Square, Inc. (NYSE:SQ) Files An 8-K Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant
Item 4.01 Changes in Registrants Certifying Accountant.
(a) Dismissal of Previous Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
On June 13, 2019, the Audit and Risk Committee of the Board of Directors (the Committee) of Square, Inc. (the Company) dismissed KPMG LLP (KPMG) as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm effective as of that date.
KPMGs audit reports on the Companys consolidated financial statements for the Companys fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles, except as follows:
KPMGs report on the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, contained a separate paragraph stating that As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, effective January 1, 2018.
During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, and the subsequent interim period from January 1, 2019 through June 13, 2019, there were (i) no disagreements within the meaning of Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K between the Company and KPMG on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to KPMGs satisfaction, would have caused KPMG to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with its reports on the Companys consolidated 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 has provided KPMG with a copy of the disclosures contained herein and has requested that KPMG furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether it agrees with the statements made herein and, if not, stating the respects in which it does not agree. A copy of KPMGs letter, dated June 17, 2019, is filed as Exhibit 16.1 herewith.
(b) Appointment of New Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
On June 13, 2019, the Committee approved, effective immediately, the engagement of Ernst & Young LLP (EY) as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm for the Companys fiscal years ending December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020.
During the Companys fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, and the subsequent interim period from January 1, 2019 through June 13, 2019, neither the Company nor anyone acting on behalf of the Company, has consulted with EY regarding (i) 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 Companys consolidated financial statements, and neither a written report nor oral advice was provided to the Company that EY concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to any accounting, auditing, or financial reporting issue, (ii) any matter that was subject of a disagreement within the meaning of Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K, or (iii) any reportable event within the meaning of Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.
Representatives of both KPMG and EY will be present at the Companys 2019 annual meeting of stockholders on June 18, 2019, and each will have an opportunity to make a statement and will be available to respond to appropriate questions from our stockholders.