Abaxis, Inc. Corporate Governance Policies
Director Nomination Process
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will review annually the results of the evaluation of the Board and its committees, and the needs of the Board for various skills, experience, expected contributions and other characteristics, and the optimal size of the Board in light of these needs, in determining the director candidates to be nominated at the annual meeting. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will evaluate candidates for directors, including incumbent directors and candidates proposed by directors, stockholders or management, in light of the Committee's views of the current needs of the Board for certain skills, experience or other characteristics, the candidate's background, skills, experience, other characteristics and expected contributions and the qualification standards, if any, established by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
If the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee believes that the Board requires additional candidates for nomination, the Committee may poll existing directors or management for suggestions for candidates and may engage, as appropriate, a third party search firm to assist in identifying qualified candidates. All directors and nominees will submit a completed form of directors' and officers' questionnaire as part of the nominating process. The process may also include interviews and additional background and reference checks for non-incumbent nominees, at the discretion of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
In making the determinations regarding nominations of directors, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may take into account the benefits of diverse viewpoints as well as the benefits of a constructive working relationships among directors. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider director nominations made by stockholders in accordance with the requirements of the Company's bylaws consistent with these procedures.
Communications by Stockholders with Directors
Stockholders may communicate with any and all company directors by transmitting correspondence by mail, facsimile or email, addressed as follows:
Chairman of the Board
or Board of Directors
or any individual director
c/o Compliance Officer
3240 Whipple Road
Union City, CA 94587
Fax: 510-441-6151
or Email Address: ComplianceOfficer@abaxis.com
The Compliance Officer shall maintain a log of such communications and transmit as soon as practicable such communications to the identified director addressee(s), unless there are safety or security concerns that mitigate against further transmission of the communication, as determined by the Compliance Officer in consultation with Company counsel. The Board of Directors or individual directors so addressed shall be advised of any communication withheld for safety or security reasons as soon as practicable. The Compliance Officer shall relay all communications to directors absent safety or security issues.
Director Attendance at Annual Meetings
The Company will make every effort to schedule its annual meeting of shareholders at a time and date to maximize attendance by directors taking into account the directors' schedules. All directors are strongly encouraged shall make every effort to attend the Company's annual meeting of shareholders. The Company will reimburse all reasonable out-of-pocket traveling expenses incurred by directors attending the annual meeting.