Governance
The Board of Directors of First Jersey Corporation (formerly First Jersey Cannabis Corporation) (the "Company") sets high standards for the Company's employees, officers and directors. Implicit in this philosophy is the importance of sound corporate governance. It is the duty of the Board of Directors to serve as a prudent fiduciary for shareholders and to oversee the management of the Company's business. To fulfill its responsibilities and to discharge its duty, the Board of Directors follows the procedures and standards that are set forth in these guidelines.
We have adopted a written code of business conduct and ethics that applies to our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. The code of conduct is posted on our website, and we will post all disclosures that are required by law or NASDAQ rules in regard to any amendments to, or waivers from, any provision of the code.
To insure compliance to our high standards, the Company instituted:
BOARD COMMITTEES
Our board of directors has established three standing committees-audit, compensation and nominating--each of which operates under a charter that has been approved by our board. We have one independent director who serves as chairman of such committees. We intend to appoint persons to the Board of Directors and committees of the Board of Directors as required meeting the corporate governance requirements of a national securities exchange, in accordance with the phase-in provisions of NASDAQ Rule 5615(b). We intend to appoint directors in the future so that we have a majority of our directors who will be independent directors.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
Although we currently have 2 directors serving on the audit committee, prior to one year from the date of listing, we will have appointed three members of our Board of Directors to the audit committee. Our first member qualifies as an audit committee financial expert within the meaning of SEC regulations and the NASDAQ Listing Rules. In deciding on which member will qualify as a financial expert, our board expects to consider the formal education and nature and scope of such members’ previous experience. As described above, we expect to rely on the phase-in provisions of NASDAQ Rule 5615(b) such that at least one member of the audit committee will be independent upon listing, at least two members of the audit committee will be independent within 90 days after listing and the entire audit committee will be independent within one year following listing.
Our audit committee will assist our board of directors in its oversight of our accounting and financial reporting process and the audits of our consolidated financial statements. Our audit committee’s responsibilities will include: (1) appointing, approving the compensation of, and assessing the independence of our registered public accounting firm; (2) overseeing the work of our registered public accounting firm, including through the receipt and consideration of reports from such firm; (3) reviewing and discussing with management and the registered public accounting firm our annual and quarterly consolidated financial statements and related disclosures; (4) monitoring our internal control over financial reporting, disclosure controls and procedures and code of business conduct and ethics; (5) overseeing our internal accounting function; (6) discussing our risk management policies; (7) establishing policies regarding hiring employees from our registered public accounting firm and procedures for the receipt and retention of accounting-related complaints and concerns; (8) meeting independently with our internal accounting staff, registered public accounting firm and management; (9) reviewing and approving or ratifying related party transactions; and (10) preparing the audit committee reports required by SEC rules.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Although we currently have 2 directors serving on the compensation committee, prior to one year from the date of listing, we will have appointed at least two members of our Board of Directors to the compensation committee. Our compensation committee will assist our board of directors in the discharge of its responsibilities relating to the compensation of our executive officers. The compensation committee’s responsibilities will include: (1) reviewing and approving corporate goals and objectives with respect to Chief Executive Officer compensation; (2) making recommendations to our board with respect to the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and our other executive officers; overseeing evaluations of our senior executives; review and assess the independence of compensation advisers; overseeing and administering our equity incentive plans; reviewing and making recommendations to our board with respect to director compensation; preparing the compensation committee reports required by SEC rules.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Although we currently have 2 directors serving on the nominating committee, prior to one year from the date of listing, we will have appointed at least two additional members of our Board of Directors to the nominating committee. The nominating committee’s responsibilities will include: identifying individuals qualified to become board members; recommending to our board the persons to be nominated for election as directors and to be appointed to each committee of our board of directors; reviewing and making recommendations to the board with respect to management succession planning; overseeing periodic evaluations of board members.