| CODE
OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS
FOR DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
I. General Statement
of Policy
It is the policy of Cimarex Energy Co. and its affiliated
companies that the conduct of every director, officer
and employee while acting on behalf of the Company be
based upon the highest ethical standards and compliance
with the law. This Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
affirms the policy of the Company and is a guideline
to:
- Promote honest and ethical conduct
that reflects positively on the Company;
- Maintain a corporate climate in
which the integrity and dignity of each individual
is valued.
- Assure compliance with laws, rules
and regulations that govern the Company’s business
activities; and
- Assure the proper use of the Company’s
assets.
This Code does not specifically address
every potential form of unacceptable conduct, and it
is expected that directors, officers and employees will
exercise good judgment in compliance with the principles
set out in this Code. Each employee has a duty to avoid
any circumstance that would violate the letter or spirit
of this Code.
II. Fair Dealing
Each employee should endeavor to deal honestly and ethically
with the Company’s directors, officers, employees,
auditors, advisors, customers, suppliers and competitors
while engaged in business on behalf of the Company.
Non-compliance with this Code or the law or other unethical
or dishonest business practices while acting on behalf
of the Company are forbidden and may result in
disciplinary action, including termination.
III. Proper
Use of Company Assets
Company assets should be used only for the legitimate
business purposes of the Company. Directors, officers
and employees are prohibited from using Company assets,
confidential or proprietary information or position
for personal gain.
IV. Compliance with Laws, Rules
and Regulations
The Company is committed to being a good corporate citizen
of all states and countries in which it does business.
The Company does care how results are obtained, not
just that they are obtained. It is the policy of the
Company to comply with all laws and regulations of any
country or its political subdivision in which the Company
conducts its business. Particular attention is directed
to the laws, rules and regulations relating to discrimination,
securities, antitrust, civil rights and safety and the
environment. If any uncertainty arises as to whether
a course of action is within the letter and spirit of
the law, advice should be obtained from the Company’s
principal financial officer or its principal human resources
official.
The following are specific laws and regulations and
general guidelines for compliance with such laws and
regulations due to their particular importance to the
Company’s business activities. The special emphasis
on these laws does not limit the general admonition
to comply with all applicable laws, regulations and
judicial decrees of the United States (federal, state
and local) and of other countries where the Company
transacts business. This Code envisions a level of ethical
business conduct above the minimum required by law.
A. Discrimination and Harassment
The Company is committed to providing a workplace free
of discrimination and harassment based on race, color,
religion, age, gender, national origin, disability,
veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable
law. Similarly, offensive or hostile working conditions
created by such harassment or discrimination will not
be tolerated. Each director, officer and employee has
a duty while acting on behalf of the Company to refrain
from engaging in conduct that constitutes discrimination
or harassment.
B. Insider Trading
Directors, officers or employees in possession of material
information about the Company must abstain from trading
in its securities until such information is generally
and publicly available by means of a press release or
other public filing. Such material “inside information”
might include earnings estimates, stock and dividend
activity, changes of control or management, pending
mergers, sales, acquisitions, reserves numbers or other
significant business information or developments. Providing
such inside information to others who then trade on
it is also strictly prohibited. Trading on inside information
is also a violation of federal securities law. Each
director, officer and employee is required to sign and
deliver to the Company a certification acknowledging
receipt and understanding of the Company’s Insider
Trading Policy.
C. Antitrust Activities
The purpose of antitrust laws in the United States and
most other countries is to provide a level playing field
to economic competitors and to promote fair competition.
No director, officer or employee, under any circumstances
or in any context, may enter into any understanding
or agreement, whether expressed or implied, formal or
informal, written or oral, with an actual or potential
competitor, which would illegally limit or restrict
in any way either party’s actions, including the
offers of either party to any third party. This prohibition
includes any action relating to prices, costs, profits,
products, services, terms or conditions of sale, market
share or customer or supplier classification or selection.
It is the Company’s policy to comply with all
U.S. antitrust laws.
D. Environment, Health and Safety
Cimarex is committed to managing and operating its assets
in a manner that is protective of human health and safety
and the environment. It is our policy to comply, in
all material respects, with applicable health, safety
and environmental laws and regulations. Each employee
is expected to comply with our policies, programs, standards
and procedures.
V. Political Contributions
Corporate funds, credit, property or services may not
be used (directly or indirectly) to support any political
party or candidate for public office, or to support
or oppose any ballot measure, without the prior approval
of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. Although
officers and employees are encouraged to support political
parties and candidates with their personal efforts and
money, the Company will not reimburse or subsidize them
in any way for such political participation.
