EX-14.1 14 t1703106_ex14-1.htm EXHIBIT 14.1

 

Exhibit 14.1

 

 

Cue Biopharma, Inc.

 

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

 

INTRODUCTION

 

This Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”) applies to all directors, officers, and employees of Cue Biopharma, Inc. (the “Company”). The Company has issued this Code to deter wrongdoing and to promote:

 

honest and ethical conduct by everyone associated with the Company, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships;

 

full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that the Company files with, or submits to, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and in the Company’s other public communications;

 

compliance with all governmental laws, rules, and regulations (collectively, “Applicable Laws”), including all federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations (collectively, “Securities Laws”);

 

the prompt internal reporting of any violations of this Code to the appropriate person at the Company; and

 

accountability for adherence to the Code.

 

The effectiveness of this Code depends in part on the cooperation of all directors, officers, and employees in promptly disclosing to the designated persons within the Company any conduct believed to violate the standards described in this Code. The Company has established procedures to ensure that you may report any suspected violations anonymously. The Company expressly prohibits retaliation of any kind against anyone who in good faith reports suspected misconduct.

 

The Company seeks to foster a culture of compliance with Applicable Laws and the highest standards of business conduct. Everyone at the Company shall promote this culture of compliance. Suspected violations of this Code or Applicable Laws must be reported, and the Company will take appropriate steps to investigate them internally. Violators shall be subject to discipline, as deemed appropriate by the Company in its sole discretion, including immediate termination. This Code is neither a contract nor a comprehensive manual that covers every situation you might encounter. This Code creates no contractual rights. If you have any questions about the provisions of this Code, or about how you should conduct yourself in a particular situation, you should consult your supervisor or department head, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer or General Counsel, or Mark Busch of K&L Gates LLP, the Company’s outside legal counsel, whose contact information is set forth below under “Reporting and Enforcement Mechanisms.”

 

 

 

 

STANDARDS OF CONDUCT

 

Conflicts of Interest and Corporate Opportunities

 

You must ensure that any financial, business, or other activities in which you are involved outside the workplace are free of conflicts with your responsibilities to the Company. A “conflict of interest” may occur when your private interest in any way interferes – or even appears to interfere – with the interests of the Company. A conflict situation can arise when a person has interests that may impair the objective performance of his or her duties to the Company. Conflicts of interest may also arise when a person (or his or her family member) receives improper personal benefits as a result of his or her position in the Company.

 

You must disclose any matter that you believe might raise doubt regarding your ability to act objectively and in the Company’s best interest. The following is a non-exhaustive list of examples of situations involving potential conflicts of interest that should be disclosed:

 

any Company loan to any employee, officer, or director, or Company guarantee of any personal obligation;

 

employment by or acting independently as a consultant to a Company competitor, customer, or supplier;

 

directing Company business to any entity in which an employee or close family member has a substantial interest;

 

owning, or owning a substantial interest in, any competitor, customer, or supplier of the Company;

 

using Company assets, intellectual property, or other resources for personal gain; and

 

accepting anything of more than nominal value – such as gifts, discounts, or compensation – from an individual or entity that does or seeks to do business with the Company, other than routine entertainment and meals that are business related.

 

Directors and officers shall disclose any actual or apparent conflict situation to the Chief Executive Officer and to the Audit Committee. Employees who are not officers shall disclose all such situations of which they are aware to an appropriate supervisor or department head, or to the Chief Executive Officer. All supervisors and department heads who receive such reports must forward them promptly to the Chief Executive Officer.

 

You owe a duty to the Company to advance its legitimate interests. Thus you may not (i) take for yourself corporate opportunities that are discovered through the use of Company property, information or position, without first offering such opportunities to the Company; (ii) use corporate property, information, or position for personal gain; or (iii) compete with the Company. Directors and officers of the Company must adhere to their fundamental duties of good faith, due care, and loyalty owed to all shareholders, and to act at all times with the Company’s and its shareholders’ best interests in mind. Any business arrangements or transactions with the Company in which any directors or officers of the Company have a direct or indirect material financial interest must be approved in accordance with the Company’s Policy and Procedures with Respect to Related Person Transactions.

 

 

 

 

Confidentiality

 

You must maintain the confidentiality of business, technical, or other information entrusted to you by the Company, its customers or business partners, except when disclosure is authorized or legally mandated. Confidential information includes all non-public information that might be of use to competitors or harmful to the Company, its customers or business partners if disclosed. This obligation is in addition to the requirements of any confidentiality agreement that you may have entered into with the Company.

