Audit Committee Charter
(last amended, effective as of September 17, 2008)
Purpose and Authority:
The Audit Committee (the "Committee") shall assist the Board in oversight of (1) the integrity of the Company's financial statements, (2) the Company's compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (3) the independent auditor's qualifications and independence, (4) the performance of the Company's internal audit function and independent auditors, and (5) compliance with the Company's code of ethics for senior financial officers and compliance with the Company's code of conduct for all Company personnel. The Committee shall have the authority and responsibility to appoint, determine funding for, oversee and, where appropriate, replace the independent auditor. The Committee shall cause the preparation of the report required by the SEC's proxy rules to be included in the Company's annual proxy statement and shall also have all authority necessary to fulfill the duties and responsibilities assigned to the Committee set forth in this Charter or otherwise assigned to it by the Board.
As the Committee deems appropriate, it may retain independent counsel, accounting and other professionals to assist the Committee without seeking Board approval with respect to the selection, fees or terms of engagement of any such advisors.
The Committee when appropriate may form and delegate authority to subcommittees and may delegate authority to one or more designated members of the Committee.
Composition:
Independence
The Committee shall be composed of three or more directors, as determined by the Board, each of whom shall meet the independence requirements established by the Board, the New York Stock Exchange, and the SEC and any other regulations applicable to the Company from time to time, including regulations limiting Committee member compensation.
Financial Literacy/Expertise
Each Committee member, in the business judgment of the Board, shall be financially literate, or shall become financially literate within a reasonable period of time after appointment. At least one Committee member, in the judgment of the Board, shall have accounting or related financial management expertise, and shall be a "financial expert" in accordance with SEC and such other regulations as may be applicable to the Company from time to time.
Service on Other Public Company Audit Committees
No member of the Committee shall serve on more than two audit committees of publicly traded companies other than the Company at the same time such member serves on this Committee, unless the Board determines that such simultaneous service would not impair the ability of such member to effectively serve on this Committee. If a Committee member serves on the audit committees of both a public company and a wholly owned subsidiary of such company, such service shall be counted as service on one audit committee, rather than two.
Appointment and Removal of Members
The members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Board on the recommendation of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee. The Board may remove any member from the Committee at any time with or without cause.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The Committee shall have the following duties and responsibilities, in addition to any duties and responsibilities assigned to the Committee from time to time by the Board.
Engagement of Independent Auditor
- Directly appoint, retain, determine the compensation of, evaluate and, if appropriate, terminate the independent auditor; resolve disagreements between management and the independent auditor; oversee and evaluate the independent auditor and, where appropriate, replace the independent auditor, with the understanding that the independent auditor shall report directly to and be overseen by the Committee.
- Pre-approve the retention of the independent auditor for all audit and such non-audit services as the independent auditor is permitted to provide the Company and approve the fees for such services, other than de minimis non-audit services allowed by relevant law. The Committee may pre-approve services by establishing detailed pre-approval policies and procedures as to the particular service; provided that the Committee is informed of each service pre-approved, and that no pre-approval shall be delegated to management. In considering whether to pre-approve any non-audit services, the Committee or its delegees shall consider whether the provision of such services is compatible with maintaining the independence of the auditor.
- Ensure that the Committee's approval of any audit services is publicly disclosed pursuant to applicable laws, rules and regulations.
Evaluate Independent Auditor's Qualifications, Performance and Independence
- At least annually, evaluate the independent auditor's qualifications, performance and independence, including that of the lead partner, and present the Committee's conclusions to the Board.
- At least annually, obtain and review a report by the independent auditor 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, relating to one or more audits carried out by the firm and any steps taken to deal with any such issues.
- At least annually, obtain and review the letter and written disclosures from the independent auditor consistent with Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, as may be amended from time to time, including a formal written statement by the independent auditor delineating all relationships between the auditor and the Company; actively engage in a dialogue with the auditor with respect to that firm's independence and any disclosed relationships or services that may impact the objectivity and independence of the auditor; and take, or recommend that the Board take, appropriate action to oversee the independence of the outside auditor.
- Discuss with the independent auditor the matters required to be discussed by Statement of Auditing Standards ("SAS") No. 61, Communications with Audit Committee, SAS No. 89, Audit Adjustments, and SAS No. 90, Audit Committee Communications, all as amended from time to time, together with any other matters as may be required for public disclosure or otherwise under applicable laws, rules and regulations.
