Attached files
file | filename |
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10-K/A - FORM 10-K/A - BROOKSIDE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, CORP. | g21883e10vkza.htm |
EX-10.18 - EX-10.18 - BROOKSIDE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, CORP. | g21883exv10w18.htm |
EX-10.17 - EX-10.17 - BROOKSIDE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, CORP. | g21883exv10w17.htm |
Exhibit 13
BROOKSIDE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS CORP.
CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT & ETHICS
Overview
The following principles support and guide our leadership in establishing the strategic
direction of Brookside Technology Holdings Corp., (including its subsidiaries, Brookside). Our
directors, officers and employees are expected to conduct their business in accordance with these
ethical principles. We must do more than be compliant with laws, regulations and policies. We must
work according to our ethical principles and endeavor to conduct ourselves in a manner beyond
reproach. Any employee who ignores or violates any of Brooksides ethical standards, or who
penalizes a subordinate for trying to follow these ethical standards, will be subject to corrective
action, including immediate dismissal. However, it is not the threat of discipline that should
govern your actions. Brooksides reputation is based on the personal integrity of each of its
employees and those with whom we do business. A dedicated commitment to ethical behavior is the
right thing to do, is good business, and is the surest way for Brookside to remain a national
business leader, employer of choice and good corporate citizen.
In the final analysis, you are the guardian of Brooksides ethics. While there are no
universal rules, when in doubt ask yourself: Would I be proud to explain my actions to my family
or fellow employees or to the millions of people who see the nightly news or read the
newspaper? If not, dont do it!
Ethics
Brookside, and each of its directors, officers and employees, wherever they may be located,
must conduct their affairs with uncompromising honesty and integrity. Business ethics are no
different than personal ethics. The same high standard applies to both. As a Brookside employee,
you are required to adhere to the highest standard regardless of local custom.
Brookside personnel are expected to be honest and ethical in dealing with each other, with
clients, vendors and all other third parties. Doing the right thing means doing it right every
time.
You must also respect the rights of your fellow employees and third parties. Your actions must
be free from discrimination, libel, slander or harassment. Each person must be treated with dignity
and respect and accorded equal opportunity, regardless of age, race, sex, sexual preference, color,
creed, religion, national origin, marital status, veterans status, handicap or disability.
Misconduct cannot be excused because it was directed or requested by another. In this regard,
you are expected to alert management whenever an illegal, dishonest or unethical act is discovered
or suspected. You will never be penalized for reporting your discoveries or suspicions.
Brookside conducts its affairs consistent with the applicable laws and regulations of the
United States. As a Brookside employee, you are expected to comply with all such applicable laws
and regulations.
The following statements concern frequently raised ethical concerns. A violation of the
standards contained in this Code of Business Conduct & Ethics will result in corrective action,
including possible dismissal.
Conflicts of Interest
You must avoid any personal activity, investment or association which could appear to
interfere with Brooksides best interests. You may not exploit your position or relationship with
Brookside for personal gain. You should avoid even the appearance of such a conflict. Therefore, if
you are related in any way to a vendor, customer or other provider, you should not be the one to
decide whether Brookside will to do business with that person.
As other examples, there is a likely conflict of interest if you:
| cause Brookside to engage in business transactions with you or your relatives or friends or entities controlled by you or them; | ||
| use nonpublic Brookside, client or vendor information for personal gain by you, relatives or friends (including securities transactions based on such information); | ||
| have more than a modest financial interest in Brooksides vendors, clients or competitors; | ||
| receive a loan, or guarantee of obligations, from Brookside or a third party as a result of your position at Brookside; or | ||
| compete, or prepare to compete, with Brookside while still employed by Brookside. |
There are other situations in which a conflict of interest may arise. If you have concerns about
any situation, follow the steps outlined in the section on Reporting Violations.
To ensure that material transactions and relationships involving a potential conflict of
interest for any officer or director are in the best interests of Brookside, the Board must approve
in advance all transactions and relationships in which an officer or a director, or any member of
any such persons family, may have a personal interest or other potential conflict of interest. No
director, officer or employee may, on behalf of Brookside, authorize or approve any transaction or
relationship, or enter into any agreement, in which any director, officer or any member of his or
her immediate family, may have a personal interest without such Board approval.
Gifts, Bribes and Kickbacks
Other than for modest gifts given or received in the normal course of business (including
travel or entertainment), neither you nor your relatives may give gifts to, or receive gifts from,
Brooksides clients and vendors. Other gifts may be given or accepted only with prior approval of
your senior management. In no event should you put Brookside or yourself in a position that would
be embarrassing if the gift was made public.
Dealing with government employees is often different than dealing with private persons. Many
governmental bodies strictly prohibit the receipt of any gratuities by their employees, including
meals and entertainment. You must be aware of and strictly follow these prohibitions.
