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Directors' and Executive Officers' code of Conduct
Corporate
Disclosure Policy
Introduction
This continuous disclosure policy sets out the procedure for:
- identifying material price sensitive information;
- reporting such information to the MD and/or the Company Secretary for review;
- ensuring Conquest Mining Limited ("CONQUEST") achieves best practice in complying with its continuous disclosure obligations under the Corporations Act and ASX Listing Rules; and
- ensuring CONQUEST and individual officers do not contravene the Corporations Act or ASX Listing Rules.
This continuous disclosure policy applies to directors and those members of senior management who are most likely to be in possession of, or become aware of, the relevant information. All CONQUEST staff need to be aware of the existence of the policy and to be familiar with its terms so that they can assist with reporting of potentially sensitive information to the appropriate persons within CONQUEST.
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to ensure that company announcements are:
- made in a timely manner;
- are factual;
- do not omit material information; and
- are expressed in a clear and objective manner that allows investors to assess the impact of the information when making investment decisions.
Continuous Disclosure Protocol - Committment
The Company is committed to:
- ensuring that stakeholders have the opportunity to access externally available information issued by the Company;
- providing full and timely information to the market about the Company's activities; and
- complying with the obligations contained in the Australian Stock Exchange Listing Rules and the Corporations Act relating to continuous disclosure.
CONTINUOUS DISCLOSURE POLICY
Underlying Principle
CONQUEST has obligations under the Corporations Act and ASX listing Rules to keep the market fully informed of information which may have a material effect on the price or value of CONQUEST securities, or influence an investment decision on the company's shares or securities, and to correct any material mistake or misinformation in the market. CONQUEST discharges these obligations by releasing information to the ASX in the form of an ASX release or disclosure in other relevant documents.
Exceptions to ASX Listing Rule 3.1 on Continuous Disclosure
ASX Listing Rule 3.1 provides for disclosure not to be required where:
- a reasonable person would not expect the information to be disclosed; and
- the information is confidential; and
- one or more of the following applies:
- it is a breach of law to disclose the information; or
- the information concerns an incomplete proposal or negotiation; or
- the information is insufficiently definite to warrant disclosure; or
- the information is generated for internal management purposes; or
- the information is a trade secret.
All three (a, b and c) must be met for disclosure not to be required.
ASX Listing Rule 3.1
ASX Listing Rule 3.1 requires that CONQUEST immediately notify the ASX of any information on which CONQUEST becomes aware, concerning CONQUEST, that a reasonable person would expect to have a material effect on the price or value of CONQUEST securities.
A reasonable person would be taken to expect information to have a material effect on the price or value of securities if it would, or would be likely to, influence persons who commonly invest in securities in deciding whether or not to subscribe for, buy or sell the securities. Hence, information is considered to be "material" if there is a substantial likelihood that it would influence an investor in deciding whether to trade in or hold the Company's shares/securities.
CONQUEST becomes aware of information if any of its directors or executive officers has or ought reasonably to have, come into possession of the information in the course of the performance of his or her duties as a director or executive officer of CONQUEST.
The disclosure obligation does not generally apply where the information is exogenous or generally available.
POLICY
The Policy
The following procedures will apply to safeguard against breaches of CONQUEST's continuous disclosure obligations:
- directors and senior management must immediately notify the MD and/or the Company Secretary as soon as they become aware of information that should be considered for release to the market (material information which is disclosable);
- the MD and/or the Company Secretary will:
- review the material information reported;
- determine, in consultation with all necessary parties as appropriate, whether any of the material information is required to be disclosed to the ASX; and
- co-ordinate the actual form of disclosure with the relevant members of management.
- where a decision is made, that the item or information does not warrant an ASX release, the MD/Company Secretary is to advise directors of the rationale for the decision.
Persons to whom this policy applies
This policy applies to:
- all directors of CONQUEST and its subsidiaries;
- all members of senior management;
- and all employees.
