Item 4.01 Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.
(a) Dismissal of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
On September 14, 2022 (“Effective Date”), the Audit Committee (“Audit Committee”) of the Board of Directors (“Board”) of the Registrant and the full Board, approved the dismissal of Plante & Moran, PLLC (“Plante Moran”) following the completion of the year ended August 31, 2022 consolidated financial statement audit. Plante Moran was notified of the dismissal on September 15, 2022. The reports of Plante Moran on the Registrant’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended August 31, 2021 and 2020, did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
During the Registrant’s fiscal years ended August 31, 2021 and 2020 and through the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K, there were no disagreements between the Registrant and Plante Moran on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure which, if not resolved to Plante Moran’s satisfaction, would have caused Plante Moran to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with its reports for such fiscal years. Additionally, there were no reportable events as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K, except as previously disclosed for the year ended August 31, 2021, and the three quarterly interim periods ended May 31, 2022, Registrant’s management identified a weakness in spreadsheet controls resulting in a material weakness in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting, which Plante Moran concurred with.
The Registrant has provided Plante Moran with a copy of the disclosures in this Current Report on Form 8-K prior to its filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and has requested that Plante Moran furnish the Registrant with a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether Plante Moran agrees with the above statements. A copy of Plante Moran’s letter, dated September 19, 2022, is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
(b) Engagement of New Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Effective September 14, 2022, the Audit Committee and the full Board engaged FORVIS, LLP (“FORVIS”) as the Registrant’s new independent registered public accounting firm commencing with its quarter ending November 30, 2022 and its fiscal year ending August 31, 2023.
During the years ended August 31, 2021 and 2020 and the subsequent interim period through the Effective Date, neither the Registrant nor anyone on its behalf consulted with FORVIS regarding (i) the application of accounting principles to a specific transaction, either completed or proposed, (ii) the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Registrant’s financial statements, and neither a written report nor oral advice was provided to the Registrant that FORVIS concluded was an important factor considered by the Registrant in reaching a decision as to accounting, auditing or financial reporting issues, (iii) any matter that was the subject of a disagreement (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions), or (iv) any “reportable event” (as described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).