<PAGE>
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant /X/
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant / /
Check the appropriate box:
/ / Preliminary Proxy Statement
/ / Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2))
/X/ Definitive Proxy Statement
/ / Definitive Additional Materials
/ / Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section
240.14a-12
UTILICORP UNITED INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
/ / $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), 14a-6(i)(2) or
Item 22(a)(2) of Schedule 14A.
/ / $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act Rule
14a-6(i)(3).
/ / Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4)
and 0-11.
1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
------------------------------------------------------------------------
4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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5) Total fee paid:
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/ / Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
/X/ Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
1) Amount Previously Paid:
$1,078,816
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2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
Preliminary Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus on Schedule 14a and
KC United Corp. Form S-4 File No. 333-02223
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3) Filing Party:
UtiliCorp United, Kansas City Power & Light
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4) Date Filed:
February 21, 1996 and April 4, 1996
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[KCPL LOGO] [UTILICORP UNITED LOGO]
UTILICORP AND KCPL CHOOSE MAXIM ENERGIES
AS NAME FOR COMBINED COMPANY
DATES SET FOR SPECIAL SHAREHOLDERS' MEETINGS
KANSAS CITY, MO, July 1, 1996 -- UtiliCorp United (NYSE: UCU) and Kansas
City Power & Light Company (NYSE: KLT) have chosen Maxim Energies, Inc. as the
name for the new company to be created by their proposed merger.
In addition, KCPL and UtiliCorp said they have set August 7 and August 14
as the dates for their respective special shareholder meetings to vote on the
companies' revised merger agreement.
Commenting on the new name, Richard C. Green, Jr., chairman and chief
executive officer of UtiliCorp, said, "We wanted a name that clearly conveys our
commitment to delivering the highest levels of value and service, as well as our
leadership role in redefining our industry in the newly competitive energy
marketplace. We believe Maxim Energies captures that commitment, as well as our
vision to be a vigorous participant in the global energy marketplace."
"Maxim Energies is a new company for the new era in energy," added Drue
Jennings, chairman, president and chief executive officer of KCPL. "The name
signifies both scale and scope, and sets a high standard of achievement through
maximum effort, commitment and innovation."
UtiliCorp and KCPL said they chose to use "Energies" in the plural because
the new company will provide a broad range of electric, gas and energy-related
products and services in both regulated and unregulated energy businesses. In
addition, it captures the energies of employees working together to provide
comprehensive and innovative energy solutions.
The August 7 KCPL special shareholders' meeting will be held at 10 a.m. CDT
at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City. The August 14 UtiliCorp
special shareholders' meeting will be held at 2 p.m. CDT at the Kansas City
Convention Center. The revised joint proxy statement/prospectus for the
meetings is being mailed to shareholders of both companies this week.
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Maxim - 2
UtiliCorp and KCPL said Maxim Energies will be uniquely positioned to meet
the challenges of the changing energy market, matching KCPL's experience and
strength in regulated businesses with UtiliCorp's experience and strength in
unregulated businesses.
Maxim Energies' vision goes far beyond a traditional focus on cost
synergies, size, concentration of assets and the regulated segment of the
utility business. It will add diversified products and services, enter new
markets and be positioned to grow revenues, income and share value for
shareholders.
Over the last 10 years UtiliCorp has successfully diversified into
unregulated businesses. Since 1985, UtiliCorp has increased assets over 400
percent and has built the industry's first national brand, EnergyOne-SM-, which
provides energy solutions to customers coast to coast.
Kansas City Power & Light Company provides electric power to a growing and
diversified service territory encompassing metropolitan Kansas City and parts of
eastern Kansas and Western Missouri. KCPL is a low-cost producer and a leader
in fuel procurement and plant technology. KLT Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary
of KCPL, pursues domestic and international opportunities in non-regulated,
primarily energy-related ventures.
UtiliCorp United is an international electric and gas company with energy
customers and operations across the United States and in Canada, Great Britain,
New Zealand, Australia and Jamaica. In 1995 it launched EnergyOne, the first
nationally branded line of products and services for electric and gas utility
customers. UtiliCorp has grown rapidly over the past decade through utility
mergers and acquisitions and by starting non-regulated energy-related
businesses.
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MEDIA CONTACTS: INVESTOR CONTACTS:
--------------- ------------------
KCPL: Phyllis Desbien -- 816-556-2903 David Myers -- 816-556-2718
Andrea Bielsker -- 816-556-2595
UTILICORP: Jerry Cosley -- 816-467-3677 Ellen Fairchild -- 816-467-3506
Media Relations -- 816-467-3000 Dale Wolf -- 816-467-3536
