EX-11.1 3 ex11-1.htm

 

Exhibit 11.1

 

ESGL HOLDINGS LIMITED

INSIDER TRADING POLICY

 

A.Background/Purpose

 

Under federal and state securities laws, it is illegal to purchase or sell securities of ESGL Limited (the “Company”) while in possession of material, non-public information related to, affecting or regarding the Company or its subsidiaries (such information, “Inside Information”), or to disclose Inside Information to others who then trade in the securities of the Company. Insider trading violations are pursued vigorously by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and other governmental agencies and can result in severe penalties. While the regulatory authorities usually concentrate their efforts on the individuals who trade, or who tip Inside Information to others who trade, the federal securities laws also impose potential liability on companies and other “controlling persons” if they fail to take reasonable steps to prevent insider trading by company personnel.

 

The Company has adopted this Policy on Inside Information and Insider Trading (this “Policy”) both to satisfy the Company’s obligation to prevent insider trading and to help the Company’s personnel and its external advisors avoid violating insider trading laws.

 

B.Applicability of Policy

 

  1. Covered Persons. This Policy applies to the following people (collectively, “Covered Persons”):

 

all officers of the Company;
   
all members of the Board of Directors of the Company (“Directors”);
   
all employees of the Company; and
   
any family members of the foregoing persons. For the purposes of this Policy, the term “family member” means a spouse, parent, stepparent, child, stepchild, sibling, mother and father-in law, son and daughter-in-law, brother and sister-in-law, and anyone (other than a domestic employee or tenant) who shares the director’s home.

 

The failure of any person subject to this Policy to observe and strictly adhere to the policies and procedures set forth herein at all times will be grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal. To ensure that Company confidences are protected to the maximum extent possible, no individuals other than specifically authorized personnel may release material information to the public, or respond to inquiries from the media, analysts or others outside the Company.

 

All consultants and outside advisors assisting the Company on sensitive matters are expected to abide by the Policy, although the Company assumes no responsibility with respect to the actions of persons who are not under its direct control. However, the failure of consultants and outside advisers to observe the policies and procedures set forth herein will be grounds for termination of the consultant’s or outside adviser’s relationship with the Company.

 

  2. Covered Transactions.

 

This Policy applies to all transactions in the Company’s securities, including ordinary shares (including any securities that are exercisable for, or convertible or exchangeable into, ordinary shares) and any other securities the Company may issue from time to time whether or not pursuant to any benefit plan adopted by the Company.

 

For purposes of this Policy, the Company considers transactions between Covered Persons and the Company with respect to grants under its equity incentive plan (or, to the extent applicable, granted outside such plan) to be exempt from this Policy. Such transactions include, without limitation, the following:

 

the exercise of options for cash;

 

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the exercise of options on a “net exercise” basis pursuant to which an optionee either (i) delivers outstanding ordinary shares to the Company, or (ii) authorizes the Company to withhold from issuance ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the option, in either case, having a fair market value on the date of exercise equal to the aggregate exercise price; or
   
the forfeiture to the Company of restricted ordinary shares or stock units to cover withholding tax obligations.

 

Thus, restrictions contained in this Policy would apply to the sale of the Company’s securities in the open market to pay the exercise price of an option and to the “cashless exercise” effected through a broker or “same day sale” of an option. In addition, any sale of the underlying securities acquired upon the exercise of an option is subject to the Policy. This Policy does not apply to the granting of options or other equity awards.

 

In addition to the other restrictions set forth in this Policy, the following transactions are strictly prohibited at all times:

 

trading in call or put options involving the Company’s securities and other derivative securities;
   
engaging in short sales of the Company’s securities (i.e., the sale of a security that the seller does not own);
   
engaging in hedging or monetization transactions with respect to the Company’s securities, such as prepaid variable forwards, equity swaps, collars and exchange funds; and
   
holding the Company’s securities in a margin account.

 

If you are unsure whether or not a particular transaction is prohibited under this Policy, you should consult with the Chief Financial Officer, prior to engaging in, or entering into, an agreement, understanding or arrangement to engage in, such transaction.

