FRANKLIN
COVEY CO.
|
||
(Name
of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
|
|
||
(Name
of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the
Registrant)
|
(1)
|
Title
of each class of securities to which transaction
applies:
|
|
|
(2)
|
Aggregate
number of securities to which transaction applies:
|
|
|
(3)
|
Per
unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant
to
Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing
fee is
calculated and state how it was determined):
|
|
|
(4)
|
Proposed
maximum aggregate value of transaction:
|
|
|
(5)
|
Total
fee paid:
|
|
(1)
|
Amount
Previously Paid:
|
|
|
(2)
|
Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
|
|
|
(3)
|
Filing
Party:
|
|
|
(4)
|
Date
Filed:
|
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(i)
|
To
elect three directors of the Company, each to serve a term of three
years
expiring at the annual meeting of shareholders of the Company to
be held
following the end of fiscal year 2009 and until their respective
successors shall be duly elected and shall
qualify;
|
(ii)
|
To
consider and vote on a proposal to ratify the appointment of KPMG
LLP as
the Company’s independent registered public accountants for the fiscal
year ending August 31, 2007;
|
(iii)
|
To
transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual
Meeting or at any adjournment or postponement
thereof.
|
·
|
Each
Board member is paid an annual retainer of $30,000 paid quarterly
for
service on the Board and attending Board meetings;
|
·
|
Each
Board member is paid an additional annual retainer of $7,000 for
service
on each committee that they serve in lieu of committee meeting
fees;
|
·
|
Committee
chairpersons are paid an additional annual retainer of $5,000 for
the
Audit and Compensation committees and $3,000 for all other
committees;
|
·
|
Each
non-employee Board member receives an annual grant of a restricted
stock
award of 4,500 shares which vests over a 3-year term;
|
·
|
Directors
are reimbursed by the Company for their out-of-pocket travel and
related
expenses incurred in attending all Board and committee
meetings.
|
Annual
Compensation
|
Long
Term Compensation Awards
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name
and Position
|
Fiscal
Year
|
Salary($)
|
Bonus($)
|
Other
Annual Compensation ($)(1)
|
Unvested
Stock Awards ($)(2)
|
Fully
Vested Stock Award ($)(3)
|
Securities
Underlying Options/SARs (#)(4)
|
All
Other Compensation ($)(5)
|
|||||||||||||||||
Robert
A. Whitman
|
2006
|
500,000
|
415,500
|
43,601
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5,769
|
|||||||||||||||||
Chairman,
President and
|
2005
|
500,000
|
728,000
|
194,400
|
486,000
|
403,920
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||||||||
Chief
Executive Officer
|
2004
|
500,004
|
281,250
|
5,041
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||||||
Robert
William Bennett, Jr.
|
2006
|
250,000
|
105,149
|
4,333
|
-
|
-
|
6,467
|
||||||||||||||||||
President,
Organizational
|
2005
|
250,000
|
232,896
|
30,442
|
-
|
-
|
9,419
|
||||||||||||||||||
Solutions
Business Unit
|
2004
|
250,000
|
126,875
|
1,957
|
143,325
|
-
|
7,987
|
||||||||||||||||||
Sarah
Merz
|
2006
|
250,000
|
262,500
|
1,951
|
-
|
-
|
8,531
|
||||||||||||||||||
President,
Consumer
|
2005
|
250,000
|
262,500
|
1,005
|
-
|
-
|
7,791
|
||||||||||||||||||
Solutions
Business Unit
|
2004
|
226,154
|
98,438
|
58,691
|
143,325
|
50,000
|
8,569
|
||||||||||||||||||
Stephen
D. Young
|
2006
|
249,038
|
104,875
|
2,270
|
-
|
-
|
8,015
|
||||||||||||||||||
Executive
Vice President
|
2005
|
222,115
|
146,667
|
19,090
|
-
|
-
|
6,342
|
||||||||||||||||||
and
Chief Financial Officer
|
2004
|
221,154
|
86,875
|
53,280
|
128,993
|
-
|
8,352
|
||||||||||||||||||
(1)
|
Other
amounts relate to miscellaneous benefits paid during the year,
reimbursement of taxes that were paid during the year and insurance
premiums. Fiscal year 2006 amounts included for each Named Executive
Officer the following insurance premiums: Robert A. Whitman, $36,180
for
disability insurance and $7,310 for life insurance; Robert William
Bennett, Jr., $2,196 for life insurance; Sarah Merz, $644 for life
insurance; and Stephen D. Young, $2,270 for life insurance.
