Exhibit 14.1
APPROACH RESOURCES INC.
CODE OF CONDUCT
FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
Adopted as of October 9, 2007
The Board of Directors (the Board) of Approach Resources Inc. (the Company) has adopted
the following Code of Conduct for members of the Board, officers and employees of the Company (this
Code). This Code is intended to focus the Board, each director, officer and employee on areas of
ethical risk, provide guidance to directors, officers and employees to help them recognize and deal
with ethical issues, provide mechanisms to report unethical conduct and help foster honest and
ethical conduct. Each director, officer and employee must comply with the letter and spirit of
this Code. This Code addresses each of you.
No code or policy can anticipate every situation that may arise. Accordingly, this Code is
intended to serve as a source of guiding principles for directors, officers and employees. If any
aspect of this Code is unclear to you as an employee, or if you have any questions or face dilemmas
that are not addressed, you should confer with your supervisor.
The Company reserves the right to amend or rescind this Code or any portion of it at any time
and to adopt different policies and procedures at any time. In the event of any conflict or
inconsistency between this Code and any other materials distributed by the Company, this Code shall
govern. If a law conflicts with a policy in this Code, you must comply with the law.
If you are in, or aware of, a situation that you believe may violate or lead to a violation of
this Code, follow the guidelines described in Section 10 of this Code.
1. Conflict of Interest
A conflict of interest occurs when your private interest interferes in any way, or appears
to interfere, with the interests of the Company as a whole. Conflicts of interest arise when you
or your immediate family receives improper personal benefits, financial or otherwise, as a result
of your position with the Company. You must avoid conflicts of interest with the Company.
It is impossible to enumerate all the situations in which potential conflicts of interest
might arise. This Code does not attempt to describe all possible conflicts of interest that could
develop. Some of the more common conflicts from which you must refrain, however, are set out
below:
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Loans. The Company shall not make any personal loans or extensions of
credit to you or your family members, or become contingently liable for your
debts or those of your family. Consistent with this practice, you may not
borrow from (or loan to) any person or entity that competes with the Company or
which the Company has or proposes to enter into an investment, business or
contractual relationship, except normal and customary financial services from
banks or other financial institutions. |
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Relationship of the Company with third parties. You may not engage in any
conduct or activity that is inconsistent with the Companys best interests or
that disrupts or |
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impairs the Companys relationship with any person or entity with which the
Company has or proposes to enter into an investment, business or contractual
relationship. Additionally, you may not speculate or trade in the securities
of, or otherwise acquire an interest in, an entity with which the Company, to
your knowledge, is negotiating or contemplating negotiating for a merger or
acquisition. |
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Compensation from non-Company sources. You and your family members may not
accept compensation, in any form, for services performed for the Company from
any source other than the Company. Additionally, officers and employees may
not take an active interest in, or be employed by, any outside business, while
an exempt employee of the Company. |
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Gifts. The purpose of business entertainment and gifts in a commercial
setting is to create goodwill and sound working relationships, not to gain
unfair advantage with customers. No gift or entertainment should ever be
directly or indirectly offered, given, provided or accepted by you or a member
of your family to or from any customer, supplier or competitor of the Company
unless it: |
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(a) |
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is not a cash gift, |
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(b) |
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is consistent with customary business practices, |
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(c) |
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is not excessive in value, |
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(d) |
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cannot reasonably be construed as a bribe or payoff,
and |
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(e) |
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does not violate any laws or regulations. |
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Please discuss with the General Counsel any gifts or proposed gifts that you are
not certain are appropriate. |
For purposes of this Code, family members include your family members who reside with you,
anyone else who lives in your household and any family member who does not live in your household
but whose transactions in Company securities are directed by you or are subject to your influence
or control (such as a parent or child who consults with you before he or she trades in Company
securities).
2. Insider Trading
Directors, officers and employees who have access to confidential information are not
permitted to use or share that information for stock trading purposes or for any other purpose
except the conduct of the Companys business. All non-public information about the Company should
be considered confidential information. To use non-public information for personal financial
benefit or to tip others who might make an investment decision on the basis of this information
is not only unethical but also illegal. Please consult the Companys policy on insider trading for
additional policies related hereto.
3. Corporate Opportunities
The conduct and affairs of certain directors of the Company with respect to their obligation
to present a corporate opportunity to the Company are governed by that certain Business
Opportunities Agreement dated as of July 11, 2007 and Article 11 of the Companys Restated
Certificate of Incorporation. To the extent such Business Opportunities Agreement or Article 11 of
the Companys Restated Certificate of Incorporation are not applicable, then the following shall
govern the conduct of business of the Company and its directors, officers and other employees with
respect to corporate opportunities.
