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) March 14, 2000
ARETE INDUSTRIES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Colorado 33-16820-D 84-1063149
State or other jurisdiction Commission IRS Employer
of incorporation or organization File No. Identification Number
2305 Canyon Blvd., Suite 103, Boulder, Colorado 80302
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(303) 247-1313
(Telephone Number including Area Code)
N/A
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year
if changed since last report)
Item 4. Changes in Registrants Certifying Accountant
On March 15, 2000, Arete Industries, Inc. dismissed Schumacher & Associates,
Inc. CPA's as its principal accountants. Such action had been previously
approved by the Registrant's Board of Directors. Schumacher & Associates,
Inc. reports on the financial statements for the past two years contained no
qualification, disclaimer of opinion or adverse opinion. Their report dated
April 14, 1999, and July 2, 1998 however, included a paragraph regarding
substantial doubt about the Registrant's ability to continue as a going concern.
Through the date of the change in accountants, there were no disagreements with
Schumacker & Associates, Inc. CPA's on any matter or accounting principles or
practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or proceedure, which
disagreements have caused them to make reference to the subject matter of the
disagreements in connection with their reports.
On March 15, 2000, the Registrant retained Causey Demgen & Moore, Inc. as the
Company's independent accountants to conduct an audit of the Registrant's
financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1999. This
action was previously approved by the Registrant's Board of Directors and
is subject to shareholder ratification. The decision to retain Causey
Demgen & Moore Inc. was made to fulfill the Registrant's increasing need
for a broader range of capabilities and services available in this multi-
person, regional accounting firm.
Item 7. Exhibits. The following exhibits are included in this report, as
required by Item 601 of Regulation SB.
Exhibit No. 16. Letter re: Change in Certifying Accountant, as required by
Item 304(a)(3) of Regulation SB.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant had duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Dated: March 14, 2000
By: /s/ Thomas P. Raabe
Thomas P. Raabe, Chairman, Director and Chief
Executive Officer
Exhibit 16. Letter regarding change in certifying accountant.
((Letterhead))
SCHUMACHER & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Certified Public Accountants
2525 15th Street, Suite 3H
Denver, Colorado 80211
(303) 480-5037 FAX (303) 480-5038
March 15, 2000
United States Securities and Exchange Commission
Judiciary Plaza
450 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20549
Re: Arete Industries, Inc.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned Schumacher & Associates, Inc. previously acted as independent
accountants to audit the financial statements of Arete Industries, Inc. We
are no longer acting as independent accountants to the Company.
This letter will confirm that we have reviewed Item 4 of the Company's Form
8-K dated March 14, 2000 captioned "Changes in Registrant's Certifying
Accountant" and that we agree with the statements made therein as they
relate to us.
We hereby consent to the filing of this letter as an exhibit to the foregoing
report on Form 8-K.
Dated this 15th day of March, 2000.
Sincerely,
/s/ Schumacher & Associates, Inc.
Schumacher & Associates, Inc.
