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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE CHARTER
(CGCC)
Purpose
The purpose of the Corporate Governance Committee, hereinafter referred to as the “Governance Committee” of the Board of Directors, hereinafter referred to as the “Board” of Northern Ethanol, Inc., hereinafter referred to as the “Company” shall be to develop and recommend to the Board a set of corporate governance principles applicable to the Company, to advise the Board with respect to committees and applicable procedures and to oversee the evaluation of the Board and the Board committees.
Section 1.
- Committee Membership
- The Governance Committee shall consist of no fewer than three members. Prior to and immediately following the listing of the Company’s common stock on the NASDAQ OTC Bulletin Board, at least one of the members shall meet the independence requirements of the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules. A majority of the members of the Governance Committee shall meet those independence standards within 90 days of the listing and within one year of the listing, the Committee shall be fully independent.
- The chairperson of the Governance Committee shall be designated by the Board, providedthat if the Board does not so designate a chairperson, the members of the Governance Committee, by a majority vote, may designate a chairperson.
- Any vacancy on the Governance Committee shall be filled by majority vote of the Board. No member of the Governance Committee shall be removed except by majority vote of the Board.
Section 2
- Meetings of the Committee
- The Governance Committee shall meet as often as it determines necessary to carry out its duties and responsibilities, but no less than once annually. The Committee, in its discretion, may ask members of management or others to attend its meetings (or portions thereof) and to provide pertinent information as necessary.
- A majority of the members of the Governance Committee present in person or by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other shall constitute a quorum.
- The Governance Committee may form subcommittees for any purpose that the Governance Committee deems appropriate and may delegate to such subcommittees such power and authority as the Governance Committee deems appropriate; provided, however,that no subcommittee shall consist of fewer than two members; and provided furtherthat the Governance Committee shall not delegate to a subcommittee any power or authority required by any law, regulation or listing standard to be exercised by the Governance Committee as a whole.
- The Governance Committee shall maintain minutes of its meetings and records relating to those meetings and shall report regularly to the Board on its activities, as appropriate.
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Section 3
- Committee Authority and Responsibilities
- To make recommendations on the frequency and structure of Board meetings.
- Make recommendations concerning any other aspect of the procedures of the Board the Governance Committee considers warranted, including but not limited to procedures with respect to the waiver by the Board of any Company rule, guideline, procedure or corporate governance principle.
- Monitor the functioning of committees of the Board and make recommendations for any changes, including the creation and elimination of committees.
- To review annually committee assignments and the policy with respect to the rotation of committee memberships and/or chairpersons, and to report any recommendations to the Board.
- To recommend that the Board establish such special committees as may be desirable or necessary from time to time in order to address ethical, legal or other matters that may arise. The Governance Committee’s power to make such a recommendation under this Charter shall be without prejudice to the right of any other committee of the Board, or any individual director, to make such a recommendation at any time.
- Develop and recommend to the Board a set of corporate governance principles for the Company, which shall be consistent with any applicable laws, regulations, and listing standards. At a minimum the corporate governance principles developed and recommended by the Governance Committee shall address the following:
- Director qualification standards.
- Director responsibilities.
- Director access to management and, as necessary and appropriate, independent advisors.
- Director orientation and continuing education.
- Management succession, including policies and principles for the selection and performance review of the chief executive officer, as well as policies regarding succession in the event of an emergency or the retirement of the chief executive officer.
- Annual performance evaluation of the Board.
- Review periodically, and at least annually, the corporate governance principles adopted by the Board, including the Company’s Code of Business Ethics and Conduct and the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines to assure that they are appropriate for the Company and comply with the requirements of the NASDAQ, and to recommend any desirable changes to the Board.
- To consider any other corporate governance issues that may arise from time to time, and to develop appropriate recommendations to the Board.
- Oversee the evaluation of the Board as a whole and the self-evaluation of each Board committee by such committee. The Governance Committee shall establish procedures to allow it to exercise this oversight function.
- Review the size and composition of the Board and its committees.
- Recommend actions to increase the effectiveness of the Company’s Board.
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Section 4
- Evaluation of the Committee
- The Committee shall, on an annual basis, evaluate its performance. In conducting this review, the Committee shall evaluate whether this Charter appropriately addresses the matters that are or should be within its scope and shall recommend such changes as it deems necessary or appropriate.
- The Committee shall address all matters that the Committee considers relevant to its performance, including at least the following: the adequacy, appropriateness and quality of the information and recommendations presented by the Committee to the Board, the manner in which they were discussed or debated, and whether the number and length of meetings of the Committee were adequate for the Committee to complete its work in a thorough and thoughtful manner.
- The Committee shall deliver to the Board a report, which may be oral, setting forth the results of its evaluation, including any recommended amendments to this Charter and any recommended changes to the Company’s or the Board’s policies or procedures.
Section 5
- Investigations and studies; outside advisers
The Committee may conduct or authorize investigations into or studies of matters within the Committee’s scope of responsibilities, and may retain, at the Company’s expense, such independent counsel or other consultants or advisers as it deems necessary.
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