Regulation S-B
 
Item 406 Code of Ethics
a. Disclose
whether the small business issuer has adopted a code of ethics that applies
to the small business issuer's principal executive officer, principal
financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons
performing similar functions. If the small business issuer has not adopted
such a code of ethics, explain why it has not done so.
b.
For purposes of this
Item 406, the term code of ethics means written standards that are reasonably
designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote:
1. Honest
and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent
conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships;
2. Full,
fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure in reports and documents
that a small business issuer files with, or submits to, the Commission
and in other public communications made by the small business issuer;
3. Compliance
with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations;
4. The
prompt internal reporting of violations of the code to an appropriate
person or persons identified in the code; and
5. Accountability
for adherence to the code.
c.
The small business issuer
must:
1. File
with the Commission a copy of its code of ethics that applies to the small
business issuer's principal executive officer, principal financial officer,
principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar
functions, as an exhibit to its annual report;
2. Post
the text of such code of ethics on its Internet website and disclose,
in its annual report, its Internet address and the fact that it has posted
such code of ethics on its Internet website; or
3. Undertake
in its annual report filed with the Commission to provide to any person
without charge, upon request, a copy of such code of ethics and explain
the manner in which such request may be made.
d.
If the small business
issuer intends to satisfy the disclosure requirement under Item 10 of
Form
8-K regarding an amendment to, or a waiver from, a provision of its
code of ethics that applies to the small business issuer's principal executive
officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or
controller, or persons performing similar functions and that relates to
any element of the code of ethics definition enumerated in paragraph (b)
of this Item by posting such information on its Internet website, disclose
the small business issuer's Internet address and such intention.
Instructions to Item 406.
1. A
small business issuer may have separate codes of ethics for different
types of officers. Furthermore, a code of ethics within the meaning of
paragraph (b) of this Item may be a portion of a broader document that
addresses additional topics or that applies to more persons than those
specified in paragraph (a). In satisfying the requirements of
paragraph
(c), a small business issuer need only file, post or provide the portions
of a broader document that constitutes a code of ethics as defined in
paragraph (b) and that apply to the persons specified in paragraph (a).
2. If
a small business issuer elects to satisfy paragraph (c) of this Item by
posting its code of ethics on its website pursuant to
paragraph (c)(2),
the code of ethics must remain accessible on its website for as long as
the small business issuer remains subject to the requirements of this
Item and chooses to comply with this Item by posting its code on its Web
site pursuant to paragraph (c)(2).
Regulatory History |
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68 FR 5110, 5126, Jan. 31, 2003.
SEC Release 33-8518: 70 FR 1506, Jan. 7, 2004 |
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