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 EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED: OCTOBER 12, 1998 ABLE TELCOM HOLDING CORP. (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN CHARTER) FLORIDA 0-21986 65-0013218 (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF (COMMISSION (IRS EMPLOYER INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION) FILE NO.) IDENTIFICATION NO.) 1601 FORUM PLACE SUITE 1110 WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA 33401 (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES) (ZIP CODE) (561) 688-0400 (REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE) NOT APPLICABLE (FORMER NAME OR FORMER ADDRESS, IF CHANGED SINCE LAST REPORT) ITEM 4. CHANGES IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANTS On October 12, 1998, the management of Able Telcom Holding Corp. (the "Company") engaged Arthur Andersen LLP to audit the consolidated financial statements of Able Telcom Holding Corp. and Subsidiaries as of and for the year ending October 31, 1998. During the two most recent fiscal years ended October 31, 1997 and during the subsequent interim period prior to engaging Arthur Andersen LLP, neither the Company nor someone on the Company's behalf consulted with Arthur Andersen LLP regarding either 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 financial statements. Previously, however, Arthur Andersen LLP was the independent auditors for MFS Network Technologies, Inc. and Patton Management Corporation, both of which were acquired by the Company during the current fiscal year. The predecessor auditor informed the Company of the existence of the following reportable events, as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K: In their Report to the Audit Committee for the year ended October 31, 1997, Ernst & Young LLP advised the Company as to the existence of reportable conditions in the Company's system of internal controls. These reportable conditions related to (i) the lack of segregation duties over the cash disbursements function, (ii) the failure to provide adequate documentation to support the business purpose of certain significant transactions with related parties, and (iii) the lack of monitoring controls over operations of its foreign subsidiaries. Arthur Andersen LLP personnel consulted with Company management and the predecessor auditor regarding the nature and scope of the reportable conditions described above. Company management has asserted to Arthur Andersen LLP that such reportable conditions either have already been corrected or will be corrected pursuant to a detailed plan. Arthur Andersen LLP intends, as part of its ongoing audit responsibilities, to verify the assertions made by Company management and to assess the impact on the Company's internal controls. The Company did not consult with the predecessor auditor regarding its discussions with Arthur Andersen LLP with respect to the reportable conditions described above in connection with the engagement of Arthur Andersen LLP. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. ABLE TELCOM HOLDING CORP. (REGISTRANT) October 15, 1998 /S/ MARK A. SHAIN ----------------- Mark A. Shain Chief Financial Officer