-----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, JYIoHT+TorD0wF3Uf5KiJIo7tjkl7+wR0I5059oCjGaSkaZ8g8VMR33xZpY2rfIg qYJ01BdJFGrSns5zqwgEZw== 0001047469-03-029184.txt : 20030828 0001047469-03-029184.hdr.sgml : 20030828 20030828161729 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001047469-03-029184 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 3 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20030822 ITEM INFORMATION: Changes in registrant's certifying accountant ITEM INFORMATION: Financial statements and exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20030828 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: BOSTON BIOMEDICA INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000830656 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: IN VITRO & IN VIVO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES [2835] IRS NUMBER: 042652826 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-21615 FILM NUMBER: 03871326 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 375 WEST STREET CITY: WEST BRIDGEWATER STATE: MA ZIP: 02379 BUSINESS PHONE: 5085801900 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 375 WEST ST CITY: WEST BRIDGEWATER STATE: MA ZIP: 02379 8-K 1 a2117881z8-k.htm 8-K
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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 22, 2003

BOSTON BIOMEDICA, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Massachusetts
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

0-21615
(Commission File Number)

 

04-2652826
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
375 West Street, West Bridgewater, MA
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
  02379-1040
(Zip Code)

(508) 580-1900

Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code

N/A

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)




Item 4. Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant.

        On August 22, 2003, the President and Chief Operating Officer, and the Chairman of the Audit Committee of Boston Biomedica, Inc. (the "Company"), received notice of the resignation of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ("PwC"), as its independent accountants. The resignation became effective as of August 22, 2003.

        The reports of PwC on the Company's consolidated financial statements for each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2001 and December 31, 2002 did not contain an 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, 2001 and December 31, 2002 and through August 22, 2003, there were no disagreements with PwC 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 PwC, would have caused PwC to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with their report on the financial statements for such years. In addition, during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2001 and December 31, 2002 and through August 22, 2003, there were no reportable events as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

        The Company provided PwC with a copy of the foregoing disclosures prior to the filing of this Current Report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission and requested PwC to furnish it with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether PwC agrees with the statements made by the Company herein and, if not, stating the respects in which it does not agree. Attached hereto as Exhibit 16 is a copy of PwC's letter, dated August 27, 2003, stating its agreement with such statements.

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c) Exhibits

 
   
Exhibit No.
  Description
16   Letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to the Securities and Exchange Commission dated August 27, 2003
99.1   Press Release dated August 28, 2003


SIGNATURE

        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.

Dated: August 28, 2003   BOSTON BIOMEDICA, INC.

 

 

By:

/s/  
KEVIN W. QUINLAN      
Kevin W. Quinlan
President, Chief Operating Officer and Treasurer



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SIGNATURE
EX-16 3 a2117881zex-16.htm EXHIBIT 16
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EXHIBIT 16


[PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP letterhead]

August 27, 2003

Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549

Commissioners:

We have read the statements made by Boston Biomedica, Inc. (copy attached), which we understand will be filed with the Commission, pursuant to Item 4 of Form 8-K, as part of the Company's Form 8-K report dated August 22, 2003. We agree with the statements concerning our Firm in such Form 8-K.

Very truly yours,

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
____________________________
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP




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EXHIBIT 16
[PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP letterhead]
EX-99.1 4 a2117881zex-99_1.htm EXHIBIT 99.1
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EXHIBIT 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Investor Contact:

Kevin W. Quinlan, President & COO
Boston Biomedica, Inc.
(508) 580-1900 (T)
(508) 580-1110 (F)


BOSTON BIOMEDICA ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS;
NO DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES OR PRACTICES

WEST BRIDGEWATER, Mass., August 28, 2003—Boston Biomedica, Inc. (NASDAQ: BBII) today announced that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ("PwC") has resigned as the Company's independent accountants, effective August 22, 2003. The Company has had a close working relationship with PwC over the past ten years since their engagement in 1993 as the Company's independent accountants, and the Company expresses its disappointment at this development.

During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2001 and December 31, 2002 and through August 22, 2003, there were no disagreements with PwC 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 PwC, would have caused PwC to make reference thereto in their reports on the financial statements for such years.

The Company intends to complete an interview process for a new independent accounting firm and make a recommendation to the Audit Committee of the Company's Board of Directors, for their consideration in the near future.

About Boston Biomedica, Inc.

BBI provides products and services to the diagnostics and life sciences industry to evaluate, monitor, and ensure the quality of infectious disease test results, to improve the preparation of specimens for genomic/proteomic testing, and to safely store and retrieve rare and valuable biological specimens. The Company also manufactures reagents used in test kits and provides a broad range of routine and esoteric research services to governments and industry. BBI operates in three states, and conducts research in new applications for our patented Pressure Cycling Technology (PCT). In 2000, the Company launched Panacos Pharmaceuticals, and maintains a significant passive investment in this novel antiviral drug development company.

Forward Looking Statement

Statements contained in this news release regarding the Company's or management's intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations or predictions of the future are "forward-looking" statements. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, and risk factors, is contained in the Company's recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission of its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002, and on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003. Copies of these documents may be obtained by contacting the Company or the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Visit us at our website http://www.bbii.com




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EXHIBIT 99.1
BOSTON BIOMEDICA ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS; NO DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES OR PRACTICES
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