On January 5, 2007, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company notified Ernst & Young LLP ("Ernst & Young") that they have been dismissed as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm, effective upon completion of Ernst & Young's procedures regarding the Company's financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2006 and the Form 10-K in which such financial statements will be included. Those procedures were completed on March 1, 2007, and Ernst & Young's appointment as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm ceased on that date. Ernst & Young performed audits of the Company's consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005. Ernst & Young's reports did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles. During the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, and through March 1, 2007, there were no (a) disagreements, as described under Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K, with Ernst & Young on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to Ernst & Young's satisfaction, would have caused Ernst & Young to make reference to the subject matter thereof in connection with its reports for such years, or (b) reportable events, as described under Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K. The Company provided Ernst & Young with a copy of the foregoing disclosures and requested from Ernst & Young a letter indicating it agrees with the statements made by the Company set forth above, and if not, stating the respects in which Ernst & Young did not agree. A copy of Ernst & Young'sletter dated March 1, 2007, confirming its agreement with those disclosures, is attached herewith as Exhibit 16.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K/A. Also as previously announced, on January 5, 2007, the Company notified KPMG, LLP ("KPMG") of the Audit Committee's selection of KPMG as the Company's new independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2007. During the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 and through March 1, 2007, neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf consulted with KPMG regarding any of the matters or events set forth in Item 304(a)(2)(i) and (ii) of Regulation S-K. |
