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) April 3, 2002
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Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Federally chartered instrumentality
of the United States 0-17440 52-1578738
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State or Other Jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer
of Incorporation File Number) Identification No.)
1133 Twenty-First Street, N.W., Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20036
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (202) 872-7700
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No Change
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(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Item 4. Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant
On March 28, 2002, the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (the
"Registrant") determined not to re-engage its independent auditors, Arthur
Andersen LLP ("AA"), and selected Deloitte & Touche LLP ("Deloitte") as its new
independent auditors. The decision to retain Deloitte and not to re-engage AA
was recommended by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors and was based
upon proposals received from four major national accounting firms, including AA.
The selection of Deloitte is subject to the completion of Deloitte's customary
new client acceptance procedures and to the ratification by the stockholders at
the Annual Meeting to be held on June 6, 2002.
The reports of AA on the consolidated financial statements of the
Registrant for each of the two fiscal years in the period ended December 31,
2001 did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and were not
qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles,
except to make reference to the adoption of SFAS No. 133, which became effective
January 1, 2001. During each of the two fiscal years in the period ended
December 31, 2001 and the subsequent interim period, there has been no
disagreement between the Registrant and AA on any matter of accounting
principles or practices, financial statements or disclosure, or auditing scope
of procedure, which disagreement(s), if not resolved to the satisfaction of AA,
would have caused the Registrant to make reference to the subject matter of the
disagreement(s) in connection with this report.
The Registrant did not, during its two most recent fiscal years consult
Deloitte regarding either: (i)(a) the application of accounting principles to a
specific transaction, either completed or proposed, or (b) the type of audit
opinion that might be rendered on the Registrant's financial statements; or (ii)
any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement with AA or a
"reportable event" (as defined in SEC regulations).
The client-auditor relationship between the Registrant and AA ceased upon
the filing of the Registrant's report on Form 10-K for the period ended December
31, 2001, together with AA's report thereon.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(a) Not applicable.
(b) Not applicable.
(c) Exhibits:
16 Letter, dated April 2, 2002, from Arthur Andersen LLP to the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
SIGNATURES
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.
FEDERAL AGRICULTURAL MORTGAGE CORPORATION
(Registrant)
By: /s/ Jerome G. Oslick
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Jerome G. Oslick
Vice President - General Counsel
Date: April 3, 2002
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Description Page No.
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16 Letter, dated April 2, 2002, from Arthur Andersen
LLP to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
EXHIBIT 16
April 2, 2002
703-962-3806
Office of the Chief Accountant
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Dear Sir/Madam:
We have read Item 4 included in the Form 8-K dated April 3, 2002 of Federal
Agricultural Mortgage Corporation filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission and are in agreement with the statements contained therein.
Very truly yours,
ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
By
Randall B. Johnston