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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): October 29, 1998
APACHE MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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<S> <C> <C>
DELAWARE 000-20805 23-2476415
(State or other jurisdiction of (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
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1650 Tysons Boulevard, McLean, Virginia 22102
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (703) 847-1400
None
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
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ITEM 4. CHANGES IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT.
(a) Previous Independent Accountants
(i) On October 29, 1998, APACHE Medical Systems, Inc. (the
"Company") accepted the resignation of Arthur Andersen
LLP ("Andersen") as the Company's independent public
accountant effective the earlier of December 15, 1998,
or the date that the Company engages another
independent public accountant.
(ii) Andersen served as the Company's independent public
accountant for the 1997 fiscal year. Andersen's report
on the Company's financial statements for the 1997
fiscal year did not contain an adverse opinion or a
disclaimer of opinion and was not qualified or
modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting
principles.
(iii) The action was mutually agreed upon between Andersen
and the Company, and no recommendation or approval
of the Company's Finance and Audit Committee was
sought.
(iv) During the 1997 fiscal year and the subsequent
interim period from January 1, 1998 to October 29,
1998, there were no disagreements with Andersen on any
matter of accounting principles or practices,
financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or
procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the
satisfaction of Andersen, would have caused Andersen
to make a reference to the subject matter of the
disagreements in connection with its report in the
financial statements for such year.
(v) There were no reportable events as described
in Item 304 of Regulation S-K.
(vi) The Company provided Andersen with a copy of this
report no later than the date this report was filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission and has
requested that Andersen furnish it with the letter
described in Item 304(a)(3) of Regulation S-K. A
copy of the letter from Andersen to the Securities
and Exchange Commission described in Item 304(a)(3)
of Regulation S-K is filed as Exhibit 16.1 hereto.
(b) New Independent Accountants
(i) The Company has commenced the process of interviewing
and engaging a new auditor to replace Andersen.
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ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
(a) Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired.
Not Applicable.
(b) Pro Forma Financial Information.
Not Applicable.
(c) Exhibits.
The exhibit listed in the accompanying Exhibit Index is filed
as part of this Current Report on Form 8-K.
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SIGNATURE
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.
APACHE MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
Date: November 3, 1998 By: /s/ Peter Gladkin
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Peter Gladkin
President and Chief Executive Officer
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APACHE MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
EXHIBIT INDEX TO FORM 8-K REPORT
Exhibit Description
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16.1 Letter from Arthur Andersen LLP dated November 3, 1998.
E-1
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EXHIBIT 16.1
November 3, 1998
Office of the Chief Accountant
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Dear Sir:
We have read Item 4 included in the Form 8-K dated October 29, 1998 of APACHE
Medical Systems, Inc. filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are
in agreement with the statements contained therein.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Arthur Andersen LLP
Arthur Andersen LLP
Washington, D.C.
cc: Mr. Peter Gladkin, CEO, APACHE Medical Systems, Inc.
