Document


 
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): November 21, 2017
 
_______________________________________________________________________________ 
iStar Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Maryland
 
1-15371
 
95-6881527
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation)
 
(Commission File
Number)
 
(IRS Employer
Identification Number)
 
1114 Avenue of the Americas, 39th Floor
New York, New York
 
10036
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (212) 930-9400
 _______________________________________________________________________________

N/A
(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))

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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company o

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 accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
 




Item 4.01    Change in Registrant's Certifying Accountant

In the second half of 2017, the Audit Committee (the “Audit Committee”) of the Board of Directors of iStar Inc. (the “Company”) conducted a competitive process to determine the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the Company’s fiscal year ending December 31, 2018. The Audit Committee invited several independent registered public accounting firms to participate in this process, including PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”), the Company's independent registered public accounting firm since 1998.
All of the independent registered public accounting firms invited by the Company to participate in the process submitted proposals and presented their proposals to the Audit Committee and Company representatives. Following a comprehensive review of those proposals, on November 21, 2017, the Audit Committee approved the engagement of Deloitte & Touche LLP (“Deloitte”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the Company’s fiscal year ending December 31, 2018, subject to completion of Deloitte’s standard client acceptance procedures and execution of an engagement letter. On November 21, 2017, the Audit Committee dismissed PwC as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm effective upon the issuance by PwC of its report on the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017 to be included in the filing of the related Form 10-K.
PwC’s reports on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 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 principle.
During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and 2016, and the subsequent interim periods through November 21, 2017, there were: (i) no disagreements within the meaning of Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions between the Company and PwC on any matters of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure which disagreements, if not resolved to PwC’s satisfaction, would have caused PwC to make reference thereto in their reports; and (ii) no “reportable events” within the meaning of Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.
The Company has requested that PwC furnish a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether or not it agrees with the above statements. A copy of PwC’s letter, dated November 28, 2017, is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to this Form 8-K.
During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and 2016 and the subsequent interim periods through November 21, 2017, neither the Company nor anyone on its behalf has consulted with Deloitte regarding: (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 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 any accounting, auditing, or financial reporting issue; (ii) any matter that was the subject of a disagreement within the meaning of Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions; or (iii) any reportable event within the meaning of Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.
ITEM 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
EXHIBIT

Exhibit
Description
 
 
Exhibit 16.1
Letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP dated November 28, 2017






SIGNATURE
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
 
iStar Inc.
 
 
 
 
Date:
November 28, 2017
By:
/s/ GEOFFREY G. JERVIS
 
 
 
Geoffrey G. Jervis
 Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial and accounting officer)
 
 
 
 





EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.
Description
 
 
16.1