Audit Committee

Amended as of

06/01/10

AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER

Purpose

The Audit Committee shall assist the Board of Directors in its oversight of (a) the integrity and quality of the processes and practices of the company with respect to financial reporting, (b) compliance with significant legal, regulatory and ethical requirements, (c) the qualifications and independence of the independent registered public accounting firm, and (d) the effectiveness of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and internal audit function.

Governance

Membership: The Committee shall be composed of not fewer than three directors, appointed by the Board, who shall serve until such member’s successor is duly elected and qualified or until such member resigns or is removed. All of the members shall satisfy the independence, financial literacy and expertise requirements of the New York Stock Exchange as interpreted by the Board of Directors and any rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Committee pursuant to Section 10A(m)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Board of Directors shall determine the independence of directors for this purpose, as evidenced by its election of such Committee members.

Based on the recommendations of the Nominating and Governance Committee, the Board shall review the composition of the Committee annually and fill vacancies. The full Board shall elect the Chairman of the Committee, who shall set the agendas for Committee meetings and chair all such meetings.

Members of the Committee may be removed, with or without cause, by a majority vote of the Board.
Meetings: The Committee shall meet at least four times annually, or more frequently as the Committee Chairman determines. The members may attend any meeting by means of conference telephone or similar equipment that enables all meeting participants to communicate with each other. Except when the Chairman elects to meet in executive session and excludes members of management (including directors), all directors that are not members of the Committee may attend the meetings but may not vote. The Committee may invite to a meeting any members of management, outside professionals or others it deems appropriate or necessary to fulfill its duties.
Quorum: A simple majority of Committee members, in attendance personally or telephonically, constitutes a quorum for the conduct of business. The vote of a majority of a quorum of members is sufficient to take official action on behalf of the committee, except as hereinafter provided. No proxy voting shall be permitted.

Whenever a pending decision presents a potential conflict of interest for a committee member, that member shall notify the other members of the potential conflict and abstain from the decision making process.
Action by Consent: Official committee action may also be taken by unanimous written consent of all the Committee members.
Reporting to Board: The Committee Chairman will regularly report to the full Board regarding the Committee’s activities.
Authority and Funding: The Committee shall have the authority to retain outside counsel and other experts, including the authority to approve the retention terms and payment for such experts. The Company will provide the necessary funding for the Committees activities.

In discharging its oversight role, the Committee is empowered to investigate any matter brought to its attention with full access to all Company books, records, facilities and personnel.

The Company will provide appropriate funding for the Committee, as determined by the Committee, in its capacity as a committee of the board of directors, for payment of:

Compensation to any independent registered public accounting firm engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review, or attest services for the Company;
Compensation to any advisers employed by the Committee under the first paragraph of this section; and
Ordinary administrative expenses of the Committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties.

Self-evaluation: The Committee will evaluate its performance annually and report its conclusions and recommendations to the Board
Amendment of Charter: The charter may be amended or modified at any time by majority vote of the Board of Directors. The Committee shall review its charter periodically and recommend changes to the Board for adoption.

Responsibilities

General Responsibilities: The Committee, in its capacity as a committee of the Board of Directors, is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention, and oversight of the work of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm (including resolution of any disagreements between management and the independent registered public accounting firm regarding financial reporting). The independent registered public accounting firm shall report directly to the Committee. With respect to all other matters, the role of the Audit Committee is one of oversight and as such the Committee relies on the expertise and knowledge of management, internal auditors, the independent registered public accounting firm and other experts. Management of the Company is responsible for determining that the Company’s financial statements are fairly presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for auditing and reporting on the Company’s financial statements. It is not the responsibility of the Committee to plan or conduct audits, to determine the fairness or accuracy of financial statements, to provide assurance of compliance with laws and regulations, or to provide assurance with respect to the adequacy of internal policies, practices, procedures or controls.
Specific Duties: The Committee’s specific duties are set forth in the following table:

