SCHEID VINEYARDS INC.
CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS
Our Code has policies encouraging individual and peer integrity, ethical behavior and our responsibilities to our employees, customers, suppliers, stockholders, and the public, and includes:
The information below are those portions of our code of business conduct and ethics, which address the issues listed above.
A Message About the Code from the President and CEO:
To All Officers, Directors and Employees:
One of our Company's most valuable assets is its integrity. Protecting this asset is the job of everyone in the Company. To that end, we have established a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. The Code applies to every officer, director and employee. We also expect that those with whom we do business (including our agents, consultants, suppliers and customers) will also adhere to the Code. Our Code is designed to help you comply with the law and maintain the highest standards of ethical conduct. The Code does not cover every issue that may arise, but it sets out basic principles and a methodology to help guide you in the attainment of this common goal.
All of the Company's officers, directors and employees must carry out their duties in accordance with the policies set forth in this Code and with applicable laws and regulations. To the extent that other Company polices and procedures conflict with this Code, you should follow this Code. Any violation of applicable law or any deviation from the standards embodied in this Code will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination. Disciplinary action also may apply to an employee's supervisor who directs or approves the employee's improper actions, or is aware of those actions but does not act appropriately to correct them. In addition to imposing its own discipline, the Company may also bring suspected violations of law to the attention of the appropriate law enforcement personnel. If you are in a situation which you believe may violate or lead to a violation of this Code, follow the procedures described in Sections 10 and 11 of the Code.
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| Scott D. Scheid | |
| President and Chief Executive Officer |
SCHEID VINEYARDS INC.
CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS
The Nasdaq rules require that the Company provide a code of conduct for all of its directors, officers and employees. This Company is committed to being a good corporate citizen. The Company's policy is to conduct its business affairs honestly and in an ethical manner. That goal cannot be achieved unless you individually accept your responsibility to promote integrity and demonstrate the highest level of ethical conduct in all of your activities. Activities that may call into question the Company's reputation or integrity should be avoided. The Company understands that not every situation is black and white. The key to compliance with the Code is exercising good judgment. This means following the spirit of this Code and the law, doing the “right” thing and acting ethically even when the law is not specific. When you are faced with a business situation where you must determine the right thing to do, you should ask the following questions:
Managers set an example for other employees and are often responsible for directing the actions of others. Every manager and supervisor is expected to take necessary actions to ensure compliance with this Code, to provide guidance and assist employees in resolving questions concerning the Code and to permit employees to express any concerns regarding compliance with this Code. No one has the authority to order another employee to act contrary to this Code.
The Company seeks to comply with both the letter and spirit of the laws and regulations in all countries in which it operates.
The Company is committed to full compliance with the laws and regulations of the cities, states and countries in which it operates. You must comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations in performing your duties for the Company. Numerous federal, state and local laws and regulations define and establish obligations with which the Company, its employees and agents must comply. Under certain circumstances, local country law may establish requirements that differ from this Code. You are expected to comply with all local country laws in conducting the Company's business. If you violate these laws or regulations in performing your duties for the Company, you not only risk individual indictment, prosecution and penalties, and civil actions and penalties, you also subject the Company to the same risks and penalties. If you violate these laws in performing your duties for the Company, you may be subject to immediate disciplinary action, including possible termination of your employment or affiliation with the Company.
As explained below, you should always consult your manager or the Compliance Officer with any questions about the legality of you or your colleagues' conduct.
It is of paramount importance to the Company that all disclosure in reports and documents that the Company files with, or submits to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and in other public communications made by the Company is full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable. You must take all steps available to assist the Company in these responsibilities consistent with your role within the Company. In particular, you are required to provide prompt and accurate answers to all inquiries made to you in connection with the Company's preparation of its public reports and disclosure.
The Company's Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) are responsible for designing, establishing, maintaining, reviewing and evaluating on a quarterly basis the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined by applicable SEC rules). The Company's CEO and CFO and such other Company officers are designated from time to time by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors shall be deemed the Senior Officers of the Company. Senior Officers shall take all steps necessary or advisable to ensure that all disclosure in reports and documents filed with or submitted to the SEC, and all disclosure in other public communication made by the Company is full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable.
Senior Officers are also responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Senior Officers will take all necessary steps to ensure compliance with established accounting procedures, the Company's system of internal controls and generally accepted accounting principles. Senior Officers will ensure that the Company makes and keeps books, records, and accounts, which, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company. Senior Officers will also ensure that the Company devises and maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that:
Any attempt to enter inaccurate or fraudulent information into the Company's accounting system will not be tolerated and will result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.
