions on Dividends. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is 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, and no subsidiary of the Company is a party to or otherwise bound by any instrument or agreement that limits or prohibits or could limit or prohibit, directly or indirectly, any subsidiary of the Company from paying any dividends or making any other distributions on its capital stock, limited or general partnership interests, limited liability company interests, or other equity interests, as the case may be, 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 or any other subsidiary, in each case except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(45) 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.

(46) 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 or any of its subsidiaries (whether signed on behalf of such officer, the Company or such subsidiary) and delivered to the Representatives 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) Initial 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 respective numbers of Initial Securities set forth in Exhibit A hereto, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase the number of Initial Securities set forth opposite its name in Exhibit A hereto plus any additional number of Initial Securities that such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 10 hereof, subject to such adjustments among the Underwriters as the Representatives in their sole discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional Securities, in each case at a price of $48.50 per Security (the “Purchase Price”).

(b) Option Securities. In addition, on the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, to purchase, within the 13-day period beginning on, and including, the Closing Date, up to the respective numbers of Option Securities set forth in Exhibit A hereto at a price per Security equal to the Purchase Price referred to in Section 2(a) hereof. The option hereby granted may be exercised in whole or in part from time to time upon notice by the Representatives to the Company setting forth the number of Option Securities as to which the several Underwriters are then exercising the option and the time and date of payment and delivery for such Option Securities. Any such time and date of delivery (an “Option Closing Date”) shall be determined by the Representatives, but shall not be later than seven full business days after the exercise of said option (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10 hereof), nor in any event prior to the Closing Date. If the option is exercised as to all or any portion of the Option Securities, the Company will sell to the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, the respective number of Option Securities set forth in Exhibit A hereto (or, if applicable, the proportion thereof as set forth below), and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, will purchase that proportion of the total number of Option Securities then being purchased that the number of Initial Securities set forth in Exhibit A hereto opposite the name of such Underwriter, plus any additional number of Initial Securities that such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 10 hereof, bears to the total number of Initial Securities, subject in each case to such adjustments as the Representatives in their discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional shares.

(c) Payment. Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of, the Initial Securities shall be made at the offices of Pillsbury ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company, at 9:00 A.M. (New York City time) on June 11, 2014 (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 Representatives and the Company (such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called “Closing Date”).

In addition, in the event that any or all of the Option Securities are purchased by the Underwriters, payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of, such Option Securities shall be made at the above-mentioned offices at 9:00 A.M. (New York City time), or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company, on each Option Closing Date as specified in the notice from the Representatives to the Company.

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 Representatives 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 Representatives, for its account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Initial Securities and the Option Securities, if any, that it has agreed to purchase. ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo, individually and not as a Representative of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase price for the Initial Securities or the Option Securities, if any, to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been received by the Closing Date or the relevant Option Closing Date, as the case may be, but such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder.

(d) Delivery of Securities. Delivery of the Initial Securities and any Option Securities, which will be represented by one or more definitive global securities in book-entry form, shall be made through the facilities of DTC unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct. The Initial Securities and any Option Securities to be so delivered will be in fully registered form in such authorized denominations as established pursuant to the Units Agreements.

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 Representatives 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 Representatives with a copy of any comment letters and any transcript of oral comments, and shall furnish the Representatives 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 either 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 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 Representatives 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 Representatives 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 either Representative or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object. The Company has given the Representatives 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 Representatives 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 Representatives 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 either Representative or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object.

(c) Delivery of Registration Statements. The Company has furnished or will deliver to the Representatives 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.

(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 either 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 either 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 Representatives of such event or condition and of its intention to file such amendment or supplement (or, if either Representative or counsel for the Underwriters shall have notified the Company as aforesaid, the Company will promptly notify the Representatives 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 either 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 under which they were made or then prevailing, not misleading, or if it is necessary (or, if either 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 Representatives of such event or condition and of its

intention to file such amendment or supplement (or, if either Representative or counsel for the Underwriters shall have notified the Company as aforesaid, the Company will promptly notify the Representatives 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 Representatives 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. During the Lock-Up Period, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, directly or indirectly:

(i) 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, right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of any Securities, Purchase Contracts or shares of Common Stock or other capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Securities, Purchase Contracts or Common Stock or other capital stock of the Company;

(ii) file or cause the filing of any registration statement under the 1933 Act with respect to any Securities, Purchase Contracts or shares of Common Stock or other capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for any Common Stock or other capital stock of the Company; or

(iii) enter into any swap or other agreement, arrangement, hedge or transaction that transfers to another, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Securities, Purchase Contracts or shares of Common Stock or other capital stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for any Common Stock or other capital stock,

whether any transaction described in clause (i) or (iii) above is to be settled by delivery of Securities, Purchase Contracts or shares of Common Stock, other capital stock, other securities, in cash or otherwise, or publicly announce any intention to do any of the foregoing.

Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph, the Company may, without the prior written consent of the Representatives:

(1) issue Securities or Purchase Contracts to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement;

(2) issue the Other Securities;

(3) issue shares, and options to purchase shares, of Common Stock and restricted stock units pursuant to stock option plans, stock purchase or other equity incentive plans or any dividend reinvestment plan described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, as those plans are in effect on the date of this Agreement and file or cause the filing of any registration statement under the 1933 Act with respect to such plans;

(4) issue shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of stock options issued under stock option or other equity incentive plans referred to in clause (3) above, as those plans are in effect on the date of this Agreement; and

(5) issue shares of Common Stock in connection with any “fundamental change early settlement right” (as defined in the Prospectus) (upon the occurrence of a “fundamental change” (as defined in the Prospectus) or otherwise) of a Purchase Contract underlying an Equity Unit by the holder thereof,

provided, however, that in the case of any issuance described in clause (4) above, it shall be a condition to the issuance that each recipient executes and delivers to the Representatives, acting on behalf of the Underwriters, not later than one business day prior to the date of such issuance, a written agreement, in substantially the form of Exhibit E to this Agreement and otherwise satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives.

(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 selling 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 Representatives and the Company may deem appropriate, and will file or transmit for filing the Prospectus 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)).

(l) Pricing Term Sheet. The Company will prepare a pricing term sheet (the “Pricing Term Sheet”) containing certain final terms of the Securities and relating to the offering of the Other Securities, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B and otherwise in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, and will file the Term Sheet as an “issuer free writing prospectus” pursuant to Rule 433 in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 433; provided that the Company shall furnish the Representatives with copies of 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 Representatives or counsel to the Underwriters shall reasonably object.

(m) Listing. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to effect the listing of the aggregate maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Purchase Contracts comprising a part of the Corporate Units (including the aggregate maximum number of “make-whole shares” (as such term is defined in the Prospectus) issuable upon settlement of the Purchase Contracts in connection with a “fundamental change” (as such term is defined in the Prospectus)).

(n) Reservation of Shares. The Company will reserve and keep available at all times, free of preemptive rights, the aggregate maximum number of shares of Common Stock (including the aggregate maximum number of “make-whole shares” (as such term is defined in the Prospectus) issuable upon settlement of the Purchase Contracts in connection with a “fundamental change” (as such term is defined in the Prospectus)) for the purpose of enabling the Company to satisfy any obligation to issue shares of Common Stock under the Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement.

(o) Remarketing Agreement. On or prior to the date that is 20 days prior to the first day of the final remarketing period or, if applicable, no later than 20 days prior to the optional remarketing period, the Company will have entered into, and will use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the Purchase Contract Agent enter into, the Remarketing Agreement.

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 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 stock 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 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 (including fees and disbursements of counsel) of the Indenture Trustee, the Collateral Agent, the Purchase Contract Agent, the Guarantee Trustee, the transfer agent and registrar for the Securities or any attorneys-in-fact, custodial agents or securities intermediaries in connection with the offer and sale of 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) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Purchase Contracts on the NYSE, (xi) all expenses and application fees incurred in connection with the approval of the Securities for clearance, settlement and book-entry transfer through DTC and (xii) 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 Representatives 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 or

any subsidiary of the Company (whether signed on behalf of such officer, the Company or such subsidiary) delivered to the Representatives 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 Representatives 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 Representatives of such timely filings.

(b) Opinion of Counsel for Company. At the Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of the Closing Date, of each of (i) Akin Gump ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇ LLP, counsel for the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, together with signed or reproduced copies of such opinion for each of the other Underwriters, to the effect set forth in Exhibit F hereto and to such further effect as the Representatives may reasonably request and (ii) ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq., Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, together with signed or reproduced copies of such opinion for each of the other Underwriters, to the effect set forth in Exhibit G hereto and to such further effect as the Representatives may reasonably request.

(c) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters. At the Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received the favorable letter, dated as of the Closing Date, of each of (i) Pillsbury ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ 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 Representatives may reasonably request and (ii) ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, special counsel for the Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.

(d) Officers’ Certificate. At the Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be, 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 and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, and, at the Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received a certificate, signed on behalf of the Company by the President, an Executive Vice 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 Representatives shall have received the letter of each of (i) D&T, (ii) GT and (iii) PwC, in each case dated the date of this Agreement and in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives 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 Company, in the case of GT, MGE and, in the case of PwC, Alagasco 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, MGE and Alagasco, 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 Representatives shall have received the letter of each of D&T, GT and PwC, in each case dated as of the Closing Date and in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, 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) Lock-up Agreements. Prior to the date of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto signed by each of the persons listed in Exhibit D hereto.

(h) Conditions to Purchase of Option Securities. In the event that the Underwriters exercise their option provided in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any portion of the Option Securities on any Option Closing Date that is after the Closing Date, the obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase the applicable Option Securities shall be subject to the conditions specified in the introductory paragraph of this Section 5 and to the further condition that, at the applicable Option Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received:

(1) Opinion of Counsel for Company. The favorable opinions of counsel for the Company named in Section 5(b) hereof, each in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives and dated such Option Closing Date, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Option Closing Date and otherwise to the same effect as the respective opinions required by Section 5(b) hereof.