Obligations
As soon as you become aware of information that:
- is not generally available (i.e. the information in question has not been included in any Annual Report, ASX Release or other publication of the Company); and
- which may be price sensitive (i.e. it is likely to have a financial or reputation impact upon the Company that may be considered material),
- you must provide the MD and/or the Company Secretary with all necessary information to ensure that the matter is disclosed appropriately to all required parties.
In order that you can comply with your obligations under paragraph 5.3(a), you must ensure that you implement such procedures as you consider appropriate to ensure if any person who reports to you becomes aware of or is in possession of information that is not generally available and/or which may be price sensitive, that person will promptly notify you of such information.
Market Speculation and Rumours
The ASX interprets Listing Rule 3.1 as requiring CONQUEST to make a clarifying statement or announcement to the ASX in circumstances where CONQUEST becomes aware that speculation or comment isaffecting the price or volume of trading in CONQUEST securities.
For example, when the market moves in a way that appears to be referrable to the comment or speculation, CONQUEST has an obligation to make such disclosure as is necessary in order to correct a false market in CONQUEST's securities and ensure investors are not trading on false or misleading information. Normally the ASX will indicate to CONQUEST when it believes this is required.
Release of information to others
CONQUEST must not release material price sensitive information to any person if that information is required to be disclosed to the ASX, until cleared by the ASX. The MD and/or the Company Secretary or a nominee of the MD/Company Secretary will advise all relevant parties when the ASX release has been announced by the ASX. All the information disclosed through ASX is to be promptly placed on the Company's investor web site after clearance by ASX.
Presentations/Enquires
For all information/presentations/briefings etc which are to be provided to third parties, each individual is responsible for ensuring that a copy of the material is provided to the MD and/or the Company Secretary prior to presenting that information externally.
All inquiries from third parties must be referred to the MD and/or the Company Secretary. All material presented at an analyst briefing, bank or other third party must be approved by or referred through the MD and/or the Company Secretary prior to the briefing.
All inquiries from the media must be referred to the MD and/or the Company Secretary.
Interview by employees
No employee may give an interview or make a presentation unless express authority or specific permission is received from the MD.
An employee who is given permission by the MD to give an interview or make a presentation must notify the MD and/or the Company Secretary of the date and time for the interview and must give a copy of any presentation to the MD and/or the Company Secretary.
MANAGEMENT OF THE POLICY
Specific Responsibilities
The MD and/or the Company Secretary is responsible for:
- liasing with the ASX in relation to continuous disclosure issues;
- ensuring that the system for the disclosure of all material information to the ASX in a timely fashion is operating;
- reviewing proposed announcements by CONQUEST to the ASX and liaising with the MD or other members of the executive or the Chairman in relation to the form of any ASX releases:
- liaising with the Board of Directors, as appropriate, in relation to the disclosure of information;
- keeping a record of all ASX and other releases that have been made; and
- periodically reviewing CONQUEST's disclosure procedures in light of changes to ASX Listing Rules or Corporations Act and recommending any necessary changes to the procedures.
BREACH OF POLICY AND PENALTIES
Breach of Policy
CONQUEST contravenes its Australian continuous disclosure obligations if it fails to notify the ASX of the information required by Listing Rule 3.1 to be disclosed. If CONQUEST fails to meet this obligation its officers may be guilty of an offence under the Corporations Act.
Liability and penalties
CONQUEST
If CONQUEST contravenes its continuous disclosure obligations, it may face:
- if the contravention is intentional or reckless - criminal liability with a fine;
- civil liability for any loss or damage suffered by any person as a result of failure to disclose relevant information to the ASX; and
- de-listing from the ASX.
The ASIC can also institute proceedings under the ASIC Act 1989.
OTHERS
CONQUEST's officers (including its directors), employees or advisers who are involved in the contravention, may also face criminal (monetary fine and/or 5 years imprisonment) and civil liability as outlined above.