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): November 22, 2004
AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
New York 1-7657 13-4922250
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(State or other jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or Identification No.)
organization)
200 Vesey Street, World Financial Center
New York, New York 10285
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (212) 640-2000
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None
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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
---- (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))
Item 4.01 Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant.
As previously disclosed in the American Express Company ("Company") 2004
Proxy, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company determined
to request proposals from auditing firms for the Company's 2005 audit. This
request was made pursuant to the Audit Committee's charter, which requires a
detailed review of the Company's outside audit firm at least every ten years. At
a meeting held on November 22, 2004, the Audit Committee approved the future
engagement of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ("PWC") as the Company's independent
registered public accountants ("auditors") for the fiscal year ending December
31, 2005 to replace the firm of Ernst & Young LLP ("E&Y"). E&Y will continue as
the Company's auditors for the year ending December 31, 2004. The Audit
Committee's decision to replace the Company's current auditors was made after a
robust proposal process that included three of the four major international
accounting firms, including E&Y. All of the proposals received by the Company
were of high quality.
E&Y's reports on the Company's consolidated financial statements for the
fiscal years ended December 31, 2002 and 2003 did not contain an adverse opinion
or a disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty,
audit scope, or accounting principles.
In connection with the audits of the Company's financial statements for
each of the two fiscal years ended December 31, 2002 and 2003 and through
November 22, 2004, there were no disagreements with E&Y on any matters of
accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing
scope or procedure, which, if not resolved to the satisfaction of E&Y, would
have caused E&Y to make reference to the matter in their report. During the two
most recent fiscal years and through November 22, 2004, there have been no
"reportable events" (as defined in Regulation S-K, Item 304(a)(1)(v)). The
Company has requested E&Y to furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the
Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether it agrees with the above
statements. A copy of E&Y's letter, dated November 24, 2004, is filed as Exhibit
16.1 to this Form 8-K.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(c) Exhibits.
16.1 Letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission from
Ernst & Young LLP.
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SIGNATURE
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 EXPRESS COMPANY
(REGISTRANT)
By: /s/ Stephen P. Norman
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Name: Stephen P. Norman
Title: Secretary
DATE: November 24, 2004
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Item No. Description
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16.1 Letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission from
Ernst & Young LLP.
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EXHIBIT Item 16.1
E rErnst & Young LLP rPhone (212) 773-3000
5 Times Square www.ey.com
New York, NY 10036
November 24, 2004
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20549
Gentlemen:
We have read item 4.01 of Form 8-K dated November 24, 2004, of American Express
Company and are in agreement with the fourth sentence of the first paragraph and
the statements contained in the second and third paragraphs on page 1 therein.
We have no basis to agree or disagree with other statements of the registrant
contained therein.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
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