 

Fair Dealing

 

You must act fairly, honestly, and in good faith in any dealings on behalf of the Company with any of its customers, suppliers, competitors, employees, and all others. You may not take unfair advantage of anyone through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation of material facts, or any other unfair-dealing practice.

 

Protection and Proper Use of Company Assets

 

You must protect and seek to ensure the efficient use of Company assets. You should protect against the improper disclosure, theft, or misuse of the Company’s intellectual and physical property. Unauthorized or improper disclosure, theft, or misuse of any such Company property can result in disciplinary measures, including termination. The Company’s assets, including e-mail and all computer systems, should be used only for the Company’s legitimate business purposes. The content of the Company’s electronic communication infrastructure (e-mail, voicemail, Internet access) is not protected by any right of personal privacy, and the Company can access and monitor it at any time without notice.

 

Compliance with Laws, Rules, and Regulations

 

The Company is committed to compliance with Applicable Laws. The Company also maintains policies regarding such matters as insider trading that can be obtained from the Company’s Chief Financial Officer.

 

Each and every director, officer, and employee must comply with Applicable Laws. Questions or concerns about compliance issues should be raised by any of the means indicated under “Reporting and Enforcement Mechanisms” below.

 

Dealing with Government Employees

 

Directors, officers and employees of the Company must respect the laws and regulations that affect government employees in any dealings with them. In dealing with U.S. government employees or U.S. state government employees, this means not providing or offering to provide anything of value—even normal business courtesies such as paying for lunch. Directors, officers and employees must always be honest when dealing with government employees. This means not guessing or speculating if asked a question. No director, officer or employee will make any false certification to a government employee. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer will be consulted prior to offering employment to anyone who is a government employee.

 

 

 

 

Payments to Government Officials

 

No payment shall be made by the Company to any government official for the purpose of influencing any of the official’s acts or decisions, or inducing the official to use personal influence to affect any governmental act or decision. “Payment” means a transfer of money, a gift, or an offer or promise to give anything of value, whether made directly or indirectly, through trade associations, agents, consultants, or others. “Government Official” includes an officer or employee or any person acting for or on behalf of a government or a government unit.

 

U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

 

Many countries have laws that prohibit the payment of bribes to government officials. The U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) also prohibits the Company from making payments to officials of governments outside the U.S. for the purpose of obtaining favorable government action or keeping government business. Specifically, this law prohibits the Company from directly or indirectly offering, promising to pay, or paying money or anything of value to government officials for the purpose of:

 

Influencing the acts or decisions of the official.

 

Inducing the official to act or failing to act in violation of his or her duties.

 

Inducing the official to use his or her influence to assist in obtaining or retaining business for or directing business to any person.

 

The law also prohibits using intermediaries (for example, foreign affiliates, agents, and consultants) to channel payments to government officials for the same purposes. This law applies to the Company and all employees and agents of the Company, regardless of their residence or nationality. The Company expects our employees to refuse to make questionable payments. Furthermore, employees are not to engage in any lobbying activity that may be construed as being on behalf of or in connection with the Company. Any proposed payment or gift to a government official or lobbying activity that may be construed as being on behalf of or in connection with the Company must be reviewed and approved in advance by calling the Company’s legal counsel. Employees should be aware that they do not actually have to make the payment to violate the Company’s policy or the law, as merely offering, promising or authorizing it is sufficient.

 

Compliance with Securities Laws

 

The primary objective of the Securities Laws is to ensure that the public has accurate and complete information on which to base investment decisions. If you obtain information causing you to believe that the Company’s books or records are not being maintained, or that its financial condition or results of operations are not being disclosed, in accordance with these controls and procedures, you must report the matter directly as required by the Company’s Whistleblower Policy.

 

 

 

 

In order to comply with its public disclosure obligations, the Company limits to a select group of executives the responsibility of dealing with investors and securities analysts. Any inquiries from investors, potential investors or analysts should be promptly referred to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer.

 

To promote compliance with applicable Securities Laws, the Company has adopted an Insider Trading Policy, which applies to all of the Company’s directors, officers, employees, consultants and contractors and governs transactions involving the Company’s securities.

 

Health and Safety

 

The Company is committed to providing safe and healthful working conditions for its employees, contractors, and visitors. The Company will conduct all operations and activities in a manner that protects human health and the quality of life. The Company recognizes that the responsibilities for safe and healthful working conditions are shared in the following ways:

 

The Company will establish and implement health and safety programs and policies and provide the safeguards required to ensure safe and healthful conditions;

 

Supervisors and managers will create an environment where employees have genuine concern for safety and all operations are performed with the utmost regard for the safety and health of all personnel involved; and

 

All employees are expected to conduct their work in a safe manner and comply with all health and safety programs, policies, procedures, and laws.

