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Corporate
Governance Summary
1.
CODE OF ETHICS
2.
GOVERNANCE
PRINCIPALS
3.
COMMITTEES OF
THE BOARD
4.
DIRECTOR
INDEPENDENCE
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Code of Ethics
Introduction
It is the policy of Cyclone Power
Technologies, Inc. (the "Company")
that our business be conducted in
accordance with the highest moral,
legal and ethical standards. Our
reputation for integrity is our most
important asset and each employee
and director must contribute to the
care and preservation of that asset.
This reputation for integrity is the
cornerstone of the public's faith
and trust in our Company; it is what
provides us an opportunity to serve
our investors, customers and other
stakeholders. A single individual's
misconduct can do much to damage a
hard-earned reputation. No code of
business conduct or ethics can
effectively substitute for the
thoughtful behavior of an ethical
director, officer or employee. This
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
(the "Code") is presented to assist
you in guiding your conduct to
enhance the reputation of our
Company.
The Code is drafted broadly. In that
respect, it is the Company's intent
to exceed the minimum requirements
of the law and industry practice.
Mere compliance with the letter of
the law is not sufficient to attain
the highest ethical standards. Good
judgment and great care must also be
exercised to comply with the spirit
of the law and of this Code.
The provisions of the Code apply to
you, your spouse and members of your
immediate family. In addition, it
covers any partnership, trust, or
other entity, which you, your spouse
or members of your immediate family
control.
The Company intends to enforce the
provisions of this Code vigorously.
Violations could lead to sanctions,
including dismissal in the case of
an employee, as well as, in some
cases, civil and criminal liability.
Inevitably, the Code addresses
questions and situations that escape
easy definition. No corporate code
can cover every possible question of
business practice. There will be
times when you are unsure about how
the Code applies. When in doubt, ask
before you act.
Upholding the Code is the
responsibility of every employee and
director. Department heads are
responsible for Code enforcement in
their departments and managers are
accountable for the employees who
report to them.
Questions About the Code; Reporting
Suspected Violations
This Code is not intended to be a
comprehensive rulebook and cannot
address every situation that you may
face. If you are faced with a
difficult business decision that is
not addressed in this Code, ask
yourself the following questions:
-
Is it legal?
-
Is it honest and fair?
-
Is it in the best interests of
the Company?
-
How does this make me feel about
myself and the Company?
-
Would I feel comfortable if an
account of my actions were
published with my name in the
newspaper?
If you still feel uncomfortable
about a situation or have any doubts
about whether it is consistent with
the Company's high ethical
standards, seek help. We encourage
you to contact your supervisor for
help first. If you feel appropriate
action is not being taken, you
should contact the Chief Executive
Officer or, in cases relating to the
financial reporting of the Company,
the chairman of the audit committee
of the Board of Directors. You are
not required to identify yourself
when reporting a violation.
The Company has adopted a
Whistleblowing and Whistleblower
Policy to enable the anonymous and
confidential submission by employees
of complaints or concerns regarding
(i) a violation of applicable laws,
regulations, or business ethics
standards, or a questionable
accounting or auditing matter, and
(ii) the receipt, retention and
treatment of employee complaints or
concerns regarding such matters.
Please consult this policy as
necessary.
Confidentiality and Policy Against
Retaliation
To the extent possible, we will
endeavor to keep confidential the
identity of anyone reporting a
violation of the Code. You will be
treated with dignity and respect,
your concerns will be seriously
addressed and you will be informed
of the outcome. We will also keep
confidential the identities of
employees about whom allegations of
violations are brought, unless or
until it is established that a
violation has occurred. It is the
Company's policy that retaliation
against employees who report actual
or suspected Code violations is
prohibited; anyone who attempts to
retaliate will be subject to
disciplinary action, up to and
including dismissal.
Conflicts Of Interest
The Company relies on the integrity
and undivided loyalty of our
employees and directors to maintain
the highest level of objectivity in
performing their duties. Each
employee and director has a duty of
honesty and loyalty to the Company,
to further its aims and goals and to
work on behalf of its best interests
with the highest level of integrity.
Each employee is expected to avoid
any situation in which your personal
interests conflict, or have the
appearance of conflicting, with
those of the Company. Individuals
must not allow personal
considerations or relationships to
influence them in any way when
representing the Company in business
dealings.
