Corporate Governance
Code of Conduct and Ethics
This Code of Ethics applies to all of the directors, officers
and employees of Del Laboratories, Inc. (the “Company”).
- The directors, officers and employees are expected to
commit themselves to the highest standards of honesty and
integrity in all aspects of their business and by considering
the ethical implications of their actions as they fulfill
their responsibilities to the Company and in their interactions
with customers of the Company.
- The directors, officers and employees are to refrain
from activities involving or appearing to involve conflict
of interest between themselves and the Company or its subsidiaries
or, in the alternative, to obtain approval from the Company's
Board of Directors before engaging in transactions that
may, or may appear to, involve a conflict of interest.
Such activities include:
- Entering into or approving transactions on behalf
of the Company or its subsidiaries with themselves
or with their relatives or affiliates;
- Holding a significant financial interest in any
supplier, contractor, customer, competitor or security
holder of the Company or its subsidiaries;
- Accepting gifts, loans or preferential treatment
from any supplier, contractor, customer, competitor
or security holder of the Company or its subsidiaries;
- Soliciting favors or items of value from any
supplier, contractor, customer, competitor or security
holder of the Company or its subsidiaries;
- Benefiting improperly from the use or disposition
of the Company's or its subsidiaries' property;
and
- With respect to employees, holding other employment
which is in conflict with the business interests
of Del, without permission
The directors, officers and employees are expected to use their
best efforts to insure that the Company provides full, fair,
accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and
documents that the Company files with, or submits to, any government
agency and in any public communications made by the Company.
To this end, each director, officer and employee is required
to take appropriate measures to insure that:
- The Company's accounting records, as well as reports
produced from those records, are in accordance with Generally
Accepted Accounting Principles and the rules and regulations
of the Securities and Exchange Commission and applicable
stock exchanges.
- The Company's records fairly and accurately reflect the
transactions to which they relate and are properly classified
both as to their nature and the appropriate fiscal period.
- The Company's records fairly and accurately reflect,
in reasonable detail, the Company's assets, liabilities,
revenues and expenses.
- All financial transactions are supported by fully fair
and complete documentation.
- No information relating to the Company is concealed
from the Company's independent auditors.
The directors, officers and employees must comply with all
governmental laws, rules and regulations which pertain to
the Company including but not limited to antitrust laws,
anti bribery laws, environmental, health and safety laws,
export laws, foreign corrupt practices laws, insider trading
laws and political activities laws. If any director, officer
or employee fails to comply with this Code, such person will
be subject to disciplinary measures, including termination
of employment. For employees of the Company, this Code of
Conduct and Ethics supplements, but does not replace, any
Company policies set forth in the Company's Policies and
Procedures Manual. If a violation of this Code of Conduct
and Ethics is discovered or suspected by a director, officer
or employee, such person must, anonymously, if desired, promptly
send a detailed note, with relevant documents, to:
Church Moore, Chairman
Del Laboratories, Inc. Audit Committee
c/o Kelso & Company
320 Park Ave., 24th Floor, New York , NY 10022
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Code of Ethics for Senior Financial
Officers
Senior Financial Officers hold an important and elevated
role in corporate governance. As part of the Del Laboratories,
Inc. Leadership Team, Senior Financial Officers, including
the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Controller,
Treasurer and Financial Reporting Officer are vested with
both the responsibility and authority to protect, balance
and preserve the interests of all of the enterprise stakeholders,
including shareholders, clients, employees, suppliers, and
citizens of the communities in which business is conducted.
Senior Financial Officers fulfill this responsibility by
prescribing and enforcing the policies and procedures employed
in the operation of the enterprise's financial organization,
and by demonstrating the following:
I. Honest and Ethical Conduct
Senior Financial Officers will exhibit and promote the highest
standards of honest and ethical conduct through the establishment
and operation of policies and procedures that:
- Encourage and reward professional integrity in all aspects
of the financial organization, by eliminating inhibitions
and barriers to responsible behavior, such as coercion,
fear of reprisal, or alienation from the financial organization
or the enterprise itself.
- Prohibit and eliminate the appearance or occurrence
of conflicts between what is in the best interest of the
enterprise and what could result in material personal gain
for a member of the financial organization, including Senior
Financial Officers.
- Provide a mechanism for members of the finance organization
to inform senior management of deviations in practice from
policies and procedures governing honest and ethical behavior.
- Demonstrate their personal support for such policies
and procedures through periodic communication reinforcing
these ethical standards throughout the organization.
II. Financial Records and Periodic Reports
Senior Financial Officers will establish and manage the
enterprise transaction and reporting systems and procedures
to ensure that:
- Business transactions are properly authorized and completely
and accurately recorded on the Company's books and records
in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
(GAAP) and established company financial policy.
