Item 4.01
Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant
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(a), (b) As previously disclosed, on February 22, 2013, the Audit Committee of AK Steel Holding Corporation (the “Company”), following a competitive process to determine what audit firm would serve as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2013, determined to dismiss Deloitte & Touche LLP (“D&T”) as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm effective immediately following the Company's filing of its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 (“2012 Form 10-K”). On February 28, 2013, the Company filed its 2012 Form 10-K and dismissed D&T as its independent registered public accounting firm.
The reports of D&T on the Company's consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 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.
During the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, and through February 28, 2013, there were no (a) disagreements with D&T on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to D&T's satisfaction, would have caused D&T to make reference to the subject matter thereof in connection with its reports for such years; or (b) reportable events, as described under Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.
The Company provided D&T with a copy of the disclosures it is making in this Current Report on Form 8-K/A and requested from D&T a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission indicating whether it agrees with such disclosures. A copy of D&T's letter dated February 28, 2013 is attached as Exhibit 16.1.
Also as previously disclosed, contemporaneous with the determination to dismiss D&T, the Audit Committee engaged Ernst & Young LLP ("E&Y") as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2013, also to be effective immediately following the filing of the Company's 2012 Form 10-K. On February 28, 2013, the Company filed its 2012 Form 10-K and its engagement of E&Y as its independent registered public accounting firm became effective.
During the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, and the subsequent interim period through February 28, 2013, the Company did not consult with E&Y regarding any of the matters or events set forth in Item 304(a)(2) of Regulation S-K.