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 3, 1999
Huntingdon Life Sciences Group plc ("Huntingdon")
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
England
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(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
1-10173 N/A
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(Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
Huntingdon Research Centre, Woolley Road, Alconbury, Huntingdon,
Cambs, PE 17 5HS, England
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(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: +44 (1480) 892000
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
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Item 4. Change in Registrant's Certifying Accountant
Arthur Andersen had served as the auditors of Huntingdon Life Sciences Group plc
(the "Company") since 6 November, 1995. The Company has appointed Deloitte &
Touche as its auditors commencing with the 1999 fiscal year.
(a) Previous auditors
(1) (i) At the Company's Annual General Meeting held on June 3,
1999, Arthur Andersen did not seek re-appointment as the
Company's auditors for the 1999 fiscal year.
(ii) The reports of Arthur Andersen on the Company's financial
statements for each of the past two fiscal years did not
contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and
were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit
scope or accounting principles.
(iii) The Company's Board of Directors approved the decision to
change auditors.
(iv) In connection with the audits of the Company's financial
statements for each of its two most recent fiscal years and
through the date of this report, there were no
disagreements with Arthur Andersen on any matters of
accounting principles or practices, financial statement
disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which
disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of
Arthur Andersen, would have caused Arthur Andersen to make
reference to the matter in connection with its report.
(v) During the Company's two most recent fiscal years and
through the date of this report, there were no "reportable
events" as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.
(2) Arthur Andersen has furnished it with a letter addressed to the
Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether or not it
agrees with the above statements, which is annexed hereto as
Exhibit 1.
(b) New auditors
(i) The Company engaged Deloitte & Touche as its new auditors as of
June 3, 1999. During the Company's two most recent fiscal years
and through the date of this report, neither the Company nor
anyone else on its behalf consulted Deloitte & Touche regarding
any of the matters or events set forth in Item 304(a)(2)(i) and
(ii) of Regulation S-K.
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EXHIBIT INDEX
HUNTINGDON LIFE SCIENCES GROUP PLC
Current Report on Form 8-K
Dated 12 July, 1999
Exhibit No. Description
1 Letter from Arthur Andersen to the Company, dated 12 July
1999, regarding its agreement with the statements made in
this current report on Form 8-K.
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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.
HUNTINGDON LIFE SCIENCES GROUP PLC
By: /s/ Susan G Hide
GROUP COMPANY SECRETARY
Dated: 12 July, 1999
SH/bk2220
12 July 1999
Sue Hide
Company Secretary
Huntingdon Life Sciences Group plc
Woolley Road
Alconbury
Huntingdon
Cambs
PE17 5HS
Dear Ms Hide
This is to confirm that the client-auditor relationship between Huntingdon Life
Sciences Group plc (Commission File Number 1-10173) and Arthur Andersen has
ceased.
Yours sincerely
ARTHUR ANDERSEN
cc SEC Office to the Chief Accountant