A conflict situation can arise when
an employee or director takes
actions or has interests that may
make it difficult to perform work on
behalf of the Company objectively
and effectively. Conflicts also
arise when an employee or director,
or a member of his or her family,
receives improper personal benefits
as a result of his or her position
with the Company. Loans to, or
guarantees of obligations of, such
persons are of special concern. The
consequences of such behavior have
the potential to do great harm to
the Company and all employees and
directors by disrupting business and
undermining public confidence.
Employees and directors are expected
to be totally free of any competing
interest when making business
decisions. Accordingly, all
employees and directors must refrain
from personal activities or
interests that could influence their
objective decision-making ability.
All employees and directors must
exercise great care any time their
personal interests might conflict
with those of the Company. The
appearance of a conflict often can
be as damaging as an actual
conflict. Prompt and full disclosure
is always the correct first step
towards identifying and resolving
any potential conflict of interest.
Non-employee directors are expected
to make appropriate disclosures to
the Board of Directors and to take
appropriate steps to recuse
themselves from Board decisions with
respect to transactions or other
matters involving the Company as to
which they are interested parties or
with respect to which a real or
apparent conflict of interest
exists.
The following sections review
several common problems involving
conflicts of interest. The list is
not exhaustive. Each individual has
a special responsibility to use his
or her best judgment to assess
objectively whether there might be
even the appearance of acting for
reasons other than to benefit the
Company, and to discuss any conflict
openly and candidly with the
Company.
Payments and Gifts
Employees who deal with the
Company's borrowers, tenants,
suppliers or other third parties are
placed in a special position of
trust and must exercise great care
to preserve their independence. As a
general rule, no employee should
ever receive a payment or anything
of value in exchange for a decision
involving the Company's business.
Similarly, no employee of the
Company should ever offer anything
of value to government officials or
others to obtain a particular result
for the Company. Bribery, kickbacks
or other improper payments have no
place in the Company's business.
The Company recognizes exceptions
for token gifts of nominal value or
customary business entertainment,
when a clear business purpose is
involved.
Personal Financial Interests;
Outside Business Interests
Employees should avoid any outside
financial interests that might be in
conflict with the interests of the
Company. No employee may have any
significant direct or indirect
financial interest in, or any
business relationship with, a person
or entity that is a material
contractor, partner, lender or
competitor of the Company. A
financial interest includes any
interest as an owner, creditor or
debtor. Indirect interests include
those through an immediate family
member or other person acting on his
or her behalf. This policy does not
apply to an employee's arms-length
purchases of goods or services for
personal or family use, or to the
ownership of shares in a publicly
held corporation.
Employees should not engage in
outside jobs or other business
activities that compete with the
Company in any way. Further, any
outside or secondary employment
("moonlighting") may interfere with
the job being performed for the
Company and is discouraged. Under no
circumstances may employees have
outside interests that are in any
way detrimental to the best
interests of the Company.
You must disclose to the Company any
personal activities or financial
interests that could negatively
influence, or give the appearance of
negatively influencing, your
judgment or decisions as a Company
employee. The Company will then
determine if there is a conflict
and, if so, how to resolve it
without compromising the Company's
interests.
Loans or Other Financial
Transactions
No employee may obtain loans or
guarantees of personal obligations
from, or enter into any other
personal financial transaction with,
any company that is a material
contractor, partner, lender or
competitor of the Company. This
guideline does not prohibit
arms-length transactions with
recognized banks, brokerage firms,
other financial institutions or any
company that is a material
contractor, partner, lender or
competitor.
Corporate Boards
The director of an organization has
access to sensitive information and
charts the course of the entity. If
you are invited to serve as a
director of an outside organization,
the Company must take safeguards to
shield both the Company and you from
even the appearance of impropriety.
For that reason, any employee
invited to join the board of
directors of another organization
(including a nonprofit or other
charitable organization) must obtain
the approval of the Company.
Directors who are invited to serve
on other boards should promptly
notify the Company.
Corporate Opportunities
Directors and employees of the
Company have a primary business and
ethical responsibility to the
Company to avoid any activity or
relationship that may interfere, or
have the appearance of interfering,
with the performance of the official
duties of their respective positions
in the Company. Moreover, directors
and employees of the Company should
not use corporate property,
information or position for improper
personal gain, nor should such
persons compete with the Company
directly or indirectly. At the same
time, directors and employees should
be permitted to pursue personal
business interests that present no
real threat to the duty they owe to
the Company to promote its
legitimate interests when the
opportunity to do so arises.
