EX-19.1 3 ex_792199.htm EXHIBIT 19.1 ex_792199.htm

Exhibit 19.1

 

 

VENUS CONCEPT INC.

INSIDER TRADING COMPLIANCE POLICY

 

(Adopted November 7, 2019; Last updated March 10, 2025)

 

This Insider Trading Compliance Policy (this “Policy”) consists of seven sections:

 

 

Section I provides an overview;

 

 

Section II sets forth Venus Concept Inc.’s (the “Company”) policies prohibiting insider trading;

 

 

Section III explains insider trading;

 

 

Section IV consists of procedures that have been put in place by the Company to prevent insider trading;

 

 

Section V sets forth additional transactions that are prohibited by this Policy;

 

 

Section VI explains Rule 10b5-1 trading plans and provides information about Section 16 and Rule 144; and

 

 

Section VII refers to the execution and return of a compliance certificate.

 

 

I.

OVERVIEW

 

Preventing insider trading is necessary to comply with U.S. securities laws and to preserve the reputation and integrity of the Company as well as that of all persons affiliated with the Company. “Insider trading” occurs when any person purchases or sells a security (e.g., common stock) while in possession of “inside information” relating to the security or tips others about that information who purchase or sell the security before the information is released publicly and is absorbed by the market. As explained in Section III below, “inside information” is information that is both “material” and “non-public” about a company (whether the Company or another company).

 

 

The Company considers strict compliance with the policies set forth in this Policy to be a matter of utmost importance. A violation of this Policy could cause extreme embarrassment and possible legal liability to you and the Company. Insider trading violates several laws, including civil and criminal laws. The penalties for violating insider trading laws include imprisonment, disgorgement of profits, civil fines, and criminal fines of up to $5 million for individuals and $25 million for entities. Insider trading is also prohibited by this Policy, and violation of this Policy may result in Company-imposed sanctions, including immediate removal or dismissal for cause.

 

This Policy applies to all officers, directors, employees and certain consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries (such consultants, the “Applicable Consultants”) and extends to all activities within and outside an individual’s duties at the Company.

 

Individuals subject to this Policy are responsible for ensuring that their immediate family members (e.g., spouses, children, stepchildren, parents, grandparents, stepparents, siblings, mothers-in-law, fathers-in-law, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, brothers-in-law or sisters-in-law) and members of their households also comply with this Policy. This Policy also applies to any entities controlled by individuals subject to the Policy, including any corporations, partnerships or trusts, and transactions by these entities should be treated for the purposes of this Policy and applicable securities laws as if they were for the individual’s own account. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this insider trading policy, including without limitation, the pre-clearance policy, blackout periods and prohibited transactions, does not apply to venture capital entities or other institutional investors, and the related transactions in the Company’s equity securities by such entities, that may be affiliated with a director of the Company or for Company equity securities that a director may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of by virtue of such affiliation.

 

This Policy extends to all activities within and outside an individual’s duties at the Company. Every officer, director, employee and Applicable Consultant must review this Policy.

 

Questions regarding the Policy should be directed to the Company’s Chief Legal Officer or Deputy General Counsel (the “General Counsel”).

 

 

II.

STATEMENT OF POLICIES PROHIBITING INSIDER TRADING

 

A.    Trading on Material Non-public Information. No officer, director, employee or Applicable Consultant, or any immediate family member or any member of the household of any such person, shall engage in any transaction involving the purchase or sale of any type of security while in possession of (including with knowledge of) material, non-public information relating to the security, whether the issuer of such security is the Company or any other company. This includes trading in the securities of any publicly listed company in which the Company or any of its subsidiaries holds an interest. Any officer, director, employee or Applicable Consultant, or any immediate family member or any member of the household of any such person that holds securities of any publicly listed company in which the Company or any of its subsidiaries holds an interest must also abide by the insider trading policy applicable to such company when trading in the securities of such company.

 

Additionally, no officer, director, employee or Applicable Consultant, or any immediate family member or any member of the household of any such person, shall purchase or sell any security of the Company during the period beginning at market close on the trading day that is two weeks prior to the last trading day of any fiscal quarter of the Company and ending upon completion of the second full trading day after the public release of earnings data for such fiscal quarter, provided that said officers, directors, employees or Applicable Consultants are in possession of material, non-public information.

 

Additionally, from time to time, the Company, through the Board of Directors, the Companys disclosure committee or the General Counsel, may recommend that some or all officers, directors, employees, Applicable Consultants or others suspend trading in the Companys securities because of developments that have not yet been disclosed to the public. Individuals affected by such an event-specific blackout will be notified by the Company that they are subject to the blackout. Subject to the exceptions noted below, all those affected should not trade in our securities while the suspension is in effect, and in the event that a press release is issued by the Company in connection with the event that resulted in the event-specific blackout, such suspension shall continue for two full trading days after the public release.

