Audit Committee Charter
Purpose of Committee
The purpose of the Audit Committee (the "Committee") of the Board of Directors (the "Board") of JLM Couture, Inc. (the "Company") is to:
(a) assist the Board in its oversight of (i) the integrity of the Company's financial statements, (ii) the Company's compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (iii) the independent auditors' qualifications and independence, (iv) the performance of the Company's internal audit function and independent auditors, and (v) the Company's management of market, credit, liquidity and other financial and operational risks; and
(b) prepare the report required to be prepared by the Committee pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") for inclusion in the Company's annual proxy statement.
Committee Membership
The Committee shall consist of no fewer than two members of the Board. The members of the Committee shall each have been determined by the Board to be "independent", as applicable, under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the "2002 Act"). The Board shall also determine that each member is "financially literate" and shall endeavor to have at least one member who has "accounting or related financial management expertise," in each case as such qualifications are defined by, to the extent required by, the applicable SEC rules, that at least one member of the Committee is an "audit committee financial expert" as defined by the SEC (or if no member is an "audit committee financial expert", explaining the reason for not having an audit committee financial expert on the Committee). No director may serve as a member of the Committee if such director serves on the audit committees of more than two other public companies unless the Board determines that such simultaneous service would not impair the ability of such director to serve effectively on the Committee, and discloses this determination in the Company's annual proxy statement. No member of the Committee may receive any compensation from the Company other than (i) director's fees, which may be received in cash, common stock, equity-based awards or other in-kind consideration ordinarily available to directors; (ii) a pension or other deferred compensation for prior service that is not contingent on future service; and (iii) any other regular benefits that other directors receive.
Members shall be appointed by the Board and shall serve at the pleasure of the Board and for such term or terms as the Board may determine.
Committee Structure and Operations
The Board shall designate one member of the Committee as its chairperson. The Committee shall meet at least once during each fiscal quarter, with further meetings to occur, or actions to be taken by unanimous written consent, when deemed necessary or desirable by the Committee or its chairperson.
The Committee may invite such members of management and other persons to its meetings as it may deem desirable or appropriate. The Committee shall report regularly to the Board summarizing the Committee's actions and any significant issues considered by the Committee.
Committee Duties and Responsibilities
The following are the duties and responsibilities of the Committee:
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To meet with the independent auditors and the Company's management and such other personnel as it deems appropriate and discuss such matters as it considers appropriate, including the matters referred to below. The Committee should meet separately with the independent auditors and the Company's management, periodically.
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To decide whether to appoint, retain or terminate the Company's independent auditors, including sole authority to approve all audit engagement fees and terms and to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services to be provided by the independent auditors. The Committee shall monitor and evaluate the auditors' qualifications, performance and independence on an ongoing basis, and shall be directly responsible for overseeing the work of the independent auditors (including resolving disagreements between management and the auditors regarding financial reporting). In conducting such evaluations, the Committee shall:
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At least annually, obtain and review a report by the independent auditors describing: the auditors' internal quality-control procedures; any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review or peer review of the auditors, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities, within the preceding five years, respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the auditors, and any steps taken to deal with any such issues; and (to assess the auditors' independence) all relationships between the independent auditors and the Company (including information the Company determines is required to be disclosed in the Company's proxy statement as to services for audit and non-audit services provided to the Company and those disclosures required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, as it may be modified or supplemented).
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Discuss with the independent auditors any disclosed relationships or services that may impact the objectivity or independence of the independent auditors.
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Take into account the opinions of management.
The Committee shall present its conclusions with respect to the independent auditors to the Board for its information at least annually.
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To obtain from management in connection with any audit a timely report relating to the Company's annual audited financial statements describing all critical accounting policies and practices to be used, which report will be reviewed and concurred with by the independent auditors, and to obtain from the independent auditors any material written communications between the independent auditors and management, such as any "management" letter or schedule of unadjusted differences.
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To discuss with management and the independent auditors the Company's annual audited financial statements and quarterly financial statements, including the Company's disclosures under "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," and to discuss with the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer their certifications to be provided pursuant to Sections 302 and 906 of the 2002 Act, including whether the financial statements fairly present, in all material respects, the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of and for the periods presented and whether any significant deficiencies exist in the design or operation of internal controls that could adversely affect the Company's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data, any material weaknesses exist in internal controls, or any fraud has occurred, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company's internal controls. The Committee shall discuss, as applicable: (a) major issues regarding accounting principles and financial statement presentations, including any significant changes in the Company's selection or application of accounting principles, and major issues as to the adequacy of the Company's internal controls and any special audit steps adopted in light of material control deficiencies; (b) analyses prepared by management and/or the independent auditors setting forth significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of the financial statements; and (c) the effect of regulatory and accounting initiatives, as well as off-balance sheet structures, on the financial statements of the Company.
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To discuss with the independent auditors on at least an annual basis the matters required to be discussed by Statement of Accounting Standards No. 61, as it may be modified or supplemented, as well as any problems or difficulties the auditors encountered in the course of the audit work, including any restrictions on the scope of the independent auditors' activities or access to requested information, and any significant disagreements with management. Among the items the Committee will consider discussing with the independent auditors are: any accounting adjustments that were noted or proposed by the independent auditors but were "passed" (as immaterial or otherwise); and any "management" or "internal control" letter issued, or proposed to be issued, by the independent auditors to the Company.
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To discuss with management and, as appropriate, the independent auditors periodically, normally on at least an annual basis:
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The independent auditors' annual audit scope, risk assessment and plan.
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The form of independent auditors' report on the annual financial statements and matters related to the conduct of the audit under generally accepted auditing standards.
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Comments by the independent auditors on internal controls and significant findings and recommendations resulting from the audit.
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To establish procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters, and for the confidential, anonymous submission by Company employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.
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To discuss with management periodically, normally on at least an annual basis, management's assessment of the Company's market, credit, liquidity and other financial and operational risks, and the guidelines, policies and processes for managing such risks.
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To discuss with the Company's management and Company's lawyer, if it so desires, any significant legal, compliance or regulatory matters that may have a material impact on the Company's business, financial statements or compliance policies.
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To obtain assurance from the independent auditors that the audit of the Company's financial statements was conducted in a manner consistent with Section 10A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which sets forth certain procedures to be followed in any audit of financial statements required under that Act.
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To produce the reports described under "Committee Reports" below.
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To discharge any other duties or responsibilities delegated to the Committee by the Board from time to time.
Committee Reports
The Committee shall produce the following reports and provide them to the Board:
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Any report, including any recommendation, or other disclosures required to be prepared by the Committee pursuant to the rules of the SEC for inclusion in the Company's annual proxy statement.
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An annual performance evaluation of the Committee, which evaluation shall compare the performance of the Committee with the requirements of this charter. The performance evaluation shall also include a review of the adequacy of this charter and shall recommend to the Board any revisions the Committee deems necessary or desirable, although the Board shall have the sole authority to amend this charter. The performance evaluation shall be conducted in such manner as the Committee deems appropriate.
Delegation to Subcommittee
The Committee may, in its discretion, delegate all or a portion of its duties and responsibilities to a subcommittee of the Committee. The Committee may, in its discretion, delegate to one or more of its members the authority to pre-approve any audit or non-audit services to be performed by the independent auditors, provided that any such approvals are presented to the Committee at its next scheduled meeting.