W. R. Grace & Co.
Audit Committee Charter
I. Purpose.
The purpose of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board of Directors in overseeing
(1) the integrity of the Company's financial statements, (2) the Company's compliance
with legal and regulatory requirements, (3) the independent auditor's qualifications
and independence, (4) the performance of the Company's internal audit function and
independent auditor, and (5) the preparation of the internal control report and
an audit committee report as required by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Consistent with this purpose, the Audit Committee should encourage the continuous
improvement of, and should foster adherence to, the Company's policies, procedures
and practices at all levels. The Committee shall promote an open avenue of communication
among the independent auditors, the internal auditors, management and the Board
of Directors as the best means of ensuring the satisfaction of its obligations.
II. Composition.
The Audit Committee shall consist of three or more independent members of the Board
of Directors, who shall be designated in the manner specified in the Company's By-laws.
The Audit Committee members shall meet the requirements of the Securities and Exchange
Commission and the New York Stock Exchange. At least one member of the Audit Committee
shall in the judgment of the Board of Directors be an audit committee financial
expert in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission and at least one member (who may also serve as the audit committee financial
expert) shall in the judgment of the Board of Directors have accounting or related
financial management expertise in accordance with New York Stock Exchange listing
standards. No director may serve on the Audit Committee if he or she already serves
on the audit committee of three or more other public companies. The Board of Directors
shall appoint members of the Committee, including the Committee Chair, and may remove
Committee members with or without cause.
III. Responsibilities and Duties.
The Audit Committee is expected to carry out the following responsibilities and duties:
- Meet at least four times per year, or more frequently as circumstances dictate.
As part of its responsibility to foster open communication, the Committee should
meet with the director of internal auditing, the independent auditors, principal
accounting officer and other Company officers as it deems appropriate, in separate
private sessions to discuss any matters that the Committee or these groups believe
should be discussed privately.
- Establish hiring policies for employees or former employees of the independent auditors.
- Hire the independent auditors, approve the fees and other compensation to be paid
to the independent auditors, oversee the work of the independent auditors and resolve
any disagreements between management and the independent auditors regarding financial
reporting, and approve the discharge of the independent auditors when circumstances
warrant. The independent auditors shall report directly to the Audit Committee.
- Establish a policy for the pre-approval of all audit and non-audit services to be
performed by the independent auditors in accordance with SEC regulations.
- Evaluate the independence of the internal auditing department and the independent
auditors. The Audit Committee is responsible for ensuring that the independent auditors
submit , at least annually for its review, to the Audit Committee a formal written
statement delineating all relationships between the independent auditors and the
Company. The Audit Committee is also responsible for actively engaging in dialogue
with the independent auditors with respect to any disclosed relationships or services
that might impact the objectivity and independence of the independent auditors.
The Audit Committee also must review the experience and qualifications of the senior
members of the independent auditor's audit team.
- Review and concur in the appointment, replacement, reassignment or dismissal of
the director of internal auditing.
- Obtain and review at least annually a report by the independent auditors describing
the internal quality control procedures of the independent auditors, including any
material issues raised by the most recent internal quality control review, or peer
review, of the auditor, 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.
- Inquire of management, the director of internal auditing and the independent auditors
as to the areas of significant risk and/or exposure to the Company and assess the
steps taken by management to minimize such risk and/or exposure. This inquiry should
address whether the Company has an effective process and policy for assessing and
managing risks and exposure from asserted and unasserted litigation, and claims
from noncompliance with laws and regulations.
- Review, in consultation with management, the independent auditors and the director
of internal auditing, the audit scope and plan of the internal auditors and the
independent auditors to assure completeness of coverage, reduction of redundant
efforts and the effective use of audit resources.
- Consider, in consultation with management, the rationale for employing audit firms
other than the principal independent auditors.
- Consider and review with management, the independent auditors and the director of
internal auditing:
- The Company's internal controls, including information system controls and security.
- Management's assessment of the effectiveness of the Company's internal control structure
and procedures for financial reporting and the independent auditors' attestation
to, and report on, management's control assessment related to Section 404 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
- Significant findings and recommendations of the independent auditors and the internal
auditing department, together with management's responses thereto, including the
timetable for implementation of the recommendations to correct weaknesses in the
internal controls.