 

Additionally, those subject to the event-specific blackout should not disclose to others that we have suspended trading. Events that may give rise to event-specific blackouts may include consideration of major strategic transactions (e.g., acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures), product developments, interim earnings or sales releases, significant legal proceedings and other circumstances that potentially implicate material non-public information.

 

These prohibitions do not apply to:

 

 

purchases of the Company’s securities from the Company or sales of the Company’s securities to the Company, or the surrender to or withholding by the Company of the Company’s securities (e.g., to cover withholding obligations upon the vesting or settlement of equity-based awards);

 

 

 

exercises of stock options or other equity awards or the surrender of shares to the Company in payment of the exercise price or in satisfaction of any tax withholding obligations in a manner permitted by the applicable equity award agreement, or vesting of equity-based awards that do not involve a market sale of the Company’s securities, including in connection with the Company’s then effective 401(k) plan and then effective Equity Stock Purchase Plan (note that the “cashless exercise” of a Company stock option does involve a market sale of the Company’s securities, and therefore would not qualify under this exception);

 

 

bona fide gifts of the Company’s securities;

 

 

automatic ‘sell-to-cover’ transactions required to satisfy tax liability relating to vesting and settlement of Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”) only, as permitted by the applicable award agreement; or

 

 

purchases or sales of the Company’s securities made pursuant to any pre-existing binding contract, specific instruction or written plan entered into while the purchaser or seller, as applicable, was unaware of any material, non-public information and which contract, instruction or plan (i) meets all requirements of the affirmative defense provided by Rule 10b5-1 (“Rule 10b5-1”) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), (ii) was pre-cleared in advance pursuant to this Policy and (iii) has not been amended or modified in any respect after such initial pre-clearance without such amendment or modification being pre-cleared in advance pursuant to this Policy. For more information about Rule 10b5-1 trading plans, see Section VI below.

 

For the purposes of this Policy, a “trading day” is a day on which national stock exchanges are open for trading.

 

B.    Tipping. No officer, director, employee or Applicable Consultant shall directly or indirectly disclose or pass on (or “tip”) material, non-public information to anyone outside the Company (except in accordance with the Company’s policies regarding the protection or authorized external disclosure of Company information) or to anyone within the Company other than on a need-to-know basis. Nor shall such person make recommendations or express opinions on the basis of material, non-public information as to trading in the Company’s securities.

 

 

C.    Confidentiality of Non-public Information. Non-public information relating to the Company is the property of the Company and the unauthorized disclosure of such information is forbidden.

 

 

III.

EXPLANATION OF INSIDER TRADING

 

“Insider trading” refers to the purchase or sale of a security by someone who is in possession of “material,” “non-public” information relating to the security.

 

 

“Securities” includes stocks, bonds, notes, debentures, options, warrants and other convertible securities, as well as derivative instruments.

 

 

“Purchase” and “sale” are defined broadly under the U.S. securities law. “Purchase” includes not only the actual purchase of a security, but any contract to purchase or otherwise acquire a security. “Sale” includes not only the actual sale of a security, but any contract to sell or otherwise dispose of a security. These definitions extend to a broad range of transactions, including conventional cash-for-stock transactions, conversions, the exercise of stock options, and acquisitions and exercises of warrants or puts, calls or other derivative securities.

 

It is generally understood that insider trading includes the following:

 

 

trading by Insiders while in possession of material, non-public information;

 

 

trading by persons other than Insiders while in possession of material, non-public information, if the information either was given in breach of an Insider’s duty to keep it confidential or was misappropriated; and

 

 

 

communicating or tipping material, non-public information to others, including recommending the purchase or sale of a security while in possession of such information.

 

 

A.

What Facts are Material?

 

It is not possible to define all categories of material information because the materiality of a fact depends upon the circumstances. A fact is considered “material” if there is a substantial likelihood that a reasonable investor would consider it important in making a decision to buy, sell or hold a security, or if the fact is likely to have a significant effect on the market price of the security. Material information can be positive or negative and can relate to virtually any aspect of a company’s business or to any type of security, debt or equity. Because trading that receives scrutiny will be evaluated after the fact with the benefit of hindsight, questions as to the materiality of particular information should be resolved in favor of materiality, and trading should be avoided.

