Exhibit
14.2
TO
OUR EMPLOYEES AND DIRECTORS
Guidelines
for Business Conduct
Exhibit
14.2
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
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I.
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PROTECTING
THE COMPANY’S ASSETS
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1
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Use
of the Company’s Assets
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1
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Confidential
Information
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1
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II.
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RECORDING
AND REPORTING INFORMATION
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2
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III.
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BUSINESS
CONTACTS WITH COMPETITORS
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3
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IV.
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ACQUIRING
AND USING INFORMATION ABOUT OTHERS
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3
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V.
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BRIBES,
GIFTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND SOLICITATIONS
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4
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VI.
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CONFLICT
OF INTEREST
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5
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Your
Personal Financial Interest
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5
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Your
Non Work Activity - Competing with the Company
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5
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Supplying
the Company
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5
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Use
of the Company’s Time and Assets
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6
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Waiver
of Conflict of Interest
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6
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VII.
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POLITICAL
CONTRIBUTIONS
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6
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VIII.
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USING
INSIDE INFORMATION
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6
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IX.
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TECHNOLOGY
RESOURCES
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7
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X.
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COMPETITION
LAW AND BUSINESS CONDUCT
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7
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XI.
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MEDIA
AND OTHER OUTSIDE COMMUNICATION
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7
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XII.
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COMPLIANCE
WITH COPYRIGHT LAWS
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7
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XIII.
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ALCOHOL
AND DRUG USE
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8
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XIV.
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DISCRIMINATION
AND HARASSMENT
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8
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XV.
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COMPANY
PROPERTY
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10
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Products
and Production
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10
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Information
Systems
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10
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XVI.
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COMPLIANCE
WITH LAW
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10
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Exhibit
14.2
GUIDELINES
FOR BUSINESS CONDUCT
DEFINITIONS
“Drew”
means Drew Industries Incorporated.
“Kinro”
means Kinro, Inc. and its direct and indirect subsidiaries.
“Lippert”
means Lippert Components, Inc. and its direct and indirect
subsidiaries.
For
ease
of reference, the term “Company” means the company with which you are employed
consisting of either Drew, Kinro or Lippert. Guidelines applicable to employees
of the Company are also applicable to all directors of Drew as the context
requires.
I. PROTECTING
THE COMPANY’S ASSETS
Every
employee is responsible not only for protecting Company property (including
confidential information), entrusted to him or her, but also for helping protect
the Company’s assets in general.
Use
of the Company’s Assets
Facilities,
equipment and supplies must be used only for conducting the Company’s
business.
Funds
or
assets of the Company may be used only for conducting the Company’s business,
and not for any unlawful or improper purposes.
Confidential
Information
Confidential
(proprietary) information includes any non-public business, financial and
product plans. It includes, but is not limited to, designs, engineering and
manufacturing know-how and processes, customer and supplier information,
pricing, and a variety of internal information, such as personnel and salary
information.
GUIDELINES
FOR BUSINESS
CONDUCT - PAGE 1
One
obligation that you have, as an employee and at any time after you leave
employment, is not to disclose to anyone outside the Company any confidential
information. Another obligation is to use such information only in the Company’s
business. If questions from someone outside the Company come to you, do not
answer them unless you’re authorized to do so.
Inadvertent
disclosure of confidential information by loyal employees can harm the Company’s
interest. For example, other than as may be necessary for purposes of conducting
the Company’s business, you should not discuss with anyone outside the Company,
products, products being developed or prices. You should never discuss with
anyone outside the Company earnings or business volume that have not been made
public, marketing strategies, business plans or other confidential
information.
Even
if
you retire, or leave the Company for some other reason, you may not disclose
or
misuse confidential information.
II. RECORDING
AND REPORTING INFORMATION
You
should record and report information not only accurately but
honestly.
Every
employee records or submits to the Company information of some kind. Reporting
time worked is an example, as is the recording of financial information by
accounting personnel. Expense accounts are another important
record.
Particularly
serious would be the reporting of false or misleading financial
information.
The
Company encourages employees to report all incidents of reporting or recording
false or misleading information. No employee will be disciplined or discharged
because of bringing, or assisting in the investigation of, an honest complaint
of reporting or recording false or misleading information.
