Code
of Conduct
As Adopted September 1st, 2005
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS OF
ADVANCED MATERIALS GROUP, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES
Introduction
This Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”)
covers a wide range of business practices and procedures.
It does not cover every issue that may arise, but it
sets out basic principles to guide all directors, officers
and employees of Advanced Materials Group, Inc. and
Subsidiaries (the “Company”) and the Company’s
subsidiaries. All of our directors, officers and employees
must conduct themselves accordingly and seek to avoid
even the appearance of improper behavior. The Code
should also be provided to and followed by the Company’s
agents and representatives, including consultants.
Directors, officers, employee, agents and representatives
of the Company are encouraged to promptly bring
to the attention of the Company’s Chief Executive
Officer and the Company’s Audit Committee any
evidence of a violation of this Code.
This Code of Business Conduct and Ethics covers
a wide range of business practices and procedures.
It does not cover every issue that may arise,
but it sets out basic principles to guide
all directors, officers and employees of
the Company. All of our directors, officers
and employees must conduct themselves accordingly
and seek to avoid even the appearance of
improper behavior.
Nothing in this Code, in any Company policies
and procedures, or in other related communications
(verbal or written) creates or implies an
employment contract or term of employment
with the Company.
This Code is subject to modification. This Code
supersedes all other such codes, policies,
procedures, instructions, practices, rules
or written or verbal representations to the
extent they are inconsistent.
If a law conflicts with a policy in this Code,
you must comply with the law. If you have
any questions about these conflicts, you
should ask your supervisor how to handle
the situation.
Those who violate the standards in this Code will
be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including
termination of employment.
Compliance with Laws, Rules and Regulations
Obeying the law, both in letter and in spirit,
is the foundation on which this Company’s ethical
standards are built. All employees must respect and
obey the laws of the cities, states and countries
in which we operate. Although not all employees are
expected to know the details of these laws, it is
important to know enough to determine when to seek
advice from supervisors, managers or other appropriate
personnel.
If requested, the Company will hold information and
training sessions to promote compliance with laws,
rules and regulations, including insider-trading
laws.
Conflicts of Interest
A “conflict of interest” exists when
a person’s private interest interferes in any
way, or even appears to interfere, with the interests
of the Company. A conflict situation can arise when
an employee, officer or director takes actions or
has interests that may make it difficult to perform
his or her Company work objectively and effectively.
Conflicts of interest may also arise when an employee,
officer or director, or members of his or her family,
receives improper personal benefits as a result of
his or her position in the Company. Loans to, or
guarantees of obligations of, employees and their
family members may create conflicts of interest.
In addition, loans to directors and officers of the
Company are prohibited.
It is almost always a conflict of interest for
a Company employee to work simultaneously for
a competitor, customer or supplier. You are not
allowed to work for a competitor as a consultant
or board member. The best policy is to avoid
any direct or indirect business connection with
our customers, suppliers or competitors, except
on our behalf. Conflicts of interest are prohibited
as a matter of Company policy, except under guidelines
approved by the Board of Directors. Conflicts
of interest may not always be clear-cut, so if
you have a question, you should consult with
higher levels of management, including the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. Any
employee, officer or director who becomes aware of
a conflict or potential conflict should bring it
to the attention of a supervisor, manager or other
appropriate personnel or consult the procedures described
in the section entitled “Compliance Procedures” set
forth below.
Insider Trading
Employees who have access to confidential information
are not permitted to use or share that information
for stock trading purposes or for any other purpose
except the conduct of our business. All non-public
information about the Company should be considered
confidential information. To use non-public information
for personal financial benefit or to “tip” others
who might make an investment decision on the basis
of this information is not only unethical but also
illegal. In order to assist with compliance with
laws against insider trading, the Company has adopted
a specific policy governing employees‚ trading
in securities of the Company. This policy has been
distributed to every employee. If you have any questions,
please consult the Company’s Chief Financial
Officer.
Corporate Opportunities
Employees, officers and directors are prohibited
from taking for themselves personally opportunities
that are discovered through the use of corporate
property, information or position without the consent
of the Board of Directors. No employee may use
corporate property, information, or position for
improper personal gain, and no employee may compete
with the Company directly or indirectly. Employees,
officers and directors owe a duty to the Company
to advance its legitimate interests when the opportunity
to do so arises.
Competition and Fair Dealing
We seek to outperform our competition fairly and
honestly. Stealing proprietary information, possessing
trade secret information that was obtained without
the owner’s consent, or inducing such disclosures
by past or present employees of other companies is
prohibited. Each employee should endeavor to respect
the rights of and deal fairly with the Company’s
customers, suppliers, competitors and employees.
No employee should take unfair advantage of anyone
through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged
information, misrepresentation of material facts,
or any other intentional unfair-dealing practice.
The purpose of business entertainment and gifts
in a commercial setting is to create goodwill
and sound working relationships, not to gain
unfair advantage with customers. No gift or entertainment
should ever be offered, given, provided or accepted
by any Company employee, family member of an
employee or agent unless it: (1) is not a cash
gift, (2) is consistent with customary business
practices, (3) is not excessive in value, (4)
cannot be construed as a bribe or payoff and
(5) does not violate any laws or regulations.
Please discuss with your supervisor any gifts or
proposed gifts which you are not certain are appropriate.
Discrimination and Harassment
The diversity of the Company’s employees is
a tremendous asset. We are firmly committed to providing
equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and
will not tolerate any illegal discrimination or harassment
of any kind. Examples include derogatory comments
based on racial or ethnic characteristics and unwelcome
sexual advances.
