|
Board Committees
The Board of Directors has six structured standing committees:
- Audit Committee
- Committee on Corporate Governance
- Compensation and Benefits Committee
- Executive Committee
- Finance Committee
- Committee on Public Policy and Social Responsibility
Members of the individual committees are identified below:
| COMMITTEE |
CHAIRPERSON |
MEMBERS |
| Audit |
John Kennedy |
WilliamArmstrong
|
| Corporate Governance |
John Kennedy |
William Armstrong
|
| Compensation and Benefits |
John Kennedy |
William Armstrong
Sidney Braginsky
|
| Executive |
Peter Katevatis |
John Kennedy
|
| Finance |
John Kennedy |
Michael Kouvatas
William Armstrong
|
| Public Policy and Social Responsibility |
All directors |
Audit Committee
Comprised of independent directors, it is governed by a Board approved charter
that contains, the committee's membership requirements and responsibilities.
Functional Responsibilities:
- Oversees company accounting, financial reporting process, internal controls and audits.
- Consults with management, the internal auditors and the independent public
accountants regarding matters related to the annual audit, the published
financial statements and the applied accounting principles.
- Appoints, evaluates and retains the company's independent public accountants.
- Maintains direct responsibility for the compensation, termination and oversight
of the company's independent public accountants.
- Evaluates the independent public accountants' qualifications, performance,
and independence.
- Approves all independent public accountant services.
- Reviews all non-attest services to ensure they are permitted under current law.
- Monitors compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and company policies on
ethical business practices; reports back to the Board.
- Establishes policies and procedures for the pre-approval of all services provided
by the independent public accountants.
- Determines, on a confidential basis, procedures for the receipt, retention,
and treatment of complaints received by the company. This includes the Board
and Audit Committee, regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing
matters, and the confidential, anonymous submissions by employees regarding
questionable accounting or auditing matters.
Financial Expert
John Kennedy, currently the President/ CEO/CFO of PEPCO
Corporation, was recognized by the Board as the Audit Committee's Financial Expert
The Board made a qualitative assessment of John Kennedy's level of knowledge
and experience based on a number of factors, including his education and experience.
John was previously the Audit Committee Chairman of Peoples Bank of NJ.
Committee on Corporate Governance
Comprised of independent directors, it considers and proposes recommendations on
matters relative to the practices, policies and procedures of the Board.
- Assumes a leadership role in shaping the corporate governance of the company.
- Assesses the size, structure and composition of the Board and Board Committees.
- Functions as a screening and nominating committee for potential Board candidates.
- Evaluates prospective nominees identified by the committee itself or referred by other
Board members, management, stockholders or external sources.
- Determines the composition of the Board, weighing the depth of experience, balance
of professional interests, required expertise, and other relevant factors.
Compensation and Benefits Committee
Comprised of independent directors, it engages in consultation with management
regarding executive compensation and benefits.
- Evaluates pension, savings, and welfare benefit plans where Board or stockholder
action is or may be contemplated regarding the adoption of or amendments to such plans.
- Proposes recommendations to the Board of Directors on compensation, executive
officer salaries, bonus awards, stock option grants, special awards, and supplemental
compensation.
- Proposes recommendations on organization, succession, election of officers,
consultant consignments, and similar matters.
Executive Committee
This Committee acts for the Board of directors when formal Board action is
requires between meetings regarding matters already approved in principle by the
full Board or to fulfill the formal duties of the Board.
Finance Committee
Comprised of independent directors, it considers and makes recommendations on the
financial affairs and policies of the company.
- Assesses and proposes recommendations on issues including capital structure,
dividend policy, investment /debt policies, asset /portfolio management, and
financial transactions.
Committee on Public Policy and Social Responsibility
Comprised of independent directors, it advises the Board of Directors and Management
on company policies and practices pertaining to the company's responsibilities as a
global corporate citizen, as well as its obligations as a Bio-Medical company whose
products and services affect health and quality of life around the world.
Board and Board Committee Meetings
| Year |
Group |
# of Meetings |
Notation |
| 2003 |
Board of Directors |
2 |
|
| 2003 |
Committee on Corporate Governance |
2 |
|
| 2003 |
Audit Committee |
4 |
With auditors |
| 2003 |
Compensation and Benefits Committee |
1 |
|
| 2003 |
Committee on Public Policy and
Social Responsibility |
0 |
|
| 2003 |
Finance Committee |
4 |
|
| 2003 |
Executive Committee |
0 |
|
Ninety percent of Board and committee meetings on which they served were attended
by the incumbent directors.
