IPALCO ENTERPRISES, INC. 8-K

What Happened
IPALCO Enterprises, Inc. (a subsidiary of The AES Corporation) announced on July 27, 2026 (filing date) that its Board dismissed Ernst & Young LLP (EY) as the company’s independent registered public accounting firm, effective upon filing the Form 10‑Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026. The dismissal was driven by EY’s impending loss of independence with respect to AES and its subsidiaries following the announced merger (the Merger) involving AES and entities controlled by investors affiliated with Global Infrastructure Management, LLC and EQT Infrastructure VI. The Board engaged KPMG LLP as the company’s independent auditor for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, effective July 23, 2026.

Key Details

• Dismissal/engagement dates: Board action dated July 23, 2026; 8‑K filed July 27, 2026; dismissal effective upon filing the June 30, 2026 Form 10‑Q.
• Auditor firms: Ernst & Young LLP dismissed; KPMG LLP engaged as successor auditor for 2026.
• Independence reason: EY will no longer be independent with respect to AES and its subsidiaries after the closing of the announced Merger.
• Audit history: EY’s audit reports for IPALCO’s consolidated financials for fiscal years ended Dec 31, 2024 and 2025 were unqualified; there were no disagreements or reportable events between IPALCO and EY for 2024, 2025 or the subsequent interim period. EY’s letter to the SEC dated July 27, 2026 is filed as Exhibit 16.1.

Why It Matters
A change of independent auditor is material because it affects who reviews and signs the company’s future financial statements. Investors should note (1) the switch was prompted by an independence conflict tied to AES’s announced Merger, not by reported audit problems, and (2) EY’s past audits for 2024–2025 were clean with no disagreements. KPMG will prepare to audit IPALCO’s 2026 financials, so investors can expect continuity in external review but should watch upcoming filings (including the June 30, 2026 Form 10‑Q) for any further disclosures about the Merger or audit transition.