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Audit Committee Charter

CHARTER OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF

DUSA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

ARTICLE I.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”) of DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“DUSA” or the “Company”) is to oversee the accounting and financial reporting processes and audits of the financial statements and to act as a liaison between the Board of Directors (the “Board”) and the outside independent registered public accounting firm.

ARTICLE II.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Committee’s function shall be one of oversight and review. It is not expected to control DUSA’s accounting practices or to define the standards to be used in the preparation of DUSA’s financial statements. The Committee shall be responsible for the following:

1. Selecting and replacing the independent registered public accounting firm (subject, if applicable, to shareholder ratification). The Committee shall be directly responsible for the compensation and oversight of the work of the independent registered public accounting firm (including resolution of disagreements between management and the independent registered public accounting firm regarding financial reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work. The independent registered public accounting firm shall report directly to the Committee, unless NASDAQ or the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) requirements dictate otherwise. The Committee shall also be responsible for selecting, replacing, compensating and overseeing the work of any other registered public accounting firm engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit, review or related work.

2. Reviewing with the outside auditors, the internal auditors, if any, and management the unaudited quarterly financial statements, the planning and scope of the audits of the financial statements, and the results of those audits.

3. Reviewing with the outside auditors, the internal auditors, if any, and management the adequacy of internal accounting controls.

4. Reviewing and discussing quarterly reports from the independent registered public accounting firm on:

(a) All critical accounting policies and practices to be used;

(b) All alternative treatments of financial information within generally accepted accounting principles that have been discussed with management, ramifications of the use of such alternative disclosures and treatments, and the treatment preferred by the independent registered public accounting firm; and

(c) Other material written communications between the independent registered public accounting firm and management, such as any management letter or schedule of unadjusted differences.

5. Reviewing and discussing with management all financial press releases.

6. Obtaining from the outside auditors a formal written statement, consistent with Independence Standards Board Standard 1, delineating all relationships between DUSA and the auditors, engaging in a dialogue with the outside auditors regarding any disclosed relationships, and taking, or recommending that the Board take, appropriate action to oversee the independence of the outside auditors.

7. Reviewing and reassessing the adequacy of this Charter on an annual basis and proposing appropriate amendments to the Board for its consideration.

8. Monitoring other corporate and financial policies as requested by the Board.

9. Investigating any matter brought to its attention, with the power and authority to retain and compensate counsel and/or other experts for this purpose.

10. Preapproving all auditing services and permitted non-audit services to be performed for the Company by its independent registered public accounting firm, subject to the de minimis exceptions for non-audit services described in Section 10A(i)(1)(B) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) which are approved by the Audit Committee prior to the completion of the audit. The Audit Committee may form and delegate authority to subcommittees consisting of one or more members when appropriate, including the authority to grant preapprovals of audit and permitted non-audit services, provided that decisions of such subcommittee to grant preapprovals shall be presented to the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.

11. Discussing with the independent registered public accounting firm 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.

12. Ensuring the rotation of the independent registered public accounting firm personnel as required by law or regulation.

13. Obtaining from the independent registered public accounting firm assurance that Section 10A(b) of the Exchange Act has not been implicated.

14. Establishing procedures, as required by the Commission or the NASDAQ, 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 employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.

15. Reviewing and approving all related party transactions of the Company.

16. Reviewing disclosures made to the Committee, if any, by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer during their certification process for the annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly report on 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 Company’s internal controls.

17. Reviewing and discussing any reports concerning material violations submitted to the Committee by the Company’s counsel pursuant to the Commission’s attorney professional responsibility rules.

ARTICLE III.

COMPOSITION AND INDEPENDENCE

The Committee shall be composed of at least three (3) independent directors, recommended for membership by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, as defined by the rules of NASDAQ. Each member of the Committee shall be able to read and understand fundamental financial statements as required by NASDAQ. At least one (1) member of the Committee shall be an Audit Committee Financial Expert, or have the financial expertise required by NASDAQ and the Commission. If no such Audit Committee Financial Expert serves on the Committee, DUSA shall disclose why no such Audit Committee Financial Expert serves on the Committee, as specified by NASDAQ or Commission requirements. The Committee members shall select a Chairman from among the members who shall preside over meetings of the Committee consistent with the provisions of DUSA’s By-laws. The Chairman shall maintain regular liaison with senior management and the internal and outside auditors as he or she determines is necessary or appropriate.

ARTICLE IV.

MEETINGS AND REPORTS

The Committee shall meet on a regular basis, but no less than quarterly, and may ask members of management or others to attend such meetings to provide pertinent information, as necessary. A quorum shall be declared when a majority of the appointed members of the Committee are in attendance.

The Committee shall report to the full Board on a quarterly basis with respect to its activities and its recommendations. The Committee shall report to the shareholders, once each year, in DUSA’s proxy statement for its annual meeting. The report to shareholders shall include the information required by Regulation S-K, Item 306 of the Exchange Act.

ARTICLE V.

RESOURCES AND AUTHORITY

The Committee shall have the authority, to the extent it deems it necessary or appropriate, to retain, compensate and terminate independent legal, accounting or other advisors without the approval of Board or management of the Company.

 

Amended as of May 5, 2010