standards, which require that a majority of our directors be independent within the meaning of the NYSE listing standards, our Board of Directors undertook a review of the independence of all non-management directors. Our Board of Directors has affirmatively determined that the following six of our seven directors are independent under the NYSE listing standards and our Corporate Governance Guidelines and do not have a relationship with us that would interfere with such person’s ability to exercise independent judgment as a member of the Board: Asma Ishaq, Adam Markman, Curtis McWilliams, Thomas Nolan, Jr., Kimberly Smith and Connie Tirondola.
The Audit Committee
General
Our audit committee’s function is to assist the Board of Directors in fulfilling its responsibilities by overseeing (i) our accounting and financial reporting processes, (ii) the integrity of our financial statements, (iii) our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (iv) the selection, appointment and compensation of our independent registered public accounting firm and (v) our independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications, performance and independence. The audit committee fulfills these responsibilities primarily by carrying out the activities enumerated in the audit committee charter. The audit committee charter is available in the Investor Relations – Governance – Governance Documents section of our website at www.modiv.com. The information contained on this website is not part of, or incorporated by reference in, this Proxy Statement.
The members of the audit committee are Mr. Markman (Chairman), Mr. McWilliams and Ms. Tirondola. All of the members of the audit committee are “independent” as defined by the NYSE and applicable rules of the SEC. All members of the audit committee are financially literate, and the Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Markman satisfies the SEC’s requirements for an “audit committee financial expert.”
During 2022, the audit committee held five meetings.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Company recently conducted a competitive selection process to determine the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023. The audit committee considered several public accounting firms in connection with this process and, as a result of this process, on March 30, 2023, the audit committee approved the engagement of Grant Thornton as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, replacing Baker Tilly US, LLP (“Baker Tilly”), the Company’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
In deciding to engage Grant Thornton, the audit committee reviewed auditor independence and any existing commercial relationships with Grant Thornton and concluded that Grant Thornton has no commercial relationships with the Company that would impair its independence. During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, and during the interim period from January 1, 2023 through March 30, 2023, neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf consulted with Grant Thornton regarding either (i) the application of accounting principles to a specific completed or contemplated transaction or regarding the type of audit opinions that might be rendered by Grant Thornton on the Company’s financial statements, and Grant Thornton did not provide any written or oral advice that was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to any accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue; or (ii) any matter that was the subject of a “disagreement” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions) or a “reportable event” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).
The report of Baker Tilly regarding the Company’s financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 contained in the 2022 Annual Report did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and was not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
Grant Thornton has served as our independent registered public accounting firm since March 30, 2023. The audit committee may, however, select new auditors at any time in the future in its discretion if it deems such decision to be in our best interests. Any such decision would be disclosed to our stockholders in accordance with applicable securities laws.
Pre-Approval Policies
In order to ensure that the provision of services by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm does not impair the auditors’ independence, the audit committee pre-approves all auditing services performed for us by our independent auditors, as well as all permitted non-audit services. In determining whether