Honest in Our Dealings
We strive to be honest in our relationships and commitments.
A Framework of Integrity
We strive to build decision-making frameworks so that when decisions arise, we have the basis to act with integrity and choose the right.
Individual Worth
We strive to value and respect the worth of every individual who has limitless potential.
Plan Your Work and Work Your Plan
We plan and implement with precision.
Act Based on Our Ethics, Data, and How We Are Perceived
Beyond acting on high ethics and reliable data, we are cognizant that we now live in a world where “perception is reality”, and thus, we consider the impact of misinformation and the ill-intentioned.
Return & Report
We hold ourselves accountable by returning to those we make commitments to, and reporting on what we have done.
INTRODUCTION
Proove Genomics is dedicated to upholding the highest ethical, quality and compliance standards consistent with applicable policies, standards and laws. Proove operates in a highly complex and regulated business environment. Proove’s reputation for integrity and doing the right thing for the right reason is an intangible asset that is highly valued by Proove and its employees. Our reputation gives us credibility, and creates value for each of our stakeholders – patients, physicians, employees, contractors, Board of Directors, shareholders, regulators, policy makers, payers, and the community.
CORPORATE COMPLIANCE OVERVIEW
Proove Genomics (“Proove” or the “Company”) has adopted a Comprehensive Compliance Program (“Compliance Program”), summarized below and consistent with guidance published by the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (the “OIG”). Proove’s Compliance Program is intended to promote the prevention and resolution of actual or apparent conflicts of interest, appropriate disclosure in Company reports and public communications, compliance with applicable laws and regulations, accountability and prompt reporting of violations of Company policy relating to the sale and marketing of Proove’s products. It is Proove’s expectation that all employees, officers, directors, agents, representatives, consultants and distributors shall comply with Company policies and procedures as well as all of the laws, rules and regulations of the U.S. and other countries, and the states, counties, cities and other jurisdictions, applicable to the Company’s sale or marketing of its products. The strategic objectives of our Compliance Program are:
COMPREHENSIVE COMPLIANCE PROGRAM SUMMARY
The OIG advises that an effective compliance program is comprised of seven elements. Proove has used these seven elements as a basis for its Compliance Program.
Fundamental elements of our compliance program are summarized below.
Written Policies and Procedures: Proove has adopted the AdvaMed Code of Ethics on Interactions with Health Care Professionals as the Company’s primary statement of policies for assuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations and standards governing the marketing and promotion of Proove products. To the best of its ability and consistent with the OIG’s guidance regarding tailoring compliance programs to the nature of Proove’s business.
Compliance Leadership: The Company has appointed a Compliance Committee headed by the Chief People Officer, Lisa Beggs, to help the Company meet legal and regulatory requirements applicable to the Company.
Education and Training: The Company trains appropriate employees on their legal and ethical obligations and Proove’s policies and procedures concerning marketing and promotional activities relevant to Proove products. Proove regularly reviews and updates its training programs as needed. The Compliance Committee will work with other employees to implement or update appropriate training programs, including specialized training as needed, as well as documenting and maintaining records of such training.
Communication: Proove encourages employees to talk to supervisors, managers, the Compliance Officer, any member of the Compliance Committee or other appropriate personnel about suspected illegal or unethical conduct or violations of Proove’s policies. Proove has adopted open-door, confidentiality (to the extent possible) and non-retaliation policies in the event an employee is concerned about a potential violation. Employees may also use the Company’s anonymous Hotline at 844-420-0044 (English speaking USA and Canada) or 800-216-1288 (Spanish speaking North America). All reports will be referred to the Compliance Officer for review and for submission, as appropriate, to the Compliance Committee or other appropriate committee.
Auditing and Monitoring: The Compliance Committee and other members of Proove’s senior management, are responsible for auditing and monitoring compliance with Company policies and procedures. The Compliance Committee will work with other employees to audit and monitor compliance, as well as to document and maintain records of such audits.
