|
Company
Directory | Directors | Corporate
Governance
| Shareholder Information | Notice
of General Meetings
CORPORATE
Corporate Governance
Board Charter
1. OVERVIEW
1.1 The Board of Medusa Mining Limited (the
"Company" or "Medusa") is committed to
protecting and enhancing shareholder value, and conducting the
Company's business activities ethically and in accordance with the
highest standards of corporate governance.
1.2 This Board Charter explains Medusa's
commitment to corporate governance. It is not an "all
inclusive" document and should be read as an expression of
principle. The Board will review and update this Charter on an
annual basis.
1.3 Medusa endorses the ASX Corporate Governance
Council's Principles of Good Corporate Governance and Best
Practice Recommendations (ASX Principles) published in March 2003.
2. MEDUSA'S CONSTITUTION
2.1 The Constitution of the Company is the key
governance document and it is the Board's responsibility to ensure
that the provisions of the Constitution are complied at all times.
3. COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAWS
3.1 As a public company listed on the Australian
Stock Exchange ("ASX"), Medusa must comply with the
Corporations Act 2001, the Listing Rules as well as all other
applicable laws and statues. Examples of applicable areas of
regulation include:
(a) occupational health and safety legislation;
(b) employment related laws;
(c) environmental protection legislation;
(d) anti-discrimination legislation; and
(e) the Trade Practices Act.
3.2 As Medusa operates in jurisdictions
outside of Australia it is aware of and
complies with all applicable laws and statutes in those
jurisdictions.
4. COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD
4.1 The Board shall comprise of at least three
Directors, increasing where additional expertise is considered
desirable in certain areas or when an outstanding candidate is
identified.
4.2 The majority of the Board to comprise of
independent Non-Executive Directors who satisfy the criteria for
independence stated in clause 10 below.
4.3 The Chairperson is to be an Independent
Non-Executive Director.
4.4 The composition of the Board will be reviewed
from time to time to ensure that it has the appropriate mix of
expertise and experience.
4.5 The current composition of the Board does not
meet the
requirements of clause 4.2 above with respect to
"independence".
5. ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITES
5.1 The Board's primary role is to guide and
monitor the affairs of the Company on behalf of the shareholders
by whom they are elected and to whom they are accountable.
5.2 In their role as Directors, the Board approves
Company goals and direction, strategies and financial objectives
and ensures that appropriate policies, procedures and systems are
in place and operating effectively to manage risk, optimise
business performance and maintain high standards of ethical
behaviour and legal compliance.
5.3 The key duties and responsibilities of the
Board include:
(a) an overview of the Company, including its
control and accountability systems;
(b) appointing and removing the Chief Executive Officer ("CEO");
(c) ratifying the appointment and removal of the Company
Secretary;
(d) input into and final approval of corporate strategy;
(e) input into and final approval of the annual operating and
capital budget;
(f) approving and monitoring the progress of
acquisitions/divestments;
(g) monitoring compliance with all legal and regulatory
obligations;
(h) reviewing and ratifying systems of risk management and
internal compliance and controls, codes of conduct, continuous
disclosure, legal compliance and other significant corporate
policies;
(i) monitoring management's performance and implementation of
strategy and policies, ensuring appropriate resources are
available; and
(j) approving and monitoring financial and other reporting to
the market, shareholders, employees and other stakeholders.
5.2 In discharging their duties and
responsibilities, the Board must at all times be guided by the
objective of maintaining and building the Company's capacity to
generate value for shareholders by:
(a) exercising care and diligence;
(b) acting in good faith in the best interests of the Company;
(c) not improperly using their position or misuse information of
Medusa; and
(d) committing the time necessary to discharge effectively their
role as a Director.
5.3 All Directors (including Executive Directors)
are entitled to be heard at all meetings and should bring an
independent judgement to bear in decision making.
5.4 At the Board's Annual Strategy Meeting, the
Directors will:
(a) review this Charter and approve any required
amendments including those required to comply with the ASX
Principles; and
(b) review the Board's performance during the previous 12
months.
6. NOMINATION COMMITTEE
6.1 The Board believes the Company is not of a
size, nor are its financial affairs of such complexity to justify
the establishment of a Nomination Committee as recommended by the
ASX Corporate Governance Council's recommendation 2.4.
6.2 Despite its reason not to establish a
Nomination Committee, the Board resolved that it would be
beneficial to adopt and implement a formal Charter that clearly
sets out the Nomination Committee's role and responsibilities,
composition, structure and membership requirements.
6.3 All matters which might properly be dealt with
by a Nomination Committee are considered at full Board of
Directors meetings.
6.4 The Board will meet annually to review the
necessity to establish a Nomination Committee.
7. REMUNERATION COMMITTEE
7.1 ASXGCR Recommendations 8.1, 8.3
7.2 The Board established a Remuneration Committee
on 7 October 2009, which operates under a Remuneration Committee
Charter approved by the Board.
7.3 The role of the Remuneration Committee is to
assist the Board in fulfilling its corporate governance
responsibilities with respect to remuneration by reviewing and
making appropriate recommendations on:
• remuneration packages of Executive
Directors, Non-Executive Directors and Senior Executives;
• employee incentive plans and benefit
programs, including the appropriateness of performance hurdles
and total payments proposed;
• recruitment, retention and termination
policies and procedures;
• superannuation arrangements; and
• employee equity based plans and schemes.
7.4 The Remuneration Committee consists of Robert
Weinberg (as Chairman), Andrew Teo and Peter R. Jones, who have
been determined to be independent Non-Executive Directors.
7.5 The Board had not established a Remuneration
Committee prior to 7 October 2009 as recommended by ASXGCR
Recommendation 8.1. However, the Board had approved a Remuneration
Committee Charter and the role and responsibilities of the
Remuneration Committee prior to that date were undertaken by the
whole Board. The Board has now established a Remuneration
Committee in compliance with ASXGCR Recommendation 8.1.
7.6 The Board's policy is that reviews of
remuneration packages and policies applicable to Executive
Directors, Non-Executive Directors and Senior Executives be
conducted on an annual basis by the Remuneration Committee.
8. AUDIT COMMITTEE
8.1 ASXGCR Recommendations 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4
8.2 The Board established an Audit Committee on 12
August 2009, which operates under an Audit Committee Charter
approved by the Board.
8.3 The role of the Audit Committee is to assist
the Board to meet its oversight responsibilities in relation to
the Company's financial reporting, compliance with legal and
regulatory requirements, internal control framework and audit
functions.
8.4 The Audit Committee consists of Andrew Teo (as
Chairman), Robert Weinberg and Peter R. Jones, who have been
determined to be independent Non-Executive Directors.
8.5 The Board had not established an Audit
Committee prior to 12 August 2009 as recommended by ASXGCR
Recommendation 4.1. However, the Board had approved an Audit
Committee Charter and the role and responsibilities of the Audit
Committee prior to that date were undertaken by the Company
Secretary reporting to the whole Board. The Board has now
established an Audit Committee in compliance with ASXGCR
Recommendation 4.1.
9. THE CHAIRPERSON
9.1 The Chairperson:
(a) is to be an Independent Non-Executive
Director;
(b) is not to exercise the role of CEO of Medusa; and
(c) is not to have previously held the position of CEO of
Medusa.
9.2 The Chairperson is responsible for:
(a) leadership and effective performance of the
Board;
(b) setting the agenda for Board meetings in conjunction with
the CEO and Company Secretary;
(c) overseeing the provision of information by management to the
Board and ensuring the adequacy of that information;
(d) facilitating the effective contribution of all Directors;
(e) briefing all Directors on issues arising at meetings; and
(f) arranging regular evaluation of the performance of the
Board.