If
you
believe there has been any reporting of false or misleading information
pertaining to the Company’s accounting, internal accounting controls, auditing
matters, or you have any related concerns, you may use one of the following
methods to report the incident:
| 1. |
Kinro
employees can call Michael Leasor, Esq., at 817-483-7791, extension
113.
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| 2. |
Lippert
employees can call Robert L Konopinski, Esq. at 574-535-2085, extension
4809.
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GUIDELINES
FOR BUSINESS
CONDUCT - PAGE 2
| 3. |
Any
employee can call Harvey F. Milman, Esq., VP-Chief Legal Officer
of Drew,
at 914-428-9098, extension 16.
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| 4. |
Any
employee can call the Company’s Audit Committee of the Board of Directors
at (877) DREW123 (373-9123).
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| 5. |
Any
employee can email to drew@drewindustries.com,
subject: Audit Committee, or by regular mail to Audit Committee,
Drew
Industries Incorporated, 200 Mamaroneck, Ave., White Plains NY
10601.
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Complaints
about the Company’s accounting, internal auditing controls, or auditing matters
will be referred by Mr. Leasor, Mr. Konopinski or Mr. Milman to the Chairman
of
Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.
If
you
request, you will be furnished with a written receipt of your
complaint.
You
can
make your complaint anonymously, without identifying yourself. If you provide
your identity, and you request that it be kept confidential, your name will
not
be disclosed to management.
III. BUSINESS
CONTACTS WITH COMPETITORS
Be
careful of your relationship with any competitor.
In
all
contacts with competitors, the general rule is to avoid discussing such matters
as pricing policy, terms and conditions, costs, customer information, supplier
information, inventories, products plans, production plans or methods and,
of
course, any information which is confidential.
Collaboration
or discussion with competitors on these subjects can be illegal. If a competitor
raises any of them you should object and stop the discussion immediately, and
report the incident to your supervisor.
IV. ACQUIRING
AND USING INFORMATION ABOUT OTHERS
In
the
normal course of doing business, you may acquire information about customers,
suppliers, prospects or information about their employees. In itself, this
is
ethical.
GUIDELINES
FOR BUSINESS
CONDUCT - PAGE 3
Exhibit
14.2
There
are
limits, however, on how such information should be acquired and used, especially
information about competitors. No person should, through
improper means,
acquire
a competitor’s trade secrets or other confidential information.
Industrial
espionage - burglary, wiretapping, stealing and so forth - is obviously wrong.
So is hiring a competitor’s employees to get confidential information or urging
a competitor’s employees or customers to disclose confidential
data.
You
should also be sensitive to how you use information about other companies and
their employees.
V. BRIBES,
GIFTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND SOLICITATIONS
Gifts
between employees of different companies range from widely distributed
advertising novelties of small value, which you may both give and receive,
to
bribes, which unquestionably you may not. You may pay for and accept customary
business amenities such as meals, provided the expenses involved are kept at
a
reasonable level.
There
is,
however, a point of unacceptability. The difficulty lies in determining where
that point is. One way to approach this question is to recognize that the
purpose of both gifts and entertainment in business is to create goodwill.
If
they do more than that and unduly influence the recipient or make that person
feel obligated to “pay back” the other company or individual by giving it
business, then they are unacceptable.
Neither
you, nor any member of your family, may ask for or accept, from a supplier
or
customer, money or a gift that may reasonably be construed as having any
connection with the Company’s business relationship. Gifts also include
discounts on personal purchases.
You
may
not give money or any gift to an executive, official or employee of any
supplier, customer, government agency or other organization if it could
reasonably be construed as having any connection with the Company’s business
relationship.
Finally,
while the Company encourages all of its employees to participate in charitable
causes and other community service organizations, the Company also recognizes
that solicitations of customers or suppliers for charitable or political
contributions or services can, in certain instances, impact the Company’s
business relationships and cause an appearance of impropriety. Accordingly,
you
should not solicit any customer or supplier for charitable or political
contributions, unless you obtain the approval of the President of the Company
by
which you are employed, or unless the solicitation is made to an individual
in
the context of a personal friendship, on your own time and away from Company
premises, and does not involve the Company or its business in any manner. Under
no circumstances may an employee solicit customers or suppliers on behalf of
the
Company for political contributions or services.
