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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
DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED): DECEMBER 6, 1996
FILENE'S BASEMENT CORP.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
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<S> <C> <C>
MASSACHUSETTS 0-19149 04-3016773
(State or Other Jurisdiction of (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer Identification
Incorporation) No.)
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40 WALNUT STREET 02181
WELLESLEY, MASSACHUSETTS
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(617) 348-7000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
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ITEM 4. CHANGES IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT
On December 6, 1996, the Registrant engaged Arthur Andersen LLP
("Arthur Andersen") as its independent public accountant and dismissed Coopers &
Lybrand L.L.P. ("Coopers & Lybrand") from such position. The decision to change
accountants was made by the Board of Directors of the Registrant. The report of
Coopers & Lybrand on the Registrant's financial statements for fiscal 1994 and
1995 did not contain any adverse opinion, disclaimer of opinion or qualification
or modification as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
During the fiscal years ended February 3, 1996 and January 28, 1995 and
the subsequent interim period immediately preceding the date of this change in
accountants, the Registrant had no disagreements with Coopers & Lybrand on any
matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or
auditing scope or procedure, which disagreement(s), if not resolved to the
satisfaction of Coopers & Lybrand, would have caused Coopers & Lybrand to make a
reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with its
reports on the financial statements of the Registrant.
During the fiscal years ended February 3, 1996 and January 28, 1995 and
the subsequent interim period immediately preceding the date of the change in
accountants, none of the Registrant, nor anyone on behalf of the Registrant
consulted Arthur Andersen regarding either: (i) the application of accounting
principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type
of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Registrant's financial
statements; or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement
with Coopers & Lybrand on any matter of accounting principles or practices,
financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, or a reportable
event described in paragraph (a)(1)(v) of Item 304 of Regulation S-K.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND
EXHIBITS
(c) Exhibits.
The exhibits listed in the Exhibit Index filed as part of this
report are filed as part of or are included in this report.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
FILENE'S BASEMENT CORP.
Date: December 12, 1996 By: /s/ Mone Anathan III
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Mone Anathan III
President, Chief Operating Officer
and Director
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Number Description
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16 Letter re Change in Certifying Accountant
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[Coopers & Lybrand Letterhead]
December 12, 1996
Office of the Chief Accountant
SECPS Letter File
Securities and Exchange Commission
Mail Stop 11-3
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549
As previously communicated to the Commission by fax on December 6, 1996, the
client-auditor relationship between Filene's Basement Corp. (Commission File
Number 0-19149) and Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. has ceased. With respect to this
event, we confirm the following, as reported to the Commission by Filene's
Basement Corp. (the "Registrant") on Form 8-K:
- Our report on the Registrant's financial statements for fiscal years
1994 and 1995 did not contain any adverse opinion, disclaimer of opinion
or qualification or modification as to uncertainty, audit scope or
accounting principles.
- During the fiscal year ended February 3, 1996 and January 28, 1995 and
the subsequent interim period immediately preceding the date of the
change in accountants, the Registrant had no disagreements with Coopers
& Lybrand L.L.P. on any matter of accounting principles or practices,
financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure, which
disagreement(s), if not resolved to the satisfaction of Coopers &
Lybrand L.L.P., would have caused us to make a reference to the subject
matter of the disagreement in connection with our reports on the
financial statements of the Registrant.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
