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): February 15,
2007.
BioTime,
Inc.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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California
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1-12830
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94-3127919
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(State
or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
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(Commission
File Number)
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(IRS
Employer Identification No.)
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6121
Hollis Street
Emeryville,
California 94608
(Address
of principal executive offices)
(510)
350-2940
(Registrant's
telephone number, including area code)
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:
[ ] 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))
Statements
made in this Report that are not historical facts may constitute forward-looking
statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those discussed. Such risks and uncertainties
include but are not limited to those discussed in this report and in BioTime's
Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Words such as “expects,” “may,” “will,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,”
“believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” and similar expressions identify
forward-looking statements.
Section
4 B
Matters Related to Accountants and Financial Statements
Item
4.01 Changes
in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.
(a) On
February 15, 2007, BioTime, Inc. (the “Company”) dismissed BDO Seidman, LLP
(“BDO”) as the Company’s independent accountants. The dismissal of BDO was
approved by the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of
Directors.
(b) On
February 15, 2007, the Company retained Rothstein, Kass & Company, P.C.
(“Rothstein Kass”) as their new independent accountants to audit the Company’s
financial statements. The engagement of Rothstein Kass was approved by the
Audit
Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors. Prior to engaging Rothstein Kass,
the Company did not consult with them regarding the application of accounting
principles to any specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or
with
respect to the kind of opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial
statements, or with respect to any matter described below in the second
paragraph of subsection (c) of this report.
(c) During
the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2005, BDO’s reports on the financial
statements of the Company did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer
of
opinion, and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope
or
accounting principles.
During
the Company’s two most recent fiscal years and the subsequent period up to
February 15, 2007 there were no disagreements between the Company and BDO
on any
matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure,
or
auditing scope or procedure, which if not resolved to the satisfaction of
BDO
would have caused them to make a reference to the subject matter of the
disagreement in connection with their report. In addition, during the Company’s
two most recent fiscal years and the subsequent period up to February 15,
2007,
BDO did not advise the Company that (a) the Company’s internal controls
necessary to develop reliable financial statements do not exist, or that
(b) the
information had come to their attention that led them to no longer be able
to
rely on management’s representations or that made them unwilling to be
associated with the financial statements prepared by management, or that
(c)
there was a need to expand the scope of the audit, or that information had
come
to their attention
during
that time period that would or if further investigated might have materially
impacted the fairness or reliability of a previously issued audit report
or the
underlying financial statements, or the financial statements issued or to
be
issued covering the fiscal periods subsequent to the date of the most recent
financial statements covered by an audit report (including information that
might have precluded the issuance of an unqualified audit report).
Section
9 B
Financial Statements and Exhibits
Item
9.01 Financial
Statements and Exhibits
.
(c)
Exhibits.
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Exhibit
Number
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Description
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16.1
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Letter
from BDO Seidman, LLP, dated February 16,
2007
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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 hereunto
duly authorized.
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BIOTIME,
INC.
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Date: February
21, 2007
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By:
/s/ Steven A. Seinberg
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Chief
Financial Officer
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Exhibit
Number
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Description
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16.1
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Letter
from BDO Seidman, LLP, dated February 16,
2007
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5