UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
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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 5, 2003
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Commission File Number 1-8002
THERMO ELECTRON CORPORATION CHOICE PLAN
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its governing documents)
Not Applicable Not Applicable
(State or other jurisdiction (IRS Employer Identification Number)
of incorporation)
81 Wyman Street, P.O. Box 9046
Waltham, Massachusetts 02454-9046
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(781) 622-1000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Item 4. Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant
On June 5, 2003, the Thermo Electron Corporation Choice Plan (the "Plan")
engaged PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ("PwC") as the Plan's independent certifying
accountants. In connection with this engagement, the Plan dismissed Carlin,
Charron & Rosen LLP ("CCR"), its prior independent certifying accountants,
effective on that same day. The engagement of PwC and the dismissal of CCR were
approved by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Thermo Electron
Corporation (the "Company") and the Pension Committee of the Company.
The Plan engaged CCR on June 4, 2002, when it dismissed Arthur Andersen
LLP, its prior independent certifying accountants. The report of CCR with
respect to the Plan for the last completed fiscal year of the Plan contained no
adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and was not qualified or modified as to
uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. During the last completed
fiscal year and through June 5, 2003, there were no disagreements between the
Plan and CCR 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 CCR, would have caused CCR to make reference
to the subject matter of the disagreements in its report on the Plan's financial
statements for such year.
During the last two completed fiscal years and through June 5, 2003, the
Plan did not consult with PwC regarding either the application of accounting
principles to a specified transaction, the type of audit opinion that might be
rendered on the Plan's financial statements or any matter that was the subject
of a disagreement or reportable event with CCR.
Pursuant to Item 304(a)(3) of Regulation S-K, the Plan has requested that
CCR furnish it with a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether or not CCR
agrees with the above statements. A copy of such letter, dated June 5, 2003, is
filed as Exhibit 16 to this Form 8-K.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(c) Exhibit
Exhibit 16 Letter from Carlin, Charron & Rosen LLP to the Securities
and Exchange Commission, dated June 5, 2003.
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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.
Thermo Electron Corporation Choice Plan (Registrant)
By: Thermo Electron Corporation, Plan Administrator
Date: June 12, 2003 /s/ Peter E. Hornstra
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By: Peter E. Hornstra
Its: Chief Accounting Officer
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number Description
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16 Letter from Carlin, Charron & Rosen LLP to the Securities and
Exchange Commission, dated June 5, 2003.
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