UNITED STATES
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
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Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): May 16, 2002
ST. JOHN KNITS INTERNATIONAL, INCORPORATED
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Delaware 333-73107 52-2061057
(State or Other Jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer
of Incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
17622 Armstrong Avenue, Irvine, CA 92614
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code: (949) 863-1171
Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Item 4. CHANGES IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT
On May 16, 2002, St. John Knits International, Incorporated (the "Company")
decided to no longer engage Arthur Andersen LLP ("Andersen") as the Company's
independent public accountants and selected Deloitte & Touche LLP ("Deloitte")
to serve as the Company's independent public accountants for the fiscal year
ending November 3, 2002. The selection of Deloitte & Touche is subject to the
completion of Deloitte's customary client acceptance procedures. The
determination to change independent public accountants was approved by the
Company's Board of Directors and followed the Company's decision to seek
proposals from independent public accountants to audit the Company's financial
statements for the fiscal year ending November 3, 2002.
Andersen's reports on the Company's financial statements for the fiscal
years ended October 29, 2000 and October 28, 2001, did not contain an adverse
opinion or disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to
uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
During the Company's fiscal years ended October 29, 2000 and October 28,
2001, and the subsequent interim period preceding the decision to change
independent public accountants, there were no disagreements with Andersen on any
matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or
auditing scope or procedure which, if not resolved to Andersen's satisfaction
would have caused them to make reference to the subject matter of the
disagreement in connection with the audit reports of the Company's consolidated
financial statements for such years. There were no reportable events described
under Item 304 (a) (1) (v) of Regulation S-K during the two most recent fiscal
years and the subsequent interim period through May 16, 2002.
The Company provided Andersen with a copy of the foregoing disclosures. A
letter from Andersen dated May 22, 2002, stating its agreement with these
statements is attached as Exhibit 16.1.
In the years ended October 29, 2000 and October 28, 2001, and through the
date hereof, the Company did not consult Deloitte 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 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 AND EXHIBITS
(a) Not Applicable
(b) Not Applicable
(c) Exhibits
16.1 Letter from Arthur Andersen LLP to the Securities and Exchange
Commission dated May 22, 2002.
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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 hereunto duly authorized.
Dated: May 23, 2002 ST. JOHN KNITS INTERNATIONAL,
INCORPORATED
By: /s/ Roger G. Ruppert
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Roger G. Ruppert
Senior Vice President-Finance,
Chief Financial Officer
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EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION
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16.1 Letter from Arthur Andersen LLP to the Securities and
Exchange Commission dated May 22, 2002
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