(2) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters. The favorable letter of counsel for the Underwriters named in Section 5(c) hereof, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives and dated such Option Closing Date, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Option Closing Date and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(c) hereof.

(3) Officers’ Certificate. A certificate, dated such Option Closing Date, to the effect set forth in, and signed on behalf of the Company by the officers specified in, Section 5(d) hereof.

(4) Bring-down Comfort Letter. Letters of D&T, GT and PwC, in each case in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives and dated such Option Closing Date, substantially in the same form and substance as the letters furnished to the Representatives pursuant to Section 5(f) hereof, except that the specified date in the letters furnished pursuant to this paragraph shall be a date not more than three business days prior to such Option Closing Date.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, references in such opinions, certificate and letters to (A) the Closing Date shall be changed to refer to such Option Closing Date and (B) references to the Registration Statement, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (other than any electronic road show) and the Prospectus subsequent to the Closing Date shall include any amendments or supplements thereto.

(i) Additional Documents. At the Closing Date and each Option 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 either 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 Representatives.

(j) 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, or, in the case of any condition to the purchase of Option Securities on an Option Closing Date that is after the Closing Date, the obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase the relevant Option Securities on such Option Closing Date, may be terminated by the Representatives by notice to the Company at any time on or prior to the Closing Date or such Option Closing Date, as the case may be, 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.

(k) Exchange Listing. An application for the listing of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the aggregate maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Purchase Contracts comprising a part of the Corporate Units (including the aggregate maximum number of “make-whole shares” (as such term is defined in the Prospectus) issuable upon settlement of the Purchase Contracts in connection with a “fundamental change” (as such term is defined in the Prospectus)) shall have been approved by the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance.

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 (each, a “Company Indemnified Party”) as follows:

(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, to which such Company Indemnified Party may become subject, under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, other federal or state statutory law or regulation or otherwise, 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 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 by such Company Indemnified Party, 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 by such Company Indemnified Party in investigating, preparing for or defending against any subpoena or litigation, or any proceeding, subpoena or investigation by any governmental agency or body, whether commenced or threatened, or any loss, claim, damage, liability or action 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 Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or arises out of, or is based on, statements or omissions from the part of the Registration Statement that shall constitute the Statement of Eligibility under the TIA of the Indenture Trustee under the Indenture, 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 (each, an “Underwriter Indemnified Party”), against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in Section 6(a) hereof, to which such Underwriter Indemnified Party may become subject, under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, other federal or state statutory law or regulation or otherwise, 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 Representatives expressly for use therein. The Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that the information furnished to the Company by the Underwriters through the Representatives 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 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 first

paragraph under the caption “Underwriting—Underwriting Discounts and Commissions” therein and (ii) the information regarding stabilization, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids appearing in the sixth, seventh and eighth paragraphs under the table set forth in such caption (but only insofar as such information concerns the Underwriters).

(c) Actions Against Parties; Notification. Each Company Indemnified Party or Underwriter Indemnified Party (in any such case, an “Indemnified Party”) shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under Section 6(a) or 6(b) hereof, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure, provided that the failure to notify such indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Party otherwise than under Section 6(a) or 6(b) above. Counsel to the Indemnified Parties shall be selected as follows: counsel to the Company Indemnified Parties shall be selected by the Representatives, and counsel to the Underwriter Indemnified Parties shall be selected by the Company. An indemnifying party may, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, 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 an Indemnified Party) also be counsel to such Indemnified Party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to such Indemnified Party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such Indemnified Party under this Section 6 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. 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 Company Indemnified Parties and the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for the Underwriter Indemnified Parties, 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 such 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.

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 amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result 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.

No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) 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 number of Initial 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 or any of its subsidiaries (whether signed on behalf of such officer, the Company or such subsidiary) and delivered to the Representatives 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 Representatives may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the Company, at any time on or prior to the Closing Date (and, if any Option Securities are to be purchased on an Option Closing Date that occurs after the Closing Date, the Representatives may terminate the obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase such Option Securities, by notice to the Company at any time on or prior to such Option 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 Representatives, 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, the Nasdaq Stock Market, or in the over-the-counter 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, payment or clearance services in the United States or in Europe, or (iv) if a banking 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 or any of its subsidiaries by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) or any public announcement that any such organization has placed its rating on the Company or any of its subsidiaries 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 or an Option Closing Date to purchase the Securities that it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement (the “Defaulted Securities”), the Representatives 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 Representatives shall not have completed such arrangements within such 24-hour period, then:

(1) if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the number 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 number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the number of Securities to be purchased on such date, this Agreement or, with respect to any Option Closing Date that occurs after the Closing Date, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase and of the Company to sell the Option Securities that were to have been purchased and sold on such Option Closing Date, 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 or, in the case of an Option Closing Date that is after the Closing Date, that does not result in a termination of the obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and the Company to sell the relevant Option Securities, as the case may be, the Representatives shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date or the relevant Option Closing Date, as the case may be, 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 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 Representatives c/o Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Eleven ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, Attention: LCD-IBD, and notices to the Company shall be directed to it at The Laclede Group, Inc., ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention of ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, fax no. ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ (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 other Indemnified Parties 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 the 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:

“Annual Report” means the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2013, as amended.

