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
October 16, 2000
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(Date of earliest event reported)
Farmers & Merchants Bancorp
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
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(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
1.000 - 26099 94-3327828
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(Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)
121 West Pine Street, Lodi, California 95240-2184
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(209) 334-1101
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(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
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(Former name or former address, if changes since last report)
Item 4. Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant.
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(a) On October 17, 2000, as recommended by the audit committee and approved by
the Board of Directors, Farmers & Merchants Bancorp engaged the accounting firm
of PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP as independent accountants for the Registrant for
the third quarter of 2000 and for the year 2000. The client-auditor relationship
between Farmers & Merchants Bancorp and Arthur Andersen, LLP was terminated on
October 16, 2000.
(b) During the two most recent fiscal years and interim periods subsequent to
December 31, 1999, there have been no disagreements with Arthur Andersen, LLP on
any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement
disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure or any reportable events.
(c) Arthur Andersen, LLP's report on the financial statements for the past two
years contained no adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and was not
qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
(d) The Registrant has requested that Arthur Andersen, LLP furnish it with a
letter addressed to the SEC stating whether it agrees with the above statements.
A copy of Arthur Andersen, LLP's letter to the SEC, dated October 17, 2000, is
filed as Exhibit 16 to the Form 8-K.
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.
FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
By /s/ John R. Olson
John R. Olson
Executive Vice President
& Chief Financial Officer
Date: October 19, 2000