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): October 1, 2009
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Middlesex Water Company | ||
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) | ||
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New Jersey |
0-422 |
22-1114430 |
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(State or other jurisdiction of |
(Commission |
(IRS Employer |
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incorporation) |
File Number) |
Identification No.) |
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1500 Ronson Road, Iselin, New Jersey |
08830 | |
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(Address of principal executive offices) |
(Zip Code) | |
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Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (732) 634-1500 | ||
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Not Applicable | ||
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(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):
¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act
¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act
Item 4.01 Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.
On October 1, 2009, Middlesex Water Company (the “Company”) was notified that the audit practice of Beard Miller Company LLP (“Beard”) an independent registered public accounting firm, was combined with ParenteBeard LLC (“ParenteBeard”) in a transaction pursuant to which Beard combined its operations
with ParenteBeard and certain of the professional staff and partners of Beard joined ParenteBeard either as employees or partners of ParenteBeard. On October 1, 2009, Beard resigned as the auditors of the Company and with the approval of the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, ParenteBeard was engaged as its independent registered public accounting firm.
Prior to engaging ParenteBeard, the Company did not consult with ParenteBeard regarding the application of accounting principles to a specific completed or contemplated transaction or regarding the type of audit opinions that might be rendered by ParenteBeard on the Company’s financial statements, and ParenteBeard did not provide
any written or oral advice that was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to any such accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue.
The report of independent registered public accounting firm of Beard regarding the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
During the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, and during the interim period from the end of the most recently completed fiscal year through October 1, 2009, the date of resignation, there were no disagreements with Beard on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedures,
which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Beard would have caused it to make reference to such disagreement in its reports.
The Company provided Beard with a copy of this Current Report on Form 8-K prior to its filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission and requested that Beard furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether it agrees with above statements and, if it does not agree, the respects
in which it does not agree. A copy of the letter, dated October 1, 2009, is filed as Exhibit 16 (which is incorporated by reference herein) to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(c) Exhibits.
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Exhibit Number |
Exhibit Title |
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16 |
Letter of Beard Miller Company LLP regarding change in certifying accountant |
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.
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Middlesex Water Company |
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Date: October 2, 2009 |
By: /s/ A. Bruce O’Connor |
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A. Bruce O’Connor |
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Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 16
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October 1, 2009 |
Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, NE
Washington, DC 20549
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are the former independent registered public accounting firm for Middlesex Water Company (the “Company”). We have read the Company’s disclosure set forth in Item 4.01 “Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant” of the Company’s Current
Report on Form 8-K dated October 1, 2009 (the “Current Report”) and are in agreement with the disclosure in the Current Report, insofar as it pertains to our firm.
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Sincerely, | |
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/s/ Beard Miller Company LLP | |