 |
Charter of the Governance Committee
of the
Board of Directors
of
SPAR Group, Inc.
Dated (as of) May 18, 2004
| I. |
ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE |
| 1. |
The Board of Directors (the Board) of SPAR Group, Inc.
(SGRP), has established a standing committee of the members
of the Board (the Governance Committee) to assist the Board
in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities respecting the nomination of
directors and committee members for the Board and the corporate governance
policies and practices of SGRP and its direct and indirect subsidiaries
(together with SGRP, collectively, the Company). In
furtherance thereof, the Board has adopted this Charter of the Governance
Committee of the Board of Directors of SPAR Group, Inc., Dated (as of) May 18,
2004 (as the same may be supplemented, modified, amended, restated or replaced
from time to time in the manner provided herein, this Charter), to
establish and govern (among other things) the purposes, membership, meetings,
responsibilities, duties and powers of the Governance Committee. The Governance
Committee and its meetings and activities also shall be governed by and
conducted in accordance with the provisions applicable to committees generally
as contained in the By-Laws (as defined in item V.2 below). |
| 2. |
The Governance Committees primary duties and responsibilities are to: |
| (a) |
Oversee the identification, vetting and nomination of candidates for directors
and the selection of committee members and recommend any proposed nominees to
the Board; |
| (b) |
Oversee the Companys organizational documents and policies and practices
on corporate governance and recommend any proposed changes to the Board for
approval; |
| (c) |
Oversee the Companys codes of ethics and other internal policies and
guidelines and monitor the Companys enforcement of them and incorporation
of them into the Companys culture and business practices; |
| (d) |
Furnish the committee report required by the rules of the U. S. Securities and
Exchange Commission (the SEC) to be included in SGRPs annual
proxy statement; and |
| (e) |
Perform such other functions as may be required from time to time by the Nasdaq
Stock Market, Inc. (the Nasdaq), the SEC or other applicable
law. |
| 3. |
The Governance Committee will fulfill these responsibilities by carrying out the
activities enumerated in Section IV of this Charter and by performing such other
activities consistent with this Charter as may from time to time be necessary or
appropriate. |
| II. |
COMPOSITION OF THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE |
| 1. |
The Governance Committee shall consist of three or more members of the Board (as
such number may be fixed from time to time by the Board). |
| 2. |
The members of the Governance Committee shall be independent directors and free
from any relationship that, in the opinion of the Board, would interfere with
the exercise of his or her independent judgment as a member of the Governance
Committee. For purposes of this Charter, the minimum standards for an
independent director shall be as provided in the applicable rules of the
Nasdaqs National Market System (as the same may be supplemented, modified,
amended, restated or replaced from time to time, the Nasdaq
Rules), and the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (as the same may be supplemented, modified, amended, restated or
replaced from time to time, the Exchange Act), and the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder (as the same may be supplemented,
modified, amended, restated or replaced from time to time, the Exchange
Act Rules), in each case as then in effect
respecting Audit Committees. |
| 3. |
All members of the Governance Committee shall be financially
literate and otherwise qualified to serve as members under the Nasdaq
Rules, as determined by the Board. The Nasdaq Rules currently require (among
other things) that all members of the Governance Committee must be able to read
and understand fundamental financial statements, including (without limitation)
a balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement. |
| 4. |
The candidates for membership in the Governance Committee shall be nominated by
the Governance Committee prior to the consideration of the election of its
members at the annual organizational meeting of the Board (the
Organizational Meeting), generally held in conjunction with
SGRPs annual stockholders meeting. If no such nominations have been
received by the time such matter is considered at the Organizational Meeting,
nominations to the Governance Committee may be made by any member of the Board. |
| 5. |
The members of the Governance Committee shall be elected by the Board at the
annual organizational meeting of the Board (generally held in conjunction with
the Organizational Meeting) or in any other meeting duly called or action duly
taken as provided in the By-Laws. |
| 6. |
The Board, in any meeting duly called or other action duly taken as provided in
the By-Laws, at any time may (a) designate a chairman of the Governance
Committee (the Chairman) from among the members of the
Governance Committee and (b) remove any such member as Chairman, either with or
without cause. If the Board has not so acted, the members of the Governance
Committee may designate the Chairman by majority vote of the full Governance
Committee membership. Any Chairman who ceases to be a member of the Board or
Governance Committee automatically shall simultaneously cease to be Chairman of
the Governance Committee. |
| 1. |
The Governance Committee may hold regular meetings, with or without notice, and
may fix the time and place at which such meetings shall be held, with all
notices given or waived and all meetings held in accordance with the By-Laws.
