Investor Relations
Vivos Therapeutics, Inc. NASDAQ: VVOS
Code of Ethics
1. Introduction.
1.1 The Board of Directors of Vivos Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) has adopted this Code of Ethics and Business Conduct (the “Code”) in order to:
1.1.1 promote honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest;
1.1.2 promote full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that the Company files with, or submits to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or the OTC Markets Disclosure System and in other public communications made by the Company;
1.1.3 promote compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations;
1.1.4 promote the protection of Company assets, including corporate opportunities and confidential information;
1.1.5 promote fair dealing practices;
1.1.6 deter wrongdoing; and
1.1.7 ensure accountability for adherence to the Code.
1.2 All directors, officers and employees are required to be familiar with the Code, comply with its provisions and report any suspected violations as described below in Section 10, Reporting and Enforcement.
2. Honest and Ethical Conduct.
2.1 The Company’s policy is to promote high standards of integrity by conducting its affairs honestly and ethically.
2.2 Each director, officer and employee must act with integrity and observe the highest ethical standards of business conduct in his or her dealings with the Company’s customers, suppliers, partners, service providers, competitors, employees and anyone else with whom he or she has contact in the course of performing his or her job.
3. Conflicts of Interest.
3.1 A conflict of interest occurs when an individual’s private interest (or the interest of a member of his or her family or close friend(s) or business associate(s)) interferes, or even appears to interfere, with the interests of the Company as a whole. A conflict of interest can arise when an employee, officer or director (or a member of his or her family or a close friend(s) or business associate(s)) takes actions or has interests that may make it difficult to perform his or her work for the Company objectively and effectively. Conflicts of interest also arise when an employee, officer or director (or a member of his or her family or close friend(s) or business associate(s)) receives improper personal benefits as a result of his or her position in the Company.
3.2 Loans by the Company to, or guarantees by the Company of obligations of, employees or their family members or a close friend(s) or business associate(s) are of special concern and could constitute improper personal benefits to the recipients of such loans or guarantees, depending on the facts and circumstances. Loans by the Company to, or guarantees by the Company of obligations of, any director or officer or their family members or close friend(s) or business associate(s) are expressly prohibited.
3.3 Whether or not a conflict of interest exists or will exist can be unclear. Conflicts of interest should be avoided unless specifically authorized as described in Section 3.4.
3.4 Persons other than directors and executive officers who have questions about a potential conflict of interest or who become aware of an actual or potential conflict should discuss the matter with and seek a determination and prior authorization or approval from, their supervisor or the Chief Financial Officer or designee. A supervisor may not authorize or approve conflict of interest matters or make determinations as to whether a problematic conflict of interest exists without first providing the Chief Financial Officer with a written description of the activity and seeking the Chief Financial Officer’s written approval. If the supervisor is himself involved in the potential or actual conflict, the matter should instead be discussed directly with the Chief Financial Officer.
3.5 Directors and executive officers must seek determinations and prior authorizations or approvals of potential conflicts of interest exclusively from the Audit Committee.
4. Compliance.
4.1 Employees, officers and directors should comply, both in letter and spirit, with all applicable laws, rules and regulations in the cities, states and countries in which the Company operates.
4.2 Although not all employees, officers and directors are expected to know the details of all applicable laws, rules and regulations, it is important to know enough to determine when to seek advice from appropriate personnel. Questions about compliance should be addressed to the Legal Department or the Chief Financial Officer.
4.3 No director, officer or employee may purchase or sell any Company securities while in possession of material non-public information regarding the Company, nor may any director, officer or employee purchase or sell another company’s securities while in possession of material non-public information regarding that company, except as otherwise permitted under the Policy on Insider Trading of the Company. It is against Company policies and illegal for any director, officer or employee to use material non-public information regarding the Company or any other company to:
4.3.1 obtain profit for himself or herself; or
4.3.2 directly or indirectly “tip” others who might make an investment decision on the basis of that information.
5. Disclosure.
6. Protection and Proper Use of Company Assets.
6.1 All directors, officers and employees should protect the Company’s assets and ensure their efficient use. Theft, carelessness and waste have a direct impact on the Company’s profitability and are prohibited.
6.2 All Company assets should be used only for legitimate business purposes. Any suspected incident of fraud or theft should be reported for investigation immediately.
6.3 The obligation to protect Company assets includes the Company’s proprietary information. Proprietary information includes, among other things, intellectual property such as trade secrets, patents, trademarks, and copyrights, as well as business and marketing plans, engineering and manufacturing ideas, designs, databases, records and any non-public financial data or reports. Unauthorized use or distribution of this information is prohibited and could also be illegal and may result in civil or criminal penalties.
7. Corporate Opportunities.
8. Confidentiality.
9. Fair Dealing.
10. Reporting and Enforcement.
10.1 Reporting and Investigation of Violations.
10.1.1 Actions prohibited by this code involving directors or executive officers must be reported to the Audit Committee.
10.1.2 Actions prohibited by this code involving any other person must be reported to the reporting person’s supervisor or the Chief Financial Officer.
10.1.3 After receiving a report of an alleged prohibited action, the Audit Committee, the relevant supervisor or the Chief Financial Officer must promptly take all appropriate actions necessary to investigate.
10.1.4 All directors, officers and employees are expected to cooperate in any internal investigation of misconduct.
10.2 Enforcement.
10.2.1 The Company must ensure prompt and consistent action against violations of this Code.
10.2.2 If, after investigating a report of an alleged prohibited action by a director or executive officer, the Audit Committee determines that a violation of this Code has occurred, the Audit Committee will report such determination to the Board of Directors.
10.2.3 If, after investigating a report of an alleged prohibited action by any other person, the relevant supervisor or the Chief Financial Officer determines that a violation of this Code has occurred, the supervisor or the Chief Financial Officer will report such determination to the Chief Executive Officer.
10.2.4 Upon receipt of a determination that there has been a violation of this Code, the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer will take such preventative or disciplinary action as it deems appropriate, including, but not limited to, reassignment, demotion, dismissal and, in the event of criminal conduct or other serious violations of the law, notification of appropriate governmental authorities.
10.3 Waivers.
10.3.1 The Board of Directors sitting with active quorum and not pursuant to a delegated authority to any other committee thereof may, in its discretion, waive any violation of this Code.
10.3.2 Any waiver for a director or an executive officer shall be disclosed as required by SEC and the rules of any securities exchange on which the Company’s securities are listed.
10.4 Prohibition on Retaliation. The Company does not tolerate acts of retaliation against any director, officer or employee who makes a good faith report of known or suspected acts of misconduct or other violations of this Code.
ADOPTED: This 20th day of February 2020.