UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC  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):

July 9, 2009

 

INLAND WESTERN RETAIL REAL ESTATE TRUST, INC.

(exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

Maryland

 

000-51199

 

42-1579325

(State or other
jurisdiction of
incorporation)

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

 

 

 

 

2901 Butterfield Road, Oak Brook, Illinois

 

60523

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (630) 218-8000

 

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 (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 (17 CFR 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 Registrant’s Certifying Accountant

 

The Audit Committee (the “Audit Committee”) of the Board of Directors (the “Board of Directors”) of Inland Western Retail Real Estate Trust, Inc. (the “Company”) has, in the normal course of business, completed a review of the Company’s audit and tax services provider.  As part of this review, the Audit Committee requested three-year proposals from each of the “Big Four” national accounting firms. Upon completion of its review, on July 8, 2009, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors recommended to the Board of Directors, and the Board of Directors approved, the dismissal of KPMG LLP (“KPMG”) as the Company’s principal accountant and the engagement of the accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP (“Deloitte”) as its new principal accountant for the year ending December 31, 2009.  On July 9, 2009, KPMG was dismissed and Deloitte was engaged as the Company’s principal accountant.

 

During the two fiscal years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the subsequent interim period through July 8, 2009, there were no: (i) disagreements (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K) with KPMG on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedures, which disagreements if not resolved to their satisfaction, would have caused them to make reference in connection with their opinion to the subject matter of the disagreement, or (ii) reportable events (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).

 

The audit reports of KPMG on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, did not contain any adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.  The audit reports of KPMG on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles.

 

The Company has provided KPMG with a copy of this report, and KPMG has furnished the Company with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether or not it agrees with the statements made above.  A copy of KPMG’s letter dated July 14, 2009 is attached as Exhibit 16.1 to this report.

 

During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the subsequent interim period through July 8, 2009, neither the Company nor anyone on its behalf consulted with Deloitte with respect to (a) 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 consolidated financial statements, and neither a written report was provided to the Company nor oral advice was provided 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 (b) any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K) or a reportable event (as described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).

 

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Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(d)

Exhibits

 

 

The following Exhibit is included with this Report:

 

 

16.1

Letter dated July 14, 2009, from KPMG LLP to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 


 

The statements and certain other information contained in this report, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “continue,” “remains,” “intend,” “aim,” “should,” “prospects,” “could,” “future,” “potential,” “believes,” “plans,” “likely,” “anticipate,” and “probable,” or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology, constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are subject to the safe harbors created thereby.  These statements should be considered as subject to the many risks and uncertainties that exist in the Company’s operations and business environment.  Such risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected.  These uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic conditions, market demand and pricing, competitive and cost factors, and other risk factors.

 

3



 

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, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

INLAND WESTERN RETAIL REAL ESTATE TRUST, INC.

 

(Registrant)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Steven P. Grimes

 

 

Steven P. Grimes

 

 

Chief Operating Officer, Chief

Date: July 14, 2009

 

Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

4



 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

16.1

 

Letter dated July 14, 2009, from KPMG LLP to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.