Audit Committee Charter

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This Charter identifies the purpose, composition, meeting requirements, committee responsibilities, annual charter review and investigations and studies of the Audit Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of VCA Antech, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).

I. PURPOSE

The Committee has been established to:

• assist the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibility relating to:
  • the annual independent audit of the Company’s financial statements, the engagement of the independent auditors and the evaluation of the independent auditors' qualifications, independence and performance;
  
  
  
  • the integrity of the Company’s financial statement and accounting and financial reporting processes;
  
  
  
  • the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; and
  
  
  
  • fulfillment of the other responsibilities set out herein.
  
  
  



• prepare the report required by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for inclusion in the Company’s annual proxy statement;



• appoint, retain, compensate, evaluate and terminate the Company’s independent accountants;



• approve audit and non-audit services to be performed by the independent accountants pursuant to the Committee’s Pre-Approval Policy; and



• perform such other functions as the Board may from time to time assign to the Committee.

In performing its duties, the Committee shall seek to maintain an effective working relationship with the Board, the independent accountants and management of the Company.

II. COMPOSITION

The Committee shall be composed of at least three members (including a Chairperson), all of whom shall be “independent directors,” as such term is defined in the rules and regulations of the SEC and the Nasdaq National Market. The members of the Committee and the Chairperson shall serve at the pleasure of the Board. A Committee member (including the Chairperson) may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Board. The Board may designate one or more independent directors as alternate members of the Committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member or members at any meetings of the Committee. No person may be made a member of the Committee if his or her service on the Committee would violate any restriction on service imposed by any rule or regulation of the SEC or any securities exchange or market on which shares of the common stock of the Company are traded.

All members of the Committee shall have a working familiarity with basic finance and accounting practices and must be able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including the Company’s balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement at the time of appointment. Additionally, commencing with the Company’s 2004 Annual Stockholders’ meeting, there will be at least one member who has past employment experience in finance or accounting, requisite professional certification in accounting, or 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, and at least one member of the Committee shall be an “audit committee financial expert.” Committee members may enhance their familiarity with finance and accounting by participating in educational programs conducted by the Company or an outside consultant. The Chairperson shall maintain regular communication with the chief executive officer, chief financial officer and the lead partner of the independent accountant.

III. MEETING REQUIREMENTS

The Committee shall meet as necessary, but at least four times each year, to enable it to fulfill its responsibilities. The Committee shall meet at the call of its Chairperson, preferably in conjunction with regular Board meetings. The Committee may meet by telephone conference call or by any other means permitted by law or the Company’s bylaws. A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum. The Committee shall act on the affirmative vote of a majority of members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present. Without a meeting, the Committee may act by unanimous written consent of all members. The Committee shall determine its own rules and procedures, including designation of a chairperson pro tempore, in the absence of the Chairperson, and designation of a secretary. The secretary need not be a member of the Committee and shall attend Committee meetings and prepare minutes. The Committee shall keep written minutes of its meetings, which shall be recorded or filed with the books and records of the Company. Any member of the Board shall be provided with copies of such Committee minutes if requested.

The Committee may ask members of management, employees, outside counsel, the independent accountants, or others whose advice and counsel are relevant to the issues then being considered by the Committee, to attend any meetings and to provide such pertinent information as the Committee may request.

The Chairperson of the Committee shall be responsible for leadership of the Committee, including preparing the agenda, presiding over Committee meetings, making Committee assignments and reporting the Committee's actions to the Board from time to time (but at least once each year) as requested by the Board.

As part of its responsibility to foster free and open communication, the Committee should meet periodically with management, the internal auditors and the independent accountants in separate executive sessions to discuss any matters that the Committee or any of these groups believe should be discussed privately. In addition, the Committee or at least its Chairperson should meet with the independent accountants and management quarterly to review the Company’s financial statements prior to their public release consistent with the provisions set forth below in Section IV.

IV. COMMITTEE RESPONSIBILITIES

In carrying out its responsibilities, the Committee’s policies and procedures should remain flexible to enable the Committee to react to changes in circumstances and conditions so that it can fulfill its oversight responsibilities. In addition to such other duties as the Board may from time to time assign, the Committee shall have the following responsibilities:

1. Oversight of the Financial Reporting Processes
   
   
   1. In consultation with the independent accountants and the internal auditors, review the integrity of the Company’s financial reporting processes, both internal and external.
   
   
   
   2. Review and approve all related-party transactions.
   
   
   
   3. Consider the independent accountant’s judgments about the quality and appropriateness of the Company’s accounting principles as applied in its financial reporting. Consider alternative accounting principles and estimates.
   
   
   
   4. Annually review with management, and separately with the independent accountants, major issues regarding the Company’s auditing and accounting principles and practices and its presentation of financial statements, including the adequacy of internal controls and special audit steps adopted in light of material internal control deficiencies and any audit problems or difficulties.
   
