UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 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 event reported): June 20, 2002
TOWER AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 1-12733 41-1746238
(State or Other Jurisdiction (Commission File No.) (IRS Employer
of Incorporation) Identification No.)
5211 Cascade Road, SE, Suite 300, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
616-802-1600
(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if changed Since Last Report)
Item 4. Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant
Tower Automotive, Inc. (the "Company") determined to dismiss its
independent auditors, Arthur Andersen LLP ("Arthur Andersen") and to engage the
services of Deloitte & Touche LLP as its new independent auditors. The change in
auditors was approved by the Board of Directors of the Company; the change is
effective as of June 20, 2002. As a result, Deloitte & Touche LLP will audit the
consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries for the
fiscal year ending December 31, 2002.
Arthur Andersen's reports on the Company's consolidated financial
statements for the past fiscal two years did not contain an adverse opinion or
disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty,
audit scope or accounting principles. During the past fiscal two years and
through the date of this Form 8-K (the "Relevant Period"), there were no
disagreements with Arthur Andersen on any matter of accounting principles or
practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure which,
if not resolved to Arthur Andersen's satisfaction, would have caused Arthur
Andersen to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement(s) in
connection with its reports on the Company's consolidated financial statements
for such years. There were no reportable events as described in Item
304(a)(1)(v) ("Reportable Events") of the Securities and Exchange Commission's
(the "Commission") Regulation S-K.
The Company has provided a copy of the foregoing statements to Arthur
Andersen. Attached as Exhibit 16 is a copy of Arthur Andersen's letter to the
Commission, dated June 20, 2002, stating its agreement with such statements.
During the Relevant Period, neither the Company nor anyone acting on its
behalf consulted with Deloitte & Touche LLP regarding (i) the application of
accounting principles to a specified transaction, completed or proposed, or the
type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company's consolidated
financial statements, or (ii) any matters or reportable events as set forth in
Items 304(a)(2)(i) and (ii) of Regulation S-K.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(c) Exhibits
16 Letter from Arthur Andersen regarding change in certifying accountant.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
TOWER AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
Dated: June 20, 2002 By /s/ Anthony A. Barone
___________________________________________
Anthony A. Barone
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
(principal accounting and financial officer)
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Description
Exhibit 16 Letter from Arthur Andersen LLP regarding change in certifying
accountant. Arthur Andersen LLP regarding change in certifying
accountant. accountant.
EXHIBIT 16
Office of the Chief Accountant
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20549
June 20, 2002
Dear Sir/Madam:
The representations made in this letter are based solely on discussions with and
representations from the engagement partner and manager on the audits of the
financial statements of this registrant for the two most recent fiscal years.
Those individuals are no longer with Arthur Andersen LLP. We have read the first
two paragraphs of Item 4 included in the Form 8-K dated June 20, 2002 of Tower
Automotive, Inc. filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and have
found no basis for disagreement with the statements contained therein.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Arthur Andersen LLP
Arthur Andersen LLP
cc: Anthony A. Barone, Chief Financial Officer, Tower Automotive, Inc.