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name: audit-compensation-committee-charter language: en description: >- Drafts a combined Audit and Compensation Committee charter for U.S. boards, tailored for public or private companies with listing-standard compliance, independence criteria, and SOX readiness. Triggers when the user needs a board committee charter, audit committee charter, compensation committee charter, or governance mandate for SEC/NYSE/NASDAQ compliance. tags:

• agreement
• corporate
• drafting

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Audit & Compensation Committee Charter

Draft a single charter establishing Audit and Compensation Committees with compliant authority, composition, and duties.

Gather Inputs

1. Company status (public / private / pre-IPO) and exchange (NYSE, NASDAQ, OTC, none).
2. State of incorporation and governance statute constraints (e.g., DGCL 141(c) [VERIFY]).
3. Existing charter, bylaws, committee charters, or board resolutions.
4. Board size, desired committee size, and applicable independence standard.
5. Auditor relationship, internal audit status, and financial reporting timeline.
6. Executive compensation structure, equity plans, employment/severance agreements.
7. Industry-specific regulatory overlays (financial services, healthcare, energy).
8. Whistleblower/compliance channels and meeting cadence expectations.

Charter Sections

Section	Content
Adoption & Authority	Board adoption statement, effective date, delegated authority; board retains ultimate fiduciary authority
Committee Structure	Separate Audit and Compensation Committees as standing committees
Membership & Independence	Minimum members, independence tests, appointment process, chair designation, term/rotation
Authority & Resources	Sole authority to retain advisors, funding, access to records/personnel, investigation authority
Meetings & Minutes	Quorum, voting, written consent limits, minutes, executive sessions
Responsibilities	Detailed duties per committee (see checklists below)
Reporting	Board reporting cadence, escalation triggers, required public reports
Evaluation & Review	Annual self-assessment, annual charter review, amendment process

Audit Committee Responsibilities

• Oversee financial statement integrity (annual and quarterly)
• Review critical accounting policies, estimates, and alternative treatments
• Appoint, compensate, oversee, and terminate the independent auditor
• Pre-approve audit and permissible non-audit services; document chair delegation
• Receive auditor communications under PCAOB standards
• Evaluate auditor independence and quality controls annually
• Oversee internal audit charter, plan, budget, staffing, and IA head
• Oversee ICFR and remediation of deficiencies
• Establish whistleblower procedures for accounting/auditing concerns (SOX 301)
• Review related-party transactions and disclosure process
• Oversee compliance/legal risks material to financial statements
• Review ERM for financial and reporting risks
• Hold private sessions with independent auditor and internal audit annually

Compensation Committee Responsibilities

• Establish and annually review compensation philosophy
• Set CEO goals, evaluate performance, determine CEO pay in executive session
• Approve/ratify compensation for other executive officers
• Approve employment agreements, severance, CIC provisions, special compensation
• Administer equity plans; approve grants with timing and MNPI safeguards
• Assess compensation-related risk and mitigation (caps, clawbacks, holding periods)
• Oversee executive succession planning and leadership development
• Retain and evaluate independent compensation advisors; assess independence factors
• Meet with compensation consultant annually without management present

Public Company Add-Ons

Topic	Requirement
Audit independence	SEC Rule 10A-3; no compensatory fees; no affiliates
Financial expert	At least one audit committee financial expert (Reg S-K); disclose
SOX authority	Sections 201, 206, 301, 806 (non-audit services, rotation, whistleblower)
Comp committee independence	NYSE/NASDAQ standards; consultant independence factors
Equity awards	Rule 16b-3 non-employee director approvals
Tax deductibility	IRC 162(m) outside director concepts if still applicable [VERIFY]
Proxy disclosures	Audit Committee Report; Comp Committee Report; CD&A review
Charter availability	Post on website; include in filings per exchange/SEC rules

Template Skeleton

[Company Name] Board Committee Charter
Adopted: [Date]

I. Authority
Board adopts this Charter pursuant to [Bylaws/State Law]. Audit and Compensation Committees are standing committees. Board retains ultimate fiduciary authority.

II. Membership
A. Audit: [#] independent directors meeting [NYSE/NASDAQ/10A-3] standards; ≥1 financial expert.
B. Compensation: [#] independent directors meeting [NYSE/NASDAQ] standards; Rule 16b-3 compliance.

III. Meetings & Procedures
Quorum: majority. Actions: majority vote or unanimous written consent. Executive sessions required. Minutes maintained.

IV. Authority & Resources
Each committee may retain independent advisors; Company provides funding. Full access to records and personnel.

V. Audit Committee Responsibilities
[Tailored from checklist]

VI. Compensation Committee Responsibilities
[Tailored from checklist]

VII. Reporting
Chairs report to Board after each meeting; escalate material issues promptly.

VIII. Evaluation & Charter Review
Annual self-assessment and charter review; amendments require Board approval.

Pitfalls & Checks

• Default to the strictest independence standard when multiple exchanges apply.
• For private companies, remove public-company disclosures; substitute best-practice equivalents.
• Keep CEO absent from deliberations on their own compensation; document executive sessions.
• Confirm 409A compliance for severance and deferred compensation provisions.
• Keep obligations realistic and auditable — avoid over-promising committee activities.
• Align defined terms and cross-references with bylaws and board authority limits.
• Mark uncertain citations [VERIFY] and resolve before final delivery.