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) - JANUARY 3, 2000
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 333-58059
CLUETT AMERICAN CORP.
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
DELAWARE 22-2397044
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
OF INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION) IDENTIFICATION NO.)
48 WEST 38TH STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10018
(ADDRESS OF REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
(212)984-8900
(REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE)
COPIES OF ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO:
CLUETT AMERICAN CORP.
48 WEST 38TH STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10018
ATTENTION: ACTING GENERAL COUNSEL AND SECRETARY
Item 4. Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant.
Pursuant to Item 304(a) of Regulation S-K, the Company reports the
following:
(a) Previous Independent Accountants
(i) and (iii) - On January 3, 2000, the Audit Committee of the Board
of Directors approved the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as its
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independent auditors for fiscal 1999. Ernst & Young LLP, the Company's
previous auditors, were dismissed.
(ii) The reports of Ernst & Young LLP on the financial statements for
the last two fiscal years contained no adverse opinion or
disclaimer of opinion, and were not qualified or modified as to
uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
(iv) In connection with its audits for the two most recent fiscal years
and through January 3, 2000, there were no disagreements with
Ernst & Young LLP on any matter of accounting principles or
practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or
procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction
of Ernst & Young LLP, would have caused Ernst & Young LLP to make
reference thereto in their report on the consolidated financial
statements for such years.
(v) During the two most recent fiscal years and through January 3,
2000, there have been no reportable events (as defined in Item
304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).
(vi) The Registrant has requested and Ernst & Young LLP has furnished it
with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "SEC") stating whether or not it agrees with the above
statements. Such letter dated January 10, 2000 is filed as an
exhibit to this Form 8-K.
(b) New Independent Accountants
The Registrant engaged Deloitte & Touche LLP as its new independent
accountants on January 3, 2000. During the two most recent fiscal
years and through January 3, 2000, the Registrant has not consulted
with Deloitte & Touche LLP on any of the matters or events set forth in
Item 304(a) 2(i) and (ii) of Regulation S-K.
Exhibits.
16.1 Letter of Ernst & Young LLP
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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.
Date: January 10, 2000
CLUETT AMERICAN CORP.
By: /s/ BRYAN P. MARSAL
-----------------------------
Bryan P. Marsal
Director, President and Chief
Executive Officer
Exhibit 16.1
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20549
Gentlemen:
We have read Item 4 of Form 8-K dated January 10, 2000 of Cluett American
Corp. and are in agreement with the statements contained in sections (a)(ii),
(iv), (v), and (vi) therein. We have no basis to agree or disagree with
other statements of the registrant contained therein.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Atlanta, Georgia
January 10, 2000
