GOLDIAM INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
CODE OF CONDUCT FOR DIRECTORS
Introduction
The reputation and integrity of GOLDIAM INTERNATIONAL LIMITED ( GIL ) are the
valuable assets that are vital to the Company’s success. GIL’s commitment to
ethical and lawful business conduct is a fundamental shared value of the Board
of Directors, management and employees and critical to the Company's success.
GIL’s standards for business conduct provide that the Board and each Director
focus on areas of ethical and legal standards and adhere vigorously as financial
objectives are pursued and help foster a culture of honesty, integrity and
accountability. Consistent with these principles, GIL’s Board has adopted this
Code of Conduct as a guide to the high ethical and legal standards expected of
its members. Each Director 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. This Code requires certain disclosure to be made to the Company which will be
considered privileged and will not be disclosed except under any legal
requirement.
Guidelines
In performing their Board and Board Committee functions, Directors will: * Act diligently, openly, honestly and in good faith. * Provide leadership in advancing the Company's Vision, Values and Guiding
Principles. * Discharge their duties, as members of the Board and of any Board Committees
on which they serve, in accordance with their good faith business judgment and
in the best interests of the Company and its stakeholders. * Become and remain familiar with GIL’s business and the economic and
competitive environment in which the Company operates and understand GIL’s
principal business plans, strategies and objectives; operations, results and
financial condition and relative marketplace position. * Commit the time necessary to prepare for, attend (in person or
telephonically, as appropriate) and actively participate in regular and special
meetings of the Board and of the Board Committees on which they serve. * Submit requisite declarations as stipulated under the Companies Act, 1956
and applicable statutes, if any, to the Board / Company. Annually, and as and
when changes take place, inform the Chairman of the Board and the Company of
their employment, other Board positions, details of and relationships with other
business (including shareholdings) charitable, and governmental entities, and
other events, circumstances or conditions that may interfere with their ability
to perform their Board or Board Committee duties or impact the Board's
assessment of whether they meet the independence requirements of the Stock
Exchanges and the Securities and Exchange Board of India. * Not enter into, without the prior approval of the disinterested members of
the Board, any transaction or relationship with GIL in which they will have a
financial or personal interest (either directly or indirectly, such as through a
family member or other person or organization with which they are associated),
or any transaction or situation which otherwise involves a conflict of interest,
except as may be permitted under the Companies Act, 1956 or any amendments
thereto. * Maintain the confidentiality of all material non-public information about
GIL, its business and affairs. * Abide by all applicable laws and regulations and GIL’s Code of Internal
Procedures and Conduct for Prevention of Insider
Trading.
Compliance
All Board members shall affirm compliance with this Code on an annual
basis.
CODE OF CONDUCT FOR EMPLOYEES
Introduction
The reputation and integrity of Goldiam International Limited ( GIL ) are the
valuable assets that are vital to the Company’s success. GIL's commitment to
ethical and lawful business conduct is a fundamental shared value of our Board
of Directors, management and employees and critical to the Company's success.
Our standards for business conduct provide that we will uphold ethical and legal
standards vigorously as we pursue our financial objectives, and that honesty and
integrity will not be compromised by GIL anywhere at any time. The purpose of this Code is to focus employees on areas of ethical risk,
provide guidance to help employees to report unethical conduct, and foster among
employees a culture of honesty and accountability. This Code applies to all the
employees. 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 the
employees. Each person concerned must comply with the letter and spirit of this
Code.
Guidelines
A. Honest and
Ethical Conduct
The Company expects all employees to act in accordance with the highest
standards of personal and professional integrity, honesty and ethical conduct,
while working on the Company’s premises, at Company sponsored business and
social events, or at any other place where employees represent the Company. Honest conduct is understood as such conduct that is ethical, free from fraud
or deception and conforming to the accepted professional standards. Ethical
conduct includes the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of
interest between personal and professional relationships. It is the conduct of
maintaining dignity of office and restraining from doing any act that will mar
the reputation of the Company. Employees who engage in misconduct or whose performance is unsatisfactory may
be subject to corrective action, up to and including
termination.
B. Compliance with
Laws, Rules, and Regulations
A. variety of government laws, rules and regulations apply to the Company and
its operations, and some carry criminal penalties. These laws include, without
limitation, certain economic legislations, securities laws, labour laws, etc.
The officers and employees shall comply with all applicable laws, rules, and
regulations. Transactions, directly or indirectly, involving securities of the
Company should not be undertaken without pre-clearance from the Company's
Compliance Officer. Any officer or employee who is unfamiliar or uncertain about
the legal rules involving the Company’s business conducted by him/her should
consult the legal department of the Company before taking any action that may
jeopardize the interests of the Company or that individual. In sum, employees
must obey all applicable laws.
C. Conflicts of
Interest
Generally, a conflict of interest occurs when an employee’s or an employee’s
immediate family’s personal interest interferes with, has the potential to
interfere with, or appears to interfere with the interests or business of the
Company. A conflict of interest can occur or appear to occur in a wide variety
of situations, viz. * Personal Interest in a Transaction A conflict of interest could arise that makes it difficult for an employee to
perform corporate duties objectively and effectively where he/she is involved in
a competing interest, if he/she is on the other side of a transaction with the
Company or if he/she benefits from the transaction. A conflict may also occur
where an employee or a family member of an employee receives an improper
personal benefit as a result of the employee’s position at the Company. An
employee working simultaneously for a competitor is certainly a conflict. The Company policies prohibit any employee from taking part in any activity
that enhances or supports a competitor’s position. In case there is likely to be
a conflict of interest, he/she should make full disclosure of all facts and
circumstances thereof and a prior written approval should be obtained from the
Company’s management. * Outside Activities/Employment In consideration of the employment with the Company, employees are expected
to devote their full attention to the business interests of the Company.
Employees are prohibited from engaging in any activity that interferes with
their performance or responsibilities to the Company or is otherwise in conflict
with or prejudicial to the Company. Employees are prohibited 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, employees must disclose to the Company any
interest that he/she may have that may conflict with the business of the
Company. * Civic/Charitable Activities Employees may participate in civic or charitable activities so long as such
participation does not encroach on the time and attention they are expected to
devote to their Company-related duties. Such activities are to be conducted in a
manner that does not involve the Company or its assets or facilities, and does
not create an appearance of Company involvement or endorsement (except with
written approval of the Company). Notwithstanding that such or other instances of conflict of interest exist
due to any historical reasons, adequate and full disclosure by the interested
employees should be made to the Company’s management. It is also incumbent upon
every employee to make full disclosure of any interest which the employee or the
employee’s immediate family, which would include parents, spouse and children,
may have in a Company or firm which is a supplier, customer, distributor of or
has other business dealings with the Company. If an employee fails to make a disclosure as required herein and the
management of its own accord becomes aware of an instance of conflict of
interest that ought to have been disclosed by the employee, the management would
take a serious view of the matter and consider suitable disciplinary action
against the employee.
D. Proper Use of
Company Assets
Company assets, such as information, materials, supplies, intellectual
property, facilities, software, and other assets owned or leased by the Company,
or that are otherwise in the Company’s possession, may be used only for
legitimate business purposes. The personal use of Company assets, without
Company approval, is
prohibited.
E. Delegation of
Authority
Each employee, and particularly each of the Company’s officers, must exercise
due care to ensure that any delegation of authority is reasonable and
appropriate in scope, and includes appropriate and continuous
monitoring.
F. Securities
transactions and confidential information
An employee of GIL and his or her immediate family shall not derive any
benefit or assist others to derive any benefit from access to and possession of
information about the Company which is not in the public domain and thus
constitutes insider information. An employee shall not use or proliferate information which is not available
to the investing public and which therefore constitutes insider information for
making or giving advice on investment decisions on the securities of the
Company. Such insider information might include the following : * Acquisition and divestiture of businesses or business units; * Financial information such as profits, earnings and dividends; * Announcement of new product introductions or developments; * Asset revaluations; * Investment decisions / plans; * Restructuring plans; * Major supply and delivery agreements; * Raising finances.
G. Handling
Confidential Information and Public Communications
Employees should observe the confidentiality of information that they acquire
by virtue of their positions at the Company, including information concerning
customers, suppliers, competitors, and other employees, except where disclosure
is approved by the Company or otherwise legally mandated. Special sensitivity is
accorded to financial information, which should be considered confidential
except where its disclosure is approved by the Company. The following guidelines shall be followed while dealing with third
parties: * Only public information to be provided. * At least two company representatives should be present at meetings with
third parties. * Unanticipated questions may be taken on notice and a considered response
given later.
