EX-10.1 9 ex101.htm MATERIAL CONTRACT

EXHIBIT 10.1

SAN WEST, INC.

CHARTER OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

Purpose

The purpose of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board of Directors (the “Board”) in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities relating to the Company’s (1) financial statements and auditing, accounting and related reporting processes, and (2) systems of internal controls regarding finance, accounting, financial reporting, and business practices and conduct established by management and the Board.

Membership and Procedures

Membership and Appointment. The Committee shall consist of at least three members of the Board, with the exact number being determined by the Board. The members of the Committee shall be appointed and replaced from time to time by the Board.

Independence and Qualifications. Each member of the Committee shall meet the independence and experience requirements of the applicable provisions of federal law and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and the applicable rules of The Nasdaq Stock Market, the New York Stock Exchange, or any other exchange where the shares of the Company may be listed or quoted for sale.

Resources. The Committee shall have the authority to retain, at the Company’s expense, special legal, accounting or other consultants to advise the Committee and to authorize or conduct investigations into any matters within the scope of its responsibilities. The Committee shall have sole authority to approve related fees and retention terms. The Committee may request any officer or employee of the Company or the Company’s outside counsel or independent auditors to attend a meeting of the Committee or to meet with any members of, or consultants to, the Committee, and shall have full access to all books, records, facilities and personnel of the Company in connection with the discharge of its responsibilities.

Evaluation. The Committee shall review and reassess the adequacy of this Charter annually and recommend any proposed changes to the Board.

Duties and Responsibilities

Described below are the common recurring activities and responsibilities of the Committee in carrying out its oversight functions. These activities and responsibilities are set forth below as a guide to the Committee with the understanding that the Committee may alter or supplement them as appropriate under the circumstances to the extent permitted by applicable law, regulation or listing standard.

Documents/Reports Review

Review and discuss the Company’s annual audited financial statements and quarterly financial statements with management and the independent auditors, including the Company’s disclosures under the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the Company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and, with respect to the annual financial statements, the appropriateness and quality of accounting and auditing principles and practices as well as the adequacy of internal controls that could significantly affect the Company’s financial statements.

Review and discuss with management and the independent auditors the Company’s earnings press releases before they are issued, and discuss generally with management the nature of any additional financial information or earnings guidance to be provided publicly and/or to ratings agencies.

Review and discuss with management and the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards Nos. 61 and 90 (Communications with Audit Committees), as they may be modified or supplemented, relating to the conduct of the audit, other significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of the Company’s financial statements, and any other matters communicated to the Committee by the independent auditors.

Review with management and such outside professionals as the Committee considers appropriate important trends and developments in financial reporting practices and requirements and their effect on the Company’s financial statements.

Based on its review and discussions with management and the independent auditors, recommend to the Board whether the Company’s audited financial statements should be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Prepare the report of the Audit Committee required by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement.

Accounting and Financial Controls Framework

Review major changes to the Company’s auditing and accounting principles and practices as suggested by the independent auditors or management.

Review and discuss with management and the independent auditors the adequacy and effectiveness of the Company’s internal controls (including any significant deficiencies, material weaknesses and significant changes in internal controls reported to the Committee by management and any fraud involving management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls) and the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures.

Review with the independent auditors any management letter provided by the independent auditors and the Company’s responses to that letter.

Review and discuss with management and the independent auditors (i) any material financial or non-financial arrangements that do not appear on the Company’s financial statements, (ii) any transactions or courses of dealing with parties related to the Company that are significant in size or involve terms or other aspects that differ from those that would likely be negotiated with independent parties, and that are relevant to an understanding of the Company’s financial statements, and (iii) material financial risks that are designated as such by management or the independent auditors.

Establish 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 the Company’s employees of concerns regarding accounting or auditing matters.

Independent Auditors

Be directly responsible for the appointment, removal, compensation and oversight of the work of the independent auditors (including the resolution of disagreements between the Company’s management and the independent auditors regarding financial reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work with the independent auditors reporting directly to the Committee.

Have the sole authority to review in advance, and grant any appropriate pre-approvals of all auditing services to be provided by the independent auditors and all permitted non-audit services (including the fees and other terms of engagement), and, if desired, establish policies and procedures for review and pre-approval by the Committee of such services.

Obtain, review and discuss with the independent auditors at least annually a report by the independent auditors describing (i) the independent auditors’ internal quality-control procedures, and (ii) any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality control review or peer review of the independent auditors, 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 independent auditors, and the steps taken to deal with those issues.

Review the report by the independent auditors, which is required by Section 10A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, concerning: (i) all critical accounting policies and practices to be used; (ii) alternative treatments of financial information within GAAP that have been discussed with management officials, ramifications of the use of such alternative disclosures and treatments, and the treatment preferred by the independent auditors; and (iii) any other material written communications between the independent auditors and the Company’s management.

Review and discuss with the independent auditors, on an annual basis, all relationships the independent auditors have with the Company in order to evaluate the independent auditors’ continued independence, and receive from the independent auditors on an annual basis a written statement (consistent with Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1) regarding the auditors’ independence.

Meet with the independent auditors prior to the audit for each fiscal year to review the planning, staffing and scope of the audit.

Establish guidelines for the hiring of employees and former employees of the independent auditors.

Clarification of Audit Committee’s Role

While the Committee has the responsibilities and powers set forth in this Charter, the Committee’s role is one of oversight. 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 generally accepted accounting principles and applicable rules and regulations. These are the responsibilities of management and the independent auditors.