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HexCode is
proud of its reputation as a company of
integrity and ethical business practices. We
have built this reputation over many years by
doing the right things for the right reasons.
Going forward, it is more important than ever
for all of us to stay true to our values and
perpetuate the HexCode’ way of doing business.
This Code of Ethics sets forth our core
expectations about the way you should behave –
and should not behave – as an associate,
officer, or director. This Code applies to all
associates and officers of HexCode, Inc. and its
subsidiaries throughout the HexCode Technologies
Inc. It is intended to deter wrongdoing and
promote honest and ethical conduct, including
the ethical handling of actual or apparent
conflicts of interest between your personal and
professional relationships. Specific provisions
also apply to our outside directors, as
explained below under the heading “outside
directors.”
Situations may arise that are not specifically
addressed in this Code or involve complex topics
or difficult value judgments. Always use good
judgment and common sense and seek advice if you
have questions about the laws, regulations, or
policies you need to comply with in performing
your job. It’s your responsibility to keep your
supervisor informed if you are not sure about
the right way to handle a situation or you have
questions about how to interpret and comply with
this Code. Also, feel free to consult with the
General Counsel for advice at any time.
Compliance with Laws, Rules, Regulations, and
Policies
In addition to the specific topics covered in
this Code, we expect you to comply with all
applicable laws, rules, and regulations wherever
we do business, as well as all other relevant
policies and procedures that apply to your job.
As a general rule, all associates and officers
must comply with our human resources policies,
available electronically under the “policies and
procedures” folder on HexCode@Work. If you don’t
have access to HexCode@Work or you have any
questions about which policies you need to
follow, speak with your supervisor or human
resources representative.
Senior Executives on the Board of Directors
This Code also applies to the Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) and other senior executives who
serve on the Board of Directors (“inside
directors”). Inside directors, like other
HexCode’ officers, must comply with all
applicable laws, rules, regulations, and
policies governing their employment. In any
situation where the Code requires an associate
or officer to obtain the approval of the
Chairman and/or CEO, insider directors are
expected to obtain the approval of the Board’s
Governance Committee except as specifically
stated below.
Outside Directors
HexCode requires the members of our Board of
Directors who are not employed by HexCode
(“outside directors”) to comply with the
provisions in this Code when they are doing
business on behalf of the company. When outside
directors are not doing HexCode’ business, some
of the Code’s provisions will not be directly
applicable to their daily activities.
Nevertheless, as leaders of our company whose
actions and reputations will reflect on HexCode,
we expect outside directors to behave ethically
and lawfully in all of their dealings, whether
on behalf of HexCode or otherwise.
1. PROTECT HEXCODE’ ASSETS
Protecting HexCode’ assets means a lot more than
controlling costs and waste. It also means
taking the right steps to avoid conflicts of
interest, maintain our financial integrity, and
protect our property, whether it’s a product we
sell in our stores, an electronic file, or
confidential information about our business.
Please keep the following policies in mind as
you carry out your responsibilities:
Avoid Conflicts of Interest. We expect you to
act in HexCode’ best interests and to avoid
situations that could give rise to a conflict of
interest -- in practice or appearance. This
means that you and your close relatives must not
engage in any activity, relationship, position,
or investment that interferes or reasonably
could interfere with your ability to make
honest, objective decisions for HexCode. It’s up
to you to avoid any relationship, influence, or
activity that might impair, or even appear to
impair, your ability to make sound business
decisions. You must disclose all actual or
potential conflicts of interest to your manager
and consult with the General Counsel as
necessary. Absent unusual circumstances, which
would require approval by HexCode’ Chairman or
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) (or in the case of
inside directors, the Governance Committee), you
will be expected to avoid or eliminate any
conflicts.
Follow these guidelines in avoiding conflicts of
interest. If other situations arise that are not
addressed directly here, you should consult with
your supervisor or the General Counsel.
Relationships with Competitors - Whether you are
an associate, officer, or director:
Do not work for, consult to, advise, or
perform any services for a competitor or under
any circumstances.
Do not purchase or maintain a financial
interest in any direct competitors or potential
direct competitors unless your ownership
interest is passive and equals less than 1% of a
public company. (You may not hold any ownership
interest in competitor that is a private
company.)