- Ensure that the independent auditor's lead partner and reviewing partner are replaced every five years. Consider, from time to time, whether a rotation of the independent auditing firm would be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.
Review Financial Statements and Financial Disclosure
- Meet with management and the independent auditor to review and discuss the annual audited financial statements and quarterly financial statements, including the Company's disclosures under "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," and the report of the independent auditor thereon and to discuss any off-balance sheet structures and significant issues encountered in the course of the audit work, including any restrictions on the scope of activities, access to required information, significant disagreements with management or the adequacy of internal controls.
- Regularly review with the independent auditor any audit problems or difficulties and management's response, adjustments noted or proposed by the independent auditor but not taken (as immaterial or otherwise) by management, (ii) communications between the audit team and the national office concerning auditing or accounting issues, and (iii) any "management" or "internal control" letters issued or proposed to be issued by the auditor. Review and discuss with the independent auditor the responsibilities, budget and staffing of any internal audit function of the Company.
- If so determined by the Committee, based on its review and discussion of the audited financial statements with management and the independent auditor, its discussions with the independent auditor regarding the matters required to be discussed by SAS 61, and its discussions regarding the auditor's independence, recommend to the Board whether the audited financial statements should be included in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K.
- Review and discuss the type and presentation of information to be included in earnings press releases (paying particular attention to any use of "pro forma" or "adjusted" non-GAAP, information), as well as review any financial information and earnings guidance provided to analysts and rating agencies. (This may be done generally and does not require the Committee to discuss in advance each earnings release or each instance in which the Company may provide earnings guidance.)
Periodic Assessment of Accounting Practices and Policies and Risk and Risk Management
- Obtain and review timely reports from the independent auditor regarding (1) all critical accounting policies and practices to be used, (2) all alternative treatments of financial information within GAAP that have been discussed with management, ramifications of the use of such alternative disclosures and treatments, and the treatment preferred by the independent auditor, and (3) other material written communications between the independent auditor and management, such as any management letter or schedule of unadjusted differences.
- Review changes in promulgated accounting and auditing standards that may materially affect the Company's financial reporting practices.
- Discuss policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management, including the Company's major financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures.
Internal Audit Review
- Review the responsibilities, functions and performance of the internal audit function of the Company, including any internal audit plans and budget, and the scope and results of any internal audits.
- Review any reports by management regarding the effectiveness of, or any deficiencies in, the design or operation of internal controls and any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company's internal controls. Review any report issued by the Company's independent auditor regarding the Company's internal controls.
Proxy Statement Report of Audit Committee
- Prepare the report required by the rules of the SEC to be included in the Company's annual proxy statement.
Hiring Policies
- Set clear policies for the Company's hiring of employees or former employees of the independent auditor and ensure that such policies comply with any regulations applicable to the Company from time to time.
Ethics Compliance and Complaint Procedures
- Develop and monitor compliance with a code of ethics for senior financial officers pursuant to and to the extent required by regulations applicable to the Company from time to time.
- Develop and monitor compliance with a code of conduct for all Company employees, officers and directors pursuant to and to the extent required by regulations applicable to the Company from time to time.
- Establish procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters.
- Establish procedures for the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.
Reports to Board
- Report regularly to the Board any issues that arise with respect to the quality and integrity of the Company's financial statements, the Company's compliance with legal or regulatory requirements, the performance and independence of the internal and independent auditors and the performance of the internal audit function.
- Provide minutes of Committee meetings to the Board and report to the Board on any significant matters arising from the Committee's work.
Related-Party Transactions
- Review and approve all related-party transactions, including transactions between the Company and its officers or directors or affiliates of officers or directors, unless this responsibility has been assigned or delegated to another committee of independent directors.
Meetings:
The Committee shall establish a meeting calendar annually, which shall include at least four quarterly meetings for the year. The Committee may hold such other meetings as are necessary or appropriate in order for the Committee to fulfill its responsibilities. In the absence of a member designated by the Board to serve as chair, the members of the Committee may appoint from among their number a person to preside at their meetings.
The Committee shall meet at least quarterly in separate executive sessions with management, internal audit personnel and the independent auditor to discuss matters that the Committee or the other groups believe warrant Committee attention.
Evaluation:
The Committee shall review and reassess this Charter at least annually and, if appropriate, propose changes to the Board.
The Committee shall obtain or perform an annual evaluation of the Committee's performance and make applicable recommendations for improvement.
It is not the responsibility of the Committee to plan or conduct audits or to determine whether the Company's financial statements are complete and accurate or in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
