COMPANY GOVERNACE
This Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”) is designed to promote honest, ethical and lawful conduct by all employees, officers and directors of On Track Innovations ("OTI") and all subsidiaries and entities controlled by it (collectively, the “Company”). The Code is intended to help employees, officers and directors understand the Company’s standards of ethical business practices and to stimulate awareness of ethical and legal issues that may be encountered in carrying out their responsibilities.
The actions of every employee, officer and director affect the reputation and integrity of the Company. Therefore, it is essential that each take the time to review this Code and develop a working knowledge of its provisions. In particular, all employees, officers and directors are expected at all times to:
• Avoid conflicts between personal and professional interests where possible; If there are any, they must be exposed the minute they arose to the company's management.
• Pursue the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest when conflicts or appearance of conflicts are unavoidable, including through full disclosure (to a responsible supervisor, the Company’s Legal Counsel of any transaction or relationship that reasonably could be expected to give rise to a conflict;
• Provide full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure in the periodic reports required to be filed by the Company with regulators and in other public communications made by the Company;
• Comply with applicable governmental rules and regulations;
• Promptly report (to a responsible supervisor, the Legal Counsel any violations of this Code; and
• Be accountable personally for adherence to this Code.
This Code is part of a broader set of Company policies and compliance procedures described in greater detail in the Employee Handbook whether or not given and signed at the first day of work and any other updates.
It is difficult to anticipate every decision or action that an employee, officer or director of the Company may face or consider. Whenever there is doubt about the right ethical or legal choice to make, fully disclose the circumstances, seek guidance about the right thing to do until guidance is obtained. An employee should make full disclosure to, and seek guidance from, the employee’s supervisor in the first instance. The Company’s Legal Counsel or -- in instances involving accounting practices, internal controls or audits -- the Audit Committee are also avenues to consider.
Those who violate the standards in this Code will be subject to disciplinary action. If you are in a situation that you believe may involve or lead to a violation of this Code, you have an affirmative duty to disclose to, and seek guidance from a responsible supervisor, the Legal Counsel or other appropriate internal authority. Failure to follow this Code, as well as to comply with federal, state, local and any applicable foreign laws, and the Company’s corporate policies and procedures may result in termination of employment.
It is the Company’s policy to encourage the communication of bona fide concerns relating to the lawful and ethical conduct of business, and audit and accounting procedures or related matters. It is also the policy of the Company to protect those who communicate bona fide concerns from any retaliation for such reporting. Confidential and anonymous mechanisms for reporting concerns are available and are described in this Code. However, anonymous reporting does not serve to satisfy a duty to disclose your potential involvement in a conflict of interest or in unethical or illegal conduct.
The company will provide it's employees with a complaint mechanism, including specific mechanism for confidential and anonymous complaints about matters relating to audit and accounting, by putting a mail box in a private place, where only the Legal Counsel will be able to open it, and will do so, at least once a month.
1. Conflicts of Interest
The Company expects all employees, officers and directors to exercise good judgment and the highest ethical standards in their activities on behalf of the Company. Particular care should be taken to ensure that no detriment to the interests of the Company (or appearance of such detriment) may result from a conflict between those interests and any personal or business interests which an individual employee, officer or director may have. In particular, every employee, officer and director has an obligation to avoid any activity, agreement, business investment or interest or other situation that might in fact or in appearance cause the individual to place his or her own interests, or those of another, above his or her obligation to the Company. Care should be taken about the appearance of a conflict since such appearance might impair confidence in, or the reputation of, the Company even if there is no actual conflict and no wrongdoing.
