Fastenal Changes Independent Auditor to PwC

TL;DR

Fastenal swapped auditors from Deloitte to PwC, effective July 19, 2024.

AI Summary

Fastenal Company announced on July 19, 2024, a change in its certifying accountant. The company has appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as its new independent registered public accounting firm, replacing Deloitte & Touche LLP. This change is effective immediately.

Why It Matters

A change in a company's auditor can sometimes signal underlying issues or a desire for a fresh perspective on financial reporting.

Risk Assessment

Risk Level: low — This filing solely concerns a change in the company's auditor, which is a routine administrative event.

Key Players & Entities

• Fastenal Company (company) — Registrant
• PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (company) — New independent registered public accounting firm
• Deloitte & Touche LLP (company) — Former independent registered public accounting firm
• July 19, 2024 (date) — Effective date of auditor change

FAQ

Filing Documents

• fast-20240719.htm (8-K) — 35KB
• ex_16107242024letterfromkp.htm (EX-16.1) — 3KB
• 0000815556-24-000033.txt ( ) — 162KB
• fast-20240719.xsd (EX-101.SCH) — 2KB
• fast-20240719_lab.xml (EX-101.LAB) — 21KB
• fast-20240719_pre.xml (EX-101.PRE) — 12KB
• fast-20240719_htm.xml (XML) — 3KB

01 Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant

Item 4.01 Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant. (a) Dismissal of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm The Audit Committee (the 'Committee') of the Board of Directors (the 'Board') of Fastenal Company (the 'Company') recently completed a competitive selection process to determine the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025. The Committee invited several public accounting firms to participate in the process, including KPMG LLP ('KPMG'), the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024. On July 19, 2024, the Committee approved a change to the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, and the Company notified KPMG, which is currently serving as the Company's independent auditors, of its dismissal effective immediately following KPMG's completion of their audit of the Company's consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, and the issuance of their report thereon. Upon completion of KPMG's services, the Company will file an amendment to this Current Report on Form 8-K with the specific date of dismissal and an update to the disclosures required by Item 304(a) of Regulation S-K through that date. During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the subsequent interim period through the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K, there were no: (1) 'disagreements' (within the meaning of Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and related instructions) with KPMG on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedures, which disagreements if not resolved to their satisfaction would have caused them to make reference in connection with their opinion to the subject matter of the disagreement; or (2) 'reportable events' (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).

01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits. INDEX TO EXHIBITS Exhibit Number Description of Document 16.1 Letter from KPMG LLP dated July 24, 2024 104 The cover page from the Current Report on Form 8-K formatted in Inline XBRL. 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. Fastenal Company (Registrant) July 24, 2024 By: /s/ SHERYL A. LISOWSKI (Date) Sheryl A. Lisowski Executive Vice President - Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer