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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report: August 26, 1999
TORCH ENERGY ROYALTY TRUST
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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DELAWARE 1-12474 74-6411424
(State or other jurisdiction of (Commission (IRS Employer
incorporation or organization) File Number) Identification No.)
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1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-0001
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 302-651-8584
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
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Item 4. Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountants
(a) In anticipation of its approaching year-end, the Registrant
terminated the engagement of KPMG LLP ("KPMG") as the Registrant's principal
independent accountants responsible for auditing all of the Registrant's
financial statements on August 20, 1999.
The Registrant does not have a board of directors or a person performing a
similar function. The Trustee of the Registrant approved the change of the
Registrant's accountants.
KPMG's reports on the Registrants financial statements for each of the past two
fiscal years neither contained an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion nor
were such reports qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or
accounting principles.
This Registrant believes that during its two most recent fiscal years
and the subsequent interim periods, there was, with regard to KPMG, neither any
disagreement of the type described in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K
nor any reportable event of the type described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of
Regulation S-K.
A copy of the letter from KPMG, agreeing with the statements made
herein, is attached as Exhibit 16.1.
(b) On or about August 20, 1999 the Registrant engaged the services of
Ernst & Young LLP as its new principal independent accountants and auditors to
audit all of the Registrant's financial statements.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(c) Exhibits
16.1 Letter addressed to Securities and Exchange Commission from
KPMG LLP
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.
Dated: August 24, 1999 TORCH ENERGY ROYALTY TRUST
By: Wilmington Trust Company
As Trustee
By: /s/ Bruce L. Bisson
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Bruce L. Bisson
Vice President
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EXHIBIT 16.1
[Logo of KPMG]
700 Louisiana Telephone 713 319 2000
Houston, TX 77002 Fax 713 319 2041
August 26, 1999
Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C. 20549
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We were previously principal accountants for Torch Energy Royalty Trust and,
under the date of March 26, 1999, we reported on the financial statements of
Torch Energy Royalty Trust as of and for the years ended December 31, 1998 and
1997. On August 20, 1999 our appointment as principal accountants was
terminated. We have read Torch Energy Royalty Trust's statements included under
Item 4 of its Form 8-K dated August 26, 1999, and we agree with such statements.
Very truly yours,
/s/ KPMG LLP