Each scheduled Board meeting shall be deemed to include a corresponding
scheduled Governance Committee meeting unless expressly stated otherwise in
scheduling such Board meeting. |
| 2. |
The notice of a meeting may provide, or the Governance Committee may request (in
advance or at the meeting), that members of the Companys senior management
or others attend a meeting of the Governance Committee and provide pertinent
information as necessary and available. |
| 3. |
As part of its responsibility to foster open communication, the Governance
Committee shall meet at least semi-annually with the Companys senior
management and the Companys Independent Accountants in separate executive
sessions to discuss any matters that the Governance Committee or any of these
groups believe should be discussed privately. In addition, the Governance
Committee shall meet with the Companys Independent Accountants and the
Companys senior management to review and discuss the Companys
quarterly financial statements consistent with Section IV below. |
| 4. |
The Governance Committee shall maintain minutes or other records of its meetings
and activities, which shall be maintained with the minutes of the Board, and
shall report the same to the Board as and when requested. Written consents by
the Governance Committee shall be filed with the minutes of the Board. |
| IV. |
RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES |
The
Governance Committees responsibilities, duties and powers shall consist of the
following:
Documents and Reports
| 1. |
|
On an annual basis, and more often as it determines circumstances reasonably
warrant, the Governance Committee shall review and discuss this Charter and
recommend to the Board any changes in or additions to this Charter that it may
deem necessary or desirable. |
| 2. |
|
On an annual basis, and more often as it determines circumstances reasonably
warrant, the Governance Committee shall review and assess the adequacy of the
following and recommend to the Board any changes in or additions to them as it
may deem necessary or desirable: |
| (a) |
|
the Companys Articles, By-Laws, committee charters and other
organizational documents; |
| (b) |
|
the Companys codes of ethics, securities trading and other similar written
policies and guidelines, the adequacy of the principles described therein and
whether such principles are being incorporated into the Companys culture
and business practices; |
| (c) |
|
the size of the Board and the number, identity, responsibilities and size of the
standing and other committees of the Board; and |
| (d) |
|
the other material written policies and practices of the Company respecting
corporate governance. |
| 3. |
|
The Governance Committee shall, prior to its adoption, filing with the SEC or
Nasdaq or release to the public (as the case may be), in consultation with the
Companys counsel and/or the Companys senior management, as and to
the extent the Governance Committee deems appropriate: |
| (a) |
|
review and discuss each proposed change in or addition to any of (i) SGRPs
Articles, By-Laws, committee charters and other organizational documents, (ii)
the Companys codes of ethics, securities trading policy, shareholder
access policy, and other similar policies and guidelines, and (iii) the
Companys other written material policies and practices respecting
corporate governance, and recommend to the Board any changes in or additions to
them as it may deem necessary or desirable; |
| (b) |
|
furnish the Governance Committees annual report to be included in the
Proxy Statement as required by the Exchange Act Rules; and |
| (c) |
|
review and discuss such other reports or documents within its authority and
knowledge for submission to the SEC, Nasdaq or the public as: |
| (i) |
|
may from time to time be required under the Exchange Act Rules, the Nasdaq
Rules, the DGCL (as defined below) or other applicable law; or |
| (ii) |
|
the Governance Committee may from time to time deem appropriate, provided
that the Governance Committee or Chairman shall have given the Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer reasonable prior written notice of
its desire to make such review; |
provided that in the
case of paragraph (c) the Chairman may represent and act on behalf of the entire
Governance Committee for purposes of this review, with or without consultation of the
other members, and shall present the results thereof at the next meeting of the Governance
Committee.
Board of Directors,
Standing Committees and Nominations
| 4. |
On an annual basis, and more often as it determines circumstances reasonably
warrant, the Governance Committee shall review the overall composition of the
Board and each standing committee, taking into consideration such factors as
business experience and specific areas of expertise of each member, and make
recommendations to the Board for such changes (if any) as may be necessary or
desirable. |
| 5. |
On an annual basis, and more often as it determines circumstances reasonably
warrant, the Governance Committee shall review and discuss its criteria for
identifying and selecting individuals who may be nominated for election to the
Board or appointment to its standing committees and guidelines for dealing with
unsolicitated nominations, and may from time to time recommend to the Board
policies containing such criteria and any changes in or additions to them as it
may deem necessary or desirable, which criteria shall reflect at a minimum all
applicable laws, rules, regulations and listing standards and shall include
(without limitation) a persons experience, areas of expertise and other
factors relative to the overall composition of the Board or committee. |
| 6. |
On an annual basis (allowing sufficient time for preparation of SGRPs
proxy statement), the Governance Committee shall consider and recommend to the
Board: |
| (a) |
the slate of nominees for election to the Board at the Companys annual
meeting of stockholders; |
| (b) |
the nominees for the Chair and members of each standing committee of the Board,
including (without limitation) any proposed rotation or removal; and |
| (c) |
the disposition of any unsolicited nominations for Board membership in
accordance with guidelines developed by the Governance Committee. |
In connection with these nominations,
the Governance Committee shall assist the Board in the identification and vetting of
candidates for directors and committee members.
