Item 4.01.
Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.
On November 15, 2017, Hein & Associates LLP
(“Hein”) notified the Board of Directors of Hyperdynamics Corporation (the “Company”) that it declined to stand for reappointment as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm to audit the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018. The Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors did not recommend or approve the change in accountants.
Neither of the reports of Hein on our financial statements for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2016 and 2017, contained an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, or was qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles, except that each such report included an explanatory paragraph relating to an uncertainty as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
During the Company’s fiscal years ended June 30, 2016 and 2017, and the period from July 1, 2017 to the date of their declination, there were no (a) disagreements with Hein, whether or not resolved to the former accountant’s satisfaction, on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Hein, would have caused them to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with their report on the Company’s financial statements, or (b) reportable events described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K, except as follows:
As reported in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, as of June 30, 2017, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was ineffective. During the fiscal year 2017, the Company experienced turnover in its accounting group and as of June 30, 2017, it lacked a sufficient number of competent accounting personnel. This material weakness in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting had a material adverse impact on its quarterly and annual financial close process and reporting. The Company is in the process of remediating this weakness by adding additional competent accounting personnel. The Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors discussed this matter with Hein, and the Company has authorized Hein to respond fully to the inquiries of the successor accountant concerning this matter.
The Company provided Hein with a copy of the disclosures it is making in this Report and has requested that Hein furnish it with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether they agree with the above statements and, if not, stating the respects in which they do not agree. A copy of Hein’s letter is filed herewith as Exhibit 16.1.
A new independent accountant has not yet been engaged.