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): June 15, 2017
Aberdeen Latin America Equity Fund, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Maryland |
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811-06094 |
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13-3577304 |
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(State or other jurisdiction of |
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(Commission |
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(I.R.S. Employer |
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1735 Market Street, 32nd Floor |
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19103 |
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(Address of principal executive offices) |
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(Zip Code) |
(800)-522-5465
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company o
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
Item 4.01. Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.
(a) Dismissal of independent registered public accounting firm
On June 13, 2017, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Aberdeen Latin America Equity Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) approved the dismissal of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund, effective June 15, 2017. The Board’s decision to approve the dismissal of PwC was recommended by the Audit Committee of the Board. On June 15, 2017, the Fund dismissed PwC.
The reports of PwC on the Fund’s financial statements as of and for the two most recent fiscal years (ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015) did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainties, audit scope or accounting principles.
During the Fund’s two most recent fiscal years (ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015) and the subsequent interim period through June 15, 2017, there were no disagreements between the Fund and 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 it to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in its reports on the financial statements of the Fund for such years.
During the Fund’s two most recent fiscal years (ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015) and the subsequent interim period through June 15, 2017, there were no “reportable events” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)).
The Fund has provided PwC with a copy of the foregoing disclosures and has requested that PwC furnish it with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether it agrees with the statements made by the Fund set forth above. A copy of PwC’s letter dated June 20, 2017 is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to this Form 8-K.
(b) Engagement of new independent registered public accounting firm
On June 13, 2017, upon the recommendation of the Audit Committee, the Board approved the engagement of KPMG LLP (“KPMG”) as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017, effective June 15, 2017. During the Fund’s two most recent fiscal years (ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015) and the subsequent interim period through June 15, 2017, neither the Fund, nor anyone on its behalf consulted with KPMG, on behalf of the Fund, regarding the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction (either completed or proposed), the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Fund’s financial statements, or any matter that was either the subject of a “disagreement,” as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act and the instructions thereto, or a “reportable event,” as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
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Exhibit |
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Description |
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16.1 |
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Letter dated June 20, 2017 from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to the Securities and Exchange Commission confirming the disclosures contained in Item 4.01 of this report on Form 8-K. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Fund has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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Date: June 21, 2017 |
Aberdeen Latin America Equity Fund, Inc. |
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/s/ Lucia Sitar |
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Name: Lucia Sitar |
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Title: Vice President |
[Signature Page to Form 8-K]
Exhibit 16.1
June 20, 2017
Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, DC 20549
Commissioners:
We have read the statements made by Aberdeen Latin America Equity Fund, Inc. (copy attached), which we understand will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, pursuant to Item 4.01 of Form 8-K, as part of the Form 8-K of Aberdeen Latin America Equity Fund, Inc. dated June 15, 2017. We agree with the statements concerning our Firm in such Form 8-K.
Very truly yours,
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Philadelphia, PA
Item 4.01. Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.
(a) Dismissal of independent registered public accounting firm
On June 13, 2017, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Aberdeen Latin America Equity Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) approved the dismissal of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund, effective June 15, 2017. The Board’s decision to approve the dismissal of PwC was recommended by the Audit Committee of the Board. On June 15, 2017, the Fund dismissed PwC.
The reports of PwC on the Fund’s financial statements as of and for the two most recent fiscal years (ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015) did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainties, audit scope or accounting principles.
During the Fund’s two most recent fiscal years (ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015) and the subsequent interim period through June 15, 2017, there were no disagreements between the Fund and 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 it to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in its reports on the financial statements of the Fund for such years.
During the Fund’s two most recent fiscal years (ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015) and the subsequent interim period through June 15, 2017, there were no “reportable events” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)).
The Fund has provided PwC with a copy of the foregoing disclosures and has requested that PwC furnish it with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether it agrees with the statements made by the Fund set forth above. A copy of PwC’s letter dated June 20, 2017 is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to this Form 8-K.