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Code of Ethics and Business Conduct for employees
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1.0
PURPOSE

The purpose of this Code of Ethics and Business Conduct (“the Code") is to summarize the principles that are to guide each and every employee of Prime Finance & Investment Limited. Simply stated, every employee must follow these standards. Prime Finance views this as the personal responsibility of every employee of the Company.
2.0
Scope
The Code shall apply to all employees of Prime Finance including those employed on contract basis working in every station of the Company. The term "employee" as used in this Policy includes all staff, officers and executives, Deputy Managing Director and Managing Director of the Company.
3.0
RESPONSIBILITY
This Code is owned by the Company. The Code will be administered by Human Resource Department.
4.0
Additional References Regarding Employee Conduct
i)
PFI Employees' Service Rules, 2001
ii)
Policies and guidelines
iii)
Operational Manual
iv)
Board's decision on different business and administrative issues
v)
Shops and Establishment Act
5.0
Interpretation
i)
PFI means Prime Finance & Investment Limited
ii)
Employee means an employee of the Company whether temporary, permanent or on contract basis.
iii)
Active service means continuous service with the Company or on deputation, whether confirmed, probationary or temporary. All leave sanctioned by the Management other than extra-ordinary leave shall be counted towards an employee's active service.
iv)
Management means the people who are in the policy implementation and operational aspect of the Company.
v)
Words importing persons include both male and female employees of the Company.
vi)
Words importing singular number shall include the plural and vice versa.
6.0

Policy

INTRODUCTION

Honesty and integrity has long been a hallmark of PFI. It characterizes everything we do. In fact, it is our first core value. Accordingly, honesty and integrity is the keystone of the Code. Without the integrity of employees, PFI's strong reputation in the financial sector would not exist. Our reputation is the lifeline of our Company. It is the foundation upon which we build relationships with our customers, business partners, suppliers, investors, and each other. Through honesty and respect, employees at every level have endeavored to build PFI's reputation for fair and honest dealing. As the Company continues to grow, it is essential to maintain and build upon our solid reputation. Doing so willopen the door to achieving the Company's other three core values: transparency, trust and team work.

6.1
Policy
6.1.1
General
PFI will conduct the business in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. Legal compliance is only a part of our ethical responsibility, however, and should be viewed as the minimum acceptable standard of conduct.

PFI strives to act with the utmost integrity, not just in our most important corporate decisions, but also in the thousands of actions taken every day by our employees. Ethical conduct is a high ideal, but often just means exercising common sense and sound judgement. Acting ethically will help us become a better Company, a better partner with our clients, suppliers, lenders and a better corporate citizen.
6.1.2
Honest Dealing
All employees are expected to be honest and forthright in their interactions with one another and in dealings with clients, suppliers, business partners and shareholders. PFI will not condone dishonesty or deceitful actions in any form. This includes, but is not limited to, making misrepresentations to clients, changing clients' documents, making false or misleading entries on the Company's books or ledgers and inflating expense reports.
6.1.3

Respect in the Work Environment
PFI strives to maintain a workplace where all employees are treated with dignity, fairness, transparency and respect. Harassment or discrimination based upon race, color, religion, gender, age, marital status, or any other characteristic will not be tolerated. Other activities prohibited because they are clearly not conducive to a respectful work environment are threats of physical harm, violent behavior, or possessing weapons while on Company premises. Furthermore, being under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs while at work is strictly forbidden.

6.1.4
Gratitude
Building strong relationships with customers is essential to PFI's business. Socializing with customers and suppliers is an integral part of building those relationships. While individual circumstances differ, the overriding principle concerning gratitude is not to give or accept anything of value that could be perceived as creating an obligation on the part of the recipient (whether a PFI's employee or a customer) to act other than in the best interests of his or her employer or otherwise to taint the objectivity of the individual's involvement.
6.1.5
Handling Company and Customer Assets
Company property and clients' property with which PFI has been entrusted must be used and maintained properly with care taken to guard against waste and abuse. Appropriate use of Company and clients' property, facilities, and equipment is every employee's responsibility. Of course, stealing or misappropriating Company or customer property will not be tolerated. Likewise, the removal or borrowing of Company or customer property without permission is prohibited.
6.1.6
Conflicts of Interest
Although employees are generally free to engage in personal financial and business transactions, this freedom is not without constraints. Every employee must avoid situations where loyalties may be divided between PFI's interests and the employee's own interests. Employees also should seek to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest. If an employee is considering engaging in a transaction or activity that may present a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest the employee should disclose the matter and obtain approval from the appropriate authority before engaging in such transaction or activity.

For employees, examples of potential conflicts of interest include accepting concurrent employment with, or acting as a consultant to any PFI's competitor, clients or supplier; serving on the board of directors or technical advisory board of another entity; or holding a significant financial interest in any PFI's competitor, customer or supplier.

