TIX
CORPORATION GOVERNANCE GUIDELINES
The
following Governance Guidelines, along with the charters of the
Committees of the Board of Directors, provide the framework for
the governance of Tix Corporation.
1.
Introduction
The
Board of Directors has adopted principles of corporate governance
that govern the selection of Board candidates; compensation of
Board members; rules regarding structure and operation of Committees;
and, meetings of and agendas for the Board and its Committees.
These
Guidelines are reviewed by the Nomination and Governance Committee
periodically. That review includes the evaluation by the Committee
of board practices at other well-managed companies and emerging
corporate governance issues.
2.
Primary Functions of the Board of Directors
Each
Tix Director and the Tix Board are expected to promote the best
interest of the shareholders in terms of corporate governance;
fiduciary responsibilities; compliance with applicable laws and
regulations; and maintenance of accounting, financial, and other
controls. Their primary responsibility is to provide effective
guidance of the affairs of the Company for the benefit of its
shareholders and other constituencies. This includes overseeing
the conduct of the Company’s financial objectives; major
corporate plans; and, strategies and tactics. In addition, the
Board selects the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”),
acts as an advisor and counselor to the CEO and senior management,
and evaluates the CEO’s performance.
3.
Size of the Board and Term Limits
The
Board is divided into three classes elected for three-year terms,
that are to be as equal in size as possible, with the term of
one class expiring each year. The ideal size of the Board is currently
determined to be six, although an increase in the membership would
be appropriate in order to accommodate the availability of an
outstanding Board candidate. The Board also believes that as a
matter of policy, a majority of the members of the Board should
be Independent Directors.
At
the end of the term, unless the Director no longer desires to
remain a Director or retires, and subject to the recommendation
of the Nomination and Governance Committee, the Director will
stand for re-election at the Company’s Annual Meeting of
Shareholders.
4.
Meeting Attendance
Directors
are expected to attend the Annual Meeting of the Shareholders
and all Board of Directors meetings and meetings of Committees
on which a Director serves. If a Director determines that it is
not possible to attend a meeting, the Director is expected to
give notice of that fact as early as practical. If a Director
cannot attend a Board meeting due to an inability to be at the
site of that meeting, but is otherwise able to participate, it
may be possible for the Director to participate by telephone if
advance arrangements are made. Proxy rules require the Company
to identify in the Proxy those Directors who did not attend 75%
of the scheduled Directors’ meetings and any meetings of
Committees on which the Director serves.
5.
Board Committees
A
substantial amount of the analysis and work of the Board is done
by standing Board Committees. Directors are expected to participate
actively in the meetings of each Committee to which the Director
is appointed.
The
Board has established the following standing Committees:
(1)
Audit Committee: The Committee’s functions include: recommending
to the Board the independent auditors for the Company; establishing
and reviewing the activities of the independent auditors; reviewing
recommendations of the independent auditors and the responses
of management to such recommendations; and, reviewing and discussing
with the independent auditors and the Company’s management
the Company’s financial reporting loss exposures and internal
controls. In addition, the Committee reviews and recommends debt
and equity financing; and reviews and approves the annual financial
and capital plans.
(2)
Compensation Committee: The Committee’s functions include:
approving and reporting to the Board the executive compensation
plans and the compensation (including incentive awards) of certain
executives; and reviewing and approving the Company’s incentive
plans. The Committee also grants, approves and reports to the
Board concerning employee stock options grants, and other discretionary
awards under the Company’s stack potion or other equity
incentive plans. The Committee will also oversee and periodically
review the operations of all of the Company’s employee benefit
plans.
(3)
Nomination and Governance Committee: The Committee’s functions
include: evaluating and recommending qualified individuals to
the Board; reviewing the qualifications of individuals for election
or reelection as members of the Board; and reviewing the charters
and membership of the Board’s Committees and Board membership
guidelines. The Committee will consider persons whom shareholders
recommend as candidates for election as Company Directors. Any
shareholder wishing to make such a recommendation should submit
it to the Secretary of the Company. It also oversees matters of
corporate governance including Board performance; evaluation of
individual Directors; and these corporate governance guidelines.
Each
standing Committee should have a board-approved written charter
detailing its duties. In addition, each standing Committee shall
perform a self-assessment of its performance on an annual basis.
The
Board may also establish other Committees from time to time to
deal with specific
issues, including by way of example a Committee of Independent
Directors to
periodically review and evaluate the Company’s Long-Term
Incentive Plan.
a.
Composition of Committees: It is the policy of the Board that
only Independent Directors serve on the standing Committees. In
addition, the composition of the Audit and Compensation Committees
will be reviewed annually to ensure that each of its members meet
the criteria set forth in applicable SEC, listing exchange, and
IRS rules and regulations.
b.
Assignment and Rotation of Committee Members: The Nomination and
Governance Committee, with direct input from the CEO, recommends
to the Board the membership of the various Committees and their
Chairperson and the Board approves such Committee assignments.
In making its recommendations to the Board, the Committee takes
into consideration the continuity; subject matter expertise; tenure;
and experience of the individual Board members.
c.
