Audit Committee

Charter of the Audit Committee
of the Board of Directors
Sigmatron International, Inc.

I. PURPOSE

The purpose of the Audit Committee (the “Committee”) of SigmaTron International, Inc. (the “Company”) is to oversee the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Company and the audits of the financial statements of the Company.

II. FUNCTIONS

The functions of the Committee shall include: (1) review of audits of the financial statements of the Company and the scope of the audit; (2) review with the independent accountants the corporate accounting and financial reporting practices and policies and recommend to whom reports should be submitted within the Company; (3) review with the independent accountants their final report; (4) review with the internal and independent accountants overall accounting and financial controls; (5) being available to the independent accountants and management for consultation purposes; and (6) oversee the Company’s compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”).

III. COMPOSITION

The Committee shall be comprised of three or more directors as determined by the Board, each of whom shall: (i) be an Independent Director as defined under Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (“Nasdaq”) Rule 5605(a)(2), as may be modified or supplemented; (ii) meet the criteria for independence set forth in Rule 10A-3(b)(1) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as may be modified or supplemented (the “Act”), subject to the exemptions provided in Rule 10A-3(c) under the Act; (iii) not have participated in the preparation of the financial statements of the Company or any current subsidiary of the Company at any time during the past three (3) years; (iv) be able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including a Company’s balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement; (v) not be an affiliated person of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company; and (vi) satisfy any other independence requirements under applicable law, rules, and regulations, including Nasdaq rules.  In addition, the Committee shall have at least one member who has past employment experience in finance or accounting, requisite professional certification in accounting, or any other comparable experience or background which results in the individual’s financial sophistication, including being or having been a chief executive officer, chief financial officer, or other senior officer with financial oversight responsibilities.   A director who qualifies as an audit committee financial expert under Item 407(d)(5)(ii)-(iii) of Regulation S-K is presumed to qualify as a financially sophisticated audit committee member. 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, one director who: (a) is not an Independent Director as defined in Nasdaq Rule 5605(a)(2), as may be modified or supplemented; (b) meets the criteria set forth in Section 10A(m)(3) under the Act and the rules thereunder; and (c) is not a current officer or employee or a Family Member, as defined by Nasdaq, of such officer or employee, may be appointed to the Committee, if the Board, under exceptional and limited circumstances, determines that membership on the Committee by the individual is required by the best interest of the Company and its Shareholders.  A member appointed under this exception may not serve longer than two years and may not chair the Committee.  If the Company relies on this exception, it must comply with the disclosure requirements set forth in Item 407(d)(2) of Regulation S-K. 

The members of the Committee shall be elected by the Board at the annual organizational meeting of the Board and shall serve in such capacity until the next annual organizational meeting of the Board or until their successors shall be duly elected and qualified.  Unless a Chair is elected by the full Board, the members of the Committee may designate a Chair by majority vote of the full committee membership.

IV. MEETINGS

The Committee shall meet at least four times annually, and more frequently as circumstances dictate.  As part of its job to foster open communication, the Committee should meet at least annually with the chief financial officer and the independent accountants to discuss any matters that the Committee or either of these groups believe should be discussed privately.  In addition, the Committee or its Chair should meet in person or by telephone conference call with the independent accountants and management quarterly to review the Company’s financials consistent with V.3 below.

V. RESPONSIBILITIES

The Audit Committee shall have the following responsibilities:

Documents/Reports Review

1. Review this Charter annually and update it as conditions dictate.
2. Review the Company’s annual financial reports and other financial information submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), or the public, including any certification, attestation, report, opinion or review rendered by the independent accountants, and the independent accountants’ judgment as to the quality of the Company’s accounting principles.
3. Review and discuss the Company’s audited financial statements with management, including a review with the chief financial officer or his/her delegate and, if the Committee believes it to be advisable, the independent accountants, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q prior to its filing or prior to the release of earnings. The Chair of the Committee may represent the entire Committee for purposes of this review.
4. Issue a report to the Board disclosing whether (a) the Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements with management; (b) the Committee has discussed with the independent accountants the matters required to be discussed in accordance with professional standards; (c) the Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent accountants and has discussed with the accountants the accountants’ independence; and (d) whether, based on the review and discussions referred to in (a) – (c) above, the Committee recommended to the Board that the financial statements be included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB for the last fiscal year for filing with the SEC. These disclosures shall appear over the printed names of each member of the Committee, and shall be included in the Company’s proxy statement, if said proxy statement relates to an annual meeting of shareholders at which directors are to be elected (or special meeting or written consents in lieu of such meeting).  The disclosures shall be made at least once a year.

Independent Accountants

5. Assume direct responsibility for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of any independent accountant engaged by the Company (including resolution of disagreements between management and the independent accountants regarding financial reporting), each of whom must report directly to the Committee, for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review, or attest services for the Company. Where appropriate, the Committee shall replace the independent accountants, and, if appropriate, nominate the independent accountants to be proposed for shareholder ratification or approval in any proxy statement.  The independent accountants must report directly to and are ultimately accountable to the Committee, which has the sole authority and responsibility to select, evaluate and, where appropriate, replace the independent accountants.
6. Pre-approve all audit and permitted non-audit services to be performed by the independent accountants (subject to the de minimis exceptions under applicable law, rules and regulations). However, the Committee may delegate to one or more designated members of the Committee the authority to grant such pre-approvals, and the decisions of any member to whom such authority is delegated shall be presented to the full Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting.  In determining whether to pre-approve permitted non-audit services, the Committee (or the members with authority to pre-approve) shall consider whether the independent accountants’ performance of such services is compatible with independence.
7. Approve the fees and other compensation to be paid to the independent accountants. On at least an annual basis, to determine the accountants’ independence, the Committee shall ensure its receipt from the outside auditors of a formal written statement delineating all relationships between the auditor and the Company, in accordance with professional standards, and shall actively engage in a dialogue with the auditor with respect to any disclosed relationships or services that may impact the objectivity and independence of the auditor.
8. Review the performance of the independent accountants and discharge the independent accountants when circumstances warrant.
9. Receive copies of the annual comments from the independent accountants on accounting practices and policies and systems of control of the Company, and review with them any questions, comments or suggestions they may have relating thereto.
10. Oversee regular rotation of the lead audit partner, as required by applicable law, rules and regulations, and consider whether rotation of the independent accountants or their lead audit partner is necessary to ensure independence.
11. Ensure receipt of a formal written statement from independent accountants delineating all relationships between the independent accountants and the Company.
12. Actively engage in dialogue with the independent accountants with respect to any disclosed relationships or services that may impact the objectivity and independence of the accountants.
13. Take, or recommend the full board to take other appropriate action to oversee the independence of the independent accountants and outside auditor.

