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This excerpt taken from the SWY DEF 14A filed Apr 12, 2006. Annual Financial Statements and Annual Audit
4. Meetings with Management, the Independent Auditor and the Internal Auditor.
(i) The Committee shall meet with management, the independent auditor and the internal auditor in connection with each annual audit to discuss the scope of the audit, the procedures to be followed and the staffing of the audit.
(ii) The Committee shall review and discuss with management and the independent auditor: (A) major issues regarding accounting principles and financial statement presentations, including any significant changes in the Companys selection or application of accounting principles, and major issues as to the adequacy of the Companys internal controls and any special audit steps adopted in light of material control deficiencies; (B) any analyses prepared by management or the independent auditor setting forth significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of the Companys financial statements, including analyses of the effects of alternative GAAP methods on the Companys financial statements; and (C) the effect of regulatory and accounting initiatives, as well as off-balance sheet structures, on the Companys financial statements.
(iii) The Committee shall review and discuss the annual audited financial statements with management and the independent auditor, including the Companys disclosures under Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
5. Separate Meetings with the Independent Auditor.
(i) The Committee shall review with the independent auditor any problems or difficulties the independent auditor may have encountered during the course of the audit work, including any restrictions on the scope of activities or access to required information or any significant disagreements with management and managements responses to such matters. Among the items that the Committee should consider reviewing with the independent auditor are: (A) any accounting adjustments that were noted or proposed by the auditor but were passed (as immaterial or otherwise); (B) any communications between the audit team and the independent auditors national office respecting auditing or accounting issues presented by the engagement; and (C) any management or internal control letter issued, or proposed to be issued, by the independent auditor to the Company. The Committee shall obtain from the independent auditor assurances that Section 10A(b) of the Exchange Act has not been implicated.
(ii) The Committee shall discuss with the independent auditor the report that such auditor is required to make to the Committee regarding (A) all accounting policies and practices to be used that the independent auditor identifies as critical; (B) all alternative treatments within GAAP for policies and practices related to material items that have been discussed among management and the independent auditor, including the ramifications of the use of such alternative disclosures and treatments, and the treatment preferred by the independent auditor; and (C) all other material written communications between the independent auditor and management of the Company, such as any management letter, management
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representation letter, reports on observations and recommendations on internal controls, independent auditors engagement letter, independent auditors independence letter, schedule of unadjusted audit differences and a listing of adjustments and reclassifications not recorded, if any.
(iii) The Committee shall discuss with the independent auditor the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, Communication with Audit Committees, as then in effect.
6. Recommendation to Include Financial Statements in Annual Report. The Committee shall, based on the review and discussions in paragraphs 4(iii) and 5(iii) above, and based on the disclosures received from the independent auditor regarding its independence and discussions with the auditor regarding such independence pursuant to subparagraph 3(ii) above, determine whether to recommend to the Board that the audited financial statements be included in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year subject to the audit.
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