Corporate Governance: Director Nomination Process
The Company does not currently have an active nominating committee or other committee performing similar functions, nor have we adopted a nominating committee charter. Given our available resources, the Board of Directors has determined that it is in the Company’s best interest to have nominations recommended for the Board’s selection by a majority of the independent directors, and to have the full Board participate in the consideration of director nominees.
In general, when the Board of Directors determines that expansion of the board or replacement of a director is necessary or appropriate, the Board will conduct candidate interviews with members of management, consult with the candidate’s associates and through other means determine a candidate’s honesty, integrity, reputation in and commitment to the community, judgment, personality and thinking style, residence, willingness to devote the necessary time, potential conflicts of interest, independence, understanding of financial statements and issues, and the willingness and ability to engage in meaningful and constructive discussion regarding Company issues. While diversity may contribute to this overall evaluation, it is not considered by the Board of Directors as a separate or independent factor in identifying nominees for director. The Company may identify candidates through recommendations made by directors, senior management or other third parties. The Board will consider director candidates nominated by stockholders during such times as the Company is actively considering appointing new directors. Candidates recommended by stockholders will be evaluated based on the same criteria described above.
Stockholders desiring to suggest a candidate for consideration must do so in accordance with the Company’s bylaws and the securities laws, and should send a notice to the Secretary of the Company at the principal executive offices of the Company, and include:(a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election as a director (i) all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act and (ii) such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected. No person shall be eligible for election as a director of the Company unless nominated by the Board, or otherwise in accordance with these procedures. Because of the small size of the Company and the limited need to seek additional directors, there is no assurance that all stockholder proposed candidates will be fully considered, that all candidates will be considered equally, or that the proponent of any candidate or the proposed candidate will be contacted by the Company or the Board, and no undertaking to do so is implied by the willingness to consider candidates proposed by stockholders.
Board Leadership Structure
Mr. Howard R. Curd serves as both principal executive officer and Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Company does not have a lead independent director. The Company has determined that the leadership structure of its Board of Directors has permitted the Board to fulfill its duties effectively and efficiently and is appropriate, given the size and scope of the Company.
Board of Directors’ Role in Risk Oversight
The Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing our executive management team in the execution of its responsibilities and for assessing the Company’s approach to risk management. The Board exercises these responsibilities on an ongoing basis as part of its meetings and through its committees. Each member of the management team has direct access to the Board and its committees to ensure that all risk issues are frequently and openly communicated. The Board of Directors closely monitors the information it receives from management and provides oversight and guidance to our executive management team regarding the assessment and management of risk.
For example, the Board regularly reviews the Company’s critical strategic, operational, legal and financial risks with management to set the tone and direction for ensuring appropriate risk taking within the business.
In addition, financial risks are overseen by our Audit Committee, which meets separately with representatives of our independent auditors to determine whether any material financial risks or any deficiencies in our internal controls over financial reporting have been identified and, if so, the executive management team’s plans to rectify or mitigate these risks. The Audit Committee also oversees risks related to the Company’s financial statements, the financial reporting process and accounting matters.
Our Board and its committees have access at all times to the Company’s management to discuss any matters of interest, including those related to risk. Those members of our executive management team who are most knowledgeable of the issues facing the Company also regularly attend Board and committee meetings to provide additional insight into items being discussed, including risk exposures. We believe that our Board leadership structure enables senior management to communicate identified risks to our Board and its committees and affords a free flow of communication regarding risk identification and mitigation.
Board Meetings
Directors are expected to attend annual meetings of stockholders, absent exigent circumstances that preclude their attendance. Where a director is unable to attend an annual meeting in person but is able to do so by electronic conferencing, we will arrange for the director’s participation by means where the director can hear, and be heard by, those present at the meeting.
Director Independence
In order to determine which of our directors may qualify as independent directors, we have adopted the director independence standards of NASDAQ. The Board of Directors has reviewed each of the directors’ relationships with the Company in conjunction with such standards and has affirmatively determined that Mr. John E. Scates is an “independent” within the meaning of such rule.
Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, requires the Company’s officers and directors and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of the Company’s equity securities to file reports of ownership and changes of ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Officers, directors and beneficial owners of more than ten percent of the Common Stock are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all reports that they file with the SEC pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act.
Code of Ethics
Our board of directors has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which is applicable to Uniroyal Global Engineered Products, Inc. and to all our directors, officers and employees, including Uniroyal Global Engineered Products, Inc.’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or comptroller, or other persons performing similar functions.
A copy of the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is provided on this site and may also be obtained free of charge by making the request to the Company’s Secretary in writing.
Stockholder Communications with Directors
Stockholders may communicate their comments or concerns in writing with members of the Board of Directors. Any such communication should be addressed to the attention of the Board of Directors at the Company’s principal executive offices. Any such communication must state, in a conspicuous manner, that it is intended for distribution to the entire Board of Directors. Under the procedures established by the Board of Directors, upon the Secretary’s receipt of such a communication, the Company’s Secretary will send a copy of such communication to each member of the Board of Directors, identifying it as a communication received from a stockholder. Absent unusual circumstances, at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors held more than two days after such communication has been distributed, the Board of Directors will consider the substance of any such communication.
Director Compensation
We do not have a formal plan for compensating our directors.
Our bylaws provide for us to indemnify our directors and officers to the extent permitted by Nevada law, with respect to actions taken by them on our behalf. We maintain a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance for this purpose.