Item 4.01. Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.
(a) The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Kiora Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) annually considers and recommends to the Board the selection of independent public accountants. EisnerAmper LLP (“EisnerAmper”) has served as the Company’s independent auditors since 2014. In September 2022, the Board determined that it would be in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders to solicit bids from other independent audit firms. On March 24, 2023 (the “Effective Date”), after an extensive evaluation process, the Audit Committee dismissed EisnerAmper as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm as of the Effective Date.
EisnerAmper’s audit report dated March 23, 2023 on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, nor was it qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles, other than the explanatory paragraph regarding the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 and subsequent interim periods through the date of dismissal, there have been no: (i) “disagreements” (as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions) with EisnerAmper on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreement, if not resolved to the satisfaction of EisnerAmper, would have caused them to make reference thereto in their report on the financial statements or (ii) “reportable events” (as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K), except that EisnerAmper concurred with the Company’s assessment of a material weakness related to the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.
The Company provided EisnerAmper with a copy of the foregoing disclosure to this Item 4.01 and has requested that EisnerAmper furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether it agrees with the statements made by the Company set forth above. Attached as Exhibit 16.1 is a copy of EisnerAmper’s letter, dated March 30, 2023, stating their agreement with such statements.
(b) As a result of the process noted above, the Audit Committee has appointed Haskell & White LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, effective March 24, 2023. Haskell & White LLP’s engagement will be for the Company’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and related interim periods.
During the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, and through March 24, 2023, the Company did not consult Haskell & White LLP with respect to 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 any other matters or reportable events as defined in Item 304(a)(2)(i) and (ii) of Regulation S-K.