SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 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 10, 2002
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SONOMAWEST HOLDINGS, INC.
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
California 01912 94-1069729
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(State or Other Jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer
of Incorporation) Identification No.)
2064 HIGHWAY 116 NORTH, SEBASTOPOL, CALIFORNIA 95472
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(707) 824-2001
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(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
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(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
ITEM 4. CHANGES IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT.
On July 10, 2002, SonomaWest Holdings, Inc. (the "Company") dismissed
Arthur Andersen LLP ("Arthur Andersen") as its independent public accountants
and engaged Grant Thornton LLP ("GT") to serve as its new independent public
accountants for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002, effective immediately. The
decision to dismiss Arthur Andersen and to retain GT was recommended by the
Company's Audit Committee and approved by the Company's Board of Directors.
Arthur Andersen's reports on the Company's consolidated financial
statements for each of the fiscal years ended June 30, 2001 and 2000 did not
contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified
or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
During the fiscal years ended June 30, 2001 and 2000 and through the date
hereof, there were no disagreements between the Company and Arthur Andersen on
any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement
disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved
to Arthur Andersen's satisfaction, would have caused Arthur Andersen to make
reference to the subject matter in connection with its reports 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. In accordance with Item 304T of Regulation S-K, no letter from
Arthur Andersen acknowledging agreement with the foregoing disclosures is being
filed with this Report.
During the fiscal years ended June 30, 2001 and 2000 and through the date
hereof, the Company did not consult with GT 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. EXHIBITS.
Exhibit 99.1 Press Release dated July 10, 2002, entitled "SonomaWest Holdings
Engages Grant Thornton LLP as Independent Auditors."
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.
SONOMAWEST HOLDINGS, INC.
Date: July 10, 2002 By: /s/ Roger S. Mertz
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Roger S. Mertz
Chairman of the Board
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Description Page No.
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99.1 Press Release dated July 10, 2002, entitled 99.1-1
"SonomaWest Holdings Engages Grant Thornton LLP
as Independent Auditors."