|
(2)
|
Restricted
stock awards vest in full five years from the date of grant. Vesting
may
occur earlier, either partially or in full, if certain financial
targets
are met. Holders of restricted shares are entitled to vote the
shares.
Value was determined by the market price on the grant date. At
August 31,
2006, the total number of shares (and value as of that date) of
restricted
stock (excluding performance-based restricted stock) by each Named
Executive Officer was: Robert A. Whitman, 112,500 shares ($646,875);
Robert William Bennett, Jr., 26,250 shares ($150,938); Sarah Merz,
26,250
shares ($150,938); and Stephen D. Young, 23,625 ($135,844). The
excluded
performance-based restricted stock for each Named Executive Officer
is
listed in the table below.
|
(3)
|
Mr.
Whitman was granted 187,000 shares of fully vested common stock.
Value was
determined by the market price on the grant date.
|
(4)
|
Amounts
shown reflect options granted to the Named Executive Officers pursuant
to
the Franklin Covey 1992 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”). As of
August 31, 2006, the Company had not granted any stock appreciation
rights.
|
(5)
|
Amounts
shown reflect contributions made by the Company for the benefit
of the
Named Executive Officers under the Franklin Covey 401(k) Profit
Sharing
Plan.
|
Name
|
Number
of Shares Acquired on Exercise
|
Value
Realized on Exercise
|
Number
of Unexercised
Options
at
August 31,
2006
|
Value
of Unexercised
In-the-Money
Options at
August 31,
2006 (1)
|
|||||||||||||||
Exercisable
|
Unexercisable
|
Exercisable
|
Unexercisable
|
||||||||||||||||
Robert A.
Whitman
|
-
|
-
|
1,602,000
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||||
Robert
W. Bennett, Jr.
|
-
|
-
|
50,000
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||||
Sarah
Merz
|
-
|
-
|
37,500
|
12,500
|
$
|
151,875
|
$
|
50,625
|
|||||||||||
Stephen
D. Young
|
-
|
-
|
35,000
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(1) | Value of unexercised options was determined by the fair market value of the Common Stock at fiscal year end. |
Estimated
Future Payouts Under Non-Stock Priced-Based
Plans(1)
|
||||||||||||||||
Name
|
Number
of Shares, Units or Other Rights (#)
|
|
Performance
or Other Period Until Maturation or Payout
|
Threshold
|
|
|
Target
|
|
|
Maximum
|
||||||
Robert
A. Whitman
|
84,151
|
August
31, 2008
|
0
|
84,151
|
168,302
|
|||||||||||
Robert
William Bennett, Jr.
|
21,038
|
August
31, 2008
|
0
|
21,038
|
42,076
|
|||||||||||
Sarah
Merz
|
21,038
|
August
31, 2008
|
0
|
21,038
|
42,076
|
|||||||||||
Stephen
D. Young
|
21,038
|
August
31, 2008
|
0
|
21,038
|
42,076
|
(1) | Performance shares were awarded in January 2006, following shareholder approval of the Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP). Shares awarded under the plan do not have voting rights and do not receive dividends. The number of shares actually awarded is based upon the performance of the Company during the three following fiscal years. The Board has established a matrix of business performance and financial objectives, including a combination of revenue growth and operating margin, which will determine the number of shares that will be awarded at the end of the three-year term. |
[a]
|
[b]
|
[c]
|
||||
Plan
Category
|
Number
of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options,
warrants,
and rights
(in
thousands)
|
Weighted-average
exercise price of outstanding options, warrants, and
rights
|
Number
of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity
compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in
column [a])
(in
thousands)
|
|||
|
|
|||||
Equity
compensation plans approved by security holders (1)(2)
|
2,585
|
$11.28
|
1,869
|
|||
(1)
|
Includes
431,295 unvested restricted stock awards which were valued at the
August
31, 2006 closing Common Stock price of $5.75 per share.