Any Brookside personnel who pays or receives bribes or kickbacks will be immediately
terminated and reported, as warranted, to the appropriate authorities. A kickback or bribe includes
any item intended to improperly obtain favorable treatment.
Improper Use or Theft of Brookside Property
Every employee must safeguard Brookside property from loss or theft, and may not take such
property for personal use. Brookside property includes physical resources and property, as well as
its proprietary and confidential information, software, computers, office equipment, and supplies.
You must appropriately secure all Brookside property within your control to prevent its
unauthorized use.
Our offices, equipment, supplies and other resources may not be used for activities which are
not related to your employment with Brookside, except for any activities that have been approved in
writing in advance by us, or for personal usage that is minor in amount and reasonable.
Use of Brooksides electronic communications systems must conform with Brooksides corporate
philosophy and policies as stated in Brooksides handbook. In addition, you should not use
Brooksides computer systems to access or post material that: is pornographic, obscene,
sexually-related, profane or otherwise offensive; is intimidating or hostile; or violates Brookside
policies or any laws or regulations. Employees may make limited non-business use of Brooksides
electronic communications systems, provided that such use: (i) is occasional; (ii) does
not interfere with the employees professional responsibilities; (iii) does not diminish
productivity; and (iv) does not violate this policy the Company handbook.
Maintaining Accurate and Complete Company Records; Covering Up Mistakes
Brookside is required under U.S. federal securities laws and generally accepted accounting
principles to keep books, records and accounts that accurately reflect all transactions to provide
an adequate system of internal accounting and controls. Brookside also is required to provide full,
fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that it files with,
or submits to, the SEC and in all its other public communications. Brookside expects all personnel
to ensure that those portions of our books, records and accounts for which they have responsibility
are valid, complete, accurate and supported by appropriate documentation in verifiable form.
Similarly, Brookside expects all personnel to ensure that all reports and documents filed with the
SEC and all other public communications for which they are responsible provide full, fair, accurate
and understandable disclosure and that the same are filed on a timely basis.
All employees who exercise supervisory duties over Brookside assets or records are expected to
establish and implement appropriate internal controls over all areas of their responsibility. This
will help ensure the safeguarding of Brooksides assets and the accuracy of our financial records
and reports. Brookside has adopted various types of internal controls and procedures as required to
meet internal needs and applicable laws and regulations. Brookside expects all personnel to follow
these controls and procedures to assure the complete and accurate recording of all transactions.
Any accounting entries or adjustments that materially depart from generally accepted
accounting principles must be approved by our Board of Directors. No one may interfere with or seek
to improperly influence (directly or indirectly) the review or auditing of our financial records by
our Board of Directors.
If a director, officer or employee becomes aware of any questionable transaction or accounting
practice concerning Brookside or its assets, or material off-balance-sheet transactions,
arrangements and obligations, contingent or otherwise, and other Brookside relationships with
unconsolidated entities or other persons that may have material current or future effects on
Brooksides financial condition or results of operations, Brookside expects the matter to be
reported immediately to Brooksides legal counsel or to a member of our Board of Directors.
Mistakes should never be covered up, but should be immediately fully disclosed and corrected.
Falsification of any Brookside, client or third party record is prohibited.
Protection of Brookside, Client or Vendor Information
No one may use or reveal to others Brookside, client or vendor confidential or proprietary
information. Additionally, all personnel must take appropriate stepsincluding securing documents,
limiting access to computers and electronic media, and proper disposal methodsto prevent
unauthorized access to such information. Proprietary and/or confidential information, among other
things, includes: business methods, pricing and marketing data, strategy, computer code, forms,
experimental research and design drawings, and information about, or received from, Brooksides
current, former and prospective clients, vendors and employees.
Competitive Information, Defamation and Misrepresentation
No one may accept, use or disclose to others the confidential information of Brooksides
competitors. When obtaining competitive information, personnel must not violate Brooksides
competitors rights. Particular care must be taken when dealing with competitors clients,
ex-clients and ex-employees. Never ask for confidential or proprietary information. Never ask a
person to violate a non-compete or non-disclosure agreement. Aggressive sales and marketing should
not include misstatements, innuendo or rumors about Brooksides competition or their products and
financial condition. Do not make unsupportable promises concerning Brooksides products.
Use of Brookside and Third Party Software
Brookside and third party software may be distributed and disclosed only to employees
authorized to use it,
and to clients in accordance with terms of Brooksides software agreements. Brookside and third
party software may not be copied without specific authorization and may only be used to perform
assigned responsibilities.
Fair Competition and Antitrust Laws
Brookside must comply with all applicable fair competition and antitrust laws. These laws
attempt to ensure that businesses compete fairly and honestly and prohibit conduct seeking to
reduce or restrain competition. If you are uncertain whether a contemplated action raises unfair
competition or antitrust issues, Brooksides legal counsel can assist you.