Enforcement and Appropriate Disciplinary Action: All reported potential violations shall be forwarded to a member of the Compliance Committee. A member of the Compliance Committee or an appointed delegate will, when possible, confirm receipt of the report to the individual making such report unless such report was made anonymously. The Compliance Committee member or delegate also will investigate reports of suspected violations brought to the Company’s attention and, with input from other members of the Compliance Committee, will take appropriate disciplinary action to address inappropriate conduct and deter future violations by employees or third parties with whom the Company does business.
Corrective Action Procedures: As needed and on an ongoing basis, the Compliance Committee will assess the need to revise policies, procedures, training, communication or other elements of Proove’s Compliance Program to improve its content or address gaps, if any.
REPORTING OF VIOLATIONS; NO RETALIATION
Any employee who suspects a violation of the Company policy, financial fraud, accounting irregularities, or auditing issues should promptly contact the Compliance Committee, the Legal Department or Human Resources. Any employee wishing to make an anonymous report regarding suspected illegal behavior or financial fraud of any type may do so by calling the Company’s anonymous hotline at 844-420-0044 (English speaking USA and Canada) or 800-216-1288 (Spanish speaking North America). The anonymous hotline is intended only for reporting potential financial fraud, concerns regarding accounting controls or irregularities, auditing issues or illegal or unethical behavior in violation of Proove’s policies. For other workplace issues, employees should contact their manager or Human Resources. The Company will investigate and treat confidentially (to the extent possible) all reported potential violations. All employees are expected to cooperate in any internal or external investigations of possible violations of Company policy. The Company will not permit retaliation of any kind by, or on behalf of, the Company or its employees against good faith reports or complaints of potential violations involving financial irregularities, violations of Company policy or other illegal or unethical behavior.
Adopted: August 31, 2023
Last revised: August 31, 2023
INTRODUCTION
Purpose
Proove Genomics, Inc. (“Proove”) is committed to conducting all business affairs in an honest, fair, ethical and legal manner. As a representative of Proove, you are expected to conduct yourself in a similar manner. The purpose of this Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”) is to set forth the guidelines for conducting Proove’s business consistent with the highest standards of business ethics and the law. All references to Proove, “we,” “our” and “us” in this document include any subsidiaries of Proove Genomics, Inc.
Applicability
This Code applies to all members of Proove’s Board of Directors, and all officers and employees of Proove, wherever they are located and whether they work for Proove on a full- or part-time basis. We also expect that anyone conducting work on Proove’s behalf in any consulting or advisory capacity will adhere to the provisions of this Code in the course of such work. Therefore, all vendors, service providers, temporary workers, independent contractors and consultants (the “trade”) who provide services to Proove and who we designate will be provided with a copy of this Code and will be expected to abide by it. All persons covered by this Code are referred to as “Proove employees” or “employees” in the Code whether or not you fall into the trade category above. Such designation in no way implies or creates a contract for employment between you and us.
Seeking Help and Information
The Code is just one element of our overall effort to ensure lawful and ethical conduct in all aspects of Proove’s business. The Code is not intended to be a comprehensive document that addresses every situation that you may face while working at, for or with Proove. In fact, there are many policies and procedures not covered by the Code, such as those covered in our detailed employee handbook. These and similar policies, while not a part of the Code, provide additional guidance on acceptable standards of conduct to be observed in the representation of Proove. The Code does not take the place of or modify other more detailed written policies. Rather, this Code establishes key standards and general guidelines that Proove expects all employees to follow.
If you are faced with a difficult business decision that is not addressed by the Code, you should ask yourself the following questions:
Is it legal?
Is it honest and fair?
Is it in the best interests of Proove?
Would I feel comfortable if an account of these actions were published with my name on the front page of the newspaper?
If your answer to any of these questions is “no” then don’t do it. If you aren’t sure about the answer to any of these questions or still feel uncomfortable about a situation, please seek help. We urge you to contact your supervisor for help. If your supervisor cannot answer your question, or if you are not comfortable discussing the situation with your supervisor or with your supervisor’s answer, feel free to contact the Chief People Officer.
