EX-15.1 11 d489003dex151.htm EX-15.1 EX-15.1

Exhibit 15.1

 

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THERATECHNOLOGIES INC.

AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER

I. Mandate

The Audit Committee (the “Committee”) is responsible for assisting the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) in overseeing the following:

A. the integrity of the Company’s financial statements and related information;

B. the internal control systems of the Company;

C. the appointment and performance of the external auditor; and

D. the supervision of the Company’s Risk Management,

II. Obligations and Duties

The Committee carries out the duties usually entrusted to an audit committee and any other duty assigned from time to time by the Board. Management has the responsibility to ensure the integrity of the financial information and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal controls. The external auditor has the responsibility to verify and certify the accurate presentation of the Company’s financial statements; at the same time evaluating the internal control process to determine the nature, extent and chronology of the auditing procedures used. The Committee has the responsibility to supervise the participants involved in the preparation process of the financial information and to report on this to the Board.

Specifically, the Committee is charged with the following obligations and duties:

A. Integrity of the Company’s Financial Statements and Related Information

 

 

1.

Review annual and quarterly consolidated financial statements and all financial information legally required to be disclosed by the Company, i.e. financial information contained in the “Management Discussion and Analysis” report, the Annual Information Form and the press releases, as the case may be, discuss such with management and the external auditor, and suggest recommendations to the Board, as the case may be.

 

 

2.

Approve the interim Financial Statements, the interim “Management Discussion and Analysis” reports and all supplements to these “Management Discussion and Analysis” reports which have to be filed with regulatory authorities.

 

 

3.

On a periodic basis, review and discuss with management and the external auditor the following:

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a.

major issues regarding accounting principles and financial statement presentations, including any significant changes in the Company’s selection or application of accounting principles, and major issues as to the adequacy of the Company’s internal controls and any special audit steps adopted in light of material control deficiencies;

 

 

b.

the effect of regulatory and accounting initiatives, as well as off- balance sheet structures, on the financial statements of the Company; and

 

 

c.

the type and presentation of information to be included in press releases dealing with financial results (paying particular attention to any use of pro-forma information or information adjusted by means of non-generally accepted accounting principles).

4. Review and discuss reports from the external auditor on:

 

 

a.

all critical accounting policies and practices used by the Company; and

 

 

b.

all material alternative treatments of financial information within generally accepted accounting principles that have been discussed with management, including the ramifications of the use of such alternate treatments and disclosures and the treatment preferred by the external auditor.

B. Supervision of the Company’s Internal Control Systems

1. Review and discuss with management and with the external auditor present reports and, when appropriate, provide recommendations to the Board on the following:

 

a.

actual financial data compared with budgeted data;

 

b.

the Company’s internal control system;

 

 

c.

the relationship of the Committee with the management and audit committees of the Company’s consolidated subsidiaries. With respect to the subsidiaries, the Committee must:

• obtain precisions as to the mandate of the audit committees;

• enquire about internal controls and study related risks;

• obtain the external auditors’ report to the audit committees on the planning of external auditing;

• obtain the external auditors’ report to the audit committees on the auditing results;

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• obtain copy of the minutes of the audit committees’ meetings; and

• ensure that the critical accounting policies and practices are identical to the Company’s.

 

 

2.

Study the feasibility of implementing an internal auditing system and when implemented, establish its responsibilities and supervise its work.

 

 

3.

Establish procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters, and procedures for the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters,

C. Appointment and Performance Supervision of the External Auditor

 

 

1.

Provide recommendations to the Board on the selection of the external auditor to be appointed by the shareholders.

 

 

2.

Approve in advance and recommend to the Board the external auditor’s remuneration and more specifically fees and terms of all audit, review or certification services to be provided by the external auditor to the Company and any consolidated subsidiary.

 

 

3.

Supervise the performance of the external auditor in charge of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit services or certification services for the Company or any consolidated subsidiary of the Company, where required, and review all related questions as to the terms of its mission and the revision of its mission.

 

 

4.

Pre-approve all engagements for permitted non-audit services provided by the external auditor to the Company and any consolidated subsidiary, and to this effect and at its convenience, establish policies and procedures for the engagement of the external auditor to provide to the Company and any consolidated subsidiary permitted non-audit services, which shall include approval in advance by the Committee of all audit/review services and permitted non-audit services to be provided to the Company and any consolidated subsidiary by the external auditor.

