The reputation and integrity of Danaos Corporation,
its subsidiaries and its affiliates (the “Company”)
are valuable assets that are vital to the Company’s
success. Each employee of the Company, including
each of the Company’s officers, is responsible
for conducting the Company’s business in
a manner that demonstrates a commitment to the
highest standards of integrity. No Code of Conduct
can replace the thoughtful behavior of an ethical
employee. The purpose of this Code is to focus
employees on areas of ethical risk, provide guidance
to help employees to recognize and deal with ethical
issues, provide mechanisms for employees to report
unethical conduct, and foster among employees a
culture of honesty and accountability. Dishonest
or unethical conduct or conduct that is illegal
will constitute a violation of this Code, regardless
of whether such conduct is specifically referenced
herein.
The Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”)
is ultimately responsible for the implementation
of the Code of Conduct. The Board will designate
a compliance officer (the “Compliance Officer”)
for the implementation and administration of the
Code.
Questions regarding the application or interpretation
of the Code of Conduct are inevitable. Employees
should feel free to direct questions to the Compliance
Officer. In addition, employees who observe,
learn of, or, in good faith, suspect a violation
of the
Code, must immediately report the violation to
the Compliance Officer, another member of the
Company’s
senior management, or to the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee of the Board of Directors. Employees
who report violations or suspected violations in
good faith will not be subject to retaliation of
any kind. Reported violations will be investigated
and addressed promptly and will be treated confidentially
to the extent possible. A violation of the Code of
Conduct may result in disciplinary action, up to
and including termination of employment.
Requests for a waiver of a provision of the Code
of Conduct must be submitted in writing to
the Compliance Officer for appropriate review,
and
an officer, director
or appropriate Board committee will decide
the outcome. For conduct involving an executive
officer
or Board
member, only the Board or the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee of the Board,
has the authority
to waive a provision of the Code. The Audit
Committee must review and approve any “related party” transaction
as defined in Item 7.B of Form 20-F before it is
consummated. In the event of an approved waiver involving
the conduct of an officer or Board member, appropriate
and prompt disclosure must be made to the Company’s
shareholders as and to the extent required by listing
standards or any other regulation.
Statements in the Code of Conduct to the effect
that certain actions may be taken only with “Company
approval” will be interpreted to mean that
appropriate officers or Board directors must give
prior written approval before the proposed action
may be undertaken.
Employees will receive periodic training
on the contents and importance of the Code
of
Conduct
and related
policies and the manner in which violations
must be reported and waivers must be requested.
Each
employee of the Company will be asked to
certify on an annual
basis that he/she is in full compliance
with the Code of Conduct and related policy statements.
I. Violations of Law
A variety of laws apply to the Company
and its operations, and some carry criminal
penalties.
These laws include
banking regulations, securities laws,
and state laws relating to duties owed by corporate
directors
and
officers. Examples of criminal violations
of the law include: stealing, embezzling,
misapplying
corporate or bank funds, using threats,
physical force or other
unauthorized means to collect money;
making
a
payment
for an expressed purpose on the Company’s behalf
to an individual who intends to use it for a different
purpose; or making payments, whether corporate or
personal, of cash or other items of value that are
intended to influence the judgment or actions of
political candidates, government officials or businesses
in connection with any of the Company’s activities.
The Company must and will report all suspected criminal
violations to the appropriate authorities for possible
prosecution, and will investigate, address and report,
as appropriate, non-criminal violations.
II. Conflicts of Interest
A conflict of interest can occur or appear
to occur in a wide variety of situations.
Generally speaking,
a conflict of interest occurs when
an employee’s
or an employee’s immediate family’s personal
interest interferes with, has the potential to interfere
with, or appears to interfere with the interests
or business of the Company. For example, a conflict
of interest could arise that makes it difficult for
an employee to perform corporate duties objectively
and effectively where he/she is involved in a competing
interest. Another such conflict may occur where an
employee or a family member receives a gift,¹ a unique
advantage, or an improper personal benefit as a result
of the employee’s position at the Company.
Because a conflict of interest can occur in a variety
of situations, you must keep the foregoing general
principle in mind in evaluating both your conduct
and that of others.
Employees are prohibited from trading
in securities while in possession
of material
inside information.
Among other things, trading while
in possession of material inside information
can subject
the employee
to criminal or civil penalties. The
Company’s
policy on insider trading is incorporated by reference
into this Code.
Outside Activities/Employment
Any outside activity, including employment,
should not significantly encroach
on the time and attention
employees devote to their corporate
duties, should not adversely affect
the quality
or quantity
of their work, and should not make
use of corporate equipment,
facilities, or supplies, or imply (without
the Company’s
approval) the Company’s sponsorship or support.
