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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest reported) May 1, 2002
THE BOSTON BEER COMPANY, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its chapter)
Massachusetts 01-14092 04-328-4048
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer
of incorporation File Number) Identification No.)
75 Arlington Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (617) 368-5000
N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
The undersigned Registrant hereby amends the following items, financial
statements, exhibits, or other portions of the Current Report on Form 8-K filed
by the Registrant on May 1, 2002 related to the Registrant's changed in
accountants as set forth below and in the pages attached hereto:
INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT
Item 4. Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant.
During the first quarter of 2002, The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (the
"Company") commenced a review of its independent auditing services and,
as part of the process, interviewed and evaluated the services provided
by its existing independent auditors, Arthur Andersen, LLP
("Andersen"), and three other independent auditing firms. As a result
of such review and evaluation, the Company has elected, effective May
1, 2002, to dismiss Andersen and to appoint Deloitte Touche as its
independent auditors for the Company's fiscal year ending December 28,
2002. The Company is not making this appointment of independent
auditors as a result of any disagreements with Andersen with respect to
any reporting or disclosure requirements. The report of Andersen on the
financial statements for either of the past two years did not contain
an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, nor was any such report
qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting
principles.
The decision to change independent auditors was recommended by the
Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company and
subsequently, on April 29, 2002, was approved by the Board of Directors
of the Company. There were no disagreements on any matter of accounting
principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing
scope or procedure, between the Company and its independent auditors
during the Company's two most recent fiscal years or during the
year-to-date period ended May 1, 2002.
The Company provided Andersen with a copy of the foregoing disclosures.
Attached as Exhibit 16 is a copy of Andersen's letter, dated May 1,
2002, stating its agreement with such statements. During the Company's
two most recent fiscal years and through the date of this Form 8-K, the
Company did not consult Deloitte & Touche with respect to the
application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either
completed or proposed, of the type of audit opinion that might be
rendered on the Company's consolidated financial statements, or any
other matters or reportable events listed in Items 304(a)(2)(i) and
(ii) of Regulation S-K.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(a) Financial Statements of Business Acquired: Not Applicable.
(b) Pro Forma Financial Information: Not Applicable.
(c) Exhibits:
16.1* Letter from Arthur Andersen LLP to the Securities and
Exchange Commission dated May 9, 002
20.1 Press Release dated May 2002
* Previously filed as an exhibit to the Registrant's Current Report on
Form 8-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 1, 2002.
SIGNATURES
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.
THE BOSTON BEER COMPANY, INC.
Date: May 10, 2002 /s/ Martin F. Roper
Martin F. Roper, President and C.E.O.
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number Description
16.1 Letter from Arthur Andersen LLP to the Securities and Exchange Commission
dated May 9, 2002
20.1* Press Release dated May 1, 2002
* Previously filed as an exhibit to the Registrant's Current Report
on Form 8-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 1, 2002
Exhibit 16
Office of the Chief Accountant
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street NW
Washington, DC 20549
May 10, 2002
Dear Sir or Madam,
We have read Item 4 included in the attached Form 8-K/A dated May 1, 2002 of The
Boston Beer Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are in
agreement with the statements contained therein.
Very truly yours,
/s/Arathur Andersen LLP
Arthur Andersen LLP
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