“Applicable Time” means 7:00 p.m. (New York City time) on June 5, 2014 or such other time as agreed by the Company and the Representatives.

“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 or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, including the Existing Indenture and any other instruments, agreements and documents filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the Annual Report or any subsequent report filed by the Company under the Exchange Act (including the Quarterly Reports) 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.

“▇▇▇▇▇” 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.

“Existing Indenture” means the Mortgage and Deed of Trust dated as of February 1, 1945 between Laclede Gas Company, a Missouri Corporation, and UMB Bank & Trust, N.A., as successor trustee (the “Trustee”), as amended or supplemented.

“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 H 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 H 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.

“Lock-Up Period” means the period beginning on and including the date of this Agreement through and including the date that is the 60^th day after the date of this Agreement.

“NYSE” means the New York Stock Exchange.

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

“Organizational Documents” means (a) in the case of a corporation, its articles of incorporation and bylaws; (b) in the case of a limited liability company, its articles of organization, certificate of formation or similar organizational documents and its operating agreement, limited liability company agreement, membership agreement or other similar agreement; and (c) in the case of any other entity, the organizational and governing documents of such entity.

“Other Securities” means up to 10,350,000 shares of Common Stock proposed to be issued and sold to the underwriters named in and pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement dated the date hereof between the Company and such underwriters relating to the Company’s concurrent offering thereof.

“Pre-Pricing Prospectus” means the preliminary prospectus dated June 3, 2014 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-1 under the 1933 Act.

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

“Preferred Stock” means the Company’s preferred stock, par value $25.00 per share.

“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 ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇. The term “preliminary prospectus” includes, without limitation, the Pre-Pricing Prospectus.

“Quarterly Reports” means the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended December 31, 2013 and March 31, 2014, in each case as amended.

“Registration Statement” means the Company’s registration statement on Form S–3 (Registration No. 333-190388), as amended, including by Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 thereto, and 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 any subsidiary of 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 or any subsidiary of 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.

“▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act” means the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ 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 or any of its subsidiaries thereunder, including, without limitation, upon the occurrence of a change of control of the Company or other similar events.

“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, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

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 ▇▇▇▇▇ and all versions thereof delivered (physically or electronically) to the Representatives 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 Representatives, 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 Representatives shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, listed on Exhibit H hereto and, to any electronic road show in the form previously provided by the Company to and approved by the Representatives. 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 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 H 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 Representatives;

(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) the Underwriters have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering contemplated hereby and the Company has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate;

(e) 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

(f) 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 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]

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,

THE LACLEDE GROUP, INC.

By	/s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
	Name:	▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
	Title:	Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and Corporate Secretary


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

CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC

By		/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
		Authorized Signatory

▇▇▇▇▇ FARGO SECURITIES, LLC

By		/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
		Authorized Signatory

For themselves and as Representatives of the Underwriters named in Exhibit A hereto.

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement (Corporate Units)]

EXHIBIT A


Name of Underwriter	Number of Initial Securities		Number of Option Securities

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC		737,500		110,625
▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Securities, LLC		737,500		110,625
▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities LLC		500,000		75,000
RBC Capital Markets, LLC		500,000		75,000
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Company, Incorporated		25,000		3,750

Total		2,500,000		375,000

A-1

EXHIBIT B

PRICING TERM SHEET

Free Writing Prospectus Filed Pursuant to Rule 433

To Prospectus dated June 3, 2014

Preliminary Prospectus Supplements, each dated June 3, 2014

Registration Statement File No. 333-190388

THE LACLEDE GROUP, INC.

Concurrent Offerings of:

9,000,000 Shares of Common Stock

(the “Common Stock Offering”)

and

2,500,000 Equity Units

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

(the “Equity Units Offering” and, together with the Common Stock Offering, the “Offerings”)

Pricing Term Sheet dated

June 5, 2014

The information in this pricing term sheet relates to the Offerings and should be read together with (i) the preliminary prospectus supplement dated June 3, 2014 relating to the Common Stock Offering (the “Common Stock Preliminary Prospectus Supplement”) and (ii) the preliminary prospectus supplement dated June 3, 2014 relating to the Equity Units Offering (the “Equity Units Preliminary Prospectus Supplement” and, together with the Common Stock Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, the “Preliminary Prospectus Supplements”), in each case, including the documents incorporated by reference therein and the related base prospectus dated June 3, 2014, filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Registration Statement File No. 333-190388). Terms used but not defined herein, with respect to either Offering, have the meanings ascribed to them in the applicable Preliminary Prospectus Supplement.