Chief People Officer
The Company’s Chief People Officer is responsible for monitoring performance under the Code, assuring compliance with all other applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations, and resolving concerns or questions relating to ethics. The Chief People Officer can be reached at compliance@proovegenomics.com. In the absence of the Chief People Officer, you can contact the President and Chief Executive Officer, who has established an “open door policy” for all employees, at ceo@proovegenomics.com.
PROTECTION AND USE OF COMPANY ASSETS
Supplies, equipment, proprietary products, formulas, customer and supplier mailing lists and any and all company documents produced by Proove employees or contracted third parties, belong to Proove and are to be used solely for Proove’s benefit. Employees and all of our outside third party vendors or service providers should protect Proove’s assets and ensure that they are used efficiently and for legitimate business purposes. Proove property must not be taken for personal use or gain, or given away, sold or traded without proper corporate authorization. Furthermore, Proove property should never be used for any improper or unlawful purpose.
To ensure the protection of Proove’s assets, you should:
We provide or contract for the communications services and equipment necessary to promote the efficient and effective conduct of our business. These services and equipment include, but are not limited to, e-mail, computers, computer applications, computer networks, Internet, facsimile, telephone systems, voice mail, cellular phones, video equipment and tapes, tape recorders and recordings, and Company bulletin boards. Use of these services and equipment should be primarily for business purposes; personal use should be kept to a minimum and any improper use of these services and equipment (e.g., hacking, pirating software, sending harassing, offensive, demeaning or sexually suggestive e-mails or communications, accessing inappropriate web sites, etc.) is prohibited.
You should be aware that all Proove communications services and equipment, including the messages and documents transmitted or stored by them, are the sole property of Proove. You should not have any expectation of privacy when using these services and equipment. To the extent permitted by law, Proove has the ability and reserves the right to access and monitor employee communications and files at any time, without notice and at Proove’s sole discretion.
For further information on our policies regarding communications services and equipment, see the “Communications Systems Policy” in the employee handbook.
Confidential Information
It is Proove’s policy that the internal business affairs of the organization, particularly confidential information and trade secrets, represent proprietary assets that each employee or contracted vendor or service provider has a continuing obligation to protect.
As an Proove employee, vendor or service provider, you must:
For more information on what constitutes “confidential information” and our policies regarding use and disclosure of confidential information, see the “Confidential Records and Information Policy” in your employee handbook. You should also refer to the “Confidentiality and Invention Assignment Agreement” or similar agreement between you and Proove. Please note that your obligations to protect Proove’s confidential information continue even after you leave Proove. Any ideas, discoveries, developments, and improvements, whether patentable or not, which have been made or conceived by you while working for or on behalf of Proove shall at all times be the property of Proove and shall not entitle you to any additional compensation upon termination of your relationship with Proove.
Corporate Travel Policy
We recognize that many employees may incur travel expenses to further our business objectives. Proove’s policy is to reimburse employees for any reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in connection with the performance of company business. For further information on our travel policies, please refer to the “Employee Travel and Expense Reimbursement Policy” in the employee handbook.
COMPANY RECORDS
Accurate and reliable records are essential to Proove’s business. Our records form the basis for our financial reports and other public disclosures, and are the source of critical data that guides management’s decision-making and strategic planning. Our records include sales and booking information, employee records, payroll, timecards, expense reports, accounting and financial data, production and performance records, electronic data files, e-mails, research and development records, manufacturing records, distribution information and all other records kept in the ordinary course of our business.
Employees responsible for financial records and employees who prepare other company records and reports are obligated, ethically and legally, to assure that such documents are accurate, complete, safeguarded against loss or destruction, retained for specified periods as may be established by Proove or otherwise required by law, and maintained in confidence. There is no valid reason for making or allowing others to make false or misleading entries in our records. With regard to all Proove books and records, there must be full and candid communication by all employees responsible for keeping the books and records with upper management, internal auditing personnel, independent auditors and, if appropriate, legal counsel for Proove.
Financial Records and Controls
Proove employees who are responsible for receiving or disbursing money have a special obligation to follow established procedures to ensure proper use and recording of all funds. Compliance with generally accepted accounting principles, rules and controls is necessary at all times and no deviation from those standards will be tolerated. All Proove records must reflect accurately and properly describe the transactions they record.
All assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of Proove are to be recorded in our regular books. Whenever possible, any employee approving an expense must be separate from the employee(s) that approves the payment of such expense. In this regard, and without limitation, employees responsible for keeping Proove’s books must refrain from all of the following:
All documents must include at a minimum a list of the following:
The submission of false or inaccurate data or other information in any government filing or submission may subject you and/or Proove to civil and criminal sanctions. Thus, each employee involved in government filings and submissions must exercise the highest degree of diligence to assure the accuracy of the data and information contained in such submissions.
Employees must not willfully or knowingly falsify, alter, remove or destroy any Proove records required to be maintained by law or by Proove policy.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Identifying a Conflict of Interest
A conflict of interest may occur when you, or one of your family members, has a private interest that interferes, or appears to interfere, with the interests of Proove. In that situation, your loyalties may be divided, which could make it difficult for you to perform your work objectively and effectively and to act in the best interests of Proove. Accordingly, conflicts of interest are prohibited unless they are specifically waived as described in the section entitled “Compliance with the Code—Waivers of the Code” below. The following are just a few examples of situations that could lead to a conflict of interest:
This list does not identify every possible conflict of interest that may occur. If you are unsure whether a situation presents a conflict of interest, discuss it with your supervisor or the Chief People Officer.
Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest
You must fully disclose any situation that reasonably could be expected to give rise to or be perceived as a conflict of interest to your supervisor or the Chief People Officer. Your supervisor or the Chief People Officer will work with you to determine whether a conflict of interest exists and, if so, how best to address it.
Corporate Opportunities
As a Proove employee, you should advance the interests of Proove whenever you have an opportunity to do so. If, through the use of Proove property, information or because of your position with Proove, you discover or are presented with a business opportunity that is related to Proove’s business, you must immediately disclose it to your supervisor or the Chief People Officer. Your supervisor or the Chief People Officer will discuss the opportunity with the appropriate members of management to determine whether the situation is a corporate opportunity and, if so, whether Proove would like to pursue it. Any officer or member of the Board of Directors of Proove who wishes to pursue a business opportunity that is related to Proove’s business must first fully present the opportunity to the Board of Directors. If Proove decides not to pursue the opportunity, then you may pursue it on the same terms and conditions as originally proposed, provided that your conduct is consistent with the other guidelines set forth in this Code.
GIFTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND OTHER FORMS OF PAYMENTS TO THIRD PARTIES
We understand that the giving and receiving of gifts and other business courtesies is a common practice. However, gifts, entertainment or any other payment to a third party should never compromise, or even appear to compromise, your ability to make objective and fair business decisions.
Proove’s policy is that employees may not give any gift or present to a customer, supplier or any other person valued at more than $75.00 – other than as stated in the AdvaMed Code of Conduct which has previously been distributed to you. In addition, business and entertainment expenses must be customary and reasonable and must be properly authorized. When dealing with healthcare professionals, any more restrictive limits imposed by the AdvaMed Code of Conduct MUST be followed. Full disclosure of gifts and entertainment must always be recorded in writing, using Proove’s expense reimbursement forms, and approved by a supervisor or senior manager. For further guidance, please consult the “Employee Travel and Expense Reimbursement Policy” in the employee handbook. Gifts or any other forms of remuneration to any employee of a local, state, federal, or international government are strictly prohibited.
Conversely, employees are prohibited from soliciting gifts, entertainment or favors, directly or indirectly, from anyone doing business with Proove. Our purchasing decisions should be based solely on what is right for product quality and value. Accordingly, relations with suppliers should always be objective, free from the influence of gifts or favors. Nominal gifts valued at less than $75.00 or reasonable entertainment may be accepted from suppliers only within established guidelines and with the full knowledge of the appropriate managers. You should make every effort to refuse or return a gift that is beyond these permissible guidelines. If it would be inappropriate to refuse the gift, or you are unable to do so, then you should promptly report the gift to your supervisor or the Chief People Officer, who will help determine the appropriate course of action.