H. Employees Who
Handle or Have Access to Financial Information
In addition to any other applicable laws dealing with financial information,
financial reporting, auditing matters or public disclosure, the Company requires
that employees involved in financial reporting, auditing or public disclosure or
with access to such information follow the highest ethical standards, including
the following guidelines: * Act with honesty and integrity, avoiding violations of the Code, including
actual or apparent conflicts of interest with the Company in personal and
professional relationships. * Disclose to the Managing Director / Head - HRD any material transaction or
relationship that reasonably could be expected to give rise to any violations of
the Code, including actual or apparent conflicts of interest with the
Company. * Provide the Company’s other employees, consultants, and advisors with
information that is accurate, complete, objective, relevant, timely, and
understandable. * Endeavor to ensure full, fair, timely, accurate, and understandable
disclosure in the Company’s periodic reports and in other public
communications. * Act in good faith, responsibly, and with due care, competence and
diligence, without misrepresenting material facts. * Respect the confidentiality of information acquired in the course of
Company work except where Company approval has been obtained or where disclosure
is otherwise legally mandated. Confidential information acquired in the course
of Company work must not be used for personal advantage. * Share and maintain skills relevant to the Company’s needs. * Proactively promote ethical behavior among peers in the work
environment. * Achieve responsible use of and control over all assets and resources
employed or entrusted. * Record or participate in the recording of entries (such as expenses,
billing information, and hours worked) in the Company’s books and record
information that is accurate.
I. Gifts and
donations
Employees shall neither receive nor offer or make, directly or indirectly,
any illegal payments, remuneration, gifts, donations or comparable benefits
which are intended to or perceived to obtain business or uncompetitive favours
for the conduct of its business. However, employees may accept and offer nominal
gifts, which are customarily given and are of commemorative nature for special
events.
J. Government
agencies
Employees shall not offer or give any company funds or property as donation
to any government agencies or their representatives, directly or through
intermediaries, in order to obtain any favourable performance of official
duties.
K. Political
non-alignment
The Company shall be committed to and support a functioning democratic
constitution and system with transparent and fair electoral system in India. The
Company shall not support, directly or indirectly, any specific political party
or candidate for political office. The Company shall not offer or give Company
funds or property as donations directly or indirectly, to any specific political
party, candidate or campaign. Employees associated with political parties or the political process or trade
associations should ensure that by their participation, they do not give the
impression of representing or being the spokesperson of the Company. Employees
may contribute to or participate in the political process or trade associations
so long as it does not create a conflict of interest situation or impinge upon
their work related commitments.
L. Health, safety
and environment
Employees will be provided with a safe and healthy work environment and will
strive to comply with all regulations regarding the preservation of the
environment of the territory in which the Company operates. Employees shall be
committed to prevent the wasteful use of natural resources and minimize any
hazardous impact of the development, production, use and disposal of any of the
Company’s products and services on the ecological
environment.
M. Selection of
Suppliers
The Company’s suppliers make significant contributions to its success. To
create an environment where the suppliers have incentive to work with the
Company, they must be confident that they will be treated lawfully and in an
ethical manner. The Company’s policy is to purchase supplies based on need,
quality, service, price and terms and conditions. The Company’s policy is to
select significant suppliers or enter into significant supplier agreements
through a competitive bid process where possible. Under no circumstances should
any Company employee, agent or contractor attempt to coerce suppliers in any
way.
Reporting
Violations and Waivers
The Company expects employees who observe, learn of, or, in good faith,
suspect a violation of the Code, to immediately report the violation to the
Managing Director / Head - HRD. Employees who report violations or suspected
violations in good faith, as well as those who participate in investigations,
will not be subject to retaliation of any kind. All employees are required to
enforce this Code and are not permitted to condone violations. Reported
violations will be investigated and addressed promptly and will be treated
confidentially to the extent possible. An employee who violates the Code may be subject to disciplinary action,
depending on the severity of the violation. Disciplinary actions may include
immediate termination of employment 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. This Code should be read in conjunction with the Company’s other policy
statements such as the Insider Trading Code,
etc.