EX1A-2A CHARTER 5 community_ex0203.htm CORPORATE GOVERNANCE & AUDIT COMMITTEE

Exhibit 2.3

 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE & AUDIT COMMITTEE

 

 

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Role of the Audit Committee

 

The Audit Committee’s general role is to assist the Board in monitoring our financial reporting process and related matters. Its specific responsibilities are set forth in its charter. 

 

The audit committee’s responsibilities include:

 

overseeing the work of our independent registered public accounting firm;

 

approving the hiring, discharging and compensation of our independent registered public accounting firm; 

 

approving engagements of the independent registered public accounting firm to render any audit or permissible non-audit services; 

 

reviewing the qualifications and independence of the independent registered public accounting firm; 

 

monitoring the rotation of partners of the independent registered public accounting firm on our engagement team as required by law; 

 

reviewing our consolidated financial statements and reviewing our critical accounting policies and estimates; 

 

reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of our internal controls; and

 

reviewing and discussing with management and the independent registered public accounting firm the results of our annual audit and our interim consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT, INC.

AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER

 

MEMBERSHIP

 

The Audit Committee (the “Committee”) of the board of directors (the “Board”) of Community Redevelopment, Inc. (the “Company”) shall consist of two or more directors. Each member of the Committee shall be independent in accordance with the requirements of Rule 10A-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Nasdaq Listing Rules. No member of the Committee can have participated in the preparation of the Company's or any of its subsidiaries' financial statements at any time during the past three years.

 

Each member of the Committee must be able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including the Company’s balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement. At least one member of the Committee must have past employment experience in finance or accounting, requisite professional certification in accounting or other comparable experience or background that leads to financial sophistication. At least one member of the Committee must be an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in Item 407(d)(5)(ii) of Regulation S-K. A person who satisfies this definition of audit committee financial expert will also be presumed to have financial sophistication.

 

The members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Board based on recommendations from the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board. The members of the Committee shall serve for such term or terms as the Board may determine or until earlier resignation or death. The Board may remove any member from the Committee at any time with or without cause.

 

PURPOSE

 

The purpose of the Committee is to oversee the Company's accounting and financial reporting processes and the audit of the Company's financial statements.

 

The primary role of the Committee is to oversee the financial reporting and disclosure process. To fulfill this obligation, the Committee relies on: management for the preparation and accuracy of the Company's financial statements; both management and the Company's internal audit department/management for establishing effective internal controls and procedures to ensure the Company's compliance with accounting standards, financial reporting procedures and applicable laws and regulations; and the Company's independent auditors for an unbiased, diligent audit or review, as applicable, of the Company's financial statements and the effectiveness of the Company's internal controls. The members of the Committee are not employees of the Company and are not responsible for conducting the audit or performing other accounting procedures.

 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

 

The Committee shall have the following authority and responsibilities:

 

1. To (1) select and retain an independent registered public accounting firm to act as the Company's independent auditors for the purpose of auditing the Company's annual financial statements, books, records, accounts and internal controls over financial reporting, subject to ratification by the Company's stockholders of the selection of the independent auditors, (2) set the compensation of the Company's independent auditors, (3) oversee the work done by the Company's independent auditors and (4) terminate the Company's independent auditors, if necessary.

 

2. To select, retain, compensate, oversee and terminate, if necessary, any other registered public accounting firm engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attest services for the Company.

 

 

 

 

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3. To approve all audit engagement fees and terms; and to pre-approve all audit and permitted non-audit and tax services that may be provided by the Company's independent auditors or other registered public accounting firms, and establish policies and procedures for the Committee's pre-approval of permitted services by the Company's independent auditors or other registered public accounting firms on an on-going basis.

 

4. At least annually, to obtain and review a report by the Company's independent auditors that describes (1) the accounting firm's internal quality control procedures, (2) any issues raised by the most recent internal quality control review, peer review or Public Company Accounting Oversight Board review or inspection of the firm or by any other inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities in the past five years regarding one or more audits carried out by the firm and any steps taken to deal with any such issues, and (3) all relationships between the firm and the Company or any of its subsidiaries; and to discuss with the independent auditors this report and any relationships or services that may impact the objectivity and independence of the auditors.

