auditor for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attest services, for payment of compensation to any advisors employed by the Committee and for payment of ordinary administrative expenses of the Committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties.
In addition to the duties and responsibilities expressly delegated to the Committee in this Charter, the Committee may exercise any other powers and carry out any other responsibilities consistent with this Charter, the purposes of the Committee, the Company’s articles of association and applicable Nasdaq rules.
The Committee may conduct or authorize investigations into any matters within the scope of the duties and responsibilities delegated to the Committee.
IV. | Duties and Responsibilities |
Interaction with the Independent Auditor
1. Appointment and Oversight. The Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of the independent auditor (including resolution of any disagreements between Company management and the independent auditor regarding financial reporting) and any other registered public accounting firm engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work or performing other audit, review or attest services for the Company, and the independent auditor and each such other registered public accounting firm must report directly to the Committee. The Committee, or the Chair of the Committee, must pre-approve any audit and non-audit service provided to the Company by the independent auditor, unless the engagement is entered into pursuant to appropriate preapproval policies established by the Committee or if such service falls within available exceptions under SEC rules.
2. Annual Report on Independence. The Committee must ensure that the independent auditor prepares and delivers, at least annually, a written statement delineating all relationships between the independent auditor and the Company, must actively engage in a dialogue with the independent auditor with respect to any disclosed relationships or services that, in the view of the Committee, may impact the objectivity and independence of the independent auditor, and, if the Committee determines that further inquiry is advisable, must take appropriate action in response to the independent auditor’s report to satisfy itself of the auditor’s independence.
Annual Financial Statements and Annual Audit
3. Audit Problems. The Committee must discuss with the independent auditor any audit problems or difficulties and management’s response.
4. Form 10-K Review. The Committee must review and discuss the annual audited financial statements with management and the independent auditor, including the Company’s disclosures under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
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