| 7. |
From time to time as vacancies arise, the Governance Committee shall actively
seek individuals qualified to become members of the Board and its standing
committee(s) for recommendation to the Board. |
| 8. |
On an annual basis (allowing sufficient time for preparation of SGRPs
proxy statement), and more often as it determines circumstances reasonably
warrant, the Governance Committee shall review and discuss the qualifications
and independence of the Companys directors and nominees as reported to the
Governance Committee, including (without limitation) those who are intended to
be independent under the Nasdaq Rules and Exchange Act Rules
(Independent Directors), and which should include (without
limitation): |
| (a) |
review of each directors responses to his or her annual questionnaire and review
and discussion of their responses with each of the Companys directors,
which shall for those intended as Independent Directors include (i) all of such
persons relationships that would disqualify him or her as an independent
director under such rules, or (ii) any significant relationship with the Company
or any of its affiliates, customers, vendors or competitors or other significant
relationships that would be reasonably likely to adversely effect his or her
independence or objectivity; |
| (b) |
based on such responses and discussion, confirm that a majority of the Board and
all of the members of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Governance
Committee are Independent Directors; and |
| (c) |
report to the Board its conclusions respecting such reviews and discussions and
recommend appropriate action(s) to be taken to confirm, assure or enforce the
independence (where intended) and other qualifications and performance of the
Companys directors. |
Legal Compliance and
Updates
| 9. |
The Governance Committee periodically (as often as it determines that
circumstances reasonably warrant) shall, in consultation with the Companys
counsel, alone and/or with the Companys senior management, as and to the
extent the Governance Committee deems appropriate: |
| (a) |
review and discuss any regulatory, compliance, legal or other issue within its
knowledge respecting any governance or related matter that could have a
significant impact on the Company or its financial statements, SEC filings or
other public disclosures, and recommend to the Board any corrective or other
action that it may deem necessary or desirable; |
| (b) |
review and discuss the potential effect on governance or related issue of any
applicable material change or initiative in any Nasdaq Rule, any Exchange Act
Rule, the DGCL or other applicable law or the interpretation thereof within its
knowledge, and recommend to the Board any changes in or additions to the
Companys governing documents, policies, principles, practices or processes
respecting governance or related matters that it deems necessary or desirable to
deal with such effect; |
| (c) |
review the implementation of changes in and additions to the Companys
governing documents, policies, principles, practices or processes respecting
governance or related matters within its knowledge, whether as previously
approved or recommended by the Governance Committee or as previously required by
the Nasdaq Rules, the Exchange Act Rules, the DGCL or other applicable law; |
| (d) |
recommend to the Board the advisability of having the Companys counsel,
auditors or other experts or professionals make specified studies and reports as
to governance or related matters; and |
| (e) |
receive direct reports from the Companys counsel. |
| 10. |
The Governance Committee shall establish regular and separate systems of
communication with each of the Companys senior management and the
Companys counsel, review and discuss with them any matter within its
authority and knowledge that is reasonably likely to have a significant impact
on the Company, and recommend to the Board any corrective or other action that
it may deem necessary or desirable. |
Ethics Code
| 11. |
The Governance Committee periodically (as often as it determines that
circumstances reasonably warrant) review the monitoring by the Companys
senior management of compliance with the Companys codes of business ethics
and conduct then in effect, including (without limitation) the SPAR Group Code
of Ethical Conduct for its Directors, Senior Executives and Employees Dated (as
of) May 1, 2004, and the SPAR Group Statement of Policy Regarding Personal
Securities Transactions in SGRP Stock and Non-Public Information Dated, Amended
and Restated as of May 1, 2004 (as then in effect), and ensure that the
Companys senior management has the proper review and enforcement systems
in place to ensure compliance. |
| 12. |
The Governance Committee periodically (as often as it determines that
circumstances reasonably warrant) shall review, with the Companys counsel,
alone or in the presence of the Companys senior management, as and to the
extent the Governance Committee deems appropriate: |
| (a) |
legal and regulatory matters and any other legal matter that could have a
significant impact on the Company; and |
| (b) |
legal compliance matters, including (without limitation) compliance with the
Companys codes of ethics and securities trading policies. |
