1. |
Be directly responsible for (a) the appointment, compensation, retention, (including termination), scope and oversight of the work of any independent registered public
accounting firm engaged by the Company (including for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attestation services or other work for the Company), and (b) the resolution of any disagreements
between management and any such firm regarding financial reporting.
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2. |
Have the sole authority to review in advance, and pre-approve (which may be pursuant to pre-approval policies and procedures) all audit or non-audit services to be
provided by the Company’s independent or other auditors as permitted by Section 10A of the Exchange Act and to approve all related fees and other terms of engagement. The Committee shall also review and approve disclosures required to be
included by the Company in periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act with
respect to audit and non-audit services.
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3. |
At least annually, obtain and review a formal written report from the Company’s independent auditor (a) describing such firm’s internal quality control procedures, (b)
describing any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality control review, peer review or Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”)
review or inspection of such 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 such firm, and any steps taken to
deal with any such issues, and (c) assessing such firm’s independence, including delineating all relationships and engagements that may reasonably be thought to bear on the independence of the auditor, including those between the auditor and
the Company. The Committee shall discuss this report with the Company’s independent auditor and shall take appropriate action to ensure the independence of the independent auditor and to address any other matters based on such report.
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4. |
Confirm that the “lead partner,” the “concurring partner” and the other “audit partner” rotation requirements under the Applicable Requirements, including Regulation
S-X have been complied with and set clear policies for audit partner rotation in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
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5. |
Review all reports and communications required to be submitted by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm to the Committee under Section 10A of the
Securities Exchange Act and other Applicable Requirements. Such reports should describe (i) the independent registered public accounting firm’s internal quality-control procedures, (ii) any material issues raised by the most recent internal
quality-control review, or peer review, of the audit 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 such issues and (iii) all relationships between the independent registered public accounting firm and the Company to assess the independent registered public accounting firm’s independence.
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6. |
At least annually, evaluate the performance of the Company’s independent auditor, including the lead audit partner. In making its evaluation, the Committee should take
into account the opinions of management and the internal audit group.
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7. |
Review and discuss with the Company’s independent auditor all relationships the auditor has with the Company and evaluate the auditor’s continued independence.
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8. |
Determine the Company’s hiring policies regarding partners, employees and former partners and employees of the Company’s independent auditor.
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9. |
Review and discuss the Company’s annual audited and quarterly unaudited financial statements with management (including the Company’s internal audit group) and the
Company’s independent auditor, including disclosures made in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” to be included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K or quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.
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10. |
Recommend to the Board whether the Company’s annual audited financial statements should be included in the Company’s annual report for filing with the SEC and timely
prepare the report required by the SEC to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement, if applicable, and any other reports of the Committee required by any Applicable Requirement.
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11. |
Review and discuss with management and the Company’s independent auditor (a) major issues regarding, or significant changes in, the Company’s accounting principles and
financial statement presentations, (b) analyses prepared by management or the Company’s independent auditor concerning significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of the financial statements,
(c) the effect of regulatory and accounting initiatives, as well as off-balance sheet structures, on the financial statements of the Company, and (d) the type and presentation of information to be included in earnings press releases and any
financial information and earnings guidance provided to analysts and rating agencies.
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12. |
Prior to the filing of any audited financial statements with the SEC, review with management and the Company’s independent auditor (a) all critical accounting policies
and practices used by the Company, (b) all alternative accounting treatments of financial information reported in GAAP related to material items that have been discussed with management, including the ramifications of the use of such
alternative treatments and disclosures and the treatment preferred by the Company’s independent auditor, (c) any reports or communications (and management’s responses thereto) submitted to the Committee by the Company’s independent auditor in
accordance with PCAOB Auditing Standard No. 16, Communications with Audit Committees, as amended or supplemented, and (d) any other
material written communications between the Company’s independent auditor and management.
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13. |
Periodically review separately with each of management, the Company’s independent auditor and the internal audit group (a) any significant disagreement between
management and the Company’s independent auditor or the internal audit group in connection with the preparation of the financial statements, (b) any audit problems or difficulties encountered during the course of the audit, including any
restrictions on the scope of work or access to required information, and (c) management’s response to each. The Committee shall discuss with the independent auditor material issues on which the national office of the independent auditor was
consulted by the Company’s audit team.
