Bracewell Advises on Transaction Named a Strategic Deal of the Year Finalist for the Upcoming 2017 S&P Global Platts Global Energy Awards

NEW YORK – Bracewell LLP is pleased to announce its representation of Great Plains Energy Incorporated on an amended and restated merger agreement with Westar Energy, Inc. has been named a Strategic Deal of the Year finalist for the upcoming 2017 S&P Global Platts Global Energy Awards. The Strategic Deal of the Year annually recognizes one outstanding new energy project, divestiture, asset buyout or full company merger or acquisition done in an era of uncertain markets and interdependence.

The revised transaction between Great Plains Energy and Westar Energy is a stock-for-stock merger of equals. The merger will create a company with a combined equity value of approximately $14 billion. Bracewell worked with Great Plains Energy to restructure this complex transaction from an acquisition mostly funded with cash into a stock-for-stock merger of equals. The combined companies will have nearly 13,000 MW of generation capacity, almost 10,000 miles of transmission lines and more than 51,000 miles of distribution lines. The new company will be able to provide electric utility service to approximately one million Kansas customers and nearly 600,000 customers in Missouri.

Bracewell lawyers involved on this transaction include:

Partners: Daniel E. Hemli, Rebecca H. Keep, Will Anderson, Troy L. Harder and Catherine P. McCarthy

Senior Counsel: Edmund W. Robb

Counsel: Jacqueline R. Java

Associates: Andrew C.J. Bueso

Winners of the 2017 Global Energy Awards will be announced at a black-tie celebration on December 7, 2017, at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.