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): March 26, 2024

ALPHA TEKNOVA, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

2451 Bert Drive

Hollister, CA 95023

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (831) 637-1100

N/A

(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:

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

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. Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.

Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

On March 26, 2024, the audit committee of the Board of Directors (the "Audit Committee") of Alpha Teknova, Inc. (the “Company”) approved the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP (“Grant Thornton”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, effective March 26, 2024. Grant Thornton replaces Ernst & Young LLP (“Ernst & Young”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, 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 Grant Thornton 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, and neither a written report nor oral advice was provided to the Company that Grant Thornton concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to any accounting, auditing, or financial reporting issue; 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 Grant Thornton as its independent registered public accounting firm, on March 26, 2024, the Audit Committee dismissed Ernst & Young as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

Ernst & Young’s audit report on the Company’s financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023, 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. Ernst & Young’s audit report on the Company’s financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2022, did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, nor was it qualified or modified as to uncertainty, 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 with Ernst & Young on any matters of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope and procedures, which disagreements, if not resolved to Ernst & Young’s satisfaction, would have caused Ernst & Young to make reference to the matter in their reports on the Company’s financial statements for such years, and (ii) there were no reportable events within the meaning of Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K, except for the communication by Ernst & Young of a material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, which was disclosed in Part II, Item 9A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. The Company has remediated the material weakness as disclosed in Part II, Item 9A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.

In accordance with Item 304(a)(3) of Regulation S-K, the Company provided Ernst & Young with a copy of the foregoing disclosures contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K prior to its filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission and requested that Ernst & Young furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether or not Ernst & Young agrees with the statements made by the Company herein and, if not, stating the respects in which it does not agree. A copy of Ernst & Young’s letter dated April 1, 2024, is attached as Exhibit 16.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

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.