UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

FORM

 

CURRENT REPORT

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of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

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This combined Current Report on Form is provided by the following registrants: Evergy, Inc. (“Evergy”), Evergy Kansas Central, Inc. (“Evergy Kansas Central”) and Evergy Metro, Inc. (“Evergy Metro,” and collectively with Evergy and Evergy Kansas Central, the “Evergy Companies”). Information relating to any individual registrant is filed by such registrant solely on its own behalf. Each registrant makes no representation as to information relating exclusively to the other registrants.

 

On November 4, 2024, Steven P. Busser notified the Evergy Companies that he will retire and no longer serve as the Evergy Companies’ Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer, effective on December 1, 2024 (the “Effective Date”). Mr. Busser’s decision to retire was not the result of any disagreement with the Evergy Companies on any matter relating to their operations, policies, or practices or any issues regarding accounting policies or practices.

Following Mr. Busser’s retirement on the Effective Date, Matt Gummig, Director of External Reporting and Property Accounting, will also serve as Interim Controller and Chief Accounting Officer and will assume the principal accounting officer responsibilities while the Evergy Companies conduct an internal and external search to fill the permanent role. Mr. Gummig will hold the same positions with Evergy Kansas Central and Evergy Metro, as well as with the other main utilities in the Evergy group.

Mr. Gummig, 39, has held his current position as Director of External Reporting, Policy and Property Accounting, since January 2023. He has worked at Evergy for nearly thirteen years and previously held the position of Senior Manager – External Reporting and various other roles of increasing responsibility within Evergy’s Accounting organization. Before joining Evergy, Mr. Gummig served as an auditor in the assurance practice of Ernst & Young from 2009 to 2011. Mr. Gummig holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in accounting from Truman State University, is a certified public accountant licensed in Missouri, and has completed leadership programs through William Jewell College.

In connection with Mr. Gummig’s assumption of additional responsibilities as described above, he will receive two cash retention payments, each in the amount of $25,000, payable in December 2024 and April 2025 and time-based restricted stock units with a grant date fair market value equal to $150,000, which vest in three equal tranches on December 1, 2025, 2026 and 2027.

Evergy will also enter into an indemnification agreement with Mr. Gummig in the form as has been entered into with other directors and officers. The indemnification agreement provides indemnification to the extent allowed under Missouri law. Mr. Gummig will not receive any separate compensation for his services at Evergy’s subsidiaries. A copy of the form of indemnification agreement was previously filed as Exhibit 10.2 to Evergy’s Form for the quarter ended September 30, 2018.

Other than the foregoing matters, there are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Gummig and any other persons pursuant to which he was appointed as the Interim Controller and Chief Accounting Officer and interim principal accounting officer. There are no family relationships between Mr. Gummig and any director or executive officer of Evergy, and Mr. Gummig has not been party to any related person transactions with Evergy.

On November 8, 2024, the Evergy Companies announced that Mr. Kevin E. Bryant, currently the Evergy Companies’ Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, has been named as Executive Vice President of Corporate Initiatives. In this role, Mr. Bryant will work directly with Mr. David A. Campbell, Evergy’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer and will continue to provide input on Evergy’s strategy and operations through his departure from the company on December 31, 2024. This planned departure is not the result of any disagreement with the Evergy Companies on any matter relating to their operations, policies, or practices. Mr. Bryant will be entitled to receive severance benefits pursuant to Evergy’s Executive Severance Plan (the “Severance Plan”), filed as Exhibit 10.2 to Evergy’s Form for the quarter ended September 30, 2019. All severance benefits under the Severance Plan for Mr. Bryant are contingent upon Mr. Bryant’s execution and of a general release of claims against Evergy. The Evergy Companies are not currently planning to fill the Chief Operating Officer role.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

EVERGY, INC.
By:		/s/ Heather A. Humphrey
Name:		Heather A. Humphrey
Title:		Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
EVERGY KANSAS CENTRAL, INC.
By:		/s/ Heather A. Humphrey
Name:		Heather A. Humphrey
Title:		Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
EVERGY METRO, INC.
By:		/s/ Heather A. Humphrey
Name:		Heather A. Humphrey
Title:		Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

Date: November 8, 2024