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14. |
Periodically discuss with the Company’s independent auditor, without management being present, (a) their judgment about the quality, integrity and appropriateness of
the Company’s accounting principles and financial disclosure practices as applied in its financial reporting and (b) the completeness and accuracy of the Company’s financial statements.
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15. |
Review and discuss with management the Company’s earnings press releases, including the use of non-GAAP financial measures and other “pro forma” or “adjusted”
presentations, as well as financial information and earnings guidance provided to analysts and rating agencies. Such discussions may be general (consisting of discussing the types of information to be disclosed and the types of presentations
to be made), and each earnings release or each instance in which the Company provides earnings guidance need not be discussed in advance.
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16. |
Review and discuss with management all material off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements, obligations (including contingent obligations) and other relationships of
the Company with unconsolidated entities or other persons.
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17. |
Review and approve the Company’s decision to enter into swaps and other derivatives transactions that are exempt from exchange-execution and clearing under “end-user
exception” regulations established by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission; and review and approve the Company’s policies governing the Company’s use of swaps and other derivatives transactions subject to the end- user exception.
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18. |
Review and discuss with management and the internal audit group the Company’s major financial risk exposures and management’s risk assessment and risk management
policies.
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19. |
Review, based on the recommendation of the Company’s independent auditor and the person responsible for the Company’s internal audit group, the scope and plan of the
work to be done by the internal audit group and the responsibilities, budget, audit plan, activities, organizational structure and staffing of the internal audit group as needed.
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20. |
Receive reports from the internal audit group on the status of significant findings and recommendations, and management’s responses.
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21. |
Review on an annual basis the performance of the internal audit group.
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22. |
In consultation with the Company’s management, independent auditor and the internal audit group, review the adequacy of the Company’s internal controls, disclosure
processes and its procedures designed to ensure compliance with laws and regulations, and any special audit steps adopted in light of material control deficiencies.
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23. |
Review (a) the internal control report prepared by management, including management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial
reporting and (b) the Company’s independent auditor’s attestation, and report, on the assessment made by management, in each case, as and when required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Discuss with management, the internal
audit group and the independent auditor any changes in internal control over financial reporting disclosed or considered for disclosure in the Company’s periodic filings with the SEC.
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24. |
Review with management and the Company’s independent auditor any reports or disclosure submitted by management to the Committee as contemplated by the certifications
required under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
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25. |
Review with management any management letters and the steps management intends to take to address the issues raised by those letters.
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26. |
Monitor compliance with the Company’s Code of Conduct and Ethics, and oversee, review and discuss with management, at least annually, the implementation and
effectiveness of the Company’s compliance and ethics programs. Review and take appropriate action with respect to any reports to the Committee from legal counsel for the Company concerning any material violation of securities law or breach of
fiduciary duty or similar violation by the Company, its subsidiaries or any person acting on their behalf. As appropriate, the Committee shall report and make recommendations to the Board with respect to these matters.
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27. |
Establish procedures for (a) the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing
matters and (b) the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company whose financial information is included in the Company’s financial statements of concerns regarding questionable
accounting or auditing matters.
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28. |
Review and approve (a) any amendment to or waiver from the Company’s code of ethics for the co-chief executive officers and senior financial officers and (b) any public
disclosure made regarding such change or waiver and advise the Board with respect to the Company’s policies and procedures regarding compliance with the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.
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29. |
Develop and recommend to the Board for approval policies and procedures for the review, approval or ratification of related person transactions required to be disclosed
pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K, as may be amended from time to time, and any other applicable requirements (the “Related Person Transactions Policy”).
Review the Related Person Transactions Policy at least annually and recommend to the Board for approval any changes to the Policy. Oversee the implementation of and compliance with the Related Person Transactions Policy, including reviewing,
approving or ratifying related person transactions, as appropriate pursuant to the Related Person Transaction Policy.
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30. |
Review with management, the independent registered public accounting firm, and our legal advisors, as appropriate, any legal, regulatory or compliance matters,
including any correspondence with regulators or government agencies and any employee complaints or published reports that raise material issues regarding our financial statements or accounting policies and any significant changes in
accounting standards or rules promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
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31. |
Review and assess annually its own performance and the adequacy of this Charter and recommend to the Board any changes to this Charter deemed appropriate by the
Committee.
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32. |
Report regularly to the Board.
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33. |
Perform any other activities consistent with this Charter, the Company’s organizational documents, as required under the Applicable Requirements or as the Committee or
the Board otherwise deems necessary or appropriate.
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