This Code
of Conduct and ethics (“this Code”)
shall be called "The Code of Business Conduct
for Directors and Senior Management Personnel”
of MICRO TECHNOLOGIES (INDIA) LIMITED hereinafter
referred to as “the Company”. This
Code for Directors and Senior Management Personnel
has been framed specifically in compliance with
the provisions of Clause 49 of the Listing Agreements
entered into by the Company with the Stock Exchanges.
This code is in alignment with Company’s
Vision and Values to achieve the Mission &
Objectives and aims at enhancing ethical and
transparent process in managing the affairs
of the Company.
It shall come into force with effect from the
first day of January 2006.
Part of your job and ethical responsibility
is to help enforce this Code of Business Conduct
and Ethics. You should be alert to possible
violations and report possible violations to
the Chairman & Managing Director (“CMD”).
You must cooperate in any internal or external
investigations of possible violations. Reprisal,
threats, retribution or retaliation against
any person who has in good faith reported a
violation or a suspected violation of law, this
Code of Business Conduct or other Company policies,
or against any person who is assisting in any
investigation or process with respect to such
a violation, is prohibited.
Violations of law, this Code of Business Conduct
and Ethics, or other Company policies or procedures
should be reported to the CMD. If you find or
have concerns related to questionable accounting,
accounting controls, auditing matters, OR reporting
of fraudulent financial information to our shareholders,
government or the financial markets, OR of Grave
Misconduct i.e., conduct which results in a
violation of law by the Company or in a substantial
mismanagement of company resources and if proven
constitutes a criminal offence or reasonable
grounds for dismissal of the person engaging
in such conduct, OR conduct which is otherwise
in violation of any law or the Company’s
policies, you should promptly contact any of
the CMD, in accordance with the company’s
whistleblower policy.
You may also report your concerns anonymously
by sending an anonymous letter to the CMD. If
you have reason to believe that both of those
individuals are involved in these matters, you
should report those facts to the Audit Committee
of the Company’s Board of Directors.
Violations of law, this Code of Business Conduct
and Ethics or other Company policies or procedures
by Company employees can lead to disciplinary
action up to and including termination.
I YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE COMPANY AND ITS
SHAREHOLDERS
a. Applicable Laws
All Company employees, agents and contractors
must comply with all applicable laws, regulations,
rules and regulatory orders. Each employee,
agent and contractor must acquire appropriate
knowledge of the requirements relating to his
or her duties sufficient to enable him or her
to recognize potential dangers. Violations of
laws, regulations, rules and orders may subject
the employee, agent or contractor to individual
criminal or civil liability, as well as to discipline
by the Company. Such individual violations may
also subject the Company to civil or criminal
liability or the loss of business.
b. Conflicts of Interest
Each of us has a responsibility to the Company,
our stockholders and each other. Although this
duty does not prevent us from engaging in personal
transactions and investments, it does demand
that we avoid situations where a conflict of
interest might occur or appear to occur. The
Company is subject to scrutiny from many different
individuals and organizations. We should always
strive to avoid even the appearance of impropriety.
What constitutes conflict of interest? A conflict
of interest exists where the interests or benefits
of one person or entity conflict with the interests
or benefits of the Company. Examples include:
(i) Employment/ Outside Employment. In consideration
of your employment with the Company, you are
expected to devote your full attention to the
business interests of the Company. You are prohibited
from engaging in any activity that interferes
with your performance or responsibilities to
the Company or is otherwise in conflict with
or prejudicial to the Company. Our policies
prohibit any employee from accepting simultaneous
employment with a Company supplier, customer,
developer or competitor, or from taking part
in any activity that enhances or supports a
competitor's position. Additionally, you must
disclose to the Company any interest that you
have that may conflict with the business of
the Company. If you have any questions on this
requirement, you should contact your supervisor
or the Human Resources Department.
(ii) Outside Directorships. It is a conflict
of interest to serve as a director of any company
that competes with the Company. Our policy requires
that you obtain approval from the CMD before
accepting a directorship. Such approval may
be conditioned upon the completion of specified
actions.
