In re Beutel Accountancy Corporation
Beutel Accountancy Corporation and Todd W. Beutel, CPA, were sanctioned for issuing audit reports for Vital Health Technologies, Inc. in 2003 and 2004 while unregistered with the PCAOB, violating Section 102(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
Beutel Accountancy Corporation and Todd W. Beutel, CPA, issued audit reports for Vital Health Technologies, Inc. for fiscal years 2003 and 2004 while unregistered with the PCAOB, despite the registration requirement being effective October 22, 2003. The firm received $22,000 in audit fees, which it later voluntarily reimbursed to Vital Health. Both respondents were ordered to cease and desist, censured, and prohibited from practicing before the SEC unless properly registered with the PCAOB.
Beutel Accountancy Corporation, a California-based public accounting firm, and its engagement partner, Todd W. Beutel, CPA, were found to have willfully violated Section 102(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act by issuing audit reports for Vital Health Technologies, Inc. for the fiscal years 2003 and 2004 without being registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). The PCAOB registration requirement took effect on October 22, 2003. The firm audited Vital Health's financial statements and received $22,000 in audit fees, which it later voluntarily reimbursed. As a result, both Beutel Accountancy Corporation and Beutel were sanctioned by the SEC. They were ordered to cease and desist from further violations, censured for their actions, and required to comply with PCAOB registration requirements to practice before the SEC again. The SEC did not impose monetary penalties due to the firm's voluntary reimbursement of the audit fees and cooperation during the proceedings.
Extracted insights
- $1.00M $1 million $1M–$10M
- $22K $22,000 $10K–$100K
- $11K $10,500 $10K–$100K
- $6K $5,500 <$10K
- company beutel accountancy corporation
- company engagement partner for the audit of vital health technologies, inc.
- company public administrative proceedings against beutel accountancy corporation
- agency Securities and Exchange Commission
- person todd w. beutel
- company vital health technologies, inc.
- Securities And Exchange Commission instituted cease-and-desist proceedings against Beutel Accountancy Corporation and Todd W. Beutel
- Securities And Exchange Commission instituted public administrative proceedings against Beutel Accountancy Corporation
- Beutel Accountancy Corporation audited Vital Health Technologies, Inc.'s financial statements for 2003 and 2004 fiscal years
- Vital Health Technologies, Inc. dismissed Beutel Accountancy Corporation as independent auditor on May 20, 2005
- Todd W. Beutel served as engagement partner for the audit of Vital Health Technologies, Inc.
- Respondents submitted Offer of Settlement
- Securities And Exchange Commission accepted Offer of Settlement
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Before the
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Release No. 56401 / September 13, 2007
ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING ENFORCEMENT
Release No. 2681 / September 13, 2007
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING
File No. 3-12762
In the Matter of
Beutel Accountancy Corporation
and Todd W. Beutel, CPA,
Respondents.
ORDER INSTITUTING PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATIVE AND CEASE-AND-
DESIST PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO
SECTIONS 4C AND 21C OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
AND RULE 102(e) OF THE
COMMISSION’S RULES OF PRACTICE,
MAKING FINDINGS, AND IMPOSING
REMEDIAL SANCTIONS AND A
CEASE-AND-DESIST ORDER
I.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) deems it appropriate that
cease-and-desist proceedings be, and hereby are, instituted against Beutel Accountancy
Corporation and Todd W. Beutel, CPA (collectively “Respondents”) pursuant to Section 21C of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) and that public administrative
proceedings be, and hereby are, instituted against Beutel Accountancy Corporation pursuant to
Section 4C
1
of the Exchange Act and Rule 102(e)(1)(iii) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice.
2
1
Section 4C provides, in relevant part, that:
The Commission may censure any person, or deny, temporarily or permanently,
to any person the privilege of appearing or practicing before the Commission in
any way, if that person is found . . . to have willfully violated, or willfully aided
and abetted the violation of, any provision of the securities laws or the rules and
regulations thereunder.
2
Rule 102(e)(1)(iii) provides, in relevant part, that:
II.
