CHARTER
FOR THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF TIX CORPORATION
1. Purpose.
The purpose of the Audit Committee (the
“Committee”) of the Board of Directors (the “Board”
and, each member of the Board, a “Director”) of
Tix Corporation (the “Company”) is to assist the
Board in discharging its duties relating to (1) the quality
and integrity of the financial reports of the Company, (2) the
independent auditor’s qualifications and independence,
and (3) the performance of the Company’s internal audit
function and independent auditors. Consistent with these functions,
the Committee shall encourage continuous improvement of, and
shall foster adherence to, the Company’s policies, procedures
and practices at all levels. In carrying out its responsibilities,
the Committee believes its policies and procedures should remain
flexible, in order to best react to changing circumstances while
ensuring that the Company’s accounting and reporting practices
are in accordance with all requirements and are all of the highest
quality.
2. Statement of Policy.
The Committee’s primary duties
and responsibilities are to:
• Serve as an independent and objective party to monitor
the Company’s financial reporting process and internal
control system.
• Review and appraise the audit
efforts of the Company’s independent accountants and internal
audit function.
• Provide an open avenue of communication
among the independent accountants, internal auditors, the Company’s
operational management (the “Management”) and the
Board.
The Committee shall provide assistance
to the Board in fulfilling the Board’s oversight responsibility
to the shareholders, potential shareholders, the investment
community, and others relating to the Company’s financial
statements and the financial reporting process, the systems
of internal accounting and financial controls, the internal
audit function, the annual independent audit of the Company’s
financial statements and the ethics programs as established
by Management and the Board. In discharging its oversight role,
the Committee is empowered to investigate any matter brought
to its attention, with full access to all books, records, facilities
and personnel of the Company.
The Committee will fulfill these responsibilities
by carrying out the activities enumerated in Section 5 of this
Charter. The Committee may augment the activities defined by
Section 5 at its discretion in order to comply with the requirements
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the requirements of Nasdaq and the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and
any other applicable laws and regulations.
3. Composition.
The Committee shall consist of at least
three (3) but not more than five (5) directors, each of whom
will be an “independent director” within the meaning
of the applicable Nasdaq rules and any rule or regulation prescribed
by the SEC now or in the future.
Each member of the Committee must be
financially literate and able to read and understand fundamental
financial statements, including the Company’s balance
sheet, income statement and cash flow statement (or will become
able to do so in a reasonable period of time after his or her
appointment to the Committee), and at least one member of the
Committee must be an “Audit Committee Financial Expert”
as defined by the SEC.
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The members of the Committee, including
its Chair, will be appointed annually by the Board, following
receipt of the recommendation of the Nomination and Governance
Committee. Committee members will serve at the discretion of
the Board.
4. Meetings.
The Committee shall meet four (4) times
annually, or more frequently, as circumstances dictate. A meeting
may be called by the Chair or at the direction of the Chair
at the request of any member of the Committee. The Committee
may meet in person or by phone and shall have the authority
to act by written consent. A majority of the total authorized
number of members of the Committee will constitute a quorum
at all Committee meetings, and the affirmative vote or written
consent of a majority of the authorized number of members shall
be necessary and sufficient to take any Committee action.
All non-employee Directors may attend
and observe meetings of the Committee. In such case, however,
any Director who is not a member of the Committee shall neither
participate in any discussion or deliberation at such meeting
unless the Committee so requests and, in no event, shall any
Director who is not a member of the Committee be entitled to
vote on any Committee matters.
The Committee may request any officer
or employee of the Company or the Company’s outside counsel
or independent auditor to attend a meeting of the Committee
or meet with any members of, or consultants to, the Committee.
5. Committee Responsibilities
and Authority.
Pursuant to the Committee’s purpose,
the Committee shall:
• Report to the Board on the major items covered at each
Committee meeting.
• Have the authority, to the extent
it deems necessary or appropriate, to retain accounting or other
advisors. The Company shall provide appropriate funding, as
determined by the Committee, for payment of compensation to
the independent auditor for the purpose of rendering or issuing
an audit report and to any advisors employed by the Committee.
