-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: keymaster@town.hall.org Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFkwCgYEVQgBAQICAgADSwAwSAJBALeWW4xDV4i7+b6+UyPn5RtObb1cJ7VkACDq pKb9/DClgTKIm08lCfoilvi9Wl4SODbR1+1waHhiGmeZO8OdgLUCAwEAAQ== MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, j1S+pZiK8NNrcAORcUluI9i8/dkQJrAapj7E7Bgs+6G6mzmDjuJ5dRZl5TeJzIp0 L/1xfNPENHopJkdNQt0fzw== 0000950134-94-000369.txt : 19940408 0000950134-94-000369.hdr.sgml : 19940408 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950134-94-000369 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 19940407 ITEM INFORMATION: 4 ITEM INFORMATION: 5 FILED AS OF DATE: 19940407 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: HELMERICH & PAYNE INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000046765 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: 1381 IRS NUMBER: 730679879 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 0930 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 34 SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-04221 FILM NUMBER: 94520852 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: UTICA AT 21ST ST CITY: TULSA STATE: OK ZIP: 74114 BUSINESS PHONE: 9187425531 8-K 1 FORM 8-K 1 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 April 7, 1994 Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported) Helmerich & Payne, Inc. (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) Delaware 1-4321 73-0679879 (State or Other (Commission (IRS Employer Jurisdiction of File Number) Identification Number) Incorporation) 1579 East 21st Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114 (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) (918) 742-5531 (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code) N/A (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed since Last Report) Page 1 of 4 Pages 2 Item 4. Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant The Audit Committee of Registrant's Board of Directors on April 5, 1994, approved the dismissal of Arthur Andersen & Co. as Registrant's certifying accountant and on such date appointed Ernst & Young as the Registrant's new certifying accountant. Arthur Andersen & Co. will however complete its review of Registrant's 1992 federal income tax return. Arthur Andersen & Co.'s report on the financial statements for the past two fiscal years contained no adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion or was qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. Further, during fiscal years 1992 and 1993 and that portion of fiscal 1994 ending April 5, 1994, there were no disagreements with Arthur Andersen & Co. on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure. For Registrant's fiscal years 1992 and 1993 through April 5, 1994 of fiscal 1994, there were no reportable events as described in Item 304(a)(1)(v)(A) through (D) of Regulation S-K. Registrant has not during fiscal years 1992 and 1993 through April 5, 1994 of fiscal 1994 consulted with Ernst & Young regarding any matters described in Item 304(a)(2) of Regulation S-K. Pursuant to Item 304(a)(3), Registrant has attached Arthur Andersen & Co.'s letter dated April 7, 1994 reflecting its agreement with Item 4 of this Form 8-K. Page 2 of 4 Pages 3 ITEM 5. OTHER MATERIALLY IMPORTANT EVENTS On January 18, 1994, the District Court of Harris County, Texas dismissed without prejudice the lawsuit styled Theresa Arceneaux. et al. v. Natural Gas Odorizing, Inc., Case Number 93568602, District Court Harris County, Texas, 165th Judicial District. Prior to dismissal, plaintiffs had sought actual damages of $500 million dollars and punitive damages of $500 billion dollars against Registrant's wholly owned subsidiary, Natural Gas odorizing, Inc. Pursuant to NGO's motion, the Harris County District Court on April 5, 1994, held that a substantial number of the fee contracts obtained by plaintiffs' attorneys in this case were obtained in violation of the rules against solicitation set out in the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct and in violation of the Texas Penal Code which prohibits barratry. The Court ordered that plaintiffs' attorneys are jointly and severally liable for payment of $50,000 to NGO to compensate it for reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred in the defense by NGO of this case. In addition, if NGO successfully defends an appeal of this Order, then plaintiffs' attorneys will pay certain additional amounts to NGO as reasonable attorneys' fees up to a maximum of $13,000 if such Order was appealed to the United States Supreme Court. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on Page 3 of 4 Pages 4 its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. HELMERICH & PAYNE, INC. By:/s/ STEVEN R. MACKEY Steven R. Mackey Vice President, Secretary, and General Counsel DATED this 7th day of April, 1994. Page 4 of 4 Pages 5 ARTHUR ANDERSEN ARTHUR ANDERSEN & CO, SC April 7, 1994 Arthur Andersen & Co. Mr. Walter Schuetz Suite 300 Office of the Chief Accountant 6450 South Lewis SECPS Letter File Tulsa OK 74136-1068 Securities & Exchange Commission 918 747 5571 Mail Stop 9-5 455th Street, NW Washington, D.C. Dear Mr. Schuetz: We have read Item 4 included in the attached Form 8-K dated March 7, 1994 of Helmerich & Payne, Inc. filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission and are in agreement with the statements contained therein. Very truly yours, /s/ ARTHUR ANDERSEN & CO. ARTHUR ANDERSEN & CO. CMR -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----