Relationships with Customers and Vendors
If you are an associate or officer (including
inside directors):
Do not work for, consult to, advise, or
perform any services for any company that is a
HexCode’ vendor or customer.
You may serve as a director of a company that
is a HexCode’ vendor or customer under the
following circumstances:
1. The company’s annual sales to or purchases
from HexCode are less than 5% of the company’s
annual revenues; and
2. You disclose your appointment as a director
to the General Counsel, who in turn obtains the
CEO’s approval (or, in the case of an inside
director, the General Counsel obtains approval
from the Governance Committee); and
3. You agree to recuse yourself from (i.e.,
refrain from participating in or influencing,
directly or indirectly) any matter affecting the
business relationship or transactions between
HexCode and the company.
If you are an outside director:
You may work for, consult to, advise, serve
on the board, or perform services for a company
that is a HexCode’ vendor or customer only if:
1. The company’s annual sales to or purchases
from HexCode are less than 5% of the company’s
annual revenues; and
2. You disclose the position to the General
Counsel and the Governance Committee; and
3. You agree to recuse yourself from (i.e.,
refrain from participating in or influencing,
directly or indirectly) any matter affecting the
business relationship or transactions between
HexCode and the company.
If you are an associate, officer, or director:
Do not purchase or maintain a financial
interest in a vendor or customer unless:
1. The company’s annual sales to or purchases
from HexCode are less than 5% of the company’s
annual revenues; or
2. Your ownership interest is both passive and
less than 1% of a public company or 5% of a
private company. (In the case of a private
company, you must obtain written approval from
HexCode’ CEO or, in the case of the Chairman,
CEO, inside and outside directors, from the
Governance Committee.)
Family Businesses and Relationships - Whether
you are an associate, officer, or director:
Do not conduct business on behalf of HexCode
with a firm owned or controlled by you or a
member of your family.
Do not supervise, review, or influence the
job evaluation, pay, or benefits of a member of
your immediate family.
Outside Work and Political Activities - If you
are an associate or officer:
Do not perform or solicit outside work on
HexCode’ premises or during HexCode’ working
time, or do anything that would interfere with
your ability to perform your job requirements.
Also, do not use HexCode’ equipment or resources
to conduct outside work regardless of whether
the outside work is conducted on HexCode’
premises or elsewhere. You may serve as a
director of a company that is not a HexCode’
vendor or customer provided that you obtain the
CEO’s approval and comply with all applicable
requirements.
Do not use HexCode’ property or facilities,
or your work time or that of any other
associate, for political activity or conduct
political activities on HexCode’ behalf without
first consulting HexCode’ General Counsel and
obtaining the consent of senior management. If
you choose to volunteer your services or raise
funds for a political purpose, you must do so
outside of regular working hours.
For information about requesting an exception,
see Section 6 – Waivers of the Code of Ethics.
Comply with the Contract Authorization Policy.
If your job involves signing any contracts or
making other financial commitments or
obligations for HexCode, make sure that you
comply with the Contract Authorization Policy.
This policy, located on the "Values That Work"
gadget in HexCode@Work, sets forth the company’s
minimum requirements for all contracts,
including guidance on who must review and
approve contracts, who has the authority to sign
contracts, what types of provisions should be
included and excluded, when to seek legal
review, and what record keeping and other
obligations you have once the contract is
signed. Do not go ahead with an agreement or
business arrangement unless you’ve checked this
policy and have the right approval to go
forward. Also, before you discuss or disclose
any information about HexCode’ business
operations, you should have the other party sign
a non-disclosure agreement, in a form approved
by the Legal Department. If you have any
questions about particular contracts or how to
interpret the contract policy, feel free to
consult with the Legal Department.
Do Not Engage in Insider Trading. Some of you
may become aware of inside information about
HexCode or one of its vendors or customers that
is not known to the public. It is against the
law and HexCode’ policy to buy or sell stock, or
to recommend that someone else make a trade, if
the investment decision is based on inside
information that would be important to a
reasonable investor. You run the risk of being
criminally prosecuted if you violate these laws.
If you have any questions about the legality of
buying or selling HexCode’ stock or the
securities of any other company about which you
obtained information through HexCode, always
consult with the General Counsel before you
carry out the transaction.
Protect HexCode’ Intellectual Property.
