Medtronic, Inc.
Board of Directors Audit Committee Charter
( As amended through December 7, 2011 )
Purpose
The purpose of the Audit Committee is to represent and assist the Board of Directors in its oversight of (1) the integrity of the financial reporting of the Company, (2) the independence, qualifications and performance of the Company’s external independent auditor and the performance of the internal auditors and (3) the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. The Audit Committee also prepares the disclosure required by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement.
Members
The Audit Committee shall consist of at least three members of the Board. All Audit Committee members shall satisfy the independence requirements for directors and audit committee members under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange and Rule 10A-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as such requirements are interpreted by the Board in its business judgment. The Board shall appoint the members of the Audit Committee, and the Board shall designate one member as Chairman or delegate authority to designate a Chairman to the Audit Committee. Each member of the Audit Committee shall be financially literate and at least one member of the Audit Committee shall be an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission and determined by the Board.
Outside Advisors
The Audit Committee shall have the authority to retain such outside legal, accounting or other consultants or advisors as it determines appropriate to assist it in the performance of its functions, or to advise or inform the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee may also meet with investment bankers and financial analysts. The Audit Committee may request any officer or employee of the Company or the Company’s outside counsel or independent auditor to attend a meeting of the Audit Committee or to meet with any members of, or consultants to, the Audit Committee. The Company shall provide for appropriate funding, as determined by the Audit Committee, for payment of compensation to the independent auditor and to any advisors retained by the Audit Committee, and for ordinary administrative expenses of the Audit Committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties.
Duties and Responsibilities
On behalf of the Board, the Audit Committee shall, among its duties and responsibilities:
- Review the annual audited financial statements with management and the independent auditor, including the Company’s disclosures under Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, significant issues and judgments regarding accounting and auditing principles and practices, and the effect of regulatory and accounting initiatives on the Company’s financial statements, and recommend to the Board whether the financial statements should be included in the Form 10-K. The review of the annual audited financial statements also includes a review of any transactions as to which management obtained a letter pursuant to Statement on Auditing Standards No. 50.
- Review and discuss with management and the independent auditor the Company’s quarterly financial statements prior to filing the Form 10-Q, including the results of the independent auditor’s review of them and the Company’s disclosures under Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
- Review major issues and changes to the Company’s auditing and accounting principles and practices as suggested by the independent auditor, internal auditors or management, and analyses setting forth significant financial reporting issues and judgments, including analyses of the effects of alternative GAAP methods on the financial statements, and the effect of regulatory and accounting initiatives, as well as off-balance sheet structures, on the financial statements of the Company.
- Discuss policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management, including appropriate guidelines and policies to govern the process, as well as the Company’s major financial and business risk exposures and the steps management has undertaken to monitor and control such exposures.
- The Audit Committee shall be directly responsible, in its capacity as a committee of the Board, for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of the independent auditor, including resolution of disagreements between management and the independent auditor regarding financial reporting. In this regard, the Audit Committee shall appoint (and seek shareholder ratification of such appointment) and retain, compensate, evaluate, and terminate when appropriate, the independent auditor, which shall report directly to the Audit Committee.
- Pre-approve all auditing services and permitted non-audit services (including the fees and terms thereof) to be performed for the Company by its independent auditor and establish policies and procedures for the engagement of the independent auditor to provide auditing and permitted non-audit services.
- Obtain and review, at least annually, a report by the independent auditor describing the independent auditor’s internal quality-control procedures, and any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities, within the preceding five years, respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the independent auditor, and any steps taken to deal with any such issues, and all relationships between the independent auditor and the Company.
- Consider at least annually the independence of the independent auditor, and receive from and discuss with the independent auditor the auditor’s report regarding its independence. Discuss with the independent auditor the matters required to be discussed under Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended. Review the experience and qualifications of the lead partner each year and determine that all partner rotation requirements are executed. Also consider whether there should be rotation of the independent auditor itself. The Audit Committee may remove the independent auditor if circumstances warrant, based upon its review of the performance and independence of the independent auditor.
- Prepare the Report of the Audit Committee as required by the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission for inclusion in the Company’s annual proxy statement. This report must (i) describe the review of the audited financial statements and that the Audit Committee has discussed with the independent auditor the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended; (ii) state that the Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent auditor required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and has discussed with the independent auditor the independent auditor’s independence; and (iii) state that as a result of the review and discussions described in the report, the Audit Committee has recommended that the financial statements be included in the Company’s Form 10-K.
- Meet with the independent auditor prior to the audit to review the scope and planning of the audit.
- Review with the independent auditor the results of the annual audit examination, and any issues the auditor may have encountered in the course of its audit work and management’s response. This review should include, among other things, any management letter, any restrictions on the scope of activities or access to requested information, any significant disagreements with management, and a discussion of the responsibilities, budget and staffing of the Company’s internal audit function.
- Discuss with management, which has principal responsibility for the Company’s financial statements and disclosures, the Company’s earnings press releases and corporate policies with respect to the type and presentation of information to be included in earnings releases (paying particular attention to any use of “pro forma” or “adjusted” non-GAAP financial information), and the Company’s financial information and earnings guidance provided to analysts and rating agencies.
- Receive reports from the independent auditor and management regarding, and review the adequacy and effectiveness of, the Company’s internal controls, including any significant deficiencies in internal controls and significant changes in such controls reported to the Audit Committee by the independent auditor, the internal auditor or management, and any special audit steps adopted in light of material deficiencies. Receive reports from management regarding, and review the adequacy and effectiveness of, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. Receive reports from management regarding, and review compliance processes with, the Company’s Code of Conduct, Code of Ethics for Chief Financial Officers and Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Business Directors.
- Review with the independent auditor and the internal auditor the scope and results of the internal audit program, including responsibilities and staffing, and review the appointment and replacement of the vice president of the internal audit department.
- Review candidates for the positions of chief financial officer and controller of the Company.
- Establish procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters, and the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.
- Establish clear policies for hiring employees and former employees of the independent auditor.
- Advise the Board with respect to the Company’s policies and procedures regarding compliance with applicable laws and regulations and with the Company’s Code of Conduct.
- Review with the Company’s General Counsel and independent auditor (1) legal matters that may have a material impact on the financial statements, (2) any fraud involving management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls, (3) compliance policies, and (4) any material reports or inquiries received from regulators, governmental agencies or employees that raise material issues regarding the Company’s financial statements and accounting or compliance policies.
- Review this Charter annually and recommend any changes to the Board for approval.
- Review the Audit Committee’s own performance annually.
- Report its activities to the Board regularly, specially addressing any issues that arise with respect to the quality or integrity of the Company’s financial statements, the Company’s compliance with legal or regulatory requirements, the performance and independence of the Company’s independent auditor, or the performance of the internal audit function.
Meetings
The Audit Committee shall meet at least four times per year, either in person or telephonically, and at such times and places as the Audit Committee shall determine. The Audit Committee shall meet with the chief financial officer, the controller, the vice president of the internal audit department and the independent auditor in separate executive sessions periodically.