1. The Audit Committee shall receive, retain, investigate and act on complaints and concerns of employees and stockholders (“Reports”) regarding:
(a) questionable accounting, internal accounting controls and auditing matters, including those regarding the circumvention or attempted circumvention of internal accounting controls or that would otherwise constitute a violation of the Company’s accounting policies (an “Accounting Allegation”);
(b) compliance with legal and regulatory requirements (a “Legal Allegation”); and
(c) retaliation against employees who make Accounting Allegations or Legal Allegations (a “Retaliatory Act”).
2. In the discretion of the Audit Committee, responsibilities of the Audit Committee created by these procedures may be delegated to the Chair of the Audit Committee or to a subcommittee of the Audit Committee.
1. Any Report that is made directly to management, whether openly, confidentially or anonymously, shall be promptly reported to the Audit Committee.
2. Each Report forwarded to the Audit Committee by management and each Report that is made directly to the Audit Committee, whether openly, confidentially or anonymously, shall be reviewed by the Audit Committee, who may, in their discretion, consult with any member of management who is not the subject of the allegation and who may have appropriate expertise to assist the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee shall determine whether the Audit Committee or management should investigate the Report, taking into account the considerations set forth in Section C below.
(a) If the Audit Committee determines that management should investigate the Report, the Audit Committee will notify the General Counsel in writing of that conclusion. Management shall thereafter promptly investigate the Report and shall report the results of its investigation, in writing, to the Audit Committee. Management shall be free in its discretion to engage outside auditors, counsel or other experts to assist in the investigation and in the analysis of results.
(b) If the Audit Committee determines that it should investigate the Report, the Audit Committee shall promptly determine what professional assistance, if any, it needs in order to conduct the investigation. The Audit Committee shall be free in its discretion to engage outside auditors, counsel or other experts to assist in the investigation and in the analysis of results.
1. Who is the alleged wrongdoer? If an executive officer, senior financial officer or other high management official is alleged to have engaged in wrongdoing, that factor alone may militate in favor of the Audit Committee conducting the investigation.
2. How serious is the alleged wrongdoing? The more serious the alleged wrongdoing, the more appropriate that the Audit Committee should undertake the investigation. If the alleged wrongdoing would constitute a crime involving the integrity of the financial statements of the Company, that factor alone may militate in favor of the Audit Committee conducting the investigation.
3. How credible is the allegation of wrongdoing? The more credible the allegation, the more appropriate that the Audit Committee should undertake the investigation. In assessing credibility, the Audit Committee should consider all facts surrounding the allegation, including but not limited to whether similar allegations have been made in the press or by analysts.
(a) Confidentially by contacting
the Director of Internal Audit in writing or in person at
Dresser-Rand Group Inc., Director of Internal Audit, Paul Clark
Drive, Olean, NY 14760 using the Company’s website at
www.dresser-rand.com, selecting “Corporate Governance”, and
then selecting “Ethics Hotline.”
(b) If made by an employee, anonymously, by calling the Ethics
Hotline at 1-800-721-0952 at any time using the D-R Net, and
selecting “Ethics Hotline.” The process is managed by an
outside, independent service provider and allows anyone to make
a Report without divulging his or her name. The Ethics Hotline
service provider is required to share the information provided
in the Report to management or, if requested by the individual
making the Report, the Audit Committee as promptly as
practicable.