While it is not possible to describe or anticipate all the circumstances and situations that might involve a conflict of interest, conflicts may arise where an employee, officer or director, or member of his or her family:
• Solicits or accepts, directly or indirectly, from customers, suppliers or others dealing with the Company any kind of gift or other personal, unearned benefits as a result of his or her position in the Company (other than non-monetary items of nominal intrinsic value used for advertisement, carrying out a logo and of a low value;
• Has a financial interest in the Company’s competitors, customers, suppliers or others dealing with the Company (excluding interests that are less than [1%] of the outstanding securities of a publicly-traded corporation or equivalent percentage of ownership interests in an unincorporated business);
• Has a consulting, managerial or employment relationship in any capacity with a competitor, customer, supplier or others dealing with the Company; or
The Company’s employees and officers are expected to devote their full time and attention to Company business during regular working hours and for whatever additional time may be required. Outside business activities can easily create conflicts of interest or diminish productivity and effectiveness. For these reasons, employees and officers should avoid outside business activities that divert their time and talents from the Company’s business. Though the Company encourages professional activities and community involvement, special care must be taken not to compromise duties owed to the Company. Employees and officers are expected to disclose the nature of any non-Company activity for which compensation is received.
Employees, officers and directors must obtain approval from the Company’s Legal Counsel before agreeing to serve on the board of directors or similar body of a for-profit enterprise or government agency.
Serving on boards of not-for-profit or community organizations does not require prior approval. However, if service with a not-for-profit or community organization creates a situation that poses a conflict of interest with the Company (for example, the organization solicits charitable contributions from the Company or purchases significant services from the Company), the Company’s Legal Counsel should be contacted for approval to continue such service.
In addition, prior to seeking any election or appointment to public office, an employee, officer or director must notify his or her supervisor, Legal Counsel, the Board to clarify the Company’s position in the event the candidacy is successful or the appointment is made. Written approval must be obtained.
Subject to the limitations imposed by this Code, each employee and officer is free to engage in outside activities that do not interfere with the performance of his or her responsibilities or otherwise conflict with the Company’s interests. Where activities may be of a controversial or sensitive nature, employees and officers are expected to seek the guidance of a responsible supervisor, Legal Counsel, or other appropriate internal authority before engaging in such activities. No employee, officer or director may use his or her Company position or title or any Company equipment, supplies or facilities in connection with outside activities, nor may any employee, officer or director do anything that might infer sponsorship or support by the Company of such activity, unless such use has been approved in writing by a responsible supervisor, Legal Counsel or other appropriate internal authority.
Employees and officers should not solicit contributions or other support from fellow employees, or distribute non-work-related material to fellow employees, during working hours or in areas where work is being performed.
Employees, officers and directors and their families are prohibited from requesting, accepting or offering any form of “under-the-table” payment, “kickback,” bribe, rebate, or other improper payment or gratuity in connection with any corporate expenditure or sale of goods or services. If approached with such an offer, a responsible supervisor, Legal Counsel or other appropriate internal authority should be contacted immediately.
In all instances where the appearance of a conflict exists, the nature of the conflict must be disclosed to a responsible supervisor, Legal Counsel or other appropriate internal authority. Where there is a real or perceived conflict of interest involving a director of the Company, the matter should be referred to the Legal Counsel for interpretation and discussion with the Board of Directors (or with the Audit Committee to which such responsibility has been delegated) for resolution.
2. Protection and Proper Use of Company Assets
Every employee, officer and director has a personal responsibility to protect the assets of the Company from misuse or misappropriation. The assets of the Company include tangible assets, such as inventory products, equipment and facilities, as well as intangible assets, such as corporate opportunities, intellectual property, trade secrets and business information (including any non¬public information learned as an employee, officer or director of the Company).
Theft/Misuse of Company Assets
The Company’s assets may only be used for business purposes and such other purposes as are approved by the Company. No employee, officer or director may take, make use of, or knowingly misappropriate the assets of the Company, for personal use, for use by another, or for an improper or illegal purpose. No employee, officer or director is permitted to remove, dispose of, or destroy anything of value belonging to the Company without the Company’s consent, given in writing by the Legal Counsel including both physical items and electronic information.
Corporate Opportunities
No employee, officer or director of the Company shall for personal or any other person’s or entity’s gain deprive the Company of any business opportunity for benefit which could be construed as related to any existing or reasonably anticipated future activity of the Company. Employees, officers and directors who learn of any such opportunity through their association with the Company may not disclose it to a third party or invest in the opportunity without first offering it to the Company.
No employee, officer or director of the Company may participate in an initial public offering or otherwise accept special investment opportunities from a supplier, vendor (excluding banks or financial advisers), or customer with whom the Company is doing business or that is seeking to sell products or services to the Company without first disclosing the opportunity to the Company’s Legal Counsel.
Confidential Information/Privacy
No employee, officer or director of the Company who is entrusted with information of a confidential or proprietary nature (about the Company, its suppliers, customers or other constituents) shall disclose that information outside the Company, either during or after service with the Company, except with written authorization of the Company or as may be otherwise required by law. Employees, officers and directors may not use confidential information for their own personal benefit or the benefit of persons or entities outside the Company.
Confidential information includes all non-public information learned as an employee, officer or director of the Company. It includes, but is not limited to:
• Non-public information that might be of use to competitors, of interest to the press, or harmful to the Company or its customers, if disclosed
• Non-public information about the Company’s financial condition, prospects or plans, its marketing and sales programs and research and development information, as well as information relating to mergers and acquisitions, stock splits and divestitures (excluding information that received the proper approval to be released, such as the one given in road shows);
• Non-public information concerning possible transactions with other companies or information about the Company’s customers, suppliers or joint venture partners, which the Company is under an obligation to maintain as confidential; and
• Non-public information about discussions and deliberations, relating to business issues and decisions, between and among employees, officers and directors.
• Non-public information, presented as one by the company's management.
[See section/policy re: Insider Trading/Reg FD; cross reference to any policies re: individual Confidentiality Agreements]
Network Use, Integrity & Security
Access to Company systems will be revoked and disciplinary action may be taken in the event that such systems are used to commit illegal acts, or to violate the nondiscrimination, harassment, solicitation or proprietary information terms of this Code, or any other terms of this Code.
In order to maintain systems integrity and protect the Company network, no employee or officer should divulge any passwords used to access any Company computer or database. Any suspected breach of the Company’s network security systems should be reported to a responsible supervisor or appropriate internal authority immediately.
All employees and officers should refrain from using or distributing software that may damage or disrupt the Company’s work environment by transmitting a virus or conflicting with Company systems.
No employee or officer should engage in the unauthorized use, copying, distribution or alteration of computer software whether obtained from outside sources or developed internally. All software, including “shareware,” contains terms of use that must be adhered to.
3. Relationships with Customers and Vendors
Fair Dealing
Each employee, officer and director should deal fairly with the Company’s suppliers, customers, competitors and employees. No employee, officer or director should take unfair advantage through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation of material facts, or any other unfair-dealing practice. We respect the confidentiality and privacy of our suppliers and customers. Information about the Company’s suppliers, customers, competitors and employees must be used in an ethical manner and in compliance with the law. Under no circumstance should information be obtained through theft, illegal entry, blackmail, or electronic eavesdropping, or through misrepresenting affiliation with the Company or identity. Any confidential or proprietary information should not be used if it is suspected that such information has been obtained improperly.
Similarly, each employee, officer and director must respect and protect any confidential or proprietary information shared with the Company unless disclosure is necessary to comply with statutory requirements, subpoenas, court orders or other lawful process or properly authorized government investigations. This information should not be released without proper authorization and should be used for legitimate business purposes only. Employees and officers should not divulge any proprietary information about their former employers, nor shall any employee, officer or director ever ask them to, unless it is with the employee's permission.
Customers and potential customers are entitled to receive accurate information regarding prices, capabilities, terms and scheduling. The Company strives to produce advertisements that are fair, accurate and lawful. False or misleading statements to sell or market Company products or services are to be strictly avoided. Immediate efforts should be made to correct any misunderstanding that may exist with a customer or potential customer.
Trade Practices and Antitrust Compliance
Vigorous competition -- free from collusion and unreasonable restraints -- is the best mechanism for ensuring the production of high quality, well-priced and innovative products and services. Moreover, failure to comply with antitrust and other trade regulation laws in every jurisdiction in which the Company does business could result in serious consequences both for the Company and the offending individuals -- including significant civil and criminal penalties. Therefore, it is the Company’s policy to compete solely on the basis of its superior and innovative products and services, through the efforts and contributions of its employees, officers and directors, and to avoid improper actions that unreasonably restrain trade. Every Company unit and employee, officer and director is expected to support Company efforts to compete vigorously in the marketplace in compliance with both the letter and the spirit of all applicable federal, state and foreign antitrust laws.
Antitrust and trade regulation issues are very complex. Determining what actions unreasonably restrain trade or are otherwise improper will depend on the structure of the market and a number of other factors. Whenever any doubt exists as to the legality of any communication, action, arrangement or transaction, please contact the Legal Counsel immediately. To avoid even the perception of unlawful conduct, employees should avoid: (a) discussing with a competitor prices, costs, production, products and services, bidding practices, other non-public business matters, territories, distribution channels or customers and (b) restricting the right of a customer to sell or lease a product or service at or above any price. In addition, the following practices should not be engaged in without advanced written approval by the Legal Counsel: (a) conditioning the sale or lease of a product or service on the sale or lease of another product or service (“tying”); (b) conditioning the purchase, sale or lease of a product or service on a reciprocal agreement with a customer or supplier; (c) entering into an exclusive dealing arrangement with a customer (including a lessee) or supplier; and (d) discriminating in the prices or allowances offered to competing customers (including lessees).
Documentation
Employees, officers and directors who are authorized to make expenditures or enter into transactions on behalf of the Company must ensure that the applicable records comply with the Company’s accounting and purchasing policies and that all transactions are recorded properly.
4. Compliance with Other Laws, Rules & Regulations
The Company requires its employees, officers and directors to comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations in countries where the Company does business. Violation of domestic or foreign laws and regulations may subject an individual, as well as the Company, to civil and/or criminal penalties. To assure compliance with applicable laws and regulations, the Company has established various policies and procedures, Employees have an obligation to comply with these policies and procedures and to promptly alert management of any deviation from them.
Legal compliance is not always intuitive. To comply with the law, employees, officers and directors must learn enough about the national, state and local laws that affect the Company to spot potential issues and to obtain proper guidance on the right way to proceed. This means, for example, that employees and officers whose day-to-day work is directly affected by particular laws have a responsibility to understand them well enough to recognize potential problem areas and to know when and where to seek advice. When there is any doubt as the lawfulness of any proposed activity, advice should be sought from the Company’s Legal Counsel.
Employees, officers and directors are strongly encouraged, and indeed have an obligation, to raise concerns promptly when they are uncertain as to the proper legal course of action or they suspect that some action may violate the law. The earlier a potential problem is detected and corrected, the better off the Company will be in protecting against harm to the Company’s business and reputation.
Certain legal obligations and policies that are particularly important to our business and reputation are summarized below. Further information on any of these matters may be obtained from the Company’s Legal Counsel.
Insider Trading and Fair Disclosure
No employee, officer or director of the Company may: (a) trade securities of the Company or any other Company while in possession of material inside information with respect to the Company; (b) recommend or suggest that anyone else buy, sell, or hold securities of any Company while the employee is in possession of material inside information with respect to the Company (this includes formal or informal advice given to family, household members and friends); and (c) disclose material inside information to anyone, other than those persons who need to know such information in order for the Company to properly and effectively carry out its business (e.g., to lawyers, advisers and other Company employees working on the matter). Of course, where material inside information is permitted to be disclosed, the recipient should be advised, unless if the recipient is an employee who should inquire whether the information in known to the public, of its non public nature and the limitations on its use. Any questions as to whether information is material or non-public should be directed to the Company’s Legal Counsel
Additionally, all employees, officers and directors must provide full, fair and accurate disclosure in all government filings and public communications.
Inquiries from the Media and Public
The Company is committed to providing full, fair and accurate disclosure in all public communications and in compliance with all applicable law, regulations and rules. Consistent with this commitment and the Company’s policy(ies) regarding Insider Trading and Fair Disclosure (see above), employees are not authorized to answer questions from the media, analysts, investors or any other members of the public. If you should receive such an inquiry, you must record the name of the person and immediately notify the company's, Director of Corporate Communication. This does not apply to the company's C.E.O, C.F.O, the Head of global marketing and the Legal Counsel.
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
The Company strictly prohibits giving anything of value, directly or indirectly, to a governmental official, agent or employee anywhere in the world in consideration for such official’s, agent’s or employee’s assistance or influence (including the failure by such individual to perform his/her official duty), the purpose of which is to obtain favored treatment with respect to any aspect of the Company’s business. Under no circumstance is it acceptable for any employee, officer or director to offer, give, solicit or receive any form of bribe, kickback, payoff, or inducement.
As a company traded on NASDAQ, the Company is subject to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which makes it illegal for companies and individuals to make, or offer to make, payment, directly or indirectly, to foreign governmental officials for the purposes of obtaining, retaining or directing business. Other countries have adopted similar legislation. Though in limited situations small “facilitation” payments to foreign government officials may be permissible if they are intended to expedite the routine performance of legitimate duties, this area is not always clear, and the situation must be discussed with the Company’s Legal Counsel prior to any action being taken. Any question as to whether a gift or payment would be considered improper under the Company’s guidelines or national or foreign laws must be discussed with the Company’s Legal Counsel.
Political Contributions and Activities
In the United States, federal and many state laws prohibit corporations from making political contributions. No direct or indirect political contribution (including the use of Company property, equipment, funds or other assets) of any kind may be made in the name of the Company, or by using Company funds, unless the Company’s [Legal Counsel] or his/her designee has certified in writing that such political contribution complies with applicable law. When such permission is given, such contributions shall be by check to the order of the political candidate or party involved, or by such other means as will readily enable the Company to verify, at any given time, the amount and origin of the contribution.
Subpoenas and Government Investigations
As a general matter, it is the Company’s policy is to cooperate in any government investigations and inquiries, according to the applicable law. All subpoenas, information document requests, or other inquiries should be referred immediately to Company’s Legal Counsel.
International Business Dealings
Specific laws and regulations apply to participation in international business. Employees and officers involved in foreign business transactions must be fully familiar with, and strictly adhere to, all applicable foreign and domestic laws and regulations. Employees and officers involved in international business matters must, at a minimum, be aware of regulations, anti-boycott provisions, Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control restrictions, and applicable trade embargoes in force. Inquiries on these issues should be referred immediately to Company’s Legal Counsel.
Maintaining a Safe, Healthy and Affirmative Workplace
The Company is an equal opportunity employer and bases our recruitment, employment, development and promotion decisions solely on a person’s ability and potential in relation to the needs of the job, and complies with local and federal employment laws. The Company makes reasonable job-related accommodations for any qualified employee or officer with a disability when notified by the employee that he/she needs an accommodation.
The Company is committed to a workplace that is free from sexual, racial, or other unlawful harassment, and from threats or acts of violence or physical intimidation. Abusive, harassing or other offensive conduct is unacceptable, whether verbal, physical or visual. Any person who believes that they have been harassed or threatened with or subjected to physical violence in or related to the workplace should report the incident to an appropriate supervisor and Human Resources, who will arrange for it to be investigated. All efforts will be made to handle the investigation confidentially.
The Company will not tolerate the possession, use or distribution of racist or otherwise offensive materials on Company property, or the use of Company personal computers or other equipment to obtain or view such materials. All employees and officers must promptly contact an appropriate supervisor or Human Resources about the existence of offensive materials, especially child pornography, on the company’s systems or premises so that appropriate action may be taken, including notifying the proper authorities if necessary.
All accidents, injuries, or concerns about unsafe equipment, practices, conditions or other potential hazards should be immediately reported to an appropriate supervisor and Human Resources Officer.
5. Accounting Practices, Books & Records and Record Retention
It is the policy of the Company to fully and fairly disclose the financial condition of the Company in compliance with applicable accounting principles, laws, rules and regulations and to make full, fair, accurate timely and understandable disclosure in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in other communications to securities analysts, rating agencies and investors. Honest and accurate recording and reporting of information is critical to our ability to make responsible business decisions. The Company’s accounting records are relied upon to produce reports for the Company’s management, rating agencies, investors, creditors, governmental agencies and others. Our financial statements and the books and records on which they are based must accurately reflect all corporate transactions and conform to all legal and accounting requirements and our system of internal controls.
All employees, officers and directors -- and, in particular, the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer, the comptrollers and all book keepers -- have a responsibility to ensure that the Company’s accounting records do not contain any false or intentionally misleading entries. We do not permit intentional misclassification of transactions as to accounts, departments or accounting periods and, in particular:
• All accounting records, as well as reports produced from those records, are to be kept and presented in accordance with the laws of each applicable jurisdiction;
• All records are to fairly and accurately reflect the transactions or occurrences to which they relate;
• All records are to fairly and accurately reflect in reasonable detail the Company’s assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses;
• No accounting records are to contain any intentionally false or misleading entries;
• No transactions are to be misclassified as to accounts, departments or accounting periods;
• All transactions are to be supported by accurate documentation in reasonable detail and recorded in the proper account and in the proper accounting period;
• All accounting records are to comply with generally accepted accounting principles; and
• The Company’s system of internal accounting controls, including compensation controls, is required to be followed at all times.
Any effort to mislead or coerce the independent auditors or a member of internal audit staff concerning issues related to audit, accounting or financial disclosure has serious legal consequences for the perpetrator, including criminal sanctions, and for the Company and is strictly prohibited. If you become aware of any violation of this policy, you must report the matter immediately to the Chief Financial Officer, Legal Counsel and the Chairman of the Audit Committee.
Compliance with the Company’s [Records Retention Procedures] is mandatory. Destroying or altering a document with the intent to impair the document’s integrity or availability for use in any potential official proceeding is a crime. Prior to the destruction of corporate records, all employees must consult an appropriate supervisor managers to ensure compliance with these policies. Documents relevant to any pending, threatened, or anticipated litigation, investigation, or audit shall not be destroyed for any reason. Any belief that Company records are being improperly altered or destroyed should be reported to a responsible supervisor, the appropriate internal authority of the Chief Financial Officer and the Legal Counsel.
Consistent with the reporting and recordkeeping commitments discussed above and elsewhere in this Code, all employees, officers and directors should accurately and truthfully complete all records used to determine compensation or expense reimbursement. This includes, among other items, reporting of hours worked (including overtime), reimbursable expenses (including travel and meals), and sales activity.
6. Scope
No Company policy can provide definitive answers to all questions. If employees have questions regarding any of the standards discussed or policies referenced in this Code or are in doubt about the best course of action in a particular situation, the employee should refer to the reporting requirements for that goal or standard as stated in this Code, or the reporting requirements set forth a specific Company Policy and contact the person or party designated.
This Code is not intended to supersede or materially alter Company policies and procedures already in place and communicated to Company employees.
Any waivers of this Code may be made only by the Audit Committee. Any waivers for officers or directors, including the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, comptrollers, must be promptly disclosed as required by applicable law and/or stock exchange regulation.
7. Duty to Report Violations
Each employee, officer and director is responsible for promptly reporting to the Company any circumstances that such person believes in good faith may constitute a violation of this Code, or any other Company policy, or applicable law, regulations and rules. Except as provided in the next paragraph, suspected policy violations may be reported (including confidential and anonymous reports) by a letter to the mail box the company had provided for that subject, or letter to the Company’s Legal Counsel.
Any complaint regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters (including confidential and anonymous complaints) should be reported by a letter that will be opened by the company's Legal Counsel, and will be reported immediately to the Chief Financial Officer, who will report to the Company’s Audit Committee.
No retribution against any individual who reports violations of this Code in good faith will be permitted, and mechanisms for reporting in a confidential and anonymous manner are noted above. Every effort will be made to investigate confidential and anonymous reports within the confines of the limits on information or disclosure such reports entail. While self-reporting a violation will not excuse the violation itself the extent and promptness of such reporting will be considered in determining any appropriate sanction, including dismissal. The Company will investigate any matter which is reported and will take any appropriate corrective action.
8. Violations of this Code
Allegations of Code violations will be reviewed and investigated by the Company’s management, Legal Counsel or in appropriate circumstances by the Company’s Audit Committee. Violations of this Code may result in, among other actions, suspension of work duties, diminution of responsibilities or demotion, and termination of employment.