|
(2)
|
Excludes
performance awards issued under a shareholder approved long-term
incentive
plan. At August 31, 2006, the Company expected to award 337,588
shares of
Common Stock to participants in the long-term incentive plan. The
ultimate
number of shares awarded is variable and may change between August
31,
2006 and the vesting date of the performance awards. For further
information on our stock-based compensation plans, please refer
to Note 11
to our consolidated financial statements presented in Item 8 of
the
Company’s report on Form 10K for fiscal year
2006.
|
·
|
Executive
compensation program design
|
·
|
Total
rewards benchmarking
|
·
|
Long-term
incentive plan design
|
·
|
Executive
severance policy design
|
·
|
Change-in-control
policy design
|
·
|
FranklinCovey
pays for performance.
Executives - who have the greatest direct influence on organizational
performance - should have the greatest portion of their compensation
at
risk. Therefore, executives are held accountable through the compensation
program for organizational performance;
|
·
|
Compensation
should reward successful execution of the business
strategy.
Therefore, the executive compensation program should be both aligned
with
achieving the Company’s strategic business plan and directly related to
Company performance;
|
·
|
Company
success depends on teamwork from the executive level down through
the
organization.
Therefore, the compensation program should be designed to promote
shared
destiny and reward entity/team success, not just individual effort;
|
·
|
A
critical objective must be to attract and retain qualified executive
talent.
Successful execution of the business strategy necessitates keeping
the
Company’s management team in place and focused on business goals.
Therefore, the Company’s program must be competitive and equity awards
granted with vesting schedules designed to promote retention;
|
·
|
Executive
pay should be aligned with the interests of
shareholders.
Equity is used to reward executives for creating shareholder value
over a
several year horizon.
|
1.
|
Ensure
base pay is competitive for the role or job to be
done.
|
2.
|
Reward
performance of annual objectives and milestones achieved toward
the 5-year
strategy through annual incentives.
|
3.
|
Maintain
focus on the 5-year strategy, reward achievement of long-term objectives,
and build wealth through the long-term incentive
program.
|
4.
|
Provide
a competitive benefits package as part of a great work
environment.
|
1.
|
Base
Salary
|
2.
|
Annual
Incentive
|
3.
|
Long-term
Incentive Compensation
|
4.
|
Certain
Other Benefits
|
5.
|
Severance
and Change in Control Benefits
|
·
|
Thirty
percent
of
total target annual incentive is based on completing objectives
established quarterly between the executive and the CEO.
|
l |
Seventy
percent
of
total target annual incentive is based on meeting financial targets.
|
·
|
Reward
those who have the greatest impact on the financial results of
the
company.
|
·
|
Retain
senior leaders and other key leaders identified by the CEO.
|
·
|
Align
senior leaders with creating shareholder value.
|
·
|
The
Company’s cafeteria
plan
administered pursuant to Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986,
as amended (“the Code”). The cafeteria plan includes FranklinCovey’s
medical and dental insurance, medical reimbursement, and dependent
care
reimbursement plans.
|
·
|
The
Company’s 401(k)
plan,
pursuant to which the Company matches 100 percent of the first
1%
contributed and 50 percent of the next 4% contributed for a net
3% match
on a 5% contribution. 401(k) contributions from highly compensated
employees are currently limited to a maximum of 5% of compensation,
subject to statutory limits.
|
·
|
The
Company’s Employee
Stock Purchase Plan
implemented and administered pursuant to Section 423 of the
Code.
|
·
|
Term
Life Insurance.
FranklinCovey provides a portable 20-year term life policy for
each named
executive officer. The coverage amount is 2.5 times each executive’s
target annual cash compensation (base salary + target annual
incentive).
|
·
|
Supplemental
Disability Insurance.
