ITEM 4.01 | Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant |
(a) Dismissal of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
On September 18, 2023, Domtar Corporation (the “Company”) dismissed PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, (“PWC US”) as its independent registered public accounting firm. This change reflects the acquisition by the Company of Resolute Forest Products Inc. and the increased concentration of the Company’s overall accounting function in Montreal, Quebec.
PWC US’s reports on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 did not contain any adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
During the years ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 and subsequent interim period through September 18, 2023 there were no: (1) disagreements with PWC US on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedures, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of PWC US, would have caused them to make reference to such subject matter in connection with their reports, or (2) any events that occurred that could constitute a “reportable event” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.)
The Company provided PWC US with a copy of the foregoing disclosures and requested that PWC US provide a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether it agrees with such disclosures. A copy of PWC US’s letter dated November 1, 2023 is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
(b) Appointment of New Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Due to the Company acquiring Resolute Forest Products Inc. and the increased concentration of the Company’s overall accounting function to Montreal, Quebec, on September 18, 2023, the Company appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Montreal, Quebec (“PWC Canada”) as its principal accountant to audit the Company’s financial statements beginning with the financial statements as of and for the year ending December 31, 2023, subject to completion by PWC Canada of its standard client acceptance procedures.
PWC Canada was a component auditor of the Company as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and as of and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 (“interim reviews”). During the years ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, and subsequent interim period through September 18, 2023, other than in the normal course of the interim reviews, the Company did not consult PWC Canada regarding (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 Company’s financial statements, nor did PWC Canada provide written or oral advice to the Company that PWC Canada concluded was an important factor considered by the
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