AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
Each year the Board of Directors appoints an Audit Committee to fulfill regulatory requirements and to assist the Board in oversight of the Companys financial reporting, internal control functions and audit process. Each member of the Audit Committee meets the independence requirements set by the Nasdaq Stock Market.
The responsibilities of the Audit Committee include the selection and appointment of a independent registered public accounting firm to be hired as the Companys independent accountants. The Audit Committee is also responsible for recommending to the Board that the Companys consolidated financial statements be included in its annual report on Form 10-K.
With respect to the preparation and audit of the Companys consolidated financial statements, management is responsible for the preparation of the financial statements; the establishment of accounting and financial reporting principles; the establishment of disclosure controls and procedures; the establishment of internal control over financial reporting; the evaluation of the effectiveness of both disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting; and the evaluation of changes in internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, internal control over financial reporting. The Companys independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for performing an independent audit of the consolidated financial statements and expressing an opinion as to whether the consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
The Audit Committee has reviewed the consolidated financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2008. The Audit Committee has discussed the preparation of the consolidated financial statements with management and with the Companys independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, and the Audit Committee has met separately with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and with management to discuss issues relating to the preparation and audit of the financial statements.
For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2008, management has completed the documentation, testing and evaluation of the Companys system of internal control over financial reporting as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Audit Committee has been kept apprised of managements activities in the completion of such work and evaluation and the Audit Committee has provided oversight and advice with respect to the process undertaken by management. The Audit Committee will continue to oversee such work being undertaken by the Company for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2009.
The Audit Committee has taken the following steps in making its recommendation that the Companys financial statements be included in its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2008:
- At regularly scheduled meetings of the Audit Committee, management and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP provided periodic reports as to the work undertaken by the Company to complete the documentation, testing and evaluation of the Companys system of internal control over financial reporting. Upon completion of such work and upon preparation of the Companys consolidated financial statements for the year ended August 31, 2008, the Audit Committee reviewed a report provided by management on the effectiveness of the Companys internal control over financial reporting.
- The Audit Committee discussed with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Companys independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year ended August 31, 2008, those matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards Nos. 61, 89 and 90 and PCAOB Auditing Standard No. 5, including information concerning the scope and results of the audit. These communications and discussions are intended to assist the Audit Committee in overseeing the financial reporting and disclosure process.
- The Audit Committee discussed with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP its independence and received from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP a letter concerning independence as required under applicable independence standards for auditors of public companies. This discussion and disclosure helped the Audit Committee in evaluating such independence.
- The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with the Companys management and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Companys audited consolidated balance sheet at August 31, 2008, and consolidated statements of income, cash flows and stockholders equity for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2008.
- The Audit Committee has reviewed PricewaterhouseCoopers LLPs Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and Managements Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting included in the Companys annual report on Form 10-K.
Based on the reviews and discussions explained above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the Companys financial statements be included in its annual report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended August 31, 2008. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP has been selected to serve as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2009.
Giles H. Bateman (Chairman)
Richard A. Collato
Linda A. Lang
Kenneth E. Olson
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee is comprised of John C. Adams, Jr. (Chairman), Giles H. Bateman and Neal E. Schmale. Four meetings of the Finance Committee were held during the last fiscal year. The Finance Committee is appointed by the Board for the primary purpose of assisting the Board in overseeing financial matters of importance to the company, including matters relating to acquisitions, investment policy, capital structure, and dividend policy. The Finance Committee also reviews the Companys annual and long-term financial strategies and objectives.
Compensation Committee
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
The Compensation Committee is comprised of Richard A. Collato (Chairman), Peter D. Bewley and Mario L. Crivello and Linda A. Lang, all of whom are independent directors as defined under the Nasdaq Rules. All Compensation Committee members meet the governing criteria for independence, including those of The Nasdaq Stock Market, and regulations under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act). The Compensation Committee met four times during the last fiscal year.