You owe a duty to the Company to advance its legitimate interests when the opportunity to do
so arises. When an opportunity that relates to the Companys business has been presented to you as
a result of your relationship with the Company or its agents, you are prohibited from (a) taking
for yourself personally opportunities that are discovered through the use of the Companys property
or information, or your position with the Company, (b) using the Companys property, information or
position for personal gain, or (c) personally competing with the Company, directly or indirectly,
for business opportunities. However, if it has been determined that the Company will not pursue an
opportunity presented to the Company, you may pursue such opportunity if such involvement is fully
disclosed to the Companys Board and does not interfere with the fulfillment of your
responsibilities to the Company.
4. Record-Keeping
The Company requires honest and accurate recording and reporting of information in order to make
responsible business decisions. All of the Companys books, records, accounts and financial
statements must be maintained in reasonable detail, must appropriately reflect the Companys
transactions and must conform both to applicable legal requirements and to the Companys system of
internal controls. Periodic and other reports (financial and otherwise) to federal, state and
local government agencies must present a full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure
by the Company. Business records and communications should avoid exaggeration, derogatory remarks,
guesswork or inappropriate characterizations of people and companies. This applies equally to
electronic mail, internal memoranda and formal reports. Records should always be retained or
destroyed according to the Companys record retention policies.
5. Confidentiality
You must maintain the confidentiality of information entrusted to you by the Company, and any
other confidential information about the Company that comes to you, from whatever source, in your
capacity as director, officer or employee except when disclosure is authorized or required by laws
or regulations. Confidential information includes all non-public information that might be of use
to competitors or harmful to the Company, if disclosed.
6. Protection and Proper Use of Company Assets
You should endeavor to protect the Companys assets and ensure their efficient use. Theft,
carelessness and waste of assets have a direct impact on the Companys profitability. All Company
assets shall be used only for legitimate business purposes, though incidental personal use may be
permitted.
7. Compliance with Laws, Rules and Regulations
You shall comply with all laws, rules and regulations applicable to the Company.
Specifically, and without limitation, you shall provide full, fair, accurate, timely and
understandable disclosure in reports that the Company files, or submits to, the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission and in other public communications made by the Company.
8. Waivers of this Code of Conduct
Changes in or waivers of this Code may be made only by the Board or, in the case of any change
in or waiver of this Code for any of the officers, only by the independent directors on the Board.
All changes in or waivers of this Code for officers will be promptly disclosed as required by law
or applicable regulations.
9. Encouraging the Reporting of any Illegal or Unethical Behavior
Directors, officers and employees should promote ethical behavior and take steps to create a
working environment at the Company that (a) encourages employees to talk to supervisors, managers
and other appropriate personnel when in doubt about the best course of action in a particular
situation, (b) encourages employees to report violations of laws, rules, regulations or this Code
to appropriate personnel and (c) fosters the understanding among employees that the Company will
not permit retaliation for reports made in good faith.
10. Failure to Comply; Compliance Procedures
Your failure to comply with the laws or regulations governing the Companys business, this
Code or any other Company policy or requirement may result in disciplinary action including
termination of employment, and, if warranted, legal proceedings.
We must all work to ensure prompt and consistent action against violations of this Code.
However, in some situations, it is difficult to know right from wrong. Since we cannot anticipate
every situation that will arise, it is important that we have a way to approach a new question or
problem. These are the steps to keep in mind:
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Make sure you have the facts. In order to reach the right solutions, we
must be as fully informed as possible. |
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Ask yourself: What specifically am I being asked to do? Does it seem
unethical or improper? This will enable you to focus on the specific question
you are faced with, and the alternatives you have. Use your judgment and
common sense. |
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Clarify your responsibility and role. In most situations, there is shared
responsibility. Are your colleagues informed? It may help to get others
involved and discuss the problem. |
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Usually employees should discuss problems with their supervisors. This is
the basic guidance. In many cases, your supervisor will be more knowledgeable
about the question, and will appreciate being brought into the decision-making
process. Remember that it is your supervisors responsibility to help solve
problems. In the case where it may not be appropriate to discuss a complaint
or concern with your |
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supervisor, or where you do not feel comfortable approaching your supervisor
with your complaint or concern, you may discuss it with J. Curtis Henderson,
Executive Vice President and General Counsel, by calling (817) 989-9000. If you
prefer to submit your questions or concerns in writing or on a confidential
and/or anonymous basis, forward them either: |
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(a) |
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to J. Curtis Henderson, Executive Vice President and
General Counsel, at One Ridgmar Centre, 6500 West Freeway, Suite 800, Forth
Worth, Texas 76116, phone number (817) 989-9000; or |
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(b) |
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through the Companys toll-free twenty-four hour
hotline upon the installment of such a hotline. |
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Written concerns or complaints that are not anonymously submitted will be
acknowledged in writing. |
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You may report violations in confidence and without fear of retaliation. If
your situation requires that your identity be kept secret, your anonymity will
be protected. The Company does not permit retaliation or retribution of any
kind against employees for good faith reports of ethical violations. |
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Always ask first, act later: If you are unsure of what to do in any
situation, seek guidance before you act. |