Corporate opportunities can include
opportunities closely related to the
business of the Company and any
opportunities that accrue to the
director or employee as a result of
his position with the Company. Prior
to pursuing a business opportunity
that could just as easily be taken
by the Company, the director or
employee shall be required to first
offer the opportunity to the Company
and fully disclose the opportunity
to the Board of Directors. The Board
of Directors shall make the final
determination as to whether a
particular opportunity can be taken
by the director or employee. The
Company must, through the Board of
Directors, waive any right to the
corporate opportunity in order to
take the opportunity for himself.
The Board of Directors may consider
the following factors in making its
determination:
-
whether the opportunity is
presented to the director or
employee in his individual and
not his corporate capacity;
-
whether the opportunity is
essential to the Company;
-
whether the Company holds an
interest or expectancy in the
opportunity; and
-
whether the director or employee
has wrongfully employed the
resources of the Company in
pursuing or exploiting the
opportunity.
In the event that the Board of
Directors determines that the
director or employee can pursue the
opportunity, such opportunity shall
be disclosed to the extent required
by law or as may be approved by the
Board of Directors in the
appropriate public filing of the
Company with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
Use and Protection of Company Assets
Proper use and protection of the
Company's assets is the
responsibility of all employees.
Company facilities, materials,
equipment, information and other
assets should be used only for
conducting the Company's business
and are not to be used for any
unauthorized purpose. Employees
should guard against waste and abuse
of Company assets in order to
improve the Company's productivity.
Confidentiality
One of the Company's most important
assets is its confidential corporate
information. The Company's legal
obligations and its competitive
position often mandate that this
information remain confidential.
Confidential corporate information
relating to the Company's
technology, financial performance or
other transactions or events can
have a significant impact on the
value of the Company's securities.
Premature or improper disclosure of
such information may expose the
individual involved to onerous civil
and criminal penalties.
You must not disclose confidential
corporate information to anyone
outside the Company, except for a
legitimate business purpose (such as
contacts with the Company's
accountants or its outside lawyers).
Even within the Company,
confidential corporate information
should be discussed only with those
who have a need to know the
information. Your obligation to
safeguard confidential corporate
information continues even after you
leave the Company.
The same rules apply to confidential
information relating to other
companies with which we do business.
In the course of the many pending or
proposed transactions that this
Company has under consideration at
any given time, there is a great
deal of non-public information
relating to other companies to which
our employees may have access. This
could include "material" information
that is likely to affect the value
of the securities of the other
companies.
Employees and directors who learn
material information about
suppliers, customers, venture
partners, acquisition targets or
competitors through their work at
the Company must keep it
confidential and must not buy or
sell stock in such companies until
after the information becomes
public. Employees and directors must
not give tips about such companies
to others who may buy or sell the
stocks of such companies.
Dealings With the Press and
Communications With the Public
The Company's Chief Executive
Officer and President are the
Company's principal spokesmen. If
someone outside the Company asks you
questions or requests information
regarding the Company, its business
or financial results, do not attempt
to answer. All requests for
information - from reporters,
securities analysts, shareholders or
the general public - should be
referred to the Chief Executive
Officer and/or President, who will
handle the request or delegate it to
an appropriate person.
Accounting Matters
Internal Accounting Controls
The Company places the highest
priority on "best practices"
disclosure. Our press releases and
other public disclosure of the
Company's financial results, reflect
how seriously we take this
responsibility.
To this end, we are in the process
of establishing an internal
Disclosure Committee, which will
include key members of senior
management responsible for our
internal financial and risk
management controls. This Committee
will meet on a regular basis, and
additionally when issues arise, to
discuss the state of the Company's
internal controls, reporting systems
and the integrity of our financial
information relative to our
disclosure obligations. This
Committee will assist senior
management and the audit committee
of the Board of Directors in
overseeing the Company's internal
control systems and evaluating our
public disclosure processes.
Each employee shares this
responsibility with senior
management and the Board of
Directors and must help maintain the
integrity of the Company's financial
records. This Code cannot include a
review of any extensive accounting
requirements the Company must
fulfill. To meet these obligations
however, the Company must rely on
employee truthfulness in accounting
practices. Employees must not
participate in any mistreatment of
the Company's accounts. No
circumstances justify the
maintenance of "off-the-books"
accounts to facilitate questionable
or illegal payments. We trust that
every employee understands that
protecting the integrity of our
information gathering, information
quality, internal control systems
and public disclosures is one of the
highest priorities we have as a
company.
