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 Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 29, 2024
Tevogen Bio Holdings Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 001-41002 | 85-1284695 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
15 Independence Boulevard, Suite #410 | ||
Warren, New Jersey | 07059 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (877) 838-6436
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
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:
☐ | 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 240.14d-2(b)) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-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 | ||
The Stock Market LLC | ||||
The Stock Market LLC |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
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 Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.
Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
On April 29, 2024, the audit committee of the Board of Directors (the “Audit Committee”) of Tevogen Bio Holdings Inc. (the “Company”) approved the appointment of KPMG LLP (“KPMG”) as the Company’s new independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2024, effective immediately. KPMG is replacing Marcum LLP (“Marcum”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.
As previously disclosed, on February 14, 2024, pursuant to that certain agreement and plan of merger, dated June 28, 2023, the Company completed a business combination (the “Business Combination”) with Tevogen Bio Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Tevogen Bio”). Prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, KPMG served as the independent registered public accounting firm of Tevogen Bio for the year ended December 31, 2023. During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2023, and the subsequent interim period through the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K, neither the Company, nor anyone acting on its behalf, consulted KPMG 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 with respect to the Company’s financial statements; or (ii) any matter that was the subject of a disagreement within the meaning of Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K or a reportable event within the meaning of Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.
Dismissal of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
In connection with the Company’s appointment of KPMG as its independent registered public accounting firm, on April 29, 2024, the Audit Committee dismissed Marcum as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.
Marcum’s report on the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, and December 31, 2022, contained an explanatory paragraph related to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern but did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, nor was it qualified or modified as to audit scope or accounting principles.
During the two most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the subsequent interim period through the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K: (i) there were no disagreements within the meaning of Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K between the Company and Marcum on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to Marcum’s satisfaction, would have caused Marcum to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with its reports on the Company’s financial statements for such years, and (ii) no “reportable events” within the meaning of Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K. As previously disclosed in Item 9A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (the “Annual Report”), the Company concluded that its internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of December 31, 2023 due to a certain material weakness. In the Annual Report, the Company disclosed the existence of a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting related to our accounting for complex financial instruments and internal controls over collectability over amounts due from related parties.
In accordance with Item 304(a)(3) of Regulation S-K, the Company provided Marcum with a copy of the disclosures it is making in this Current Report on Form 8-K and requested that Marcum furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether Marcum agrees with the statements made by the Company herein and, if not, stating the respects in which it does not agree. A copy of Marcum’s letter dated May 2, 2024 is attached as Exhibit 16.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit No. | Description | |
16.1 | Letter from Marcum LLP, dated May 2, 2024. | |
104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL). |
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.
Tevogen Bio Holdings Inc. | ||
Date: May 2, 2024 | By: | /s/ Kirti Desai |
Name: | Kirti Desai | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer |