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)
June 24, 2002
UNIFIRST CORPORATION
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Massachusetts 1-8504 04-2103460
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(State or Other Jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer
of Incorporation) Identification No.)
68 Jonspin Road, Wilmington, Massachusetts 01887
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (978) 658-8888
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ITEM 4. CHANGES IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT.
On June 24, 2002, the Board of Directors of UniFirst Corporation (the
"Company") decided to no longer engage Arthur Andersen LLP ("Arthur Andersen")
as its independent auditors and instead engage Ernst & Young LLP ("Ernst &
Young") to serve as the Company's independent auditors for the year ending
August 31, 2002. The decision by the Board of Directors to replace Arthur
Andersen with Ernst & Young was based on the recommendation of the Company's
Audit Committee.
Arthur Andersen's audit reports on the Company's consolidated financial
statements for each of the years ended August 25, 2001 and August 26, 2000 did
not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified
or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
During the years ended August 25, 2001 and August 26, 2000 and through
the filing date of this Current Report on 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 report 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
June 26, 2002, stating its agreement with such statements.
During the years ended August 25, 2001 and August 26, 2000 and through
the filing date of this Current Report on Form 8-K, the Company did not consult
Ernst & Young 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 other matters or reportable events as set forth in Items
304(a)(2)(i) and (ii) of Regulation S-K.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.
(c) Exhibits
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION
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16 Letter from Arthur Andersen LLP to the Securities
and Exchange Commission dated June 26, 2002.
99.1 Press release of the Company dated June 26, 2002
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
UNIFIRST CORPORATION
Date: June 26, 2002 By: /s/ Ronald D. Croatti
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Name: Ronald D. Croatti
Title: President and Chief
Executive Officer
By: /s/ John B. Bartlett
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Name: John B. Bartlett
Title: Senior Vice President
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION
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16 Letter from Arthur Andersen LLP to the Securities
and Exchange Commission dated June 26, 2002.
99.1 Press release of the Company dated June 26, 2002.