The Chairpersons of the Audit Committee, the Committee on Corporate Governance,
the Compensation and Benefits Committee will each participate in any future executive
session.
Independence of Directors
The Board of Directors has determined that to be considered independent, an
outside director may not have a direct or indirect material relationship with the
company.
A material relationship is one which impairs or inhibits/ or has the potential
to impair or inhibit a director's exercise of critical and disinterested judgment
on behalf of the company and its stockholders.
To determine whether a material relationship exists, the Board consults with
the company's counsel. This ensures that the Board's determinations are consistent
with:
- All relevant securities and other laws
- Recent relevant cases and regulations regarding the definition of (independent
director/business judgment) including those set forth in the listing standards of
the New York Stock Exchange as in effect from time to time.
Consistent with these considerations, the Board affirmatively has determined
that all directors are independent directors except Mr. Peter
Katevatis, Esq. who are company contracted employees.
Relationships with Outside Firms
Peter Katevatis,Esq. is a director of the company. In 2003, he was the President
and Chief Executive Officer. He provided legal services to the company during
this time.
Functional Responsibilities
Strategic Planning/Board of Directors Role
The Board of Directors has the legal responsibility for overseeing the affairs of
the company; thus, an obligation to keep informed about the company's business
and strategies. This empowers the Board to provide guidance to management in
formulating and developing plans and to exercise independently its decision-making
authority.
Acting as a full Board and through the Board's standing committees
(Audit, Corporate Governance, Compensation and Benefits, Executive, Finance, and
Public Policy and Social Responsibility), the Board is fully involved in the
company's strategic planning process.
Against its strategic plans, the Board, at subsequent Board meetings, continues
to substantively review the company's progress. It exercises oversight and
decision-making authority regarding strategic areas of importance and associated
funding needs.
For example, the Board typically reviews the company's overall quarterly and annual
performance; it then considers the operating budget and capital needs. Board meetings
also target specific strategies essential to the company, e.g. funding needs, RFCUNY
research and FDA issues.
The Board's role is inextricably linked to the development of the company's future.
These procedures, as well as sound and independent business judgment on strategic
issues, all consistent with good corporate governance, ensure the company's long-term
success.
MEDISCIENCE CODE OF ETHICS
Purpose: written standards designed to avert wrongdoing, while promoting honesty
and ethical conduct at all times relevant to the best interests of our shareholders
and the investment public.
At all times….
- Ethical management of any actual or apparent conflicts of interest between
any personal and professional relationships of our Officers
- *Complete/fair/accurate/timely/lucid disclosure in all reports and documents
filed with or submitted to the SEC and all public communications
*All public communications will be both *-K filings and posted on the company web site:
MEDISCIENCETECH.com
- Full compliance with applicable state and federal laws, rules,and regulations
- Prompt internal reporting to the appropriate party of any infraction; holding
accountable, all responsible parties for breach of the Code of Ethics.
As required under present SEC guidelines, any change to or a waiver of the above
code of ethics will be reported within 5 business days either on an 8-K filing or a
posting of notice on the company's web site MEDISCIENCETECH.com.
Report on TOTAL Executive Compensation (Compensation and
Benefits Committee)
The Compensation and Benefits Committee of the Board (comprised entirely of independent
Directors), approves compensation objectives and policies for all employees. It determines
compensation for the company's executive officers, including the individuals named in the
Summary Compensation Table.
Compensation of Directors: Presently, no Director of the company receives any
compensation for serving on the board.
Objectives and Policies
The Committee seeks to ensure:
- Rewards are closely linked to Company team and individual performance
- Interests of the company's employees are aligned with those of its stockholders
through potential stock ownership
- Compensation and benefits are set at levels that enable the company to attract
and retain high-quality employees
These objectives and policies are applied throughout the Board
with significant availability of both performance-based cash incentives and stock
option grants.
Furthermore, consistent with the long-term focus inherent within the company's
R&D-based business, it is the policy of the Committee to ordain a high proportion
of executive officer compensation dependent on long-term performance and the enhancement
of stockholder value.
|