VI. Confidential Information
Directors, officers and employees may become aware of
non-public information regarding actual or potential
customers, suppliers, or commercial transactions of
the Company, or of non-public technical information
pertaining to the operations or potential operations
of the Company. Such confidential and proprietary information
is the exclusive property of the Company and each director,
officer and employee is bound to keep such information
in strictest confidence, except when disclosure is authorized
by an officer of the Company or legally mandated. Furthermore,
such information is to be used solely for Company purposes
and never for the private gain of a director, officer
or employee (or any member of his or her immediate family),
or any third party.
Special care is required regarding the public release
of information concerning the Company’s business,
strategies, activities, and plans, the disclosure of
which could influence investors trading in the Company’s
securities. All media contact and public statements
and discussions of Company business should be coordinated
with the principal official of the Company in charge
of investor relations.
VII. Conflicts
of Interest
A. General
Generally, a conflict exists when the personal interests
or activities of a director, officer or employee (or
immediate family members) may influence the exercise
of his independent judgment in the performance of one
or more duties to the Company. Even the appearance of
a conflict of interest may be as damaging as an actual
conflict and should be avoided. Directors, officers
and employees should not enter into any transaction
or engage in any practice (directly or indirectly) that
would tend to influence him in any manner other than
in the best interests of the Company. Directors, officers
and employees (or members of their immediate family)
also should not exercise discretionary authority or
make or influence any recommendation or decision on
behalf of the Company that would result in an undisclosed
personal financial benefit to such director, officer
or employee or to members of his or her immediate family.
It is not a conflict of interest for a director, officer
or employee or members of their immediate family to
obtain services from persons or entities who also provide
services to the Company, including legal, accounting
or brokerage services, loans from banks or insurance
from insurance companies, at rates customary for similarly
situated customers. Furthermore, no relationship involving
an employee or non-executive officer that is disclosed
to and affirmatively determined by the principal financial
officer or principal human resources official of the
Company to be immaterial and no relationship involving
an executive officer or director that is disclosed to
and affirmatively determined by the Board of Directors
to be immaterial (and no action incidentally benefiting
any such employee, officer or director as a result of
such relationship) shall be deemed a conflict of interest
within the meaning of this Code.
B. Gifts, Gratuities, and Other
Benefits
Cimarex intends to conduct its business in accordance
with high ethical standards. As a general rule, officers,
employees, (and members of their immediate families)
shall not seek or accept personal gain, directly or
indirectly, from any individual or entity that provides,
or may provide, goods or services of any kind to Cimarex.
The following guidance is given with respect to specific
situations or circumstances:
- The acceptance
of non-business related trips, loans, and payments
or rewards (in any amount and regardless of value)
is prohibited.
- Items of nominal expense used
for advertising that bear a company logo such as pens,
calendars, notebooks, baseballs, etc., may be accepted.
- Tickets to theater and sporting
events (e.g., football games, basketball games, golf
tournaments, etc.), gratuities and other favors must
be reported to and approved by the employee’s
supervisor before acceptance. Supervisors will maintain
a record of their approvals of such events, by recording
the employee’s name, date of the event, type
of event, the estimated cost and the name of the provider.
This record will be submitted annually to the principal
Human Resources official.
- Business meals serve a worthwhile
purpose. Cimarex employees should pay for meals about
half of the time. The cost of such meals, paid for
by the Cimarex employee, is to be submitted on an
expense account for reimbursement.
- Family members of officers and
employees shall not accept employment with a supplier
of Cimarex without full disclosure and receiving the
prior written approval of the principal Human Resources
official.
- Any business arrangement involving
a supplier and an officer or employee of Cimarex is
prohibited.
The foregoing list of specific situations
and circumstances is not all inclusive. Questions relating
to the application of Cimarex’s ethics policy
should be directed to the Chief Financial Officer or
the principal Human Resources official. If appropriate,
such questions may be forwarded to the Governance Committee.
Failure to abide by Cimarex’s ethics policy may
result in discipline including, but not limited to,
termination.
Directors, officers, and employees are expected to make
decisions about the use or purchase of materials, equipment,
consultants, advice, property, and supplies with the
intent of receiving the best value for Cimarex. Such
decisions should consider total cost, competitiveness,
quality, and service in addition to other factors relevant
to Cimarex’s business.
C. Interest in Properties
Any interest held by an officer or employee or any immediate
family member in oil or gas properties, royalties or
other mineral interests, or any interest, other than
as an investor in a publicly-held company, in companies
either owning mineral interests or providing services
or materials to the Company must be disclosed in writing
to the Company.
VIII. Corporate Opportunities
Directors, officers and employees are prohibited from
taking for themselves personally (or for members of
their immediate family) any opportunity that may be
of interest to the Company that is discovered through
the use of corporate property, information or position
unless such opportunity is first offered to the Company
and the Company affirmatively determines not to pursue
it.
IX. Other Organizations
Each officer and employee is expected to devote his
full time and efforts during normal working hours to
the service of the Company. No officer or employee shall
engage in any business or secondary employment that
interferes with his obligations and responsibilities
to the Company.
