EXHIBT 19.1
WILLDAN GROUP, INC.
INSIDER TRADING POLICY
2019
Federal and state securities laws prohibit any member of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Willdan Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”), their officers and employees and certain “outsiders” of the Company (a) from purchasing or selling Company securities on the basis of Material Nonpublic Information (as defined below) concerning the Company, and (b) from disclosing Material Nonpublic Information to others who might trade on the basis of that information. The Company hereby amends and restates its 2008 Insider Trading Policy by adopting this 2019 Insider Trading Policy (the “Policy”) to provide guidelines to employees, officers, directors and certain outsiders of the Company with respect to transactions involving the Company’s securities.
The Company has adopted this policy to promote compliance with federal and state insider trading laws and to protect the Company and its directors, officers and employees (including employees and officers of subsidiaries of the Company) from the serious liabilities and penalties that can result from trading in Company securities in violation of these laws. You, however, are responsible for ensuring that you do not violate federal or state insider trading laws or this policy.
EXHIBT 19.1
The prohibition on insider trading in this Policy is not limited to trading in the Company’s securities. It includes trading in the securities of other firms, such as customers or suppliers of the Company, and those with which the Company may be negotiating major transactions, such as an acquisition, investment or sale. Insiders should treat Material Nonpublic Information about these firms with the same care required with respect to information related directly to the Company.
This Policy applies to any and all transactions in the Company’s securities, including its common stock and options to purchase common stock, and any other type of equity securities that the Company may issue, such as preferred stock, convertible debentures, warrants and exchange-traded options or other derivative securities. For purposes of this Policy, “trade in” or “trading in” securities includes:
| ● | all open market purchases or sales of Company common stock and any other class of securities of the Company; |
| ● | the sale of Company common stock acquired upon the vesting of equity-based awards or the exercise of stock options, including by way of broker-assisted cashless exercise; and |
| ● | purchases and sales of derivative securities or any interest or position relating to the future price of Company securities, such as put options, call options and short or forward sales. |
Trading includes certain transactions under Company plans but does not include certain other transactions, as set forth below:
EXHIBT 19.1
Information about the Company is “material” if there is a substantial likelihood that a reasonable investor would consider it important in deciding whether to buy, hold or sell Company securities. Any information that could reasonably be expected to affect the price of the security is material. Here are some common examples of material information, although this is by no means an exhaustive list:
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| 3. | Potential mergers and acquisitions or the sale of Company assets or subsidiaries. |
| 6. | New strategic partners, suppliers, customers or financing sources, or the loss thereof. |
| 8. | Stock splits, public or private securities/debt offerings or changes in Company dividend policies or amounts. |
| 13. | A change in auditors or notification that the Company may no longer rely on an auditor’s audit report. |
| 14. | Material compliance by the Company with a rule or standard for continued listing of the Company’s common stock on The NADSAQ Stock Market LLC (“NASDAQ”). |
Nonpublic information is information that is not generally known or available to the general public. For information to be considered public, it must be widely disseminated in a manner making it generally available to investors through media like The Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones or through a public disclosure document filed with the SEC and available on the SEC’s website. For purposes of this Policy, information is considered nonpublic until the closing of the second full Trading Day after the information is released. For example, if the Company makes an announcement before the commencement of trading on a Monday, the information will be considered public starting on Wednesday of that week—because two full Trading Days (Monday and Tuesday) would have elapsed by that time. (“Trading Day” means a day on which national stock exchanges, including the NASDAQ, are open for trading.) Depending on particular circumstances, the Company may determine that a longer period should apply to the release of specific Material Nonpublic Information.
EXHIBT 19.1
Any Insider who is unsure whether information he or she possesses is material or nonpublic must consult the Chief Financial Officer for guidance before trading in any Company securities.
