PACIFIC GOLD ENTERTAINMENT INC.
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
Committee Role
The committee’s role is to act on behalf of the Board of Directors and oversee all material aspects of PGE Inc.’s reporting, control, and audit functions, except those specifically related to the responsibilities of another standing committee of the Board of Directors. The audit committee’s role includes a particular focus on the qualitative aspects of financial reporting to shareholders and on PGE Inc.’s processes for the management of business/financial risk and for compliance with significant applicable legal, ethical, and regulatory requirements.
In addition, the committee responsible for: (1) selection and oversight of PGE Inc.’s independent accountant; (2) establishing procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints regarding accounting, internal controls and auditing matters; (3) establishing procedures for the confidential, anonymous submission by PGE Inc.’s employees of concerns regarding accounting and auditing matters; (4) establishing internal financial controls; (5) engaging outside advisors; and, (6) funding for the outside auditor and any outside advisors engagement by the audit committee.
The role also includes coordination with other board committees and maintenance of strong, positive working relationships with management, external and internal auditors, counsel, and other committee advisors.
Committee Membership
The committee will consist of the entire Board of Directors. The committee will have access to its own counsel and other advisors at the committee’s sole discretion.
Committee Operating Principles
The committee will fulfill its responsibilities within the context of the following overriding principles:
| 1. | Communications - The chairperson and others on the committee will, to the extent appropriate, have contact throughout the year with senior management, other committee chairpersons, and other key committee advisors, external and internal auditors, etc., as applicable, to strengthen the committee’s knowledge of relevant current and prospective business issues. |
| 2. | Committee Education/Orientation - The committee, with management, will develop and participate in a process for review of important financial and operating topics that present potential significant risk to PGE Inc. Additionally, individual committee members are encouraged to participate in relevant and appropriate self-study education to assure understanding of the business and environment in which PGE Inc. operates. |
| 3. | Annual Plan - The committee, with input from management and other key committee advisors, will develop an annual plan responsive to the “primary committee responsibilities” detailed herein. The annual plan will be reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors. |
| 4. | Meeting Agenda - Committee meeting agendas will be the responsibility of the committee chairperson, with input from committee members. It is expected that the chairperson would also ask for management and key committee advisors, and perhaps others, to participate in this process. |
| 5. | Committee Expectations and Information Needs - The committee will communicate committee expectations and the nature, timing, and extent of committee information needs to management, internal audit, and external parties, including external auditors. Written materials, including key performance indicators and measures related to key business and financial risks will be received from management, auditors, and others at least one week in advance of meeting dates. Meeting conduct will assume members of the Board of Directors have reviewed written materials in sufficient depth to participate in committee/board dialogue. |
| 6. | External Resources -The committee will be authorized to access internal and external resources, as the committee requires, to carry out its responsibilities. |
| 7. | Committee Meeting Attendees - The committee will request members of management, counsel, internal audit, and external auditors, as applicable, to participate in committee meetings, as necessary, to carry out the committee responsibilities. Periodically and at least annually, the committee will meet in private session with only the committee members. It will be understood that either internal or external auditors, or counsel, may, at any time, request a meeting with the audit committee or committee chairperson with or without management attendance. In any case, the committee will meet in executive session separately with internal and external auditors, at least annually. |
| 8. | Reporting to the Board of Directors - The committee, through the committee chairperson, will report periodically, as deemed necessary, but at least semi-annually, to the Board of Directors. In addition, summarized minutes from committee meetings, separately identifying monitoring activities from approvals, will be available to each board member at least one week prior to the subsequent Board of Directors’ meeting. |
| 9. | Committee Self Assessment - The committee will review, discuss, and assess its own performance as well as the committee role and responsibilities, seeking input from senior management, the Board of Directors, and others. Changes in role and/or responsibilities, if any, will be recommended to the Board of Directors for approval. |
Meeting Frequency
The committee will meet at least three times quarterly. Additional meetings will be scheduled as considered necessary by the committee or chairperson.
Reporting to Shareholders
The committee will make available to shareholders a summary report on the scope of its activities. This may be identical to the report that appears in PGE Inc.’s annual report.
Committee’s Relationship with External and Internal Auditors
| 1. | The external auditors, in their capacity as independent public accountants, will be responsible to the Board of Directors and the audit committee as representatives of the shareholders. |
| 2. | As the external auditors review financial reports, they will be reporting to the audit committee. They will report all relevant issues to the committee responsive to agreed-on committee expectations. In executing its oversight role, the Board of Directors or committee should review the work of external auditors. |
| 3. | The committee will annually review the performance (effectiveness, objectivity, and independence) of the external and internal auditors. The committee will ensure receipt of a formal written statement from the external auditors consistent with standards set by the Independent Standards Board and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Additionally, the committee will discuss with the auditor relationships or services that may affect auditor objectivity or independence. If the committee is not satisfied with the auditors’ assurances of independence, it will take or recommend to the Board of Directors appropriate action to ensure the independence of the external auditor. |
| 4. | The internal audit function will be responsible to the Board of Directors through the committee. |
| 5. | If either the internal or the external auditors identify significant issues relative to the overall board responsibility that have been communicated to management but, in their judgment, have not been adequately addressed, they should communicate these issues to the committee chairperson. |
| 6. | Changes in the directors of internal audit or corporate compliance will be subject to committee approval. |
Primary Committee Responsibilities
Monitor Financial Reporting and Risk Control Related Matters
The committee should review and assess:
| 1. | Risk Management - PGE Inc.’s business risk management process, including the adequacy of PGE Inc.’s overall control environment and controls in selected areas representing significant financial and business risk. |
| 2. | Annual Reports and Other Major Regulatory Filings - All major financial reports in advance of filings or distribution. |
| 3. | Internal Controls and Regulatory Compliance - PGE Inc.’s system of internal controls for detecting accounting and reporting financial errors, fraud and defalcations, legal violations, and noncompliance with the corporate code of conduct. |
| 4. | Internal Audit Responsibilities - The annual audit plan and the process used to develop the plan. Status of activities, significant findings, recommendations, and management’s response. |
| 5. | Regulatory Examinations - Securities and Exchange Commission inquiries and the results of examinations by other regulatory authorities in terms of important findings, recommendations, and management’s response. |
| 6. | External Audit Responsibilities - Auditor independence and the overall scope and focus of the annual/interim audit, including the scope and level of involvement with unaudited quarterly or other interim-period information. |
| 7. | Financial Reporting and Controls - Key financial statement issues and risks, their impact or potential effect on reported financial information, the processes used by management to address such matters, related auditor views, and the basis for audit conclusions. Important conclusions on interim and/or year-end audit work in advance of the public release of financials. |
| 8. | Auditor Recommendations - Important internal and external auditor recommendations on financial reporting, controls, other matters, and management’s response. The views of management and auditors on the overall quality of annual and interim financial reporting. |
The committee should review, assess, and approve:
| 1. | the code of ethical conduct, |
| 2. | changes in important accounting principles and the application thereof in both interim and annual financial reports, |
| 3. | significant conflicts of interest and related-party transactions, |
| 4. | external auditor performance and changes in external audit firm (subject to ratification by the Board of Directors), |
| 5. | internal auditor performance and changes in internal audit leadership and/or key financial management, |
| 6. | procedures for whistle blowers, |
| 7. | pre-approve allowable services to be provided by the auditor, and |
| 8. | retention of complaints. |