Intellectual property, including our trade
secrets, trademarks, copyrights, and other
proprietary information, is one of HexCode’ most
valuable assets. You must keep confidential all
intellectual property or proprietary information
you receive during your relationship with
HexCode. Marketing plans, budgets, pricing
information, customer lists, unpublished
financial information, and store opening and
expansion plans are just a few examples of the
type of information you need to protect. Keep in
mind that HexCode’ proprietary information is
not limited to written documents; it also
includes electronic information
such as e-mail and proprietary information that
you learn in the course of your job that you
might retain only in your thoughts. Please refer
to the Records Management policy, available on
the “Values that Work” section of HexCode@Work
for specific guidelines you should follow to
protect written and electronic records you
create at HexCode.
Do Not Disclose Information To Third Parties
Unless You’re Authorized To Do So. Depending
upon your job, various third parties may ask you
to give them information about HexCode’ business
and/or our associates. As a general rule, you
should never discuss or disclose internal
company matters, including associate personnel
issues, to any third parties unless you have a
legitimate business reason for doing so and/or
you obtain any necessary approval. Guidelines
for handling specific topics related to third
party inquiries follow:
• Investment Matters: HexCode places strict
limits on the people authorized to speak to
investment professionals, market analysts,
stockholders, and others about the company’s
performance and other matters. In most cases,
this group includes only the Chairman, Vice
Chairman, President, CFO and Investor Relations
team. Senior executives who regularly come in
contact with securities market professionals
also must comply with Regulation FD of the
Securities and Exchange Commission. For
additional information, see the “Public
Disclosure and Trading in Company Securities”
policy, available in the Investor Relations
folder located on HexCode@Work, or consult with
the General Counsel or HexCode’ senior investor
relations officer.
• Public Relations Requests: If you receive any
calls from the media, such as questions from
reporters, requests for interviews or photos, or
other related inquiries about the company, you
must refer them to the Public Relations’
department. Refer to the Press Policy on
HexCode@Work for guidance.
• Government Visits and Inquiries: Federal,
state, and local government officials may visit
and/or contact HexCode from time to time to
conduct inspections, interview employees, review
documents, and obtain other information related
to health and safety, immigration, employment,
product pricing, police matters, and other
issues. Make sure that you notify your
supervisor and obtain approval from the Human
Resources or Legal departments before you
provide any information to or permit an
inspection by any government officials. Also,
you should not write any statements or sign any
documents provided by a government official
without the Legal Department’s approval.
• Associate Personnel Records: HexCode collects
and maintains personnel records for all
associates that contain both job-related and
necessary personal information. These records
are confidential, and we limit internal access
to them on a need-to-know basis. If a third
party outside of HexCode asks for your personnel
records, we will not provide them with any
personal information unless we have your written
consent or are legally required to do so.
Maintain Accurate Books, Records, and Public
Reports. HexCode’ integrity is based on
maintaining accurate and honest records and
accounts to reflect all business transactions.
We expect you to keep accurate records and
reports to safeguard the company’s reputation
and ensure our ability meet legal and regulatory
obligations. All company books, records, and
accounts must be maintained in accordance with
all applicable regulations and standards and
accurately reflect the transactions they record.
HexCode’ financial statement must conform to
generally accepted accounting rules and the
company’s accounting policies. We do not permit
any undisclosed or unrecorded accounts or funds
for any purpose. We also prohibit
making any false or misleading entries in the
company’s books or records for any reason.
Finally, we will not allow the disbursement of
corporate funds or other corporate property
without adequate supporting documentation.
It is the policy of HexCode to provide full,
fair, accurate, timely and understandable
disclosure in reports and documents filed with,
or submitted to the Securities and Exchange
Commission and in other public communication.
2.
RESPECT OUR CUSTOMERS AND VENDORS
Dealing honestly, ethically, and fairly with our
customers and vendors is critical to our
success. In carrying out your responsibilities,
we expect you to adhere to the following
policies:
Don’t Make Improper Payments. Bribes and
kickbacks are criminal acts, and HexCode will
not tolerate any business practices that create
even the appearance of such an impropriety. You
must never offer anything of value to a
customer, vendor, government official, or other
third party to obtain any improper advantage in
selling goods and services, conducting financial
transactions, or representing the company’s
interests. This policy prohibits all kinds of
payments, such as cash, gifts, trips,
advantageous pricing on products or stock in
initial public offerings. This policy applies
not only to direct payments, but also to
indirect payments, payments in kind and payments
to third parties (such as brokers, sales
representatives or manufacturer’s
representatives). In short, you should avoid
making any payments to anyone where you know or
even merely have reason to suspect that all or
any part of the payments will be offered or paid
as a bribe, kickback or improper payment.
