EX-14 4 dex14.htm CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS POLICY OF ORION ACQUISITION CORP. II Code of Business Conduct and Ethics Policy of Orion Acquisition Corp. II

Exhibit 14

 

ORION ACQUISITION CORP. II

 

CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS POLICY

 

This policy of Orion Acquisition Corp. II (together with its subsidiary, “Orion” or the “Company”) was adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors on February 10, 2005.

 

I. Purpose

 

The Orion Acquisition Corp. II Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”) describes the core values and beliefs of the Company and provides the foundation for all business conduct. Our guidelines for conducting Company business are consistent with the highest standards of business ethics. If you have any questions about these guidelines, please contact the Compliance Officer (defined below) or the Chief Executive Officer.

 

II. Policy

 

This Code applies to all of our directors, officers, employees, and agents, whether they work for Orion on a full-time, part-time, consultative, or temporary basis. We refer to all persons covered by this Code as “employees.”

 

The Board of Directors has appointed the Company’s General Counsel as the Compliance Officer for the Company. If you have doubts about whether company conduct is consistent with Orion’s high ethical standards, contact the Compliance Officer.

 

All Orion employees have a duty to report any known or suspected violation of this Code, including any violation of laws, rules, regulations or policies that apply to Orion. Reporting a known or suspected violation of this Code by others will not be considered an act of disloyalty, but an action to safeguard the reputation and integrity of Orion and its employees.

 

  A. Conflict of Interest

 

A conflict of interest occurs when an employee’s private interests interfere, or appear to interfere, in any way with the interests of Orion. Employees must avoid any private interest that may influence your ability to act in the interests of Orion or that may make it difficult to perform your work objectively and effectively. As a guideline, ask yourself:

 

    Is it legal?

 

    Is it honest and fair?

 

    Is it in the best interests of the Company?

 

    Would you be embarrassed to read about it in the local newspaper?

 


The Company requires that employees disclose to the Compliance Officer any situations that could give rise to a conflict of interest. If you are not sure whether there is a conflict, please discuss your issue or concerns with the Compliance Officer. Please see our Employee Handbook for further discussion and guidelines regarding conflicts of interest.

 

  B. Protection and Use of Company Assets

 

Orion employees should protect Orion’s assets and ensure their efficient use for legitimate business purposes. Theft, carelessness, and waste have a direct impact on Orion’s profitability. The use of the funds or assets of Orion for any unlawful or improper purpose is strictly prohibited. Orion employees may not use Orion assets for their personal benefit. To ensure the protection and proper use of Orion’s assets, each Orion employee should:

 

    exercise reasonable care to prevent theft, damage or misuse of Orion property, whether tangible or intangible;

 

    promptly report the actual or suspected theft, damage or misuse of Orion property;

 

    safeguard all electronic programs, data, communications and written materials from inadvertent access by others; and

 

    use Orion property for legitimate business purposes in accordance with the Orion Employee Handbook.

 

  C. Gifts and Entertainment

 

Employees shall not solicit or accept money, loans, credits, or prejudicial discounts, or accept gifts, entertainment, favors, or services from present or potential suppliers that might influence or appear to influence purchasing decisions. The Orion Employee Handbook includes guidelines for acceptable maximum values under which gifts, entertainment, favors and services may be accepted.

 

Customer gifts and entertainment should never compromise, or appear to compromise, your ability to make objective and fair business decisions. Employees may give gifts or entertain customers only if the gift or entertainment could not be viewed as an inducement to any particular business decision. All gifts and entertainment expenses must be disclosed on company expense reports.

 

  D. Confidential Information

 

Orion employees have access to a variety of confidential information. Confidential information includes all non-public information that might be of use to competitors or members of the public, or potentially harmful to Orion or its customers, if disclosed. Such information also includes news that has not yet been released but that would greatly benefit Orion in the public’s eye. Unauthorized disclosure of confidential information could cause competitive harm to Orion and could result in legal liability to you and Orion. Employees have a duty to safeguard all confidential information, except when disclosure is authorized or legally mandated. Each employee is required and expected to execute the Employment, Confidential Information,

 

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Invention Assignment, and Arbitration Agreement and to abide by all of the provisions in that Agreement, including all of the provisions concerning the protection of Company confidential information.

