Auditor changes in September 2024

In the first 15 days of September 2024, several SEC-registered companies made significant announcements about changes in their independent auditors. These changes, while routine in some cases, can signal key shifts in corporate governance, financial strategies, or operational focus. For publicly traded companies in the United States, changes in auditors are not only a major event. They are also a regulated process. These changes must be disclosed to shareholders and the public through specific filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). 

When a company registered with the SEC changes its auditor, it needs to file a “Form 8-K”. This form informs the SEC, investors, and the public of significant corporate events. These events include changes in the company’s certifying accountant. Specifically, the filing must reveal the key items under “Item 4.01: Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant”:

– The date the former auditor was dismissed or resigned.

– Whether the decision was recommended or approved by the audit committee or board of directors.

– Any disagreements with the former auditor on accounting practices, financial statement disclosures, or auditing procedures.

– Whether the former auditor’s reports for the past two fiscal years contained adverse opinions or disclaimers.

Below is the summary of Form 8-K, Item 4.01 filed in the month of September:

Auditor Changes
Company Old Auditor New Auditor Reason
Oruka Therapeutics, Inc. (ABIO) KPMG PwC Dismissal
MESA LABORATORIES INC RSM Moss Adams Dismissal
Flag Ship Acquisition Corporation Marcum MaloneBailey Dismissal
Bloom HoldCo LLC Withum N/A Not standing for reappointment
FingerMotion, Inc. Centurion ZD CT International Termination
Raphael Pharmaceutical Inc. Weinstein Elkana Amitai Dismissal
Sensus Healthcare, Inc. Marcum Berkowitz Pollack Resignation – Independence issues
Outdoor Specialty Products, Inc. GreenGrowth CPAs MAC Accounting Group Dismissal
Rani Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. EY Marcum Dismissal
Interface, Inc. BDO EY Dismissal
Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc. BakerTilly N/A Not standing for reappointment
China Health Industries Holdings, Inc. Assentsure PAC GGF CPA LTD Dismissal
Marquie Group, Inc. GreenGrowth CPAs Olayinka Oyebola & Co. CPAs Dismissal
Tianci International, Inc Michael T. Studer CPA P.C. Bush & Associates CPA Dismissal
Noble Roman’s, Inc. Assurance Dimensions Sassetti LLC Dismissal
Kinetic Group Inc N/A Victor Mokuolu, CPA PLLC Appointment
Great Elm Group, Inc. Grant Thornton LLP Deloitte Dismissal
Primis Financial Corp. Forvis Mazars N/A Not standing for reappointment
bowmo, Inc. N/A Olayinka Oyebola Appointment
Leafbuyer Technologies, Inc Barton CPA BCRG Group Dismissal
Vanija Corporation Yusufali & Associates Boladale Lawal & Co. Dismissal
Cardiff Lexington Corporation Grassi & Co., CPAs, P.C. GBQ Partners LLC Resignation
Rubicon Technologies Inc. Cherry Bekaert LLP CohnReznick LLP Not standing for reappointment
Nova LifeStyle, Inc. WWC, P.C. Enrome LLP Dismissal
Virpax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. EisnerAmper LLP Bush & Associated CPA LLC Resignation
Investcorp Credit Management BDC, Inc. RSM US LLP KPMG LLP Dismissal
Stardust Power Inc. WithumSmith+Brown, PC KNAV CPA LLP Dismissal
Advent Technologies Holdings, Inc. Ernst & Young (Hellas) M&K CPAS, PLLC Dismissal
HCW Biologics Inc. Grant Thornton LLP Crowe LLP Dismissal
ContextLogic Inc. PwC BPM LLP Dismissal
Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. Deloitte & Touche LLP KPMG LLP Dismissal
SBC Medical Group Holdings Inc Marcum LLP MaloneBailey, LLP Dismissal
GEX Management, Inc. Fruci & Associates II PLLC Astra Audit & Advisory LLC Resignation
Coeptis Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. Turner, Stone & Company, LLP Astra Audit & Advisory, LLC N/A
OneSolution Technology Inc. J&S Associate PLT Olayinka Oyebola & Co. Resignation
Recent Auditor Changes