• Have the authority, to the extent
it deems necessary or appropriate, to retain legal or other
advisors. In the event that the Committee chooses to engage
any such advisors, the Company shall provide appropriate funding,
as determined by the Committee, for the payment of such advisors.
• Review this Charter at least
annually, as conditions dictate, and recommend any changes to
the Board.
• Perform the functions of the
full Board of Directors with respect to the negotiation, review
and approval or ratification, as appropriate, of each “related
person transaction” (within the meaning of Item 404(a)
of the Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation 404(a))
to the extent that such functions can be properly delegated
by the Board of Directors to a committee of the Board of Directors
under Delaware law, and to negotiate, review, make recommendations
and otherwise advise the Board of Directors with respect to
all other related person transactions.
• Direct the officers of the Company
with respect to the negotiation, review, approval or ratification,
as appropriate, and advise Management with respect to all related
person transactions.
• Prepare an annual report to the
Company’s shareholders as required by the SEC. The report
shall be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement.
• Have the sole authority to appoint
or replace the independent auditor (subject, if applicable,
to shareholder ratification) and be directly responsible for
the compensation of the independent auditor.
•
Pre-approve all auditing services and permitted non-audit services
(including the fees and terms thereof) to be performed for the
Company by its independent auditor, subject to the de minimis
exceptions for non-audit services described in Section 10A(i)(1)(B)
of the Securities Exchange Act which are approved by the Committee
prior to completion of the audit. The Committee may form and
delegate authority to subcommittees
consisting of one or more members when appropriate, including
the authority to grant pre-approvals of audit and permitted
non-audit services, provided that decisions of such subcommittee
to grant pre-approvals shall be presented to the full Committee
at its next scheduled meeting.
• Obtain and review a report from the independent auditor
at least annually regarding (a) the independent auditor’s
internal quality control procedures, (b) any material issues
raised by the most recent internal quality control review, or
peer review, of the firm, 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 firm, (c) any steps taken to deal with any such issues,
and (d) all relationships between the independent auditor and
the Company. Evaluate the qualifications, performance and independence
of the independent auditor, including considering whether the
auditor’s quality controls are adequate and the provision
of permitted non-audit services is compatible with maintaining
the auditor’s independence, taking into account the opinions
of Management. The Committee shall present its conclusions with
respect to the selection or change of independent auditor to
the Board.
• Review and evaluate the lead
partner of the independent auditor team and ensure the rotation
of the audit partners as required by law.
• Be directly responsible for the
oversight of the work of the independent auditor (who shall
report directly to the Committee) for the purpose of issuing
an audit report or related work.
• Meet with the independent auditor
prior to the audit to discuss the planning and staffing of the
audit.
• Review and discuss with Management
and the independent auditor the Company’s annual financial
statements, including management’s discussion and analysis.
Review and discuss with Management any reports or other financial
information submitted to any governmental body, or the public,
including any certification, report, opinion or review rendered
by the independent auditor, and recommend to the Board whether
the audited financial statements should be included in the Company’s
Form 10-K.
• Review and discuss with Management
and the independent auditor the Company’s quarterly financial
statements prior to the filing of its Form 10-Q, or prior to
the release of earnings.
• Discuss with Management the Company’s
earnings press releases, including the use of any “pro
forma” non-GAAP information, as well as financial information
and earnings guidance provided to analysts and rating agencies.
Such discussion may be done generally (consisting of the types
of information to be disclosed and the types of presentations
to be made).
• Review with the independent auditor
the quality and appropriateness of the Company’s accounting
principles as applied in its financial reporting and review
and resolve any significant disagreements between the independent
auditor and Management in connection with the preparation of
the financial statements.
• Discuss with Management and the
independent auditor, together and in separate executive sessions,
financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection
with the preparation of the Company’s financial statements,
including any changes in the Company’s selection or application
of accounting principles, any issues as to the adequacy of the
Company’s internal controls or financial reporting processes
and any steps adopted in light of significant and material deficiencies.
• Discuss separately with the independent
auditor and Management (as required by Statement on Auditing
Standard No. 61) matters relating to the conduct of the audit,
including any difficulties encountered in the course of the
audit work, any restrictions on the scope of the activities
or access to requested information, and any significant disagreements
between the independent auditor and Management.
