PROPOSAL 2: RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Our Audit Committee has appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026. Our Board has directed that this appointment be submitted to our stockholders for ratification. Although ratification of our appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is not required, we value the opinions of our stockholders and believe that stockholder ratification of our appointment is a good corporate governance practice.
On November 8, 2024, the Audit Committee of the Board dismissed Ernst & Young LLP (“E&Y”), BlueTriton’s independent registered public accounting firm prior to the consummation of the Transaction.
The report of E&Y on the consolidated balance sheet of BlueTriton, the Company’s accounting predecessor, as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the consolidated statements of operations, consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss), consolidated statements of shareholders’ equity, and consolidated statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (successor), did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, and was not qualified or modified as to uncertainties, audit scope, or accounting principles.
During the period from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2023 and subsequent interim period through November 8, 2024, there were no disagreements between BlueTriton and E&Y on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of E&Y, would have caused it to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in its report on BlueTriton’s financial statements for such period.
During the period from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2023 and subsequent interim period through November 8, 2024, there were no “reportable events” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act).
The Company provided E&Y with a copy of the applicable disclosures contained in its Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated November 12, 2024 and requested that E&Y furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether it agrees with the statements made by the Company set forth above. A copy of E&Y’s letter, dated November 8, 2024, was filed as Exhibit 16.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated November 12, 2024.
Effective upon consummation of the Transaction, the Audit Committee of the Board approved the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, effective November 8, 2024. PwC was Primo Water’s independent registered public accounting firm prior to the Transaction. During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 and the subsequent interim period through November 8, 2024, neither BlueTriton nor anyone on its behalf consulted with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP regarding any of the matters described in Items 304(a)(2)(i) and (ii) of Regulation S-K.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP previously served as Primo Water’s independent registered public accounting firm from 2007 until November 2024. Neither PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP nor any of its members has any direct or indirect financial interest in or any connection with us in any capacity other than as our auditors, providing audit and non-audit related services.
A representative of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is expected to attend the Annual Meeting, have an opportunity to make a statement if he or she desires to do so, and be available to respond to appropriate questions from stockholders.
In the event that the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is not ratified by the stockholders, the Audit Committee will consider this fact when it appoints the independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2027. Even if the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is ratified, the Audit Committee retains the discretion to appoint a different independent auditor at any time if it determines that such a change is in the interests of Primo Brands.
VOTE REQUIRED
This proposal requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the votes cast on the proposal. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the proposal. Because brokers have discretionary authority to vote on the ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, we do not expect any broker non-votes in connection with this proposal.