- Problems or difficulties encountered during the course of the audit, including any
restrictions on the scope of work or access to required information and management's
response. The independent auditors and the director of internal auditing should
be instructed to communicate directly to the Audit Committee any serious difficulties
or disagreements with management.
- The effect of regulatory and accounting initiatives as well as off-balance sheet
structures on the Company's financial statements.
- Significant changes required in the audit scope and/or plan.
- The internal auditing department's responsibilities, budget and staffing.
- Compliance by the internal auditing department with the IIA's Standards for the
Professional Practice of Internal Auditing.
- The internal auditing department charter.
- Review and discuss with management, the independent auditors and the internal auditing
department:
- The Company's annual and quarterly financial statements and related notes, including
management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations
and the chief executive officer's and chief financial officer's certifications thereof.
- The independent auditors' audit of the annual financial statements and their report
thereon.
- Earnings press releases (including the type of information to be included), as well
as financial information and earnings guidance provided to analysts and ratings
agencies; provided however, the Committee need not discuss in advance each instance
in which the Company might provide financial information and earnings guidance.
- The Company's significant accounting issues and policies and possible alternative
accounting treatments.
- Management's assumptions, estimates and judgments affecting the reported assets,
liabilities, revenues and expenses of the Company.
- Significant changes required in the audit scope and/or plan.
- Significant difficulties encountered during the course of the audit, including any
restrictions on the scope of work or access to required information.
- Other matters related to the conduct of the audit that are required to be communicated
to the Audit Committee under generally accepted auditing standards.
- In conjunction with the Corporate Responsibility Committee, review the Company's
standards of business conduct and related procedures intended to ensure compliance
with those standards, and review with the director of internal auditing and the
independent auditors the results of their review of the Company's monitoring of
compliance with its code of conduct or similar policies.
- Review with legal counsel and other appropriate management any legal, tax or regulatory
matters that may have a material impact on the Company's financial statements, related
Company compliance policies, and programs and reports received from regulators.
- Oversee the taking of appropriate action to correct irregularities and implement
audit recommendations.
- Report Audit Committee actions to the Board of Directors with such recommendations
as the Audit Committee may deem appropriate.
- Retain, at the Company's cost, independent counsel, auditors and/or other experts
or advisors to assist it in the conduct of any investigation or as it otherwise
determines to be necessary to carry out its duties.
- Establish procedures for (a) the confidential and anonymous receipt, retention and
treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal controls
and auditing matters, and (b) the confidential, anonymous submission to the Committee
by the Company's employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing
matters.
- Recommend to the Board of Directors whether the financial statements should be included
in the Annual Report on Form 10-K and prepare a report each year for disclosure
to the public in accordance with applicable law.
- As required by the Company's Corporate Governance Principles, review and approve
or ratify related person transactions.
- Conduct an annual evaluation of the Committee's performance.
- Review and reassess the adequacy of this Charter at least annually.
- Perform such other functions as are required by law, by the Company's Certificate
of Incorporation or By-laws, or by the Board of Directors.
IV. Funding.
The Company shall provide for appropriate funding, as determined by the Committee,
for payment of:
- Compensation to any auditing firm engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing
an audit report or performing other audit, review or attest services for the Company;
- Compensation to any advisers employed by the Committee under Section III.17 of this
Charter; and
- Ordinary administrative expenses of the Committee that are necessary or appropriate
in carrying out its duties.
V. Remuneration.
Audit Committee members may not accept any direct or indirect consulting, advisory
or other compensatory fees from or on behalf of the Company or any affiliate, other
than fees for services as a member of the Board or a Board committee.
VI. Responsibilities and Duties Not Exclusive.
The responsibilities and duties of a member of the Audit Committee are in addition
to those arising out of membership on the Board of Directors.
VII. Limitations of Audit Committee's Role.
While the Audit Committee has the responsibilities and powers set forth in this Charter,
it is not the duty of the Audit 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 generally accepted accounting principles. This is the
responsibility of management and the independent auditors.
Approved by the Audit Committee and Board of Directors
Date: January 17, 2008