Senior Officers each bear a special responsibility for promoting integrity throughout the Company. Furthermore, the Senior Officers have a responsibility to foster a culture throughout the Company as a whole that ensures the fair and timely reporting of the Company's results of operation and financial condition and other financial information.
Because of this special role, the Senior Officers are bound by the following Financial Officer Code of Ethics, and by accepting the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics each agrees that he or she will:
You should never trade securities on the basis of confidential information acquired through your employment or fiduciary relationship with the Company.
You are prohibited under both federal law and Company policy from purchasing or selling Company stock, directly or indirectly, on the basis of material non-public information concerning the Company. Any person possessing material non-public information about the Company must not engage in transactions involving Company securities until this information has been released to the public. Generally, material information is that which would be expected to affect the investment decisions of a reasonable investor or the market price of the stock. You must also refrain from trading in the stock of other publicly held companies, such as existing or potential customers or suppliers, on the basis of material confidential information obtained in the course of your employment or service as a director. It is also illegal to recommend a stock to (i.e., “tip”) someone else on the basis of such information. If you have a question concerning appropriateness or legality of a particular securities transaction, consult with the Company's Compliance Officer.
You must avoid any situation in which your personal interests conflict or even appear to conflict with the Company's interests. You owe a duty to the Company not to compromise the Company's legitimate interests and to advance such interests when the opportunity to do so arises in the course of your employment.
You shall perform your duties to the Company in an honest and ethical manner. You shall handle all actual or apparent conflicts of interest between your personal and professional relationships in an ethical manner.
You should avoid situations in which your personal, family or financial interests conflict or even appear to conflict with those of the Company. You may not engage in activities that compete with the Company or compromise its interests. You should not take for your own benefit opportunities discovered in the course of employment that you have reason to know would benefit the Company. The following are examples of actual or potential conflicts:
Neither you, nor members of your immediate family, are permitted to solicit or accept valuable gifts, payments, special favors or other consideration from customers, suppliers or competitors. Any gifts may be accepted only on behalf of the Company with the approval of your manager and the Compliance Officer.
Conflicts are not always clear-cut. If you become aware of a conflict described above or any other conflict, potential conflict, or have a question as to a potential conflict, you should consult with your manager or the Company's Compliance Officer and/or follow the procedures described in Sections 10 and 11 of the Code. If you become involved in a situation that gives rise to an actual conflict, you must inform your manager or the Company's Compliance Officer of the conflict.
All confidential information concerning the Company obtained by you is the property of the Company and must be protected.
Confidential information includes all non-public information that might be of use to competitors, or harmful to the Company or its customers, if disclosed. You must maintain the confidentiality of such information entrusted to you by the Company, its customers and its suppliers, except when disclosure is authorized by the Company or required by law.
Examples of confidential information include, but are not limited to: the Company's trade secrets; business trends and projections; information about financial performance; new product or marketing plans; research and development ideas or information; manufacturing processes; information about potential acquisitions, divestitures and investments; stock splits, public or private securities offerings or changes in dividend policies or amounts; significant personnel changes; and existing or potential major contracts, orders, suppliers, customers or finance sources or the loss thereof.
Your obligation with respect to confidential information extends beyond the workplace. In that respect, it applies to communications with your family members and continues to apply even after your employment or director relationship with the Company terminates.
Our goal is to conduct our business with integrity.
You should endeavor to deal honestly with the Company's customers, suppliers, competitors, and employees. Under federal and state laws, the Company is prohibited from engaging in unfair methods of competition, and unfair or deceptive acts and practices. You should not take unfair advantage of anyone through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation of material facts, or any other unfair dealing.
Examples of prohibited conduct include, but are not limited to:
You should endeavor to protect the Company's assets and ensure their proper use.
Company assets, both tangible and intangible, are to be used only for legitimate business purposes of the Company and only by authorized employees or consultants. Intangible assets include intellectual property such as trade secrets, patents, trademarks and copyrights, business, marketing and service plans, engineering and manufacturing ideas, designs, databases, Company records, salary information, and any unpublished financial data and reports. Unauthorized alteration, destruction, use, disclosure or distribution of Company assets violates Company policy and this Code. Theft or waste of, or carelessness in using, these assets have a direct adverse impact on the Company's operations and profitability and will not be tolerated.
