AXIA INC
8-K, 1998-12-15
CUTLERY, HANDTOOLS & GENERAL HARDWARE
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                       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


                               December 15, 1998
                                (Date of Report)

                              --------------------


                               AXIA INCORPORATED
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



                                    DELAWARE
         (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)


       333-64555                                                  13-3205251
(Commission File Number)                                        (IRS Employer
                                                             Identification No.)


100 West 22nd Street, Suite 134
      Lombard, Illinois                                              60148
(Address of principal executive offices)                          (Zip code)


                                 (630) 629-3360
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)



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                               AXIA INCORPORATED

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                      FOR
                           CURRENT REPORT ON FORM 8-K


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----
<S>          <C>                                                            <C>
 
Item 4.      Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant...................  2
 
Item 7.      Financial Statements and Exhibits...............................  3
 
Signature     ...............................................................  4
</TABLE>

                                       1
<PAGE>
 
     Item 4. Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant

     On December 9, 1998, the Board of Directors of AXIA Incorporated (the
"Company") approved management's recommendation on July 23, 1998 to engage the
independent certified public accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP ("D&T") to
audit the consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ending
December 31, 1998.  Prior to the sale of the predecessor company on July 22,
1998, the predecessor company's independent auditor was Arthur Andersen LLP.

     The report of Arthur Andersen LLP on the predecessor company's consolidated
financial statements for the year ended December 31, 1997 did not contain an
adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, and was not qualified or modified as
to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.

     In connection with the audit of the predecessor company's consolidated
financial statements for the year ended December 31, 1997, and during the
subsequent interim period prior to July 22, 1998, there were no disagreements
between and predecessor company and Arthur Andersen LLP on any matters of
accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing
scope and procedures which, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Arthur
Andersen LLP, would have caused Arthur Andersen LLP to make reference to the
matter in their reports.

     There were no reportable events (as defined in Regulation S-K Item
304(a)(1)(v) during the year ended December 31, 1997 and the subsequent period
prior to the sale of the predecessor company on July 22, 1998.

     The predecessor company had not consulted with D&T during the year ended
December 31, 1997 or any subsequent period prior to the sale of the Company on
July 22, 1998 on either the application of accounting principles or the type of
opinion D&T might issue on the predecessor company's financial statements.

     In accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the
Company provided Arthur Andersen LLP a copy of the disclosures made under this
Item 4 and requested Arthur Andersen LLP to furnish it with a letter addressed
to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether or not Arthur Andersen
LLP agrees with the above statements.  Such letter is attached as Exhibit 16.1.

                                       2
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     Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

          (c) Exhibits.  The following material is filed as an exhibit to this
Current Report on Form 8-K:

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
Exhibit                 
Number                     Description of Exhibit
- -------                    ----------------------
<S>          <C> 
16.1         Letter of Arthur Andersen LLP regarding change in certifying accountant
</TABLE> 

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
                                   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 thereunto duly authorized.


                                    AXIA INCORPORATED



                                     /s/ Lyle J. Feye
                                    -------------------------------------
                                    Lyle J. Feye
                                    Vice President-Finance, Treasurer,
                                    and Chief Financial Officer



Dated: December 15, 1998

                                       4
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                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
Exhibit                                                                                    Page
Number                           Description                                               Number
- -------                          -----------                                               ------
<S>           <C>                                                                          <C> 
16.1          Letter of Arthur Andersen LLP regarding change in certifying accountant        6
</TABLE> 

                                       5

<PAGE>
 
EXHIBIT 16.1



December 15, 1998



Office of the Chief Accountant
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549

Dear Sir/Madam:

We have read Item 4 included in the Form 8-K dated December 15, 1998 of
AXIA Incorporated to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
and are in agreement with the statements contained therein.

Very truly yours,

ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP



By
      Wayne J. Peters

CAK

Copy to:
Mr. Lyle J. Feye, Chief Financial Officer
AXIA Incorporated


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