Executives and other highly compensated associates may purchase
voluntary
supplemental disability insurance. The Company provides Mr. Whitman
with
sufficient funds to enable him to procure long-term disability
insurance
which, combined with the Company’s current group policy, provides, in
aggregate, monthly long-term disability benefits equal to 75 percent
of
his fiscal 2006 target cash compensation.
|
Executive
|
Target
Annual Incentive at 100% of Goal ($)(1)
|
Actual
Performance Against Individual Goals (%)(2)
|
Actual
Performance Against Financial Goals (%)(3)
|
Total
Fiscal Year 2006 Incentive Received ($)(4)
|
Robert
A. Whitman
|
500,000
|
97.33
|
77.00
|
415,500
|
Robert
William Bennett, Jr.
|
175,000
|
90.00
|
69.00
|
105,149
|
Sarah
Merz
|
175,000
|
100.00
|
122.00
|
262,500
|
Stephen
D. Young
|
125,000
|
100.00
|
77.00
|
104,875
|
(1)
|
If
actual results are greater than 100% of goal, the executive may
receive an
accelerator of up to an additional 50% of the targeted
amount.
|
(2)
|
Thirty
percent of each executive’s total annual incentive is based on completing
objectives established between the executive and the CEO or between
the
CEO and the Board of Directors.
|
(3)
|
Seventy
percent of each executive’s total annual incentive is based on achieving
specific Operating EBITDA or Operating Income results. Mr. Bennett
and Ms.
Merz receive this portion of their annual incentive based on their
respective business unit’s overall Operating EBITDA results. Mr. Whitman
and Mr. Young are compensated based on the entire company’s Operating
Income results.
|
(4)
|
The
total incentive receive includes the accelerator, if
applicable.
|
Beneficial
Ownership as of November 24, 2006
|
|||||||||||||
Number
of
Preferred
Shares
|
Percentage
of
Class
|
Number
of
Common
Shares
|
Percentage
of
Class
|
||||||||||
Donald J.
McNamara (3)(4)
c/o
Franklin Covey Co.
2200
West Parkway Boulevard
Salt
Lake City, Utah 84119-2331
|
1,375,039
|
92.1
|
%
|
7,249,138
|
27.2
|
%
|
|||||||
Knowledge
Capital Investment
Group
(1)(2)
3232
McKinney Ave,
Dallas,
Texas 75204
|
1,375,039
|
92.1
|
%
|
6,928,404
|
26.6
|
%
|
|||||||
Robert A.
Whitman (7)(9)
c/o
Franklin Covey Co.
2200
West Parkway Boulevard
Salt
Lake City, Utah 84119-2331
|
2,329,210
|
10.7
|
%
|
||||||||||
Dimensional
Fund Advisors, Inc. (6)
1299
Ocean Avenue
Santa
Monica, California 90401
|
1,225,195
|
6.1
|
%
|
||||||||||
Stephen R.
Covey (4)
c/o
Franklin Covey Co.
2200
West Parkway Boulevard
Salt
Lake City, Utah 84119-2331
|
1,046,384
|
5.2
|
%
|
||||||||||
Dennis R.
Webb (4)(5)
2626
Hillsden Drive
Holladay,
Utah 84117
|
1,015,712
|
5.1
|
%
|
||||||||||
Joel C.
Peterson
|
203,049
|
1.0
|
%
|
||||||||||
Robert
W. Bennett, Jr. (7)(9)
|
130,294
|
*
|
%
|
||||||||||
Sarah
Merz (7)(9)
|
116,873
|
*
|
%
|
||||||||||
Dennis G.
Heiner
|
108,757
|
*
|
%
|
||||||||||
Stephen D.
Young (7)(9)
|
104,312
|
*
|
%
|
||||||||||
Robert H.
Daines (8)
|
45,132
|
*
|
%
|
||||||||||
E.
Kay Stepp
|
33,909
|
*
|
%
|
||||||||||
Clayton
M. Christensen
|
30,457
|
*
|
%
|
||||||||||
E.
