CHINA BROADBAND, INC.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter
(Adopted by the Board of Directors on June 13, 2008)
I. | General Statement of Purpose |
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Nominating Committee”) of China Broadband, Inc. (the “Company”) on behalf of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) is responsible for identifying individuals qualified to become board members, consistent with criteria approved by the Board, and selecting the director nominees for election at each annual meeting of stockholders.
II. | Nominating Committee Composition |
The number of individuals serving on the Nominating Committee shall be fixed by the Board from time to time but shall consist of no fewer than two members, each of whom shall satisfy the independence standards established pursuant to Section 121A of the American Stock Exchange Company Guide or Nasdaq listing rules.
The members of the Nominating Committee shall be appointed annually by the Board and may be replaced or removed by the Board at any time with or without cause. Resignation or removal of the Director from the Board, for whatever reason, shall automatically constitute resignation or removal, as applicable, from this committee. Vacancies occurring, for whatever reason, may be filled by the Board. The Board shall designate one member of the Nominating Committee to serve as Chairman of the Nominating Committee.
The Nominating Committee generally is to meet at least once per year in person or by conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, with any additional meetings as deemed necessary or appropriate by the Nominating Committee. A majority of the members of the Nominating Committee shall constitute a quorum for purposes of holding a meeting and the Nominating Committee may act by a vote of a majority of members present at such meeting. In lieu of a meeting, the Nominating Committee may act by unanimous written consent.
The Nominating Committee will cause to be kept adequate minutes of all its proceedings. The Nominating Committee members will be furnished with copies of the minutes of each meeting and any action taken by unanimous consent. The Nominating Committee shall be governed by the same rules regarding meetings (including meetings by conference video or telephone or similar communications equipment), action without meetings, notice, waiver of notice, and quorum and voting requirements as are applicable to the Board. The Committee is authorized to adopt its own rules of procedure not inconsistent with (a) any provision of this Charter; (b) any provision of the Bylaws of the Company; or (c) the laws of the State of Nevada.
China Broadband, Inc.
Nominating and Governance Committee Charter
Page 2
IV. | Nominating Committee Activities |
The Nominating Committee’s purpose and responsibilities shall be to:
A. Review of Charter
Review and reassess the adequacy of this Charter annually and submit any proposed changes to the Board for approval.
B. Annual Performance Evaluation of the Nominating Committee
Perform an annual performance evaluation of the Nominating Committee and report to the Board on the results of such evaluation.
C. Selection of New Directors
· | Recommend to the Board criteria for Board and committee membership, which shall include a description of any specific, minimum qualifications that the Nominating Committee believes must be met by a Nominating Committee-recommended nominee, and a description of any specific qualities or skills that the Nominating Committee believes are necessary for one or more of the Company’s directors to possess, and annually reassess the adequacy of such criteria and submit any proposed changes to the Board for approval. The current criteria for Board membership are attached to this Charter as Exhibit A. |
· | Establish a policy with regard to the consideration of director candidates recommended by stockholders. The current policy is that the Nominating Committee will review and evaluate the qualifications of any director candidates who have been recommended by securityholders in compliance with the procedures established from time to time by the Nominating Committee and set forth in this Charter, and conduct inquiries it deems appropriate. The Nominating Committee will consider for nomination any such proposed director candidate who is deemed qualified by the Nominating Committee in light of the minimum qualifications and other criteria for Board membership approved by the Board from time to time and set forth in this Charter. |
· | Establish procedures to be followed by securityholders in submitting recommendations for director candidates to the Nominating Committee. The current procedures to be followed by securityholders are set forth below: |
(1) All securityholder recommendations for director candidates must be submitted to the Secretary of the Company at its principal headquarters, who will forward all recommendations to the Nominating Committee.
China Broadband, Inc.
Nominating and Governance Committee Charter
Page 3
(2) All securityholder recommendations for director candidates must be submitted to the Company not less than 120 calendar days prior to the date on which the Company’s proxy statement was released to stockholders in connection with the previous year’s annual meeting.
(3) All securityholder recommendations for director candidates must include the following information:
(a) | The name and address of record of the securityholder. |
(b) | A representation that the securityholder is a record holder of the Company’s securities, or if the securityholder is not a record holder, evidence of ownership in accordance with Rule 14a-8(b)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
(c) | The name, age, business and residential address, educational background, current principal occupation or employment, and principal occupation or employment for the preceding five (5) full fiscal years of the proposed director candidate. |
(d) | A description of the qualifications and background of the proposed director candidate which addresses the minimum qualifications and other criteria for Board membership approved by the Board from time to time and set forth in this Charter. |
(e) | A description of all arrangements or understandings between the securityholder and the proposed director candidate. |
(f) | The consent of the proposed director candidate (i) to be named in the proxy statement relating to the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders and (ii) to serve as a director if elected at such annual meeting. |
(g) | Any other information regarding the proposed director candidate that is required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
· | Establish a process for identifying and evaluating nominees for the Board, including nominees recommended by securityholders. The current process for identifying and evaluating nominees for the Board is as follows: |
| (1) | The Nominating Committee may solicit recommendations from any or all of the following sources: non-management directors, the Chief Executive Officer, other executive officers, third-party search firms, or any other source it deems appropriate. |
| (2) | The Nominating Committee will review and evaluate the qualifications of any such proposed director candidate, and conduct inquiries it deems appropriate. |
China Broadband, Inc.