10. INDEPENDENCE OF DIRECTORS
10.1 A Non-Executive Director of Medusa will be
considered to be independent if they:
(a) are not a substantial shareholder (within
the definition of section 9 of the Corporations Act 2001) of Medusa,
or an officer of, or otherwise associated directly with, a
substantial shareholder of Medusa;
(b) have not, within the last three years, been employed in an
executive capacity by Medusa;
(c) have not, within the last three years, been a principal of a
material professional advisor or a material consultant to the
Medusa or an employee materially associated with the service
provided;
(d) are not a material supplier or customer of the Medusa, or an
officer of or otherwise associated directly or indirectly with,
a material supplier or customer;
(e) have no material contractual relationship with the Medusa
other than as a Director; and
(f) are free from any interest and any business or other
relationship which could, or could reasonably be perceived to,
materially interfere with the Director's ability to act in the
best interests of Medusa.
10.2 Family ties and cross-directorships may also
be relevant in considering interests and relationships which may
compromise independence and should be disclosed by Directors to
the Board.
10.3 The above guidelines must be applied with
common sense. Directors are best able to determine if they have an
interest or relationship which is likely to impact on their
independence. As such, each Director is expected to advise the
Chairperson immediately if he/she believes they may no longer be
independent. Should the Chairperson or any other Director have any
concern about the independence of a Director, they must
immediately raise the issue with that Director and, if the issue
is not resolved, with the Board.
10.4 Should the Chairperson have any concern about
his/her own independence, he/she must immediately raise the issue
with the Board.
10.5 Each Director must immediately disclose to
the Chairperson (with a copy to the Company Secretary) all
information relevant for determining whether the Director is
independent, including details of entities in which the Director
has a material direct or indirect shareholding (or other
interest), is an Executive Officer or is a Director.
10.6 In the preparation of the Agenda for each Board Meeting, the
Chairperson, CEO and Company Secretary need to be sensitive to
disclosed interests and consider whether it is appropriate to
withhold part or all of an agenda item (including any relevant
papers) from any Director because of a potential or actual
conflict. If the Chairperson decides to withhold part or all of an
agenda item from a Director, he/she must advise the Director at
the time of dispatch of the relevant Board Paper.
10.7 Directors are to inform the Chairperson prior
to accepting any new appointment to a listed entity's board.
10.8 Where the independent status of a Director is
lost, this is to be immediately disclosed to the market.
11. TENURE OF DIRECTORS
11.1 All Directors appointed by the Board are
subject to election by shareholders at the following Annual
General Meeting and thereafter are subject to re-election in
accordance with the Company's Constitution.
12. ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND INDEPENDENT ADVICE
12.1 Directors must be provided with the
information they need to efficiently discharge their
responsibilities.
12.2 Management must supply the Board and
Committees with information in a form, timeframe and quality that
enables them to effectively discharge their duties. All Directors
are to receive copies of Committee Papers.
12.3 Directors are entitled to request and receive
such additional information as they consider necessary to support
informed decision-making. Any Director has the authority to seek
any information he/she requires from any employee of Medusa and
all employees must comply with such requests.
12.4 Any Director may take such independent legal,
financial or other advice as they consider necessary at Medusa's
cost. Any Director seeking independent advice must first discuss
the request with the Chairperson who will facilitate obtaining
such advice.
13. DIRECTOR SHARE TRADING
13.1 The Company's Code of Conduct includes the
Medusa Share Trading Policy which imposes certain restrictions on
the trading of the Company's shares by Directors and employees
with undisclosed price sensitive information. All Directors must
follow that policy.
14. APPOINTMENT AND REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS
14.1 The Board should be of a size and composition
that is conducive to making decisions expediently, with the
benefit of a variety of perspectives and skills, and in the best
interest of Medusa as a whole rather than of individual
shareholders or interest groups.
14.2 The Chairperson's Committee is responsible
for making recommendations to the Board relating to the
appointment and retirement of Directors.
14.3 A new Director will receive a formal letter
of appointment setting out the key terms and conditions relative
to the appointment.
15. RETIREMENTS FROM THE BOARD
15.1 Non-Executive Directors are expected to
review their membership of the Board from time to time, taking
into their account their age, qualifications, experience, length
of service on the Board, other criteria considered desirable for a
composition of a balanced Board and most importantly, the overall
interests of the Company.
15.2 Executive Directors must resign from the
Board immediately if the Director ceases to be employed by the
Company.