Financial Reporting Processes

14. Review with management and the independent accountants not less than annually the internal controls, disclosure controls and procedures, and accounting and audit activities of the Company.
15. Review with management and the independent accountants significant exposure risks and the plans to appropriately control such risks.
16. Consider and approve, if appropriate, major changes to the Company’s auditing and accounting principles and practices as suggested by the independent accountants, management, or the internal accounting department.
17. Review with management and the independent accountants accounting policies which may be viewed as critical, and review significant changes in the accounting policies of the Company and accounting and financial reporting proposals that may have a significant impact on the Company’s financial reports. Review with management accounting estimates in the event (a) an estimate requires the Company to make assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain at the time the accounting estimate is made, and (b) different estimates that the Company reasonably could have used in the current period, or changes in the accounting estimates that are reasonably likely to occur from period to period, would have a material impact on the presentation of the Company’s financial condition, changes in financial condition or results of operations.
18. Make or cause to be made, from time to time, such other examinations or reviews as the Committee may deem advisable with respect to the adequacy of the systems of internal controls, accounting practices, internal audit procedures, and disclosure controls and procedures of the Company, taking into account current accounting and regulatory trends and developments, and take such action with respect thereto as may be deemed appropriate by the Committee. The Committee shall have the authority to retain outside advisors to assist it in the conduct of any investigation, examination or review.
19. Review with management and the independent accountants any material financial or non-financial arrangements of the Company which do not appear on the financial statements of the Company.
20. Review communications required to be submitted by the independent accountants concerning (a) critical accounting policies and practices used, (b) alternative treatments of financial information within generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) that have been discussed with management and the ramifications of such alternatives and the accounting treatment preferred by the independent accountants, and (c) any other material written communications with management.
21. Review with the independent accountants any problems encountered in the course of their audit, including any change in the scope of the planned audit work and any restrictions placed on the scope of such work and any management letter provided by the independent accountants and management’s response to any such letter. The management letter should be separately communicated to the Chair of the Committee at the same time it is provided to management.

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

22. In connection with its oversight responsibility for the Company’s compliance with the FCPA, review the overall adequacy and effectiveness of the Company’s Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Policy and Procedures (“FCPA Policy”) and recommend to the Board one or more senior executives, with appropriate authority and adequate autonomy from management, to be primarily responsible for day-to-day compliance with the FCPA Policy and conduct periodic cost and expense inquiries.

Internal Controls and Process Improvement

23. Evaluate whether senior management is setting the appropriate tone at the top by reviewing their communication with other personnel of the Company regarding the importance of internal controls and evaluate whether the members of senior management possess an understanding of their roles and responsibilities.
24. Establish a regular system of reporting to the Committee and internally within the Company by management, the independent accountants and the internal accounting department.
25. Review the scope of the audit to be performed, and the audit procedures to be used, by the independent accountants, as a part of the annual audit process.
26. Review and attempt to resolve disagreements between management and the independent accountants regarding financial reporting.
27. Review, at least annually, the then current and future programs of the internal accounting department, including the procedure for assuring implementation of accepted recommendations made by the independent accountants, and review the implementation of any accepted recommendations.
28. Consider and approve, upon the recommendation of management or upon its own motion, any non-audit services to be performed by providers other than the independent accountants relating to internal controls or current or future programs, functions, or services that are the responsibility of the internal accounting department.
29. Establish procedures in accordance with applicable law, rules and regulations for (a) receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters and (b) the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the Company of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.

Other Responsibilities

30. Review and evaluate the Company’s cybersecurity and other information technology risks, controls and procedures, including the Company’s plans to mitigate cybersecurity risks and to respond to data breaches. The Audit Committee shall also review with management any specific cybersecurity issues that could affect the adequacy of the Company’s internal controls.
31. Review and make approval decisions regarding all related-party transactions, as required by applicable law, rules and regulations.
32. If appropriate, and if it determines necessary to carry out its duties, engage and obtain advice and assistance from independent legal, accounting or other advisors and determine the compensation to be paid for such advice and assistance which shall be paid by the Company.
33. If necessary, institute special investigations and, if appropriate, hire special counsel or experts to assist.
34. Perform any other activities consistent with this Charter, the Company’s By-laws and governing law, rules or regulations as the Committee or the Board deems necessary or appropriate.
35. Determine the appropriate funding, to be provided by the Company, for the payment of ordinary administrative expenses of the Committee necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties. However, a member of the Committee shall not accept any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fee from the Company other than for board service.

While the Committee has the responsibilities and powers set forth in this Charter, it is not the duty of the Committee to prepare financial statements, plan or conduct audits or determine that the Company’s financial statements are complete and accurate and are in accordance with GAAP.  This is the responsibility of management and the independent accountants.