- The retention or proper disposal of Company records
shall be in accordance with established enterprise financial
policies and applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
- Periodic financial communications and reports will be
delivered in a manner that facilitates the highest degree
of clarity of content and meaning so that readers and users
will quickly and accurately determine their significance
and consequence.
III. Compliance with Applicable Laws, Rules and
Regulations
Senior Financial Officers will establish and maintain mechanisms
to:
- Educate members of the finance organization about any
federal, state or local statute, regulation or administrative
procedure that affects the operation of the finance organization
and the enterprise generally.
- Monitor the compliance of the finance organization with
any applicable federal, state or local statute, regulation
or administrative rule.
- Identify, report and correct in a swift and certain
manner, any detected deviations from applicable federal,
state or local statute or regulation.
IV. Compliance with Item 406 of SEC Regulation S-K
The Company's Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers
(the “Code”) is intended to deter wrongdoing
and to promote:
(i) full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure
in reports and documents that the Company files with, or
submits to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”)
and in other public communications made by the Company;
(ii) the prompt internal reporting of violations of the
Code to the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Executive
Officer or the Chair of the Audit Committee of the Company's
Board of Directors; and
(iii) accountability for adherence to the Code.
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Audit Committee Charter
I. PURPOSE
The Audit Committee (the “Committee”) is appointed
by the Board of Directors of Del Laboratories, Inc. (the “Company”)
to assist the Board of Directors (the “Board”)
in fulfilling its responsibility to oversee management’s
conduct of the Company’s financial reporting process
and the audit efforts of the Company’s independent
accountants and internal auditors, if any, including the
financial information provided by the Company to any governmental
or regulatory body, the public or other users thereof, the
Company’s systems of internal accounting and financial
controls and the annual independent audit of the Company’s
financial statements.In discharging its oversight role, the
Committee is empowered to investigate any matter brought
to its attention with full access to all books, records,
facilities and personnel of the Company and the power to
retain outside counsel, auditors or other experts for this
purpose. The Board and the Committee are in place to represent
the Company’s shareholders; accordingly, the outside
auditor is ultimately accountable to the Board and the Committee.It
is the objective of the Committee to maintain free and open
means of communications with the Board, the independent accountants,
the internal auditors, if any, and the financial and senior
management of the Company. The Committee shall review the
adequacy of this Charter on an annual basis.
II. MEMBERSHIP
The Committee shall be comprised of three or more members
of the Board, as determined from time to time by resolution
of the Board. Each member of the Committee shall satisfy
the independence standards specified in Section 121A of the
American Stock Exchange Company Guide and Rule 10A-3 under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Accordingly,
all of the members will be directors:
- Who have no relationship to the Company that may interfere
with the exercise of their independence from management
and the Company; and
- Who can read and understand fundamental financial statements,
including a company’s balance sheet, income statement
and cash flow statement. Additionally, the Committee shall
have, at all times, at least one member who is financially
sophisticated, in that he or she 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 but not limited to being or having been a chief
executive officer, chief financial officer, or other senior
officer with financial oversight responsibilities.
- The members of the Committee shall be elected by the
Board at the annual organizational meeting of the Board
or at such other time as may be determined by the Board.
The Chairman of the Committee shall be designated by the
Board, provided that if the Board does not so designate
a Chairman, the members of the Committee, by majority vote,
may designate a Chairman. The presence of a majority of
the Committee’s members shall constitute a quorum
for any meeting of the Committee.
III. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Committee’s job is one of oversight and it recognizes
that the Company’s management is responsible for preparing
the Company’s financial statements and that the outside
auditors are responsible for auditing those financial statements.
Additionally, the Committee recognizes that financial management
as well as the outside auditors, have more time, knowledge
and more detailed information on the Company than do Committee
members; consequently, in carrying out its oversight responsibilities,
the Committee is not providing any expert or special assurance
as to the Company’s financial statements or any professional
certification as to the outside auditor’s work.The
following functions shall be the common recurring activities
of the Committee in carrying out its oversight function.
- The Committee shall meet on at least a quarterly basis,
or more frequently as circumstances dictate. At least one
of these meetings shall be in person. The other meetings
may be conducted telephonically.
- The Committee shall be directly responsible for the
appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the
work of any registered public accounting firm engaged (including
resolution of disagreements between management and the
auditor regarding financial reporting) for the purpose
of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other
audit, review or attest services for the Company, and each
such registered public accounting firm must report directly
to the Committee.
- The Committee shall pre-approve all audit and permitted
non-audit services to be performed by the independent auditors
subject to procedures that may be established by the Committee.
- The Committee shall establish procedures for: (i) the
receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received
by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting
controls or auditing matters; and (ii) the confidential,
anonymous submission by employees of the Company of concerns
regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.
