Audit Committee
The Audit Committee oversees the fulfillment by management of its financial reporting and disclosure responsibilities and its maintenance of an appropriate internal control system. It assists Board oversight of the integrity of the Company’s financial statements, the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications and independence. The Audit Committee is responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, which reports directly to the Audit Committee. It oversees the activities of the Company’s internal audit function, which currently is provided under contract by Ernst & Young, LLP. The Audit Committee has a charter that specifies its responsibilities and the Audit Committee believes it fulfills its charter. All
members of the Audit Committee are independent directors as defined under New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) listing standards and Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules. All members of the Audit Committee are financially literate under the applicable NYSE listing standards. The Board of Directors has determined that Harvey N. Medvin and Richard G. Sim are “audit committee financial experts” as defined under SEC rules.
The Audit Committee met eight times during fiscal 2005. The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and internal auditors meet with the Audit Committee with and without representatives of management present.
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee exercises certain delegated powers and authority to act when a decision is essential and it is not possible to convene a meeting of the full Board in a timely manner. Actions of the Executive Committee require unanimous consent of all members and do not require ratification by the Board, but may be amended, rescinded or revoked by the Board. The Executive Committee did not meet during fiscal 2005. With the exception of Mr. Bohn, the members of the Executive Committee are independent directors as defined under NYSE listing standards.
Governance Committee
The Governance Committee identifies individuals qualified to become Board members and recommends nominees to the Board for election as directors. It also oversees the evaluation of the performance of the Board, makes recommendations to the Board regarding Board and Committee structure, including Committee charters and corporate governance, and is responsible for conducting an annual Board self-evaluation. The Governance Committee has developed, and the Board adopted, a set of corporate governance guidelines applicable to the Company. The Governance Committee met three times during fiscal 2005. All members of the Governance Committee are independent directors as defined under NYSE listing standards and SEC rules.
The Governance Committee will consider candidates for nomination as a director recommended by shareholders, directors, officers, third party search firms and other sources. In evaluating candidates, the Governance Committee considers attributes of the candidate (including strength of character, mature judgment, career specialization, relevant technical skills or financial acumen, diversity of viewpoint and industry knowledge) and the needs of the Board. However, the Board and the Governance Committee believe the following minimum qualifications must be met by a director candidate to be recommended as a director nominee by the Committee: (i) each director nominee must display the highest personal and professional ethics, integrity and values; (ii) each director nominee must have the ability to make independent analytical inquiries and to exercise sound business judgment; (iii) each director nominee must have relevant expertise and experience and an understanding of the Company’s business environment and be able to offer advice and guidance to the Board and the Company’s executives based on that expertise, experience and understanding; (iv) director nominees generally should be active or former chief or other senior executive officers of public companies or leaders of major complex organizations, including commercial, scientific, government, educational and other non-profit institutions; (v) each director nominee must be independent of any particular constituency, be able to represent all shareholders of the Company and be committed to enhancing long-term shareholder value; (vi) each director nominee must have sufficient time available to devote to activities of the Board and to enhance his or her knowledge of the Company’s business; and (vii) a director nominee may not have attained the age of 72. The Board and the Governance Committee also believe that at least one director should have the requisite experience and expertise to be designated as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined under SEC rules.
The Governance Committee will review all candidates in the same manner, regardless of the source of the recommendation. The Governance Committee will consider individuals recommended by shareholders for nomination as a director for available seats of the Board if the shareholder complies with the following procedures. For a shareholder to properly recommend a director candidate for consideration, the shareholder must provide written notice to the Secretary at the Company’s headquarters. Such notice must include the shareholder’s name, address, the class and number of Company shares owned, the name, age, business address and principal occupation of the candidate, and the number of Company shares beneficially owned by the candidate, if any. It must also include the information that would be required to be disclosed in the solicitation of proxies for election of directors under the federal securities laws. The Company may require any candidate to furnish any other information, within reason, that may be needed to determine the eligibility of the candidate. The Secretary will forward the recommendations to the Governance Committee for consideration.
Human Resources Committee
The Human Resources Committee oversees the organizational, personnel, compensation and benefits policies and practices of the Company. It establishes the compensation of executive officers. It also administers the 1990 Incentive Stock Plan, the 2004 Incentive Stock and Awards Plan and other executive benefit plans. The Human Resources Committee met four times in fiscal 2005. All members of the Human Resources Committee are independent directors as defined under NYSE listing standards.
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