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): June 14, 2002
VCA ANTECH, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Delaware 001-16783 95-4097995
(State or Other Jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer
Of Incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
12401 West Olympic Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90064-1022
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(310) 571-6500
(Registrant's Telephone Number)
ITEM 4. CHANGE IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT
PREVIOUS INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
On June 14, 2002, upon the recommendation of the Audit Committee of VCA
Antech, Inc. ("VCA Antech"), the Board of Directors dismissed Arthur Andersen
LLP ("Arthur Andersen") as the independent accountants of VCA Antech. Arthur
Andersen has served as the independent accountants of VCA Antech since 1986.
Prior to September 24, 2001, VCA Antech was known as Veterinary Centers of
America, Inc.
Arthur Andersen's reports on the consolidated financial statements of VCA
Antech and its subsidiaries for the two most recent fiscal years ended December
31, 2001 did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were
those reports qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting
principles.
During VCA Antech's two most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2001
and the subsequent interim period through June 14, 2002, there were: (i) no
disagreements between VCA Antech and Arthur Andersen on any matters of
accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing
scope or procedure which, if not resolved to Arthur Andersen's satisfaction,
would have caused it to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement
in connection with its reports on VCA Antech's consolidated financial statements
for those years; and (ii) no "reportable events" as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v)
of Regulation S-K.
VCA Antech provided Arthur Andersen with a copy of the foregoing
disclosures. Attached as Exhibit 16 is a copy of Arthur Andersen's letter, dated
June 14, 2002, stating its agreement with these statements.
NEW INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
On June 14, 2002, VCA Antech engaged KPMG, LLP ("KPMG") as its independent
accountants to audit its financial statements for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2002. The decision to engage KPMG was recommended and approved by
the Audit Committee of VCA Antech and approved by its Board of Directors.
During the two most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2001 and the
subsequent interim period through June 14, 2002, VCA Antech did not consult with
KPMG 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 consolidated financial statements of VCA Antech, 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
Exhibit 16 Letter from Arthur Andersen LLP to the Securities and
Exchange Commission dated June 14, 2002
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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 hereunto duly authorized.
June 14, 2002 VCA ANTECH, INC.
By: /S/ TOMAS W. FULLER
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Tomas W. Fuller
Chief Financial Officer
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EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBITS
16 Letter from Arthur Andersen LLP to the Securities and Exchange Commission
dated June 14, 2002
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