 

5. At least annually, to evaluate the qualifications, performance and independence of the Company's independent auditors, including an evaluation of the lead audit partner; and to assure the regular rotation of the lead audit partner at the Company's independent auditors and consider regular rotation of the accounting firm serving as the Company's independent auditors.

 

6. To review and discuss with the Company's independent auditors (1) the auditors' responsibilities under generally accepted auditing standards and the responsibilities of management in the audit process, (2) the overall audit strategy, (3) the scope and timing of the annual audit, (4) any significant risks identified during the auditors' risk assessment procedures and (5) when completed, the results, including significant findings, of the annual audit.

 

7. To review and discuss with the Company's independent auditors (1) all critical accounting policies and practices to be used in the audit; (2) all alternative treatments of financial information within generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) that have been discussed with management, the ramifications of the use of such alternative treatments and the treatment preferred by the auditors; and (3) other material written communications between the auditors and management.

 

8. To review and discuss with the Company's independent auditors and management (1) any audit problems or difficulties, including difficulties encountered by the Company's independent auditors during their audit work (such as restrictions on the scope of their activities or their access to information), (2) any significant disagreements with management and (3) management's response to these problems, difficulties or disagreements; and to resolve any disagreements between the Company's auditors and management.

 

9. To review with management and the Company's independent auditors: any major issues regarding accounting principles and financial statement presentation, including any significant changes in the Company's selection or application of accounting principles; any significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of the Company's financial statements, including the effects of alternative GAAP methods; and the effect of regulatory and accounting initiatives and off-balance sheet structures on the Company's financial statements.

 

10. To keep the Company's independent auditors informed of the Committee's understanding of the Company's relationships and transactions with related parties that are significant to the company; and to review and discuss with the Company's independent auditors the auditors' evaluation of the Company's identification of, accounting for, and disclosure of its relationships and transactions with related parties, including any significant matters arising from the audit regarding the Company's relationships and transactions with related parties.

 

11. To review with management and the Company's independent auditors the adequacy and effectiveness of the Company's financial reporting processes, internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures, including any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the design or operation of, and any material changes in, the Company's processes, controls and procedures and any special audit steps adopted in light of any material control deficiencies, and any fraud involving management or other employees with a significant role in such processes, controls and procedures, and review and discuss with management and the Company's independent auditors disclosure relating to the Company's financial reporting processes, internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures, the independent auditors' report on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and the required management certifications to be included in or attached as exhibits to the Company's annual report on Form 10-K or quarterly report on Form 10-Q, as applicable.

 

 

 

 

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12. To review and discuss with the Company's independent auditors any other matters required to be discussed by PCAOB Auditing Standards No. 1301, Communications with Audit Committees.

 

13. To review and discuss with the Company's independent auditors and management the Company's annual audited financial statements (including the related notes), the form of audit opinion to be issued by the auditors on the financial statements and the disclosure under “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” to be included in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K before the Form 10-K is filed.

 

14. To recommend to the Board that the audited financial statements and the MD&A section be included in the Company's Form 10-K and produce the audit committee report required to be included in the Company's proxy statement.

 

15. To review and discuss with the Company's independent auditors and management the Company's quarterly financial statements and the disclosure under “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” to be included in the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q before the Form 10-Q is filed.

 

16. To review, discuss with the Company's independent auditors, if any, and approve the functions of the Company's internal audit department, including its purpose, organization, responsibilities, budget and performance; and to review the scope, performance and results of such department's internal audit plans, including any reports to management and management's response to those reports.

 

17. To review and discuss with management and the Company's independent auditors: the Company's earnings press releases, including the type of information to be included and its presentation and the use of any pro forma or adjusted non-GAAP information before their release to the public; and any financial information and earnings guidance provided to analysts and ratings agencies, including the type of information to be disclosed and type of presentation to be made.

 

18. To establish and oversee procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters and the confidential, anonymous submission by Company employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.

 

19. To review and discuss with management policies and guidelines to govern the process by which management assesses and manages the Company's risks, including the Company's major financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures.

 

20. To review the Company's compliance with applicable laws and regulations and to review and oversee any policies, procedures and programs designed to promote such compliance.

 

21. To set clear Company hiring policies for employees or former employees of the Company's independent auditors that participated in any capacity in any Company audit.

