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1.
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STATUS
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2.
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PURPOSE
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Performing the Board’s oversight responsibilities as they relate to the Company’s accounting policies and internal controls, financial reporting practices and legal and regulatory compliance, including, among other things:
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the quality and integrity of the Company’s financial statements;
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the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; review of the independent auditors’ qualifications and independence; and
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the performance of the Company’s internal audit function and the Company’s independent auditors;
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Maintaining, through regularly scheduled meetings, a line of communication between the Board and the Company’s financial management, internal auditors and independent auditors, and
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Preparing the report to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement, as required by the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) rules.
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3.
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COMPOSITION AND QUALIFICATIONS
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4.
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RESPONSIBILITIES
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Discuss with the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (as may be modified or supplemented) and the matters in the written disclosures required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the audit committee concerning independence;
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Review significant changes in accounting or auditing policies;
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Review with the independent auditors any problems or difficulties encountered in the course of their audit, including any change in the scope of the planned audit work and any restrictions placed on the scope of such work and management’s response to such problems or difficulties;
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Review with the independent auditors, management and the senior internal auditing executive the adequacy of the Company’s internal controls, and any significant findings and recommendations with respect to such controls;
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Review reports required to be submitted by the independent auditor concerning: (a) all critical accounting policies and practices used; (b) all alternative treatments of financial information within generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) that have been discussed with management, the ramifications of such alternatives, and the accounting treatment preferred by the independent auditors; and (c) any other material written communications with management;
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Review (a) major issues regarding accounting principles and financial statement presentations, including any significant changes in the Company’s selection or application of accounting principles, and major issues as to the adequacy of the Company’s internal controls and any special audit steps adopted in light of material control deficiencies; and (b) analyses prepared by management and/or the independent auditor setting forth significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of the financial statements, including analysis of the effects of alternative GAAP methods on the financial statements and the effects of regulatory and accounting initiatives, as well as off-balance sheet structures, on the financial statements of the Company; and
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Discuss policies and procedures concerning earnings press releases and review the type and presentation of information to be included in earnings press releases (paying particularly attention to any use of “pro forma” or “adjusted” non-GAAP information), as well as financial information and earnings guidance provided to analysts and rating agencies.
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Have authority to appoint and replace (subject to stockholder approval, if deemed advisable by the Board) the independent auditors;
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Have authority to approve the engagement letter and the fees to be paid to the independent auditors;
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Pre-approve all audit and non-audit services to be performed by the independent auditors and the related fees for such services other than prohibited nonauditing services as promulgated under rules and regulations of the SEC (subject to the inadvertent de minimus exceptions set forth in the Act and the SEC rules);
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Obtain confirmation and assurance as to the independent auditors’ independence, including ensuring that they submit on a periodic basis (not less than annually) to the Committee a formal written statement delineating all relationships between the independent auditors and the Company. The Committee is responsible for actively engaging in a dialogue with the independent auditors with respect to any disclosed relationships or services that may impact the objectivity and independence of the independent auditors and for taking appropriate action in response to the independent auditors’ report to satisfy itself of their independence;
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At least annually, obtain and review a report by the independent auditors describing: the firm’s internal quality-control procedures; any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review, of the firm, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities, within the preceding five years, respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the firm, and any steps taken to deal with any such issues; and to assess the independent auditors’ independence, all relationships between the independent auditors and the Company;
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Meet with the independent auditors prior to the annual audit to discuss planning and staffing of the audit;
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Review and evaluate the performance of the independent auditors, as the basis for a decision to reappoint or replace the independent auditors;
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Set clear hiring policies for employees or former employees of the independent auditors, including but not limited to, as required by all applicable laws and listing rules; and
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Assure regular rotation of the lead audit partner, as required by the Act, and consider whether rotation of the independent auditor is required to ensure independence.
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Review the appointment or replacement of the senior internal auditing executive;
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Review, in consultation with management, the independent auditors and the senior internal auditing executive, the plan and scope of internal audit activities;
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Review internal audit activities, budget and staffing; and
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Review significant reports to management prepared by the internal auditing department and management’s responses to such reports.
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5.
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PROCEDURES
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