In anticipation of the institution of these proceedings, Respondents have submitted an
Offer of Settlement (“Offer”) which the Commission has determined to accept. Solely for the
purpose of these proceedings and any other proceedings brought by or on behalf of the
Commission, or to which the Commission is a party, and without admitting or denying the
findings herein, except as to the Commission’s jurisdiction over them and the subject matter of
these proceedings, which are admitted, Respondents consent to the entry of this Order Instituting
Public Administrative and Cease-and-Desist Proceedings Pursuant to Sections 4C and 21C of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 102(e) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice,
Making Findings, and Imposing Remedial Sanctions and a Cease-and-Desist Order (“Order”), as
set forth below.
III.
On the basis of this Order and Respondents’ Offer, the Commission finds
3
that:
A. RESPONDENTS
1. Beutel Accountancy Corporation (the “Firm”) is a California corporation and a
public accounting firm headquartered in Agoura Hills, California. The Firm audited Vital Health
Technologies, Inc.’s (also known as Caribbean American Health Resorts, Inc.) financial
statements for the company’s 2003 and 2004 fiscal years ended December 31, 2003, and
December 31, 2004, respectively. Vital Health Technologies, Inc. dismissed the Firm as its
independent auditor on May 20, 2005.
2. Todd W. Beutel, CPA (“Beutel”), age 42, is a certified public accountant
licensed in the state of California since 1995. Beutel was the engagement partner in connection
with the Firm’s audit of Vital Health Technologies, Inc.’s financial statements for the company’s
2003 and 2004 fiscal years ended December 31, 2003, and December 31, 2004, respectively.
B. FACTS
1. Vital Health Technologies, Inc. (“Vital Health”) is a Minnesota corporation with
its headquarters in Beverly Hills, California. Vital Health’s common stock is quoted on the Pink
Sheets under the symbol “CAHR” and is registered with the Commission pursuant to Section
12(g) of the Exchange Act. For fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, Vital Health reported
revenues of $10,500, and total assets of $1 million. For fiscal year ended December 31, 2004,
The Commission may censure a person or deny, temporarily or permanently, the
privilege of appearing or practicing before it in any way to any person who is
found . . . to have willfully violated, or willfully aided and abetted the violation of
any provision of the Federal securities laws or the rules and regulations
thereunder.
The findings herein are made pursuant to Respondents’ Offer of Settlement and are not
binding on any other person or entity in this or any other proceeding.
2
3
Vital Health reported revenues of $5,500, and total assets of $1 million.
2. Vital Health has at all relevant times been an issuer as defined by the Sarbanes-
Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Act”).
3. The Firm audited Vital Health’s 2003 financial statements included in Vital
Health’s annual report for fiscal year 2003 on Form 10-KSB, filed with the Commission on April
14, 2004. As part of that audit, the Firm prepared and issued an audit report dated March 29,
2004, which the company included in its 2003 Form 10-KSB.
4. The Firm audited Vital Health’s 2004 financial statements included in Vital
Health’s annual report for fiscal year 2004 on Form 10-KSB, filed with the Commission on April
15, 2005. As part of that audit, the Firm prepared and issued an audit report dated April 14, 2005
(together with the March 29, 2004 audit report, the “Vital Health audit reports”), which the
company included in its 2004 Form 10-KSB. Vital Health paid the Firm a total of $22,000 for
the 2003 and 2004 audit work.
4
5. At the time the Firm issued the Vital Health audit reports, it was not registered
with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “Board”), as required by Section
102(a) of the Act.
6. Beutel was the engagement partner on the Firm’s audits of Vital Health’s 2003
and 2004 financial statements. Beutel participated in the preparation and issuance of the Vital
Health audit reports.
7. By public notice of disapproval dated July 28, 2005, effective as of May 10, 2005,
the Board disapproved an application for registration submitted by the Firm based in part on the
Firm’s violation of Section 102(a) of the Act in issuing the Vital Health audit reports.
5
C. VIOLATIONS
1. Section 102(a) of the Act provides that “it shall be unlawful for any person that is
not a registered public accounting firm to prepare or issue, or to participate in the preparation or
issuance of, any audit report with respect to any issuer.”