GUIDELINES
FOR BUSINESS
CONDUCT - PAGE 4
Exhibit
14.2
VI. CONFLICT
OF INTEREST
A
conflict of interest would exist for you if you had any interests or activities
outside the Company that you could benefit from to the detriment of the Company.
In other words, given your responsibilities to the outside interest and your
responsibilities to the Company as an employee, your loyalty becomes
divided.
Your
Personal Financial Interest
You
should not have a financial interest in a supplier, competitor, customer,
distributor or any other organization that could cause a conflict of
interest.
A
financial interest would be improper if the combination of your job, the amount
of your investment and the particular company in which you invested could,
viewed objectively by another person, influence your actions as an employee
of
the Company.
In
the
case of a supplier, ask yourself whether you have anything to do, directly
or
indirectly, with a decision on whether the Company does business with this
other
company. If you do, you should not have any financial interest at all in the
other company.
You
should not evade these guidelines on investments by acting indirectly through
anyone else, including family members.
Your
Non Work Activity - Competing with the Company
You
may
not market products or services which compete with the Company’s products. Nor,
without the Company’s consent, may you work for a competitor during your
employment with the Company as an employee, consultant or member of its board
of
directors, since usually that would create a conflict of interest.
Supplying
the Company
You
may
not accept money or any benefits from any supplier for business advice or
services with respect to the supplier’s business with the Company. Nor may you
represent a supplier to the Company, be a part of its operating management
or
work on anything offered by that supplier to the Company. Also, although there
may be exceptions established by the Company, you may not, as a general rule,
be
a supplier to the Company in your own right.
GUIDELINES
FOR BUSINESS
CONDUCT - PAGE 5
Exhibit
14.2
Use
of the Company’s Time and Assets
You
may
not perform outside work or solicit business on your own behalf while on the
Company premises or the Company’s time. Nor may you use the Company’s equipment,
materials, resources or proprietary information for any outside
work.
Waiver
of Conflict of Interest
If
you
have any interests or activities outside the Company that could, or could appear
to, possibly influence your decisions or actions as an employee of the Company,
you must disclose the interests or activities to the President of the Company
by
which you are employed. If the Company determines that a waiver of the conflict
of interest may be appropriate, a written waiver must be obtained by the Company
from the President and Chief Executive Officer of Drew upon approval of Drew’s
Audit Committee. Failure to make disclosure of a conflict of interest and obtain
a written waiver is cause for dismissal.
VII.
POLITICAL
CONTRIBUTIONS
The
Company will not make contributions or payments to political parties or
candidates. Nor will the Company provide any other form of support that may
be
considered a contribution.
VIII.
USING
INSIDE INFORMATION
A
specific area of concern in investing is the improper use of what is called
inside information; non-public information about the Company or another company,
such as a customer. The improper use of such information for your own financial
benefit is a violation of law.
Here
are
some examples:
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•
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If
you know, due to your position as an insider, that our Company, an
affiliate, or a customer or supplier is about to make an announcement
that
could affect the price of its stock, you should not buy or sell that
stock, nor suggest that someone else do so, until after expiration
of two
full New York Stock Exchange trading days after the
announcement.
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GUIDELINES
FOR BUSINESS
CONDUCT - PAGE 6
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You
should not buy or sell the stock of a customer or supplier based
on any
inside information you have about that
company.
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As
with investments, you should not evade these guidelines by acting
through
anyone else, including your family
members.
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IX. TECHNOLOGY
RESOURCES
Technology
resources consist of all electronic devices, software, and means of electronic
communication, including access to the Internet. All such resources (including,
but not limited to e-mail) are the property of the Company and may from time
to
time be accessed by the Company without an employee's permission or knowledge.
The Company's technology resources are to be used by employees only for the
purpose of conducting Company business. Employees may, however, use the
Company's technology resources for incidental personal use so long as such
use
does not interfere with the employee's duties, is not done for pecuniary gain,
does not conflict with the Company's business and does not violate any Company
policy. Finally, all e-mail messages sent from the Company, even if personal,
should be business-like and messages that are harassing or improper are strictly
forbidden.
X. COMPETITION
LAW AND BUSINESS CONDUCT
Under
competition (antitrust) laws, companies may not enter into agreements with
other
companies, even informally, that unreasonably restrict the competitive system.