The Company has established an Insider Trading Compliance Committee (the “Compliance Committee”), consisting of the Chairman of the Audit Committee, the Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Chief Financial Officer and the Senior Vice President, Corporate Development. The duties of the Compliance Committee (in cooperation with the Chief Financial Officer) will include the following:
| 1. | Administering this Policy and enforcing compliance with all Policy provisions; |
| 3. | Revising the Policy as needed to reflect changes in federal and state insider trading laws; and |
| 4. | Fulfilling other responsibilities described herein as the responsibility of the Compliance Committee. |
In addition to the restrictions set forth elsewhere in this Policy, the following restrictions apply to Insiders:
EXHIBT 19.1
| ● | Short Sales. Short sales of the Company’s securities (generally, the sale of a security that the seller does not own) may evidence an expectation on the part of the seller that the securities will decline in value, and therefore signal to the market that the seller lacks confidence in the Company’s prospects. Additionally, short sales may reduce a seller’s incentive to seek to improve the Company’s performance. For these reasons, Insiders are prohibited from engaging in short sales of Company securities, which are illegal for officers and directors pursuant to Section 16(c) of the Exchange Act. |
| ● | Publicly Traded Options. Trading in “puts” and “calls” (publicly traded options to buy or sell stock) or other derivative securities may create the appearance that an Insider is trading based on Material Nonpublic Information and focus an Insider’s attention on short-term performance at the expense of the Company’s long-term objectives. Therefore, Insiders are prohibited from engaging in transactions in put options, call options or other derivative securities, on an exchange or in any other organized market, even when they are not aware of Material Nonpublic Information at the time of the transaction. |
| ● | Hedging Transactions. Certain forms of hedging or monetization transactions (such as prepaid variable forward sale contracts, collars, equity swaps, or exchange funds) are complex transactions that are designed to hedge or offset any decrease in the market value of Company securities without the full risks and rewards of ownership. When that occurs, an Insider entering into such transactions may no longer have the same objectives as the Company’s other stockholders. Therefore, Insiders are prohibited from engaging in such transactions even if they are not aware of Material Nonpublic Information at the time of the transaction. |
| ● | Margin Accounts and Pledged Securities. Securities held by an Insider in a margin account for a margin loan may be sold by the broker without the customer’s consent if the customer fails to meet a margin call. Similarly, securities pledged (or hypothecated) as collateral for a loan may be sold in foreclosure if the borrower defaults on the loan. Because a margin sale or |
EXHIBT 19.1
| foreclosure sale could occur at a time when the Insider is aware of Material Nonpublic Information or otherwise is not permitted to trade in Company securities, Insiders are prohibited from margining the Company securities in a margin account or pledging Company securities as collateral for a loan. |
Trades by Insiders in the Company’s securities that are executed pursuant to a 10b5-1 plan that has been approved in advance by the Chief Financial Officer are not subject to the prohibition on trading on the basis of Material Nonpublic Information contained in this Policy or the pre-clearance procedure set forth in Section V below. In the event that the Chief Financial Officer desires to trade in Company securities pursuant to a 10b5-1 plan, pre-approval of such plan by the other members of the Compliance Committee, and either the Chairman of the Audit Committee or the Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is required. Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act provides an affirmative defense from insider trading liability under the federal securities law for trading plans that meet certain requirements. In general, an Insider must enter into a 10b5-1 plan before he or she is aware of Material Nonpublic Information. Once the plan is adopted, the Insider must not exercise any influence over the amount of securities to be traded, the price at which they are to be traded or the date of the trade. The plan must either specify
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(including by formula) the amount, pricing and timing of transactions in advance or delegate discretion on those matters to an independent third party.
| V. | ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON Trades by Section 16 Individuals, DESIGNATED Employees and DESIGNATED CONSULTANTS |
No Designated Insider may trade, including during an applicable trading window, in Company equity securities unless the trade(s) have been approved by the Chief Financial Officer or any other person designated by the Chief Financial Officer, in accordance with the procedures set forth below. Designated Insiders who wish to sell Company securities in order to diversify their investment portfolio are encouraged to sell their securities pursuant to a predetermined written plan in accordance with Section IV.C of this Policy, adopted prior to each fiscal or calendar year, which is approved by the Chief Financial Officer, specifies the dates and amounts of securities to be sold, and generally cannot be modified during the year. To the extent possible, Designated Insiders should retain all records and documents that support their reasons for making each trade.
No Designated Insider may trade in Company securities until:
In the event that the Chief Financial Officer desires to trade in Company securities and obtain written clearance of the proposed transaction, the Chief Financial Officer should notify the other members of the Compliance Committee, and the other members of the Compliance Committee must certify their approval in writing.
The Designated Insider must complete the proposed trade within two business days after the approval is granted.
EXHIBT 19.1
The existence of the foregoing approval procedure does not in any way obligate the Chief Financial Officer or Compliance Committee to approve any trades requested by Designated Insiders. The Chief Financial Officer or Compliance Committee may reject any trading requests in their sole reasonable discretion. If a Designated Insider seeks pre-clearance and permission to engage in the trade is denied, then such Designated Insider should refrain from initiating any trade in Company securities and should not inform any other person of the restrictions.
The Chief Financial Officer may, on a case-by-case basis, authorize trading in Company securities outside of the applicable trading windows due to financial hardship or other hardships only after:
In the event that the Chief Financial Officer desires to request authorization due to a hardship, the Chief Financial Officer should notify the other members of the Compliance Committee, and the other members of the Compliance Committee must certify their approval in writing.
