Banzai International Inc. filed SEC Form 8-K: Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant, Financial Statements and Exhibits
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Item 4.01. Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.
The Audit Committee (the “Audit Committee”) of the Board of Directors of Banzai International, Inc. (the “Company”) conducted a competitive process to determine the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025. As a result of this process, on April 22, 2025, the Audit Committee approved the dismissal of Marcum LLP (“Marcum”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, effective immediately. Also on April 22, 2025, the Audit Committee approved the engagement of Bush & Associates CPA LLC (“Bush & Associates”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, effective immediately. The Board of Directors of the Company ratified the Audit Committee’s dismissal of Marcum and engagement of Bush & Associates.
The reports of Marcum on the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023, did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, nor were such reports qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles, except that the reports for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 included an explanatory paragraph relating to substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023, and the subsequent interim period through April 22, 2025, there were no disagreements with Marcum on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Marcum, would have caused Marcum to make reference thereto in its reports on the financial statements of the Company for such periods. As disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that the Company’s internal controls and procedures are not effective, and that it has material weaknesses in its IT General Controls, adherence to the COSO Integrated Framework, and period end financial close and reporting process, which constitutes a reportable event as described under Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.
In accordance with Item 304(a)(3) of Regulation S-K, the Company provided Marcum with a copy of this Current Report on Form 8-K and requested that Marcum furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether Marcum agrees with the statements herein as they relate to Marcum. A copy of Marcum’s letter dated April 25, 2025, is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference into this Item 4.01.
During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023, and the subsequent interim period through April 22, 2025, neither the Company nor anyone on the Company’s behalf consulted Bush & Associates regarding any of the matters referred to in Item 304(a)(2)(i) or (ii) of Regulation S-K.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
| Exhibit No. | Description | |
| 16.1 | Letter of Marcum LLP dated April 25, 2025. | |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
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.
Dated: April 25, 2025
| BANZAI INTERNATIONAL, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Joseph Davy | |
| Joseph Davy | ||
| Chief Executive Officer | ||