Duty	Minimum Frequency
With Respect to the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm:
Select and retain the independent registered public accounting firm.	Annually
Pre-approve audit fees charged by the independent registered public accounting firm.	Annually
Evaluate the performance, qualifications and independence of the independent registered public accounting firm, including obtaining and reviewing (1) the public version of the independent registered public accounting firm’s most recent inspection report issued by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) and (2) a report by the independent registered public accounting firm describing a) the firm’s internal quality-control procedures, b) any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review, of the firm, by its most recent inspection report issued by the PCAOB, or by any other inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities, within the preceding five years, respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the firm, and any steps taken to deal with any such issues, and c) (to assess the auditor’s independence) all relationships between the independent registered public accounting firm and the Company.	Annually
Assure regular rotation of lead audit partner as required by law and consider whether, in order to assure continuing auditor independence, there should be regular rotation of the audit firm itself.	Annually
Approve, as appropriate, audit, audit-related and non-audit services proposed to be performed by the independent registered public accounting firm.	As Needed
Review the annual audit plan of the independent registered public accounting firm	Annually
Meet in separate executive session with the independent registered public accounting firm to provide a forum for private comments including discussion of any restrictions on audit scope or access to required information or resources.	Annually
Establish hiring policies with respect to employees or former employees of the independent registered public accounting firm.	Annually
With Respect to Accounting and Financial Control Matters:
Review with financial management and the independent registered public accounting firm any significant accounting developments including emerging issues.	As Needed
Review with financial management and the independent registered public accounting firm the company’s critical accounting policies.	Annually
Review with management, the independent registered public accounting firm and the internal auditor a) the adequacy of the Company’s internal controls and b) significant findings and recommendations of the auditors and management’s responses thereto.	Quarterly
Review and discuss with the Company’s counsel significant legal and environmental matters.	Quarterly
Review with financial management and the independent registered public accounting firm, a) the Company’s annual financial results and disclosure, including the Company’s disclosures under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” b) the independent registered public accounting firm’s audit of the financial statements and its report thereon c) the independent registered public accounting firm’s report on the Company’s internal controls for financial reporting, d) any significant changes required in the audit plan, e) any audit problems or difficulties and management’s response thereto and any disputes with management encountered during the audit, and resolve any such disputes, and f) other matters related to the audit which are to be communicated to the Committee under the auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.	Annually
Review with management and the independent registered public accounting firm, a) the Company’s interim financial results and disclosure, including the Company’s disclosures under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” prior to the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission of the related Form 10-Q, b) changes to internal control systems for financial reporting, and c) discuss any items required to be communicated by the independent registered public accounting firm under the auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.	Quarterly
With respect to each periodic filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission review a) management’s disclosure to the Committee under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and b) the contents of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer certificates to be filed under Sections 302 and 906 of that Act.	Quarterly
Review with management and the independent registered public accounting firm policies and practices with respect to the preparation and dissemination of earnings press releases, as well as financial information and earnings guidance.	Quarterly
Discuss the Company’s earnings press releases, as well as financial information and earnings guidance.	As Needed
Review with management the Company’s compliance with applicable laws and regulations and the results of examinations conducted by regulatory agencies.	Annually
Meet in executive session with financial management to provide a forum for their private comments.	Quarterly
Review procedures, and monitor responses thereto, for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, auditing matters, or general ethical conduct, and the confidential anonymous submissions by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting controls, auditing matters, or ethical behavior.	Quarterly
Discuss with management general policies for the assessment and management of risk, and particularly major financial risks and operational risk related to information technology and systems.	Annually
Review with management the results of monitoring the Company’s code of conduct.	Annually
Review, with authority to approve or ratify, all proposed transactions with related parties that, if consummated, would be required to be disclosed in the company’s annual proxy statement.	As Needed
With Respect to the Internal Audit Function:
Review the performance of the head of the Internal Audit department	Annually
Review the appointment, compensation and replacement of the head of the Internal Audit department.	Annually
Review the Internal Audit department’s annual audit plan, including any subsequent significant modifications to that plan.	Annually
Review the Internal Audit department budget and adequacy of staffing.	Annually
Review and discuss with the head of the Internal Audit department the results of audits conducted and management responses thereto.	Quarterly
Meet in executive session with the head of the Internal Audit department to provide a forum for private comments including discussion of any restrictions on audit scope or access to required information or resources.	Semiannually
With Respect to the Audit Committee:
Meet at least 4 times per year and more frequently if circumstances require.	Quarterly and as needed
Evaluate the performance of the Audit Committee.	Annually
Review this charter and recommend any proposed changes to the Board of Directors.	Annually
With Respect to Communications:
Report to the Board of Directors on significant matters covered at each Audit Committee meeting.	As Needed
Prepare the Audit Committee’s statement that the Securities and Exchange Commission rules require be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement.	Annually

Melinda D. Whittington Michael T. Lawton Lauren B. Peters Mark S. LaVigne

Member
Chair
Financial Expert
Independent Director