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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
April 7, 1994
Date of Report
(Date of Earliest Event Reported)
Helmerich & Payne, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware 1-4321 73-0679879
(State or Other (Commission (IRS Employer
Jurisdiction of File Number) Identification Number)
Incorporation)
1579 East 21st Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(918) 742-5531
(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
N/A
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed since Last Report)
Page 1 of 4 Pages
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Item 4. Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant
The Audit Committee of Registrant's Board of Directors on April 5,
1994, approved the dismissal of Arthur Andersen & Co. as Registrant's
certifying accountant and on such date appointed Ernst & Young as the
Registrant's new certifying accountant. Arthur Andersen & Co. will however
complete its review of Registrant's 1992 federal income tax return.
Arthur Andersen & Co.'s report on the financial statements for the
past two fiscal years contained no adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion or
was qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting
principles. Further, during fiscal years 1992 and 1993 and that portion of
fiscal 1994 ending April 5, 1994, there were no disagreements with Arthur
Andersen & Co. on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial
statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure.
For Registrant's fiscal years 1992 and 1993 through April 5, 1994 of
fiscal 1994, there were no reportable events as described in Item
304(a)(1)(v)(A) through (D) of Regulation S-K.
Registrant has not during fiscal years 1992 and 1993 through April 5,
1994 of fiscal 1994 consulted with Ernst & Young regarding any matters
described in Item 304(a)(2) of Regulation S-K.
Pursuant to Item 304(a)(3), Registrant has attached Arthur Andersen &
Co.'s letter dated April 7, 1994 reflecting its agreement with Item 4 of this
Form 8-K.
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ITEM 5. OTHER MATERIALLY IMPORTANT EVENTS
On January 18, 1994, the District Court of Harris County, Texas dismissed
without prejudice the lawsuit styled Theresa Arceneaux. et al. v. Natural
Gas Odorizing, Inc., Case Number 93568602, District Court Harris County,
Texas, 165th Judicial District. Prior to dismissal, plaintiffs had sought
actual damages of $500 million dollars and punitive damages of $500
billion dollars against Registrant's wholly owned subsidiary, Natural Gas
odorizing, Inc.
Pursuant to NGO's motion, the Harris County District Court on April 5, 1994,
held that a substantial number of the fee contracts obtained by plaintiffs'
attorneys in this case were obtained in violation of the rules against
solicitation set out in the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct
and in violation of the Texas Penal Code which prohibits barratry. The Court
ordered that plaintiffs' attorneys are jointly and severally liable for payment
of $50,000 to NGO to compensate it for reasonable attorney fees and costs
incurred in the defense by NGO of this case. In addition, if NGO successfully
defends an appeal of this Order, then plaintiffs' attorneys will pay certain
additional amounts to NGO as reasonable attorneys' fees up to a maximum of
$13,000 if such Order was appealed to the United States Supreme Court.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
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its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
HELMERICH & PAYNE, INC.
By:/s/ STEVEN R. MACKEY
Steven R. Mackey
Vice President, Secretary,
and General Counsel
DATED this 7th day of April, 1994.
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ARTHUR
ANDERSEN
ARTHUR ANDERSEN & CO, SC
April 7, 1994 Arthur Andersen & Co.
Mr. Walter Schuetz Suite 300
Office of the Chief Accountant 6450 South Lewis
SECPS Letter File Tulsa OK 74136-1068
Securities & Exchange Commission 918 747 5571
Mail Stop 9-5
455th Street, NW
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. Schuetz:
We have read Item 4 included in the attached Form 8-K dated March 7, 1994
of Helmerich & Payne, Inc. filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission
and are in agreement with the statements contained therein.
Very truly yours,
/s/ ARTHUR ANDERSEN & CO.
ARTHUR ANDERSEN & CO.
CMR
