Role Of The Board Of Directors

    Composition Of The Board Of Directors

    Board Meetings

    Director Compensation

    Board Committees

    Planning

1. Size of the Board of Directors

The Board believes that it should generally have no fewer than five and no more than eleven directors.  This range permits diversity of experience without hindering effective discussion or diminishing individual accountability. The size of the Board could, however, be increased or decreased if determined to be appropriate by the Board.

2. Board Membership Criteria

The Board of Directors is responsible for nominating individuals for election to the Board of Directors by the stockholders and for appointing individuals as directors between annual meetings of the stockholders. The Corporate Governance and Compensation Committee identifies, reviews and makes recommendations concerning potential members of the Board of Directors.

The Board should be comprised of individuals who, after taking into account their skills, expertise, integrity, knowledge of the industries in which the Company operates, and other qualities, have the ability to enhance the long-term interest of shareholders. The Board will evaluate each individual in the context of the entire Board of Directors with the objective of assembling a Board of Directors that can enhance the success of the Company and promote the interests of stockholders. Annually (or more often, if necessary), the Corporate Governance and Compensation Committee reviews the qualifications and backgrounds of the directors and makes recommendation to the Board as to the directors to be nominated for election by the stockholders at the next annual meeting or to be appointed as directors between annual meetings of the stockholders.

3. Selection of Chairman

The Board of Directors selects a Chairman from among the directors. Presently the Board has determined that the offices of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chairman should not be held by the same person. However, the Board can determine that to enhance the management of the Company, one person should hold the positions of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman.

4. Term Limits

The Board has not established term limits for directors. The Board believes term limits deprive the Company of the knowledge and expertise developed by directors from extended service on the Board of Directors.

5. Retirement of Board Members

The policy of the Board of Directors is that it will not nominate any individual for election as a director by the shareholders or appoint any individual as a director if such person is 72 years or older.

6. Directors Who Change Their Present Job Responsibility

Directors who retire or significantly change the position they held when they became a member of the Board should not leave the Board of Directors simply because of such a change. However, upon any such event, the Corporate Governance Committee will review the appropriateness of continued service on the Board of Directors by that director.

7. No Specific Limitation on Other Board Service

Directors are not prohibited from serving on boards and committees of other organizations, and the Board has not adopted any guidelines limiting such activities. Instead, each director is expected to ensure that other commitments do not interfere with the director’s discharge of his or her duties. Directors are expected to inform the Chairman of the Board and the Chairman of the Corporate Governance Committee upon becoming a director of any other public company or becoming a member of the audit committee of any other public company.

8. Director Orientation and Continuing Education

The Company shall provide new directors with a director orientation program to familiarize such directors with, among other things, the Company’s business, strategic plans, significant financial, accounting and risk management issues, compliance programs, conflicts policies, code of business ethics, corporate governance guidelines, principal officers, internal auditors and independent auditors. The Company encourages and supports continuing director education and shall reimburse directors for reasonable expenses incurred in connection therewith.

    9.   Determination of Director Independence

The Board shall be comprised of a majority of directors who qualify as independent directors under the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange and the applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Further, a director is deemed to be independent if the Board has determined that the director has no material relationship with the Company.

The Board of Directors has established the following categorical standards in connection with determining the independence of directors:

• A director will not be considered to be independent if, during the past five years, the Company has employed the director or any of the director’s immediate family (except in a non-officer capacity);

• A director will not be considered to be independent if, during the past five years, the director has been employed by (or affiliated with) the Company’s present or former independent accountants or any of the director’s immediate family members have been so employed or affiliated (except in a non-partner capacity not involving the Company’s business);

• A director’s independence will not be considered to be impaired if the director or any immediate family member of the director is employed by (or affiliated with) an entity that loans the Company an amount of money less than 5% of the Company’s total assets;

• A director will not be considered to be independent if the director is a partner, shareholder, or officer of a company or firm that provides significant consulting, legal, or financial advisory services to the Company. For purposes of this categorical standard, a company or firm will be considered to provide non-significant services if the fees represent less than (i) 2% of that company’s or firm’s gross revenues for its last full fiscal year and (ii) 2% of the Company’s gross revenues for its last full fiscal year;

• A director’s independence will not be considered to be impaired if the director or any immediate family member of the director is employed by (or affiliated with) a non-significant supplier or customer of the Company. For the purposes of this categorical standard, a supplier or customer will be considered non-significant if its sales to, or purchases from, the Company represent less than (i) 2% of the gross revenues of the customer or supplier for its last full fiscal year and (ii) 2% of the Company’s gross revenues, for its last full fiscal year;

• A director’s independence will not be considered to be impaired if the director is an employee, officer, or director of a foundation, university or other non-profit organization to which the Company gives directly, or indirectly through its foundation, no more than $200,000 per annum or 5% of the organization’s gross revenues for its last full fiscal year (whichever is greater); and

• A director’s independence will not be considered to be impaired if such director is an executive officer of an entity for which another director of the Company serves as a director and member of any board committee of that entity, provided such service does not occur while that other director also serves as an executive officer of the Company.

