8-K 1 a8-31x16form8xkxauditorcha.htm 8-K Document


UNITED STATES
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 Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 31, 2016

AMERICAN HOMES 4 RENT
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Maryland
001-36013
46-1229660
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
(Commission File Number)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
Incorporation)
 
 
  
30601 Agoura Road, Suite 200
Agoura Hills, California
91301
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
  
(805) 413-5300
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))







Item 4.01 Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.

(a) Dismissal of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

On August 31, 2016, the Audit Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors of American Homes 4 Rent (the “Company”) dismissed BDO USA, LLP (“BDO”) as the company’s independent registered public accounting firm, effective immediately.

The audit reports of BDO on the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015 did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles. During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015 and through August 31, 2016, there were (i) no "disagreements" as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(l)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions, between the Company and BDO on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of BDO, would have caused BDO to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in its reports on the financial statements for such years, and (ii) no “reportable events” as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

The Company provided BDO with a copy of this Current Report on Form 8-K and requested that BDO furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the US Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether it agrees with the statements contained herein. A copy of BDO’s letter, dated September 1, 2016, is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to this Form 8-K.

(b) Engagement of New Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

On August 31, 2016, following the conclusion of a competitive process managed by the Committee, the Company engaged Ernst & Young LLP (EY) as its independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016. During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015 and through August 31, 2016, neither the Company, nor anyone on its behalf has consulted EY with respect to (i) 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, and neither a written report was provided to the Company nor oral advice was provided to the Company that EY concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to the accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue; or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions) or a reportable event (as described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.)

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit 16.1—Letter from BDO USA, LLP dated September 1, 2016









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.

 
 
AMERICAN HOMES 4 RENT
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date: September 2, 2016
 
By:
/s/ Stephanie Heim
 
 
 
     Stephanie Heim
 
 
 
     Senior Vice President - Counsel