SFE Safeguard Scientifics New

ITEM 4.01.          Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.

 

On March 12, 2021, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Audit Committee”) of Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. (the “Company”) approved the engagement of Grant Thornton LLP (“Grant Thornton”) as the Company’s new independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2021.  The change will be effective upon Grant Thornton’s completion of its standard client acceptance process and execution of an engagement letter.  In connection with the selection process, KPMG LLP (“KPMG”) declined to stand for re-election as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

 

During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the subsequent interim period through March 12, 2021, there were no (1) disagreements (as defined in 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 procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of KPMG, would have caused KPMG to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in their reports, or (2) reportable events (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).

 

The audit reports of KPMG on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles, except that the December 31, 2019 report contained a separate paragraph stating that “As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has changed its method of accounting for leases as of January 1, 2019 due to the adoption of Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases.”

 

The Company has provided KPMG with a copy of the disclosures it is making in this Current Report on Form 8-K prior to its filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and has requested KPMG to furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether or not it agrees with the statements made herein, and if not, stating the reasons for their disagreement.  A copy of KPMG’s letter dated March 17, 2021 is attached as Exhibit 16.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K. 

 

During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the subsequent interim period through March 12, 2021, neither the Company nor anyone on its behalf has consulted Grant Thornton with respect to either (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s consolidated financial statements or the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, where either a written report or oral advice was provided to the Company that Grant Thornton concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to any accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue; or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and related instructions) or a reportable event (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).