SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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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 16, 2002
COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
1-644-2 13-1815595
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(Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)
300 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (212) 310-2000
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Total number of sequentially numbered pages in this
filing, including exhibits thereto: 4
Item 4. Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant
In the Proxy Statement, dated March 27, 2002, for the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders of the Colgate-Palmolive Company (the "Company") held on May 8,
2002, the Company stated that following a careful review of recent events
involving Arthur Andersen LLP ("Arthur Andersen") and in accordance with the
recommendation of the Audit Committee of its Board of Directors, the Board of
Directors had issued a Request for Proposal and begun a review process to
determine which of the major global audit firms is most capable of serving as
the Company's independent auditors. At the Annual Meeting, the Company announced
that this process would be completed shortly.
In accordance with this previously disclosed timetable, on May 16, 2002, the
Board of Directors of the Company, upon the recommendation of its Audit
Committee, authorized and approved the replacement of Arthur Andersen as the
Company's independent public accountants. In addition, the Board authorized and
approved the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to serve as the Company's
independent public accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2002.
None of Arthur Andersen's reports on the Company's consolidated financial
statements for the past two years contained an adverse opinion or a disclaimer
of opinion, or was qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or
accounting principles.
During the Company's two most recent fiscal years and through the date of this
Form 8-K, there were no disagreements with Arthur Andersen on any matter of
accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing
scope or procedure which, if not resolved to Arthur Andersen's satisfaction,
would have caused them to make reference to the subject matter in connection
with their reports on the Company's consolidated financial statements for such
years; and there were no reportable events, as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of
Regulation S-K.
The Company provided Arthur Andersen with a copy of the foregoing disclosures.
Attached as Exhibit 16 is a copy of Arthur Andersen's letter, dated May 16,
2002, stating its agreement with such statements.
During the Company's two most recent fiscal years and through the date of this
Form 8-K, the Company did not consult PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP with respect to
the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either
completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on
the Company's consolidated financial statements, or any matters or reportable
events, as described in Items 304(a)(1)(iv) and (v) of Regulation S-K.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(c) Exhibits. The following exhibit is filed with this document.
Exhibit Number Description
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16 Letter from Arthur Andersen LLP to the Securities and
Exchange Commission, dated May 16, 2002
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 thereunto duly authorized.
COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY
Date: May 17, 2002 By: /s/ STEPHEN C. PATRICK
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Stephen C. Patrick
Chief Financial Officer