 

C.General Policy

 

No Covered Person who is in possession of Inside Information may, either directly or indirectly (including, without limitation, through a family member, friend or entity in which you or any of your family members is a director, officer or controlling equity holder or beneficiary), (i) purchase or sell the Company’s securities, (ii) engage in any other action to take advantage of Inside Information, or (iii) provide Inside Information to any other person outside of the Company, including family and friends.

 

In addition, Covered Persons may not purchase or sell any securities of any other company, such as a lender, possible acquisition target or competitor of the Company, when in possession of material non-public information concerning any such other company obtained in the course of his or her employment with, or service to, the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

 

D.Specific Policies

 

  1. Black-out Periods.

 

All Directors and executive officers of the Company and its subsidiaries, as well as certain key employees, as listed on Schedule A hereto (as may be amended from time to time by the Chief Financial Officer), as well as any family members or other persons that reside in the same household as those persons (all of the foregoing being “Restricted Persons”) are subject to additional restrictions on their ability to engage in purchase or sale transactions involving the Company’s securities. Restricted Persons are more likely to have access to Inside Information regarding the Company because of their positions or affiliations with the Company and, as a result, their trades in the Company’s securities are more likely to be subject to greater scrutiny. Accordingly, Restricted Persons are prohibited from trading in the Company’s securities during the period beginning on the 15th day of the last month of each fiscal quarter and ending two (2) trading days following public disclosure of the financial results for that quarter or the full year. Furthermore, a Restricted Person who is in possession of any material nonpublic information should not trade in the Company’s securities until the information has been made publicly available or is no longer material.

 

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In addition, from time to time, the Company may impose special black-out periods on Restricted Persons and other employees of the Company if, in the judgment of the Chief Financial Officer, it is likely that such person or persons have become aware of significant corporate developments that have not yet been disclosed to the public, even when trading otherwise may be permitted. In the event that certain Restricted Persons or other employees of the Company become subject to a special black-out period, such persons are prohibited from (i) trading in the Company’s securities, and (ii) disclosing to others the fact they are subject to such special black-out period. These special black-out periods may vary in length and may or may not be broadly communicated to Covered Persons. This restriction does not apply to transactions made under a Rule 10b5-1 plan approved in accordance with a 10b5-1 Pre-Planned Trading Programs Policy adopted by the Company. The Company would re-open trading at the beginning of the 3rd trading day following the date of public disclosure of such significant corporate developments.

 

  2. “Tipping” of Information.

 

Covered Persons may not disclose, convey or “tip” Inside Information to any person by providing them with Inside Information other than to disclose on a “need to know” basis to officers and employees of the Company or outside advisors in the course of performing their duties for the Company. When sharing Inside Information with other officers and employees of the Company or outside advisors, or other persons involved in the business and affairs of the Company, such information should be confined to as small a group as possible. Unlawful tipping includes passing on Inside Information to friends, family members or acquaintances under circumstances that suggest that persons subject to this Policy were trying to help the recipients of such information to make a profit or avoid a loss by trading in the Company’s securities based on such information.

 

  3. Pre-clearance.

 

Under certain circumstances, the Chief Financial Officer may authorize the immediate release of material non-public information. If disclosure is authorized, the form and content of all public disclosures shall be pre-cleared by the Chief Financial Officer. A Restricted Person must obtain prior clearance from the Chief Financial Officer (or, if the Restricted Person is the Chief Financial Officer, from the Chief Executive Officer) before such Restricted Person makes any purchases or sales of the Company’s securities, regardless of whether or not a black-out period is then in effect. In evaluating each proposed transaction, the Chief Financial Officer (or, if the Restricted Person is the Chief Financial Officer, from the Chief Executive Officer) will consult as necessary with senior management and outside counsel before clearing any proposed trade. Clearance of a transaction is valid for no more than the five (5) business day period immediately following receipt by the Restricted Person of such clearance. If clearance is denied, the fact of such denial must be kept confidential by the person requesting such clearance. Restricted Persons do not need to receive pre-clearance for trades pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan, approved in accordance with a 10b5-1 Pre-Planned Trading Programs Policy adopted by the Company, which is set forth in Schedule B hereto.

 

E.Compliance

 

All Covered Persons must promptly report any trading in the Company’s securities by any Covered Person, or any disclosure of Inside Information or material non-public information concerning other companies by such Covered Person, that such person has reason to believe may violate this Policy or federal or state securities laws.

 

Persons in possession of Inside Information when their employment or service terminates may not trade in the Company’s securities until that information has become public or is no longer material.

 

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F.Additional Information

 

  1. What is Inside Information?

 

Inside Information” is material information about the Company that is not available to the public. Information generally becomes available to the public when it has been disclosed by the Company or third parties in a press release or other authorized public statement, including any filing with the SEC. In general, information is considered to have been made available to the public on the 2nd trading day after the formal release of the information. In other words, there is a presumption that the public needs approximately one complete trading day to receive and absorb such information.

 

  2. What is Material Information?

 

As a general rule, information about the Company is “material” if it could reasonably be expected to affect someone’s decision to buy, hold or sell the Company’s securities. In particular, information is considered to be material if its disclosure to the public would be reasonably likely to affect (i) an investor’s decision to buy or sell the securities of the company to which the information relates, or (ii) the market price of that company’s securities. While it is not possible to identify in advance all information that will be deemed to be material, some examples of such information would include the following:

 

significant changes in financial results and/or financial condition and financial projections;
   
major new contracts or leases, or the possible loss of business;
   
changes in dividend policy, the declaration of a stock split or an offering of additional securities;
   
stock redemption or repurchase programs;
   
changes in management or control;
   
change in auditors or notification that the auditor’s reports may no longer be relied upon;
   
significant mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations, dispositions of assets or joint ventures;
   
significant litigation, investigations or regulatory developments;
   
significant increases or decreases in the amount of outstanding securities or indebtedness;
   
write-ups or write downs of assets or changes in accounting methods;
   
actual or projected changes in industry circumstances or competitive conditions that could significantly affect the Company’s revenues, earnings, financial position or future prospects; and
   
transactions with Directors, officers or principal security holders.

 

It can sometimes be difficult to know whether information would be considered “material.” The determination of whether information is material is almost always clearer after the fact, when the effect of that information on the market can be quantified. Although you may have information about the Company that you do not consider to be material, federal regulators and others may conclude (with the benefit of hindsight) that such information was material. Therefore, trading in the Company’s securities when you possess non-public information about the Company can be risky. When doubt exists, the information should be presumed to be material. If you are unsure whether you are in possession of material non-public information, you should consult with the Chief Financial Officer, prior to engaging in, or entering into an agreement, understanding or arrangement to engage in, a purchase or sale transaction of any of the Company’s securities.

 

  3. What is the Penalty for Insider Trading?

 

Trading on Inside Information is a crime. The consequences of insider trading and tipping are severe and may, in some cases, be applied to the Company as well as to the individual who illegally trades or tips. Possible consequences include criminal prosecution with the potential for prison terms and additional fines if convicted, civil penalties, termination of employment and personal embarrassment resulting from adverse publicity.

 

If you have any questions with regard to this Policy, you should consult with the Chief Financial Officer.

 

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SCHEDULE A

 

RESTRICTED PERSONS

 

All Directors of the Company;
   
All officers of the Company;
   
All employees of the Company that provide financial or accounting services to the Company; and
   
Any other persons designated by the Chief Financial Officer, from time to time, as set forth below:

 

 
 

 

SCHEDULE B

 

RULE 10B5-1 PRE-PLANNED TRADING PROGRAMS

 

1. Introduction

 

The Company has adopted a written Policy on Inside Information and Insider Trading (the “Insider Trading Policy”), to which this “Rule 10b5-1 Pre-Planned Trading Programs” is an attachment, containing certain basic principles and policies concerning the trading by officers, directors and employees of the Company in the securities of the Company. This sets forth the Company’s policy concerning Rule 10b5-1 pre-planned trading programs by the Company’s directors, officers and employees that have been pre-cleared by the Chief Financial Officer as provided below.

