CELSIUSHOLDINGS, INC. AUDITCOMMITTEE CHARTER November6, 2009

EX-10.29 3 fs1nov09ex10xxix_celsius.htm AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER fs1nov09ex10xxix_celsius.htm
EXHIBIT 10.29
 
CELSIUS HOLDINGS, INC.
 
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
 
November 6, 2009
 
Purpose
 
 
The Audit Committee is appointed by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Celsius Holdings, Inc. (the “Corporation”) to assist the Board in overseeing (1) the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Corporation, the audits of the Corporation’s financial statements and the integrity of the Corporation’s financial statements, (2) the independent auditor’s qualifications and independence, (3) the performance of the Corporation’s internal audit function and independent auditors, (4) the effectiveness of the Corporation’s internal control structure, and (5) the compliance by the Corporation with significant legal and regulatory requirements.
 
The Audit Committee shall prepare the report required by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) to be included in the Corporation’s annual proxy statement.
 
Guiding Principles and Limitation of Committee’s Role
 
The Audit Committee is dedicated to fostering a proper control structure in the Corporation, from the environment in which the controls operate to the activities that are performed on a daily basis. The Audit Committee will support management and the Corporation's internal audit function to assess, develop, implement and monitor controls over critical business processes to promote effective and efficient operations, reliable financial reporting, compliance with laws and regulations and the safeguarding of the Corporation's assets.
 
With regard to financial reporting, the guiding principles to be considered by the Audit Committee in carrying out its responsibilities in reviewing a particular matter shall include consideration of (1) whether the financial statements fairly present the results of operations of the Corporation in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (2) whether the treatment of the matter is consistent with the Corporation's practices in prior accounting periods; (3) whether the presentation of the matter is reasonably comprehensive under the circumstances; (4) whether the disclosure regarding the matter contains any material misstatement or fails to disclose a matter which reasonably would be considered material to the Corporation's stakeholders; and (5) whether the presentation varies in a material way from principles of convention or conservatism.
 
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 Corporation’s financial statements and disclosures are complete and accurate and are in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and applicable rules and regulations. These are the responsibilities of management and the independent auditor.
 
Committee Membership
 
The Audit Committee shall consist of no fewer than three members. The members of the Audit Committee shall satisfy the independence requirements of the NASDAQ Stock Market (“NASDAQ”)
 
 
 
 
 
 
and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and the rules and regulations of the Commission, in each case with respect to audit committees. All members of the Audit Committee shall be able to read and understand fundamental financial statements. In addition, members of the Audit Committee may not have participated in the preparation of the financial statements of the Corporation or any current subsidiary of the Corporation at any time during the past three years. At least one member of the Audit Committee shall be an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by the Commission. The name of such audit committee financial expert shall be disclosed in the Corporation’s filings with the Commission.
 
The members of the Audit Committee shall be appointed by the Board. Audit Committee members may be replaced by the Board.
 
Meetings
 
The Audit Committee shall meet as often as it determines necessary, but not less frequently than quarterly. The Audit Committee shall meet periodically with management, the internal auditors and the independent auditor in separate executive sessions, and shall meet no less frequently than twice per year in executive sessions composed solely of members of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee may request any officer or employee of the Corporation or the Corporation’s outside counsel or independent auditor to attend a meeting of the Committee or to meet with any members of, or consultants to, the Committee.
 
Committee Authority and Responsibilities
 
The Audit Committee shall have the sole authority to appoint, determine funding for, retain, terminate and oversee the outside auditors (subject, if applicable, to shareholder ratification). The Audit Committee shall be directly responsible for the compensation and oversight of the work of the independent auditor (including resolution of disagreements between management and the independent auditor regarding financial reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work. The independent auditor shall report directly to the Audit Committee.
 
The Audit Committee shall pre-approve all auditing services and permitted non-audit services (including the fees and terms thereof) to be performed for the Corporation by its independent auditor, as required by applicable law and Commission rules. The Audit 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 Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.
 
The Audit Committee shall have the authority, to the extent it deems necessary or appropriate, to engage and determine funding for independent legal, accounting or other advisors. The Corporation shall provide for appropriate funding, as determined by the Audit Committee, for payment of compensation to the independent auditor for the purpose of rendering or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attest services for the Corporation and to any advisors employed by the Audit Committee, as well as funding for the payment of ordinary administrative expenses of the Audit Committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties.
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Audit Committee shall make regular reports to the Board. The Audit Committee shall review and reassess the adequacy of this Charter annually and recommend any proposed changes to the Board for approval.
 
The Audit Committee, to the extent it deems necessary or appropriate, shall:
 
Financial Statement and Disclosure Matters
 
1.  
Review and discuss with management and the independent auditor the annual audited financial statements, including disclosures made in management’s discussion and analysis, and recommend to the Board whether the audited financial statements should be included in the Corporation’s Form 10-K.
 
