RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors has appointed the firm of Ernst & Young LLP (“EY”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2022. Although ratification is not required by law, our Board of Directors believes that stockholders should be given the opportunity to express their view on the subject. While not binding on the Audit Committee, if the stockholders do not ratify this appointment, the appointment will be reconsidered by the Audit Committee. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee in its discretion may select a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders. EY has advised the Company that neither the firm nor any present member or associate of it has any financial interest, direct or indirect, in the Company or its affiliates. A representative of EY is expected to participate in the Annual Meeting and this representative will be provided with an opportunity to make a statement, if he or she desires, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions of stockholders, if any.
CHANGE IN INDEPENDENT REGISTERED ACCOUNTING FIRM
On June 18, 2021, the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors approved the appointment of EY as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm to audit the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021. EY served as our independent registered public accounting firm prior to the business combination. Accordingly, WithumSmith+Brown, PC (“Withum”), the independent registered public accounting firm of Crescent was dismissed following completion of the Company’s review of the quarter ended March 31, 2021, which consists only of Crescent’s accounts prior to the business combination.
The report of Withum on Crescent’s balance sheet as of December 31, 2020 and the statements of operations and comprehensive loss, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the period from November 17, 2017 (inception) through December 31, 2020, did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainties, audit scope or accounting principles, except that such audit report contained an explanatory paragraph in which Withum expressed substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
During the period from November 17, 2017 (inception) through December 31, 2020, and the subsequent interim period through the date of Withum’s dismissal, there were no “disagreements” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) with Withum on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial disclosure or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Withum would have caused it to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in its reports for such periods.
During the period from November 17, 2017 (inception) through December 31, 2020, and the subsequent interim period through the date of Withum’s dismissal, there were no “reportable events” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act).
During the period from November 17, 2017 (inception) through December 31, 2020, and the subsequent interim period through the date of Withum’s dismissal, Crescent did not consult with EY regarding either (i) 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 financial statements of Crescent or us, and no written report or oral advice was provided that EY concluded was an important factor considered by us in reaching a decision as to the 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 under the Exchange Act) or a “reportable event” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act).
The Company previously provided Withum with a copy of the foregoing disclosures reproduced in this proxy statement and received a letter from Withum addressed to the SEC stating that they agree with the above statements. This letter was filed as Exhibit 16.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 24, 2021.