NEVADA SUNRISE GOLD CORP (the “Company”)
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
- Mandate
The audit committee will assist the Board of Directors (the “Board”) in fulfilling its financial oversight responsibilities. The audit committee will review and consider in consultation with the auditors the financial reporting process, the system of internal control and the audit process. In performing its duties, the committee will maintain effective working relationships with the Board, management, and the external auditors. To effectively perform his or her role, each committee member must obtain an understanding of the principal responsibilities of committee membership, as well as the company’s business, operations and risks.
- Composition
The Board will appoint from among their membership an audit committee after each annual general meeting of the shareholders of the Company. The audit committee will consist of a minimum of three directors.
2.1 Independence
A majority of the members of the audit committee must not be officers, employees or control persons of the Company.
2.2 Expertise of Committee Members
Each member of the audit committee must be financially literate or must become financially literate within a reasonable period of time after his or her appointment to the committee. At least one member of the committee must have accounting or related financial management expertise. The Board shall interpret the qualifications of financial literacy and financial management expertise in its business judgment and shall conclude whether a director meets these qualifications.
- Meetings
The audit committee shall meet in accordance with a schedule established each year by the Board, and at other times that the audit committee may determine. The audit committee shall meet at least annually with the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and external auditors in separate executive sessions.
- Roles and Responsibilities
The audit committee shall fulfill the following roles and discharge the following responsibilities:
4.1 External Audit
The audit committee shall be directly responsible for overseeing the work of the external auditors in preparing or issuing the auditor’s report, including the resolution of disagreements between management and the external auditors regarding financial reporting and audit scope or procedures. In carrying out this duty, the audit committee shall:
(c) review the performance of the external auditors and recommend to the Board the appointment or discharge of the external auditors,
(d) review and recommend to the Board the compensation to be paid to the external auditors, and
(e) review and confirm the independence of the external auditors by reviewing the non-audit services provided and the external auditors’ assertion of their independence in accordance with professional standards.
4.2 Internal Control
The audit committee shall consider whether adequate controls are in place over annual and interim financial reporting, as well as controls over assets, transactions and the creation of obligations, commitments and liabilities of the Company. In carrying out this duty, the audit committee shall:
4.3 Financial Reporting
The audit committee shall review the financial statements and financial information prior to its release to the public. In carrying out this duty, the audit committee shall:
General
Annual Financial Statements
(a) review the draft annual financial statements and provide a recommendation to the Board with respect to the approval of the financial statements,
(b) meet with management and the external auditors to review the financial statements and the results of the audit, including any difficulties encountered, and
(c) review management’s discussion & analysis respecting the annual reporting period prior to its release to the public.
Interim Financial Statements
(a) review and approve the interim financial statements prior to their release to the public, and
(b) review management’s discussion & analysis respecting the interim reporting period prior to its release to the public.
Release of Financial Information
(a) where reasonably possible, review and approve all public disclosure, including news releases, containing financial information, prior to its release to the public.
4.4 Non-Audit Services
All non-audit services (being services other than services rendered for the audit and review of the financial statements or services that are normally provided by the external auditor in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements) which are proposed to be provided by the external auditors to the Company or any subsidiary of the Company shall be subject to the prior approval of the audit committee.
De-Minimis Non-Audit Services
(a) The audit committee may satisfy the requirement for the pre-approval of non-audit services if:
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
(a) The audit committee may also satisfy the requirement for the pre-approval of non-audit services by adopting specific policies and procedures for the engagement of non-audit services, if:
(iii) the procedures do not include delegation of the audit committee’s responsibilities to management.
4.5 Other Responsibilities
The audit committee shall:
(c) ensure that significant findings and recommendations made by management and external auditor are received and discussed on a timely basis,
(d) review the policies and procedures in effect for considering officers’ expenses and perquisites,
(e) perform other oversight functions as requested by the Board, and
(f) review and update this Charter and receive approval of changes to this Charter from the Board.
4.6 Reporting Responsibilities
The audit committee shall regularly update the Board about committee activities and make appropriate recommendations.
- Resources and Authority of the Audit Committee
The audit committee shall have the resources and the authority appropriate to discharge its responsibilities, including the authority to:
(c) communicate directly with the internal and external auditors.
- Guidance – Roles & Responsibilities
The following guidance is intended to provide the Audit Committee members with additional guidance on fulfilment of their roles and responsibilities on the committee:
6.1 Internal Control
(c) gain an understanding of whether internal control recommendations made by external auditors have been implemented by management.
6.2 Financial Reporting
General
(c) understand industry best practices and the Company’s adoption of them.
Annual Financial Statements
(a) review the annual financial statements and determine whether they are complete and consistent with the information known to committee members, and assess whether the financial statements reflect appropriate accounting principles in light of the jurisdictions in which the Company reports or trades its shares,
(b) pay attention to complex and/or unusual transactions such as restructuring charges and derivative disclosures,
(c) focus on judgmental areas such as those involving valuation of assets and liabilities, including, for example, the accounting for and disclosure of loan losses, warranty, professional liability, litigation reserves and other commitments and contingencies,
(d) consider management’s handling of proposed audit adjustments identified by the external auditors, and
(e) ensure that the external auditors communicate all required matters to the committee.
Interim Financial Statements
(a) be briefed on how management develops and summarizes interim financial information, the extent to which the external auditors review interim financial information,
(b) meet with management and the auditors, either telephonically or in person, to review the interim financial statements, and
(c) to gain insight into the fairness of the interim statements and disclosures, obtain explanations from management on whether:
(iii) generally accepted accounting principles have been consistently applied,
(iv) there are any actual or proposed changes in accounting or financial reporting practices,
(v) there are any significant or unusual events or transactions,
(vi) the Company’s financial and operating controls are functioning effectively,
(vii) the Company has complied with the terms of loan agreements, security indentures or other financial position or results dependent agreements, and
(viii) the interim financial statements contain adequate and appropriate disclosures.
6.3 Compliance with Laws and Regulations
(c) review the findings of any examinations by securities regulatory authorities and stock exchanges.
6.4 Other Responsibilities