| SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION |
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): May 15, 2002
TRANSMERIDIAN EXPLORATION, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
| DELAWARE | 333-60960 | 76-0644935 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation) | Commission
File Number) | (IRS Employer
Identification No.) |
397 N. Sam Houston, Pkwy. E. Suite 300
Houston, Texas,
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) | 77060
(Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (281) 999-9091
| Item 4. Changes in the Company’s Certifying Accountants |
| (a) | Reg. SB 304 a(1) Previous Independent Accountants |
| (i) | On May 15, 2002, Transmeridian Exploration, Inc., (“the Company”) contacted representatives of Grant Thornton LLP to inform them that their firm would no longer be engaged as the principal accountant to audit the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2002 and terminated the relationship effective May 15, 2002. |
| (ii) | Grant Thornton LLP reports on the financial statements for the fiscal year 2001 and 2000 contained an emphasis paragraph as to the uncertainty of the Companies ability to continue as a going concern. |
| (iii) | The decision to change accountants was recommended by the Company’s management and approved by the Company’s Audit Committee and the Company’s Board of Directors. |
| (iv) | In connection with its audits for the most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000 there have been no disagreements with Grant Thornton LLP on any matters of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure. |
| (vi) | The Company has requested Grant Thornton LLP to furnish a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) stating whether or not it agrees with the statements made by the Company in response to Item 304 of Regulation S-B. (See “Exhibit 16” attached below) |
| (b) | Reg. SB 304(a)(2) New Independent Accountants |
| (i) | The Company engaged Braden, Bennink, Goldstein, Gazaway and Company, PLLC, 12941 Interstate 45 N. Suite 422, Houston, Texas 77060, as its new independent accountants effective May 15, 2002. During the most recent fiscal year and through December 31, 2001, the Company has not consulted with Braden, Bennink, Goldstein, Gazaway and Company concerning their financial statements, including the following items: an audit of the Company’s financial statements as the principal accountant, an audit of a significant subsidiary as an independent accountant, the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction or the type of audit opinion that might by rendered on the Company’s financial statements or any matter which concerned a disagreement or “reportable event” with the previous independent accountants. |
| Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits |
| 16. | Letter from Grant Thornton LLP, Certified Public Accountants |
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 hereunto duly authorized. |
Transmeridian Exploration, Inc.
(Registrant)
| Date: May 15, 2002 | By:/s/ Jim W. Tucker
Jim W. Tucker,
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
3