Nominating and Governance Committee Charter
Page 4
| (3) | The Nominating Committee will evaluate all such proposed director candidates in the same manner, with no regard to the source of the initial recommendation of such proposed director candidate. |
| (4) | In identifying and evaluating proposed director candidates, the Nominating Committee may consider, in addition to the minimum qualifications and other criteria for Board membership approved by the Board from time to time, all facts and circumstances that it deems appropriate or advisable, including, among other things, the skills of the proposed director candidate, his or her depth and breadth of business experience or other background characteristics, his or her independence and the needs of the Board. |
· | Upon identifying individuals qualified to become members of the Board, consistent with the minimum qualifications and other criteria approved by the Board from time to time, select the director nominees for election at each annual meeting of stockholders; provided that, if the Company is legally required by contract or otherwise to provide third parties with the ability to nominate individuals for election as a member of the Board (pursuant, for example, to the rights of holders of preferred stock to elect directors upon a dividend default or in accordance with shareholder agreements or management agreements), the selection and nomination of such director nominees shall be governed by such contract or other arrangement and shall not be the responsibility of the Nominating Committee. |
· | Consider nominations in light of the requirement that a majority of the Board be comprised of directors who meet the independence requirements set forth in Section 121A of the American Stock Exchange Company Guide. |
· | Select the directors for appointment to committees of the Board. |
D. Evaluation of Board of Directors and Management
· | Oversee annual evaluation of the Board and its committees for the prior fiscal year. |
E. Matters Relating to Retention and Termination of Search Firms to Identify Director Candidates
· | Exercise sole authority to retain and terminate any search firm that is to be used by the Company to assist in identifying director candidates. The Nominating Committee shall also have sole authority to approve any such search firm’s fees and other retention terms. |
China Broadband, Inc.
Nominating and Governance Committee Charter
Page 5
V. General
· | The Nominating Committee may establish and delegate authority to subcommittees consisting of one or more of its members, when the Nominating Committee deems it appropriate to do so in order to carry out its responsibilities. |
· | The Nominating Committee shall make regular reports to the Board concerning areas of the Nominating Committee’s responsibility. |
· | In carrying out its responsibilities, the Nominating Committee shall be entitled to rely upon advice and information that it receives in its discussions and communications with management and such experts, advisors and professionals with whom the Nominating Committee may consult. The Nominating Committee shall have the authority to request that any officer or employee of the Company, the Company’s outside legal counsel, the Company’s independent auditor or any other professional retained by the Company to render advice to the Company attend a meeting of the Nominating Committee or meet with any members of or advisors to the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall also have the authority to engage legal, accounting or other advisors to provide it with advice and information in connection with carrying out its responsibilities and shall have sole authority to approve any such advisor’s fees and other retention terms. |
· | The Nominating Committee may perform such other functions as may be requested by the Board from time to time. |
EXHIBIT A
Board Membership Criteria |
The Nominating Committee believes that it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to obtain highly qualified individuals to serve on the Board.
At a minimum, the Nominating Committee must be satisfied that each Nominating Committee-recommended nominee meets the following minimum qualifications:
· | The nominee shall have the highest personal and professional integrity, shall have demonstrated exceptional ability and judgment, and shall be most effective, in conjunction with the other nominees to the Board, in collectively serving the long-term interests of the stockholders. |
In addition to the minimum qualifications for each nominee set forth above, the Nominating Committee shall select persons for nomination to help ensure that:
· | A majority of the Board shall be “independent” in accordance with the standards established pursuant to Section 121A of the American Stock Exchange Company Guide; provided, however that the foregoing rule shall not apply if the company is not listed on the American Stock Exchange, Nasdaq or other exchange. |
· | Each of its Audit, Compensation and Nominating Committees shall be comprised entirely of independent directors. |
· | At least one member of the Audit Committee shall have such experience, education and other qualifications necessary to qualify as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
Finally, in addition to any other standards the Nominating Committee may deem appropriate from time to time for the overall structure and composition of the Board, the Nominating Committee may consider the following factors when selecting persons for nomination:
· | Whether the nominee has direct experience in the specific markets in which the Company operates. |
· | Whether the nominee, if elected, assists in achieving a mix of Board members that represents a diversity of background and experience. |