6
4
During the course of the Commission’s investigation, the Firm voluntarily reimbursed
Vital Health the $22,000 in audit fees. In view of the Firm’s reimbursement, the Commission is
not ordering disgorgement in this matter.
5
PCAOB Release No. 2005-017 (July 28, 2005). The public notice of disapproval also
found that the Firm’s issuance of the Vital Health audit reports violated Board Rule 2100, which
implemented Section 102(a) of the Act. Id.
6
A violation of the Act or any rule that the Board issues under the Act is treated for all
purposes in the same manner as a violation of the Exchange Act, including with respect to
penalties. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 15 U.S.C.A. § 7202(b)(1) (West 2002).
3
2. The provisions of Section 102(a) of the Act became effective on October 22,
2003.
7
3. Based on the conduct described above, the Firm willfully
8
violated Section 102(a)
of the Act.
4. Based on the conduct described above, Beutel caused the Firm’s violation of
Section 102(a) of the Act.
D. FINDINGS
Based on the foregoing, the Commission finds that the Firm willfully violated Section
102(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and that Beutel caused the Firm’s violation of Section
102(a) of the Act.
E. UNDERTAKINGS
Respondents undertake not to request, demand, or accept, directly or indirectly, any
compensation from Vital Health in connection with the audit work associated with the Vital
Health audit reports. In determining whether to accept the Offer, the Commission has considered
this undertaking.
IV.
In view of the foregoing, the Commission deems it appropriate to impose the sanctions
agreed to in Respondents’ Offer.
Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED, effective immediately, that:
1. Beutel Accountancy Corporation
A. The Firm shall cease and desist from committing or causing any violations
and any future violations of Section 102(a) of the Act.
B. The Firm is censured.
7
Section 102(a) became effective “[b]eginning 180 days after the date of the determination
of the Commission under Section 101(d)” of the Act that the Board was prepared to undertake its
statutory responsibilities. The Commission made the required determination on April 25, 2003.
See
Order Regarding Section 101(d) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, Securities Act Release
No. 8223, Exchange Act Release No. 47746, 2003 WL 1956164 (Apr. 25, 2003).
8
“Willfully” as used in this Offer means intentionally committing the act that constitutes
the violation. There is no requirement that the actor also be aware that he is violating a rule or
statute. See
Wonsover v. SEC, 205 F.3d 408, 414 (D.C. Cir. 2000); Tager v. SEC, 344 F.2d 5, 8
(2d Cir. 1965).
4
C. The Firm may practice before the Commission as an independent accountant
provided that:
1. It is registered with the Board in accordance with the Act, and such
registration continues to be effective; and
2. It has submitted to the Commission staff (attention: Office of the
Chief Accountant) the Board’s letter notifying the Firm that its registration application has been
approved.
2. Todd W. Beutel, CPA
A. Beutel shall cease and desist from committing or causing any violations and
any future violations of Section 102(a) of the Act.
B. Beutel may practice before the Commission as an independent accountant
provided that:
1. The public accounting firm with which he is associated is
registered with the Board in accordance with the Act, and such registration continues to be
effective; and
2. He has submitted to the Commission staff (attention: Office of the
Chief Accountant) the Board’s letter notifying the public accounting firm with which he is
associated that its registration application has been approved.
By the Commission.
Nancy M. Morris
Secretary
5
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Before the
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Release No. 56401 / September 13, 2007
ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING ENFORCEMENT
Release No. 2681 / September 13, 2007
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING
File No. 3-12762
In the Matter of
Beutel Accountancy Corporation
and Todd W. Beutel, CPA,
Respondents.