Additionally, if you conduct business in countries other than the United States, you must be particularly careful that gifts and entertainment are not construed as bribes, kickbacks or other improper payments. See “Compliance with Other Laws and Regulations —Bribery and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act” below for a more detailed discussion of our policies regarding giving or receiving gifts related to business transactions in other countries.
In other transactions or dealings with independent, non‑employee commercial agents, consultants or other third parties for any purpose, payments must be limited to reasonable compensation for services and reimbursements for reasonable expenses, and must not include any extraordinary gifts, commissions or fees. Employees must review all contracts and agreements with consultants and third parties with the Finance Department before committing to the agreement. The Chief People Officer must approve all contracts before they are entered into. No consultants or other third parties may be used to make an indirect payment that would be prohibited by this Code if made directly.
If you have any questions about whether to is acceptable to receive or give a gift or something else of value, contact your supervisor or the General Counsel for additional guidance.
POLITICAL ACTIVITIES & CONTRIBUTIONS
It is our policy that no corporate funds may be used to make political contributions of any kind to any candidate or political party, unless specifically approved by the Compliance Committee. This prohibition covers not only direct contributions but also indirect assistance or support of candidates or political parties through the purchase of tickets to special dinners or other fund-raising events, and the furnishing of any other goods, services or equipment to political parties or committees. Political contributions or activities by individuals on their own behalf are, of course, permissible. However, when you participate in political affairs, you should be careful to make it clear that your views and actions are your own and are not expressed or made on behalf of Proove. For instance, Proove letterhead should not be used to send out personal letters in connection with political activities. No person may be reimbursed directly or indirectly by the company for any political contribution or for the cost of attending any political event.
COMPETITION AND FAIR DEALING
Proove is a determined but fair competitor. All Proove employees are required to deal fairly with customers, suppliers, competitors, other third parties and, of course, with fellow employees.
Relationships with Customers
Our success depends upon our ability to form and maintain lasting customer relationships. Proove is committed to dealing with all customers fairly, honestly and with integrity. When dealing with customers, you should always remember that the information we provide customers must be current, accurate and truthful to the best of your knowledge; you must never deliberately misrepresent information to a customer. In addition, you should not refuse to sell or provide services to a customer simply because that customer is buying products from another supplier. You should never provide gifts, entertainment or other benefits to a customer that could be viewed as an inducement or reward for their purchase decisions. See “Gifts, Entertainment and Other Forms of Payments to Third Parties” above for additional guidelines. Any promises or arrangements regarding discounts, credits, rebates or other price adjustments must be promptly communicated to Proove’s sales and finance management personnel.
Relationships with Suppliers
Proove’s relationships with suppliers are based on price, quality of service and reputation. Payments to suppliers must be commensurate with the services or products being provided. You should not accept or solicit any personal benefit from a supplier or potential supplier that might compromise your objective assessment of that supplier’s products or prices. See the sections of this Code entitled “Conflicts of Interests” and “Gifts, Entertainment and Other Forms of Payments to Third Parties” above for further guidance.
Relationships with Competitors
Proove competes vigorously, but fairly. You should avoid any actions that could be viewed as being anti-competitive, monopolistic or otherwise contrary to laws that govern competitive practices in the marketplace, including federal and state antitrust laws. You should not obtain or give competitive information to others by unethical or illegal means. Further, it is improper to make false or misleading statements about a competitor. If you are in a position to speak on behalf of Proove, you must ensure that your statements are accurate and you should try to refrain from commenting on another company’s reputation or financial or legal situations. See “Compliance with Antitrust Laws” below for further information on this topic.
COMPLIANCE WITH ANTITRUST LAWS
The U.S. and other countries have adopted antitrust laws to protect consumers and competitors against unfair business practices and to promote fair competition in the marketplace. Proove is fully committed to complying with antitrust, monopoly, competition and cartel laws in the U.S. and any other countries, states or localities in which we compete.