If you ever observe conduct that
causes you to question the integrity
of our internal accounting controls
and/or disclosure, or you otherwise
have reason to doubt the accuracy of
our financial reporting, it is
imperative that you bring these
concerns to our attention
immediately. You should consult the
Company's Whistleblowing and
Whistleblower Policy to learn how
to, and to whom you should, report
any concerns. Retaliation of any
kind against any employee for
raising these issues is strictly
prohibited and will not be
tolerated.
Improper Influence on the Conduct of
Audits
It is unlawful for any officer or
director of the Company, or any
other person acting under the
direction of such person, to take
any action to fraudulently
influence, coerce, manipulate, or
mislead the independent accountants
engaged in the performance of an
audit of the Company's financial
statements for the purpose of
rendering such financial statements
materially misleading. Any such
action is a violation of this Code.
Types of conduct that might
constitute improper influence
include the following:
-
Offering or paying bribes or
other financial incentives,
including offering future
employment or contracts for
non-audit services,
-
Providing an auditor with
inaccurate or misleading legal
analysis,
-
Threatening to cancel or
canceling existing non-audit or
audit engagements if the auditor
objects to the Company's
accounting practices or
procedures,
-
Seeking to have a partner
removed from the audit
engagement because the partner
objects to the Company's
accounting practices or
procedures,
-
Blackmailing, and
-
Making physical threats.
Any employee or director who engages
in such conduct will be subject to
sanctions under the Code, including
dismissal in the case of an
employee, in addition to potential
civil and criminal liability.
Records Retention
You should retain documents and
other records for such period of
time as you and your colleagues will
reasonably need such records in
connection with the Company's
business activities. All documents
not required to be retained for
business or legal reasons, including
draft work product, should not be
retained and should be destroyed in
order to reduce the high cost of
storing and handling the vast
amounts of material that would
otherwise accumulate. However, under
unusual circumstances, such as
litigation, governmental
investigation or if required by
applicable state and federal law and
regulations, the Company may notify
you if retention of documents or
other records is necessary.
Legal Compliance
Pertinent laws of every jurisdiction
in which the Company operates must
be followed. Each employee is
charged with the responsibility of
acquiring sufficient knowledge of
the laws relating to his or her
particular duties in order to
recognize potential dangers and to
know when to seek legal advice. In
any instance where the law is
ambiguous or difficult to interpret,
the matter should be reported to the
Company's management who in turn
will seek legal advice from the
Company's legal counsel as
appropriate.
Transactions Involving Company
Securities
"Insider trading" refers generally
to buying or selling a security
while in possession of material,
non-public information about the
security. Insider trading is illegal
and against Company policy. Such
trading can cause significant harm
to the reputation for integrity and
ethical conduct of the Company.
Federal securities laws impose civil
and criminal penalties upon persons
who use inside information when
buying and selling securities or who
give inside information to others
who use it when buying or selling
securities. Liability for violating
the laws against "insider trading"
can extend not only to the Company's
senior executives, but also to the
Company's employees and directors
and to relatives and friends of
those persons.
No employee, officer, director, or
agent of the Company may trade in
the securities of the Company if he
or she possesses material,
non-public (i.e., "inside")
information about the Company. In
addition, an insider who is aware of
inside information must not disclose
such information to family, friends,
business or social acquaintances,
other employees (unless such
employees have a position with the
Company giving them a right and need
to know), or other third parties. An
insider may not discuss material
information or make trades in the
market while aware of material
information until the third business
day after the material information
has been made public.
Inside information about the Company
that is not known to the investing
public may include, among other
things: strategic plans; significant
capital investment plans;
negotiations concerning acquisitions
or dispositions; major new contracts
(or the loss of a major contract);
other favorable or unfavorable
business or financial developments
or prospects; a change in control or
a significant change in management;
impending securities splits,
securities dividends or changes in
dividends to be paid; a call of
securities for redemption; and, most
importantly, financial results.
Each employee, officer, director,
and agent of the Company
acknowledges that the Company has a
separate and more specific policy
regarding transactions involving
Company securities. Each employee,
officer, director and agent of the
Company acknowledges that he or she
will comply with such policy.
If you have any questions about this
policy, please consult the Company's
Counsel.
Fair Dealing
It is the Company's policy to deal
fairly with its contractors,
partners, lenders, customers,
suppliers, competitors, employees
and other third parties. In the
course of business dealings on
behalf of the Company, no employee
should take advantage of another
person or party through
manipulation, concealment, abuse of
privileged information,
misrepresentation of material facts
or any other unfair business
practice.
