Platinum Studios, Inc. (the “Company”) has adopted the following Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (this “Code”) for directors, executive officers, and employees of the Company. This Code is intended to focus the Board and each director, executive officer, and employee on areas of ethical risk, provide guidance to directors, executive officers, and employees to help them recognize and deal with ethical issues, provide mechanisms to report unethical conduct, and help foster a culture of honesty and accountability. Each director, executive officer, and employee must comply with the letter and spirit of this Code.
No code or policy can anticipate every situation that may arise. Accordingly, this Code is intended to serve as a source of guiding principles for directors, executive officers, and employees. Directors, executive officers, and employees are encouraged to bring questions about particular circumstances that may implicate one or more of the provisions of this Code to the attention of the Chairman of the Audit Committee, who may consult with inside or outside legal counsel as appropriate.
Directors, executive officers, and employees must be loyal to the Company and must act at all times in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders and subordinate self-interest to the corporate and shareholder good. Directors, executive officers, and employees should never use their position to make a personal profit. Directors, executive officers, and employees must perform their duties in good faith, with sound business judgment and with the care of a prudent person.
A “conflict of interest” occurs when the private interest of a director, executive officer, and employee interferes in any way, or appears to interfere, with the interests of the Company as a whole. Conflicts of interest also arise when a director, executive officer, employee, or a member of his or her immediate family, receives improper personal benefits as a result of his or her position as a director, executive officer, or employee of the Company. Loans to, or guarantees of the obligations of, a director, executive officer, employee, or a member of his or her family, may create conflicts of interest.
Directors, executive officers, and employees must avoid conflicts of interest with the Company. Any situation that involves, or may reasonably be expected to involve, a conflict of interest with the Company must be disclosed immediately to the Chairman of the Audit Committee.
This Code does not attempt to describe all possible conflicts of interest which could develop. Some of the more common conflicts from which directors, executive offices, and employees must refrain, however, are set out below.
Directors, executive officers, and employees owe a duty to the Company to advance its legitimate interests when the opportunity to do so arises. Directors, executive officers, and employees are prohibited from: (a) taking for themselves personally opportunities that are discovered through the use of corporate property, information or the director’s, executive officer’s, or employee’s position; (b) using the Company’s property, information, or position for personal gain; or (c) competing with the Company, directly or indirectly, for business opportunities, provided, however, if the Company’s disinterested directors determine that the Company will not pursue an opportunity that relates to the Company’s business, a director, executive officer, or employee may do so.
Directors, executive officers, and employees must maintain the confidentiality of information entrusted to them by the Company or its customers, and any other confidential information about the Company that comes to them, from whatever source, in their capacity as director, executive officer, or employee, except when disclosure is authorized or required by laws or regulations. Confidential information includes all non-public information that might be of use to competitors, or harmful to the Company or its customers, if disclosed.
Directors, executive officers, and employees must protect the Company’s assets and ensure their efficient use. Theft, loss, misuse, carelessness and waste of assets have a direct impact on the Company’s profitability. Directors, executive officers, and employees must not use Company time, employees, supplies, equipment, tools, buildings or other assets for personal benefit without prior authorization from the Chairman of the Audit Committee, or as part of a compensation or expense reimbursement program available to all directors, executive officers, or employees.
Directors, executive officers, and employees shall deal fairly and oversee fair dealing by employees and officers with the Company’s directors, officers, employees, customers, suppliers and competitors. None should take unfair advantage of anyone through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation of material facts or any other unfair dealing practices.
Directors, executive officers, and employees shall comply, and oversee compliance by employees, officers and other directors, with all laws, rules and regulations applicable to the Company, including insider-trading laws. Transactions in Company securities are governed by Company Policy entitled “Insider Trading Compliance Program.”
Any waiver of this Code may be made only by the Board or a Board committee and must be promptly disclosed to the public by filling a Form 8-K Report.
Directors, executive officers, and employees should promote ethical behavior and take steps to ensure the Company (a) encourages employees to talk to supervisors, managers and other appropriate personnel when in doubt about the best course of action in a particular situation; (b) encourages employees to report violations of laws, rules or regulations to appropriate personnel; and (c) informs employees that the Company will not permit retaliation for reports made in good faith.
A failure by any director, executive officer, or employee to comply with the laws or regulations governing the Company’s business, this Code or any other applicable Company policy or requirement may result in disciplinary action, and, if warranted, legal proceedings.
Directors, executive officers, and employees should communicate any suspected violations of this Code promptly to the Chairman of the Audit Committee. Violations will be investigated by the Board, or by a person or persons designated by the Board, and appropriate action will be taken in the event of any violations of this Code.