(iii) Business Interests. If you are considering
investing in a Company customer, supplier, developer
or competitor, you must first take great care
to ensure that these investments do not compromise
your responsibilities to the Company. Many factors
should be considered in determining whether
a conflict exists, including the size and nature
of the investment your ability to influence
the Company’s decisions; your access to
confidential information of the Company or of
the other company; and the nature of the relationship
between the Company and the other company.
(iv) Related Parties. As a general rule, you
should avoid conducting Company business with
a relative, or with a business in which a relative
is associated in any significant role. Relatives
include spouse, siblings, children, parents,
grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles,
nieces, nephews, cousins, step relationships,
and in-laws.
If such a related party transaction is unavoidable,
you must fully disclose the nature of the related
party transaction to the Company's Chief Financial
Officer. If determined to be material to the
Company by the Chief Financial Officer, the
Company's Audit Committee must review and approve
in writing in advance such related party transactions.
The most significant related party transactions,
particularly those involving the Company's directors
or executive officers, must be reviewed and
approved in writing in advance by the Company's
Board of Directors. The Company must report
all such material related party transactions
under applicable accounting rules, SEBI, Indian
Companies Act, and regulations, and securities
market rules. Any dealings with a related party
must be conducted in such a way that no preferential
treatment is given to this business.
(v) Other Situations. Because other conflicts
of interest may arise, it would be impractical
to attempt to list all possible situations.
If a proposed transaction or situation raises
any questions or doubts in your mind you should
consult the Human Resources Department.
c. Corporate Opportunities
Employees, officers and directors may not exploit
for their own personal gain opportunities that
are discovered through the use of corporate
property, information or position unless the
opportunity is disclosed fully in writing to
the Company’s Board of Directors and the
Board of Directors declines to pursue such opportunity.
d. Protecting the Company's Confidential Information
The Company's confidential information is a
valuable asset. The Company’s confidential
information includes product architectures;
source codes; product plans and road maps; names
and lists of customers, dealers, and employees;
and financial information. This information
is the property of the Company and may be protected
by patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret
laws. All confidential information must be used
for Company business purposes only. Every employee,
agent and contractor must safeguard it. This
responsibility includes not disclosing the Company
confidential information such as information
regarding the Company's services or business
over the internet. This responsibility includes
the safeguarding, securing and proper disposal
of confidential information in accordance with
the Company's policy on Maintaining and Managing
Records. This obligation extends to confidential
information of third parties, which the Company
has rightfully received under Non-Disclosure
Agreements.
e. Company Spokespeople. All inquiries or calls
from the press and financial analysts should
be referred to the Chief Financial Officer or
Investor Relations Department. The Company has
designated its Dr. P. Sekhar, CMD and Mrs. Jayanthi
S., Director as official Company spokespeople
for financial matters. All press releases, interviews,
media replies should be pre-cleared by the CMD.
The Company has designated its Corporate Marketing
Department as official Company spokespeople
for marketing, technical and other such information.
These designees are the only people who may
communicate with the press on behalf of the
Company.
f. Obligations Under Securities Laws-"Insider"
Trading
Obligations under the Indian laws apply to everyone
as the Company is listed on the stock exchanges.
In the normal course of business, officers,
directors, employees, agents, contractors and
consultants of the Company may come into possession
of significant, sensitive information. This
information is the property of the Company you
have been entrusted with it. You may not profit
from it by buying or selling securities yourself.
Further you are not to tip others to enable
them to profit or for them to profit on your
behalf. The purpose of this policy is both to
inform you of your legal responsibilities and
to make clear to you that the misuse of sensitive
information is contrary to Company policy and
applicable Indian securities laws.
Insider trading is a crime, penalized by fines
and imprisonment for individuals. In addition,
the regulators [SEBI] may seek the imposition
of a civil penalty of up to three times the
profits made or losses avoided from the trading.
Insider traders must also disgorge any profits
made, and are often subjected to an injunction
against future violations. Finally, insider
traders may be subjected to civil liability
in private lawsuits.