 

Any question or concern regarding whether disclosure of Orion information is legally mandated should be promptly referred to the Compliance Officer.

 

  E. Accuracy of Financial Reports and Other Public Communications

 

Orion is a public company and is required to report its financial results and other information about its business to the public and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Orion is subject to various securities laws and regulations. Our policy is to disclose in accordance with all applicable requirements accurate and complete information regarding company business, financial condition, and results of operations. Employees must understand and strictly comply with generally accepted accounting principles as adopted by Orion and all standards, laws and regulations for accounting and financial reporting of transactions, estimates and forecasts. Inaccurate, incomplete or untimely reporting can severely damage Orion or result in legal liability and will not be tolerated.

 

Orion employees should be on guard for, and promptly report, any possibility of inaccurate or incomplete financial reporting. Particular attention should be paid to:

 

    financial results that seem inconsistent with the performance of the underlying business;

 

    transactions that do not seem to have an obvious business purpose; and

 

    requests to circumvent ordinary review and approval procedures.

 

Orion’s senior financial officers have a special responsibility to ensure that all of our financial disclosures are full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable. Any practice or situation that might undermine this objective should be reported to the Compliance Officer. In accordance with the Orion Accounting, Internal Control, and Auditing Confidential Complaint Policy, reports may be made in person, or may be made by anonymous verbal or e-mail message.

 

  F. Orion Records

 

Accurate and reliable records are crucial to our business and form the basis of our earnings statements, financial reports and other disclosures to the public. Our records are the source of essential data that guide business decision-making and strategic planning.

 

All Orion records must be complete, accurate and reliable in all material respects. There is never an acceptable reason to make false or misleading entries. Undisclosed or unrecorded funds, payments, or receipts are strictly prohibited. You are responsible for understanding and complying with our record keeping policy. Contact the Compliance Officer if you have any questions.

 

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  G. Compliance with Laws and Regulations

 

Each Orion employee has an obligation to comply with the laws of the cities, states and countries in which Orion operates. We will not tolerate any activity that violates any laws, rules, or regulations applicable to Orion. This includes, without limitation, laws covering commercial bribery and kickbacks, copyrights, trademarks and trade secrets, protection of third party/former employer confidential information, information privacy, insider trading, illegal political contributions, antitrust prohibitions, foreign corrupt practices, offering or receiving gratuities, environmental hazards, employment discrimination or harassment, occupational health and safety, false or misleading financial information or misuse of corporate assets. Employees are expected to understand and comply with all laws, rules and regulations that govern your conduct as an employee of Orion. If any doubt exists about whether a course of action is lawful, you should seek advice immediately from the Compliance Officer.

 

  H. Political Contributions and Activities

 

Orion encourages its employees to participate in the political process as individuals. Employees should be careful to make it clear that their political views and actions are their own, and not made on behalf of Orion. Orion funds or assets shall not be used to make a political contribution to any political party or candidate, unless prior approval has been given by the Compliance Officer.

 

III. Procedures for Reporting Violations of the Code

 

All Orion employees have a duty to report any known or suspected violation of this Code, including any violation of laws, rules, regulations or policies that apply to Orion. Reporting a known or suspected violation of this Code by others will not be considered an act of disloyalty, but an action to safeguard the reputation and integrity of Orion and its employees.

 

If you know of or suspect a violation of this Code, it is your responsibility to immediately report the conduct to the Compliance Officer, who will work with you to investigate your concern. All questions and reports of known or suspected violations of this Code will be treated with sensitivity and discretion. The Compliance Officer and Orion will protect your confidentiality to the extent possible, consistent with the law and Orion’s need to investigate your concern. It is Orion’s policy that any employee who violates this Code will be subject to appropriate discipline, including potential termination of employment, based upon the facts and circumstances of each particular situation. Your conduct as an employee of Orion, if it does not comply with the law or with this Code, can result in serious consequences for both you and Orion.

 

Orion strictly prohibits retaliation against an employee who, in good faith, seeks help or reports known or suspected violations. An employee inflicting reprisal or retaliation against another employee for reporting a known or suspected violation, will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.

 

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