The existence of the foregoing approval procedure does not in any way obligate the Chief Financial Officer or Compliance Committee to approve any trades requested by hardship applicants. The Chief Financial Officer or Compliance Committee may reject any trading requests in their sole reasonable discretion. If a Designated Insider seeks authorization due to a hardship and permission is denied, then such Designated Insider should refrain from initiating any trade in Company securities and should not inform any other person of the restrictions.
The trading prohibitions and restrictions set forth in this Policy will be superseded by any greater prohibitions or restrictions prescribed by federal or state securities laws and regulations, e.g., short-swing trading by Section 16 Individuals or restrictions on the sale of securities subject
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to Rule 144 under the Securities Act. Any Insider who is uncertain whether other prohibitions or restrictions apply should ask the Chief Financial Officer.
This Policy continues to apply to the Insider’s transactions in Company securities even after an Insider has terminated employment with the Company. If an Insider is in possession of Material Nonpublic Information when employment terminates, the Insider may not trade in Company securities until that information has become public or is no longer material.
Any Insider who violates this Policy or any federal or state laws governing insider trading or tipping, or knows of any such violation by any other Insiders, must report the violation immediately to the Chief Financial Officer. Upon learning of any such violation, the Chief Financial Officer, in consultation with other Compliance Committee members and the Company’s legal counsel, will determine whether the Company should release any Material Nonpublic Information, or whether the Company should report the violation to the SEC or other appropriate governmental authority.
Please direct all inquiries regarding any of the provisions or procedures of this Policy to the Chief Financial Officer.
EXHIBT 19.1
WILLDAN GROUP, INC.
RECEIPT AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I, _________________________________, hereby acknowledge that I have received and read a copy of the “Willdan Group, Inc. Insider Trading Policy” and agree to comply with its terms. I understand that violations of insider trading or tipping laws or regulations may subject me to severe civil and/or criminal penalties, and that violation of the terms of the above-titled Policy may subject me to discipline by the Company up to and including termination for cause.
Dated this _____ day of _______________
__________________________________________
Signature
__________________________________________
Print Name
EXHIBT 19.1
EXHIBIT A
SECTION 16 INDIVIDUALS
______________________________________________________________________________
WILLDAN GROUP, INC. DIRECTORS
Name
[REDACTED]
WILLDAN GROUP, INC. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
[REDACTED]
EXHIBT 19.1
EXHIBIT B
DESIGNATED EMPLOYEES
[REDACTED]
EXHIBIT C
DESIGNATED CONSULTANTS
______________________________________________________________________________
Name
[REDACTED]
EXHIBT 19.1
APPLICATION AND APPROVAL FORM
FOR TRADING BY SECTION 16 INDIVIDUALS, DESIGNATED EMPLOYEES AND DESIGNATED CONSULTANTS
______________________________________________________________________________
Name | |
Title | |
Proposed Trade Date | |
Type of Security to be Traded | |
Type of Trade (Purchase/Sale) | |
Number of Shares to be Traded | |
Certification
I, ____________________________, hereby certify that (i) I am not in possession of any Material Nonpublic Information concerning the Company (as defined in the Company’s “Insider Trading Policy”) and (ii) to the best of my knowledge, the proposed trade(s) listed above do not violate the trading restrictions of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and, if relied upon, Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933. I understand that if I trade while possessing such information or in violation of such trading restrictions, I may be subject to severe civil and/or criminal penalties and may be subject to discipline by the Company up to and including termination for cause.
______________________________________________
SignatureDate
Review and Decision
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Insider Trading Compliance Committee has reviewed the foregoing application and
___ Approves__ Prohibits
the proposed trade(s).
Chief Financial OfficerDate
(or Designee)
EXHIBT 19.1
APPLICATION AND APPROVAL FORM
FOR TRADING IN HARDSHIP SITUATIONS
______________________________________________________________________________
Name | |
Title | |
Proposed Trade Date | |
Type of Security to be Traded | |
Type of Trade (Purchase/Sale) | |
Number of Shares to be Traded | |
Reason(s) for Trading: | |
Certification
I, ____________________________, hereby certify that (i) I am not in possession of any Material Nonpublic Information concerning the Company (as defined in the Company’s “Insider Trading Policy”) and (ii) to the best of my knowledge, the proposed trade(s) listed above do not violate the trading restrictions of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and, if relied upon, Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933. I understand that if I trade while possessing such information or in violation of such trading restrictions, I may be subject to severe civil and/or criminal penalties and may be subject to discipline by the Company up to and including termination for cause.
SignatureDate
Review and Decision
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Insider Trading Compliance Committee or the Chief Financial Officer (as applicable pursuant to the Company’s Insider Trading Policy) has reviewed the foregoing application and
_ Approves_ Prohibits
the proposed trade(s).
Chief Financial OfficerDate
(or Designee)