ORDER INSTITUTING PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATIVE AND CEASE-AND
DESIST PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO
SECTIONS 4C AND 21C OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
AND RULE 102(e) OF THE
COMMISSION’S RULES OF PRACTICE,
MAKING FINDINGS, AND IMPOSING
REMEDIAL SANCTIONS AND A
CEASE-AND-DESIST ORDER
I.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) deems it appropriate that
cease-and-desist proceedings be, and hereby are, instituted against Beutel Accountancy
Corporation and Todd W. Beutel, CPA (collectively “Respondents”) pursuant to Section 21C of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) and that public administrative
proceedings be, and hereby are, instituted against Beutel Accountancy Corporation pursuant to
Section 4C1 of the Exchange Act and Rule 102(e)(1)(iii) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice.2
1 Section 4C provides, in relevant part, that:
The Commission may censure any person, or deny, temporarily or permanently,
to any person the privilege of appearing or practicing before the Commission in
any way, if that person is found . . . to have willfully violated, or willfully aided
and abetted the violation of, any provision of the securities laws or the rules and
regulations thereunder.
2 Rule 102(e)(1)(iii) provides, in relevant part, that:
II.
In anticipation of the institution of these proceedings, Respondents have submitted an
Offer of Settlement (“Offer”) which the Commission has determined to accept. Solely for the
purpose of these proceedings and any other proceedings brought by or on behalf of the
Commission, or to which the Commission is a party, and without admitting or denying the
findings herein, except as to the Commission’s jurisdiction over them and the subject matter of
these proceedings, which are admitted, Respondents consent to the entry of this Order Instituting
Public Administrative and Cease-and-Desist Proceedings Pursuant to Sections 4C and 21C of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 102(e) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice,
Making Findings, and Imposing Remedial Sanctions and a Cease-and-Desist Order (“Order”), as
set forth below.
III.
On the basis of this Order and Respondents’ Offer, the Commission finds3 that:
A. RESPONDENTS
1. Beutel Accountancy Corporation (the “Firm”) is a California corporation and a
public accounting firm headquartered in Agoura Hills, California. The Firm audited Vital Health
Technologies, Inc.’s (also known as Caribbean American Health Resorts, Inc.) financial
statements for the company’s 2003 and 2004 fiscal years ended December 31, 2003, and
December 31, 2004, respectively. Vital Health Technologies, Inc. dismissed the Firm as its
independent auditor on May 20, 2005.
2. Todd W. Beutel, CPA (“Beutel”), age 42, is a certified public accountant
licensed in the state of California since 1995. Beutel was the engagement partner in connection
with the Firm’s audit of Vital Health Technologies, Inc.’s financial statements for the company’s
2003 and 2004 fiscal years ended December 31, 2003, and December 31, 2004, respectively.
B. FACTS
1. Vital Health Technologies, Inc. (“Vital Health”) is a Minnesota corporation with
its headquarters in Beverly Hills, California. Vital Health’s common stock is quoted on the Pink
Sheets under the symbol “CAHR” and is registered with the Commission pursuant to Section
12(g) of the Exchange Act. For fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, Vital Health reported
revenues of $10,500, and total assets of $1 million. For fiscal year ended December 31, 2004,
The Commission may censure a person or deny, temporarily or permanently, the
privilege of appearing or practicing before it in any way to any person who is
found . . . to have willfully violated, or willfully aided and abetted the violation of
any provision of the Federal securities laws or the rules and regulations
thereunder.
The findings herein are made pursuant to Respondents’ Offer of Settlement and are not
binding on any other person or entity in this or any other proceeding.
2
3
Vital Health reported revenues of $5,500, and total assets of $1 million.
2. Vital Health has at all relevant times been an issuer as defined by the Sarbanes-
Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Act”).
3. The Firm audited Vital Health’s 2003 financial statements included in Vital
Health’s annual report for fiscal year 2003 on Form 10-KSB, filed with the Commission on April
14, 2004. As part of that audit, the Firm prepared and issued an audit report dated March 29,
2004, which the company included in its 2003 Form 10-KSB.
4. The Firm audited Vital Health’s 2004 financial statements included in Vital
Health’s annual report for fiscal year 2004 on Form 10-KSB, filed with the Commission on April
15, 2005. As part of that audit, the Firm prepared and issued an audit report dated April 14, 2005
(together with the March 29, 2004 audit report, the “Vital Health audit reports”), which the
company included in its 2004 Form 10-KSB. Vital Health paid the Firm a total of $22,000 for
the 2003 and 2004 audit work.4
5. At the time the Firm issued the Vital Health audit reports, it was not registered
with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “Board”), as required by Section
102(a) of the Act.