The Company provides computers, voice mail, electronic mail (e-mail), and Internet access to certain employees for the purpose of achieving the Company's business objectives. As a result, the Company has the right to access, reprint, publish, or retain any information created, sent or contained in any of the Company's computers or e-mail systems of any Company machine. You may not use e-mail, the Internet or voice mail for any illegal purpose or in any manner that is contrary to the Company's policies or the standards embodied in this Code.
You should not make copies of, or resell or transfer (externally or internally), copyrighted publications, including software, manuals, articles, books, and databases being used in the Company, that were created by another entity and licensed to the Company, unless you are authorized to do so under the applicable license agreement. In no event should you load or use, on any Company computer, any software, third party content or database without receiving the prior permission of the Chief Information Officer to do so. You must refrain from transferring any data or information to any Company computer other than for Company use. You may use a handheld computing device or mobile phone in connection with your work for the Company, but must not use such device or phone to access, load or transfer content, software or data in violation of any applicable law or regulation or without the permission of the owner of such content, software or data. If you should have any question as to what is permitted in this regard, please consult with the Company's Chief Information Officer.
You should report any violation or suspected violation of this Code to the appropriate Company personnel or via the Company's anonymous and confidential reporting procedures.
The Company's efforts to ensure observance of, and adherence to, the goals and policies outlined in this Code mandate that you promptly bring to the attention of the Compliance Officer or, if appropriate, the Chair of the Audit Committee, any material transaction, relationship, act, failure to act, occurrence or practice that you believe, in good faith, is inconsistent with, in violation, or reasonably could be expected to give rise to a violation, of this Code. You should report any suspected violations of the Company's financial reporting obligations or any complaints or concerns about questionable accounting or auditing practices in accordance with the procedures set forth below.
Here are some approaches to handling your reporting obligations:
Mail a description of the suspected violation or other complaint or concern to:
Compliance Officer
305 Hilltown Road
Salinas, CA 93908
or
Audit Committee Chair
305 Hilltown Road
Salinas, CA 93908
The Company has established this Code as part of its overall policies and procedures. To the extent that other Company policies and procedures conflict with this Code, you should follow this Code. The Code applies to all Company directors and Company employees, including all officers, in all locations.
The Code is based on the Company's core values, good business practices and applicable law. The existence of a Code, however, does not ensure that directors, officers and employees will comply with it or act in a legal and ethical manner. To achieve optimal legal and ethical behavior, the individuals subject to the Code must know and understand the Code as it applies to them and as it applies to others. You must champion the Code and assist others in knowing and understanding it.
The most current version of this Code will be posted and maintained on the Company's website and filed as an exhibit to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K shall disclose that the Code is maintained on the website and shall disclose that substantive amendments and waivers will also be posted on the Company's website.
Any substantive amendment or waiver of this Code (i.e., a material departure from the requirements of any provision) particularly applicable to or directed at executive officers or directors may be made only after approval by the Board of Directors (after receiving a recommendation from a committee comprised of a majority of independent directors) and will be disclosed within five (5) business days of such action (a) on the Company's website for a period of not less than twelve (12) months and (b) in a Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such disclosure shall include the reasons for any waiver. The Company shall retain the disclosure relating to any such amendment or waiver for less than five (5) years.
SCHEID VINEYARDS INC.
POLICY FOR REPORTING VIOLATIONS AND COMPLAINTS
(Whistle Blower Policy)
One of our Company's most valuable assets is its integrity. Protecting this asset is the job of everyone in the Company. We have established a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics to help our employees comply with the law and regulations applicable to our business and to maintain the highest standards of ethical conduct. This policy is meant to supplement our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics by encouraging employees to report any suspected violations or concerns as to compliance with laws, regulations, our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics or other Company policies, or any complaints or concerns regarding the Company's accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters, or any concerns regarding any questionable accounting or auditing matters.
It is every employee's obligation to report suspected or actual violations of laws, government rules and regulations, or the Company's Code of Business Conduct and Ethics or other Company policies. You must report any suspected violations of the laws and rules that govern the reporting of the Company's financial performance, and any complaint or concern regarding the Company's accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters, or any concerns regarding any questionable accounting or auditing matters.
You can report any such matters directly to your supervisor or manager or by the procedures set forth below. As noted below, supervisors and managers are required to report to the Compliance Officer any time they receive a report of a concern about our compliance with laws, the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics or other Company policy, any notice of any suspected wrong-doing by any Company employee, officer or director, any complaint or concern about the Company's accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters, or any concerns regarding any questionable accounting or auditing matters.
