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): May 9, 2019

 

Portman Ridge Finance Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware 814-00735 20-5951150

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

(Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)

  

650 Madison Avenue, 23rd Floor

New York, New York

10022
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (212) 891-2880

 

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))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

 

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. ¨

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share PTMN The NASDAQ Global Select Market
6.125% Notes due 2022 KCAPL The NASDAQ Global Select Market

  

 

 

 

 

 

Item 4.01. Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.

 

(a) Dismissal of independent registered public accounting firm

 

On May 9, 2019, the Audit Committee (the “Audit Committee”) of the Board of Directors of Portman Ridge Finance Corporation (the “Company”) approved the dismissal of Ernst & Young LLP (“EY”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, effective as of that date.

 

The audit reports of EY on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, and they were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.

 

During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 and through May 9, 2019, there were no disagreements (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions to Item 304 of Regulation S-K) with EY on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedures which, if not resolved to the satisfaction of EY, would have caused EY to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with its audit report, and there were no “reportable events” as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

 

The Company has provided EY with a copy of the foregoing disclosures and has requested that EY furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether EY agrees with the above statements. A copy of EY’s letter dated May 14, 2019 is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to this Form 8-K.

 

(b) Engagement of new independent registered public accounting firm

 

Effective May 9, 2019, the Audit Committee engaged KPMG LLP to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

 

During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 and through May 9, 2019, neither the Company nor anyone on its behalf consulted with KPMG LLP 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; or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a “disagreement” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions to Item 304 of Regulation S-K) or a “reportable event” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(d)        Exhibits.

  

Exhibit No.   Description
16.1   Letter furnished by Ernst & Young LLP, dated May 14, 2019

 

 

 

 

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.

 

  PORTMAN RIDGE FINANCE CORPORATION
     
Date: May 14, 2019 By:  /s/ Edward U. Gilpin
    Name: Edward U. Gilpin
    Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 16.1

 

 

Securities and Exchange Commission  
100 F Street, N.E. 14 May 2019
Washington, DC 20549  

  

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have read Item 4.01 of Form 8-K dated May 09, 2019, of Portman Ridge Finance Corporation and are in agreement with the statements contained in paragraphs therein concerning our firm.

 

We have no basis to agree or disagree with other statements of the registrant contained therein.

 

 

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP