UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
Current Report
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) November 2, 2017
ADVANCED CREDIT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Nevada
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
333-170132 (Commission File Number)
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26-2118480 (IRS Employer Identification No.)
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871 Venetia Bay Blvd, #220-230, Venice, FL (Address of principal executive offices) |
34285 (Zip Code)
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Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (612)961-4536
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
[ ]Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[ ]Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[ ]Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ]Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Section 5 - Corporate Governance and Management
Item 5.03 - Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
On November 2, 2017, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the adoption of new bylaws for the Company. The new By-Laws are filed with this report as Exhibit 3(ii) and are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.05 - Amendments to the Registrant’s Code of Ethics, or Waiver of a Provision of the Code of Ethics.
On November 2, 2017, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the adoption of a new Code of Ethics for the Company as well as a Related Party Transactions Policy and an Anti-Corruption Policy. The new Code of Ethics, Related Party Transactions Policy and Anti-Corruption Policy are filed with this report as Exhibits 14.1, 14.2 and 14.3, and are incorporated herein by reference.
Section 9 - Financial Statements and Exhibits
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
3(ii) - Bylaws adopted on November 2, 2017.
14.1 - Code of Ethics adopted on November 2, 2017.
14.2 - Related Party Transactions Policy adopted on November 2, 2017.
14.3 - Anti-Corruption Policy adopted on November 2, 2017.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Date:
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ADVANCED CREDIT TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (Registrant)
By: /s/ Christopher Jackson Christopher Jackson President, Secretary, Treasurer & Director
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AMENDED BY-LAWS OF:
ADVANCED CREDIT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
ARTICLE I SHAREHOLDERS
SECTION 1. Annual Meetings
(a) The annual meeting of the shareholders of Advanced Credit Technologies, Inc. (“the Company”), shall be held at the principal office of the Company or at such other place within or without the State of Nevada as may be determined by any two Directors or the President and as may be designated in the notice of such meeting. The meeting shall be held on the 2nd Tuesday of May of each year or on such other day as the Board of Directors may specify. If said day is a legal holiday, the meeting shall be held on the next succeeding business day not a legal holiday.
(b) Business to be transacted at such meeting shall be the election of directors to succeed those whose terms are expiring and such other business as may be properly brought before the meeting.
(c) In the event that the annual meeting, by mistake or otherwise, shall not be called and held as herein provided, a special meeting may be called as provided for in Section 2 of this Article I in lieu of and for the purposes of and with the same effect as the annual meeting.
SECTION 2. Special Meetings
(a) A special meeting of the shareholders of the Company may be called for any purpose or purposes at any time by the President of the Company, by a majority vote of the Board of Directors or by the holders of not less than 25% of the outstanding capital stock of the Company entitled to vote at such meeting.
(b) At any time, upon the written direction of any person or persons entitled to call a special meeting of the shareholders, it shall be the duty of the Secretary to send notice of such meeting pursuant to Section 4 of this Article I. It shall be the responsibility of the person or persons directing the Secretary to send notice of any special meeting of shareholders to deliver such direction and a proposed form of notice to the Secretary not less than 15 days prior to the proposed date of said meeting.
(c) Special meetings of the shareholders of the Company shall be held at such place, within or without the State of Nevada, on such date, and at such time as shall be specified in the notice of such special meeting.
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SECTION 3. Adjournment
(a) When the annual meeting is convened, or when any special meeting is convened, the presiding officer may adjourn it for such period of time as may be reasonably necessary to reconvene the meeting at another place and time.
(b) The presiding officer shall have the power to adjourn any meeting of the Shareholders for any proper purpose, including, but not limited to, lack of a quorum, securing a more adequate meeting place, electing officials to count and tabulate votes, reviewing any shareholder proposals or passing upon any challenge which may properly come before the meetings.
(c) When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, it shall not be necessary to give any notice of the adjourned meeting if the time and place to which the meeting is adjourned are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, and any business may be transacted at the adjourned meeting that might have been transacted on the original date of the meeting. If, however, after the adjournment the Board fixes a new record date for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given in compliance with Section 4(a) of this Article I to each shareholder of record on the new record date entitled to vote at such meeting.
SECTION 4. Notice of Meetings, Purpose of Meeting, Waiver
(a) Each shareholder of record entitled to vote at any meeting shall be given in person, or by first class mail, postage prepaid, written notice of such meeting which, in the case of a special meeting, shall set forth the purpose(s) for which the meeting is called, not less than 10 or more than 60 days before the date of such meeting. If mailed, such notice is to be sent to the shareholder’s address as it appears on the stock transfer books of the Company, unless the shareholder shall be requested of the Secretary in writing at least 15 days prior to the distribution of any required notice that any notice intended for him or her be sent to some other address, in which case the notice may be sent to the address so designated. Notwithstanding any such request by a shareholder, notice sent to a shareholder’s address as it appears on the stock transfer books of this Company as of the record date shall be deemed properly given. Any notice of a meeting sent by United States mail shall be deemed delivered when deposited with proper postage thereon with the United States Postal Service or in any mail receptacle under its control.
(b) A shareholder waives notice of any meeting by attendance, either in person or by proxy, at such meeting or by waiving notice in writing before, during or after such meeting. Attendance at a meeting for the express purpose of objecting that the meeting was not lawfully called or convened, however, will not constitute a waiver of notice by a shareholder who states at the beginning of the meeting, his or her objection that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
(c) A waiver of notice signed by all shareholders entitled to vote at a meeting of shareholders may also be used for any other proper purpose including, but not limited to, designating any place within or without the State of Nevada as the place for holding such a meeting.
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(d) Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of shareholders need be specified in any written waiver of notice.
SECTION 5. Closing of Transfer Books, Record Date, Shareholders’List
(a) In order to determine the holders of record of the capital stock of the Company who are entitled to notice of meetings, to vote a meeting or adjournment thereof, or to receive payment of any dividend, or for any other purpose, the Board of Directors may fix a date not more than 60 days prior to the date set for any of the above-mentioned activities for such determination of shareholders.
(b) If the stock transfer books shall be closed for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of shareholders, such books shall be closed for at least 10 days immediately preceding such meeting.
(c) In lieu of closing the stock transfer books, the Board of Directors may fix in advance a date as the date for any such determination of shareholders, such date in any case to be not more than 60 days prior to the date on which the particular action, requiring such determination of shareholders, is to be taken.
(d) If the stock transfer books are not closed and no record date is fixed for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice or to vote at a meeting of shareholders, or to receive payment of a dividend, the date on which notice of the meeting is mailed or the date on which the resolution of the Board of Directors declaring such dividend is adopted, as the case may be, shall be the record date for such determination of shareholders.
(e) When a determination of shareholders entitled to vote at any meeting of shareholders has been made as provided in this Section, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof, unless the Board of Directors fixes a new record date under this Section for the adjourned meeting.
(f) The officer or agent having charge of the stock transfer books of the Company shall make, as of a date at least 10 days before each meeting of shareholders, a complete list of the shareholders entitled to vote at such meeting or any adjournment thereof, with the address of each shareholder and the number and class and series, if any, of shares held by each shareholder. Such list shall be kept on file at the registered office of the Company, at the principal place of business of the Company or at the office of the transfer agent or registrar of the Company for a period of 10 days prior to such meeting and shall be available for inspection by any shareholder at any time during usual business hours. Such list shall also be produced and kept open at the time and place of any meeting of shareholders and shall be subject to inspection by any shareholder at any time during the meeting.
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(g) The stock transfer books shall be prima facie evidence as to the shareholders entitled to examine such list or stock transfer books or to vote any meeting of shareholders.
(h) If the requirements of Section 5(f) of this Article I have not been substantially complied with, then, on the demand of any shareholder in person or by proxy, the meeting shall be adjourned until such requirements are complied with.
(i) If no demand pursuant to Section 5(h) of this Article I is made, failure to comply with the requirements of this Section shall not affect the validity of any action taken at such meeting.
(j) Section 5(g) of this Article I shall be operative only at such time(s) as the Company shall have 6 or more shareholders.
SECTION 6. Quorum
At any meeting of the shareholders of the Company, the presence, in person or by proxy, of shareholders owning a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Company entitled to vote thereat shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business. If a quorum is present, the vote of a majority of the shares represented at such meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of the shareholders. If there shall not be quorum at any meeting of the shareholders of the Company, then the holders of a majority of the shares of the capital stock of the Company who shall be present at such meeting, in person or by proxy, may adjourn such meeting from time to time until holders of all of the shares of the capital stock shall attend. At any such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally scheduled.
SECTION 7. Presiding Officer, Order of Business
(a) Meetings of the shareholders shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board, or, if he or she is not present or there is no Chairman of the Board, by the President or, if he or she is not present, by the senior Vice President present or, if neither the Chairman of the Board, the President, nor a Vice President is present, the meeting shall be presided over by a chairman to be chosen by a plurality of the shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting who are present, in person or by proxy. The presiding officer of any meeting of the shareholders may delegate his or her duties and obligations as the presiding officer as he or she sees fit.
(b) The Secretary of the Company, or, in his or her absence, an Assistant Secretary shall act as Secretary of every meeting of shareholders, but if neither the Secretary nor an Assistant Secretary is present, the presiding officer of the meeting shall choose any person present to act as secretary of the meeting.
(c) The order of business shall be as follows:
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1. | Call of meeting to order. |
2. | Proof of notice of meeting. |
3. | Reading of minutes of last previous shareholders’ meeting or a waiver |
thereof.
4. | Reports of officers. |
5. | Reports of committees. |
6. | Election of directors. |
7. | Regular and miscellaneous business. |
8. | Special matters. |
9. | Adjournment. |
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7(c) of this Article I, the order and topics of business to be transacted at any meeting shall be determined by the presiding officer of the meeting in his or her sole discretion. In no event shall any variation in the order of business or additions and deletions from the order of business as specified in Section 7(c) of this Article I invalidate any actions properly taken at any meeting.
SECTION 8. Voting
(a) Unless otherwise provided for in the Articles of Incorporation, each shareholder shall be entitled, at each meeting and upon each proposal to be voted upon, to one vote for each share of voting stock recorded in his name on the books of the Company on the record date fixed as provided for in Section 5 of this Article I.
(b) The presiding officer at any meeting of the shareholders shall have the power to determine the method and means of voting when any matter is to be voted upon. The method and means of voting may include, but shall not be limited to, vote by ballot, vote by hand or vote by voice. No method of voting may be adopted, however, which fails to take account of any shareholder’s right to vote by proxy as provided for in Section 10 of this Article I. In no event may any method of voting be adopted which would prejudice the outcome of the vote.
SECTION 9. Action Without Meeting
(a) Any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of shareholders of the Company, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of such shareholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of a majority of the Company’s outstanding stock.
(b) If shareholder action is taken by written consent in lieu of meeting signed by less than all of the Company’s shareholders, then all non-participating shareholders shall be provided with written notice of the action taken within ten(10) days after the date of the written instrument taking such action.
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SECTION 10. Proxies
(a) Every shareholder entitled to vote at a meeting of shareholders or to express consent or dissent without a meeting, or his or her duly authorized attorney-in-fact, may authorize another person or persons to act for him or her by proxy.
(b) Every proxy must be signed by the shareholder or his or her attorney-in-fact. No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of 11 months from the date thereof unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Every proxy shall be revocable at the pleasure of the shareholder executing it, except as otherwise provided in this Section 10.
(c) The authority of the holder of a proxy to act shall not be revoked by the incompetence or death of the shareholder who executed the proxy unless, before the authority is exercised, written notice of any adjudication of such incompetence or of such death is received by the corporate officer responsible for maintaining the list of shareholders.
(d) Except when other provisions shall have been made by written agreement between the parties, the record holder of shares held as pledges or otherwise as security or which belong to another, shall issue to the pledgor or to such owner of such shares, upon demand therefore and payment of necessary expenses thereof, a proxy to vote or take other action thereon.
(e) A proxy which states that it is irrevocable is irrevocable when it is held by any of the following or a nominee of any of the following: (i) a pledgee; (ii) a person who has purchased or agreed to purchase the shares: (iii) a creditor or creditors of the Company who extend or continue to extend credit to the Company in consideration of the proxy, if the proxy states that it was given in consideration of such extension or continuation of credit, the amount thereof, and the name of the person extending or continuing credit; (iv) a person who has contracted to perform services as an officer of the Company, if a proxy is required by the contract of employment, if the proxy states that it was given in consideration of such contract of employment and states the name of the employee and the period of employment contracted for; and (v) a person designated by or under an agreement as provided in Section 11 hereof.
(f) Notwithstanding a provision in a proxy stating that it is irrevocable, the proxy becomes revocable after the pledge is redeemed, the debt of the Company is paid, the period of employment provided for in the contract of employment has terminated, or the agreement under Section 11 hereof has terminated and, in a case provided for in Section 10(e) (iii) or Section 10(e) (iv) of this Article I, becomes revocable three years after the date of the proxy or at the end of the period, if any, specified therein, whichever period is less, unless the period of irrevocability of the proxy as provided in this Section 10. This Section 10(f) does not affect the duration of a proxy under Section 10(b) of this Article I.
(g) A proxy may be revoked, notwithstanding a provision making it irrevocable, by a purchaser of shares without knowledge of the existence of the provisions unless the existence of the proxy and its irrevocability is noted conspicuously on the face or back of the certificate representing such shares.
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(h) If a proxy for the same shares confers authority upon two or more persons and does not otherwise provide, a majority of such persons present at the meeting, or if only one is present then that one, may exercise all the powers conferred by the proxy. If the proxy holders present at the meeting are equally divided as to the right and manner of voting in any particular case, the voting of such shares shall be prorated.
(i) If a proxy expressly so provides, any proxy holder may appoint in writing a substitute to act in his or her place.
(j) Notwithstanding anything in the Bylaws to the contrary, no proxy shall be valid if it was obtained in violation of any applicable requirements of Section 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Rules and Regulations promulgated thereunder.
SECTION 11. Voting of Shares by Shareholders
(a) Shares standing in the name of another company, domestic or foreign, may be voted by the officer, agent, or proxy designated by the bylaws of the corporate shareholder; or, in the absence of any applicable bylaw, by such person as the board of directors of the corporate shareholder may designate. Proof of such designation may be made by presentation of a certified copy of the bylaws or other instrument of the corporate shareholder. In the absence of any such designation, or in case of conflicting designation by the corporate shareholder, the chairman of the board, president, any vice president, secretary and treasurer of the corporate shareholder, in that order, shall be presumed to possess authority to vote such shares.
(b) Shares held by an administrator, executor, guardian or conservator may be voted by him or her, either in person or by proxy, without a transfer of such shares into his or her name. Shares standing in the name of a trustee may be voted as shares held by him or her without a transfer of such shares into his name.
(c) Shares standing in the name of a receiver may be voted by such receiver. Shares held by or under the control of a receiver but not standing in the name of such receiver, may be voted by such receiver without the transfer thereof into his name if authority to do so is contained in an appropriate order of the court by which such receiver was appointed.
(d) A shareholder whose shares are pledged shall be entitled to vote such shares until the shares have been transferred into the name of the pledgee.
(e) Shares of the capital stock of the Company belonging to the Company or held by it in a fiduciary capacity shall not be voted, directly or indirectly, at any meeting, and shall not be counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares.
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ARTICLE II DIRECTORS
SECTION 1. Board of Directors, Exercise of Corporate Powers
(a) All corporate powers shall be exercised by or under the authority of, and the business and affairs of the Company shall be managed under the direction of, the Board of Directors except as may be otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation. If any such provision is made in the Articles of Incorporation, the powers and duties conferred or imposed upon the Board of Directors shall be exercised or performed to such extent and by such person or persons as shall be provided in the Articles of Incorporation.
(b) Directors need not be residents of Nevada or shareholders of the Company unless the Articles of Incorporation so require.
(c) The Board of Directors shall have authority to fix the compensation of directors unless otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation.
(d) A director shall perform his or her duties as a director, including his or her duties as a member of any committee of the Board upon which he may serve, in good faith, in a manner he or she reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the Company, and with such care as an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would use under similar circumstances.
(e) In performing his or her duties, a director shall be entitled to rely on information, opinions, reports or statements, including financial statements and other financial data, in each case prepared or presented by: (i) one or more officers or employees of the Company whom the director reasonably believes to be reliable and competent in the matters presented; (ii) legal counsel, public accountants or other persons as to matters which the director reasonably believes to be within such persons’ professional or expert competence; or (iii) a committee of the Board upon which he or she does not serve, duly designated in accordance with a provision of the Articles of Incorporation or these By-Laws, as to matters within its designated authority, which committee the director reasonably believes to merit confidence.
(f) A director shall not be considered to be acting in good faith if he or she has knowledge concerning the matter in question that would cause such reliance described in Section 1(e) of this Article II to be unwarranted.
(g) A person who performs his or her duties in compliance with Section 1 of this Article II shall have no liability by reason of being or having been a director of the Company.
(h) A director of the Company who is present at a meeting of the Board of Directors at which action on any corporate matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action taken unless he or she votes against such action or abstains from voting in respect thereto because of an asserted conflict of interest.
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SECTION 2. Number, Election, Classification of Directors, Vacancies
(a) The Board of Directors of this Company shall consist of not less than one nor more than eleven directors. The Board shall have authority, from time to time, to increase or decrease the number of directors provided that: (1) there shall not be less than one nor more than eleven directors, and (2) that no decrease in the number of directors shall deprive a serving director of the right to serve throughout the term of his or her election. All seats may be for terms of one, two or three years, or until the next annual meeting of shareholders.
(b) At each annual meeting of shareholders, the shareholders shall elect directors to hold office until the next succeeding annual meeting. Each Director shall hold office for the term for which he or she is elected and until his or her successor shall have been elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation, removal from office, or death.
(c) The shareholders may provide that the directors be divided into not more than three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible, whose terms of office shall respectively expire at different times, but no such term shall continue longer than three years, and at least onethird of the directors shall be elected annually. If Directors are classified and the number of directors is thereafter changed, any increase or decrease in directorship shall be so apportioned among the classes as to make all classes as nearly equal in number as possible.
(d) Any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors, including any vacancy created by reason of an increase in the number of directors may be filled only by the Board of Directors. A director elected to fill a vacancy shall hold office only until the next election of directors by the shareholders.
SECTION 3. Removal of Directors
(a) At a meeting of shareholders called expressly for that purpose, directors may be removed in the manner provided in this Section 3.
(b) Any director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed, with or without cause, by the vote of the holders of two-thirds of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors.
SECTION 4. Director Quorum and Voting
(a) A majority of the directors fixed in the manner provided in these Bylaws shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
(b) A majority of the members of an Executive Committee or other committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of such Executive Committee or other committee.
(c) The act of a majority of the directors present at a Board meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.
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(d) The act of a majority of the members of an Executive Committee present at an Executive Committee meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Executive Committee.
(e) The act of a majority of the members of any other committee present at a committee meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the committee.
(f) Directors may, if not contrary to applicable law, vote either in person or by proxy, provided that the proxy holder must be either another director, an officer or a shareholder of the Company; however, any director who elects to vote by proxy more than three times during any single fiscal year shall, unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, be automatically removed as a director.
SECTION 5. Director Conflicts of Interest
(a) No contract or other transaction between this Company and one or more of its directors or any other Company, firm, association or entity in which one or more of its directors are Directors or officers or are financially interested shall be either void or voidable because of such relationship or interest or because such director or directors are present at the meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof which authorizes, approves or ratifies such contract or transaction or because their votes are counted for such purpose, if:
(i) The fact of such relationship or interest is disclosed or known to the Board of Directors or committee which authorizes, approves or ratifies the contract or transaction by a vote or consent sufficient for the purpose without counting the votes or consents of such interested directors; or
(ii) The fact of such relationship or interest is disclosed or known to the
shareholders entitled to vote and they authorize, approve or ratify such contract or transaction by vote or written consent; or
(iii) The contract or transaction is fair and reasonable as to the Company at the
time it is authorized by the Board, a committee, or the shareholders.
(b) Interested directors, whether or not voting, may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof which authorizes, approves or ratifies such contract or transaction.
(c) In addition to the foregiong, each Director shall comply with the Related Party Transactions Policy adopted by the Company.
SECTION 6. Executive and Other Committees, Designation, Authority
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(a) The Board of Directors, by resolution adopted by the full Board of Directors, may designate from among its directors an Executive Committee and one or more other committees each of which, to the extent provided in such resolution or in the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, shall have and may exercise all the authority of the Board of Directors, except that no such committee shall have the authority to : (i) approve or recommend to shareholders actions or proposals required by the Nevada Revised Statutes to be approved by shareholders; (ii) designate candidates for the office of director for purposes of proxy solicitation or otherwise; (iii) fill vacancies on the Board of Directors or any committee thereof; (iv) amend these Bylaws; (v) authorize or approve the reacquisition of shares unless pursuant to a general formula or method specified by the Board of Directors; or (vi) authorize or approve the issuance or sale of, or any contract to issue or sell, shares or designate the terms of a series of a class of shares.
(b) The Board, by resolution adopted in accordance with Section 6(a) of this Article II, may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any such committee, who may act in the place and stead of any absent member or members at any meeting of such committee.
(c) Neither the designation of any such committee, the delegation thereto of authority, nor action by such committee pursuant to such authority shall alone constitute compliance by a member of the Board of Directors, not a member of the committee in question, with his responsibility to act in good faith, in manner he reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the Company, and with such care as an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would use under similar circumstances.
SECTION 7. Place, Time, Notice and Call of Directors’ Meeting.
(a) Meetings of the Board of Directors, regular or special, may be held either within or without the State of Nevada.
(b) A regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company shall be held for the election of officers of the Company and for the transaction of such other business as may come before such meeting as promptly as practicable after the annual meeting of the shareholders of this Company without the necessity of notice other than this Bylaw. Other regular meetings of the Board of Directors of the Company may be held at such places as the Board of Directors of the Company may from time to time resolve without notice other than such resolution. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any time upon call of the Chairman of the Board of Directors or a majority of the Directors of the Company, at such time and at such place as shall be specified in the call thereof. Notice of any special meeting of the Board of Directors must be given at least two days prior thereto, if by written notice delivered personally, by facsimile or by email; or at least five days prior thereto, if mailed.
(c) Notice of a meeting of the Board of Directors need not be given to any Director who signs a waiver of notice either before or after the meeting. Attendance of a Director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting and waiver of any and all objections to the place of the meeting, the time of the meeting, or the manner in which it has been called or convened, except when a Director states, at the beginning of the meeting, any objection to the transaction of business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
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(d) Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular of special meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.
(e) A majority of the directors present, whether or not a quorum exists, may adjourn any meeting of the Board of Directors to another time and place. Notice of any such adjourned meeting shall be given to the Directors who were not present at the time of the adjournment and, unless the time and place of the adjourned meeting are announced at the time of the adjournment, to the other Directors.
(f) Members of the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting of such Board by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting.
SECTION 8. Action by Directors Without a Meeting
(a) Any action required by Chapter 78 of the Nevada Revised Statutes to be taken at a meeting of the Directors of the Company, or any action which may be taken at a meeting of the Directors or a committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so to be taken, signed by all of the Directors, or all of the members of the committee, as the case may be, and is filed in the minutes of the proceedings of the Board or of the committee. Such consent shall have the same effect as a unanimous vote.
(b) If not contrary to applicable law, directors may take action as the Board of Directors or committees thereof through a written consent to action signed by a number of directors sufficient to have carried a vote of the Board of Directors or committee thereof with all members present and voting; provided, that all directors not joining in such written instrument shall be deemed for all purposes to have cast dissenting votes, and that all directors not parties to such instrument shall receive written notice of all action taken through such instrument within three days after such instrument shall have been subscribed by the requisite number of directors required for such action.
SECTION 9. Compensation
The Directors and members of the Executive and any other committee of the Board of Directors shall be entitled to such reasonable compensation for their services and on such basis as shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors and members of any committee of that Board of Directors shall be entitled to reimbursement for any reasonable expenses incurred in attending any Board or committee meeting. Any Director receiving compensation under this Section shall not be prevented from serving the Company in any other capacity and shall not be prohibited from receiving reasonable compensation for such other services.
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SECTION 10. Resignation
Any Director of the Company may resign at any time by providing the Board of Directors with written notice indicating the Director’s intention to resign and the effective date thereof.
ARTICLE III OFFICERS
SECTION 1. Election, Number, Terms of Office
(a) The officers of the Company shall consist of a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer, each of whom shall be elected by the Board of Directors at such time and in such manner as may be prescribed by these Bylaws. Such other officers and assistant officers as may be deemed necessary may be elected by the Board of Directors including, but not limited to a Chairman of the Board, a Chief Executive officer, a Chief Operating Officer, a Chief Financial Officer, and one or more Vice-Presidents. The officers of the Company shall be hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Officers.”
(b) All officers and agents, as between themselves and the Company, shall have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the Company as are provided in these Bylaws, or as may be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors not inconsistent with these Bylaws.
(c) Any two or more offices may be held by the same person.
(d) A failure to elect any Officer shall not affect the existence of the Company.
SECTION 2. Removal
An Officer of the Company shall hold office until the election and qualification of his successor; however, any Officer of the Company may be removed from office by the Board of Directors whenever in its judgment the best interests of the Company will be served thereby. Such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed. Election or appointment of an officer shall not of itself create any contract right to employment or compensation.
SECTION 3. Vacancies
Any vacancy in any office from any cause may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term of such office by the Board of Directors.
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SECTION 4. Powers and duties
(a) The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall preside over meetings of the Board of Directors and the Shareholders. Unless a Chairman of the Board is specifically elected, the President shall be deemed to be the Chairman of the Board.
(b) The President shall be the principal officer of the Company to whom all other officers shall be subordinate.
(b) The Chief Executive Officer shall be the secondary principal officer of the Company to whom all other officers shall be subordinate other than the President. In the event no Chief Executive Officer is separately elected, such office shall be assumed by the President. Except where by law the signature of the President is required or unless the Board of Directors shall rule otherwise, the Chief Executive Officer shall possess the same power as the President to sign all certificates, contracts and other instruments of the Company which may be authorized by the Board of Directors.
(c) The Chief Operating Officer of the Company shall be responsible for management of the day to day affairs of the Company, subject to compliance with the directions of the Board of Directors and of the Chief Executive Officer. He or she shall be responsible for the general day-to-day supervision of the business and affairs of the Company. In the absence of a separately elected Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Executive Officer shall be the Chief Operating Officer of the Company. In the absence of a separately elected Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive Officer, the President shall be the Chief Operating Officer of the Company.
(d) The Chief Financial Officer shall be responsible for coordinating all financial aspects of the Company’s operations, including strategic financial planning, supervision of the Company’s Treasurer, Comptroller and outside auditors. In the event that an Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is designated and serving, the Chief Financial Officer shall be responsible for keeping such committee fully and timely informed of all matters under its jurisdiction. In addition, the Chief Financial Officer shall be responsible for overseeing preparation and filing of all reports of the Company’s activities required to be filed, either periodically or on a special basis with the United States Internal Revenue Service and Securities and Exchange Commission and other federal and state governmental agencies. In the absence of a separately elected Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer shall be the Chief Financial Officer of the Company.
(e) The Vice President(s), if any, in the order designated by the Board of Directors, shall exercise the functions of the President in the event of the absence, disability, death, or refusal to act of the President. During the time that any Vice President is properly exercising the functions of the President, such Vice President shall have all the powers of and be subject to all restrictions upon the President. Each Vice President shall have such other duties as are assigned to him from time to time by the Board of Directors or by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
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(f) The Secretary of the Company shall keep the minutes of the meetings of the shareholders of the Company, and, unless provided otherwise by the Chairman at any meeting of the Board of Directors, the Secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings of the Board of Directors of the Company. The Secretary shall be the custodian of the minute books of the Company and such other books and records of the Company as the Board of Directors of the Company may direct. The Secretary of the Company shall have the general responsibility for maintaining the stock transfer books of the Company, or of supervising the maintenance of the stock transfer books of the Company by the transfer agent, if any, of the Company. The Secretary shall be the custodian of the corporate seal of the Company and shall affix the corporate seal of the Company on contracts and other instruments as the Board of Directors may direct. The Secretary shall perform such other duties as are assigned to him from time by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
(g) The Treasurer of the Company shall be directly subordinate to the Chief Financial Officer. In the absence of a Chief Financial Officer, such office shall be filled by the Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have custody of all funds and securities owned by the Company. The Treasurer shall cause to be entered regularly in the proper books of account of the Company full and accurate accounts of the receipts and disbursements of the Company. The Treasurer of the Company shall render a statement of the cash, financial and other accounts of the Company whenever he is directed to render such a statement by the Board of Directors or by the President of the Company. The Treasurer shall at all reasonable times make available the Company’s books and financial accounts to any Director of the Company during normal business hours. The Treasurer shall perform all other acts incident to the Office of Treasurer of the Company, and he shall have such other duties as are assigned to him from time to time by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
(h) Other subordinate or assistant officers appointed by the Board of Directors or by the President, if such authority is delegated to him by the Board of Directors, shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as may be delegated to them by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or by the President, as the case may be.
(i) In case of the absence or disability of any Officer of the Company and of any person authorized to act in his place during such period of absence or disability, the Board of Directors may from time to time delegate the powers and duties of such Officer or any Director or any other person whom it may select.
SECTION 5. Salaries
The salaries of all Officers of the Company shall, except as otherwise determined or required by an agreement approved by the shareholders of the Company, be fixed by the Board of Directors. No Officer shall be ineligible to receive such salary by reason of the fact that he is also a Director of the Company and receiving compensation therefore.
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ARTICLE IV
LOANS TO EMPLOYEES AND OFFICERS,
GUARANTEE OF OBLIGATIONS OF EMPLOYEES AND OFFICERS
Consistent with the Company’s Code of Ethics, loans by the Company to, or guarantees by the Company of obligations of, any director or officer or their family members are expressly prohibited.
ARTICLE V
STOCK CERTIFICATES, VOTING TRUSTS, TRANSFERS
SECTION 1. Certificates Representing Shares
(a) Every holder of shares of this Company shall be entitled to one or more certificates, representing all shares to which he or she is entitled and such certificates shall be signed by the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President and the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and may be sealed with the seal of the Company or a facsimile thereof. The signatures of the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or Vice President and the Secretary or Assistant Secretary may be facsimiles if the certificate is manually signed on behalf of a transfer agent or a registrar, other than the Company itself or an employee of the Company. In case any Officer who signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon such certificate shall have ceased to be such Officer before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Company with the same effect as if it were executed by the appropriate Officer at the date of its issuance.
(b) Every certificate representing shares issued by this Company shall, if shares are divided into one or more classes or series with differing rights, state that the Company will furnish to any shareholder upon request and without charge a full statement of: (i) the designations, preferences, limitations, and relative rights of the shares of each class or series authorized to be issued, and (ii) the variations in the relative rights and preferences between the shares of each such series, if the Company is authorized to issue any preferred or special class in series and so far as the same have been fixed and determined, and the authority of the Board of Directors to fix and determine, the relative rights and preferences of subsequent series.
(c) Every certificate representing shares which are restricted as to sale, disposition or other transfer (including restrictions based on federal or state securities and other laws) shall state that such shares are restricted as to transfer and shall set forth or fairly summarize upon the certificate, or shall state that the Company will furnish to any shareholder upon request and without charge a full statement of, such restrictions.
(d) Each certificate representing shares shall state upon the face thereof: (i) the name of the Company; (ii) that the Company is organized under the laws of the State of Nevada; (iii) the name of the person or persons to whom issued; (iv) the number and class of shares, and the designation of the series, if any, which such certificate represents; and (v) the par value of each share represented by such certificate, or a statement that the shares are without par value.
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(e) No certificate shall be issued for any shares until they are fully paid for.
SECTION 2. Transfer Books
The Company shall keep at its registered office or principal place of business or in the office of its transfer agent or registrar, a book (or books where more than one kind, class, or series of stock is outstanding) to be known as the Stock Book, containing the names, alphabetically arranged, addresses and Social Security numbers of every shareholder and the number of shares each kind, class or series of stock held of record. Where the Stock Book is kept in the office of the transfer agent, the Company shall keep at its office copies of the stock lists prepared from said Stock Book and sent to it from time to time by said transfer agent. The Stock Book or stock lists shall show the current status of the ownership of shares of the Company provided that, if the transfer agent of the Company be located elsewhere, a reasonable time shall be allowed for transit or mail.
SECTION 3. Transfer of Shares
(a) The name(s) and address(es) of the person(s) to whom shares of stock of this Company are issued, shall be entered on the Stock Transfer Books of the Company, with the number of shares and date of issue.
(b) Transfer of shares of the Company shall be made on the Stock Transfer Books of the Company by the Secretary or the transfer agent, subject to compliance with any restrictions specified on such certificate, only when the holder of record thereof or the legal representative of such holder of record or the attorney-in-fact of such holder of record, authorized by power of attorney duly executed and filed with the Secretary or transfer agent of the Company, shall surrender the Certificate representing such shares for cancellation. Lost, destroyed or stolen Stock Certificates shall be replaced pursuant to Section 5 of this Article V.
(c) The person or persons in whose names shares stand on the books of the Company shall be deemed by the Company to be the owner of such shares for all purposes, except as otherwise provided pursuant to Sections 10 and 11 of Article I, or Section 4 of Article V.
(d) Shares of the Company capital stock shall be freely transferable without the required Board of Directors’ consent, unless such consent requirement has been imposed pursuant to a binding written contract subscribed to by the holder or his or her predecessor in interest.
SECTION 4. Voting Trusts
(a) Any number of shareholders of the Company may create a voting trust for the purpose of conferring upon a trustee or trustees the right to vote or otherwise represent their shares, for a period not to exceed ten years, by: (i) entering into a written voting trust agreement specifying the terms and conditions of the voting trust; (ii) depositing a counterpart of the agreement with the Company at its registered office; and (iii) transferring their shares to such trustee or trustees for the purposes of this Agreement. Prior to the recording of the agreement, the shareholder concerned shall render the stock certificate(s) described therein to the Corporate Secretary who shall note on each certificate:
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This Certificate is subject to the provisions of a voting trust agreement dated ______________, recorded in Minute Book __________ of the Company.
_______________________
Secretary |
(b) Upon the transfer of such shares, voting trust certificates shall be issued by the trustee or trustees to the shareholders who transfer their shares in trust. Such trustee or trustees shall keep a record of the holders of voting trust certificates evidencing a beneficial interest in the voting trust, giving the names and addresses of all such holders and the number and class or the shares in respect of which the voting trust certificates held by each are issued, and shall deposit a copy of such record with the Company at its registered office.
(c) The counterpart of the voting trust agreement and the copy of such record so deposited with the Company shall be subject to the same right of examination by a shareholder of the Company, in person or by agent or attorney, as are the books and records of the Company, and such counterpart and such copy of such record shall be subject to examination by any holder of record of voting trust certificates either in person or by agent or attorney, at any reasonable time for any proper purpose.
(d) At any time before the expiration of a voting trust agreement as originally fixed or as extended one or more times under this Section 4(d), one or more holders of voting trust certificates may, by agreement in writing, extend the duration of such voting trust agreement, nominating the same or substitute trustees, for an additional period not exceeding 10 years. Such extension agreement shall not affect the rights or obligations or persons not parties to the agreement, and such persons shall be entitled to remove their shares from the trust and promptly to have their stock certificates reissued upon the expiration of the original term of the voting trust agreement. The extension agreement shall in every respect comply with and be subject to all the provisions of this Section 4, applicable to the original voting trust agreement except that the 10 year maximum period of duration shall commence on the date of adoption of the extension agreement.
(e) The trustees under the terms of the agreements entered into under the provisions of this Section 4 shall not acquire the legal title to the shares but shall be vested only with the legal right and title to the voting power which is incident to the ownership of the shares.
(f) Notwithstanding generally applicable prohibitions against a Company’s voting of treasury stock, if the Company is the trustee under a voting trust, it shall have full authority to vote such shares in accordance with the terms of the voting trust agreement, even if such agreement vests absolute and unfettered voting discretion in the trustee and notwithstanding that the voting trust was created at the prompting or direction of the Company, its officers or directors.
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SECTION 5. Lost, Destroyed, or Stolen Certificates
No Certificate representing shares of stock in the Company shall be issued in place of any Certificate alleged to have been lost, destroyed, or stolen except on production of evidence, satisfactory to the Board of Directors, of such loss, destruction or theft, and, if the Board of Directors so requires, upon the furnishing of an indemnity bond in such amount (but not to exceed twice the fair market value of the shares represented by the Certificate) and with such terms and with such surety as the Board of Directors may, in its discretion, require.
ARTICLE VI BOOKS AND RECORDS
(a) The Company shall keep correct and complete books and records of account and shall keep minutes of the proceedings of its shareholders, Board of Directors and committees of Directors.
(b) Any books, records and minutes may be in written form or in any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time.
(c) Any person who shall have been a holder of record of shares, or the holder of record of voting trust certificates for, at least ten percent of the outstanding shares of any class or series of the Company, upon written demand stating the purpose thereof, shall; subject to the qualifications contained in subsection (d) hereof, have the right to examine, in person or by agent or attorney, at any reasonable time or times, for any purpose, its relevant books and records of account, minutes and records of shareholders and to make extracts therefrom.
(d) No shareholder who within two years has sold or offered for sale any list of shareholders or of holders of voting trust certificates for shares of this Company or any other Company; has aided or abetted any person in procuring any list of shareholders or of holders of voting trust certificates for any such purpose; or has improperly used any information secured through any prior examination of the books and records of account, minutes, or record of shareholders or of holders of voting trust certificates for shares of the Company of any other Company; shall be entitled to examine the documents and records of the Company as provided in Section (c) of this Article VI. No shareholder who does not act in good faith or for a proper purpose in making his demand shall be entitled to examine the documents and records of the Company as provided in Section (c) of this Article VI.
(e) Unless modified by resolution of the Shareholders, this Company shall prepare not later than four months after the close of each fiscal year:
(i) A balance sheet showing in reasonable detail the financial conditions of the Company as of the date of the close of its fiscal year.
(ii) A Profit and Loss statement showing the results of its operation during its fiscal year.
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(f) Upon the written request of any shareholder or holder of voting trust certificates for shares of the Company, the Company shall mail to such shareholder or holder of voting trust certificates a copy of its most recent balance sheet and profit and loss statement.
(g) Such balance sheets and profit and loss statements shall be filed and kept for at least five years and shall be subject to inspection during business hours by any shareholder or holder of voting trust certificates, in person or by agent.
ARTICLE VII
DIVIDENDS
The Board of Directors of the Company may, from time to time, declare, and the Company may pay dividends on its own shares, except when the Company is insolvent or when the payment thereof would render the Company insolvent, subject to the following provisions:
(a) Dividends in cash or property may be declared and paid, except as otherwise provided in this Article VII, only out of the unreserved and unrestricted earned surplus of the Company or out of capital surplus, however arising, but each dividend paid out of capital surplus shall be identified as a distribution of capital surplus, and the amount per share paid from such capital surplus shall be disclosed to the shareholders receiving the same concurrently with the distribution.
(b) If the Company shall engage in the business of exploiting natural resources or other wasting assets and if the Articles of Incorporation so provide, dividends may be declared and paid in cash out of depletion or similar reserves, but each such dividend shall be identified as distribution of such reserves and the amount per share paid from such reserves shall be disclosed to the shareholders receiving the same concurrently with the distribution thereof.
(c) Dividends may be declared and paid in the Company’s treasury shares.
(d) Dividends may be declared and paid in the Company’s authorized but unissued shares, out of any unreserved and unrestricted surplus of the Company, upon the following conditions:
(i) If a dividend is payable in the Companys’ own shares having a par value, such shares shall be issued at not less than the par value thereof and there shall be transferred to stated capital at the time such dividend is paid an amount of surplus equal to the aggregate par value of the shares to be issued as a dividend.
(ii) If a dividend is payable in the Companys’ own shares without par value, such shares shall be issued at a stated value fixed by the Board of Directors by resolution adopted at the time such dividend is declared, and there shall be transferred to stated capital at the time such dividend is paid an amount of surplus equal to the aggregate stated value so fixed and the amount per share so transferred to stated capital shall be disclosed to the shareholders receiving such dividend concurrently with the payment thereof.
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(e) No dividend payable in shares of any class shall be paid to the holders of shares of any other class unless the Articles of Incorporation so provide or such payment is authorized by the affirmative vote or the written consent of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of the class which the payment is to be made.
(f) A split or division of the issued shares of any class into a greater number of shares of the same class without increasing the stated capital of the Company shall not be construed to be a stock dividend within the meaning of this Article VII.
ARTICLE VIII SEAL
The Company shall have a Corporate Seal which shall be circular in form and shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Company, the state of Incorporation and the year of
Incorporation.
ARTICLE IX INDEMNIFICATION
This Company may, in its discretion, indemnify any director, officer, employee, or agent in the following circumstances and in the following manner:
(a) The Company may indemnify any person who was or is a part, or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative (other than an action by, or in the right of, the Company) by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another Company, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees at all trial and appellate levels), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit, or proceeding, including any appeal thereof, if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit, or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonable believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
(b) The Company may indemnify any person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Company as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another Company, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees at all trial and appellate levels), actually and reasonable incurred by him in connection with the defense of settlement of such action or suit, including any appeal thereof, if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interest of the Company, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue, or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duty to the Company unless, and only to the extent that, the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all circumstances of the case, such person is rarely and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which such court shall deem proper.
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(c) To the extent that a Director, Officer, employee, or agent of the Company has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit, or proceeding referred to in Sections (a) or (b) of this Article IX, or in defense of any claim, issue, or matter therein, shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees at trial and appellate levels) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith.
(d) Any indemnification under Sections (a) or (b) of this Article IX, unless pursuant to a determination by a court, shall be made by the Company only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director, officer, employee, or agent is proper in the circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Sections (a) or (b) or this Article IX. Such determination shall initially be made by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of Directors who were not parties to such action, suit, or proceeding. If the Board of Directors shall, for any reason, decline to make such a determination, then such determination shall be made by the shareholders by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of shareholders who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding; provided, however, that a determination made by the Board of Directors pursuant to this Section may be appealed to the shareholders by the party seeking indemnification or any party entitled to call a special meeting of the shareholders pursuant to Section 2 of Article I and, in such case, the determination made by the majority vote of a quorum consisting of shareholders who were not parties to such action, suit, or proceeding shall prevail over a contrary determination of the Board of Directors pursuant to this Section.
(e) Expenses (including attorneys’ fees at all trial and appellate levels) incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon a preliminary determination following one of the procedures set forth in this Article IX, that a Director, Officer, employee or agent met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Article IX, and upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director, officer, employee or agent to repay such amount, unless it shall ultimately be determined that he is entitled to be indemnified by the Company as authorized in this section.
(f) The Company may make any other or further indemnification, except an indemnification against gross negligence or willful misconduct, under any agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested Directors or otherwise, both as to action in the indemnified party’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.
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(g) Indemnification as provided in this Article IX may continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and may inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person upon a proper determination initially made by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of Directors who were not parties to such action, suit, or proceeding. If the Board of Directors shall, for any reason, decline to make such a determination, then such determination may be made by the shareholders by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of shareholders who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding; provided, however, that a determination made by the Board of Directors pursuant to this Section may be appealed to the shareholders by the party seeking indemnification or his representative or by any party entitled to call a special meeting of the shareholders pursuant to Section 2 or Article I and in such case, the determination made by the majority vote of quorum consisting of shareholders who were not parties to such action, suit, or proceeding shall prevail over a contrary determination of the Board of Directors pursuant to this Section (g).
(h) The Company may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another Company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this Article IX.
(i) If any expenses or other amounts are paid by way of indemnification, otherwise than by court order or action by the shareholders or by an insurance carrier pursuant to insurance maintained by the Company, the Company shall, not later than the time of delivery to shareholders or written notice of the next annual meeting of shareholders unless such meeting is held within three months from the date of such payment, and, in any event, within 15 months from the date of such payment, deliver either personally or by mail to each shareholder of record at the time entitled to vote for the election of Directors a statement specifying the persons paid, the amount paid, and the nature and status at the time of such payment of the litigation of threatened litigation.
(j) This Article IX shall be interpreted to permit indemnification to the fullest extent permitted by law. If any part of this Article shall be found to be invalid or ineffective in any action, suit of proceeding, the validity and effect of the remaining part thereof shall not be affected. The provisions of this Article IX shall be applicable to all actions, claims, suits, or proceedings made or commenced after the adoption hereof, whether arising from acts or omissions to act occurring before or after its adoption.
ARTICLE X
AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
The Board of Directors shall have the power to amend, alter, or repeal these Bylaws, and to adopt new Bylaws.
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ARTICLE XI
FISCAL YEAR
The Fiscal Year of this Company shall be determined by the Board of Directors.
* * *
The Undersigned, being the duly elected and acting secretary of the Company, hereby certifies that the foregoing constitute the validly adopted and true Bylaws of the Company, as of the date set forth below.
/s/ Christopher Jackson
CHRISTOPHER JACKSON
Dated: November 2, 2017 Secretary
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ADVANCED CREDIT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
CODE OF ETHICS AND BUSINESS CONDUCT
Effective November 2, 2017
1. Introduction.
1.1 The Board of Directors of Advanced Credit Technologies, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, the "Company") has adopted this Code of Ethics and Business Conduct (the "Code") in order to:
(a) promote honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest;
(b) promote full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that the Company files with, or submits to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and in other public communications made by the Company;
(c) promote compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and
regulations; |
(d) promote the protection of Company assets, including corporate
opportunities and confidential information;
(e) promote fair dealing practices;
(f) deter wrongdoing; and
(g) ensure accountability for adherence to the Code.
1.2 All directors, officers and employees are required to be familiar with the Code, comply with its provisions and report any suspected violations as described below in Section 10, Reporting and Enforcement.
2. Honest and Ethical Conduct.
2.1 The Company's policy is to promote high standards of integrity by conducting its affairs honestly and ethically.
2.2 Each director, officer and employee must act with integrity and observe the highest ethical standards of business conduct in his or her dealings with the Company's customers, suppliers, partners, service providers, competitors, employees and anyone else with whom he or she has contact in the course of performing his or her job.
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3. Conflicts of Interest.
3.1 A conflict of interest occurs when an individual's private interest (or the interest of a member of his or her family) interferes, or even appears to interfere, with the interests of the Company as a whole. A conflict of interest can arise when an employee, officer or director (or a member of his or her family) takes actions or has interests that may make it difficult to perform his or her work for the Company objectively and effectively. Conflicts of interest also arise when an employee, officer or director (or a member of his or her family) receives improper personal benefits as a result of his or her position in the Company.
3.2 Loans by the Company to, or guarantees by the Company of obligations of, employees or their family members are of special concern and could constitute improper personal benefits to the recipients of such loans or guarantees, depending on the facts and circumstances. Loans by the Company to, or guarantees by the Company of obligations of, any director or officer or their family members are expressly prohibited.
3.3 Whether or not a conflict of interest exists or will exist can be unclear.
Conflicts of interest should be avoided unless specifically authorized as described in Section 3.4.
3.4 Persons other than directors and executive officers who have questions about a potential conflict of interest or who become aware of an actual or potential conflict should discuss the matter with, and seek a determination and prior authorization or approval from, general counsel for the Company who shall make such determination or, if required pursuant to the Company’s Related Party Transactions Policy, present to the Company’s Board of Directors. No officer may authorize or approve conflict of interest matters or make determinations as to whether a problematic conflict of interest exists without first providing the general counsel for the Company with a written description of the activity and seeking the general counsel’s written approval. Directors and executive officers must seek determinations and prior authorizations or approvals of potential conflicts of interest exclusively from the Board of Directors.
4. Compliance.
4.1 Employees, officers and directors should comply, both in letter and spirit, with all applicable laws, rules and regulations in the cities, states and countries in which the Company operates.
4.2 Although not all employees, officers and directors are expected to know the details of all applicable laws, rules and regulations, it is important to know enough to determine when to seek advice from appropriate personnel. Questions about compliance should be addressed to the general counsel for the Company.
4.3 No director, officer or employee may purchase or sell any Company securities while in possession of material non-public information regarding the Company, nor may any director, officer or employee purchase or sell another company's securities while in possession of material non-public information regarding that company. It is against Company policies and illegal for any director, officer or employee to use material nonpublic information regarding the Company or any other company to:
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(a) obtain profit for himself or herself; or
(b) directly or indirectly "tip" others who might make an investment decision on the basis of that information.
5. Disclosure.
5.1 The Company's periodic reports and other documents filed with the SEC, including all financial statements and other financial information, must comply with applicable federal securities laws and SEC rules.
5.2 Each director, officer and employee who contributes in any way to the preparation or verification of the Company's financial statements and other financial information must ensure that the Company's books, records and accounts are accurately maintained. Each director, officer and employee must cooperate fully with the Company's accounting and internal audit departments, as well as the Company's independent public accountants and counsel.
5.3 Each director, officer and employee who is involved in the Company's disclosure process must:
(a) be familiar with and comply with the Company's disclosure controls and procedures and its internal control over financial reporting; and
(b) take all necessary steps to ensure that all filings with the SEC and all other public communications about the financial and business condition of the Company provide full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure.
6. Protection and Proper Use of Company Assets.
6.1 All directors, officers and employees should protect the Company's assets and ensure their efficient use. Theft, carelessness and waste have a direct impact on the Company's profitability and are prohibited.
6.2 All Company assets should be used only for legitimate business purposes. Any suspected incident of fraud or theft should be reported for investigation immediately.
6.3 The obligation to protect Company assets includes the Company's proprietary information. Proprietary information includes intellectual property such as trade secrets, patents, trademarks, and copyrights, as well as business and marketing plans, engineering and manufacturing ideas, designs, databases, records and any non-public financial data or reports. Unauthorized use or distribution of this information is prohibited and could also be illegal and result in civil or criminal penalties.
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7. Corporate Opportunities. All directors, officers and employees owe a duty to the Company to advance its interests when the opportunity arises. Directors, officers and employees are prohibited from taking for themselves personally (or for the benefit of friends or family members) opportunities that are discovered through the use of Company assets, property, information or position. Directors, officers and employees may not use Company assets, property, information or position for personal gain (including gain of friends or family members). In addition, no director, officer or employee may compete with the Company.
8. Confidentiality. Directors, officers and employees should maintain the confidentiality of information entrusted to them by the Company or by its customers, suppliers or partners, except when disclosure is expressly authorized or is required or permitted by law. Confidential information includes all non-public information (regardless of its source) that might be of use to the Company's competitors or harmful to the Company or its customers, suppliers or partners if disclosed.
9. Fair Dealing. Each director, officer and employee must deal fairly with the Company's customers, suppliers, partners, service providers, competitors, employees and anyone else with whom he or she has contact in the course of performing his or her job. No director, officer or employee may take unfair advantage of anyone through manipulation, concealment, abuse or privileged information, misrepresentation of facts or any other unfair dealing practice.
10. Reporting and Enforcement.
10.1 Reporting and Investigation of Violations.
(a) Actions prohibited by this Code involving directors or executive officers must be reported to the Board of Directors.
(b)Actions prohibited by this Code involving anyone other than a director or executive officer must be reported to the Company’s general counsel.
(c) After receiving a report of an alleged prohibited action, the Board of Directors or general counsel must promptly take all appropriate actions necessary to investigate.
(d)All directors, officers and employees are expected to cooperate in any internal investigation of misconduct.
10.2 Enforcement.
(a) The Company must ensure prompt and consistent action against violations of this Code.
(b)Upon receipt of a determination that there has been a violation of this Code, the Board of Directors or the General Counsel will take such preventative or disciplinary action as it deems appropriate, including, but not limited to, reassignment, demotion, dismissal and, in the event of criminal conduct or other serious violations of the law, notification of appropriate governmental authorities.
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10.3 Waivers.
(a) The Board of Directors may, in its discretion, waive any violation of this Code.
(b)Any waiver for a director or an executive officer shall be disclosed as required by SEC and the rules of the exchange that the Company is trading on at that time.
10.4 Prohibition on Retaliation.
The Company does not tolerate acts of retaliation against any director, officer
or employee who makes a good faith report of known or suspected acts of misconduct or other violations of this Code.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT AND REVIEW
I, _______________________, acknowledge that I have received and read a copy of the Advanced Credit Technologies, Inc. Code of Ethics and Business Conduct. I understand the contents of the Code and I agree to comply with the policies and procedures set out in the Code.
I understand that I should approach the Company’s general counsel or the Board of Directors if I have any questions about the Code generally or any questions about reporting a suspected conflict of interest or other violation of the Code.
________________________ |
[NAME]
________________________ |
[PRINTED NAME]
________________________ |
[DATE]
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ADVANCED CREDIT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS POLICY
Effective November 2, 2017
1. Introduction. Under the Code of Ethics for Advanced Credit Technologies, Inc. (the "Company"), employees, officers and directors must report to the Board of Directors any activity that would cause or appear to cause a conflict of interest on his or her part. The Board of Directors (the "Board") of the Company recognizes that certain transactions present a heightened risk of conflicts of interest or the perception thereof. Therefore, the Board has adopted this Related Party Transactions Policy (the "Policy") to ensure that all Related Party Transactions (as defined below) shall be subject to review, approval or ratification in accordance with the procedures set forth below.
2. Definitions. For purposes of this Policy, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
"Immediate Family Member" means any child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law of a person, and any person (other than a tenant or an employee) sharing the household of such person.
"Related Party" means any person who is or was (since the beginning of thelast fiscal year for which the Company has filed an Annual Report on Form 10-K and proxy statement, even if such person does not presently serve in that role) an executive officer, director or nominee for director of the Company, any shareholder owning more than 5% of any class of the company's voting securities, or an Immediate Family Member of any such person.
"Related Party Transaction" means any transaction, arrangement or relationship, or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships, in which (i) the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or will be a participant, and (ii) any Related Party has or will have a direct or indirect interest. This also includes any material amendment or modification to an existing Related Party Transaction.
3. Procedures. It is the responsibility of the Board to administer this Policy.
Prior to entering into a Related Party Transaction, the Related Party (or if the Related Party is an Immediate Family Member of an executive officer or director of the Company, such executive officer or director) shall notify the Company's General Counsel of the facts and circumstances of the proposed transaction. The General Counsel will report the Related Party Transaction, together with a summary of the material facts, to the Board for consideration at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting.
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The Board shall review all of the relevant facts and circumstances of all Related Party Transactions and either approve or disapprove of the entry into the Related Party Transaction, subject to the exceptions described below. In determining whether to approve or ratify a Related Party Transaction, the Board shall take into account, among other factors it deems appropriate, (i) whether the transaction was undertaken in the ordinary course of business of the Company, (ii) whether the Related Party Transaction was initiated by the Company, a subsidiary or the Related Party, (iii) whether the transaction with the Related Party is proposed to be, or was, entered into on terms no less favorable to the Company than terms that could have been reached with an unrelated third party, (iv) the purpose of, and the potential benefits to the Company of, the Related Party Transaction, (v) the approximate dollar value of the amount involved in the Related Party Transaction, particularly as it relates to the Related Party, (vi) the Related Party's interest in the Related Party Transaction and (vii) any other information regarding the Related Party Transaction or the Related Party that would be material to investors in light of the circumstances of the particular transaction.
The Board shall review all relevant information available to it about the Related Party Transaction. The Board may approve the Related Party Transaction only if the Board determines in good faith that, under all of the circumstances, the transaction is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. The Board, in its sole discretion, may impose such conditions as it deems appropriate on the Company or the Related Party in connection with the approval of the Related Party Transaction.
If a Related Party Transaction involves a Related Party who is a director or an Immediate Family Member of a director, such director may not participate in any discussion or vote regarding approval or ratification of approval such transaction. However, such director shall provide all material information concerning the Related Party Transaction to the Board. Such director may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board that considers such transaction.
If the Company becomes aware of a Related Party Transaction that has not been approved under this Policy, the Related Party Transaction shall be reviewed in accordance with the procedures set forth herein and, if the Board determines it to be appropriate, ratified at the Board's next regularly scheduled meeting. In any case where the Board determines not to ratify a Related Party Transaction that has been commenced without approval, the Board may direct additional actions including, but not limited to, immediate discontinuation or rescission of the transaction, or modification of the transaction to make it acceptable for ratification.
4. Ongoing Transactions. If a Related Party Transaction will be ongoing, the Board may establish guidelines for the Company's management to follow in its ongoing dealings with the Related Party. Thereafter, the Board, on at least an annual basis, shall review and assess ongoing relationships with the Related Party to ensure that they are in compliance with the Board's guidelines and that the Related Party Transaction remains appropriate.
5. Existing Policies and Procedures.
Related Party Transactions must also comply with the Company's existing policies and procedures, including the Code of Ethics and Conflict of Interest Policy included in the Company’s bylaws.
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I, ________________________ (employee name), acknowledge that on ______________________ (date), I received and read a copy of the Related Party Transactions Policy dated September 26, 2017 and understand that it is my responsibility to be familiar with and abide by its terms.
_______________________________
Dated:
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ADVANCED CREDIT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
ANTI-CORRUPTION POLICY
Effective November 2, 2017
1. Introduction.
Combating Corruption. Advanced Credit Technologies, Inc. (the "Company") operates in a wide range of legal and business environments, many of which pose challenges to our ability to conduct our business operations with integrity. As a company, we strive to conduct ourselves according to the highest standards of ethical conduct. Throughout its operations, the Company seeks to avoid even the appearance of impropriety in the actions of its directors, officers, employees, and agents.
Accordingly, this Anti-Corruption Policy ("Policy") reiterates our commitment to integrity, and explains the specific requirements and prohibitions applicable to our operations under anti-corruption laws, including, but not limited to, the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 ("FCPA"). This Policy contains information intended to reduce the risk of corruption and bribery from occurring in the Company's activities. The Company strictly prohibits all forms of corruption and bribery and will take all necessary steps to ensure that corruption and bribery do not occur in its business activities.
Under the FCPA, it is illegal for US persons, including US companies or any companies traded on US exchanges, and their subsidiaries, directors, officers, employees, and agents, to bribe non-US government officials. The concept of prohibiting bribery is simple. However, understanding the full scope of the FCPA is essential as this law directly affects everyday business interactions between the Company and non-US governments and government-owned or government-controlled entities.
Violations of the FCPA can also result in violations of other US laws, including anti-money laundering, mail and wire fraud, and conspiracy laws. The penalties for violating the FCPA are severe. In addition to being subject to the Company's disciplinary policies (including termination), individuals who violate the FCPA may also be subject to imprisonment and fines.
Aside from the FCPA, the Company may also be subject to other non-US anti- corruption laws, in addition to the local laws of the countries in which the Company conducts business. This Policy generally sets forth the expectations and requirements for compliance with those laws.
Applicability. This Policy is applicable to all of the Company's operations worldwide. This Policy applies to all of the Company's directors, officers, and employees. This Policy also applies to the Company's agents, consultants, joint venture partners, and any other third-party representatives that, on behalf of the Company, have conducted business outside of the US or interacted with non-US government officials or are likely to conduct business outside of the US or interact with non-US government officials.
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Third-Party Agents. Because Congress anticipated the use of third-party agents in bribery schemes—for example, to avoid actual knowledge of a bribe—it defined the term “knowing” in a way that prevents individuals and businesses from avoiding liability by putting “any person” between themselves and the foreign officials. Therefore, the Company and its employees cannot avoid liability for an FCPA violation by dealing with an intermediary, either domestic or foreign, instead of the foreign official directly.
Under the FCPA, a person’s state of mind is “knowing” with respect to conduct, a circumstance, or a result if the person:
l | is aware that he or she is engaging in such conduct, that such circumstance exists, or that such result is substantially certain to occur; or |
l | has a firm belief that such circumstance exists or that such result is substantially certain to occur. |
Thus, a person has the requisite knowledge when he or she is aware of a highprobability of the existence of such circumstance, unless the person actually believes that such circumstance does not exist. As Congress made clear, it meant to impose liability not only on those with actual knowledge of wrongdoing, but also on those who purposefully avoid actual knowledge:
[T]he so-called “head-in-the-sand” problem—variously described in the pertinent authorities as “conscious disregard,” “willful blindness” or “deliberate ignorance”—should be covered so that management officials could not take refuge from the Act’s prohibitions by their unwarranted obliviousness to any action (or inaction), language or other “signaling device” that should reasonably alert them of the “high probability” of an FCPA violation.
Common red flags associated with third parties include:
l | excessive commissions to third-party agents or consultants; |
l | unreasonably large discounts to third-party distributors; |
l | third-party “consulting agreements” that include only vaguely described |
services; |
l | the third-party consultant is in a different line of business than that for which it has been engaged; |
l | the third party is related to or closely associated with the foreign official; |
l | the third party became part of the transaction at the express request or |
insistence of the foreign official;
l | the third party is merely a shell company incorporated in an offshore |
jurisdiction; and
l | the third party requests payment to offshore bank accounts. |
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Employees of the Company should be mindful of the aforementioned red flags associated with third-party agents and its the Company’s policy that a due diligence investigation should be conducted with regard to any prospective foreign agents
2. | Prohibited Payments. |
Company employees and agents are prohibited from directly or indirectly making, promising, authorizing, or offering anything of value to a non-US government official on behalf of the Company to secure an improper advantage, obtain or retain business, or direct business to any other person or entity. This prohibition includes payments to third-parties where the Company employee or agent knows, or has reason to know, that the third-party will use any part of the payment for bribes.
(a) Cash and Non-Cash Payments: "Anything of Value." Payments that violate the FCPA may arise in a variety of settings and include a broad range of payments beyond the obvious cash bribe or kickback. The FCPA prohibits giving "anything of value" for an improper purpose. This term is very broad and can include, for example:
(i) Gifts.
(ii) Travel, meals, lodging, entertainment, or gift cards.
(iii) Loans or non-arm's length transactions.
(iv) Charitable or political donations.
(v) Business, employment, or investment opportunities.
(b) Non-US Government Official. The FCPA broadly defines the term non-US government official to include:
(i) Officers or employees of a non-US government or any department, agency, or instrumentality thereof.
(ii) Officers or employees of a company or business owned in whole or in part by a non-US government (a state owned or controlled enterprises).
(iii) Officers or employees of a public international organization (such as the United Nations, World Bank, or the European Union).
(iv) Non-US political parties or officials thereof.
(v) Candidates for non-US political office.
This term also includes anyone acting on behalf of any of the above.
On occasion, a non-US government official may attempt to solicit or extort improper payments or anything of value from Company employees or agents. Such employees or agents must inform the non-US government official that the Company does not engage in such conduct and immediately contact the Company’s President, Christopher Jackson.
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(c) Commercial Bribery. Bribery involving commercial (non-governmental parties) is also prohibited under this Policy. To this end, Company employees and agents shall not offer, promise, authorize the payment of, or pay or provide anything of value to any employee, agent, or representative of another company to induce or reward the improper performance of any function or any business-related activity. Company employees and agents also shall not request, agree to receive, or accept anything of value from any employee, agent, or representative of another company or entity as an inducement or reward for the improper performance of any function or business-related activity.
3. | Permitted Payments. |
The FCPA does not prohibit all payments to non-US government officials. In general, the FCPA permits three categories of payments:
(a) Facilitating Payments. The FCPA includes an exception for nominal payments made to low-level government officials to ensure or speed the proper performance of a government official's routine, non-discretionary duties or actions, such as:
(i) Clearing customs.
(ii) Processing governmental papers such as visas, permits, or licenses.
(iii) Providing police protection.
(iv) Providing mail, telephone, or utility services.
(b) Promotional Hospitality and Marketing Expenses or Pursuant to a Contract. The Company may pay for the reasonable cost of a non-US government official's meals, lodging, or travel if, and only if, the expenses are bona fide, reasonable, and directly related to the promotion, demonstration, or explanation of Company products or services, or the execution of a contract with a non-US government or agency.
(c) Promotional Gifts. Promotional gifts of nominal value may be given to a non-US government official as a courtesy in recognition of services rendered or to promote goodwill. These gifts must be nominal in value and should generally bear the trademark of the Company or one of its products.
4. | Political and Charitable Contributions. |
Contributions to candidates for non-US political office are prohibited unless the Company’s President pre-approves them in writing. Charitable contributions to non-US charities must also be pre-approved in writing by the Company’s President.
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5. | Record Keeping. |
It is the Company's policy to implement and maintain internal accounting controls based upon sound accounting principles. All accounting entries in the Company's books and records must be timely and accurately recorded and include reasonable detail to fairly reflect transactions. These accounting entries and the supporting documentation must be periodically reviewed to identify and correct discrepancies, errors, and omissions.
(a) Authorization for Transactions. All transactions involving the provision of anything of value to a non-US government official must occur only with appropriate Company authorization.
(b) Recording Transactions. All transactions involving the provision of anything of value to a non-US government official must be recorded in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
(c) Tracking Transactions. All transactions involving the provision of anything of value to a non-US government official must be tracked in a separate log or record, with supporting documentation identifying:
(i) The name and position of the employee requesting and authorizing the transaction.
(ii) The name and position of the non-US government official involved in the transaction.
(iii) A description, including the value, of the payment or provision of anything of value, and where applicable, a description of the Company's products or services being promoted or the relevant contractual provision if the payment was made pursuant to a contract.
6. | Cash Payments. |
Cash payments of any kind to a third-party, other than documented petty cash disbursements or other valid and approved payments, are prohibited. Company checks shall not be written to "cash," "bearer," or anyone other than the party entitled to payment except to replenish properly used petty cash funds.
7. | Representatives. |
All third-party Company representatives must fully comply with the FCPA and all other applicable laws.
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8. | Compliance. |
Company employees and agents must be familiar with and perform their duties according to the requirements set out in this Policy. Company employees or agents who violate this Policy are subject to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal. Third-party representatives who violate this Policy may be subject to termination of all commercial relationships with the Company.
To ensure that all Company employees and agents are thoroughly familiar with the provisions of this Policy, the FCPA, and any other applicable anti-corruption laws, the Company shall provide anti-corruption training and resources to those Company employees and agents, as appropriate.
Any Company employee or agent who suspects that this Policy may have been violated must immediately notify the Company as specified in the section entitled "Reporting Policy Violations" below. Any Company employee who, in good faith, reports suspected legal, ethical, or Policy violations will not suffer any adverse consequence for doing so. When in doubt about the appropriateness of any conduct, the Company requires that you seek additional guidance before taking any action that may subject the Company to potential FCPA liability.
9. | Duty to Cooperate. |
The Company may at times undertake a more detailed review of certain transactions. As part of these reviews, the Company requires all employees, agents, and third party representatives to cooperate with the Company, outside legal counsel, outside auditors, or other similar parties. The Company views failure to cooperate in an internal review as a breach of your obligations to the Company, and will deal with this failure severely in accordance with any local laws or regulations.
10. | Questions About the Policy. |
If you have any questions relating to this Policy, please contact the Company’s President, Christopher Jackson.
11. | Reporting Policy Violations. |
To report potential violations of this Policy, immediately notify the Company’s President, Christopher Jackson.
***ATTESTATION TO FOLLOW ON NEXT PAGE***
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ATTESTATION
I, ________________________ (name), acknowledge that on ______________________ (date), I received and read a copy of the Anti-Corruption Policy dated November 2, 2017 and understand that it is my responsibility to be familiar with and abide by its terms.
______________________________________
Dated:
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