A
good example of such a prohibited agreement is one between competitors to charge
the same price for their products. Other examples include agreements between
competitors to divide markets or control production and a company’s agreement
with its suppliers that they will not sell to its competitors, or with its
distributors that they will not handle competitive products.
Except
for arrangements already approved - such as standard types of contracts like
sales and purchasing agreements - all other contracts or arrangements between
the Company and other persons or companies should be reviewed by the Company’s
legal counsel.
XI. MEDIA
AND OTHER OUTSIDE COMMUNICATION
From
time
to time, the Company's employees may receive inquiries from the media,
attorneys, accountants or others regarding the Company or its customers. All
such inquiries should be immediately referred to their supervisor. Employees
should never respond to these inquiries, unless under specific instructions
to
do so. If any employee is required to provide information pursuant to a subpoena
or court order, their supervisor must be immediately notified and the Company
will aid the employee in providing accurate, relevant information.
GUIDELINES
FOR BUSINESS
CONDUCT - PAGE 7
Exhibit
14.2
XII.
COMPLIANCE
WITH COPYRIGHT LAWS
Photocopying
and dissemination of material contained in books, newsletters and other
periodicals and computer software can result in substantial corporate and
personal liability for copyright infringement. Photocopying newsletters on
a
systematical and cover-to-cover basis, even for internal use, creates a high
risk of liability for copyright infringement and is prohibited. Additionally,
unless specifically permitted in the license agreement accompanying computer
software, copying computer software is a copyright infringement and is
prohibited.
XIII. ALCOHOL
AND DRUG USE
The
safety and health of employees continue to be of utmost concern to the Company.
Also, the productivity, effectiveness, and morale of employees are matters
of
high and legitimate priority to the Company. In its commitment to maintain
a
safe and healthy work environment and a productive employee group, the Company
has set forth this policy against alcohol and drug abuse.
It
is the
policy of the Company to prohibit the manufacture, distribution, sale or
transfer, or unauthorized use or possession of, alcohol and unprescribed
controlled substances on Company property (including parking lots) or during
working time at any location. It is also a violation of policy for any employee
to appear for or to work while under the influence of alcohol or an unprescribed
controlled substance.
Prescription
drugs prescribed by the employee’s physician may be taken during working hours,
but the employee must notify the supervisor if the prescription drugs may affect
the employee’s work performance or behavior. Abuse of prescription drugs will be
regarded as a violation of this policy.
The
Company may perform random and/or reasonable suspicion drug testing of employees
as part of its commitment to maintaining a drug-free workplace.
XIV.
DISCRIMINATION
AND HARASSMENT
The
Company is committed to maintaining a work environment in which all individuals,
employees and non-employees alike, are treated with respect and dignity. Each
person has the right to work in a professional atmosphere that promotes equal
opportunities, prohibits discriminatory practices and is free from all forms
of
harassment based on any protected characteristic, including sexual harassment.
Discrimination or harassment, whether based on race, color, religion, gender,
national origin, age, disability or sexual orientation, whether it is verbal
or
physical, and whether it occurs on the Company’s premises, at work assignments
outside the Company’s premises, at Company sponsored social functions or
elsewhere, is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
GUIDELINES
FOR BUSINESS
CONDUCT - PAGE 8
Exhibit
14.2
Prohibited
harassment includes unwelcome or unwanted sexual advances, requests for sexual
favors, and other verbal, nonverbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature
or
which is undertaken on the basis of a protected characteristic when: (1)
submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as a factor
in decisions affecting hiring, evaluation, promotion, termination or other
aspects of employment; or (2) such conduct substantially interferes with an
individual’s employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work
environment.
Examples
of unacceptable conduct include behavior such as teasing; racial slurs; ethnic
jokes or disparaging remarks; repeated unwelcome flirtations, advances or
propositions; graphic or verbal commentary about an individual’s body or sexual
prowess or deficiencies; leering; whistling; touching, pinching or other
unwelcome physical contact; suggestive, insulting, obscene or demeaning comments
or gestures; and display in the workplace of sexually suggestive objects or
pictures.
