UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 8-K
Current
Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 18, 2020
Ocean
Power Technologies, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 001-33417 | 22-2535818 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
28 Engelhard Drive, Suite B Monroe Township, New Jersey |
08831 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(609)
730-0400
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
| [ ] | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) | |
| [ ] | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) | |
| [ ] | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14-2(b)) | |
| [ ] | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CRF 240.133-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol (s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
| Common Stock $0.001 Par Value | OPTT | Nasdaq Capital Market |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR 230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR 240.12b-2).
Emerging growth company [ ]
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [ ]
Item 4.01. Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.
(a) Dismissal of Previous Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
On September 16, 2020, the Audit Committee (the “Audit Committee”) of the Board of Directors of Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. (the “Company”) dismissed KPMG LLP (“KPMG”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, effective immediately. The decision by the Audit Committee was made on the basis of reducing ongoing costs related to the Company’s annual auditor services.
During the Company’s two most recent fiscal years ended April 30, 2020 and April 30, 2019 and during the subsequent interim period through September 16, 2020, there were (i) no disagreements (as described in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions) with KPMG on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedures, which if not resolved to KPMG’s satisfaction, would have caused KPMG to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in its reports on the Company’s consolidated financial statements for such years, and (ii) no “reportable events” as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.
KPMG’s audit reports on the Company’s consolidated financial statements for each of the two most recent fiscal years ended April 30, 2020 and April 30, 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, except that
| (i) | KPMG’s report on the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the year ended April 30, 2020, contained separate paragraphs stating that “As discussed in Note 2(n) to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has changed its method of accounting for leases as of May 1, 2019 due to the adoption of Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), and the related amendments” and “The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1(b) to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has suffered recurring losses from operations and has an accumulated deficit that raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1(b). The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty”; and | |
| (ii) | KPMG’s report on the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the year ended April 30, 2019, contained separate paragraphs stating that “The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1(b) to the consolidated financial statements, as of April 30, 2019 the Company has cash and cash equivalents of $16.7 million, and the Company has suffered recurring losses from operations and has an accumulated deficit. These factors raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1(b). The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty” and “As discussed in Note 1(o) to the consolidated financial statements, effective May 1, 2018, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and several related amendments, issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). This change was adopted using the modified retrospective method.” |
The Company provided KPMG with a copy of the disclosures in this Current Report on Form 8-K (this “Report”) prior to filing this Report with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The Company has requested that KPMG furnish a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether or not KPMG agrees with the statements above. A copy of KPMG’s letter dated September 18, 2020 is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to this Report.
(b) Appointment of New Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
The Audit Committee, effective as of September 18, 2020, appointed EisnerAmper LLP (“EisnerAmper”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the Company’s fiscal year ended April 30, 2021. During the Company’s two most recent fiscal years ended April 30, 2020 and April 30, 2019 and during the subsequent interim period through September 18, 2020, neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf has consulted with EisnerAmper, regarding either: (i) the application of accounting principles to a specific transaction, completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, and neither a written report nor oral advice was provided to the Company that EisnerAmper 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) or a “reportable event” (as described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
| *16.1 | Letter from KPMG LLP to the Securities and Exchange Commission dated September 18, 2020. |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Date: September 18, 2020
| OCEAN POWER TECHNOLOGIES, INC. | |
| /s/ George H. Kirby III | |
| George H. Kirby III | |
| President and Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 16.1
(Firm Letterhead)
September 18, 2020
Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C. 20549
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We were previously principal accountants for Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. (the Company) and, under the date of June 29, 2020, we reported on the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the years ended April 30, 2020 and 2019. On September 16, 2020, we were dismissed. We have read the Company’s statements included under Item 4.01 of its Form 8-K dated September 18, 2020, and we agree with such statements, except that we are not in a position to agree or disagree with the Company’s statement that the change was approved by the Audit Committee of the Board of the Directors or the Company’s stated reason for changing principal accountants, and we are not in a position to agree or disagree with any of the Company’s statements included in Item 4.01(b).
Very truly yours,
(signed) KPMG LLP