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 23, 2020

 

HOUSTON WIRE & CABLE COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware 000-52046 36-4151663
(State of Incorporation) (Commission File Number) (IRS employer identification no.)

 

10201 North Loop East  
Houston, TX 77029
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (713) 609-2100

 

Not Applicable

(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:

 

☐     Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

☐     Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

☐     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

☐     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class Trading symbol Name of each exchange on which registered
Common stock, par value $0.001 per share HWCC The Nasdaq Stock Market

 

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 ☐

 

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. ☐

 

 

 

 

Item 4.01.Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.

 

a)                   The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Audit Committee”) of Houston Wire & Cable Company (the “Company”) conducted an evaluation to determine the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020. Several firms were invited to participate in this process, including Ernst & Young LLP (“EY”), which has served as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm since 1997.

 

As a result of this process, following the review and evaluation of the proposals from the participating firms, on June 23, 2020, the Audit Committee dismissed EY as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, effective as of such date.

 

The reports of EY on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 and for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles.

 

During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 and the subsequent interim period through June 23, 2020, there were no (i) disagreements (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions to Item 304 of Regulation S-K) with EY on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedures which, if not resolved to EY's satisfaction, would have caused EY to make reference thereto in its reports or (ii) “reportable events” within the meaning of Item 304 (a)(i)(v) of Regulation S-K.

 

The Company has provided EY with a copy of the foregoing disclosures and requested that it furnish a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether or not it agrees with the above statements and, if not, stating the respects in which it does not agree. A copy of such letter is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to this Form 8-K.

 

b)                   On June 23, 2020, the Audit Committee engaged BKD LLP (“BKD”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020.

 

During the Company’s last two fiscal years and the subsequent interim period through June 23, 2020, neither the Company nor anyone on its behalf consulted with BKD regarding either (i) the application of accounting principles to a specific transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements, and neither written nor oral advice was provided to the Company that BKD concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to any accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue; or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of disagreement (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions) or a reportable event (as described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).

 

 

Item 9.01.Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

d)                   Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.   Description
16.1   Letter from Ernst & Young LLP to the Securities and Exchange Commission dated June 26, 2020.

 

 

 

 

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.

 

  HOUSTON WIRE & CABLE COMPANY
       
Date: June 26, 2020 By: /s/ James L. Pokluda III  
  Name: James L. Pokluda III  
  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 16.1

 

  Ernst & Young LLP
5 Houston Center
Suite 2400
1401 McKinney Street
Houston, TX 77010
Tel: +1 713 750 1500
Fax: +1 713 750 1501
ey.com  
 
 

 

 

 

 

June 26, 2020

 

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, N.E.

Washington, DC 20549

 

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have read Item 4.01 of Form 8-K dated June 26, 2020 of Houston Wire & Cable Company and are in agreement with the statements contained in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th paragraphs therein. We have no basis to agree or disagree with other statements of the registrant contained therein.

 

 

   /s/ Ernst & Young LLP