   
   
   5. Discuss with management and legal counsel the status of pending litigation, taxation matters, compliance policies and other areas of oversight applicable to the legal and compliance area as may be appropriate.
   
   
   
   6. Meet at least annually with the chief financial officer, the internal auditors and the independent accountants in separate executive sessions.
   
   
   
   7. Review all analyst reports and press articles about the Company’s accounting and disclosure practices and principles.
   
   
   
   8. Review all analyses prepared by management and the independent accountants of significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of the Company’s financial statements, including any analysis of the effect of alternative generally accepted accounting principle (“GAAP”) methods on the Company’s financial statements and a description of any transactions as to which management obtained Statement on Auditing Standards No. 50 letters.
   
   
   
   9. Review with management and the independent accountants the effect of regulatory and accounting initiatives, as well as off-balance sheet structures, on the Company’s financial statements.
   
   
   
   10. Establish and conduct procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints from the employees on accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters, as well as for confidential, anonymous submissions by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.
   
   
   
   11. Discuss with management the policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management. Although it is management’s duty to assess and manage the Company’s exposure to risk, the Committee should discuss guidelines and policies to govern the process by which risk assessment and management is handled and review the steps management has taken to monitor and control the Company’s risk exposure.
   
   
   
   12. Meet separately with management to discuss accounting and auditing related issues.
   
   
   
   13. Prepare regular reports to the Board of Directors on all matters within the scope of the Committee’s functions.
   
   
   



2. Review of Documents and Reports and Other Functions
   
   
   1. The Committee shall review with management and the independent auditors the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the disclosures under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” their judgment about the quality, not just acceptability, of accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments, the clarity of the disclosures in the financial statements and the adequacy of internal controls. The Committee shall also discuss the results of the annual audit and any other matters required to be communicated to the Committee by the independent auditors under generally accepted auditing standards, applicable law or listing standards, including matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 90. The Committee may discuss with the national office of the independent auditors issues on which it was consulted by the Company’s audit team and matters of audit quality and consistency. Based on such review and discussion, the Committee shall make a determination whether to recommend to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Form 10-K.
   
   
   
   2. The Committee shall review and discuss with management and the independent auditors the quarterly financial information to be included in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, including the disclosures under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and shall discuss any other matters required to be communicated to the Committee by the independent auditors under generally accepted auditing standards, applicable law or listing standards. The Committee shall also review and discuss the Company’s earnings press releases as well as the types of financial information periodically provided to analysts and rating agencies. The Committee shall also discuss the results of the independent auditors’ review of the Company’s quarterly financial information conducted in accordance with Statement on Auditing Standards No. 71.
   
   
   
   3. The Committee shall review with the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer and the Company’s legal counsel the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and shall review periodically, but in no event less frequently than quarterly, management’s conclusions about the effectiveness of such disclosure controls and procedures, including any significant deficiencies in, or material non-compliance with, such controls and procedures.
   
   
   
   4. The Committee shall review periodically with financial management and independent auditors the effect of new or proposed regulatory and accounting initiatives on the Company’s financial statements and other public disclosures. The Committee shall review with the independent auditors any problems or difficulties the auditors may have encountered in connection with the annual audit or otherwise, any management letters provided to the Committee and the Company’s responses. Such review shall address any difficulties encountered in the course of the audit work, including any restrictions on the scope of activities or access to required information, any disagreements with management regarding generally accepted accounting principles and other matters, material adjustments to the financial statements recommended by the independent auditors and adjustments that were proposed but “passed,” regardless of materiality.
   
   
   
   5. The Committee shall prepare the report required to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement, all in accordance with applicable rules and regulations.
   
   
   
   6. The Committee shall establish and maintain guidelines for the Company’s hiring of former employees of the independent auditors, which shall meet the requirements of applicable law and listing standards.
   
   
   
   7. The Committee shall establish and maintain procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters and for the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the Company of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.
   
   
   
   8. The Committee shall periodically review with management, the Company’s legal counsel and the independent auditors any correspondence with, or other action by, regulators or governmental agencies and any employee complaints or published reports that raise concerns regarding the Company’s financial statements, accounting or auditing matters or compliance with the Company’s Code of Business Conduct. The Committee shall also meet periodically, and may request to meet separately, with the Company’s principle outside counsel and other appropriate legal staff of the Company to review material legal affairs of the Company and the Company’s compliance with applicable law and listing standards.
   
   
   
   9. The Committee shall review periodically, but no less frequently than annually, a summary of the Company’s transactions with Directors and executive officers of the Company and with firms that employ Directors, as well as any other material related party transactions.
   
