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 (date of earliest event reported): MAY 13, 2002
FIRST INVESTORS FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
TEXAS
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
0-26686 76-0465087
(Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification Number)
675 BERING DRIVE, SUITE 710, HOUSTON, TEXAS, 77057
(Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)
(713) 977-2600
(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
ITEM 4. CHANGES IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT.
Arthur Andersen LLP served as the Registrant's independent public
accountants for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2001. On May 8, 2002, upon the
recommendation of the Registrant's Audit Committee, the Board of Directors of
the Registrant resolved to dismiss Arthur Andersen as the Registrant's
independent public accountant for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2002, and to
retain Grant Thornton LLP. On May 13, 2002, the Registrant formally engaged
Grant Thornton and notified Arthur Andersen of its dismissal and the subsequent
engagement of Grant Thornton.
The reports of Arthur Andersen on the Registrant's consolidated balance
sheets of Registrant as of April 30, 2000 and 2001, and the related consolidated
statements of operations, shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the
three years in the period ended April 30, 2001, included in the Registrant's
annual report on Form 10-K filed July 24, 2001, contained no adverse opinion or
disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified as to uncertainty, audit scope or
accounting principles. During such fiscal years, there have been no
disagreements with Arthur Andersen on any matter of accounting principles or
practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which
disagreements if not resolved to the satisfaction of Arthur Andersen would have
caused them to make reference thereto in their report on the Registrant's
consolidated financial statements for such periods.
The Registrant has previously provided Arthur Andersen a copy of the
disclosures contained in this report and has requested that Arthur Andersen
furnish the Registrant a letter, addressed to the SEC, stating whether it agrees
with the statements made in this report and, if not, stating the respects in
which it does not agree. Arthur Andersen has provided the Registrant with a
letter, dated May 13, 2002, stating that it agrees with the above statements. A
copy of the letter is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to this Form 8-K.
The Registrant did not consult with Grant Thornton on any accounting,
auditing or financial reporting issue during the two fiscal years preceding the
date of this report or any interim period. The Registrant has previously
provided Grant Thornton with a copy of the disclosure contained in this report,
has requested that it review the disclosure, and has requested that it provide
the Registrant with a letter addressed to the SEC to the extent that it
disagrees with any of the Registrant's statements or has any new or clarifying
information to disclose. Grant Thornton has indicated to the Registrant that it
does not disagree and has no new or clarifying information to report.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
(c) Exhibits.
16.1 Letter from Arthur Andersen LLP to the Securities and Exchange
Commission regarding the change in the Registrant's certifying
accountant.
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.
First Investors Financial Services Group, Inc.
(Registrant)
Date: May 13, 2002 By: /s/ BENNIE H. DUCK
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Bennie H. Duck, Chief Financial Officer