 

22. To review, approve and oversee any transaction between the Company and any related person (as defined in Item 404 of Regulation S-K) and any other potential conflict of interest situations on an ongoing basis, in accordance with any Company policies and procedures, and to develop policies and procedures for the Committee's approval of related party transactions.

 

23. To establish procedures for the receipt and retention of accounting related complaints and concerns.

 

 

 

 

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OUTSIDE ADVISORS

 

The Committee shall have the authority, in its sole discretion, to retain and obtain the advice and assistance of independent outside counsel and such other advisors as it deems necessary to fulfill its duties and responsibilities under this Charter. The Committee shall set the compensation, and oversee the work, of any outside counsel and other advisors.

 

The Committee shall receive appropriate funding from the Company, as determined by the Committee in its capacity as a committee of the Board, for the payment of compensation to the Company's independent auditors, any other accounting firm engaged to perform services for the Company, any outside counsel and any other advisors to the Committee.

 

STRUCTURE AND OPERATIONS

 

The Board shall designate a member of the Committee as the chairperson. The Committee shall meet at least four (4) times a year at such times and places as it deems necessary to fulfill its responsibilities. The Committee shall report regularly to the Board on its discussions and actions, including any significant issues or concerns that arise at its meetings, and shall make recommendations to the Board as appropriate. The Committee is governed by the same rules regarding meetings (including meetings in person or by telephone or other similar communications equipment), action without meetings, notice, waiver of notice, and quorum and voting requirements as are applicable to the Board.

 

The Committee shall meet separately, and periodically, with management and representatives of the Company's independent auditors, and shall invite such individuals to its meetings as it deems appropriate, to assist in carrying out its duties and responsibilities. However, the Committee shall meet regularly without such individuals present.

 

The Committee shall review this Charter at least annually and recommend any proposed changes to the Board for approval.

 

DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY

 

The Committee shall have the authority to delegate any of its responsibilities, along with the authority to take action in relation to such responsibilities, to one or more subcommittees as the Committee may deem appropriate in its sole discretion.

 

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

 

The Committee shall conduct an annual evaluation of the performance of its duties under this Charter and shall present the results of the evaluation to the Board. The Committee shall conduct this evaluation in such manner as it deems appropriate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Identifying and Evaluating Director Nominees

 

The Board is responsible for selecting its own members. The Board delegates the selection and nomination process to the nominating and corporate governance committee, with the expectation that other members of the Board, and of management, will be requested to take part in the process as appropriate.

 

Generally, the nominating and corporate governance committee identifies candidates for director nominees in consultation with management, through the use of search firms or other advisors, through the recommendations submitted by stockholders or through such other methods as the Board deems to be helpful to identify candidates. Once candidates have been identified, the Board confirms that the candidates meet all of the minimum qualifications for director nominees the Board has established. The Board may gather information about the candidates through interviews, detailed questionnaires, comprehensive background checks or any other means that Board deems to be appropriate in the evaluation process. The Board then meets as a group to discuss and evaluate the qualities and skills of each candidate, both on an individual basis and taking into account the overall composition and needs of the Board. Based on the results of the evaluation process, the Board approves the director nominees for election to the Board.

 

Minimum Qualifications

 

In evaluating proposed director candidates, the Board may consider, in addition to the minimum qualifications and other criteria for Board membership approved by the Board from time to time, all facts and circumstances that it deems appropriate or advisable, including, among other things, the skills of the proposed director candidate, his or her depth and breadth of professional experience or other background characteristics, his or her independence and the needs of the Board.

 

Stockholder Recommendations

 

Stockholders may submit recommendations for director candidates to the nominating and corporate governance committee by sending the individual’s name and qualifications through our website www.comredev.com.

 

Board Leadership Structure and Board’s Role in Risk Oversight

 

One of the key functions of our board of directors is informed oversight of our risk management process. Our board of directors does not have a standing risk management committee, but rather administers this oversight function directly through the board of directors as a whole, as well as through its standing committees that address risks inherent in their respective areas of oversight. In particular, our board of directors is responsible for monitoring and assessing strategic risk exposure. Our audit committee is responsible for reviewing and discussing our major financial risk exposures and the steps our management has taken to monitor and control these exposures, including guidelines and policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management. Our audit committee also monitors compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, in addition to oversight of the performance of our external audit function. Our corporate governance and nominating committee monitors the effectiveness of our corporate governance guidelines.

 

 

 

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