II. | Statement of Policies Prohibiting Insider Trading |
No Covered Person shall purchase or sell any type of security while in possession of material nonpublic information relating to the security or the issuer of such security in breach of a duty of trust or confidence, whether the issuer of such security is the Company or any other company. In addition, if a Covered Person is in possession of material nonpublic information about other publicly-traded companies, such as suppliers, customers, competitors or potential acquisition targets, the Covered Person may not trade in such other companies’ securities until the information becomes public or is no longer material. Further, no Covered Person shall purchase or sell any security of any other company, including another company in the Company’s industry, while in possession of material nonpublic information if such information is obtained in the course of the Covered Person’s employment or service with the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, the trading restrictions of this Policy do not apply to exercises of share options or other equity awards, the surrender of shares to the Company in payment of the exercise price or in satisfaction of any tax withholding obligations in a manner permitted by the applicable equity award agreement, or the vesting of equity-based awards, in each case, that do not involve a market sale of the Company’s securities (the cashless exercise of a Company share option or other equity award through a broker does involve a market sale of the Company’s securities, and therefore would not qualify under this exception).
From time to time, events will occur that are material to the Company and cause certain Covered Persons to be in possession of material nonpublic information. When that happens, the Company will recommend that those in possession of the material nonpublic information suspend all trading in the Company’s securities until the information is no longer material or has been publicly disclosed.
When such event-specific blackout periods occur, those subject to it will be notified by the Company. The event-specific blackout period will not be announced to those not subject to it, and those subject to it or otherwise aware of it should not disclose it to others.
Even if the Company has not notified you that you are subject to an event-specific blackout period, if you are aware of material nonpublic information about the Company, you should not trade in Company securities. Any failure by the Company to designate you as subject to an event-specific blackout period, or to notify you of such designation, does not relieve you of your obligation not to trade in the Company’s securities while possessing material nonpublic information.
No Covered Person shall directly or indirectly communicate (or “tip”) material nonpublic information to anyone outside the Company (except in accordance with the Company’s policies regarding confidential information) or to anyone within the Company other than on a “need-to-know” basis.
III. | Explanation of Insider Trading |
“Insider trading” refers to the purchase or sale of a security while in possession of material nonpublic information relating to the security.
“Securities” includes shares, stocks, bonds, notes, debentures, options, warrants, equity and other convertible securities, as well as derivative instruments.
“Purchase” and “sale” are defined broadly under the federal securities law. “Purchase” includes not only the actual purchase of a security, but also any contract to purchase or otherwise acquire a security. “Sale” includes not only the actual sale of a security, but also any contract to sell or otherwise dispose of a security. These definitions extend to a broad range of transactions, including conventional cash-for-stock transactions, conversions, transfers, gifts, and acquisitions and exercises of warrants or puts, calls, pledging and margin loans or other derivative securities.
The laws and regulations concerning insider trading are complex, and Covered Persons are encouraged to seek guidance from the Compliance Officer prior to considering a transaction in Company securities.