In addition, under no circumstances are employees permitted
to compete with the Company, or take for themselves
or their family members business opportunities that
belong to the Company that are discovered or made available
by virtue of their positions at the Company. Employees
are prohibited from taking part in any outside employment
without the Company’s prior approval.
Civic/Political Activities
Employees are encouraged to participate
in civic, charitable or political
activities so long as
such participation
does not encroach on the time and
attention they are expected to devote to their
company-related duties. Such activities
are to be conducted
in
a manner that
does not involve the Company or its
assets or facilities, and does not
create an
appearance of Company involvement
or endorsement.
Loans to Employees
The Company will not make loans or
extend credit guarantees to or
for the personal
benefit of
officers, except
as permitted by law. Loans or guarantees
may be extended to other employees
only with Company
approval.
III. Fair Dealing
Each employee should deal fairly
and in good faith with the Company’s customers, suppliers, regulators,
business partners and others. No employee may take
unfair advantage of anyone through manipulation, misrepresentation,
inappropriate threats, fraud, abuse of confidential
information, or other related conduct.
IV. Proper Use of Company Assets
Company assets, such as information,
materials, supplies, time,
intellectual property,
facilities, software,
and other assets owned or leased
by the Company, or that are
otherwise in the
Company’s possession,
may be used only for legitimate business purposes.
The personal use of Company assets, without Company
approval, is prohibited.
V. Delegation of Authority
Each employee, and particularly
each of the Company’s
officers, must exercise due care to ensure that any
delegation of authority is reasonable and appropriate
in scope, and includes appropriate and continuous monitoring.
No authority may be delegated to employees who the
Company has reason to believe, through the exercise
of reasonable due diligence, may have a propensity
to engage in illegal activities.
VI. Handling Confidential
Information
Employees should observe
the confidentiality of
information that they acquire
by virtue of their
positions at
the Company, including
information
concerning customers, suppliers,
competitors, and
other employees, except
where disclosure is approved
by the Company or otherwise
legally mandated.
Of special
sensitivity is financial
information, which should
under
all circumstances be
considered confidential
except where its disclosure
is approved
by the
Company, or when it has
been
publicly available in a
periodic or special report
for at
least two business days.
VII. Handling of Financial
Information
U.S. federal law requires
the Company to set forth
guidelines
pursuant
to which the principal
executive
officer and senior financial
employees perform their
duties. Employees
subject to this requirement
include
the principal executive
officer, the principal
financial officer, comptroller
or principal accounting
officer, and any person
who performs
a similar function. However,
the
Company
expects
that all employees
who participate
in the preparation of
any part of the Company’s
financial statements follow these guidelines:
•
Act with honesty and integrity, avoiding violations
of the code, including actual or apparent conflicts
of interest with the Company in personal and professional
relationships.
•
Disclose to the Compliance Officer any material transaction
or relationship that reasonably could be expected to
give rise to any violations of the code, including
actual or apparent conflicts of interest with the Company.
•
Provide the Company’s other employees, consultants,
and advisors with information that is accurate, complete,
objective, relevant, timely, and understandable.
•
Endeavor to ensure full, fair, timely, accurate, and
understandable disclosure in the Company’s periodic
reports.
•
Comply with rules and regulations of federal, state,
provincial and local governments, and other appropriate
private and public regulatory agencies.
•
Act in good faith, responsibly, and with due care,
competence and diligence, without misrepresenting material
facts or allowing your independent judgment to be subordinated.
•
Respect the confidentiality of information acquired
in the course of your work except where you have Company
approval or where disclosure is otherwise legally mandated.
Confidential information acquired in the course of
your work will not be used for personal advantage.
•
Share and maintain skills important and relevant to
the Company’s needs.
•
Proactively promote ethical behavior among peers in
your work environment.
•
Achieve responsible use of and control over all assets
and resources employed or entrusted to you.
•
Record or participate in the recording of entries in
the Company’s
books and records that
are accurate to the
best of your knowledge
The foregoing are set
forth as guidelines
for the principal
executive officer
and financial employees
but, are,
in fact, statements
of mandatory conduct.
It
is also important to
note that U.S. federal
law requires
that any waiver of,
or amendment to the
requirements
in
this Section VII will
be subject
to public disclosure.
¹ Acceptance of gifts in the nature of a memento, e.g. a conference gift or other inconsequential gift, valued at less than one hundred dollars ($100) is permitted.
Danaos Corporation © 2011