Securities Trading
It is illegal to buy or sell securities using material information not available to the
public. Persons who give such undisclosed inside information to others may be as liable as
persons who trade securities while possessing such information. Securities laws may be violated if
a director, officer or employee, or any of their relatives or friends trade in securities of
Brookside, or any of its clients or vendors, while possessing inside information. Please refer to
Brooksides Confidentiality and Insider Trading Policy. For another copy of that policy, please
request one from Brooksides corporate Secretary.
Political Contributions
No company funds may be given directly to political candidates. Directors, officers and
employees may, however, engage in political activity with their own resources on their own time.
Retention of Business Records
Brookside business records must be maintained for the periods specified in Brooksides record
retention policies. Records may be destroyed only at the expiration of the pertinent period. In no
case may documents involved in a pending or threatened litigation, government inquiry or under
subpoena or other information request, be discarded or destroyed, regardless of the periods
specified in the applicable policy. In addition, no one should ever destroy, alter, or conceal,
with an improper purpose, any record or otherwise impede any official proceeding, either
personally, in conjunction with, or by attempting to influence, another person.
A Healthy and Safe Workplace; No Harassment
When Brookside protects the health and safety of its employees, the community, and the
environment, it demonstrates respect and contributes to a positive work environment. Without
respect for health, safety, and the environment, Brookside would put its personnel, customers and
the public at risk.
Brookside is committed to protecting the health and safety of its employees, the public, our
customers, suppliers, and visitors. Brooksides policy is to maintain a secure workplace where all
employees are attentive to hazard prevention and the avoidance of accidents and injuries. Posted
safety regulations, statistics, and warnings are guides to help everyone stay out of harms way.
Observed accidents, injuries, or hazards should be immediately reported to company leadership.
Please refer to our company handbook for further information regarding specific rules and
Brooksides commitment to creating a safe workplace.
Brookside does not tolerate harassment of our employees. Brookside does not tolerate any
retaliation against a person reporting harassment. Please refer to our company handbook. For
another copy of the handbook, please request one from your supervisor or the HR department.
Waivers
The Code of Business Conduct & Ethics applies to all Brookside officers and employees and the
members of its Board of Directors. There will be no waiver of any part of the Code for any officer
or director except by a vote of the Board, which will ascertain whether a waiver is appropriate and
ensure that the waiver is accompanied by appropriate controls designed to protect Brookside Waivers
of any part of the Code for any other employee may be
granted by the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer.
In the event that any waiver is granted for any officer or director, the waiver, and the
reasons for it, will be posted on the Brookside website, and a report concerning the waiver will be
filed under cover of Form 8-K with the SEC within five business days, thereby allowing Brooksides
shareholders to evaluate the merits of the particular waiver.
Reporting Violations
Each persons conduct can reinforce an ethical atmosphere and positively influence the conduct
of ones fellow employees. If an employee is powerless to stop suspected misconduct or discovers it
after it has occurred, he or she must report it to a leader at his or her location.
All Brookside directors, officers and employees are required to report, or cause to be
reported, information known to them, and assist in any investigation by any regulatory or law
enforcement agency, elected officials or others responsible for such matters, concerning the
following:
| Violation of any federal, state or local laws, regulations or rules by any Brookside director, officer, employee or agent in connection with Brookside or its business; | ||
| questionable accounting, internal controls and auditing matters concerning Brookside; | ||
| the conduct of any Brookside director, officer, employee or agent in connection with Brookside or its business that is not honest and ethical; | ||
| conflicts of interest which have not been reported as required by this Code; | ||
| disclosures in Brooksides SEC reports and other public disclosures that are not full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable; | ||
| violations of this Code of Ethics. |
If an employee is still concerned after speaking with his or her supervisor or feels
uncomfortable speaking with them (for whatever reason), he or she may speak with, or send a
detailed note, with relevant documents to, the Board of Directors. Alternatively, you may contact
Brooksides legal counsel, as follows:
Julio C. Esquivel
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP
P.O. Box 172609
Tampa, FL 33672
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP
P.O. Box 172609
Tampa, FL 33672
No Retaliation; Confidentiality
Part of your job at Brookside is to do the right thing. Brookside will not take any
personnel or other action against someone who reports or otherwise tries to stop suspected
wrongdoing. More specifically, Brookside will not, and no officer or employee may, retaliate
against anyone who provides, or causes to be provided, information, or who files, causes to be
filed, testifies, participates in, or otherwise assists in a proceeding regarding any matter
covered in the preceding section entitled Reporting Violations. The anonymity of a reporting
person and the confidentiality of the information that is reported will be maintained if such
person so requests; however, the identity of the person and the information reported may be
disclosed to the extent necessary to conduct an effective investigation. Any person who believes
that he or she has been subject to retaliation by Brookside, or any officer or employee, as a
result of a report, testimony, assistance in a proceeding or otherwise, should report such
retaliation to a member of the Boards Audit Committee. The Audit Committee will conduct an
appropriate investigation and take such action as it determines necessary to effect compliance with
this Code and applicable law.