Even
consenting romantic and sexual relationships between employees may lead to
unforeseen complications. Every employee should be aware of the possible risks
of even an apparently consensual sexual relationship, including the possible
difficulty of showing mutual consent. The Company may alter the responsibilities
of employees engaged in a consenting relationship to diminish the job related
contact they may have with each other.
The
same
risks are present in seemingly mutual or consensual “horseplay” involving
behavior that is demeaning or derogatory towards individuals based on a
particular characteristic.
The
Company encourages employees to report all incidents of discrimination or
prohibited harassment, regardless of whom the offender might be, in the manner
established by the Company’s policies that have been made available to its
employees. Often a frank discussion with the alleged offender will resolve
the
problem. If the offensive behavior continues, or an employee is uncomfortable
discussing the behavior with the offending individual, a supervisor or the
human
resource manager is available to talk with the employee. In all cases, the
human
resource manager is kept apprised of the situation.
GUIDELINES
FOR BUSINESS
CONDUCT - PAGE 9
Exhibit
14.2
Complaints
will be promptly investigated in accordance with the Company’s established
procedures, including interviews of the complaining individual, the alleged
offender and any identified witnesses. Confidentiality will be maintained to
the
maximum extent possible. If the allegations of improper behavior are confirmed,
appropriate disciplinary action will be taken, up to and including
dismissal.
It
is
also a violation of this policy to retaliate against any individual who in
good
faith complains of discriminatory or harassing behavior or who assists in
investigations of complaints. No employee will be discriminated against, or
discharged, because of bringing, or assisting in the investigation of, a
complaint of discrimination or prohibited harassment. Retaliatory conduct may
result in discipline, up to and including discharge. If, however, after
investigating any complaint of harassment or discrimination, the Company
determines that an employee has provided false information regarding the
complaint, disciplinary action may be taken against that
individual.
XV.
COMPANY
PROPERTY
Products
and Production
All
inventions, designs, specifications, creations, ideas, techniques and methods
involving any products or services offered by the Company, or any manufacturing
techniques, and any modifications or improvements to any of these, that are
invented, discovered or implemented by any employee of the Company during
his/her employment with the Company are the property of the Company and are
owned by the Company. This is the case whether or not the employee used the
Company’s facilities, equipment, materials or personnel, and whether or not the
Company markets or utilizes these inventions, discoveries or implementations.
Upon request, employees are required to sign and deliver to the Company any
documents needed to establish or record the Company’s title to these inventions,
discoveries or implementations.
Information
Systems
All
computer software systems and developments, including specifications, programs,
documentation, source codes, object codes, algorithms, computer routines, flow
charts, diagrams, data and data bases made or conceived or developed by any
employee of the Company during his/her employment with the Company relating
to
any aspect of the Company’s business are the property of the Company and are
owned by the Company. This is the case whether or not the employee used the
Company’s facilities, equipment, materials or personnel, and whether or not the
Company utilizes these software systems and developments. Upon request,
employees are required to sign and deliver to the Company any documents needed
to establish or record the Company’s title to these systems and
developments.
GUIDELINES
FOR BUSINESS
CONDUCT - PAGE 10
Exhibit
14.2
XVI.
COMPLIANCE
WITH LAW
It
is the
Company's policy to, and the Company expects all employees to, comply with
the
Equal Pay Act (provides for equal pay for males and females for comparable
work), the Fair Labor Standards Act (regulates minimum wage and overtime
compensation), the Family Medical Leave Act (requires employers to allow
eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for the care of a
child, spouse, or parent with a serious health condition, the birth or adoption
of a child, or the employee's own serious health condition), Title VII of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964 (prohibits employment discrimination on the basis
of
race, color, religion, national origin or sex), the Americans with Disabilities
Act (prohibits discrimination in the workplace against qualified individuals
with disabilities), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (prohibits
employers from discriminating against employees 40 years of age or older),
the
Occupational Safety and Health Act (requires employees to furnish their workers
with a workplace that is free from recognized hazards that cause or are likely
to cause, death or serious injury) and all other federal, state and local laws
applicable to employment.
I
have
read and understand the Company’s Guidelines for Business Conduct.
|
____________________________________
Name
____________________________________
Signature
|
_____________________________________
Company
___________________________
Date
|
GUIDELINES
FOR BUSINESS
CONDUCT - PAGE 11