SicommNet’s Code Of Business Ethics |
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| SicommNet’s Code of
Business Ethics (the “Code”) applies to all directors, officers,
employees, representatives, and consultants of SicommNet and its subsidiaries
(included in the term “Professional Colleagues” in this Code).
Each Professional Colleague is expected to know, understand and abide
by proper and legal business practices, and perform under a standard of
professional behavior that adheres to high principals of SicommNet’s
Code of Business Ethics. Each Professional Colleague is responsible for
his/her own conduct, and managers are expected to lead by example.
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Act
with Integrity |
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Be Honest and ethical
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| Honest and ethical behavior is the foundation of any business relationship. This means avoiding actions that are dishonest or that may defraud or harm SicommNet, its customers, partners, vendors, consultants or Professional Colleagues. It also includes being truthful and avoiding actions like falsifying, misleading, or misrepresenting information provided to others, including government officials, in connection with SicommNet’s business.
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Maintain accurate record;
make accurate communications |
| As SicommNet’s Professional Colleagues, each of us has the direct role in helping to maintain the company’s financial integrity. All documents, records, accounts, statements, and transactions related to the company and its business must be recorded and maintained fully, fairly, accurately, and in a timely fashion. SicommNet financial statements and public and private communications must be understandable, and must not be false or contain misrepresentations or omissions that result in misleading communications. All assets, liabilities and transactions of the company must be recorded in the company’s financial records and be properly disclosed. Undisclosed and unrecorded side-letters, i.e., hidden arrangements that alter the company’s obligations, are prohibited. In addition, each Professional Colleague is responsible for compliance with the company’s time off and expense reimbursement policies and for submitting accurate reports of time off and business expenses consistent with these policies
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Avoid actual or potential
conflicts of interests. |
| Conflicts of interest can compromise a Professional Colleague’s business ethics. A conflict of interest exists when a Professional Colleague’s loyalty or actions are divided between the company on the one hand and the Professional Colleague (or a member of the Professional Colleague’s family), a competitor, supplier, customer, or other third party on the other hand. Professional Colleagues and their immediate families are expected to avoid situations that create an actual or potential conflict between the Professional Colleague’s (or other party’s) personal interest and the interest of the company. .
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Gifts and entertainment
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| Professional
Colleagues may entertain, or be entertained by current or prospective
customers, suppliers or vendors, where the entertainment, typically a
meal at a restaurant or attendance at an event or seminar, is intended
to foster a better working relationship and the event or entertainment
is consistent with reasonable business practices, provided that it is
not illegal or prohibited under applicable laws and regulations. Please
note that many seemingly immaterial forms of “entertainment”
may be unlawful if the subject customer, supplier or vendor is a governmental
or quasi-governmental entity. If you are uncertain about the legality
of entertaining or being entertained by any current or prospective customers,
suppliers or vendors, please seek the advice of your supervisor or a member
of the company’s senior management prior to engaging in such
activity.
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Investment and other
interests in Firms with which SicommNet does business |
| Professional
Colleagues should not do business on behalf of SicommNet with a supplier
in which the Professional Colleague or the Professional Colleague’s
immediate family member has an interest, without first disclosing the
relationship to the general counsel and obtaining the general counsel’s
consent and your supervisor or SicommNet’s senior management to
do business with the supplier.
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Other Employment |
| SicommNet
expects its Professional Colleagues to devote their full work time, energies,
abilities and attentions to the fullest extent of their assignments to
SicommNet’s business. The pursuit of other activities that may potentially
interfere with this obligation should be undertaken only after disclosure
to and consent of the Vice President to whom you or your group reports,
except where different reporting is required under this policy. Receipt
of compensation from a third party for activities undertaken for SicommNet
is prohibited.
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Opportunities that
benefit SicommNet |
| There may be financial or other investment or business opportunities that you become aware of in the course of your work for the company or service on its Board that would benefit SicommNet. If management is not already aware of the investment or opportunity, you must inform the Vice President to whom you or your group reports, of the investment or opportunity. Thereafter, the Board will determine whether SicommNet will pursue the investment or opportunity. You must not make the investment yourself or otherwise take advantage of the opportunity unless the company declines or you obtain permission from the general counsel (or in the case of the Board members, from the Board), and it is otherwise not a conflict of interest under this policy.
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Act Legally
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Unauthorized use of
others’ intellectual properties. |
| SicommNet
expects other companies to respect its intellectual property rights and
itself has a policy that prohibits unauthorized use of copyrighted, patented
or other proprietary material or information belonging to others. SicommNet
also prohibits, in the course of doing work for SicommNet, the use of
software or other proprietary rights of third parties without authorization
or a license to do so, or for purposes other than the purposes for which
such software or other proprietary rights have been authorized or licensed.
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Foreign corrupt practices
act (FCPA) |
| The FCPA prohibits American companies in all countries in which they are doing business from directly or indirectly making certain payment to foreign government, governmental entities, agents, or their Professional Colleagues, regardless of whether such payment or gifts are “standard” practice in the particular country or region.
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Antitrust Compliance
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| Professional Colleague should not discuss the pricing of SicommNet products and services with competitors or the terms under which SicommNet may bid for a perspective customers business. If you are present at any discussion with competitors in which prices or terms are discussed, contact SicommNet’s general counsel immediately.
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Confidentiality. |
| Professional Colleagues may be exposed to sensitive information about the company’s performance or strategic plan before the information becomes public (“Inside Information”). The premature disclosure of such Inside Information could have a materially adverse effect on the company’s business. Accordingly, disclosure of Inside Information is strictly prohibited and every Professional Colleague of SicommNet has a legal obligation to keep Inside Information confidential and not to disclose such information to anyone before the information becomes public.
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Other laws and regulations |
| Along with
the laws and regulations identified above, SicommNet Professional Colleagues
have an obligation to comply with all other applicable laws and regulations
including those respecting work place and privacy rights, export restrictions,
and other laws that are specific to a particular country or jurisdiction.
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Act Responsibly |
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Company resources |
| SicommNet assigns to its Professional Colleagues equipment, systems, facilities and other resources that Professional Colleagues need to do their job effectively and efficiently. SicommNet resources should not be abused or neglected. Professional Colleagues are expected to follow the company policies regarding acceptable use of information systems. All company property is tracked by SicommNet. Unclaimed, obsolete or damaged property should be deposited with the SicommNet IT department. Managers are responsible for ensuring that when a professional relationship is terminated and the Professional Colleague ceases his/her work for SicommNet, all the assets assigned to the Professional Colleague (e.g. cell phones, computers and its peripherals, home fax, any company credit card, and membership card) are returned to SicommNet.
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SicommNet intellectual
property |
| SicommNet maintains a competitive advantage because SicommNet has certain copyrights and other intellectual property rights to its software products and its business generally that only SicommNet can use. Providing access to others to SicommNet products or their source code, or other aspects of SicommNet’s intellectual property, except to the extent that the company policies and approved business practices allow it, could impair SicommNet’s ability to compete and reduce the value of its intellectual property. Accordingly, providing such unauthorized access is strictly prohibited.
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Company Funds |
| No funds of the company can be used for any unlawful purposes, or to improperly influence or attempt to improperly influence any other person. No Professional Colleague can authorize a payment to be made from company funds for any purpose other than described in the supporting documentation for the payment.
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Loans |
| SicommNet will not make personal loans to directors or officers of the company.
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Enforcement of the
Code of Business Ethics |
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There are no exceptions
to compliance with the code of business ethics |
| If you feel that there is a reason to make some exceptions, or if you have any questions regarding this policy, please seek appropriate legal advice from SicommNet’s general counsel.
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Determining whether
a conflict of interest exists; modification to resolve conflict |
| Professional
Colleagues who are unsure whether a certain transaction, activity, or
relationship constitutes a conflict of interest must communicate with
the general counsel promptly to discuss the potential conflict or obtain
a determination as to whether there is a potential conflict, and if there
is, what action, if any, is required to resolve the conflict.
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Reporting |
| Every Professional Colleague has a duty to report violations of the Code of Business Ethics to the general counsel immediately after the Professional Colleague becomes aware of the violation.
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Certification |
| All directors, officers, employees, representatives, consultants, and other Professional Colleagues of SicommNet must sign a pledge to comply with the Code of Business Ethics. From time to time, Professional Colleagues may be asked to certify that they are in compliance with the Code of Business Ethics and are not aware of any violations of the policy.
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No retaliation |
| SicommNet pledges not to retaliate or threaten to retaliate against any employee who reports in good faith an actual or potential violation of this code or anything covered under it. This means that the company will not tolerate harassment of, or adverse employment decisions against, an employee for having made such a report in good faith. This pledge does not mean that an employee who himself or herself violates the code and reports it will not be subject to disciplinary actions.
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Determination of Violations |
| The general counsel, or in the case of executive officers and directors, the audit committee or the Board of Directors in consultation with the general counsel, will make a determination as to whether a Professional Colleague has violated the company Code of Business Ethics. The Professional Colleague involved will have the opportunity to communicate his or her position prior to such a decision.
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Disciplinary Actions |
| Failure to adhere to these guidelines, including failure to refrain from, or to disclose, any conflict of interest or to seek approval of a covered transaction, may result in termination of employment or termination of any applicable contract(s) with the company.
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#53C19 - 01/2005 |
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