Other Responsibilities,
Duties and Powers
| 13. |
The Governance Committee shall report its actions and any recommendations to the
Board after each Governance Committee meeting. |
| 14. |
The Governance Committee shall have the responsibility, duty and power, at any
time and from time to time, to the same extent and with the same effect as if
the entire Board were acting: |
| (a) |
to conduct or authorize investigations into matters within the Governance
Committees scope of responsibilities under this Charter and applicable
law; |
| (b) |
to retain independent counsel, accountants or others to assist it in the conduct
of an investigation or such other action as the Governance Committee may
otherwise determine as necessary to carry out its duties under this Charter and
applicable law, the fees and expenses of all of which will be paid by the
Company; and |
| (c) |
to perform any other activities related or incidental to the duties and rights
conferred on the Governance Committee (by this Charter or otherwise) as the
Governance Committee or the Board from time to time may deem necessary or
reasonably appropriate. |
| 15. |
In addition to the responsibilities, duties and powers of the Governance
Committee set forth in this Charter, the Governance Committee also shall have
such other responsibilities, duties and powers (if any) as may from time to time
be expressly granted to it under the Certificate, the By-Laws, any Board
resolution with continuing effect, any Nasdaq Rule, any Exchange Act Rule, the
DGCL or any other applicable law. |
| 1. |
Notwithstanding anything in this Charter to the contrary: (a) the Governance
Committee is an oversight body, and it is not the role or duty of the
Governance Committee to (i) implement, administer or apply the accounting,
auditing or financial reporting or disclosure policies, practices or controls of
the Company, (ii) plan or conduct any audit of the Company or any audit of the
work of the Companys management or independent accountants, (iii) prepare
or certify any of the Companys financial statements or any portion
thereof, (iv) determine or assure that the Companys financial statements
and disclosures are complete or accurate or are in accordance with GAAP or any
applicable rule or regulation, or (v) determine or assure the Companys
compliance with any legal or regulatory requirement, all of
which are and continue to be the responsibilities of the Companys
management and/or the Companys directors, as the case may be; (b) the
members of the Governance Committee are not, and shall not under any
circumstance be deemed or construed to be (by virtue of their Governance
Committee membership, this Charter or any action taken as contemplated hereunder
or otherwise), (i) officers, employees or auditors of SGRP or any of its
subsidiaries and (ii) directors of any of SGRPs subsidiaries; (c) the
Governance Committee may rely on the representations of and other information
provided by the Companys directors, the Companys officers, employees
and counsel and experts or other professionals retained by the Company or the
Governance Committee; and (d) the legal liability (actual, potential or
otherwise) of the Governance Committee members shall not be (and shall not be
deemed or construed to be) any greater than that of any outside director of SGRP
who is not a member of the Governance Committee. |
| 2. |
For the purposes of this Charter: |
| (a) |
Certificate shall mean the Certificate of Incorporation of
SGRP filed on November 29, 1995, with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware, as the same may have been and from time to time hereafter may be duly
amended or restated in the manner provided under applicable law. |
| (b) |
By-Laws shall mean the Amended and Restated By-Laws of SGRP
dated as of May 18, 2004, as the same may have been and from time to time
hereafter may be supplemented, amended or restated in the manner provided
therein. |
| (c) |
DGCL shall mean the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware, as the same may have been and from time to time hereafter may be
amended or restated, and any succeeding statute. |
| 3. |
This Charter constitutes supplemental by-laws of SGRP and shall be governed and
supplemented by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the By-Laws.
Without in any way limiting the preceding sentence, the provisions of Article X
of the By-Laws (and the applicable definitions appearing elsewhere) are hereby
incorporated into this Charter by reference as if fully set forth herein and
shall be construed as if this Charter were the By-Laws referred to
in those incorporated provisions. In the event of any conflict between any
specific provision of this Charter and the By-Laws, the specific provision of
this Charter shall control and be given effect. |
| 4. |
The terms and provisions of this Charter are each subject to the relevant terms
and provisions of the Certificate and applicable law. In the event that any term
or provision of this Charter conflicts or is inconsistent with any term or
provision of the Certificate or applicable law, the term or provision of the
Certificate or applicable law shall control and be given effect. |
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