SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
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CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) May 20, 2002
LABRANCHE & CO INC.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE 001-15251 13-4064735
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(State or other jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer
of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
ONE EXCHANGE PLAZA, NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 10006 10006
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (212) 425-1144
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NOT APPLICABLE
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
ITEM 4. CHANGES IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT
Effective May 20, 2002, in view of recent widely-known events involving
its independent accountants, LaBranche & Co Inc. (the "Company") dismissed
Arthur Andersen LLP as its independent accountants and engaged KPMG LLP as its
new independent accountants for the remainder of the fiscal year ending December
31, 2002. The Company's Audit Committee recommended, and the Company's Board of
Directors authorized and approved, the decision to replace Arthur Andersen LLP
with KPMG LLP as the Company's independent accountants.
The reports of Arthur Andersen LLP on the financial statements of the
Company for the past two fiscal years have contained no adverse opinion or
disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty,
audit scope or accounting principle.
In connection with audits of the Company for the two most recent fiscal
years and the subsequent interim period through May 20, 2002, there have been
no disagreements between the Company and Arthur Andersen LLP 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
Arthur Andersen LLP would have caused Arthur Andersen LLP, to make reference
thereto in its reports on the financial statements of the Company for such
years.
During the two most recent fiscal years and the subsequent interim
period through May 20, 2002, there have been no reportable events (as defined
in Regulation S-K Item 304(a)(1)(v)) of the Company.
During the two most recent fiscal years and the subsequent interim
period through May 20, 2002, neither the Company nor any other person on its
behalf has consulted with KPMG LLP on any application of accounting principles
or any other matter set forth in Item 304(a)(2)(i) or (ii) of Regulation S-K.
The Company has requested that Arthur Andersen LLP furnish it with a
letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether or
not it agrees with the above statements. A copy of such letter is filed as
Exhibit 16 to this Form 8-K.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
(c) EXHIBITS
16 Letter of Arthur Andersen LLP to the Securities and Exchange
Commission, dated May 20, 2002
All other Items of this report are inapplicable.
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.
LABRANCHE & CO INC.
Date: May 20, 2002 By: /s/ GEORGE M.L. LABRANCHE, IV
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Name: George M.L. LaBranche, IV
Title: Chairman, Chief Executive Officer
and President
EXHIBIT INDEX
16 Letter of Arthur Andersen LLP to the Securities and Exchange
Commission, dated May 20, 2002