Utilicorp solicits consents to satisfy merger condition

Utilicorp remains in merger mode, following an announcement earlier this month that it would acquire Empire District Electric Company of Joplin.

As a result of that acquisition, Empire is soliciting consents to amend a covenant of the indenture under which all of its First Mortgage Bonds were issued, according to a release from Empire. The purpose of the solicitation is to satisfy a condition of the Utilicorp merger. The proposed amendment will not become effective and no consent fee will be paid except upon completion of the merger.

The following series are included in the solicitation: Series 7.5 percent due 2002