|
·
|
Appoint
and approve the compensation of the Fund’s independent auditors, including
those to be retained for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit
report or performing other audit review or attest services for the
Fund;
|
|
·
|
Review
the scope of their audit services and the annual results of their
audits;
|
|
·
|
Monitor
the independence and performance of the Fund’s independent
auditors;
|
|
·
|
Oversee
the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Fund and
the
audits of its financial
statements, generally;
|
|
·
|
Review
the reports and recommendations of the Fund’s independent auditors;
|
|
·
|
Provide
an avenue of communication among the independent auditors, management
and
the Board
of Directors; and
|
|
·
|
Resolve
any disagreements between management of the Fund and its independent
auditors regarding
financial reporting.
|
|
·
|
Not
have participated in the preparation of the financial statements
of the
Fund or any subsidiary at any time in the last three years; and
|
|
·
|
Have
a basic understanding of finance and accounting and be able to read
and
understand fundamental financial statements, including a company’s balance
sheet, income statements and cash flow
statement.
|
|
·
|
Annually
review and assess the adequacy of the
Charter.
|
|
·
|
Submit
the Charter to the Board of Directors for approval and have the document
filed at least every three years in accordance with SEC
regulations.
|
|
·
|
Review,
along with management and independent auditors, the Fund’s annual audited
financial statements prior to filing or
distribution.
|
|
·
|
Review
all proposed related party transactions and submit its findings and
recommendations to the independent Directors of the Board for their
final
approval.
|
|
·
|
Review
with management and the independent auditors the Fund’s quarterly
financial results prior to the release of earnings and/or the Fund’s
quarterly financial statements prior to filing or distribution. Discuss
any significant changes to the Fund’s accounting principles and any items
required to be communicated by the independent auditors in accordance
with
SAS 61.
|
|
·
|
The
independent auditors are ultimately accountable to the Audit Committee
and
the Board of Directors. It is the Audit Committee’s responsibility to
ensure that it has received a formal written statement from independent
auditors delineating all relationships between the Fund and the
independent auditor. The Audit Committee shall review the independence
and
performance of the auditors and shall have the responsibility for,
and
authority to, appoint and/or discharge the independent
auditors.
|
|
·
|
Approve
the fees and other compensation to be paid to the independent
auditors.
|
|
·
|
On
an annual basis, the Committee should review and discuss with the
independent auditors all significant relationships they have with
the Fund
that could impair the auditor’s
independence.
|
|
·
|
Prior
to releasing the year-end earnings, discuss the results of the audit
with
the independent auditors and discuss certain matters required to
be
communicated to audit committees in accordance with AICPA SAS
61.
|
|
·
|
Consider
the independent auditor’s judgments about the quality and appropriateness
of the Fund’s accounting principles as applied in its financial
reporting.
|
|
·
|
Annually
prepare a report to shareholders as required by the SEC. The report
should
be included in the Fund’s annual proxy
statement.
|
|
·
|
Establish
and periodically review the Fund’s procedures for (a) the receipt,
retention and treatment of complaints received by the Fund regarding
accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters, and
(b) the
confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the Fund regarding
questionable accounting or auditing matters.
|
|
·
|
Perform
any other activities consistent with the Charter, the Fund’s by-laws, and
governing law, as
the Committee or the Board deems necessary or
appropriate
|
|
·
|
Maintain
minutes of meetings and periodically report to the Board of Directors
on
significant results of the foregoing
activities.
|
|
·
|
Determine
the funding necessary to cover the ordinary administrative expenses
of the
Audit Committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out
its
duties.
|