Actions that Violate U.S. Antitrust Laws
All employees should be familiar with the general principles of the U.S. antitrust laws. The following is a summary of some of the actions that violate U.S. antitrust laws:
Numerous other countries, including virtually all other major commercial countries, have adopted antitrust laws that prohibit many of the same activities that are prohibited in the U.S. However, you should be aware that there may be differences in those laws. For example, in some countries the government fixes the price at which a pharmaceutical product may be sold to the public. It is your responsibility to understand and comply with all laws and regulations that are relevant to your job.
Getting Additional Guidance
Violations of antitrust laws can result in serious consequences that may expose Proove and you to substantial civil damages, criminal fines and, in the case of individuals, potential prison terms. Therefore, if you have any questions regarding whether a course of action may be considered anti-competitive, please contact your supervisor or the Chief Legal Officer for further guidance.
ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH & SAFETY
Proove is committed to providing a safe and healthy work environment for all employees. We also strive to avoid or minimize any negative impact we may have on the environment and the communities in which we operate. As a Proove employee, you are expected to comply with all applicable environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, as well as Proove policies. It is your responsibility to understand and adhere to the laws, regulations and policies that are relevant to your job. Any failure to comply may result in civil and/or criminal liability against you and Proove, as well as disciplinary action by Proove, up to and including termination of your employment. If you have any questions about the laws, regulations or policies that apply to you, please contact your supervisor or the Compliance Committee.
Environment
You should make every effort to conserve resources and reduce waste through recycling and other energy conservation measures. You are required to promptly report any known or suspected violation of environmental laws or any practices or events that may lead to the discharge or emission of hazardous materials. Employees engaged in manufacturing should be particularly careful to safeguard the environment, paying special attention to the storage, transportation and disposal of waste and handling of potentially toxic materials.
Health & Safety
All Proove employees are required to comply with any health and safety laws, regulations or policies that are relevant to their jobs. If you have a concern about a condition or task that you believe may present a risk to the safety of yourself or others, please report it immediately to your supervisor or the Human Resources Department.
EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES
We are committed to treating all employees and applicants with honesty, fairness and respect. We expect our employees to treat each other and those with whom they have business or professional relationships in the same manner. The following sets forth a summary of some of our most important employment policies and practices. You are expected to comply with these policies and practices, as well as with all applicable employment and labor laws. It is your responsibility to become familiar with and understand all laws, regulations and policies that are relevant to your job and the jobs of those you supervise. Failure to comply with employment and labor laws could subject you and Proove to civil and/or criminal liability, as well as disciplinary action by Proove, up to and including termination of your employment. Employment and labor laws may vary depending on where you are located. You should contact your supervisor, Human Resources or the Chief People Officer if you have any questions about these laws or policies.
Discrimination
Proove’s policy is to provide equal opportunity to all employees or applicants for employment, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disabilities, medical conditions, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation or other characteristic protected by law. Unlawful discrimination in the recruiting, hiring, training, promotion, retention, development, termination or treatment of employees will not be tolerated. Please refer to Proove’s “Discrimination Policy” in our employee handbook for further guidelines on what is considered impermissible discrimination.
Harassment
We are committed to providing a workplace free of harassment, including sexual harassment (such as harassment based on gender, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions) or harassment based on factors such as race, color, religion, gender, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disabilities, medical conditions, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation or another basis protected by law. Harassment can take the form of verbal or physical conduct, displays of offensive objects or pictures, or any other action that creates a hostile work environment. Proove prohibits harassment in any form by any manager, supervisor or employee. For further information on our policies regarding harassment, please refer to the “Harassment Policy” in our employee handbook.
Alcohol and Drugs
All Proove employees are expected to comply with our policies regarding the use of alcohol and possession, sale or use of illegal substances in the workplace. Drinking of alcoholic beverages is prohibited while on duty or on Proove’s premises, except at specified company-sanctioned events. The possession, sale or use of illegal drugs or other controlled substances is strictly prohibited under all circumstances while on duty or on Proove property. Likewise, you may not report to work, drive a company vehicle or drive any vehicle while conducting Proove business while under the influence of alcohol or any illegal drug or controlled substance. Failure to comply with these policies will subject you to disciplinary action by Proove, up to and including termination of your employment.
