-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, T89767fO1+nqkdmBtvCjREkSRblmW1sG2khGWQMzDdTWjXv3qIld+rEn9IJcKDiA P0VLPu4wLi0demOUvmDB0Q== 0000889812-97-000096.txt : 19970122 0000889812-97-000096.hdr.sgml : 19970122 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000889812-97-000096 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K/A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 19961118 ITEM INFORMATION: Changes in registrant's certifying accountant ITEM INFORMATION: Other events ITEM INFORMATION: Financial statements and exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 19970121 SROS: NASD FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: UNITED PETROLEUM CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000082925 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: SERVICES-AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR, SERVICES & PARKING [7500] IRS NUMBER: 133103494 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K/A SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 002-38375 FILM NUMBER: 97508106 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 4867 N BROADWAY STREET 2: PO BOX 18080 CITY: KNOXVILLE STATE: TN ZIP: 37928 BUSINESS PHONE: 6156880582 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 4867 N BROADWAY CITY: KNOXVILLE STATE: TN ZIP: 37918 8-K/A 1 CURRENT REPORT SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-KA CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Date of report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): November 18, 1996 UNITED PETROLEUM CORPORATION (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter) DELAWARE (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) 0-25006 13-3103494 Commission File Number I.R.S Employer Identification 4867 North Broadway Knoxville, TN 37918 (Address of Principal Executive Offices) 615 - 688-0582 (Registrant's Telephone number, including area code) Item 4. Changes in Registration's Certifying Accountant. (a) (1) Termination of Certifying Accountants (i) On November 18, 1996, Coopers & Lybrand, the Company's Certifying Accountants ("Former Accountants") resigned as the Registrant's Certifying Accountants. (ii) The Former Accountants were first retained on July 15, 1996 and never conducted an audit of the Company's financial statements. (iii) During the interim period preceding the termination of their employment, there were no disagreements with the Former Accountants with respect to auditing principles or practices and financial statements. There were no disagreements with respect to disclosure or auditing scope and procedure. (iv) During the interim period preceding the resignation of the Former Accountants: (A) The Former Accountants have not advised the Registrant that internal controls necessary for the Registrant to develop reliable financial statements did not exist; (B) The Former Accountants have not advised the Registrant that information has come to their attention that has led them to no longer be able to rely on management's representations or that they were unwilling to be associated with the financial statements prepared by management. (C) The Former Accountants have not advised the Registrant of the need to expand significantly the scope of their audit, or that information has come to their attention during the Registrant's two most recent fiscal years and any subsequent interim period preceding the termination of their employment, that, if further investigated, might materially impact the fairness or reliability of either a previously issued audit report or the underlying financial statements, or the financial statements issued or to be issued covering the fiscal periods subsequent to the date of the most recent financial statements covered by an audit report (including information that might prevent them from rendering an unqualified audit report on those financial statements, or cause them to be unwilling to rely on management's representations or be associated with the Registrant's financial statements. (D) The Former Accountants have not advised the Registrant that information has come to their attention that they have concluded materially impacts the fairness or reliability of either a previously issued audit report or the underlying financial statements or the financial statements issued or to be issued covering the fiscal periods subsequent to the date of the most recent financial statements covered by an audit report (including information that, unless resolved to the their satisfaction), would prevent them from rendering an unqualified audit report on those financial statements. (a) (2) Engagement of New Certifying Accountants On January 7, 1997, the Company engaged the firm of Reel & Swafford, PLLC, of Nashville, Tennessee (the "New Accountants") as its new certifying accountants. The principals of the New Accountants were formerly associated with the firm of Dunn Cresswell Sparks Smith Horne & Downing, the accounting firm which certified the Company's financial statements for 1995. A copy of the engagement letter is annexed as an exhibit. The New Accountants were not consulted regarding: (i) the application of accounting principles to a specific transaction; or (ii) the type of audit opinion to be rendered with regard to the Registrant's financial statements; or any disagreements or reportable events as such terms are defined in Regulation S-K, Item 304. (a) (3) The Former Accountant's are being provided with a copy of the disclosures being set forth in this Form 8K simultaneously with the filing of the form with the Commission and are being provided with a request that they furnish to the Registrant a letter addressed to the Commission stating whether they agree with the statements made by the registrant in response to Item 304(a) of Regulation S-X, and, if not, stating the respects in which it does not agree. (b) Not applicable. Item 5. Other Events. On November 25, 1996, James R. Fitzgerald resigned as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company. His stated reason was a possible conflict of interest as a result of discussions between the Company and his employer, with regard to potential financings. On November 29, 1996, James F. Rose resigned as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company. His stated reason was his inability to devote sufficient time to his duties as a director by reason of his other activities. On December 18, 1996, William Ted Phillips resigned as a member of the Board of Directors. His stated reason was his inability to devote sufficient time to his duties as a director by reason of his other activities. The Board of Directors replaced Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. Rose and Mr. Phillips with Neil Melnick, Esq., an attorney for the Company; Art Van Buren, a Certified Public Accountant with offices in Cookeville, Tennessee who was formerly with the tax department of Ernst & Young; and Donald Patton, formerly with the Land Department of Ashland Exploration. Mr. Patton has had 19 years of experience in the oil and gas business. Also, the Board of Directors elected Walter Helton as a member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Helton has a PhD. in Geology and is the founder of the Geology Department of Tennessee Tech University where he is presently on the staff. In addition, he has acted as a consultant to many companies, including Marathon Oil. In addition, on December 17, 1996, the Board of Directors voted to increase the number of Board members from six to seven but it has not yet made arrangements to fill the new seat. Item 7. Financial Statements and Other Exhibits. (a) Exhibits 16.1 Letter dated January 10, 1997 from L. Douglas Keene, Jr., Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of United Petroleum Corporation to Larry Felts of Coopers & Lybrand. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be authorized on its behalf by the undersigned duly authorized. Dated: January 21, 1997 United Petroleum Corporation By: /s/L. Douglas Keene, Jr. -------------------------- L. Douglas Keene, Jr. Executive Vice President EX-16.1 2 LETTER DATED JANUARY 10, 1997 FORM L. DOUGLAS KEENE JR. [UNITED PETROLEUM CORPORATION LETTERHEAD] January 10, 1996 sent via facsimile no. (423) 524-0841 Larry Felts Coopers & Lybrand Suite 1600 800 S. Gay Street Knoxville, TN 37902 RE: 8-K Re: Coopers & Lybrand Dear Mr. Felts, Enclosed please find a report on Form 8-K being filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in regard to your firms November 18, 1996 resignation as the Company's auditor. Pursuant to the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission a response from Coopers & Lybrand is required as to whether or not Coopers & Lybrand is in agreement with the contents of the filing. Kindly review the enclosed filing and respond as appropriate. Your response is required to be forwarded directly to the Securities and Exchange Commission. If you do not agree you should state the manner in which you base your disagreement. Please contact me with any questions. Sincerely, /s/ L. Douglas Keene, Jr. L Douglas Keene, Jr. Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----