   
   



3. Independent Accountant Matters



1. The Committee shall directly appoint, retain, compensate, evaluate and terminate the Company’s independent auditors. The Committee shall have the sole authority to approve all engagement fees to be paid to the independent auditors. The independent auditor shall report directly to the Committee.



2. Meet with the independent accountants and the Company’s financial management to review the scope of the proposed external audit for the current year.



3. On an annual basis, the Committee shall evaluate the independent accountant’s qualifications, performance and independence. To assist in this undertaking, the Committee shall require the independent accountants to submit a report (which report shall be reviewed by the Committee) describing (a) the independent accountant’s internal quality-control procedures, (b) any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review, of the accounting firm or by any inquiry or investigations by governmental or professional authorities (within the preceding five years) respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the independent accountants, and any steps taken to deal with any such issues and (c) all relationships the independent accountants have with the Company and relevant third parties to determine the impact, if any of such relationships on the independence of the independent accountants. In making its determination, the Committee shall consider not only auditing and other traditional accounting functions performed by the independent accountants, but also consulting, legal, information technology services and other professional services rendered by the independent accountants and its affiliates. The Committee shall also consider whether the provision of any of these non-audit services is compatible with the independence standards under the guidelines of the SEC and other applicable authorities (including, possibly, the Independence Standards Board and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board) and shall approve in advance any non-audit services to be provided by the independent accountants.



4. Review on an annual basis the experience and qualifications of the senior members of the external audit team. Discuss the knowledge and experience of the independent accountants and the senior members of the external audit team with respect to the Company’s industry. The Committee shall ensure the regular rotation of the lead audit partner and audit review partner as required by law and consider whether there should be a periodic rotation of the Company’s independent accountants.



5. Review the performance of the independent accountants and terminate the independent accountants when circumstances warrant.



6. Review with the independent accountants any problems or difficulties the auditors may have encountered and any “management” or “internal control” letter provided by the independent accountants and the Company’s response to that letter. Such review should include:
   
   
   1. any difficulties encountered in the course of the audit work, including any restrictions on the scope of activities or access to required information and any disagreements with management;
   
   
   
   2. any accounting adjustments that were proposed by the independent accountants that were not agreed to by the Company;
   
   
   
   3. communications between the independent accountants and its national office regarding any issues on which it was consulted by the audit team and matters of audit quality and consistency;
   
   
   
   4. any changes required in the planned scope of the internal audit; and
   
   
   
   5. the responsibilities, budget and staffing of the Company’s internal audit function.
   
   
   



7. Communicate with the independent accountants regarding (a) alternative treatments of financial information within the parameters of GAAP, (b) critical accounting policies and practices to be used in preparing the audit report and (c) such other matters as the SEC and the Nasdaq National Market may direct by rule or regulation.



8. Periodically consult with the independent accountants out of the presence of management about internal controls and the fullness and accuracy of the organization’s financial statements.



9. Oversee the relationship with the independent accountants by discussing with the independent accountants the nature and rigor of the audit process, receiving and reviewing audit reports and ensuring that the independent accountants have full access to the Committee (and the Board) to report on any and all appropriate matters.



10. Discuss with the independent accountants prior to the audit the general planning and staffing of the audit.



11. Obtain a representation from the independent accountants that Section 10A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 has been followed.

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

V. ANNUAL CHARTER REVIEW

The Committee shall annually review and assess the adequacy of the scope and content of this Charter. The Committee may recommend to the Board such changes to this Charter as the Committee deems appropriate.

VI. INVESTIGATIONS AND STUDIES

The Committee shall have the authority and sufficient funding to retain independent counsel, accounting or other consultants (without seeking Board approval) to advise and assist the Committee. The Committee may conduct or authorize investigations into or studies of matters within the Committee"s scope of responsibilities as described herein, and may retain, at the expense of the Company, independent counsel or other consultants necessary to assist the Committee in any such investigations or studies. The Committee shall have sole authority to negotiate and approve the fees and retention terms of such independent counsel or other consultants.

VII. MISCELLANEOUS

The Company shall give appropriate funding, as determined by the Committee, for the payment of compensation to the outside auditor, legal, accounting or other advisors employed by the Committee. Nothing contained in this Charter is intended to expand applicable standards of liability under statutory or regulatory requirements for the directors of the Company or members of the Committee. The purposes and responsibilities outlined in this Charter are meant to serve as guidelines rather than as inflexible rules and the Committee is encouraged to adopt such additional procedures and standards as it deems necessary from time to time to fulfill its responsibilities. This Charter, and any amendments thereto, shall be displayed on the Company’s web site and a printed copy of such shall be made available to any stockholder of the Company who requests it.

Recommended by the Audit Committee and approved by the Board of Directors on April 25, 2006.

 

Committee Members

John B. Chickering, Jr.
John M. Baumer
John Heil

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