Charter of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors
Purpose and Policy
The Audit Committee shall provide assistance and guidance to the Board of Directors of the Company in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities to the Company's stockholders with respect to the Company's corporate accounting and reporting practices as well as the quality and integrity of the Company's financial statements and reports. The policy of the Audit Committee, in discharging these obligations, shall be to maintain and foster an open avenue of communication among the Audit Committee, the independent auditors and the Company's financial management.
Composition and Organization
The Audit Committee shall consist of three to five independent members of the Board of Directors. The members of the Audit Committee shall satisfy the experience requirements of the Nasdaq National Market ("NASDAQ").
The Audit Committee shall hold such regular or special meetings as its members shall deem necessary or appropriate. Minutes of each meeting of the Audit Committee shall be prepared and distributed to each director of the Company promptly after each meeting. The operation of the Audit Committee shall be subject to the Bylaws of the Company as in effect from time to time and Section 141 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Responsibilities
In fulfilling its responsibilities, the Audit Committee believes that its functions and procedures should remain flexible in order to address changing conditions most effectively. To implement the policy of the Audit Committee, the Committee shall be charged with the following functions:
To recommend annually to the Board of Directors the firm of certified public accountants to be employed by the Company as its independent auditors for the ensuing year, which firm is ultimately accountable to the Audit Committee and the Board, as representatives of the Company's stockholders.
To review the engagement of the independent auditors, including the scope, extent and procedures of the audit and the compensation to be paid therefore, and all other matters the Audit Committee deems appropriate.
To evaluate, together with the Board, the performance of the independent auditors and, if so determined by the Audit Committee, to recommend that the Board replace the independent auditors.
To receive written statements from the independent auditors delineating all relationships between the auditors and the Company consistent with Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, to consider and discuss with the auditors any disclosed relationships or services that could affect the auditors' objectivity and independence and otherwise to take, and if so determined by the Audit Committee, to recommend that the Board take, appropriate action to oversee the independence of the auditors.
To review, upon completion of the audit, the financial statements to be included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The committee shall review the interim financial statements with management and the independent auditors prior to the public announcement of the quarterly results. Also, the committee shall discuss the results of the quarterly review and any other matters required to be communicated to the committee by the independent auditors under generally accepted auditing standards. The chair of the committee or a specified designee may represent the entire committee for the purposes of this review.
To discuss with the independent auditors the results of the annual audit, including the auditors' assessment of the quality, not just acceptability, of accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments, the nature of significant risks and exposures, the adequacy of the disclosures in the financial statements and any other matters required to be communicated to the Committee by the independent auditors under generally accepted accounting standards.
To evaluate the cooperation received by the independent auditors during their audit examination, including any restrictions on the scope of their activities or access to required records, data and information.
To confer with the independent auditors and with the senior management of the Company regarding the scope, adequacy and effectiveness of internal accounting and financial reporting controls in effect.
To confer with the independent auditors and senior management in separate executive sessions to discuss any matters that the Audit Committee, the independent auditors or senior management believe should be discussed privately with the Audit Committee.
To investigate any matter brought to the attention of the Audit Committee within the scope of its duties, with the power to retain outside counsel and a separate accounting firm for this purpose if, in the judgment of the Audit Committee, such investigation or retention is necessary or appropriate.
To prepare the report required by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission to be included in the Company's annual proxy statement, if applicable.
To review and assess the adequacy of this charter annually and recommend any proposal changes to the Board for approval.
To report to the Board of Directors from time to time or whenever it shall be called upon to do so.
To perform such other functions and to have such powers as may be necessary or appropriate in the efficient and lawful discharge of the foregoing.