15.3 The Board may, in exceptional circumstances,
recommend that an Executive Director who has resigned in
accordance with clause 15.2 be re-appointed to the Board as a
Non-Executive Director.
16. DIRECTOR PROTECTION DEEDS
16.1 The Constitution indemnifies each Director to
the fullest extent permitted by law.
16.2 Each Director is entitled to an Access,
Insurance & Indemnity Deed which shall include provisions
relating to:
(a) access to board papers;
(b) confidentiality;
(c) indemnity by Medusa; and
(d) the provision of Directors and Officers Insurance.
17. RESPONSIBILITES OF THE CEO
17.1 The CEO is responsible for the day-to-day
management of Medusa with all powers, discretions and delegations
authorized, from time to time, by the Board.
17.2 The CEO must have a formal Employment
Agreement describing his/her term of office, duties, rights and
responsibilities and entitlements on termination.
17.3 At each meeting where the Board approves the
half-year and full-year financial statements, the CEO and the
Chief Financial Officer (or equivalent) must provide the Board
with written certification which includes statements that:
(a) Medusa's financial reports present a true
and fair view, in all material respects, of Medusa's financial
condition and operational results and are in accordance with
relevant accounting standards;
(b) this statement is founded on a sound system of risk
management and internal compliance and control which implements
the policies adopted by the Board; and
(c) Medusa's risk management and internal compliance and control
system is operating efficiently and effectively in all material
respects.
18. MEDUSA'S CODE OF CONDUCT
18.1 The Board has adopted a Code of Conduct,
which governs Medusa's business activities and the conduct of its
Directors, employees, consultants and any other person when they
represent Medusa.
18.2 The Medusa Code of Conduct outline the manner in which Medusa
wishes to conduct its business activities and deals primarily
with:
(a) general principles;
(b) compliance with laws and regulations;
(c) political contributions;
(d) unacceptable payments;
(e) giving and/or receiving gifts;
(f) protection of Company assets;
(g) proper accounting;
(h) dealing with auditors;
(i) unauthorised public statements;
(j) conflict of interest;
(k) use of inside information;
(l) share trading of Company shares (insider trading);
(m) alcohol and drug abuse;
(n) equal opportunity and employee discrimination;
(o) environmental responsibilities;
(p) occupational health and safety; and
(q) economy and efficiency.
19. CONTINUOUS DISCLOSURE POLICY
19.1 To ensure compliance with the relevant
provisions of the Corporations Act 2001 and Listing Rules, the Board
has adopted the Continuous Disclosure Policy. This is a formal
policy designed to ensure that all employees are aware of the
continuous disclosure obligations of Medusa.
20. FINANCIAL RESULTS
20.1 As part of Medusa's continuous disclosure
obligations, Medusa must provide commentary on their financial
results to enhance the clarity and balance of the report. This
commentary should include information needed by an investor to
make an informed assessment of Medusa's activities and results.
21. SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS POLICY
21.1 The Board has adopted, and from time to time
will amend, the Shareholder Communications Policy which is
designed to promote effective communication with shareholders and
encourage effective participation at general meetings.
21.2 Beneficial and substantial owners of Medusa
shares are encouraged to contact the Medusa's Share Registry or
Medusa's office to arrange the direct receipt of shareholder
materials.
22. ANNUAL REPORT - CORPORATE GOVERNANCE SECTION
22.1 The Medusa Annual Report is to include a
corporate Governance section which will contain the content
required by the ASX Principles (as well an explanation of any
departures from the Best Practice Recommendations).
23. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE ON MEDUSA'S WEBSITE
23.1 As part of an effective communications
strategy, Medusa will maintain and keep current its Corporate
Governance section on the Company's website.
24. NOTICE OF MEETINGS
24.1 Medusa adopts the ASX principles for Notices
of Meetings.
25. EXTERNAL AUDITOR
25.1 The external auditor must attend the Annual
General Meeting of Medusa and must be available to answer
questions about the audit and the preparations and content of the
Auditor's Report.
<< Return to
Governance |