- The Committee shall keep minutes of all audit committee
meetings, report the significant matters addressed at such
meetings to the Board of Directors, and provide copies
of the minutes to the Board.
- The Committee shall review significant findings identified
by the independent auditors in a management letter or otherwise,
together with management’s responses to such findings.
- The Committee shall review the independent auditors’ audit
plan, including a discussion of the scope, staffing, locations,
reliance upon management, and general audit approach, and
monitor such plan’s progress and results during the
year.
- The Committee shall establish, review and update periodically
a code of ethical conduct relating to the avoidance of
conflicts of interest and other matters, and ensure that
management has established a system to enforce this code.
- The Committee shall review annually a summary of any
directors’ and officers’ related party transactions
and potential conflicts of interests.
- The Committee shall review with management and the outside
auditors the audited financial statements and will recommend
to the Board of Directors if the audited financial statements
should be included in the Company’s Annual Report
on Form 10-K (or the Annual Report to Shareholders if distributed
prior to the filing of Form 10-K). The Committee will review
and consider with the outside auditors the matters required
to be discussed by Statement of Auditing Standards (“SAS”)
No. 61.
- As a whole, or through the Committee chair, the Committee
shall review, if practical, with the outside auditors the
Company’s interim financial results to be included
in the Company’s quarterly reports to be filed with
Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)
and any matters required to be discussed by SAS No. 61.
- The Committee shall discuss with management and the
outside auditors the quality and adequacy of the Company’s
internal controls.
- The Committee shall:
- Request from the outside auditors annually, a formal
written statement delineating all relationships between
the auditor and the Company consistent with Independence
Standards Board Standard Number 1;
- Discuss with the outside auditors any such disclosed
relationships and their impact on the outside auditor’s
independence; and
- Take appropriate action to oversee the independence
of the outside auditor
- The Committee, subject to any action that may be taken
by the full Board, shall have the ultimate authority and
responsibility to select (or nominate for shareholder approval),
evaluate and, where appropriate, replace the outside auditor.
- The Committee shall prepare an annual audit committee
report to stockholders and related disclosure as required
by the SEC, to be included in proxy statements relating
to election of directors.
- The Committee shall perform such additional activities,
and consider such other matters, within the scope of its
responsibilities, as the Committee or the Board deems necessary
or appropriate.
- The Committee shall provide management, the Company’s
independent auditors and internal auditors, if any, with
appropriate opportunities to meet privately with the Committee.
To the extent required to maintain compliance with the audit
committee requirements of the American Stock Exchange, the
Committee shall ensure that the Company provides the American
Stock Exchange with written confirmation and certification
of such matters as may be required by the rules of the American
Stock Exchange.
IV. RESOURCES AND AUTHORITY OF THE COMMITTEE
The Committee shall have the resources and authority appropriate
to discharge its duties and responsibilities, including the
authority to select, retain, terminate and approve the fees
and other retention terms of special or independent counsel,
accountants or other experts and advisors, as it deems necessary
or appropriate, without seeking approval of the Board or
management. The Company shall provide for appropriate funding,
as determined by the Committee, for payment to such third
parties and the independent auditors, and for administrative
expenses that are necessary or appropriate for the Committee
in carrying out its duties.
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Nominating Committee Charter
The Nominating Committee's responsibilities and powers
as delegated by the board of directors are set forth
in this charter. The Committee relies to a significant
extent on information and advice provided by management
and independent advisors. Whenever the Committee takes
an action, it exercises its independent judgment on an
informed basis that the action is in the best interests
of the Company and its stockholders.
I. PURPOSE
As set forth herein, the Committee shall, among other
things, discharge the responsibilities of the board of
directors relating to the appropriate size, functioning
and needs of the board including, but not limited to,
recruitment and retention of high quality board members,
committee composition and structure, board assessment
and related party and conflicts oversight.
II. MEMBERSHIP
The Committee shall consist of at least three members
of the board of directors as determined from time to
time by the board. Each member shall be "independent" in
accordance with the listing standards of the American
Stock Exchange, as amended from time to time.
The board of directors shall elect the members of this
Committee at the first board meeting practicable following
the annual meeting of stockholders and may make changes
from time to time pursuant to the provisions below. Unless
a chair is elected by the board of directors, the members
of the Committee shall designate a chair by majority
vote of the full Committee membership.
A Committee member may resign by delivering his or her
written resignation to the chairman of the board of directors,
or may be removed by majority vote of the board of directors
by delivery to such member of written notice of removal,
to take effect at a date specified therein, or upon delivery
of such written notice to such member if no date is specified.