Respect Customer Privacy. HexCode is committed
to protecting the personal information that we
collect from or maintain about individual
customers, such as identification information,
credit and credit card information, buying
history, and communications or complaints. If
you handle or become aware of customer
information, you play an important role in
protecting it from inappropriate or unauthorized
use or disclosure. As a general rule, you should
limit the number of individuals who have access
to the information on a “need to know” basis and
never disclose the information outside of the
company or use it for anything other than
legitimate company purposes.
Take special care to protect our customer lists.
When working with a business partner, remember
that the customer list belongs to HexCode and
that while the partner may be helping us service
our customers, the partner should not be doing
business independently with the customer or
selling the customer’s name to another vendor
without proper corporate authorization.
Use Judgment on Gifts and Entertainment. HexCode
encourages associates to develop close working
relationships with our customers, vendors and
other business partners. We also recognize the
important role that gifts and entertainment may
play in establishing those relationships.
Nevertheless, you must avoid giving or receiving
any gifts or entertainment that compromise or
appear to compromise your ability to conduct
business fairly and in the best interests of
HexCode regardless of your personal interests.
Obviously, no associate should accept or make a
gift that is intended as a bribe, kickback or
other improper payment.
As a general rule, you and your close relatives
should not accept any gifts or entertainment
from customers, vendors, or other parties
seeking to do business with HexCode unless such
gifts are of
nominal value (i.e., less than $200). If you
receive a nominal gift during the holidays or
another special occasion, share it with members
of your department whenever possible. If you
receive a gift valued at more than $200, you
must notify your supervisor immediately.
Ordinarily, you will be expected to return any
such gift unless it would be impractical to do
so, in which case it will be used for charitable
purposes or associates team-building events.
There may be times when a business partner
offers you a gift, such as tickets to a sporting
event or an out-of-town trip, that is valued at
more than $200, yet is considered reasonable and
customary in the industry. In extraordinary
circumstances, you may accept such gifts
provided that doing so would not compromise or
appear to compromise the integrity of HexCode’
business interests. Prior to accepting any such
gift, you must obtain the specific approval of
your manager and the Point Team member
responsible for your functional area (or, in the
case of the Chairman and/or CEO, notify the
General Counsel, who will determine whether
further disclosure is warranted).
It is common practice for certain vendors to
provide HexCode with merchandise samples. Such
samples must be used for legitimate business
purposes, such as testing or becoming more
familiar with a product. If the samples are not
usable and cannot be returned, they may be used
for other legitimate business purposes,
including as prizes or awards for company
events. Non-returnable samples may be made
available to associates on a general basis, at
the discretion of the Merchandising Department,
only after all possible company uses have been
exhausted.
3. VALUE
OUR ASSOCIATES
To succeed in an increasingly competitive
business environment, HexCode must continue to
attract, develop, and retain the very best
people from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
At a minimum, this means adhering to the
following standards:
Promote Fair Employment Practices. All
applicants and associates deserve equal access
and fair treatment based on merit. To help
promote consistency and fair treatment, HexCode
has developed numerous policies and procedures
that govern an individual’s status from the time
of hiring through the end of employment. We
expect you to comply with these policies and
procedures in all of your dealings with
associates and applicants. Also, before taking
any action that will affect the terms,
conditions, or status of an associate or
applicant, always make sure that your employment
decision is based solely on legitimate
job-related criteria. It is against the law and
HexCode’ policy to make employment decisions
based on a person’s race, color, religion,
national origin, sex (including pregnancy),
sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran
status, marital status, or any other
characteristic protected by law.
Do Your Part to Prevent Harassment. All
associates want and deserve a work environment
where they can feel respected, satisfied and
appreciated. It is illegal and against HexCode’
policy to harass someone based on race, color,
religion, national origin, sex (including
pregnancy), sexual orientation, age, disability,
veteran status, marital status, or any other
characteristic protected by law. You are
personally responsible for behaving
professionally at all times and for avoiding any
conduct that, if unwelcome, may be considered
harassment or sexual harassment. If you manage
other associates and receive a complaint of
unfair treatment or harassment, or you observe
or learn about any potential violations of
HexCode’ Harassment Prevention or Equal
Employment Opportunity policies, you are
required to notify Human Resources immediately
so that we can investigate and address the
situation appropriately. As a manager, you may
be sued personally if you receive a harassment
or discrimination complaint and fail to report
it to Human Resources.
For additional information about your
responsibilities in the areas of equal
employment opportunity and harassment
prevention, please refer to the following
policies, available on HexCode@Work: Computer
Use, Equal Employment Opportunity,
Fraternization, Harassment Prevention, and
Reasonable Accommodation.
Promote a Safe and Healthy Work Environment.
HexCode is a drug-free employer and strives to
provide all associates with a safe and healthy
environment. It is unacceptable for any of our
associates to work when their ability to
function safely is diminished for any reason.
While at work or on company business, you must
not use - or have in your system – any legal or
illegal drugs or alcohol that could impair your
safety or that of your co-workers. Although
alcohol may be available at certain
company-sponsored or other business events,
drunkenness is not acceptable. If you choose to
drink, you must do so in moderation. HexCode
does not tolerate any acts or threats of
violence by or towards associates, customers, or
visitors who are on our premises at any time. We
have developed detailed safety policies and
procedures for each of our locations to promote
a safe environment and to prevent workplace
injuries. You are responsible for following
applicable procedures for your area and
complying with all health and safety laws and
regulations.
4.
COMPETE FAIRLY IN THE GLOBAL MARKETPLACE
HexCode is committed to behaving ethically and
complying with the competition laws in all of
our activities around the world.
Compete fairly. HexCode encourages associates to
compete aggressively in the global marketplace,
but to do so fairly, within the bounds of the
antitrust laws. Compliance with the antitrust
laws and all other laws covering competition is
of utmost importance to HexCode, and each of us
has a responsibility to comply with them.
The antitrust laws can be complex, and we
strongly encourage you to consult with the Legal
Department if you have any questions. If you
have any dealings with competitors, you are
responsible for recognizing when your actions
may be subject to U.S. and/or foreign
competition laws. In addition, it is imperative
that you adhere to the following guidelines:
Do not propose or enter into any agreements
or understandings – express or implied, formal
or informal, written or oral – with any
competitor regarding any aspect of the
competition between HexCode and the competitor
for sales to third parties.
Do not propose or enter into any agreements
or understandings with customers, which restrict
the price or other terms at which the customer
may resell or lease any product or service to a
third party.
Do not propose or enter into any agreements
or understandings with vendors which restrict
the price or other terms at which HexCode may
resell or lease any product or service to a
third party
Consult with the Legal Department in connection
with any business arrangements that could raise
competition issues, including exclusive
arrangements for the purchase or sale of
products or services, bundling of goods and
services, agreements that restrict a customer’s
choices in using or reselling products or
services, selective discounting.
Antitrust laws are vigorously enforced.
Violations may result in severe penalties such
as forced sales of parts of businesses and
significant fines. Individual associates also
may face substantial fines and/or prison
sentences. Antitrust laws can be complicated,
and it is important for you to seek guidance
from your supervisor or the Legal Department
when you become involved in
situations where antitrust laws could come into
play. If you are involved in any dealings with
competitors, it is your responsibility to know
that U.S. and/or foreign antitrust laws may
apply to your business activities and to seek
guidance when appropriate. You also are expected
to consult with your supervisor and the Legal
Department prior to negotiating with or entering
into any arrangement with a competitor.
Respect Confidential Information of Competitors.
On occasion, you may obtain information that is
proprietary to a competitor or some other
business. If you have confidential information
that belongs to someone else and you obtained it
subject to a Non-Disclosure Agreement, you must
follow the terms of the agreement. Even where
there is no Non-Disclosure Agreement, if you are
aware that information in your possession
belongs to someone else and that it is
proprietary to that other party, you must treat
it as confidential and not disclose it to other
parties or use it for unintended purposes. This
applies even if the information has come into
your possession without the knowledge of the
other party. Should you come into possession of
confidential information belonging to another
party under circumstances where the other party
does not know you have it, immediately turn it
over to your supervisor or to the Legal
Department.