Company		The Laclede Group, Inc., a Missouri corporation

Company Stock Ticker		New York Stock Exchange “LG”

Pricing Date		June 5, 2014

Trade Date		June 6, 2014

Closing Price of the Common Stock on June 5, 2014		$47.19 per share

Settlement Date		June 11, 2014

Registration Format		SEC Registered

B-1

Common Stock Offering


Title of Securities		Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”)

Number of Shares of Common Stock Offered		9,000,000 (or 10,350,000 if the underwriters of the Common Stock Offering exercise their option to purchase up to 1,350,000 additional shares of Common Stock in full)

Common Stock Public Offering Price		$46.25 per share of Common Stock $416,250,000 in aggregate (or $478,687,500 if the underwriters of the Common Stock Offering exercise their option to purchase up to 1,350,000 additional shares of Common Stock in full)

Underwriting Discounts and Commissions		$1.71125 per share of Common Stock $15,401,250.00 in aggregate (or $17,711,437.50 if the underwriters of the Common Stock Offering exercise their option to purchase up to 1,350,000 additional shares of Common Stock in full) The underwriters of the Common Stock Offering propose to offer the shares of Common Stock to dealers at the Common Stock Public Offering Price less a concession not in excess of $1.02680 per share of Common Stock.

Estimated Net Proceeds to the Company from the Common Stock Offering		The Company estimates that it will receive net proceeds of approximately $400 million from the sale of Common Stock in the Common Stock Offering after deducting the Underwriting Discounts and Commissions and estimated offering expenses. The Company estimates that it will receive net proceeds of approximately $460 million if the underwriters of the Common Stock Offering exercise their option to purchase additional shares of Common Stock in full.

Book-Running Managers		Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Securities, LLC ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Lynch, Pierce, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ Incorporated ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. LLC

Co-Managers		▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities LLC RBC Capital Markets, LLC ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Company, Incorporated ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ & Co., ▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Company, Inc.

CUSIP for the Common Stock		505597 104

ISIN for the Common Stock		US5055971049

Equity Units Offering


Title of Securities		Equity Units that will each have a stated amount of $50.00 and will initially be in the form of a Corporate Unit consisting of a purchase contract issued by the Company and, initially, a

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		1/20, or 5%, undivided beneficial ownership interest in $1,000 principal amount of 2014 Series A 2.00% Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes due 2022 to be issued by the Company (each being referred to as an “RSN”)

Number of Equity Units Offered		2,500,000 (or 2,875,000 if the underwriters of the Equity Units Offering exercise their option to purchase up to 375,000 additional Corporate Units in full)

Aggregate Offering Amount		$125,000,000 (or $143,750,000 if the underwriters of the Equity Units Offering exercise their option to purchase up to 375,000 additional Corporate Units in full)

Stated Amount per Equity Unit		$50.00

Corporate Unit Public Offering Price		$50.00 per Corporate Unit $125,000,000 in aggregate (or $143,750,000 if the underwriters of the Equity Units Offering exercise their option to purchase up to 375,000 additional Corporate Units in full)

Underwriting Discounts and Commissions		$1.50 per Corporate Unit $3,750,000 in aggregate (or $4,312,500 if the underwriters of the Equity Units Offering exercise their option to purchase up to 375,000 additional Corporate Units in full) The underwriters of the Equity Units Offering propose to offer the Corporate Units to dealers at the Corporate Unit Public Offering Price less a concession not in excess of $0.90 per Corporate Unit.

Estimated Net Proceeds to the Company from the Equity Units Offering		The Company estimates that it will receive net proceeds of approximately $121 million from the sale of Corporate Units in the Equity Units Offering after deducting the Underwriting Discounts and Commissions and estimated offering expenses. The Company estimates that it will receive net proceeds of approximately $139 million if the underwriters of the Equity Units Offering exercise their option to purchase additional Corporate Units in full.

Interest Rate on the RSNs		2.00% per year subject to the Company’s right to defer interest payments, as described in the Equity Units Preliminary Prospectus Supplement and subject to modification in connection with a successful remarketing

Deferred Interest on the RSNs		Deferred interest on the RSNs will bear interest at the interest rate applicable to the RSNs, compounded on each interest payment date to, but excluding, the interest payment date on which such deferred interest is paid

Contract Adjustment Payment Rate		4.75% per year or $2.375 per year on the Stated Amount per Equity Unit subject to the Company’s right to defer contract adjustment payments, as described in the Equity Units Preliminary Prospectus Supplement

Deferred Contract Adjustment Payments		Deferred contract adjustment payments will accrue additional contract adjustment payments at the rate equal to 6.75% per

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		annum compounded on each contract adjustment payment date to, but excluding, the contract adjustment payment date on which such deferred contract adjustment payments are paid

Total Distribution Rate on the Corporate Units		6.75% per annum

Reference Price		$46.25 (subject to adjustment, as described in the Equity Units Preliminary Prospectus Supplement)

Threshold Appreciation Price		$57.8125 (subject to adjustment, as described in the Equity Units Preliminary Prospectus Supplement), which represents appreciation of 25% over the Reference Price

