compensation committee charter
As revised by the Board of Directors on
April 30, 2008
I. Purposes of the Committee
The primary purposes of the Compensation Committee (the "Committee") are to discharge the Board of Directors' (the "Board") responsibilities relating to the evaluation and compensation of the Corporation's Chief Executive Officer (the "CEO") and certain other senior executives, and to discharge the responsibilities of the Committee under applicable rules and regulations. The Committee also makes recommendations to the Board regarding succession planning and development for senior executives and positions as needed.
II. Committee Membership
The Committee shall have at least three members. Committee members shall be appointed by the Board from among its members and may be removed by the Board at any time. Each member of the Committee must satisfy such criteria of independence as the Board may establish and such additional regulatory or listing requirements as the Board may determine to be applicable or appropriate. Accordingly, each member must qualify as a "non-employee director" under rule 16b-3 of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"); may not be part of a compensation committee interlock within the meaning of SEC Regulation S-K; and may not be eligible to participate in any of the compensation plans they administer. Members of the Committee should be suitably knowledgeable in matters pertaining to executive compensation. The actual number of members shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board. Two members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum thereof.
III. Committee Structure and Operations
The Chair of the Committee shall be designated by the Board. The Compensation Committee will fix its own rules of procedure and shall meet where and as provided by such rules or by resolution of the Committee. In addition to the regular meeting schedule established by the Committee, the Chair of the Committee may call a special meeting at any time.
The Secretary of the Corporation shall be the Secretary of the Compensation Committee unless the Committee designates otherwise.
In the absence of the Chair during any Committee meeting, the Committee may designate a Chair pro tempore.
The Committee shall grant awards by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members at a meeting of the Committee.
For all other business, the Committee shall act only on the affirmative vote of a majority of the members at a meeting or by unanimous written consent.
The Committee may establish sub-committees consisting of one or more members to carry out such duties as the Committee may assign.
IV. Committee Activities
The following shall be the common recurring activities of the Committee in carrying out its purposes. These activities are set forth as a guide with the understanding that the Committee may diverge from this guide as appropriate given the circumstances.
V. Committee Evaluation
The Committee will annually complete a self-evaluation of the Committee's own performance and effectiveness, and will consider whether any changes to the Committee's charter are appropriate.
VI. Committee Reports
The Chair of the Committee will report regularly to the full Board on the Committee's activities, findings, and recommendations, including the results of the Committee's self-evaluation and any recommended changes to the Committee's charter.
VII. Resources and Authority of the Committee
The Committee has the authority to retain such outside advisors, including legal counsel or other experts, as it deems appropriate, and to approve the fees and expenses of such advisors. Without limiting the foregoing, the Committee will have sole authority to retain and terminate any compensation consultant to be used to assist the Committee in the evaluation of CEO or senior executive compensation.