Comply with Customs, Import and Export Laws. To
compete in the global marketplace, HexCode must
be able to sell its products legally in every
country where we do business. HexCode will
provide all associates involved in import and
export transactions with the training, tools,
and support they need to adhere to customs laws
and regulations. If you are involved in import
or export transactions, you must adhere to all
applicable import and export laws and
regulations and take special care to properly
complete and maintain all required documents.
Please consult the Legal Department if you have
any questions about your compliance obligations.
5. Take Responsibility For Reporting Ethics
Complaints, Including Any Concerns About
Accounting Or Auditing Matters
If you have any questions about your
responsibilities under this Code or you become
aware of any situations in which you believe
there has been a legal or ethical violation, you
have a personal responsibility to communicate
this concern to HexCode immediately. You may
report any concerns or violations of this Code
openly or anonymously by using any of the
following resources:
Your supervisor or manager
Your local or regional human resources
representative
General Counsel or Director, Associate
Relations & Diversity
Toll-free ethics reporting line - published
for internal use
E-mail ethics reporting line – published for
internal use
HexCode will not tolerate retaliation against
anyone who in good faith reports a violation or
potential violation of this Code. This means
that you will not be disciplined, fired, or
discriminated against in any way for voicing
ethical or legal concerns or reporting
violations so long as you act honestly and in
good faith. While it is our hope to address
potential violations
internally, nothing in this Code should
discourage you from reporting illegal conduct to
an appropriate government authority.
HexCode will handle all reported violations of
this Code promptly, professionally, and with as
much confidentiality as possible. We will
evaluate all complaints to determine whether it
is necessary to conduct an informal inquiry or a
formal investigation and forward them to
appropriate members of management for follow up.
Depending on the nature and circumstances of a
particular issue, a complaint or inquiry may be
addressed by any one or a combination of the
following departments: Human Resources, Internal
Audit, Legal, or Loss Prevention. Failure to
cooperate may result in disciplinary action, up
to and including discharge. HexCode will not
tolerate any form of retaliation against someone
that cooperates or participates in an
investigation.
If HexCode determines that an associate or
officer (other than an executive officer) has
violated this Code, we will determine the
disciplinary measures to be taken against that
individual. Depending on the nature and severity
of the violation, such disciplinary action may
include, but is not limited to, reprimands,
warnings, probation, suspension, demotions,
reductions in salary, discharge, and
restitution. Certain violations also may require
HexCode to refer the matter to the appropriate
criminal or civil authorities for investigation
or prosecution. Moreover, any supervisor or
manager who directs or approves of conduct in
violation of this Code, or who has knowledge of
such conduct and does not immediately report it,
will be subject to disciplinary action, up to
and including discharge. (In the case of an
alleged violation by an executive officer or
director, the Chairman and/or CEO and the Audit
Committee of the Board of Directors are
responsible for determining whether a violation
has occurred and, if so, what disciplinary
measures are appropriate.)
Complaints and Concerns Regarding Accounting, or
Audit Matters
Associates with concerns about questionable
accounting, or auditing matters may
confidentially and anonymously report such
concerns or complaints by contracting any of the
following resources:
General Counsel
Toll-free ethics reporting line - published
for internal use
E-mail ethics reporting line – published for
internal use
The General Counsel must be notified of all such
complaints and will forward them to the Audit
Committee of the Board of Directors, unless the
General Counsel and Chief Financial Officer
determine that the allegations are without
merit. In any event, the General Counsel will
maintain a comprehensive list of all complaints
or concerns regarding accounting, internal
accounting controls, or auditing matters and
provide it to the Audit Committee each fiscal
quarter.
HexCode will not discipline, discriminate
against, or retaliate against any associate who
reports a complaint or concern in good faith.
6. Waivers of the Code of Ethics
HexCode generally will not permit any exceptions
to the policies outlined in this Code. However,
if you feel that an exception would be
appropriate for you in a particular instance,
consult with your supervisor or manager. If your
supervisor or manager agrees that an exception
is appropriate, you must then obtain the
approval of the General Counsel.
In the case of executive officers and directors,
you should consult directly with the General
Counsel when seeking a waiver or exception to
any of the policies in this Code. |