J. “Jake” Garn
|
20,457
|
*
|
%
|
||||||||||
All
directors and executive officers as a group (7)(9)(12
persons)
|
1,375,039
|
92.1
|
%
|
11,417,972
|
41.1
|
%
|
(1)
|
Each
share of Series A Preferred Stock is entitled to two votes for each
whole share on all matters in which the Series A Preferred Stock
and
Common stock vote as a single class. As a result, in addition to
the
shares of Common Stock listed in the beneficial ownership table,
Knowledge
Capital’s ownership of its Series A Preferred Stock entitles it to
2,750,078 votes on matters in which the Series A Preferred Stock
and
Common Stock vote as a single class.
|
(2)
|
The
Common Stock shares indicated for Knowledge Capital include 5,913,402
warrants. The warrants are exercisable into a share of Common Stock
at
$8.00 each.
|
(3)
|
Mr.
McNamara, who is a director of the Company, is a principal of The
Hampstead Group, the private investment firm that sponsors Knowledge
Capital, and therefore may be deemed the beneficial owner of the
Common
Stock and the Series A Preferred Stock and the warrants of Common
Stock held by Knowledge Capital. Mr. McNamara disclaims beneficial
ownership of the Common Stock and the Series A Preferred Stock held
by Knowledge Capital.
|
(4)
|
The
share amounts indicated include those for Dennis R. Webb, by
Dennis R. Webb as trustee of The Lighthouse Foundation with respect
to 52,000 shares; those indicated for Stephen R. Covey by SRSMC
Properties LLC with respect to 40,000 shares; those indicated for
Stephen
R. Covey by SANSTEP Properties, L.C. with respect to 1,006,384
shares; and
those indicated by Donald J. McNamara by the Donald J. and Joan
P.
McNamara Foundation with respect to 23,000 shares. Mr. Webb and
Mr.
McNamara are the respective trustees of their foundations, having
sole
voting and dispositive control of all shares held by the respective
foundations, and may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of
such
shares. Mr. Covey, as co-manager of SRSMC Properties LLC and SANSTEP
Properties, L.C., has shared voting and dispositive control over
the
shares held by those entities and may be deemed to have beneficial
ownership of such shares.
|
(5)
|
Of
the share amount indicated as beneficially owned by Dennis R. Webb,
18,000 shares are subject to options granted to a former employee
of the
Company.
|
(6)
|
Dimensional
Fund Advisors’ information is provided as of September 30, 2006, the
filing of its last 13F report.
|
(7)
|
The
share amounts indicated include shares subject to options currently
exercisable held by the following persons in the following amounts:
Robert
W. Bennett, Jr., 50,000 shares; Sarah Merz, 37,500 shares; Stephen
D.
Young, 35,000 shares; Robert A. Whitman, 1,602,000 shares and all
executive officers and directors as a group, 1,724,500
shares.
|
(8)
|
The
share amounts indicated for Robert H. Daines include 5,000 shares
owned by Tahoe Investments, L.L.C., of which Mr. Daines is a
member.
|
(9)
|
The
share amounts indicated include Restricted Stock Awards currently
not
vested held by the following persons in the following amounts:
Robert W.
Bennett, Jr., 26,250 shares; Sarah Merz, 26,250 shares; Robert
A. Whitman,
112,500 shares; Stephen D. Young, 23,625 shares; and all officers and
directors as a group, 188,625 shares.
|
Fiscal
2006
|
Fiscal
2005
|
||||||
Audit
Fees (1)
|
$
|
1,805,697
|
$
|
684,436
|
|||
Audit-Related
Fees (2)
|
-
|
3,655
|
|||||
Tax
Fees (3)
|
37,334
|
42,820
|
|||||
All
Other Fees
|
-
|
-
|
|||||
$
|
1,843,031
|
$
|
730,911
|
(1)
|
Audit
Fees represent fees and expenses for professional services provided
in
connection with the audit of the Company’s consolidated financial
statements and management’s assessment of internal control over financial
reporting found in the Annual Report on Form 10-K and reviews of the
Company’s financial statements contained in the Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q, procedures related to registration statements, and
accounting consultations on actual transactions.