 

Notwithstanding any other guidelines contained in the Insider Trading Policy to the contrary, it shall not be a violation of the Insider Trading Policy for the Company’s directors, officers and employees to sell (or purchase) securities of the Company under certain pre-planned trading programs adopted to purchase or sell securities in the future which pre-planned trading programs (i) are in compliance with Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and (ii) have been pre-cleared in advance, in writing, by the Chief Financial Officer (or, if the person implementing such program is the Chief Financial Officer, by the Chief Executive Officer). To initiate any transactions under this exception, a director, officer or employee (a “person” for purposes of this attachment only) must comply with each of the following elements:

 

(a) While not in possession of material non-public information, the person must (1) enter into a binding contract to purchase or sell securities; (2) instruct another person to purchase or sell securities for the person’s account; or (3) adopt a written plan for purchasing or selling the securities (a “Trading Program”).

 

(b) The Trading Program must be in writing and must specify the following: (1) the number of securities to be bought or sold; (2) the prices at which the securities will be bought or sold; and (3) the timing of the purchases or sales. The required information regarding amount, price and date may be included by a formula, algorithm or other means. The insider must refrain from attempting to influence how, when or whether transactions will be made pursuant to the Trading Program.

 

(c) The Trading Program cannot be entered into as part of a plan or scheme to evade the prohibitions on insider trading under the federal securities laws. Therefore, although modifications to an existing Trading Program are not prohibited, a Trading Program should be adopted with the intention that it will be amended or modified infrequently, if at all, since changes to the Trading Program could raise issues as to the individual’s good faith.

 

(d) No person purchasing or selling securities under a Trading Program may take (or modify existing) hedging positions to account for his or her planned purchases or sales.

 

(e) Any person wishing to proceed under the Trading Program exception (or to modify or terminate a previously adopted Trading Program) must first obtain written pre-clearance from the Chief Financial Officer (or, if the person implementing the Trading Program is the Chief Financial Officer, from the Chief Financial Officer). This pre-clearance requirement will permit the Company to review the proposed Trading Program as to compliance with applicable securities laws (including Rule 10b5-1), the Insider Trading Policy and the best interests of the Company, with a view toward avoiding unnecessary litigation and other consequences detrimental to the Company and the person seeking to avail himself or herself of this exception. The Company therefore reserves the right to pre-clear or not pre-clear any proposed Trading Program (or the modification of any existing Trading Program) in its sole and absolute discretion based on, among other factors, policies and criteria adopted by the Company from time to time, market conditions, legal and regulatory considerations, and the potential impact of any such Trading Program on any actual or prospective transactions (including the offering of securities) to which the Company is or may be a party.

 

 
 

 

(f) The Company reserves the right not to pre-clear any proposed Trading Program (or the modification of any existing Trading Program) unless it includes the following elements, as well as such additional terms and conditions as the Company may require from time to time:

 

There is no material non-public information at the time a person wishes to enter into a Trading Program (or to modify or terminate a previously adopted Trading Program). If there is any such material non-public information, the Company may delay its pre-clearance of the Trading Program until the information has been disclosed. The Company may also require an interval between the adoption of the Trading Program and the first trade under such Trading Program.
   
Under appropriate circumstances, the Company may wish to make a public announcement of the Trading Program at the time of adoption.
   
The proposed Trading Program contains procedures to ensure prompt compliance with (i) any reporting requirements under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, (ii) SEC Rule 144 or Rule 145 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to any sales under the Trading Program, and (iii) any suspension of trading or other trading restrictions that the Company determines to impose on sales under a pre-cleared Rule 10b5-1 Trading Program, under applicable law or in connection with an offering by the Company of securities, including without limitation lock-up or affiliate letters required in connection with a proposed merger, acquisition or distribution of Company securities or any restrictions on or suspensions of trading imposed by applicable authorities (including the SEC or other governmental authority, or any stock exchange, automated quotation system or other self-regulated organization that promulgates rules to which the Company is subject from time to time).

 

(g) Each person understands that the pre-clearance or adoption of a pre-planned selling program in no way reduces or eliminates such person’s obligations under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, as amended, including such person’s disclosure and short-swing trading liabilities thereunder. If any questions arise, such person should consult with his or her own counsel prior to entering into a Trading Program.