Several major production and printing companies dropped embattled accounting firm Arthur Andersen as their auditor during the past month.
Wallace Computer Services, Lisle, IL, and R.R. Donnelley, Chicago, both selected Deloitte & Touche as their new auditors. Banta Corp., Menasha, WI, appointed Ernst & Young.
Andersen had been Banta's auditor for more than 50 years. Banta CEO Donald D. Belcher said in a statement that the decision to drop Andersen was made after an extensive evaluation.
Andersen had been Wallace's auditor since 1960. In a statement, the company did not specify why it dropped Andersen. Similarly, Donnelley did not state the reason for its removal of Andersen but said it had concluded that selecting a new auditor was best for the company.
Andersen, which has been in business for 89 years, faces federal obstruction charges on accusations that it shredded documents and deleted files related to Enron Corp. as the energy company came under scrutiny by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