Employment Practices
The Company pursues fair employment
practices in every aspect of its
business. The following is intended
to be a summary of our employment
policies and procedures. Copies of
our detailed policies are available
from the Company. Company employees
must comply with all applicable
labor and employment laws, including
anti-discrimination laws and laws
related to freedom of association,
privacy and collective bargaining.
It is your responsibility to
understand and comply with the laws,
regulations and policies that are
relevant to your job. Failure to
comply with labor and employment
laws can result in civil and
criminal liability against you and
the Company, as well as disciplinary
action by the Company, up to and
including termination of employment.
You should contact the Company’s
Counsel if you have any questions
about the laws, regulations and
policies that apply to you.
Harassment and Discrimination
The Company is committed to
providing equal opportunity and fair
treatment to all individuals on the
basis of merit, without
discrimination because of race,
color, religion, national origin,
sex, sexual orientation, age,
disability, veteran status or other
characteristic protected by law. The
Company prohibits harassment in any
form, whether physical or verbal and
whether committed by supervisors,
non-supervisory personnel or
non-employees. Harassment may
include, but is not limited to,
offensive sexual flirtations,
unwanted sexual advances or
propositions, verbal abuse, sexually
or racially degrading words, or the
display in the workplace of sexually
suggestive objects or pictures.
If you have any complaints about
discrimination or harassment, report
such conduct to your supervisor. All
complaints will be treated with
sensitivity and discretion. Your
confidentiality will be maintained
to the extent possible, consistent
with law and the Company's need to
investigate your concern. Where our
investigation uncovers harassment or
discrimination, we will take prompt
corrective action, which may include
disciplinary action by the Company,
up to and including, termination of
employment. The Company strictly
prohibits retaliation against an
employee who, in good faith, files a
complaint.
Alcohol and Drugs
The Company is committed to
maintaining a drug-free work place.
All Company employees must comply
strictly with Company policies
regarding the abuse of alcohol and
the possession, sale and use of
illegal substances. Drinking
alcoholic beverages is prohibited
while on duty or on the premises of
the Company, except at specified
Company-sanctioned events.
Possessing, using, selling or
offering illegal drugs and other
controlled substances is prohibited
under all circumstances while on
duty or on the premises of the
Company. Likewise, you are
prohibited from reporting for work,
or driving a Company vehicle or any
vehicle on Company business, while
under the influence of alcohol or
any illegal drug or controlled
substance.
Violence Prevention and Weapons
The safety and security of Company
employees is vitally important. The
Company will not tolerate violence
or threats of violence in, or
related to, the workplace. Employees
who experience, witness or otherwise
become aware of a violent or
potentially violent situation that
occurs on the Company's property or
affects the Company's business must
immediately report the situation to
their supervisor.
The Company does not permit any
individual to have weapons of any
kind in Company property or
vehicles, while on the job or
off-site while on Company business.
This is true even if you have
obtained legal permits to carry
weapons.
Enforcement
The conduct of each employee matters
vitally to the Company. A misstep by
a single employee can cost the
Company dearly; it undermines all of
our reputations. For these reasons,
violations of this Code may lead to
significant penalties, including
dismissal.
The Company's Chief Executive
Officer will take such action as he
deems appropriate with respect to
any employee who violates any
provision of this Code, and will
inform the audit committee of the
Board of Directors of all material
violations. Any alleged violation by
the Chief Executive Officer will be
presented promptly to the audit
committee of the Board of Directors
for its consideration and such
action as the audit committee of the
Board of Directors, in its sole
judgment, shall deem warranted.
The Compliance Officer will keep
records of all reports created under
this Code and of all action taken
under this Code. All such records
will be maintained in such manner
and for such periods as are required
under applicable Federal and state
law.
Amendments/Waivers
Any amendment to, or waiver of, this
Code for executive officers or
directors of the Company may be made
only by the Board of Directors, or
by a Board committee specifically
authorized for this purpose, and
must be promptly disclosed to the
Company's shareholders in accordance
with all applicable laws, rules and
regulations.
Condition of Employment or Services
All employees, officers and
directors shall conduct themselves
at all times in the best interests
of the Company. Compliance with this
Code shall be a condition of
employment and of continued
employment with the Company, and
conduct not in accordance with this
Code may result in disciplinary
action, including termination of
employment.
This Code is not an employment
contract nor is it intended to be an
all-exclusive policy statement on
the part of the Company. The Company
reserves the right to provide the
final interpretation of the policies
it contains and to revise those
policies as deemed necessary or
appropriate.
Governance Principles
Director Qualification Standards
-
Each director of the Board of
Directors (the "Board") of
Cyclone Power Technologies, Inc.
