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): OCTOBER 18, 1999
APPLIED BIOMETRICS, INC.
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
MINNESOTA 0-22146 41-1508112
(State or other jurisdiction of (Commission) (I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
501 EAST HIGHWAY 13, SUITE 108, BURNSVILLE, MINNESOTA 55337
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES) (ZIP CODE)
REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (612) 890-1123
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ITEM 4. CHANGES IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANTS
Effective October 18, 1999, Applied Biometrics, Inc (the "Company")
dismissed PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and engaged Ernst & Young LLP as the
principal accountant to audit the Company's financial statements, beginning with
its financial statements for the year ending December 31, 1999. The decision to
change accountants was approved by the Company's Board of Directors.
Neither of the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on the
financial statements of the Company for the past two fiscal years contained an
adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor was either qualified or modified
as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. There were no
disagreements with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on any matter of accounting
principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or
procedure, during the Company's two most recent fiscal years ending December 31,
1998, and each subsequent interim period preceding October 18, 1999 which, if
not resolved to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP's satisfaction, would have caused
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to make reference to the subject matter of the
disagreements(s) in connection with their reports. No "reportable events," as
identified in Regulation S-K, Item 304(a)(1)(v), occurred within the Company's
two most recent fiscal years and each subsequent interim periods preceding
October 18, 1999.
The Company requested that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP furnish a
letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether it
agrees with the statements made by the Company, and, if not, stating the
respects in which it does not agree. A letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is
included as Exhibit 16 to this report, stating their agreement with the
statements made by the Company in this report.
During the Company's two most recent fiscal years and any subsequent
interim period prior to October 18, 1999, Ernst & Young LLP had not been
consulted by the Company either with respect to the application of accounting
principles to a specific transaction, the type of audit opinion that might be
rendered on the Company's financial statements or any "disagreement" or
"reportable event" as described in Item 304(a)(2)(ii) of Regulation S-K.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.
(c) Exhibits.
16.1 Letter dated October 19, 1999 from PricewaterhouseCoopers 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 thereunto duly authorized.
APPLIED BIOMETRICS, INC.
Dated: October 22, 1999 /s/ Camille M. Meyer
--------------------------------------
Camille M. Meyer
Vice-President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Item Description Method of Filing
- ---- ----------- ----------------
16.1 Letter dated October 19, 1999 from
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ............ Filed electronically herewith.
4
Exhibit 16.1
October 19, 1999
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street NW
Washington, DC 20549
Commissioners:
We have read the statements made by Applied Biometrics, Inc. (copy attached),
which we understand will be filed with the Commission, pursuant to Item 4 of
Form 8-K, as part of the Company's Form 8-K report dated October 18, 1999. We
agree with the statements concerning our Firm in such Form 8-K.
Very truly yours,
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
