Committees of the Board As of December 2008
Audit Committee
The Board has determined that all of the Audit Committee members are “financially literate” and that Mr. Smith qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by SEC regulations and NYSE listing standards. The Committee operates under a written charter. The Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention, and oversight of the Company’s independent registered public accountant. The Committee reviews the appropriateness, quality, and acceptability of the Company’s accounting policies, the integrity of financial statements reported to the public, significant internal audit and control matters and activities, the Company’s policies and processes for risk assessment and management, and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. The Committee discusses with the Company’s internal auditor and independent registered public accountant the overall scope and plans for their respective audits. The Committee meets with the internal auditor and the independent registered public accountant, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their audits, their evaluations of the Company’s internal controls, and the overall quality of the Company’s financial reporting. The Committee also reviews compliance with the Company’s Code of Conduct for employees and officers and is responsible for establishing and administering the Company’s procedures for confidential reporting by employees of questionable accounting practices and handling complaints regarding accounting, internal controls, and other audit matters.
Each year the Committee approves an annual agenda plan which specifies matters to be considered and acted upon by the Committee over the course of the year in fulfilling its responsibilities. In fiscal year 2008, the Committee met seven times.
Click here to view the charter of this committee.
Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee
The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee operates under a written charter. The Committee monitors and makes recommendations to the Board about corporate governance matters including the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, codes of conduct, Board structure and operation, Board policies on director compensation and tenure, the meeting schedules of the Board and the committees, the charters and composition of the committees, and the annual Board and committee performance assessment processes. The Committee met five times in fiscal year 2008.
Selection of Directors. The Board has established the following minimum qualifications for all directors: business experience, judgment, independence, integrity, ability to commit sufficient time and attention to the activities of the Board, absence of any potential conflicts with the Company’s interests, and an ability to represent the interests of all shareholders. The qualities and skills necessary for a specific director nominee are governed by the needs of the Board at the time the Committee determines to add a director to the Board. The specific requirements of the Board are determined by the Committee and are based on, among other things, the Company’s current business, market, geographic, and regulatory environments; the mix of perspectives, experience, and competencies currently represented by the other Board members; and the chief executive officer’s views as to areas in which management desires additional advice and counsel.
The Committee has primary responsibility for identifying, recommending, and recruiting nominees for election to the Board. When the need to recruit a nonmanagement director arises, the Committee consults the other directors, the chief executive officer, and third-party recruiting firms to identify potential candidates. Once a candidate is identified, the candidate screening process generally is conducted initially by a third-party recruiting firm and will include inquiries as to the candidate’s reputation and background, examination of the candidate’s experiences and skills in relation to the Board’s requirements at the time, consideration of the candidate’s independence as measured by the Board’s independence standards, and other considerations the Committee deems appropriate at the time. Prior to formal consideration and recommendation by the Committee, any candidate who passes such screening would be interviewed by one or more members of the Committee and the chief executive officer. Candidates recommended by shareholders, whose names are submitted in accordance with the Committee’s procedures described below, will be screened and evaluated in the same manner as other candidates. All candidates standing for election at the Annual Meeting are current directors who were previously elected to the Board.
The Committee has adopted a policy regarding its consideration of director candidates recommended by shareholders and a procedure for submission of such candidates. The policy provides that candidates recommended by shareholders will be considered by the Committee; submissions of candidates must be made in writing; and, to be considered for nomination at an annual meeting of shareholders, submissions must be received not later than 120 days prior to the anniversary date of the proxy statement for the prior annual meeting. The submission must also provide certain information concerning the candidate and the recommending shareholder(s), a statement explaining why the candidate has the qualifications required, and consent of the candidate to be interviewed by the Committee and to serve if elected. A copy of the policy and procedure is available upon request.
Click here to view the charter of this committee.
Environmental, Safety and Public Policy Committee
The Environmental, Safety and Public Policy Committee monitors and reports to the Board on issues and developments in areas such as environmental compliance, climate change and sustainability, safety, corporate security and crisis management, diversity, community relations, and corporate and foundation philanthropic programs and charitable contributions.
Click here to view the charter of this committee.
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee, which did not meet in fiscal year 2008, has the authority of the Board to act on most matters during intervals between Board meetings. It is usually convened to approve capital expenditures in excess of the chief executive officer’s authority where a customer requires a commitment prior to the next Board meeting.
Click here to view the charter of this committee.
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee reviews the Company's financial policies; keeps informed of its operations and financial condition, including requirements for funds and access to liquidity; advises the Board about sources and uses of Company funds; reviews the Company's financial arrangements and methods of external financing; and oversees the funding and management of assets of the Company’s employee pension and savings plans worldwide.
Click here to view the charter of this committee.
Management Development and Compensation Committee
Pursuant to its charter, the Management Development and Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) has responsibility for
- Leading the Board in evaluating the performance of the Company’s chief executive officer (“CEO”);
- Overseeing CEO succession planning and the development and evaluation of potential candidates for other executive positions;
- Establishing the Company’s executive compensation policies, determining CEO compensation, and approving other Executive Officer compensation; and
- Overseeing the design and administration of the incentive compensation plans for key employees and the administration and design of the Company’s pension and savings plans.
Click here to view the charter of this committee.
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