Item 4.01Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.
On March 22, 2021, the Audit Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors of NCS Multistage Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) dismissed PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, effective immediately. This was approved by the Committee on March 19, 2021.
PwC’s audit reports on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 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 fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the subsequent interim periods through March 22, 2021, there were (i) no disagreements (as described in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions) between the Company and PwC on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which, if not resolved to PwC’s satisfaction, would have caused PwC to make reference thereto in their reports on the financial statements for such years, and (ii) no “reportable events” within the meaning of Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K. The Company provided PwC with a copy of the disclosures it is making in this Current Report on Form 8-K and requested that PwC furnish a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether or not it agrees with the statements made herein. A copy of PwC’s letter dated March 24, 2021 is filed as Exhibit 16.1 hereto.
On March 19, 2021, the Committee approved the engagement of Grant Thornton LLP (“GT”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2021. This was not effective until PwC’s dismissal on March 22, 2021.
During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the subsequent interim periods through March 22, 2021, neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf has consulted with GT regarding any matter that (i) involved the application of accounting principles to a specific transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements, in each case where a written report was provided or oral advice was provided that Grant Thornton concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to an accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue, or (ii) was either the subject of a “disagreement”, as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions to Item 304 of Regulation S-K, or a “reportable event”, as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.