Minimum Settlement Rate		0.8649 shares of the Company’s common stock (subject to adjustment, as described in the Equity Units Preliminary Prospectus Supplement), which is approximately equal to the $50.00 Stated Amount per Equity Unit, divided by the Threshold Appreciation Price

Maximum Settlement Rate		1.0811 shares of the Company’s common stock (subject to adjustment, as described in the Equity Units Preliminary Prospectus Supplement), which is approximately equal to the $50.00 Stated Amount per Equity Unit, divided by the Reference Price

Purchase Contract Settlement Date		April 1, 2017 (or if such day is not a business day, the following business day)

RSN Maturity Date		April 1, 2022

Book-Running Managers		Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Securities, LLC ▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities LLC RBC Capital Markets, LLC

Co-Manager		▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Company, Incorporated

No Listing		The Company does not intend to apply to list the Corporate Units on any securities exchange.

CUSIP for the Corporate Units		505597 500

ISIN for the Corporate Units		US5055975008

CUSIP for the Treasury Units		505597 609

ISIN for the Treasury Units		US5055976097

CUSIP for the RSNs		505597 AB0

ISIN for the RSNs		US505597AB04

Allocation of the Purchase Price		At the time of issuance, the fair market value of the applicable ownership interest in the RSNs will be $50 (or 100% of the issue price of a Corporate Unit) and the fair market value of each purchase contract will be $0 (or 0% of the issue price of a Corporate Unit).

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Early Settlement		Subject to certain conditions described under “Description of the Purchase Contracts—Early Settlement” in the Equity Units Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, a holder of Corporate Units or Treasury Units may settle the related purchase contracts at any time prior to 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on the second business day immediately preceding the Purchase Contract Settlement Date, other than during a blackout period (as described in the Equity Units Preliminary Prospectus Supplement) in the case of Corporate Units. An early settlement may be made only in integral multiples of 20 Corporate Units or 20 Treasury Units; however, if the Treasury portfolio has replaced the RSNs as a component of the Corporate Units following a successful optional remarketing, holders of Corporate Units may settle early only in integral multiples of 4,000 Corporate Units. If a purchase contract is settled early, the number of shares of common stock to be issued per purchase contract will be equal to the Minimum Settlement Rate (subject to adjustment, as described in the Equity Units Preliminary Prospectus Supplement).

Early Settlement Upon a Fundamental Change		Subject to certain conditions described under “Description of the Purchase Contracts—Early Settlement Upon a Fundamental Change,” following a “fundamental change” (as defined in the Equity Units Preliminary Prospectus Supplement) that occurs prior to the 20th business day preceding the Purchase Contract Settlement Date, each holder of a purchase contract will have the right to accelerate and settle the purchase contract early on the fundamental change early settlement date (as defined in the Equity Units Preliminary Prospectus Supplement) at the settlement rate determined as if the applicable market value equaled the stock price (as defined in the Equity Units Preliminary Prospectus Supplement), plus an additional make-whole amount of shares (such additional make-whole amount of shares being hereafter referred to as the “make-whole shares”). This right is referred to as the “fundamental change early settlement right.”

		The number of make-whole shares per purchase contract applicable to a fundamental change early settlement will be determined by reference to the table below, based on the date on which the fundamental change occurs or becomes effective (the “effective date”) and the “stock price” (as defined in the Equity Units Preliminary Prospectus Supplement) for the fundamental change:


	Stock Price on Effective Date
Effective Date	$	10.00	$	20.00	$	30.00	$	40.00	$	45.00	$	46.25	$	50.00	$	55.00	$	57.81	$	60.00	$	70.00	$	80.00	$	90.00	$	100.00	$	110.00	$	120.00
June 11, 2014		0.3896		0.1873		0.1160		0.0516		0.0108		0.0000		0.0491		0.1006		0.1257		0.1127		0.0724		0.0538		0.0445		0.0386		0.0341		0.0303
April 1, 2015		0.2742		0.1317		0.0826		0.0343		0.0052		0.0000		0.0334		0.0819		0.1056		0.0919		0.0527		0.0380		0.0316		0.0274		0.0242		0.0214
April 1, 2016		0.1392		0.0669		0.0427		0.0171		0.0000		0.0000		0.0148		0.0535		0.0734		0.0582		0.0254		0.0187		0.0160		0.0140		0.0123		0.0109
April 1, 2017		0.0000		0.0000		0.0000		0.0000		0.0000		0.0000		0.0000		0.0000		0.0000		0.0000		0.0000		0.0000		0.0000		0.0000		0.0000		0.0000

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		The stock prices set forth in the second row of the table above (i.e., the column headers) will be adjusted upon the occurrence of certain events requiring anti-dilution adjustments to the fixed settlement rates in a manner inversely proportional to the adjustments to the fixed settlement rates, as described in the Equity Units Preliminary Prospectus Supplement. The exact stock price and effective date applicable to a fundamental change may not be set forth on the table, in which case:

		• if the stock price is between two stock prices on the table or the effective date is between two effective dates on the table, the amount of make-whole shares will be determined by straight line interpolation between the make-whole share amounts set forth for the higher and lower stock prices and the earlier and later two effective dates based on a 365-day year, as applicable; • if the stock price is in excess of $120.00 per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner as the stock prices set forth in the second row of the table, as described above), then the make-whole share amount will be zero; and • if the stock price is less than $10.00 per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner as the stock prices set forth in the second row of the table, as described above) (the “minimum stock price”), then the make-whole share amount will be determined as if the stock price equaled the minimum stock price, using straight line interpolation, as described above in the first bullet, if the effective date is between two effective dates on the table.

