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 11, 2018

 

 

American Public Education, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware		001-33810		01-0724376
(state or other jurisdiction of incorporation)		(Commission File Number)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

111 W. Congress Street Charles Town, West Virginia		25414		304-724-3700
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)		(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

  

 

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 (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))

 

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 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)       Dismissal of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

On June 11, 2018, the Audit Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors of American Public Education, Inc. (the “Company”) dismissed RSM US LLP (“RSM”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, effective immediately.

 

The audit reports of RSM on the financial statements of the Company as of and for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles.

 

During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the subsequent interim period through June 11, 2018, there were no: (i) “disagreements,” as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions, between the Company and RSM 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 RSM, would have caused RSM to make reference in connection with their opinion to the subject matter of the disagreement; or (ii) “reportable events” as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

 

The Company provided RSM with a copy of this Current Report on Form 8-K and requested that RSM furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the US Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether it agrees with the statements contained herein. A copy of RSM’s letter, dated June 14, 2018, is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to this Form 8-K.

 

(b)       Engagement of New Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

On June 11, 2018, following the conclusion of a competitive review process undertaken at the direction of the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee approved the engagement of Deloitte & Touche LLP (“Deloitte”) as its independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018. During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 and the subsequent interim period through June 11, 2018, neither the Company, nor anyone on its behalf, has consulted Deloitte with respect to: (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements, and neither a written report was provided to the Company nor oral advice was provided to the Company that Deloitte concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to the accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue; or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions) or a reportable event (as defined 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 RSM US LLP dated June 14, 2018.

 

 

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.

 

	American Public Education, Inc.
	By:	/s/ Richard W. Sunderland, Jr.
		Richard W. Sunderland, Jr.
		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Date: June 14, 2018