 

No employee may bring a firearm, weapon or explosive substance into the workplace. The prohibition on firearms and weapons does not apply to security guards who are licensed and expressly authorized to carry a firearm or weapon.

 

The Environment

 

The Company is committed to operating its businesses and facilities and to producing its products in a manner that respects and protects human health and the environment. The Company requires that its operations are in compliance with all national, regional, and local regulations relating to the environment, such as those affecting air emissions, water purity and waste disposal. Compliance with legal requirements is only a minimum standard. All employees are expected to be alert to environmental issues. Employees with responsibilities in any of these areas are expected to inform themselves of all standards applicable to their activities and to inquire of management if they are unsure of the requirements affecting their responsibilities.

 

Discrimination and Harassment

 

The Company is firmly committed to providing equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and will not tolerate any illegal discrimination or harassment of any kind. Examples of prohibited conduct include derogatory comments based on race, gender, ethnicity or sexual preference and unwelcome sexual advances.

 

 

 

 

Media Relations and Speaking Publicly

 

Since the Company’s reputation is one of its most important assets and because of the need to provide honest and consistent responses to the media, all inquiries and contacts from the media should be directed to the Chief Executive Officer. Employees should refer members of the media to the Chief Executive Officer and should make no comments on behalf of the Company, whether officially or “off the record.” All press releases concerning the Company are to be issued only with the approval of the Chief Executive Officer or, in his absence, the Chief Financial Officer.

 

You may not publish or post any material in written or electronic format (including articles, social media postings, blogs, videos or other media), give interviews or make public appearances that disclose confidential Company business-related information, such as information concerning the Company’s customers, technologies, products or services without prior approval from your supervisor. Employees communicating in any public venue or forum without approval must not give the appearance of speaking or acting on the Company’s behalf.

 

REPORTING AND ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS

 

Among your most important responsibilities in this Company are the obligations to (1) comply with this Code and all Applicable Laws, including Securities Laws, and (2) report any situation or conduct you believe may constitute a possible violation of this Code or Applicable Laws.

 

If you should learn of a potential or suspected violation of this Code, you have an obligation to report the relevant information through the Company’s Whistleblower Hotline or to one of the persons listed below. You may address questions about ethics issues and raise any concerns about a possible violation of this Code or Applicable Laws to:

 

a supervisor or department head;

 

the Company’s Chief Executive Officer; and/or

 

Company General Counsel.

 

Frequently, a supervisor or department head will be in the best position to resolve the issue quickly. However, you may also raise any question or concern with any of the other persons listed above. You may do so orally or in writing and, if preferred, anonymously.

 

If the issue or concern relates to the Company’s financial statement disclosures, accounting practices, internal controls or auditing matters or possible violations of the federal securities laws or the rules or regulations promulgated thereunder, you are required to promptly report it pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Company’s Whistleblower Policy. In accordance with the Company’s Whistleblower Policy, such report may be anonymous.

 

 

 

 

POLICY AGAINST RETALIATION

 

The Company will not tolerate retaliation in any form against any person who in good faith reports suspected violations of the Code, voices other ethical concerns, or who is involved on the Company’s behalf in investigating or helping to resolve any such issue. The Company will not discharge, demote, suspend, threaten, harass, or in any other manner discriminate against any employee for providing information, causing information to be provided, or otherwise assisting in an investigation of any conduct that such person reasonably and in good faith believes constitutes a violation of this Code. Any acts of retaliation against an employee for any such conduct will be treated as a serious violation of this Code and may result in discipline, including immediate termination by the Company and/or criminal or civil sanctions. If you believe you have been subjected to such retaliation, you should report the situation as soon as possible to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer or to the Company’s General Counsel.

 

PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS

 

The Company is committed to taking prompt and consistent action in response to violations of this Code. Any covered person who violates the Code is subject to disciplinary action, including immediate termination. The Company will promptly investigate internally reports of suspected violations. It will evaluate suspected violations on a case-by-case basis and apply an appropriate sanction, including, in its sole discretion, reporting the violation to authorities.

 

WAIVER/AMENDMENTS

 

Any of the Chief Executive Officer, General Counsel or the Company’s Board of Directors may waive application of any provision of this Code for any persons other than a member of the Company’s Board of Directors or an executive officer. Only the Company’s Board of Directors may amend any provision of this Code or waive application of this Code for a director or an executive officer. Any waiver for a director or an executive officer shall be disclosed as required by SEC and Nasdaq Stock Market rules.

 

Adopted Effective December 1, 2017