III. MEETINGS AND COMMITTEE ACTION
The Committee shall meet at such times as it deems necessary
to fulfill its responsibilities. Meetings of the Committee
shall be called by the chairman of the Committee upon
such notice as is provided for in the by-laws of the
company with respect to meetings of the board of directors.
A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum.
Actions of the Committee may be taken in person at a
meeting or in writing without a meeting. Actions taken
at a meeting, to be valid, shall require the approval
of a majority of the members present and voting. Actions
taken in writing, to be valid, shall be signed by all
members of the Committee. The Committee shall report
its minutes from each meeting to the board of directors.
The chairman of the Committee shall establish such rules
as may from time to time be necessary or appropriate
for the conduct of the business of the Committee. At
each meeting, the chairman shall appoint as secretary
a person who may, but need not, be a member of the Committee.
A certificate of the secretary of the Committee setting
forth the names of the members of the Committee or actions
taken by the Committee shall be sufficient evidence at
all times as to the persons constituting the Committee,
or such actions taken.
IV. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Committee's duties and responsibilities include:
- Monitoring and making recommendations regarding committee
functions, contributions and composition.
- Developing the criteria and qualifications for membership
on the board.
- Developing programs for the continuing education
of all directors and for the orientation of new directors.
- Reviewing and making recommendations to the board
of directors regarding director compensation.
- Establishing and periodically reviewing director
retirement policies and making recommendations to the
board of directors, regarding these policies.
- Reviewing and making recommendations to the board
of directors regarding the appropriate level of director
and officer liability insurance and evaluating the
appropriateness of providing indemnity to the Company's
officers, directors or agents on a case-by-case basis,
including the appropriateness of advancing fees and
expenses.
- Considering all questions regarding a conflict of
interest involving any board members, the company,
its subsidiaries or their respective officers.
- Evaluating, on an annual basis, the Committee's
performance.
- Making recommendations to the board on methods for
enhancing services to, and improving communications
and relations with, the Company's stockholders.
V. POWERS AND AUTHORITY
Subject to such specific constraints as may be imposed
by the board of directors, the board of directors delegates
to the Committee all powers and authority that are necessary
or appropriate to fulfill its duties and responsibilities
hereunder, including but not limited to:
- Recruiting, reviewing and nominating candidates for
election to the board of directors or to fill vacancies
on the board of directors.
- Reviewing candidates proposed by stockholders, and
conducting appropriate inquiries into the background
and qualifications of any such candidates.
- Administering any director compensation plans.
- Retaining and terminating any professionals (such
as search firms, attorneys and compensation professionals)
to assist in evaluating, designing and documenting
of director compensation, including sole authority
to approve the professional's fees and other retention
terms.
- Establishing subcommittees for the purpose of evaluating
special or unique matters.
VI. REPORTING
The Committee shall prepare a statement each year concerning
its compliance with this charter for inclusion in the
company's proxy statement.
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Board of Director Candidate Guidelines
The Nominating Committee of Del Laboratories, Inc. (the “Corporation”)
identifies, evaluates and recommends candidates to become members of
the Board of Directors (“Board”) with the goal of creating
a balance of knowledge, experience and diversity. Nominations to the
Board may also be submitted to the Nominating Committee by the Corporation's
stockholders in accordance with the Corporation's policy. Candidates
are reviewed in the context of current composition of the Board, the
operating requirements of the Corporation and the long-term interests
of the Corporation's stockholders. In conducting this assessment, the
Committee will consider and evaluate director-candidates based upon
the following factors:
- Whether the candidate is independent pursuant to
the requirements of the American Stock Exchange.
- Candidates should be accomplished in their respective
fields and have reputations, both personal and professional,
that are consistent with the image and reputation of
the Corporation.
- Candidates should generally be, or have been, chief
executive officers, chief operating officers or chief
financial officers or have other high-level managerial
experience in a relatively complex organization.
- Candidates should have the ability to read and understand
basic financial statements. The Nominating Committee
will also determine if any of the candidates satisfy
the criteria for being an “audit committee financial
expert,” as defined by the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
- Candidates should have relevant experience and expertise
and be able to provide insights and practical wisdom
based on that experience and expertise.
- Candidates should have knowledge of the Corporation
and issues affecting the Corporation.
- Candidates should be committed to enhancing stockholder
value.
- Candidates should understand, or have the capacity
to understand, fully the legal responsibilities of
a director and the governance processes of a public
company.
- Candidates should be of high moral and ethical character
and should be willing to apply sound, objective and
independent business judgment, and to assume broad,
fiduciary responsibility.
- Candidates should have, and be willing to commit,
the required hours necessary to discharge the duties
of Board membership.
- Candidates should not have any prohibitive interlocking
relationships or conflicts of interest.
- Candidates should be able to develop a good working
relationship with other Board members and contribute
to the Board's working relationship with the senior
management of the Corporation.
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