Item 4. Controls and Procedures
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Based on an evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2023, Horizon’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have evaluated the effectiveness of Horizon’s disclosure controls (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a–15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)). Based on such evaluation, such officers have concluded that, as of the evaluation date, Horizon's disclosure controls and procedures were not effective to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by Horizon in the reports Horizon files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms, including that such information is accumulated and communicated to Horizon's management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. The conclusion that Horizon's disclosure controls and procedures were not effective was due to the presence of material weaknesses in Horizon's internal control over financial reporting, as that term is defined in Rules 13a–15(f) and 15d–15(f) under the Exchange Act, as previously disclosed in Part II, Item 9A of Horizon's Annual Report on Form 10–K for the year ended December 31, 2022 (the “2022 Annual Report on Form 10–K”). In light of the material weaknesses identified by management, Horizon has performed additional analyses and procedures in order to conclude that its condensed financial statements as of and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 are fairly presented, in all material respects, in accordance with GAAP, as further described below.
Description of Material Weaknesses and Management's Remediation Initiatives
As previously disclosed in “Part II, Item 9A. Controls and Procedures” of Horizon's 2022 Annual Report on Form 10–K, management identified material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting with respect to insufficient controls over the reporting, classification, and disclosure of loans, investments and individual cash flow line items and lack of sufficient controls around the financial reporting process that allows for the timely release of financial statements. As of the date of this report, Horizon's remediation efforts are in place related to each of the material weaknesses that Horizon has identified in its internal control over financial reporting as additional procedures and controls have been established to fully address these material weaknesses. Horizon has not been able to complete all actions necessary and test the remediated controls in a manner that would enable it to conclude that such controls are effective. Horizon is committed to implementing the necessary controls to remediate the material weaknesses described below, as and when resources permit.
As part of Horizon's efforts to remediate the material weaknesses described above, Horizon is in the process of hiring additional resources within our accounting and finance department for financial statement preparation and review, Horizon has provided additional training to implement and monitor our policies and procedures, and enhanced controls and procedures have been designed and implemented. The material weaknesses will not be considered remediated until the applicable controls have operated for a sufficient period of time and management has concluded, through testing, that these controls are operating effectively. We estimate that the remediation of these material weaknesses will be completed prior to the end of fiscal 2023. Therefore, Horizon's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of June 30, 2023, Horizon's disclosure controls and procedures were not effective. Despite the foregoing, Horizon's management has concluded the financial statements fairly present in all material respects, Horizon's financial position, results of operations and cash flows as of the dates, and for the periods presented in this Form 10–Q, in conformity with GAAP.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Horizon’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, also have concluded that during the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2023, there have been no changes in Horizon’s internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, Horizon’s internal control over financial reporting, other than the remediation activities described above and discussed in further detail in “Part II, Item 9A. Controls and Procedures” of Horizon's 2022 Annual Report on Form 10–K.
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HORIZON BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Part II – Other Information
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