Insider trading rules are strictly enforced,
even in instances when the financial transactions
seem small. The Company has imposed a trading
blackout period on members of the Board of Directors,
executive officers and all employees who, as
a consequence of their position with the Company,
are more likely to be exposed to material nonpublic
information about the Company. These directors,
executive officers and employees generally may
not trade in Company securities during the blackout
period.
For more details, and to determine if you are
restricted from trading during trading blackout
periods, you should read the Company’s
Insider Trading Rules. You should read the Insider
Trading Rules carefully, paying particular attention
to the specific policies and the potential criminal
and civil liability and/or disciplinary action
for insider trading violations. You should comply
with the Company’s Insider Trading Rules,
follow the pre-clearance procedures for trading
and trade only during a trading window.
Employees, agents and contractors of the Company
who violate this Policy will also be subject
to disciplinary action by the Company, which
may include termination of employment or of
business relationship. All questions regarding
the Company's Insider Trading Rules should be
directed to the Legal Department.
g. Prohibition Against Short Selling of Company
Stock
No Company director, officer or other employee,
agent or contractor may, directly or indirectly,
sell any equity security of the Company if he
or she (1) does not own the security sold, or
(2) if he or she owns the security, does not
deliver it against such sale (a "short
sale ") within the applicable settlement
cycle. No Company director, officer or other
employee, agent or contractor may engage in
short sales. While employees who are not executive
officers or directors are not prohibited by
law from engaging in short sales of Company's
securities, the Company has extended this prohibition
to all employees even though such wider application
is not required by the law.
II. Payments or Gifts from Others
Under no circumstances may employees, agents
or contractors accept any offer, payment, promise
to pay, or authorization to pay any money, gift,
or anything of value from customers, vendors,
consultants, etc. that is perceived as intended,
directly or indirectly, to influence any business
decision, any act or failure to act, any commitment
of fraud, or opportunity for the commission
of any fraud. Inexpensive gifts, infrequent
business meals, celebratory events and entertainment,
provided that they are not excessive or create
an appearance of impropriety, do not violate
this policy. Before accepting anything of value
from an employee of a government entity, please
contact the Human Resources Department or the
Finance Department. Questions regarding whether
a particular payment or gift violates this policy
are to be directed to Human Resources Department.
Gifts given by the Company to suppliers or customers
or received from suppliers or customers should
always be appropriate to the circumstances and
should never be of a kind that could create
an appearance of impropriety. The nature and
cost must always be accurately recorded in the
Company's books and records. Please follow the
Company’s Gift Policy in this regard.
III. DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS
The matters covered in this Code of Business
Conduct and Ethics are of the utmost importance
to the Company, its stockholders and its business
partners, and are essential to the Company's
ability to conduct its business in accordance
with its stated values. We expect all of our
employees, agents, contractors and consultants
to adhere to these rules in carrying out their
duties for the Company.
The Company will take appropriate action against
any employee, agent, contractor or consultant
whose actions are found to violate these policies
or any other policies of the Company. Disciplinary
actions may include immediate termination of
employment or business relationship at the Company's
sole discretion. Where the Company has suffered
a loss, it may pursue its remedies against the
individuals or entities responsible. Where laws
have been violated, the Company will cooperate
fully with the appropriate authorities.
VI. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT OF CODE OF BUSINESS
CONDUCT AND ETHICS
I have received and read the Company's Code
of Business Conduct and Ethics. I understand
the standards and policies contained in the
Company Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
and understand that there may be additional
policies or laws specific to my job. I further
agree to comply with the Company Code of Business
Conduct and Ethics.
If I have questions concerning the meaning or
application of the Company Code of Business
Conduct and Ethics, any Company policies, or
the legal and regulatory requirements applicable
to my job, I know I can consult my manager or
the Human Resources Department, knowing that
my questions or reports to these sources will
be maintained in confidence.
Employee Name
Signature
Date
Please sign and return this form to the Human
Resources Department.
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