UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 8-K/A
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 22, 2004
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Indiana 333-114937 94-2786905
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(State or other jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or Identification No.)
organization)
829 AXP Financial Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55474
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (612) 671-3131
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None
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
- ---- (17 CFR 230.425)
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
- ---- (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
- ---- Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
- ---- Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Explanatory Note
This Current Report on Form 8-K/A amends the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on
November 24, 2004 by the Registrant to change the word "replace" to "dismiss" or
"dismissed" in the first paragraph and to make conforming changes. This
amendment clarifies that the American Express Audit Committee dismissed Ernst &
Young LLP as auditors for the 2005 fiscal year and the did not resign or decline
to stand for re-election.
Item 4.01 Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant.
As previously disclosed in the American Express Company 2004 Proxy, the
Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of American Express Company determined
to request proposals from auditing firms for its 2005 audit. This request was
made pursuant to the Audit Committee's charter, which requires a detailed review
of American Express Company's outside audit firm at least every ten years. At a
meeting held on November 22, 2004, the Audit Committee approved the future
engagement of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ("PWC") as the Registrant's independent
registered public accountants ("auditors") for the fiscal year ending December
31, 2005 and dismissed the firm of Ernst & Young LLP ("E&Y") as auditors for
2005 fiscal year. E&Y will continue as the Registrant's auditors for the year
ending December 31, 2004. The Audit Committee's decision to dismiss the
Registrant's current auditors was made after a robust proposal process that
included three of the four major international accounting firms, including E&Y.
E&Y's reports on the Registrant's consolidated financial statements for the
fiscal years ended December 31, 2002 and 2003 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.
In connection with the audits of the Registrant's financial statements for
each of the two fiscal years ended December 31, 2002 and 2003 and through
November 22, 2004, there were no disagreements with E&Y on any matters of
accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing
scope or procedure, which, if not resolved to the satisfaction of E&Y, would
have caused E&Y to make reference to the matter in their report. During the two
most recent fiscal years and through November 22, 2004, there have been no
"reportable events" (as defined in Regulation S-K, Item 304(a)(1)(v)). The
Registrant has requested E&Y to furnish the Registrant with a letter addressed
to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether it agrees with the
above statements. A copy of E&Y's letter, dated December 8, 2004, is filed as
Exhibit 16.1 to this Form 8-K/A.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(c) Exhibits.
16.1 Letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission from
Ernst & Young LLP.
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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.
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By: /s/ David K. Stewart
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Name: David K. Stewart
Title: Vice President and Controller
DATE: December 8, 2004
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Item No. Description
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16.1 Letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission from
Ernst & Young LLP.
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EXHIBIT Item 16.1
E rErnst & Young LLP rPhone (212) 773-3000
5 Times Square www.ey.com
New York, NY 10036
December 8, 2004
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20549
Gentlemen:
We have read item 4.01 of Form 8-K/A dated December 8, 2004, of American
Enterprise Life Insurance Company and are in agreement with the fourth sentence
of the first paragraph and the statements contained in the second and third
paragraphs on page 1 therein. We have no basis to agree or disagree with other
statements of the registrant contained therein.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
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