Alternatively, if you wish to report any such matters anonymously, you may do so as follows:
Compliance Officer
305 Hilltown Road
Salinas, CA 93908
or
Audit Committee Chair
305 Hilltown Road
Salinas, CA 93908Contact
Each supervisor and manager shall report any suspected violation, concern or complaint reported to such person by employees or other sources to the Compliance Officer to assure proper treatment and retention of complaints, concerns or notices of potential violations. In addition, employees should take note that persons outside the Company may report complaints or concerns about suspected violations, or concerns regarding internal accounting controls, accounting or auditing matters. These concerns and complaints should be reported immediately on receipt to the Compliance Officer.
Supervisors and managers as well as the Compliance Officer shall promptly consider the information, reports or notices received by them under this policy or otherwise. Each person shall take appropriate action, including investigation as appropriate, in accordance with the law, governmental rules and regulations, the Company's Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and otherwise consistent with good business practice.
Upon a report to Compliance Officer, all notices or reports of suspected violations, complaints or concerns received pursuant to this policy shall be recorded in a log, indicating the description of the matter reported, the date of the report and the disposition thereof, and the log shall be retained for five (5) years. This log shall be maintained by the Compliance Officer.
It is a federal crime for anyone to retaliate intentionally against any person who provides truthful information to a law enforcement official concerning a possible violation of any federal law. Moreover, the Company will not permit any form of intimidation or retaliation by any officer, employee, contractor, subcontractor or agent of the Company against any employee because of any lawful act done by that employee to:
Any such action is a violation of Company policy and should be reported immediately under this policy.
The Company will, to the extent reasonably possible, keep confidential both the information and concerns reported under this policy, and its discussions and actions in response to these reports and concerns. In the course of its investigation, however, the Company may find it necessary to share information with others on a “need to know” basis.
CHARTER OF
THE NOMINATING AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
This Charter specifies the scope of the responsibilities of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Scheid Vineyards (the “Company”) and the manner in which those responsibilities shall be performed, including its structure, processes and membership requirements.
The primary responsibilities of the Committee are to (i) identify individuals qualified to become Board members; (ii) select, or recommend to the Board, director nominees for each election of directors; (iii) develop and recommend to the Board criteria for selecting qualified director candidates; (iv) consider committee member qualifications, appointment and removal; (v) recommend corporate governance principles, applicable to the Company, and (vi) provide oversight in the evaluation of the Board and each committee.
The Committee shall be comprised of at least two or more directors, each of whom shall satisfy the independence requirements established by the rules of Nasdaq.
The members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Board and shall serve until their successors are duly elected and qualified or their earlier resignation or removal. Any member of the Committee may be removed or replaced by the Board. Unless a chairman is elected by the full Board, the members of the Committee may designate a chairman by majority vote of the full Committee membership. The Committee may, from time to time, delegate duties or responsibilities to subcommittees or to one member of the Committee.
A majority of the members shall represent a quorum of the Committee, and, if a quorum is present, any action approved by at least a majority of the members present shall represent the valid action of the Committee.
The Committee shall have the authority to obtain advice or assistance from consultants, legal counsel, accounting or other advisors as appropriate to perform its duties hereunder, and to determine the terms, costs and fees for such engagements. Without limitation, the Committee shall have the sole authority to retain or terminate any search firm to be used to identify director candidates and to determine and approve the terms, costs and fees for such engagements. The fees and costs of any consultant or advisor engaged by the Committee to assist the Committee in performing its duties hereunder shall be borne by the Company.
The Committee shall meet as often as it deems necessary to fulfill its responsibilities hereunder, and may meet with management or individual directors at any time it deems appropriate to discuss any matters before the Committee.
The Committee shall maintain written minutes of its meetings, which minutes will be filed with the minutes of the meetings of the Board.