An individual will be considered to be affiliated with a corporation or other entity, if that individual controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the corporation or other entity.

The Board of Directors will determine the independence of any director with a relationship to the Company that is not covered by the above standards.

1. Frequency of Meetings

The Board of Directors determines its schedule of board meetings each year. The current schedule is for four regular meetings each year. The Audit Committee has six regularly scheduled meetings. A director is expected to regularly attend (in person or telephonically) meetings of the Board and of the committees on which the director serves, and to review materials distributed in advance of meetings.

2. Selection of Agenda Items

The Chairman of the Board of Directors establishes the agenda for each meeting Each member of the Board may suggest additional items for the agenda.

3. Distribution of Materials

The minutes of the prior Board meeting, an agenda for the forthcoming meeting, and selected Company financial information and agenda item background materials must be distributed to Board members in advance of the meetings.

4. Access to Management and Advisors

Board members shall have unrestricted access to management of the Company. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to retain independent legal, accounting or other consultants to advise the Board.

Separate Session of Non-Management Directors

The non-management directors of the Company shall meet in regularly scheduled executive sessions without management no fewer than four times a year. The presiding director at these meetings shall be the Chairman or other Board appointed non-management director in the event the Chairman is unavailable.

The Company believes that the compensation paid to directors should be competitive and should encourage ownership of the Company’s stock by directors. The Corporate Governance and Compensation Committee shall periodically review the compensation paid to directors by the Company and make recommendations to the Board of Directors concerning such compensation.

Employees of the Company serving as directors shall not receive any additional compensation for service on the Board of Directors.

1. Number and Names of Board Committees

The Board of Directors shall establish committees from time to time to assist it in discharging its obligations. There are currently three standing committees:

Audit Committee

Corporate Governance and Compensation Committee

Executive Committee

Each committee shall have a written charter, adopted and periodically reviewed by the Board of Directors. The purpose and responsibility of each committee shall be described in its respective charter. After each of its meetings, the committee shall report on the meeting to the Board of Directors.

2. Independence of Committee Members

The Audit and Corporate Governance and Compensation Committees shall be composed entirely of independent directors. The membership of each committee and the compensation paid to the members of each committee will comply with all applicable laws and regulations and the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange.

3. Committee Agendas

The Chairman of each committee, in consultation with appropriate members of management, establishes the agenda for each meeting. Each member of the committee may suggest additional items for the agenda.

4. Assignment of Committee Members

The Chairman of the Board, after consideration of the advice, experience and expertise of individual directors and in consultation with the Chairman of the Corporate Governance and Compensation Committee, recommends to the Board of Directors the assignment of directors to the committees of the Board of Directors, including the chairmen of the committees.

The Board of Directors does not mandate rotation of committee assignments or chairmen. The Board of Directors believes that the knowledge and expertise developed by directors through extended service on a committee outweigh the benefits obtained through mandatory rotation.

1. Management Succession

The Board of Directors plans for the succession to the position of Co-Chief Executive Officers. To assist the Board of Directors, the Co-Chief Executive Officers annually provide to the Board an assessment of the Company’s executive officers and their potential to succeed him or her. The Co-Chief Executive Officers must also provide to the Board of Directors an assessment of persons considered potential successors to the other executive officers. In addition, the Co-Chief Executive Officers must prepare a short-term succession plan providing for temporary delegation of authority in the event either Co-Chief Executive Officer become unexpectedly unable to perform his or her duties.

2. Performance

Annually, the Corporate Governance and Compensation Committee shall evaluate the performance of the Board of Directors and each committee thereof. The Corporate Governance and Compensation Committee shall discuss the results of their evaluations with the Board of Directors. Annually the Corporate Governance and Compensation Committee in connection with salary and wage determinations will evaluate officer performance.

Annually the Corporate Governance and Compensation Committee reviews the Corporate Governance Guidelines and recommends such changes to the Board of Directors as it determines to be necessary or appropriate.

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