Health and Safety
The Company strives to provide each employee with
a safe and healthy work environment. Each employee
has responsibility for maintaining a safe and healthy
workplace for all employees by following safety
and health rules and practices of the Company and
as required by the laws of the city, state and
country in which an employee
resides. In addition, each employee has the responsibility
to report accidents, injuries and unsafe equipment,
practices or conditions.
Violence and threatening behavior are not permitted.
Employees should report to work in condition to
perform their duties, free from the influence
of illegal drugs or alcohol. The use of illegal
drugs in the workplace will not be tolerated.
Record-Keeping
The Company requires honest and accurate recording
and reporting of information in order to make responsible
business decisions. For example, only the true
and actual number of hours worked should be reported.
Many employees regularly use business expense accounts,
which must be documented and recorded accurately.
If you are not sure whether a certain expense is
legitimate, ask your supervisor.
All of the Company’s books, records, accounts
and financial statements must be maintained in reasonable
detail, must appropriately reflect the Company’s
transactions and must conform both to applicable
legal requirements and to the Company’s system
of internal controls. Unrecorded or off the books
funds or assets should not be maintained unless permitted
by applicable law or regulation.
Business records and communications often become
public, and we should avoid exaggeration, derogatory
remarks, guesswork, or inappropriate characterizations
of people and companies that can be misunderstood.
This applies equally to e-mail, internal memos,
and formal reports. Records should always be
retained or destroyed according to the Company’s record
retention policies. In accordance with those policies,
in the event of litigation or governmental investigation
please consult the Company’s Chief Financial
Officer.
Confidentiality
Employees must maintain the confidentiality of
confidential information entrusted to them by
the Company or its customers, except when disclosure
is authorized by the Chief Financial Officer
or required by laws or regulations. Confidential
information includes all non-public information
that might be of use to competitors, or harmful
to the Company or its customers, if disclosed.
It also includes information that suppliers and
customers have entrusted to us. The obligation
to preserve confidential information continues
even after employment ends. In connection with
this obligation, every employee should have executed
a confidentiality agreement when he or she began
his or her employment with the Company.
Protection and Proper Use of Company Assets
All employees should endeavor to protect the Company’s
assets and ensure their efficient use. Theft, carelessness,
and waste have a direct impact on the Company’s
profitability. Any suspected incident of fraud or
theft should be immediately reported for investigation.
Company equipment should not be used for non-Company
business, though incidental personal use may be permitted.
The obligation of employees to protect the Company’s
assets includes its proprietary information. Proprietary
information includes intellectual property such as
trade secrets, patents, trademarks, and copyrights,
as well as business, marketing and service plans,
engineering and manufacturing ideas, designs, databases,
records, salary information and any unpublished financial
data and reports. Unauthorized use or distribution
of this information would violate Company policy.
It could also be illegal and result in civil or even
criminal penalties.
Payments to Government Personnel
The U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act prohibits
giving anything of value, directly or indirectly,
to officials of foreign governments or foreign
political candidates in order to obtain or retain
business. It is strictly prohibited to make illegal
payments to government officials of any country.
In addition, the U.S. government has a number of
laws and regulations regarding business gratuities
which may be accepted by U.S. government personnel.
The promise, offer or delivery to an official or
employee of the U.S. government of a gift, favor
or other gratuity in violation of these rules would
not only violate Company policy but could also
be a criminal offense. State and local governments,
as well as foreign governments, may have similar
rules. The Company’s Chief Financial Officer
can provide guidance to you in this area.
Waivers of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
Any waiver of this Code for executive officers
or directors may be made only by the Board of
Directors or a committee of the Board of Directors
and will be promptly disclosed as required by law
or stock exchange regulation.
Reporting any Illegal or Unethical Behavior
Employees are encouraged to talk to supervisors,
managers or other appropriate personnel about
observed illegal or unethical behavior and
when in doubt about the best course of action in
a particular situation. It is the policy of the
Company not to allow retaliation for reports
of misconduct by others made in good faith
by employees. Employees are expected to cooperate
in internal investigations of misconduct.
Employees must read the Company’s “Employee
Complaint Procedures for Accounting and Auditing
Matters,” which describes the Company’s
procedures for the receipt, retention, and treatment
of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting,
internal accounting controls, or auditing matters.
Any employee may submit a good faith concern regarding
questionable accounting or auditing matters without
fear of dismissal or retaliation of any kind.
Compliance Procedures
We must all work to ensure prompt and consistent
action against violations of this Code. However,
in some situations it is difficult to know if a
violation has occurred. Since we cannot anticipate
every situation that will arise, it is important
that we have a way to approach a new question or
problem. These are the steps to keep in mind:
• Make sure you have all the facts. In
order to reach the right solutions, we must be as fully informed
as possible.
• Ask yourself: What specifically am I being
asked to do? Does it seem unethical or improper? This will
enable you to focus on the specific question you
are faced with, and the alternatives you have. Use your
judgment and common sense; if something seems unethical
or improper, it probably is.
• Clarify your responsibility and role. In most
situations, there is shared responsibility. Are your
colleagues informed? It may help to get others involved
and discuss the problem.
• Discuss the problem with your supervisor. This
is the basic guidance for all situations. In
many cases, your supervisor will be more knowledgeable about the
question, and will appreciate being brought
into the decision-making process. Remember that it is your supervisor’s
responsibility to help solve problems.
• Seek help from Company resources. In the rare
case where it may not be appropriate to discuss an
issue with your supervisor, or where you do not feel
comfortable approaching your supervisor with your question,
discuss it locally with your office manager or your
Human Resources manager.
• You may report ethical violations in confidence
and without fear of retaliation. If your situation
requires that your identity be kept secret, your anonymity
will be protected. The Company does not permit retaliation
of any kind against employees for good faith reports
of ethical violations.
• Always ask first,
act later: If you are unsure of
what to do in any situation, seek guidance before
you act.
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