|
(2)
|
Audit-Related
Fees primarily consisted of fees and expenses for the Company’s employee
benefit plan audits and accounting consultation on proposed
transactions.
|
(3)
|
Tax
Fees consisted primarily of fees and expenses for services related
to tax
compliance, tax planning, and tax consulting.
|
FOR
|
o all
nominees
|
|
WITHHOLD
AUTHORITY
|
o all
nominees
|
|
FOR
|
o all
nominees,
except WITHHOLD AUTHORITY for the nominees(s) whose names are lined
out
below:
Nominees:
Joel C. Peterson, E. Kay Stepp, and Robert A. Whitman
|
FOR
o
|
AGAINST
o
|
WITHHOLD
AUTHORITY o
|
FOR
o
|
AGAINST
o
|
WITHHOLD
AUTHORITY o
|
Richard Putnam | |||
Franklin Covey Co. | Dated: | ||
2200 West Parkway Boulevard |
Signature
|
||
Salt Lake City, Utah 84119-2331 |
Signature
(if held jointly)
|
❐
|
Perform
all functions required by law, the Company's charter or bylaws,
or as
requested by the Board.
|
❐
|
Conduct
or authorize investigations into any matters within the Committee's
scope
of responsibilities, including matters brought to the Committee’s
attention by “whistleblowers”.
|
❐
|
Establish
unrestricted communication between the internal auditors, the independent
auditor, Company management and the Board. Report Committee actions
to the Board with any recommendations the Committee deems
appropriate.
|
❐
|
Include
a copy of the Committee charter as an appendix to the proxy statement
at
least once every three years.
|
❐
|
Develop
clear hiring policies for employees or former employees of the
independent
auditor, and review and approve the appointment or change in the
internal
auditors.
|
❐
|
Appoint,
approve the compensation of, and oversee the independent auditor.
(The
independent auditor’s lead partner must be rotated every five years
pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Committee should consider
a
rotation of the independent auditor to assure continued
independence.)
|
❐
|
Review
the independent auditor’s non-audit services and related fees to determine
if such would be prohibited under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
|
❐
|
Review
policies and procedures with respect to transactions between the
Company
and officers and directors, or affiliates of officers or directors,
or
transactions that are not a normal part of the Company’s
business.
|
❐
|
Meet
with the independent auditor in executive session to discuss any
matters
that the Committee or the independent auditor believe should be
discussed
privately with the Committee.
|
❐
|
Meet
with management in executive sessions to discuss any matters that
the
Committee or management believe should be discussed privately with
the
Committee.
|
❐
|
Meet
with the internal auditors in executive sessions to discuss any
matters
that the Committee or the internal auditors believe should be discussed
privately with the Committee.
|
❐
|
Interview
Company management, internal auditors and the independent auditor
regarding any significant risks or exposures and assess the steps
Company
management has taken to minimize any risks or exposures.
|
❐
|
Review,
approve and modify, if necessary, the Company’s policies relating to
appropriate codes of conduct with Company’s management and General Counsel
the adequacy of and compliance with such policies.
|
❐
|
Review
legal and regulatory matters that may have a material impact on
the
financial statements, related Company compliance policies, and
programs
and reports received from regulators.
|
❐
|
Review
the Company’s policies and procedures regarding executive management
expense accounts.
|
❐
|
Review
the Committee’s charter to determine compliance with current NYSE and SEC
rules and regulations and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
|
❐
|
Review
all proposed related-party transactions and make recommendation
to the
Board to approve or disapprove of each proposed transaction.
|
❐
|
Review
with Company management any significant changes to GAAP and/or
MAP
policies or standards.
|
❐
|
Review
all proposed related-party transactions and make recommendation
to the
Board to approve or disapprove of each proposed transaction.
|
❐
|
Review
with Company management and the independent auditor at the completion
of
the annual audit:
|
❐
|
The
Company's annual financial statements and related
footnotes.
|
|
❐
|
The
independent auditor’s audit of the financial statements and its report
thereon, which must sufficiently
detail:
|
❐
|
The
independent auditor’s internal quality control
procedures;
|
||
❐
|
Any
material issues raised internally or by any regulatory agency regarding
the independent auditor’s quality control procedures and the steps taken
to correct any deficiencies; and
|
||
❐
|
All
relationships between the independent auditor and the
Company.
