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 May 14, 1996 (Date of earliest event reported) HON INDUSTRIES Inc. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) IOWA (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) 0-2648 42-0617510 ------------------------ ---------------------- (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification Number) 414 East Third Street, P.O. Box 1109, Muscatine, IA 52761-7109 --------------------------------------------------- ---------- (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) ITEM 4. CHANGES IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANTS ------- ---------------------------------------------- HON INDUSTRIES Inc., (the "Company") has dismissed Ernst & Young LLP, its independent public accountants, effective May 14, 1996. In connection with the audits of the two most recent fiscal years, and during the interim period prior to the dismissal, there have been no disagreements with the former accountants on any matter or accounting principle or practice, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure. The former accountants' report on the financial statements of the Company for each of the past two years was unqualified. The Company has engaged Arthur Andersen LLP as its new independent public accountants effective with the dismissal of its former accountants. During the Company's two most recent fiscal years and during the interim period prior to the engagement, there have been no consultations with the newly engaged accountants with regard to either the application of accounting principle as to any specific transaction, either completed or proposed; the type of audit opinion that would be rendered on the Company's financial statements; or any matter of disagreements with the former accountants. The Company's Board of Directors approved management's recommendation to change accountants. ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS ------- --------------------------------- C. Exhibits: 16 Former Accountants Letter 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. HON INDUSTRIES Inc. (Registrant) Date: May 20, 1996 By: /s/David C. Stuebe ----------------------- David C. Stuebe Vice President and Chief Financial Officer By: /s/ Melvin L. McMains ----------------------- Melvin L. McMains Controller and Principal Accounting Officer EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit Number Description ------- ----------- 16 Former Accountants Letter Exhibit 16 FORMER ACCOUNTANTS LETTER May 20, 1996 Securities and Exchange Commission 450 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20549 Gentlemen: We have read Item 4 of Form 8-K dated May 14, 1996, of HON INDUSTRIES Inc. and are in agreement with the statements contained in the first three paragraphs therein. We have no basis to agree or disagree with other statements of the registrant contained therein. Very truly yours, /s/ Ernst & Young LLP --------------------- Ernst & Young LLP