		Unless the Treasury portfolio has replaced the RSNs as a component of the Corporate Units as a result of a successful optional remarketing, holders of Corporate Units may exercise the fundamental change early settlement right only in integral multiples of 20 Corporate Units. If the Treasury portfolio has replaced the RSNs as a component of Corporate Units, holders of the Corporate Units may exercise the fundamental change early settlement right only in integral multiples of 4,000 Corporate Units. A holder of Treasury Units may exercise the fundamental change early settlement right only in integral multiples of 20 Treasury Units.

The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus), as amended, with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates (File No. 333-190388). Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and the Offerings. You may get these documents for free by visiting ▇▇▇▇▇ on the SEC Website at ▇▇▇.▇▇▇.▇▇▇. Alternatively, the issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the relevant Offering will arrange to send you the base prospectus and the relevant Preliminary Prospectus Supplement if you request them by calling Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC at 800-221-1037; or ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Securities, LLC at ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇.

This communication should be read in conjunction with the relevant Preliminary Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying base prospectus. The information in this communication supersedes the information in the relevant Preliminary Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying base prospectus to the extent inconsistent with the information in such Preliminary Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying base prospectus.

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ANY DISCLAIMERS OR OTHER NOTICES THAT MAY APPEAR BELOW ARE NOT APPLICABLE TO THIS COMMUNICATION AND SHOULD BE DISREGARDED. SUCH DISCLAIMERS OR OTHER NOTICES WERE AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED AS A RESULT OF THIS COMMUNICATION BEING SENT VIA BLOOMBERG OR ANOTHER EMAIL SYSTEM.

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EXHIBIT C

SUBSIDIARIES OF THE COMPANY


Name	Jurisdiction of Organization	Type of Entity	Names of General Partners/Managing Members

Laclede Gas Company	Missouri	Corporation

Laclede Pipeline Company	Missouri	Corporation

Laclede Investment LLC	Missouri	Limited Liability Company	The Laclede Group, Inc.

Laclede Energy Resources, Inc.	Missouri	Corporation

Laclede Gas Family Services, Inc.	Missouri	Corporation

LER Storage Services, Inc.	Missouri	Corporation

Laclede Development Company	Missouri	Corporation

Laclede Venture Corp.	Missouri	Corporation

Laclede Oil Services, LLC	Missouri	Limited Liability Company	Laclede Development Company

Laclede Insurance Risk Services, Inc.	South Carolina	Corporation

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EXHIBIT D

LIST OF PERSONS SUBJECT TO LOCK-UP

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▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇

▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ Van Lokeren

W. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇

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▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇

▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇.

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EXHIBIT E

FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT

The Laclede Group, Inc.

Public Offering of Corporate Units

Dated as of June , 2014

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Securities, LLC

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

As Representatives of the several Underwriters

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This agreement is being delivered to you in connection with the proposed Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) between The Laclede Group, Inc., a Missouri corporation (the “Company”), and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC (“Credit Suisse”) and ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Securities, LLC (“▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo”), as representatives (collectively, the “Representatives”) of the underwriters named in Exhibit A thereto (collectively, the “Underwriters”), relating to a proposed underwritten public offering of Corporate Units (the “Corporate Units”) that will each initially consist of (a) a 1/20th, or 5%, undivided beneficial ownership interest in $1,000 principal amount of the Company’s Remarketable Junior Subordinated Notes due 2022 and (b) a stock purchase contract issued by the Company pursuant to which the holder of such purchase contract will purchase from the Company, for an amount in cash equal to the stated amount per Corporate Unit of $50, a number of shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the “Common Stock”), as set forth in the terms of such stock purchase contract.

In order to induce you and the other Underwriters to enter into the Underwriting Agreement, and in light of the benefits that the offering of the Common Stock will confer upon the undersigned in its capacity as a securityholder or an officer or director of the Company, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned agrees with each Underwriter that, during the period beginning on and including the date of the Underwriting Agreement through and including the date that is

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the 60^th day after the date of the Underwriting Agreement (such period, the “Lock-Up Period”), the undersigned will not, without the prior written consent of Credit Suisse and ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo, directly or indirectly:

(i) offer, pledge, assign, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of any shares of the Company’s Common Stock or preferred stock or other capital stock (collectively, “capital stock”) or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or other capital stock, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by the undersigned or with respect to which the undersigned has or hereafter acquires the power of disposition; or

(ii) enter into any swap or other agreement, arrangement or transaction that transfers to another, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, any of the economic consequence of ownership of any Common Stock or other capital stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for any Common Stock or other capital stock,

whether any transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock, other capital stock, other securities, in cash or otherwise, or publicly announce any intention to do any of the foregoing.

Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph, the undersigned may, without the prior written consent of Credit Suisse and ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo, transfer any Common Stock or other capital stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock or other capital stock:

(1) if the undersigned is a natural person, as a bona fide gift or gifts or by will, by intestate succession or pursuant to a so-called “living trust” or other revocable trust established to provide for the disposition of property on the undersigned’s death, in each case to any member of the immediate family (as defined below) of the undersigned or to a trust the beneficiaries of which are exclusively the undersigned or members of the undersigned’s immediate family, or as a bona fide gift or gifts to a charity or educational institution;

(2) if the undersigned is a partnership or a limited liability company, to a partner or member, as the case may be, of such partnership or limited liability company if, in any such case, such transfer is not for value;

(3) under a plan established under Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), prior to the date hereof;

(4) if the undersigned receives shares of Common Stock pursuant to an equity award granted under any compensatory plan of the Company, such transfer is made to satisfy tax withholding obligations of the undersigned related to such award; and

(5) acquired by the undersigned in the open market after the closing of the offering of the Common Stock.

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provided, however, that in the case of any transfer described in clause (1) or (2) above, it shall be a condition to the transfer that (A) the transferee executes and delivers to Credit Suisse and ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo, acting on behalf of the Underwriters, not later than one business day prior to such transfer, a written agreement, in substantially the form of this agreement (it being understood that any references to “immediate family” in the agreement executed by such transferee shall expressly refer only to the immediate family of the undersigned and not to the immediate family of the transferee) and otherwise satisfactory in form and substance to Credit Suisse and ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo, (B) in the case of a transfer pursuant to clause (1) above, if the undersigned is required to file a report under Section 16(a) of the 1934 Act reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock or other capital stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or other capital stock by the undersigned during the Lock-Up Period, the undersigned shall include a statement in such report to the effect that such transfer is not a transfer for value and that such transfer is being made as a gift, by will or intestate succession or pursuant to a so-called “living trust” or other revocable trust established to provide for the disposition of property on the undersigned’s death, as the case may be, (C) in the case of a transfer pursuant to clause (2) above, no filing under Section 16(a) of the 1934 Act reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock or other capital stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or other capital stock shall be required to be made during the Lock-Up Period and (D) in the case of a transfer pursuant to clause (1) or (2) above, no voluntary filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission or other public report, filing or announcement shall be made in respect of such transfer during this Lock-Up Period. For purposes of this paragraph, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption not more remote than the first cousin.

Prior to engaging in any transaction or taking any other action that is subject to the restrictions imposed by this agreement at any time during the period from and including the date of this agreement through and including the 34th day following the last day of the Lock-Up Period (prior to giving effect to any extension of the Lock-Up Period as provided above), the undersigned will give notice thereof to the Company and will not consummate such transaction or take any such action unless it has received written confirmation from the Company that the Lock-Up Period (as the same may have been extended as provided above) has expired.

The undersigned further agrees that (i) he or she will not, during the Lock-Up Period, make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), of any shares of Common Stock or other capital stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or other capital stock and (ii) the Company may, with respect to any Common Stock or other capital stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or other capital stock owned or held (of record or beneficially) by the undersigned, cause the transfer agent or other registrar to enter stop transfer instructions and implement stop transfer procedures with respect to such securities during the Lock-Up Period.

The undersigned hereby waives any and all notice requirements and rights with respect to the registration of any securities pursuant to any agreement, instrument, understanding or otherwise, including any registration rights agreement or similar agreement, to which the undersigned is a party or under which the undersigned is entitled to any right or benefit and any tag-along rights, co-sale rights or other rights to have any securities (debt or equity) included in

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the offering contemplated by this agreement or sold in connection with the sale of Securities pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, provided that such waiver shall apply only to the public offering of Common Stock pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement and each registration statement filed under the 1933 Act in connection therewith.

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to enter into this agreement and that this agreement has been duly authorized (if applicable), executed and delivered by the undersigned and is a valid and binding agreement of the undersigned. This agreement and all authority herein conferred are irrevocable and shall survive the death or incapacity of the undersigned (if a natural person) and shall be binding upon the heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of the undersigned.

If the Underwriting Agreement is not executed by the parties thereto prior to September 30, 2014, this agreement shall automatically terminate and become null and void.

The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that whether or not any public offering of Common Stock actually occurs depends on a number of factors, including market conditions.

THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

[Signature Page Immediately Follows]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed and delivered this agreement as of the date first set forth above.

Yours very truly,

Print Name:

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EXHIBIT H

ISSUER GENERAL USE FREE WRITING PROSPECTUSES

1. Pricing Term Sheet containing certain final terms of the Securities and relating to the offering of the Other Securities, substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto.

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The Laclede Group, Inc. 2,500,000 Corporate Units UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

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