|
❐
|
Any
significant changes required in the independent auditor’s audit
plan.
|
|
❐
|
Any
serious difficulties or disputes with management encountered during
the
course of the audit.
|
|
❐
|
Any
accounting adjustments noted by the independent auditor but deemed
immaterial by management.
|
|
❐
|
Any
communications between the audit team and its national office regarding
the Company and the independent auditor’s engagement, including any
management letter issued by the independent auditor to the
Company.
|
|
❐
|
Other
matters related to the conduct of the audit that are to be communicated
to
the Committee under generally accepted auditing
standards.
|
❐
|
Review
with Company management, independent auditor and the internal
auditors:
|
❐
|
Significant
findings during the year and management’s responses thereto, including an
analysis of the effects of alternative GAAP methods on the financial
statements.
|
|
❐
|
Any
significant changes in the Company’s selection or application of
accounting principles.
|
|
❐
|
The
adequacy of the Company’s internal controls and any steps taken to correct
any deficiencies.
|
|
❐
|
The
effect, if any, of regulatory and accounting initiatives and off-balance
sheet structures.
|
|
❐
|
Any
difficulties encountered in the course of their audits, including
any
restrictions on the scope of their work or access to required
information.
|
|
❐
|
Any
changes required in planned scope of their audit
plan.
|
❐
|
Consider
and review with the independent auditor and the internal
auditors:
|
❐
|
The
adequacy of the Company's internal controls including computerized
information system controls and security.
|
|
❐
|
Any
related significant findings and recommendations of the independent
public
accountants and internal auditors together with management's responses
thereto.
|
❐
|
Confirm
the independence of the independent auditor.
|
❐
|
Provide
a report for inclusion in the Company’s annual proxy that details the
Committee’s review and discussion of matters with management and the
independent auditor. The report should include a description of
any
non-audit services provided by the independent auditor to the
Company.
|
❐
|
Review
and update the Audit Committee Responsibilities Checklist at least
annually.
|
❐
|
Review
with Company management and the independent auditor at least annually
the
Company’s critical accounting policies.
|
❐
|
Review
with the internal auditors, the independent auditor and Company
management
the audit scope and plan, and coordination of audit efforts to
assure
completeness of coverage, reduction of redundant efforts, the effective
use of audit resources, and the use of independent public accountants
other than the appointed auditors of the Company.
|
❐
|
Confirm
each Committee member is financially literate, with at least one
member
who has financial expertise.
|
❐
|
Confirm
the independence of each Committee member based on NASD and other
applicable rules.
|
❐
|
Review
the Committee’s own performance.
|
❐
|
Meet
four times per year or more frequently as circumstances require.
The
Committee may require the attendance of the Company’s management or others
to attend any Committee meeting and to provide requested
information.
|
❐
|
Prepare
an agenda for each Committee meeting with input from the Chairperson,
Company management, and the independent auditor.
|
❐
|
Review
the periodic reports of the Company with management, the internal
auditors
and the independent auditor prior to filing of the reports with
the
SEC.
|
❐
|
In
connection with each periodic report of the Company,
review:
|
❐
|
Management’s
disclosure to the Committee under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act.
|
|
❐
|
The
contents of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial
Officer
certificates to be filed under Sections 302 and 906 of the
Act.
|
❐
|
Review
filings (including interim reporting) with the SEC and other published
documents containing the Company’s financial statements and confirm the
information contained in these documents is consistent with the
information contained in the financial statements before it is
filed with
the SEC or other regulators.
|
❐
|
The
Chairperson shall participate in a telephonic meeting among Company
management and the independent auditor prior to earnings releases
to
review use of “pro forma” or “adjusted” non-GAAP information and the types
of information to be disclosed and presentation to be
made.
|
❐
|
Discuss
earnings press releases, as well as the types of financial information
and
earnings guidance that are given to analysts and rating
agencies.
|