No officer or employee of the Company may serve on the
board of directors of any corporation not owned or controlled
by the Company, other than a nonprofit, charitable,
religious, civic or educational organization, without
the prior written approval of the Company’s Chief
Executive Officer, or, for the Chief Executive Officer,
without the prior approval of the Company’s Board
of Directors.
Unless disclosed to and approved by the principal financial
officer or principal human resources official, no officer
or employee or any member of their immediate families
may directly or indirectly have a financial interest
(whether as an investor, lender, employee or other service
provider) in any company that is selling supplies, furnishing
services or otherwise doing business or competing with
the Company. This provision does not apply to an officer
or employee or members of their immediate family owning
the securities of a publicly traded entity as long as
such ownership represents less than five percent of
the outstanding securities.
X. Accounting and Reporting
All accounting records should accurately reflect and
describe corporate transactions. The recordation of
such data must not be falsified or altered in any way
to conceal or distort assets, liabilities, revenues,
expenses or the nature of the activity.
All public disclosures made by the Company, including
disclosures in reports and documents filed with or submitted
to the Securities and Exchange Commission, shall be
accurate and complete in all material respects. Each
director, officer and employee is expected to carefully
consider all inquiries from the Company related to the
Company’s public disclosure requirements and promptly
supply complete and accurate responses. No director,
officer or employee of the Company may directly or indirectly
make or cause to be made a materially false or misleading
statement, or omit to state, or cause another person
to omit to state, any material fact necessary to make
statements made not misleading.
If any officer or employee has any questions or concerns
about any of the Company’s public disclosures,
he or she should immediately contact the Company’s
principal financial officer or its principal human resources
official. Additionally, questions or concerns can always
be reported through the Company’s confidential
hotline by calling the phone number listed on the Company’s
website.
XII. Compliance and Enforcement
Questions of interpretation or application of this Code
with respect to a particular situation should be addressed
to the Company’s principal financial officer,
principal human resources official or their designee.
Such requests may be made in writing or orally and will
be handled discreetly.
Compliance with this Code is a condition of employment
for each officer and employee. Conduct contrary to this
Code is outside of the scope of employment. Employees
are encouraged to talk to supervisors, Human Resource
representatives or an officer of the Company when in
doubt about the best course of action in a particular
situation.
Any suspected violation of applicable laws, rules or
regulations or this Code, including any transaction
or relationship that reasonably could be expected to
give rise to a conflict of interest, should be reported
promptly to the Company’s principal financial
officer, its principal human resources official, or
his designee, and the presiding director of the Company's
Board of Directors, without regard to the usual lines
of reporting. Alternatively, any suspected violations
of applicable laws, rules or regulations or this Code
or unethical business practices may be reported through
use of the Company’s confidential telephonic hotline.
The Company will not attempt to identify the caller.
Furthermore, there is no need to identify yourself,
and every reasonable effort will be made to ensure that
all questions and information will be handled discreetly.
No adverse action will be taken against any employee
for making a complaint or disclosing information in
good faith, and any officer or employee who retaliates
in any way against an employee who in good faith reports
any violation or suspected violation of this Code of
Conduct will be subject to disciplinary action, including
termination.
Any violation of this Code of Conduct will be grounds
for immediate disciplinary action, including termination.
XIII. Amendment, Modification
and Waiver
Any amendment or modification of this Code must be approved
by the Company’s Board of Directors. Any amendment
or modification that applies to an officer or director
of the Company shall be posted on the Company’s
website within two days of the vote by the Board or
Directors or shall be otherwise disclosed as required
by applicable law or New York Stock Exchange rules.
Notice posted on the website shall remain there for
a period of 12 months and shall be retained in the Company’s
files as required by law.
Any waiver of this Code for non-executive officers or
employees may be granted by the Company’s principal
financial officer or its principal human resources official.
Any waiver of this Code for directors or executive officers
may be granted only by the Board of Directors or by
the Audit Committee, subject to the disclosure and other
provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
rules promulgated there under and the applicable rules
of the New York Stock Exchange. In case a waiver is
granted to a director or officer, the notice of the
waiver shall be posted on the Company’s website
within five days of the vote by the Board of Directors
or shall be otherwise disclosed as required by applicable
law or New York Stock Exchange rules. Notices of waivers
posted on the website shall remain there for a period
of 12 months and shall be retained in our files as required
by law.
IX. Conclusion
This Code is an attempt to point all of us at Cimarex
in the right direction, but no document can achieve
the level of principled compliance that we are seeking.
In reality, each of us must strive to maintain our awareness
of these issues and to comply with the Code’s
principles to the best of our abilities. We must always
ask:
Does it feel right?
Is this action ethical in every way?
Is this action in compliance with the law?
Could my actions create an appearance of impropriety?
Am I trying to fool anyone, including myself, about
the propriety of this
action? |