• Consider and approve, if appropriate,
major changes to the Company’s auditing and accounting
principles and practices as suggested by the independent auditor
or Management.
• Review and discuss reports from
the independent auditors on:
• All critical accounting policies and practices to be
used.
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• All alternative treatments of financial information
within generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”)
that have been discussed with Management, ramifications of the
use of such alternative disclosures and treatments, and the
treatment preferred by the independent auditor.
• Other material written communications
between the independent auditor and Management, such as any
management letter or schedules of the unadjusted differences.
• Discuss with Management and the independent auditor
the effect of regulatory and accounting initiatives as well
as off-balance sheet structures on the Company’s financial
statements.
• Periodically review with the
independent auditors and financial and accounting personnel,
the effectiveness of the accounting and financial controls and
reporting processes of the Company, and elicit from financial
and accounting personnel any recommendations offered for the
improvement of such internal control procedures or particular
areas where new or more detailed controls or procedures are
desirable. Particular emphasis should be given by the Committee
to the adequacy of such internal controls to expose any payments,
transactions or procedures that might be deemed illegal or otherwise
improper. Further, the Committee periodically should review
Company policy statements to determine their adherence to the
Company’s Code of Ethics, as and when adopted by the Board.
• Discuss with Management and the
independent auditor the Company’s financial risk exposures
(including potential or pending litigation). The Committee should
discuss with Management the steps Management has taken to monitor
and control such exposures, including the Company’s risk
assessment and risk management policies, and then discuss those
steps with the independent auditor.
• Discuss with or obtain reports
from Management and corporate counsel confirming that the Company
is in conformity with applicable legal requirements relating
to financial and accounting matters and the Company’s
Code of Ethics, as and when adopted by the Board. Review reports
and disclosures on insider and affiliated party transactions.
Advise the Board with respect to the Company’s policies
and procedures regarding compliance with applicable laws and
regulations relating to financial and accounting matters and
with the Company’s Code of Ethics, as and when adopted
by the Board.
• Investigate any matter brought
to its attention within the scope of its duties.
• On an annual basis, evaluate
the performance of the Committee in light of its purpose.
• Establish procedures for the
confidential, anonymous submission of employee concerns regarding
questionable accounting or auditing matters and for receiving,
retaining and addressing complaints concerning accounting, internal
audit controls and other auditing matters.
•
Discuss with the Company’s counsel legal matters that
may have a material impact on the financial statements or the
Company’s compliance policies.
•
Have full access to the Company’s executives, personnel
and advisors as necessary to carry out its responsibilities.
• Submit the minutes of all meetings
of the Committee to the Board and discuss, through its Chairman,
the matters discussed at each Committee meeting with the Board.
• Review the results of Management’s
reviews of director, officer and employee expense reports and
reimbursements, and Management perquisites.
• Perform any other activities
consistent with this Charter, the Company’s Bylaws and
governing law as the Committee or the Board deems necessary
or appropriate.
6. Minutes.
The Committee will maintain written minutes
of its meetings, which minutes will be filed with the minutes
of the meetings of the Board.
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7.
Compensation.
Members of the Committee will be eligible
to receive fees or other compensation for their service as Committee
members as determined by the Board. Changes in such compensation
will be determined by the Board in its sole discretion.
8. Delegation of Duties.
Subject to the Company’s Certificate
of Incorporation and Bylaws and applicable laws and rules of
markets in which the Company’s securities then trade,
in fulfilling its responsibilities, the Committee shall be entitled
to delegate any or all of its responsibilities to a subcommittee
of the Committee.
9. Limitation of the audit committee’s
role.
While the Committee has the responsibilities
and powers set forth in this Charter, it is not the duty of
the Committee to plan or conduct audits or to determine that
the Company’s financial statements and disclosures are
complete and accurate and are in accordance with GAAP and applicable
rules and regulations. Management is responsible for the preparation,
presentation and integrity of the Company’s financial
statements and for the appropriateness of the accounting principles
and reporting policies that are used by the Company.
The independent auditors are responsible
for auditing the Company’s financial statements and for
reviewing the Company’s unaudited interim financial statements.
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