 

5.

At least annually, consider, assess and report to the Board on:

 

 

a.

the independence of the external auditor, including whether the external auditor’s performance of permitted non-audit services is compatible with the external auditor’s independence;

 

 

b.

the obtaining from the external auditor of a written statement i) describing all relationships between the external auditor and the Company; ii) assuring that lead audit partner rotation is carried out, as required by law; and iii) describing any other relationship that may adversely affect the independence of the external auditor; and

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c. the evaluation of the lead audit partner, taking into account the opinions of management and the internal auditor.

 

 

6.

At least annually, obtain and review a report by the external auditor describing:

 

a.

the external auditor’s internal quality-control procedures; and

 

 

b.

any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality- control review (or peer review) of the external auditor’s firm, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities, within the preceding five years, with respect to one or more independent audits carried out by the external auditor’s firm, and any steps taken to deal with any such issues.

 

 

7.

Resolve any disagreement between management and the external auditor regarding financial reporting.

 

8.

Review the audit process with the external auditor.

 

 

9.

Review and discuss with the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company the process for the certifications to be provided in the Company’s public disclosure documents.

 

10.

Meet periodically with the external auditor in the absence of management.

 

 

11.

Establish procedures with respect to hiring the external auditor’s employees and former employees.

D. Supervision of the Company’s Risk Management

Review, report and, where appropriate, provide recommendations to the Board on the following:

 

1.

the Company’s processes for identifying, assessing and managing risk;

 

 

2.

the Company’s major financial risk exposures and the steps the Company has taken to monitor and control such exposures;

 

3.

the Company’s insurance portfolio and the adequacy of the coverage; and

 

4.

the Company’s investment policy.

III. External Advisors

fn discharging its duties and responsibilities, the Committee is empowered to retain external legal counsel or other external advisors, as appropriate. The Company shall provide the necessary funds to secure the services of such advisors.

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IV. Composition of the Committee

The Committee is composed of any number of Directors, but no less than three, as may be determined by the Board from time to time by resolution. Each member of the Committee shall be independent from the Company and is financially literate, as determined by the Board and in conformity with applicable laws, rules and regulations.

V. Term of the Mandate

Committee members are appointed by Board resolution to carry out their mandate extending from the date of the appointment to the next annual general meeting of the shareholders or until their successors are so appointed.

VI. Vacancy

The Board may fill vacancies at any time by resolution. Subject to the constitution of the quorum, the Committee’s members can continue to act even if there is one or many vacancies on the Committee.

VII. Chairman

The Board appoints the Committee Chairman who will call and chair the meetings. The Chairman reports to the Board the deliberations of the Committee and its recommendations.

VIII. Secretary

Unless otherwise determined by resolution of the Board, the Secretary of the Company shall act as Committee Secretary. The Secretary must attend Committee meetings and prepare the minutes. He/she must provide notification of meetings as directed by the Committee Chairman. The Secretary is the guardian of the Committee’s records, books and archives.

IX. Meeting Proceedings

The Committee establishes its own procedures as to how meetings are called and conducted. Unless it is otherwise decided, the Committee shall meet privately and independently from Management at each regularly scheduled meeting. In the absence of the regularly appointed Chairman, the meeting shall be chaired by another Committee member selected among attending participants and appointed accordingly. In the absence of the regularly appointed Secretary, Committee members shall designate someone to carry out this duty.

The Committee shall meet at least four times a year with management and the external auditor, and at least once a year, separately in executive session in the absence of management and the external auditor. At least once a year, the Committee invites the Chief Financial Officer of each subsidiary to present the financial information and internal control systems related to such subsidiary.

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X. Quorum and Voting

Unless the Board otherwise specifies by resolution, two Committee members shall constitute an appropriate quorum for deliberation of items on the agenda. During meetings, decisions are reached by a majority of votes from Committee members, unless the quorum is of two members, in which case decisions are made by consensus of opinion.

XI. Records

The Committee keeps records that are deemed necessary of its deliberations and reports regularly to the Board on its activities and recommendations.

XII. Effective Date

This charter was adopted by the Directors at its May 3, 2004 Board meeting. It was amended by the Directors during the April 13, 2005 and February 8, 2006 Board meetings.

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