This is a supplement (Supplement) to the Prospectus Supplement, dated August 18, 2017, April 4, 2017 and March 18, 2016, relating to the Westar Energy, Inc. Direct Stock
Purchase Plan (Plan Prospectus Supplement) and the Prospectus, dated March 18, 2016 (Prospectus). This Supplement should be attached to the Prospectus and read in conjunction with the Prospectus and with the Plan Prospectus Supplement. Terms not defined in this Supplement have the respective meanings assigned to them in the Plan Prospectus Supplement. You should read this Supplement carefully and retain it for future reference.
On July 10, 2017, Westar announced that it had entered into an Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger (Merger Agreement), dated July 9, 2017, with Great Plains Energy Incorporated (Great Plains Energy) providing
for the combination of the two companies under a new holding company.
Due to the proposed merger, effective May 11, 2018, the features of the Plan that allow for the reinvestment of dividends on shares of Westar common stock, and optional cash investments in Westar common stock, are suspended. Any future dividends will be paid in cash by either check or direct deposit, and any funds received for investing will be returned to the shareholder.
The Plan will continue to allow sale of shares held in your Plan account by providing written notification to the Plan Administrator either by completing and submitting the Optional Request Form, the tear-off section of your account activity statement or by other written instructions. See page S-7
and S-8 of the Prospectus for additional information.
Prior to the effective date of the merger, the sale of shares through the Plan will be suspended to ensure that accurate records are furnished to the exchange agent for processing.
Investing in Westar common stock involves certain risks. Please see “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” on page 28 of the Prospectus for important information on where to find information about risks related to investing in Westar securities. In particular, please see Westar’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and other filings made from time to time by Westar with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the sections titled “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Statements” in those filings.
These filings are incorporated by reference into this Supplement, the Plan Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus.
Shares of our common stock are not savings accounts, deposits or other obligations of a bank, and they are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency. An investment in our common stock involves investment risk, including possible loss of principal.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities regulators or other regulatory bodies have approved or disapproved of these securities, or determined if this Supplement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus supplement is
May 1, 2018.
Dates Referenced Herein and Documents Incorporated by Reference
