Empire District Electric stockholders to vote on merger June 16

The selling will continue during the annual meeting May 2, but the actual shareholder vote to approve Joplin-based Empire District Electric Company's sale to the Canadian Algonguin company will take place during a special meeting June 16, according to company officials.

The following statement was given by Empire CEO Bradley Beecher during the quarterly earnings hearing Friday:

Shareholder approval is also required for the transaction. We have set May 2, 2016, as the record date for determining eligibility to vote on their agreement and planned merger. We expect to hold a Special Shareholders Meeting on June 16, 2016, to conduct the vote. A final proxy and voting instructions will be mailed to shareholders next week.

Last week, we began joint meetings at the senior management level to initiate the transition and integration planning process. As we work to fulfill the conditions to close the merger we remain focused on business as usual at Empire.