Committee Agendas/Reports to the Board: Appropriate members of
management and staff will prepare draft agenda and related background
information for each Committee meeting which, to the extent desired
by the relevant Committee Chairperson, will be reviewed and approved
by such Chairperson in advance of distribution to the other Committee
members. Any background materials, together with such agenda,
should be distributed to Committee members and Corporate Secretary
in advance of the meeting for their review and discussion. In
addition, each Committee member is free to suggest items for inclusion
on the agenda and to raise at any Committee meeting subjects that
are not on the agenda for that meeting.
Reports
on the items considered on each Committee meeting are to be furnished
to the full Board at its next meeting. In addition, all Directors
are to be furnished copies of each Committee’s minutes.
6.
Board Membership Criteria and Selection of New Director Candidates
The
Nomination and Governance Committee is responsible for reviewing
and recommending to the Board candidates for election as members
of the Board. Consideration of potential candidates is based upon
the assessment of the individual’s background, skills, and
abilities and such characteristics that qualify the individual
to fulfill the needs of the Board at that time. The Board has
delegated to the Nomination and Governance Committee responsibility
for developing a screening process involved in identifying and
selecting Director candidates for recommendation to the Board.
The Board, however, has the final responsibility of approving
the individual’s selection or nomination.
7.
Evaluation of the Board
The
Nomination and Governance Committee is responsible for conducting
an assessment of the conduct of the Board, as well as reviewing
with the Board the results of these assessments, at least on an
annual basis. The Committee is also responsible for assessing
the effectiveness of the processes used by the Board. In preparing
these assessments, the Committee develops and circulates to each
Director a questionnaire through which each Director can provide
input.
8.
Change in Status
The
Board of Directors has determined that a change in employment
status should not affect a Director’s status as a member
of the Board unless the change in employment status creates a
conflict of interest or prevents a Director from performing his
or her duties as a Director. A Director whose employment status
has changed is to inform the Chairperson of the Nominating and
Governance Committee and the CEO of the change in status.
9.
Membership on Other Boards
Directors
must be willing to devote sufficient time to carrying out their
duties and responsibilities effectively and avoid actual or potential
conflicts of interest that may arise from serving on other boards
of directors. To that end, each Director has the responsibility
to inform the Chairperson of the Nominating and Governance Committee
and the CEO prior to accepting invitations to serve as a director
on other boards of directors.
10.
Board Access to Senior Management and Independent Advisors
Directors
have complete access to Company’s management. Each Director
has the responsibility to inform the CEO of the nature of communications
with management and to provide copies of any written communication
to the CEO.
The
Board encourages management to bring managers into Board meetings
who (a) can provide additional insight into the items being discussed
because of personal involvement in these areas and/or (b) represent
managers with future potential that management believes should
be given exposure to the Board.
The
Board, at its discretion, may engage and consult with independent
advisors to assist the Board in carrying out its oversight responsibilities.
11.
Board Interaction with Institutional Investors
The
Board believes that the management speaks for the Company and
it is inappropriate for individual Directors to communicate separately
to investors except with the full knowledge and at the request
of management. Directors who receive inquiries should direct the
investor to the Chief Executive Officer.
12.
Director Compensation
The
Nomination and Governance Committee reviews the non-employee Director
compensation program annually with respect to competitiveness
and appropriateness of compensation levels and program design.
The Committee then makes recommendations to the Board for action.
Compensation paid by peers representing the Company’s core
business competitors should be among the data considered in establishing
compensation levels for the Directors. Stock-based compensation
has been and is an important component of the non-employee Director
compensation program. Stock-based compensation is designed to
promote stock ownership and align Director interests with those
of shareholders.
13.
Related Party Transactions
The
Company’s Audit Committee will be responsible for reviewing
all related party transactions. A related party is one who can
exercise control or significant influence over the Company to
the extent that either the related party or the Company may be
prevented from pursuing its own separate interest.
14.
Evaluation of CEO
The
Chair of the Compensation Committee is responsible for conducting
an assessment of the performance of the CEO at least on an annual
basis. However, it is expected that his compensation shall re
reviewed on an annual basis. The results of the evaluation should
be communicated to the CEO by the Chair of the Committee. The
evaluation should be based on objective criteria which should
include the performance of the Company; accomplishment of financial
and strategic objectives; and the successful development of management.
15.
Executive Sessions
Executive
sessions or meetings of outside Directors without management present
are held regularly to review the report of the independent auditor,
the criteria upon which the performance of the CEO and other senior
managers is based, the performance of the CEO against such criteria,
the compensation of the CEO and other senior managers, and any
other relevant matter. Meetings are held from time to time with
the CEO for a general discussion of relevant subjects.
16.
Corporate Governance Processes
a.
Corporate Secretary. The Corporate Secretary shall be the officer
responsible for ensuring the distribution of and ongoing compliance
with the Guidelines within the Company.
b. Annual Review of the Guidelines. The Nomination and Governance
Committee of the Board will annually review these Guidelines to
consider whether they continue to reflect the goals, functions
and needs of the company, the Board and stockholders. The Nomination
and Governance Committee will recommend any changes to the Board
for approval.
Approved
by the Board of Directors on October xx, 2007 |