Prevention of Violence and Weapons
The safety and security of our employees is of utmost importance to us. Proove prohibits the use of violence or threats of violence in or related to the workplace. If you experience, witness or otherwise become aware of a violent or potentially violent situation on Proove’s premises or related to our business, please report it immediately to your supervisor, the Human Resources, or the Compliance Committee.
Weapons of any kind are prohibited at Proove and in any Proove vehicle while on the job or off-site conducting Proove business. This policy applies even if you have legal permits to carry weapons. The only exception to this policy applies to security personnel who are specifically authorized by Proove’s management to carry weapons.
COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER LAWS AND REGULATIONS
We do not authorize, condone or tolerate business activities that are not within both the letter and spirit of the law. All employees are expected to comply with the laws and regulations of the U.S. and any state, city or other jurisdiction in which we operate. This includes, but is not limited to, laws relating to unfair competition, antitrust prohibitions, the development, testing, approval, manufacturing, marketing and distribution of pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, environmental hazards, occupational health and safety, and employment discrimination or harassment discussed above, as well as laws covering bribery and kickbacks, foreign corrupt practices, insider trading, public disclosures, patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secrets, information privacy, and the misuse of corporate assets. You are expected to understand and comply with all laws, rules and regulations that apply to your job. If you have questions about whether an action is legal, please do not hesitate to ask your supervisor, Human Resources or the Chief People Officer.
Bribery and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
Proove forbids payments of any kind to any person to obtain an advantage in selling products or to advance our interests with government authorities. Any such payment, made anywhere in the world, violates Proove’s policies. In addition, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act forbids the making, offering or promise of payment or anything else of value to a government official (and in the U.S., to foreign political parties and candidates) to win or retain business or influence an official act. For this reason, no payments, gifts or services should be given to any government official.
Proove also prohibits “commercial bribery,” which violates the laws of many countries. Commercial bribery refers to the providing of something of value to an intermediary (e.g., an employee of a customer) without his or her supervisor’s knowledge, with the intent to influence the supervisor’s commercial conduct.
Public Communications
What is written or said about Proove in the news media and investment community directly impacts our reputation and credibility. Accordingly, announcements of company information may only be made by persons specifically authorized by Proove to make such announcements. If you receive an inquiry about the company from a reporter, investor, potential investor, analyst or anyone else from the financial community, you should decline to comment and refer the person to our CEO, Chief Communications Officer or Chief People Officer. Laws and regulations govern the nature and timing of our announcements to outsiders or the public and an unauthorized disclosure could result in substantial liability for you and Proove. For further information, please refer to the “Corporate Disclosure Policy” in your employee handbook.
Government Submissions
You may not knowingly alter or submit false data or information to any government organization. Submission of such information not only subjects you and Proove to the possibility of severe civil and criminal sanctions, but is extremely damaging to our reputation among consumers, suppliers and regulators.
Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights
In addition to protecting Proove’s intellectual property—including our patents, trade secrets, copyrights, trademarks, technical knowledge and know-how—you are expected to respect the valid intellectual property rights of others. Unauthorized use of the intellectual property rights of others could expose Proove to civil lawsuits and damages. Similarly, the theft or misappropriation of another’s intellectual property could result in significant fines and criminal penalties against Proove and/or you.
Other Laws Governing Our Business
Privacy issues are a growing, global concern. Rapidly developing technology for data use and transfer presents new challenges to maintaining the confidentiality of personal information. In addition, different cultures have different expectations regarding what types of information should be protected. Many countries have recently enacted or strengthened their privacy laws to protect personal information. Employees who work with personal information regarding Proove employees or persons participating in research or clinical studies involving our products should be familiar and comply with all such applicable laws.
Proove’s products are also distributed in numerous foreign countries. As a result, Proove must comply with all laws governing international trade with foreign companies and countries, including licensing, shipping documentation and reporting and record retention requirements. Employees who are engaged in international sales or distribution have an additional responsibility to understand and comply with all applicable laws.
