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: September 25, 1998
HomeGold Financial, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
South Carolina 0-8909 57-0513287
(State of other juris- (Commission (IRS Employer
diction of incorporation) File Number) Identification Number)
Suite 750, 15 South Main Street, Greenville, South Carolina 29601
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (864) 235-8056
The Exhibit Index appears on page 4 hereof.
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Item 4. Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant
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By unanimous consent on September 21, 1998, the Company's Board of
Directors determined to dismiss KPMG Peat Marwick LLP ("KPMG") and to engage
Elliott Davis & Company, LLP ("ED&C") as the Company's auditors for the 1998
fiscal year. KPMG has served as the Company's principal accountants for fiscal
years ended December 31, 1996 and 1997, while ED&C served as the Company's
principal accountants for the fiscal years ended December 31, 1993, 1994 and
1995.
KPMG's report on the financial statements for the past two years had not
contained an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, nor was it qualified or
modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles.
The determination to change the Company's principal accounting firm was
recommended to the Board of Directors by the Company's Audit Committee. The
Audit Committee believes that ED&C will better serve the Companys auditing needs
in terms of service level and cost.
During the past two years and subsequent interim periods, there were no
disagreements 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 KPMG, would have caused KPMG to make reference
to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with its reports.
KPMG issued management letters dated January 30, 1997 and February 27, 1998
in conjunction with their 1996 and 1997 audits. There were no material
weaknesses identified in the Companys internal control structure. The management
letter dated February 27, 1998 did, however, contain reportable conditions as
defined by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Auditing
Standards. These matters have been reported by the Company under Item
304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K as follows:
1. The accounting for servicing income and interest income relating to the
Companys securitization transactions were found to be incorrect and were
adjusted at year end.
2. The servicing asset was found to be understated at year end and was
adjusted.
3. The residual asset valuation was adjusted at year end to reflect a more
conservative accounting than previously used as well as correct certain
errors in the recording of the residual assets.
4. Certain reconciliations of general ledger accounts were not documented by
the preparer and the review was not documented.
The net impact to net income for audit adjustments, including those identified
above as reportable conditions, in 1997 was immaterial and totalled less than
$0.01 per share. These items were reviewed with the Companys Audit Committee on
June 10, 1998 by KPMG. The Company has authorized KPMG to respond fully to the
inquiries of ED&C.
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Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits
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(a) Financial Statements of the Business Acquired. Not applicable.
(b) Pro Forma Financial Information. Not applicable.
(c) Exhibits.
16.1 Letter of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
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.
EMERGENT GROUP, INC.
By: /s/ Kevin J. Mast
Kevin J. Mast
Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer, and Treasurer
<PAGE>
Exhibit Index
16.1 Letter of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C. 20549
September 25, 1998
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We were previously principal accountants for HomeGold Financial, Inc. (the
Company or HomeGold), formerly Emergent Group, Inc., and under the date of
February 27, 1998, we reported on the consolidated financial statements of
Emergent Group, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997 and 1996 and for
the years then ended. On September 21, 1998 our appointment as principal
accountants was terminated. We have read HomeGold's statements included under
Item 4 of its Form 8-K dated September 25, 1998, and we agree with such
statements except that we are not in a position to agree or disagree with
HomeGold's statement that the determination to change the Company's principal
accounting firm was recommended to the Board of Directors by the Company's
Audit Committee or the Company's stated reason for changing principal
accountants.
Very truly yours,
/s/ KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
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