6.1.7
Safeguarding Confidential Information
Each employee is required to protect PFI's proprietary information, which includes such things as business, financial, research and development and personnel information.

Confidential information also includes any proprietary information shared with PFI by our customers and business partners, or information that has been acquired by an employee during the course of working for a former employer. PFI employees have an equal obligation to protect against the unauthorized disclosure or misuse of such third party confidential information.

6.1.8

Insider Trading
PFI believes in an open culture in which information is widely shared. As a result, during the course of employment, PFI employees may have access to non-public information about PFI which, if known to the public, might affect investors' decisions to buy, sell or hold securities issued by the Company.

Trading by an employee while in possession of such material non-public information is prohibited. Insider trading is also prohibited by the Securities & Exchange Commission, DSE Listing Rules & CSE Listing Rules. Engaging in insider trading is a ground for disciplinary action including termination from service, initiation of civil and criminal case etc.

6.1.9

Public Reporting Requirements
Accounting and other business records are relied upon in the preparation of reports PFI files with certain government agencies, including Bangladesh Bank, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and DSE, CSE etc. These reports must contain full, timely and understandable information and accurately reflect our financial condition and results of operations as well as corporate information.

Employees who collect, provide or analyze information for or otherwise contribute in any way in preparing or verifying these reports must strive to ensure that our financial and corporate disclosures are accurate and verifiable, enabling shareholders and potential investors to assess the soundness and risks of our business and finances and the quality and integrity of our accounting and disclosures. The integrity of our public disclosures depends on the accuracy and completeness of our records. To that end:

- All business transactions must be supported by appropriate documentation and reflected accurately in our books and records;

- No entry be made that intentionally mischaracterizes the nature or proper accounting of a transaction;

- No PFI's employee may take or authorize any action that would cause our financial records or disclosures to fail to comply with generally accepted accounting principles, the rules and regulations of the SEC or other applicable laws, rules and regulations;

- All employees must cooperate fully with our internal auditors and statutory auditors, respond to their questions with candor and provide them with complete and accurate information to help ensure that our books and records, as well as our reports filed with the Bangladesh Bank, SEC, DSE, CSE, RJSC are accurate and complete; and no employee should knowingly make (or cause or encourage any other person to make) any false or misleading statement in any report filed with the SEC or other government agency, or knowingly omit (or cause or encourage any other person to omit) any information necessary to make the disclosure in any of our reports accurate in all material respects.

Any employee who becomes aware of any departure from these standards has a responsibility to report his or her knowledge promptly to the Company's Chief Executive Office, Chief Financial Officer and/or to the Company's Internal Audit and/or the Company Secretary.

6.2
Administration of policy
6.2.1

Implementation
A copy of this Code will be furnished to each PFI'S employee upon commencement of employment with the Company. All employees will be required to sign a statement acknowledging receipt of, and their affirmation to abide by, the Code. The Human Resource department shall incorporate an overview of the Code into the agenda for new employee orientation.

6.2.2

Compliance and Violations
All PFI employees are expected to comply fully with this Code. Employees who violate this Code will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including immediate termination of employment.

6.2.3

Procedure for Reporting Unethical Conduct & Enforcement
PFI observes an open-door policy. If an employee becomes aware of or suspects that unethical or illegal conduct has occurred or is about to occur, the employee should notify his or her manager, Human Resource Manager or the Company Secretary or the Managing Director

- Reports of unethical or illegal conduct shall be promptly and thoroughly investigated by either or both the Internal Audit Department or the HR Department, as appropriate under the circumstances.

- All information regarding suspected ethical violations or unlawful activity will be received on a confidential basis. While complete confidentiality cannot be guaranteed, confidentiality will be maintained to the extent possible in conducting internal investigations and, where action is warranted, in carrying out disciplinary measures.

- Employees who report unethical conduct in good faith are assured they may do so without fear of retribution. PFI will not tolerate adverse actions being taken against an employee for the good faith reporting of violations of law or Company policies, or for participating in internal investigations.

7.0

 

VARIATION, MODIFICATION & CANCELLATION OF THE CODE
7.01

Management in consultation with the Board, if required in the interest of the employee and the Company, may vary, modify or cancel any of the rules and regulations regarding service rules of the Company.

7.02

No new rules or alteration in an existing rule shall have any force until approved by the Board and issued in the form of a circular, a copy of which shall be made available for information, inspection and compliance by every employee.
7.03
This Code may be made available to the public on PFI's' website at www.primefinance.net.
7.04
Waiver of any provision of this Code for employees of PFI must be approved in writing by the Board of Directors and promptly disclosed as required by applicable law, rules or regulations.
7.05
Waiver of any provision of this Code with respect to any non-executive employee must be approved in writing by the Managing Director.

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