To fulfill its responsibilities and duties hereunder, the Committee shall:
i. Evaluate and select, or recommend to the Board, director nominees for each election of directors, except that if the Company is at any time legally required by contract or otherwise to provide any third party with the ability to nominate a director, the Committee need not evaluate or propose such nomination, unless required by contract or requested by the Board.
ii. Determine criteria for selecting new directors, including desired board skills and attributes, and identify and actively seek individuals qualified to become directors.
iii. Consider any nominations of director candidates validly made by stockholders.
iv. Review and make recommendations to the Board concerning qualifications, appointment and removal of committee members.
i. Develop, recommend for Board approval, and review on an ongoing basis the adequacy of, the corporate governance principles applicable to the Company. Such principles shall include director qualification standards, director responsibilities, committee responsibilities, director access to management and independent advisors, director compensation, director orientation and continuing education, management succession and annual performance evaluation of the Board and committees.
ii. Review, at least annually, the Company’s compliance with the Nasdaq corporate governance listing requirements, and report to the Board regarding the same.
iii. Assist the Board in developing criteria for the evaluation of Board and committee performance.
iv. Evaluate the Committee’s own performance on an annual basis.
v. If requested by the Board, assist the Board in its evaluation of the performance of the Board and each committee of the Board.
vi. Review and recommend to the Board changes to the Company’s bylaws as needed.
vii. Develop orientation materials for new directors and corporate governance-related continuing education for all Board members.
viii. Make regular reports to the Board regarding the foregoing.
ix. Review and reassess the adequacy of this Charter and recommend any proposed changes to the Board for approval.
x. Perform any other activities consistent with this Charter, the Company’s Bylaws and governing law, as the Committee or the Board deems necessary or appropriate.
CHARTER OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE
This Charter specifies the scope of the responsibilities of the Audit Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Scheid Vineyards Inc. (the “Company”) and the manner in which those responsibilities shall be performed, including its structure, processes and membership requirements.
The primary purpose of the Committee is to oversee the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Company and the audits of the Company’s financial statements. The Committee shall also review the qualifications, independence and performance, and approve the terms of engagement of the Company’s independent auditor, and prepare any reports required of the Committee under rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
The Company shall provide appropriate funding, as determined by the Committee, to permit the Committee to perform its duties under this Charter, to compensate its advisors and to compensate any registered public accounting firm engaged for the purpose of rendering or issuing an audit report or related work or performing other audit, review or attest services for the Company. The Committee, at its discretion, has the authority to initiate special investigations and hire special legal, accounting or other outside advisors or experts to assist the Committee, as it deems necessary, to fulfill its duties under this Charter. The Committee may also perform such other activities consistent with this Charter, the Company’s Bylaws and governing law, as the Committee or the Board deems necessary or appropriate.
The Committee shall be comprised of two or more directors selected by the Board, each of whom shall satisfy the independence and experience requirements of the Nasdaq Stock Market. In addition, the Committee shall not include any member who:
· accepts any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fee, directly or indirectly, from the Company, other than in his or her capacity as a member of the Committee, the Board, or any other committee of the Board; or
· is an executive officer of the Company, or beneficially owns or controls, directly or indirectly, more than 10% of the Company’s outstanding common stock or is otherwise an affiliate of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, other than a director who meets the independence requirements of the Nasdaq Stock Market.
Each member of the Committee must be able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including a balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement. In addition, at least one member shall have past employment experience in finance or accounting, professional certification in accounting, or other comparable experience or background resulting in the individual being financially sophisticated, which may include being or having been a chief executive, chief financial or other senior officer with financial oversight responsibilities.
The members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Board and shall serve until their successors are duly elected and qualified or their earlier resignation or removal. Any member of the Committee may be replaced by the Board. Unless a chairman is elected by the full Board, the members of the Committee may designate a chairman by majority vote of the full Committee membership.
The Committee shall meet, either in person or telephonically, as often as it determines but not less frequently than quarterly. The Committee may form and delegate authority to subcommittees, or to one or more members of the Committee, when appropriate. The Committee shall meet with management and the independent auditor in separate executive sessions as appropriate to review the Company’s financial statements and financial reports. The Committee shall maintain written minutes of its meetings, which minutes will be filed with the minutes of the meetings of the Board. The Committee will also record summaries of its recommendations to the Board in written form, which will be incorporated as part of the minutes of the Board meeting at which those recommendations are presented.
To fulfill its responsibilities and duties, the Committee shall:
1. Be directly and solely responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of any independent auditor (including resolution of disagreements between management and the independent auditor regarding financial reporting) engaged by the Company for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work, with each such auditor reporting directly to the Committee.
2. Periodically review and discuss with the independent auditor (i) the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended, and (ii) any formal written statements received from the independent auditor consistent with and in satisfaction of Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, as amended, including without limitation, descriptions of (x) all relationships between the auditor and the Company, (y) any disclosed relationships or services that may impact the independent auditor’s objectivity and independence and (z) whether any of the Company’s senior finance personnel were recently employed by the independent auditor.