6. Beutel was the engagement partner on the Firm’s audits of Vital Health’s 2003
and 2004 financial statements. Beutel participated in the preparation and issuance of the Vital
Health audit reports.
7. By public notice of disapproval dated July 28, 2005, effective as of May 10, 2005,
the Board disapproved an application for registration submitted by the Firm based in part on the
Firm’s violation of Section 102(a) of the Act in issuing the Vital Health audit reports.5
C. VIOLATIONS
1. Section 102(a) of the Act provides that “it shall be unlawful for any person that is
not a registered public accounting firm to prepare or issue, or to participate in the preparation or
issuance of, any audit report with respect to any issuer.”6
4 During the course of the Commission’s investigation, the Firm voluntarily reimbursed
Vital Health the $22,000 in audit fees. In view of the Firm’s reimbursement, the Commission is
not ordering disgorgement in this matter.
5 PCAOB Release No. 2005-017 (July 28, 2005). The public notice of disapproval also
found that the Firm’s issuance of the Vital Health audit reports violated Board Rule 2100, which
implemented Section 102(a) of the Act. Id.
6 A violation of the Act or any rule that the Board issues under the Act is treated for all
purposes in the same manner as a violation of the Exchange Act, including with respect to
penalties. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 15 U.S.C.A. § 7202(b)(1) (West 2002).
3
2. The provisions of Section 102(a) of the Act became effective on October 22,
2003.7
3. Based on the conduct described above, the Firm willfully8 violated Section 102(a)
of the Act.
4. Based on the conduct described above, Beutel caused the Firm’s violation of
Section 102(a) of the Act.
D. FINDINGS
Based on the foregoing, the Commission finds that the Firm willfully violated Section
102(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and that Beutel caused the Firm’s violation of Section
102(a) of the Act.
E. UNDERTAKINGS
Respondents undertake not to request, demand, or accept, directly or indirectly, any
compensation from Vital Health in connection with the audit work associated with the Vital
Health audit reports. In determining whether to accept the Offer, the Commission has considered
this undertaking.
IV.
In view of the foregoing, the Commission deems it appropriate to impose the sanctions
agreed to in Respondents’ Offer.
Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED, effective immediately, that:
1. Beutel Accountancy Corporation
A. The Firm shall cease and desist from committing or causing any violations
and any future violations of Section 102(a) of the Act.
B. The Firm is censured.
7 Section 102(a) became effective “[b]eginning 180 days after the date of the determination
of the Commission under Section 101(d)” of the Act that the Board was prepared to undertake its
statutory responsibilities. The Commission made the required determination on April 25, 2003.
See Order Regarding Section 101(d) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, Securities Act Release
No. 8223, Exchange Act Release No. 47746, 2003 WL 1956164 (Apr. 25, 2003).
8 “Willfully” as used in this Offer means intentionally committing the act that constitutes
the violation. There is no requirement that the actor also be aware that he is violating a rule or
statute. See Wonsover v. SEC, 205 F.3d 408, 414 (D.C. Cir. 2000); Tager v. SEC, 344 F.2d 5, 8
(2d Cir. 1965).
4
C. The Firm may practice before the Commission as an independent accountant
provided that:
1. It is registered with the Board in accordance with the Act, and such
registration continues to be effective; and
2. It has submitted to the Commission staff (attention: Office of the
Chief Accountant) the Board’s letter notifying the Firm that its registration application has been
approved.
2. Todd W. Beutel, CPA
A. Beutel shall cease and desist from committing or causing any violations and
any future violations of Section 102(a) of the Act.
B. Beutel may practice before the Commission as an independent accountant
provided that:
1. The public accounting firm with which he is associated is
registered with the Board in accordance with the Act, and such registration continues to be
effective; and
2. He has submitted to the Commission staff (attention: Office of the
Chief Accountant) the Board’s letter notifying the public accounting firm with which he is
associated that its registration application has been approved.
By the Commission.
Nancy M. Morris
Secretary
5