(the "Company") must have the
following qualifications:
a.
Education and experience that
provides knowledge of business,
financial, governmental or legal
matters that are relevant to the
Company's business or to its status
as a publicly owned company.
b.
An unblemished reputation for
integrity.
c.
A reputation for exercising
good business judgment.
d.
Sufficient available time to
be able to fulfill his or her
responsibilities as a member of the
Board and of any committees to which
he or she may be appointed.
-
A majority of the directors must
meet the independence
requirements set forth, from
time to time, by applicable
laws, rules or regulations,
including, without limitation,
any rules promulgated by the
Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC").
Director Responsibilities
-
The directors will direct the
management of the business and
affairs of the Company with the
goal of optimizing the Company's
long-term financial returns in a
manner consistent with
applicable legal requirements
and ethical considerations.
-
The directors will consider the
impact of the Company's actions
on the Company's shareholders,
customers, tenants, employees,
suppliers, partners, lenders,
brokers and communities where it
operates.
-
Each director will attend
substantially all the meetings
of the Board and substantially
all the meetings of each
committee on which the director
serves.
-
Each director will review,
before attending meetings of the
Board or committees, all
materials provided by the
Company relating to matters to
be considered at the meetings.
-
The non-management directors
will meet at least once a year
without the presence of any
directors or other persons who
are part of the Company's
management.
Director Access to Management and
Independent Advisors
Directors will have access to
management and, as necessary and
appropriate, to the Company's
independent advisors, in order to
keep themselves fully informed of
the Company's affairs and to enable
them to make sound business
judgments.
Director Compensation
In fixing the compensation to be
paid to directors who are not
employees of the Company for serving
on the Board and on committees, the
Board will consider the following:
-
The compensation that is paid to
directors of other companies
which are comparable in size to
the Company.
-
The amount of time it is likely
directors will be required to
devote to preparing for and
attending meetings of the Board
and the committees on which they
serve.
-
The success of the Company
(which may be reflected in stock
options or other compensation
related to the price of the
Company's shares).
-
If a committee on which a
director serves undertakes a
special assignment, the
importance of that special
assignment to the Company and
its stockholders.
-
The risks involved in serving as
a director and a member of Board
committees.
Director Orientation and Continuing
Education
-
The Company will make available
to each new director an
opportunity to discuss the
Company and its business with
senior executives and inform
each new director of Company
policies which affect directors,
including these Corporate
Governance Guidelines.
-
The Company will make available
to directors, at the Company's
cost, professionally conducted
programs regarding director
responsibilities and other
matters related to service on
the Board of Directors.
Management Succession
-
As part of their role in
directing the management of the
business and affairs of the
Company, the directors will be
responsible for (a) ensuring
that the Company's management
has the capabilities to cause
the Company to operate in an
efficient and businesslike
fashion, and (b) reviewing the
qualifications of persons
proposed as additional members
of the Company's management or
replacements for members of the
Company's management.
-
If there is a vacancy in a
senior management position,
other than that of chief
executive officer, the Board
will receive and review the
recommendation of the chief
executive officer for filling
that vacancy.
-
If it is anticipated that the
chief executive officer will
leave the Company at a specified
future date, the Board will
ensure that the process of
selecting a successor chief
executive officer will take
place in a manner that is likely
to create a smooth transition
between chief executive
officers.
-
If there is an unanticipated
departure of the chief executive
officer, the Board will oversee
(a) selection of a temporary
chief executive officer to serve
until a permanent replacement is
selected, and (b) selection of
the permanent replacement for
the chief executive officer.
Annual Performance Evaluation of the
Board
The Board will conduct an annual
self-evaluation to determine whether
it and its committees are
functioning effectively.
Management Responsibilities
-
Management is responsible for
operating the Company in an
effective, ethical and legal
manner designed to produce value
for the Company's shareholders
consistent with the Company's
policies and standards.
Management is responsible for
understanding the Company's
activities and the material
risks incurred by the Company as
well as avoiding conflicts of
interest with the Company and
its shareholders.
-
Management, under the oversight
of the Board and audit committee
of the Board, is responsible for
producing financial statements
that fairly present the
Company's financial condition,
results of operation, cash flows
and related risks in a clear and
understandable manner, for
making timely and complete
disclosures to investors and the
public and for keeping the Board
well-informed on a timely basis
as to all significant matters of
the Company.
-
Senior management is responsible
for developing and presenting to
the Board for approval the
Company's strategic plans and
annual operating plans and
budget.
-
Senior management is responsible
for selecting qualified members
of management and for
implementing an effective and
ethical organizational
structure.
-
Senior management is responsible
for developing, implementing and
monitoring an effective system
of (x) internal controls and
procedures to provide reasonable
assurance that transactions are
properly authorized, assets are
safeguarded against unauthorized
or improper use and transactions
are properly recorded and
reported and (y) disclosure
controls and procedures that are
designed to ensure information
is properly and timely reported
to ensure compliance with
applicable securities laws,
listing requirements and current
contracts.
Meeting Procedures
-
Management shall be responsible
for assuring that, where
feasible, all information and
data important to the
understanding of the Company's
business and matters to be
considered by the Board shall be
distributed in writing
sufficiently in advance of each
meeting to provide directors
with a reasonable amount of time
to review and evaluate such
information and data.
-
Directors are entitled to rely
in good faith on (1) corporate
records, officers or employees
and on reports of Board
committees and/or (2) any other
person selected with reasonable
cause as to matters reasonably
believed to be within the
person's professional or expert
competence.
Disclosure
This policy, the Company's charter
and bylaws, each Board committee
charter and the Company's code of
business conduct and ethics will be
posted on the Company's website and
also will be available in print to
any shareholder requesting it.
COMMITTEES
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Cyclone Power Technologies, Inc.
(the “Company”) is in the process of
recruiting and adding independent
members to its Board of Directors,
as well as compiling an Audit
Committee, Compensation Committee
and Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee. As of the date
hereof, no such Committees exist,
however, the following is a summary
of their proposed functions and
organization once established
Audit Committe
The Audit Committee's primary
functions will be to:
1.
Assist Board oversight of (i)
the integrity of the Company's
financial statements, (ii) the
Company's compliance with legal and
regulatory requirements, (iii) the
qualifications and independence of
the registered public accounting
firm employed by the Company for the
audit of the Company's financial
statements (the "Independent
Auditor"), (iv) the performance of
the people responsible for the
Company's internal audit function,
and (v) the performance of the
Company's Independent Auditors,
including any third party employed
by the Company for the purpose of
performing all or any portion of the
Company's internal audit function
(the "Internal Auditor"),
2.
Prepare any report that rules
of the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") require be
included in the Company's annual
proxy statement, and
3.
Provide an open avenue of
communication among the Company's
Independent Auditors, its Internal
Auditors, its management and its
Board.
The Audit Committee will be
organized as follows:
1.
The Audit Committee will be
composed of at least three
directors, each of whom is
financially literate (i.e., able to
read and understand financial
statements and aware of the
functions of auditors for a company)
or, in the judgment of the Board,
able to become financially literate
within a reasonable period of time
after his or her appointment to the
Committee and each of whom must meet
the independence requirements set
forth in any applicable laws, rules
or regulations, including, without
limitation, any rules promulgated by
the SEC.
2.
At least one member of the
Committee will be a person who has
the following attributes:
a.
an understanding of
accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States ("GAAP")
and financial statements;
b.
the ability to assess the
general application of such
principles in connection with the
accounting for estimates, accruals
and reserves;
c.
experience preparing,
auditing, analyzing or evaluating
financial statements that present a
breadth and level of complexity of
accounting issues that are generally
comparable to the breadth and
complexity of issues that can be
reasonably expected to be raised by
the Company's financial statements,
or experience supervising one or
more persons engaged in such
activities;
d.
an understanding of internal
accounting controls; and
e.
an understanding of audit
committee functions.
3.
No director who serves on the
audit committee of more than two
other public companies may be a
member of the Committee unless the
Board determines such simultaneous
service would not impair the ability
of such director to effectively
serve on the Committee.
4.
The members of the Committee
will be appointed, removed and
replaced by, and in the sole
discretion of, the Board.
Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee’s primary
functions will be to:
-
Determine how the Company's
chief executive officer ("CEO")
should be compensated;
-
Administer the Company's Stock
Option and Incentive Plans;
-
Set policies, and review
management decisions, regarding
compensation of the Company's
senior executives other than its
CEO; and
-
Produce the report on executive
compensation required to be
included in the Company's proxy
statement for its annual
meeting.
The Compensation Committee will be
organized as follows:
-
The Committee will consist of no
fewer than three members, each
of whom must meet the
independence requirements set
forth, from time to time by any
applicable laws, rules or
regulations, including, without
limitation, any rules
promulgated by the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC").
-
The members of the Committee
will be appointed, removed and
replaced by, and in the sole
discretion of, the Board.
Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee
The Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee’s primary
functions will be to:
-
Identify individuals qualified
to fill vacancies or newly
created positions on the Board,
and to recommend to the Board
the persons it should nominate
for election as directors at the
annual meetings of the Company's
shareholders and to recommend
directors to serve on all
committees of the Board, and
-
Develop and recommend to the
Board corporate governance
guidelines ("Corporate
Governance Guidelines")
applicable to the Company.
The Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee will be
organized as follow:
-
The Committee will consist of no
fewer than three members, each
of whom must meet the
independence requirements set
forth by any applicable laws,
rules or regulations, including,
without limitation, any rules
promulgated by the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC").
-
The members of the Committee
will be appointed, removed and
replaced by, and in the sole
discretion of, the Board.
-
The Board will designate a
member of the Committee to be
the chairman of the Committee.
DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE STANDARDS
Our Corporate Governance Guidelines
provide that a majority of the
members of our Board of Directors
meet certain independence
requirements set forth by any
applicable laws, rules or
regulations, including, without
limitation, any rules promulgated by
the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
For a director to be deemed
"independent," the Board of
Directors shall affirmatively
determine that the director has no
material relationship with the
Company, either directly or as a
partner, stockholder or officer of
an organization that has a
relationship with the Company. This
determination shall be disclosed in
the Company's annual proxy statement
distributed to stockholde
In making this determination, a
director of the Company who
satisfies all of the following
standards shall be presumed to be
independent
• During
the past three years, the Company
has not employed the director or
(except in a non-officer capacity)
any of his or her immediate family
members
• During
the past three years, the director
has not been employed by, or
affiliated with, the Company's
present or former internal or
external auditors, nor has any of
the director's immediate family
members been so employed or
affiliated.
• During
the past three years, neither the
director, nor any of his or her
immediate family members, has
received more than $100,000 per year
in direct compensation from the
Company or any of its subsidiaries
in any of the past three years,
other than fees for board and board
committee service, pension or other
forms of deferred compensation for
prior service (provided such
compensation is not contingent in
any way on continued service), or
compensation received by an
immediate family member for service
as a non-executive employee of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries.
• During
the past three years, neither the
director, nor any of his or her
immediate family members, has been
affiliated with or employed in a
professional capacity by, any former
internal or external auditor of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries.
•
During the past three years, neither
the director, nor any of his or her
immediate family members, has been
employed as an executive officer of
another company where any of the
present executives of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries serve
currently or served at any time
during the past three years on that
company's compensation committee (or
other committee performing
equivalent functions).
•
The director is not currently an
executive officer or an employee,
and any of his or her immediate
family members is not currently an
executive officer, of a company,
other than a charitable
organization, that makes payments
to, or receives payments from, the
Company or any of its subsidiaries
for property or services in an
amount which, in the current fiscal
year or any of the past three fiscal
years, exceeds or exceeded the
greater of $1 million of 2% of such
other company's consolidated gross
revenues.
•
The director is not an executive
officer of a charitable organization
to which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries made charitable
contributions within the preceding
three years that in any single
fiscal year exceeded the greater of
$1 million or 2% of such charitable
organization's consolidated gross
revenues.
For purposes of these director
independence standards:
• the
term "affiliate" means any
corporation or other entity that
controls, is controlled by or is
under common control with the
Company, as evidenced by the power
to elect a majority of the board of
directors or comparable governing
body of such entity; and
•
the term "immediate family" means
spouse, parents, children, siblings,
mothers- and fathers-in-law, sons-
and daughters-in-law, brothers- and
sisters-in-law and anyone (other
than employees) sharing a person's
home.
The Board of Directors shall
undertake an annual review of the
independence of all nonemployee
directors of the Company. In advance
of the meeting at which this review
occurs, each non-employee director
of the Company shall be asked to
provide the Board of Directors with
full information regarding such
director's business and other
relationships with the Company and
its affiliates and with the
Company's senior management and
their affiliates to allow the Board
of Directors to evaluate the
director's independence. These
relationships can include
commercial, industrial, banking,
consulting, legal, accounting,
charitable and familial
relationships, among others
Each director of the Company has an
affirmative obligation to advise the
Board of Directors of any material
changes in his or her circumstances
or relationships that may reasonably
be expected to impact his or her
designation by the Board of
Directors as "independent." This
obligation includes all business
relationships between a director of
the Company, on the one hand, and
the Company and its affiliates or
members of the Company's senior
management and their affiliates, on
the other.
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