UNITED STATES
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): July 1, 2002
PANAMERICAN BEVERAGES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Republic of Panama 1-2290 Not Applicable
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission File No.) (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation) Identification No.)
c/o Panamco, L.L.C.
701 Waterford Way, Suite 800
Miami, Florida 33126
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(305) 929-0800
(Registrant's Telephone Number, including area code)
Item 4. Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountants
Effective July 1, 2002, the Audit Committee of the Board of
Directors of Panamerican Beverages, Inc. (the "Company") decided to engage
Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company's independent public accountant to
replace Arthur Andersen LLP ("Andersen").
Andersen's reports on the Company's consolidated financial
statements for the past two years 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 Company's two most recent fiscal years and through the
date of this Form 8-K, there were no disagreements with Andersen on any matter
of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosures, or
auditing scope or procedure which, if not resolved to Andersen's satisfaction,
would have caused them to make reference to this subject matter in connection
with their reports on the Company's consolidated financial statements for such
years; and there were no reportable events, as listed in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of
Regulation S-K.
The Company has provided Andersen with a copy of the foregoing
disclosures. Attached as Exhibit 16 is a copy of Andersen's letter, dated
July 1, 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 Deloitte & Touche 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 listed 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
16 Letter from Arthur Andersen LLP to the Securities and
Exchange Commission, dated July 1, 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 hereunto duly authorized.
Panamerican Beverages, Inc.
Dated July 1, 2002 By: /s/ Mario Gonzalez Padilla
-------------------------------
Mario Gonzalez Padilla
Vice-President, Chief Financial
Officer and Treasurer
Exhibit 16
July 1, 2002
Office of the Chief Accountant
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Dear Sir/Madam:
The representations made in this letter are based solely on discussions with
and representations from the engagement partner and manager on the audits of
the financial statements of this registrant for the two most recent fiscal
years. Those individuals are no longer with Arthur Andersen LLP. We have read
the first three paragraphs of Item 4 as they relate to Arthur Andersen LLP
included in the Form 8-K dated July 1, 2002 of Panamerican Beverages, Inc.
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and have found no basis for
disagreement with the statements contained therein.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Arthur Andersen LLP
Arthur Andersen LLP
cc: Mario Gonzalez Padilla,
Vice-President, Chief Financial
Officer and Treasurer,
Panamerican Beverages, Inc.