Priceline 2010 Annual Report Download - page 64

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62
Auditor Independence
Deloitte & Touche LLP is the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. The
aggregate fees billed for professional services by Deloitte & Touche LLP in 2010 and 2009 were as follows:
Audit Fees. The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by Deloitte & Touche LLP for
the audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements included in Form 10-K, review of financial
statements included in Form 10-Qs, audit of management’s assessment of internal controls as of December 31,
2010, and for services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory
filings or engagements, were approximately $2.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 and
approximately $1.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2009.
Audit Related Fees. The aggregate fees billed for assurance and related services by Deloitte & Touche
LLP that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of priceline.com’s financial statements
and are not reported under “Audit Fees” above were approximately $134,000 for the year ended December 31,
2010 and approximately $275,000 for the year ended December 31, 2009. Audit related services included
services for matters such as audits of employee benefit plans, debt offerings and other domestic services.
Tax Fees. The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by Deloitte & Touche LLP for
tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning were approximately $179,000 for the year ended December 31, 2010
and approximately $73,000 for the year ended December 31, 2009. Tax related services included preparation
and review of tax returns and consultation related to tax strategies and planning, compliance and state and local
tax regulatory matters.
All Other Fees. There were no fees billed by Deloitte & Touche LLP for other services rendered during
the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009.
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures. The Audit Committee has adopted policies and procedures for
pre-approving all audit and non-audit work performed by Deloitte & Touche LLP. All audit related services, tax
services and other services must be pre-approved by the Audit Committee. In accordance with the Company’s
policy and applicable SEC rules and regulations, the Audit Committee or its Chairperson pre-approves services
provided to the Company by Deloitte & Touche LLP (“Auditor Services”). Pre-approval is detailed as to the
particular service or category of services. If Auditor Services are required prior to a regularly scheduled Audit
Committee meeting, the Audit Committee Chairperson is authorized to approve such services, provided that they
are consistent with the Company’s policy and applicable SEC rules and regulations, and that the full Audit
Committee is advised of such services at the next regularly scheduled Audit Committee meeting. Deloitte &
Touche LLP and management periodically report to the Audit Committee regarding the extent of the Auditor
Services provided by Deloitte & Touche LLP in accordance with this pre-approval, and the fees for the Auditor
Services performed to date. All audit related services, tax services and other services described above were pre-
approved by the Audit Committee, which concluded that the provision of such services by Deloitte & Touche
LLP was compatible with the maintenance of that firm’s independence in the conduct of its auditing functions.