Meetings
The Audit Committee shall meet as often as it determines, but not less frequently than quarterly. The Audit Committee shall meet periodically with management, the director of the Company’s internal auditing department or other person responsible for the internal audit function, if any, and the independent registered public accounting firm in separate executive sessions. The Audit Committee may request any officer or employee of the Company or the Company’s outside counsel or independent registered public accounting firm to attend a meeting of the Audit Committee or to meet with any members of, or consultants to, the Audit Committee.
The Audit Committee may meet by telephone conference call or by any other means permitted by law or the Company’s Bylaws. A majority of the members of the Audit Committee shall constitute a quorum. The Audit Committee shall act on the affirmative vote of a majority of members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present. Subject to the Company’s Bylaws, the Audit Committee may act by unanimous written consent of all members in lieu of a meeting. The Audit Committee shall determine its own rules and procedures, including designation of a Chairman pro tempore in the absence of the Chairman. The Audit Committee shall keep written minutes of its meetings, which shall be recorded or filed with the books and records of the Company. Any member of the Board shall be provided with copies of such Audit Committee minutes if requested.
Committee Authority and Responsibilities
The Audit Committee shall have the sole authority to appoint or replace the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee shall be directly responsible for determining the compensation and oversight of the work of the independent registered public accounting firm (including resolution of disagreements between management and the independent registered public accounting firm regarding financial reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work. The independent registered public accounting firm shall report directly to the Audit Committee.
The Audit Committee shall pre-approve all auditing services and permitted non-audit services to be performed for the Company by its independent registered public accounting firm, including the fees and terms thereof (subject to the de minimis exceptions for non-audit services described in Section 10A(i)(1)(B) of the Exchange Act which are approved by the Audit Committee prior to the completion of the audit). The Audit Committee may form and delegate authority to subcommittees of the Audit Committee consisting of one or more members when appropriate, including the authority to grant pre-approvals of audit and permitted non-audit services, provided that decisions of such subcommittee to grant pre-approvals shall be presented to the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.
The Audit Committee shall have the authority, to the extent it deems necessary or appropriate, to retain independent legal, accounting, or other advisors. The Company shall provide for appropriate funding, as determined by the Audit Committee, for payment of compensation to (i) the independent registered public accounting firm for the purpose of rendering or issuing an audit report and (ii) any advisors employed by the Audit Committee.