COMPLIANCE WITH THE CODE
Reporting Violations of the Code
As an Proove employee, you have a duty to report any known or suspected violation of this Code, including any laws, rules, regulations or policies that apply to Proove. You should not consider reporting a known or suspected violation of the Code as an act of disloyalty, but rather as an action to protect our reputation and the reputation of our employees.
Anyone wishing to report a violation or suspected violation of the Code may present it to his or her supervisor or directly to the Chief People Officer (whose contact information appears on page 2 of the Code) or any member of the Compliance Committee. In the absence of the Chief People Officer or a member of the Compliance Committee, reports may be made to the President and Chief Executive Officer (whose contact information also appears on page 2 of the Code). If you wish to report an issue related to Proove’s accounting, internal controls or auditing practices or policies, you should contact the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. Please see the “Whistleblower Policy” in our employee handbook for information regarding how to contact the Audit Committee.
You may also report any such violations If you wish, you may submit your report anonymously through our anonymous hotline maintained by Lighthouse at www.Lighthouse-Services.com/proove. However, please keep in mind that you should try to provide as much information as possible in your report to enable Proove to conduct a thorough investigation of the matter. Reports of alleged violations should be factual, rather than speculative or conclusory, and should contain as much specific detail as possible to allow for proper assessment. All reports of known or suspected violations of the Code, whether or not they were submitted anonymously, will be treated with sensitivity and discretion and kept in strict confidence to the extent possible, consistent with Proove’s need to conduct an adequate investigation. For further information on reporting violations of the Code and the process for the investigation and resolution of reports, please refer to our “Whistleblower Policy.”
Enforcement of the Code
Failure to comply with the standards contained in this Code can be cause for disciplinary action that may include, but is not limited to, a written warning, suspension from work, referral for criminal prosecution, reimbursement for any losses or damages resulting from the violation, and termination of your employment. Violation of standards established by law may also result in civil or criminal liability. We are committed to flexibility in our disciplinary policy. No single set of disciplinary options is appropriate in every case. We, therefore, retain sole discretion to structure disciplinary sanctions as the circumstances may warrant.
Policy Against Retaliation
Proove employees should feel confident to report violations or suspected violations of the Code or to assist in an investigation of an alleged violation. We will not tolerate retaliation or discrimination of any kind against any employee who in good faith reports, or assists in the investigation, of a violation or suspected violation of the Code. Anyone who does so retaliate against an employee will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.
Waivers of the Code
Waivers of the Code may be granted on a case-by-case basis. Waivers must be made in writing and may be made only by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief People Officer, acting together, for any employee of Proove who is not an executive officer. Any waiver of the Code for an executive officer or member of the Board of Directors may only be made by our Board of Directors or the appropriate committee of the Board of Directors.
Note: The Code is not a contract. Employment with Proove is at-will and can be terminated at any time for any reason, with or without cause, and with or without notice. The at-will nature of the employment relationship can only be superseded by a written document signed by the President and CEO. Violation of the Code or any other personnel policies are taken quite seriously and can result in discipline, up to and including termination.
QUALITY PROGRAM
At Proove, quality is central to our commitment to provide superior personalized medicine testing. Our comprehensive quality program incorporates the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute’s Quality System Essentials (CLSI’s QSEs), Lean Six Sigma, Good Laboratory Practice (GLP), Baldrige Performance Excellence Framework and ISO Standards including ISO 15189/ISO 9001. Proove is committed to providing the highest quality services in full compliance with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Our lab is CLIA-certified and appropriately licensed for all states served. We will be pursuing CAP accreditation as well. At Proove, however, we pride ourselves in going beyond merely complying with minimum requirements. We strive for the highest achievable level of quality and performance excellence. Proove’s Quality Program is aimed at achieving excellence for the entire business, not just the laboratory, by climbing to the top of the quality continuum. Our investment in quality and continuous improvement isn’t required but is a commitment we make because our patients and clients count on us.
CLIA License: 03D2192051
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