Great Plains-Westar merger may cost 150-200 jobs in KC
Source: Kansas City Business Journal
The $12.2 billion acquisition by Great Plains Energy Inc. of Westar Energy Inc. could cost about 150-200 corporate jobs in Kansas City, The Topeka Capital-Journal reports.
Great Plains spokesman Chuck Caisley said that Topeka, where Westar (NYSE: WR) is based, will lose 150-200 jobs and that "roughly" the same number will be lost in Kansas City, the report says. Great Plains (NYSE: GXP) did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the Kansas City Business Journal.
However, company officials have stressed that the utility industry has a 4 to 5 percent attrition rate, which should be able to absorb the job losses without significant layoffs, the report says.
Although Great Plains, the parent company of Kansas City Power & Light, filed hundreds of pages to rebut Kansas Corporation Commission staff filings, news about jobs has been scarce or redacted, the report says.
Read more: http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2017/01/13/great-plains-westar-merger-may-cost-150-200-jobs.html?ana=twt