UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
AMENDMENT NO. 1
FORM 8-K/A
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 11, 2005
RAMCO-GERSHENSON PROPERTIES TRUST
Maryland | 1-10093 | 13-6908486 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
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31500 Northwestern Highway, Suite 300, Farmington Hills, Michigan |
48334 | |||
(Address of principal executive offices) |
(Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code | (248) 350-9900 | |
Not applicable
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 (17CFR 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))
Item 4.01 Changes in Registrants Certifying Accountant. | ||||||||
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits. | ||||||||
SIGNATURES | ||||||||
EXHIBIT INDEX | ||||||||
Letter from Deloitte & Touche LLP |
Item 4.01 Changes in Registrants Certifying Accountant.
On April 7, 2005, the Audit Committee of the Board of Trustees of Ramco-Gershenson Properties Trust (the Company) sent a Request for Proposal for auditing services to Deloitte & Touche LLP (Deloitte & Touche), the Companys independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee also sent the Request for Proposal to several other public accounting firms. Deloitte & Touche declined to participate in the Request for Proposal process, and instead, by a letter to the Company dated April 11, 2005, Deloitte & Touche declined to stand for re-election as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm. The Company has not yet engaged a new independent registered public accounting firm.
Deloitte & Touches reports on the Companys financial statements for the past two fiscal years did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles, except that Deloitte & Touches report, dated March 25, 2005, on the Companys December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 financial statements included an explanatory paragraph relating to the restatement of the Companys 2003 and 2002 financial statements.
During the Companys two most recent fiscal years and the subsequent interim period, there were no disagreements with Deloitte & Touche 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 Deloitte & Touche, would have caused it to make a reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with its reports, except that Deloitte & Touche stated in a letter to the Audit Committee of the Companys Board of Trustees, dated March 25, 2005, that Deloitte & Touche had disagreements with the Companys management relating to the classification of the loss on an interest in an unconsolidated entity as a loss on sale instead of an impairment loss and that Deloitte & Touche disagreed with the recognition of a gain on a transaction in the second quarter of 2004, but that management recorded adjustments to the Companys financial statements to properly present those two items and the disagreements had been resolved. The Audit Committee of the Companys Board of Trustees discussed the disagreements with Deloitte & Touche, and the Company has authorized Deloitte & Touche to respond fully to the inquiries of the Companys successor accountants concerning the subject matter of the disagreements.
During the Companys two most recent fiscal years and the subsequent interim period, there have been no events of the type required to be reported pursuant to Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except that Deloitte & Touches report dated March 25, 2005, regarding managements assessment of internal controls over financial reporting, expressed an adverse opinion on the effectiveness of the Companys internal controls over financial reporting because of a material weakness identified in the financial closing process. Management and financial closing and reporting personnel had not evaluated events, subsequent to the balance sheet date, impacting the preparation of the financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The material weakness resulted from a deficiency in the operation of internal control and resulted in a material misstatement of employee bonuses. The Companys consolidated financial statements
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for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002 were restated to correct the material misstatements of previously reported accrued expenses and general and administrative expenses for those periods. The material weakness had been identified and included in managements assessment of internal controls. The material weakness was considered by Deloitte & Touche in determining the nature, timing, and extent of audit tests applied in its audit of the Companys consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule as of and for the year ended December 31, 2004, and the report did not affect Deloitte & Touches report on such financial statements and financial statement schedule. The Audit Committee of the Companys Board of Trustees discussed the material weakness with Deloitte & Touche, and the Company has authorized Deloitte & Touche to respond fully to the inquiries of the Companys successor accountants concerning the subject matter of the material weakness.
The Company has provided Deloitte & Touche with a copy of the disclosures made in this Amendment No. 1 to Current Report on Form 8-K/A prior to its filing with the SEC and requested that Deloitte & Touche furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether Deloitte & Touche agrees with such disclosures and, if not, stating the respects in which it does not agree. A copy of the letter, dated April 26, 2005, provided by Deloitte & Touche in response to such request is included as an exhibit to this Amendment No. 1 to Form 8-K/A.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(c) Exhibits.
The following exhibit is filed with this Form 8-K:
16.1 Letter from Deloitte & Touche LLP to the Company, dated April 26, 2005
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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.
RAMCO-GERSHENSON PROPERTIES TRUST |
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Date: April 26, 2005 | By: | /s/ Richard J. Smith | ||
Richard J. Smith | ||||
Chief Financial Officer | ||||
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