3. Consult with the independent auditor to assure the rotation of the lead audit partner having primary responsibility for the audit and the audit partner responsible for reviewing the audit every five years, consider issues related to the timing of such rotation and the transition to new lead and reviewing partners, and consider whether, in order to assure continuing auditor independence, there should be regular rotation of the audit firm, and report to the Board on its conclusions.
4. Approve in advance the engagement of the independent auditor for all audit services and non-audit services, based on independence, qualifications and, if applicable, performance, and approve the fees and other terms of any such engagement; provided, however, that (i) the Committee may establish pre-approval policies and procedures for any engagement to render such services, provided that such polices and procedures (x) are detailed as to particular services, (y) do not involve delegation to management of the Committee’s responsibilities hereunder and (z) provide that, at its next scheduled meeting, the Committee is informed as to each such service for which the independent auditor is engaged pursuant to such policies and procedures, and (ii) the Committee may delegate to one or more members of the Committee the authority to grant pre-approvals for such services, provided that (a) the decisions of such member(s) to grant any such pre-approval shall be presented to the Committee at its next scheduled meeting and (b) the Committee has established policies and procedures for such pre-approval of services consistent with the requirements of clauses (i)(x) and (y) above.
5. Meet with the independent auditor prior to the audit to discuss the planning and staffing of the audit.
6. Approve as necessary the termination of the engagement of the independent auditor.
7. Establish policies for the hiring of employees or former employees of the independent auditor who participated in any capacity in the audit of the Company, taking into account the impact of such policies on auditor independence.
8. Regularly review with the independent auditor any significant difficulties encountered during the course of the audit, any restrictions on the scope of work or access to required information and any significant disagreement among management and the independent auditor in connection with the preparation of the financial statements. Review with the independent auditor (i) any accounting adjustments that were noted or proposed by the auditor but that were “passed” (as immaterial or otherwise), (ii) any “management” or “internal control” letter or schedule of unadjusted differences issued, or proposed to be issued, by the auditor to the Company, or (iii) any other material written communication provided by the auditor to the Company’s management.
9. Review with the independent auditor the critical accounting policies and practices used by the Company, all alternative treatments of financial information within generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) that the independent auditor has discussed with management, the ramifications of the use of such alternative disclosures and treatments and the treatment preferred by the independent auditor.
1. Review and discuss with management and the independent auditor the Company’s annual audited financial statements and any certification, report, opinion or review rendered by the independent auditor, and recommend to the Board whether the audited financial statements should be included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-KSB.
2. Review and discuss with management and the independent auditor the Company’s quarterly financial statements.
3. Review and discuss with management and the independent auditor the Company’s disclosure under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” appearing in the Company’s periodic reports.
4. Review and discuss earnings press releases and other information provided to securities analysts and rating agencies, including any “pro forma” or adjusted financial information.
5. Periodicallymeet separately with management and with the independent auditor.
6. Review with management and the independent auditor any significant judgments made in management’s preparation of the financial statements and the view of each as to appropriateness of such judgments.
7. Review with management its assessment of the effectiveness and adequacy of the Company’s internal control structure and procedures for financial reporting (“Internal Controls”), review annually with the independent auditor the attestation to and report on the assessment made by management, and consider with management and the independent auditor whether any changes to the Internal Controls are appropriate in light of management’s assessment or the independent auditor’s attestation.
8. Review and discuss with management and the independent auditor any off-balance sheet transactions or structures and their effect on the Company’s financial results and operations, as well as the disclosure regarding such transactions and structures in the Company’s public filings.
1. Review with the chief executive and chief financial officer of the Company any report on significant deficiencies in the design or operation of the Internal Controls that could adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize or report financial data, any material weaknesses in Internal Controls identified to the auditors, and any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s Internal Controls.
2. Review and approve any related-party transactions, after reviewing each such transaction for potential conflicts of interests and other improprieties.
3. Establish procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters, and the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the Company of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters. Adopt, as necessary, appropriate remedial measures or actions with respect to such complaints or concerns.
4. As requested by the Board, review and investigate conduct alleged by the Board to be in violation of the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, and adopt as necessary or appropriate, remedial, disciplinary, or other measures with respect to such conduct.
5. Prepare the report required by the rules of the SEC to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement.
6. Review and reassess the Charter’s adequacy as appropriate.