2.  
Review and discuss with management and the independent auditor the Corporation’s quarterly financial statements prior to the filing of its Form 10-Q, including the results of the independent auditor’s review of the quarterly financial statements.
 
3.  
Discuss with management and the independent auditor significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of the Corporation’s financial statements, including any significant changes in the Corporation’s selection or application of accounting principles.
 
4.  
Review and discuss quarterly reports from the independent auditors on:
 
(a) All critical accounting policies and practices to be used.
 
(b) All alternative treatments of financial information within generally accepted accounting principles related to material items that have been discussed with management, ramifications of the use of such alternative disclosures and treatments, and the treatment preferred by the independent auditor.
 
(c) Other material written communications between the independent auditor and management, such as any management letter or schedule of unadjusted differences.
 
5.  
Discuss with management the Corporation’s earnings press releases, including the use of “pro forma” or “adjusted” 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 discussing the types of information to be disclosed and the types of presentations to be made).
 
6.  
Discuss with management and the independent auditor the effect of regulatory and accounting initiatives as well as off-balance sheet structures on the Corporation’s financial statements.
 
7.  
Discuss with management the Corporation’s major financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures, including the Corporation’s risk assessment and risk management policies.
 
8.  
Discuss with the independent auditor the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 relating to the conduct of the audit, including any difficulties encountered in the course of the audit work, any restrictions on the scope of activities or access to requested information, and any significant disagreements with management.
 
 
 
 
 
 
9.  
Ensure that a public announcement of the Corporation’s receipt of an audit opinion that contains a going concern qualification is made promptly.
 
10.  
Review and discuss with management and the independent auditor the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures.
 
11.  
Review significant new, or changes to existing, accounting, financial, external reporting and asset-safeguarding policies and practices.
 
Oversight of the Corporation’s Relationship with the Independent Auditor
 
12.  
Review and evaluate the lead partner of the independent auditor team.
 
 
13.  
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 Public Corporation Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) 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 Corporation. 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 and internal auditors. The Audit Committee shall present its conclusions with respect to the independent auditor to the Board.
 
14.  
Obtain from the independent auditor a formal written statement delineating all relationships between the independent auditor and the Corporation. It is the responsibility of the Audit Committee to actively engage in a dialogue with the independent auditor with respect to any disclosed relationships or services that may impact the objectivity and independence of the auditor and for purposes of taking, or recommending that the full board take, appropriate action to oversee the independence of the outside auditor.
 
15.  
Ensure the rotation of the audit partners if and as required by law, and consider whether, in order to assure continuing auditor independence, it is appropriate to adopt a policy of rotating the independent auditing firm on a regular basis.
 
16.  
Recommend to the Board policies for the Corporation’s hiring of employees or former employees of the independent auditor who participated in any capacity in the audit of the Corporation.
 
17.  
Discuss with the independent auditor material issues on which the national office of the independent auditor was consulted by the Corporation’s audit team.
 
18.  
Meet with the independent auditor prior to the audit to discuss the planning and staffing of the audit.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Effectiveness of Internal Controls
 
19.  
Review and discuss with management, the senior internal auditing executive and the independent auditor management’s plan for establishing and maintaining internal controls, the framework used to evaluate its control structure and management’s subsequent assessment of the effectiveness of the internal controls.
 
20.  
Review and discuss with management, the senior internal auditing executive and the independent auditor disclosures made to the Audit Committee by the Corporation’s CEO and CFO during their certification process for the Form 10-K and Form 10-Q about any significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls or material weaknesses therein and any fraud involving management or other employees who have a significant role in the Corporation’s internal controls.
 
21.  
Review and discuss with management and the independent auditor any major issues as to the adequacy of the Corporation’s internal controls, any special steps adopted in light of material or significant control deficiencies and the adequacy of disclosures about changes in internal control over financial reporting.
 
22.  
Review and discuss with management and the independent auditor the Corporation’s internal controls report prior to the filing of the Corporation’s Form 10-K.
 
Compliance Oversight Responsibilities
 
26.  
Obtain from the independent auditor assurance that Section 10A (b) of the Exchange Act has not been implicated.
 
27.  
Obtain reports from management, the Corporation’s senior internal auditing executive and the independent auditor that the Corporation and its subsidiary/foreign affiliated entities are in conformity with applicable legal requirements and the Corporation’s Code of Conduct Advise the Board with respect to the Corporation’s policies and procedures regarding compliance with applicable laws and regulations and with the Corporation’s Code of Conduct.
 
28.  
To the extent required by NASDAQ rules, approve all related party transactions.
 
29.  
Establish procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Corporation regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters, and the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.
 
30.  
Discuss with management and the independent auditor any correspondence with regulators or governmental agencies and any published reports which raise material issues regarding the Corporation’s financial statements or accounting policies.
 
31.  
Discuss with the Corporation’s General Counsel legal matters that may have a material impact on the financial statements or the Corporation’s compliance policies.