 

Although it may be difficult under this standard to determine whether particular information is material, there are various categories of information that are particularly sensitive and, as a general rule, should always be considered material. Examples of material information may include but are not limited to:

 

 

Communications sent to or received from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration;

 

 

Corporate earnings or earnings forecasts;

 

 

Mergers, acquisitions, tender offers or dispositions;

 

 

Major new product launches or product developments, even if recurring;

 

 

Important business developments such as major contract awards or cancellations, clinical trial results, developments regarding strategic collaborators or the status of regulatory submissions;

 

 

Changes in senior management or control changes;

 

 

Significant borrowing or financing developments including pending public sales or offerings of debt or equity securities or any changes the existing loan term;

 

 

Defaults on borrowings or bankruptcies; and

 

 

Significant actual or threatened litigation or regulatory actions.

 

Moreover, material information does not have to be related to a company’s business. For example, the contents of a forthcoming newspaper column that is expected to affect the market price of a security can be material. Further, material information can be both positive and negative. Additional examples of material information attached hereto as Attachment C.

 

When in doubt, do not trade. Check with the General Counsel first.

 

 

B.

What is Non-public?

 

Information is “non-public” if it has not been previously disclosed to the general public through a press release or securities filing and is otherwise not available to the general public. In order for information to be considered public, it must be widely disseminated in a manner making it generally available to investors through such media as Dow Jones, Business Wire, Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, or United Press International, a broadcast on widely available radio or television programs, publication in a widely available newspaper, magazine or news web site, a Regulation FD-compliant conference call, or public disclosure documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) that are available on the SEC’s web site.

 

 

The circulation of rumors, even if accurate and reported in the media, does not constitute effective public dissemination. In addition, even after a public announcement, a reasonable period of time must lapse in order for the market to react to the information. Generally, one should allow two full trading days following publication as a reasonable waiting period before such information is deemed to be public.

 

When in doubt, do not trade. Check with the General Counsel first.                                    

 

 

C.

Who is an Insider?

 

An “Insider” is an officer, director, employee or Applicable Consultant of the Company or anyone else within the Company who has material, non-public information about the Company. Insiders have independent fiduciary duties to their company and its stockholders not to trade on material, non-public information relating to the company’s securities. All officers, directors, employees and Applicable Consultants should consider themselves Insiders with respect to material, non-public information about the Company’s business, activities and securities. Officers, directors, employees and Applicable Consultants may not trade in the Company’s securities while in possession of material, non-public information relating to the Company, nor may they tip such information to anyone outside the Company (except in accordance with the Company’s policies regarding the protection or authorized external disclosure of Company information) or to anyone within the Company other than on a need-to-know basis.

 

Individuals subject to this Policy are responsible for ensuring that their immediate family members and members of their households also comply with this Policy. This Policy also applies to any entities controlled by individuals subject to the Policy, including any corporations, partnerships or trusts, and transactions by these entities should be treated for the purposes of this Policy and applicable securities laws as if they were for the individual’s own account.

 

 

D.

Trading by Persons Other than Insiders

 

Insiders may be liable for communicating or tipping material, non-public information to a third party (“tippee”), and insider trading violations are not limited to trading or tipping by Insiders. Persons other than Insiders also can be liable for insider trading, including tippees who trade on material, non-public information tipped to them or individuals who trade on material, non-public information that has been misappropriated.

 

Tippees inherit an Insider’s duties and are liable for trading on material, non-public information illegally tipped to them by an Insider. Similarly, just as Insiders are liable for the insider trading of their tippees, so are tippees who pass the information along to others who trade. In other words, a tippee’s liability for insider trading is no different from that of an Insider. Tippees can obtain material, non-public information by receiving overt tips from others or through, among other things, conversations at social, business, or other gatherings.

 

When in doubt, do not tip or trade on information provided (directly or indirectly by someone who could be a tipper). Check with the General Counsel first.

 

 

E.

Penalties for Engaging in Insider Trading

 

1.    Liability for Insider Trading and Tipping. Penalties for trading on or tipping material, non-public information can extend significantly beyond any profits made or losses avoided, both for individuals engaging in such unlawful conduct and their employers. The SEC and Department of Justice have made the civil and criminal prosecution of insider trading violations a top priority. Enforcement remedies available to the government or private plaintiffs (e.g., the Company’s stockholders) under the federal securities laws include:

 

 

SEC administrative sanctions;

 

 

securities industry self-regulatory organization sanctions;

 

 

civil injunctions;

 

 

damage awards to private plaintiffs;

 

 

disgorgement of all profits;

 

 

civil fines for the violator of up to three times the amount of profit gained or loss avoided;

 

 

 

civil fines for the employer or other controlling person of a violator (i.e., where the violator is an employee or other controlled person) of up to three times the amount of profit gained or loss avoided by the violator;

 

 

 

criminal fines for individual violators of up to $5,000,000 ($25,000,000 for an entity); and

 

 

jail sentences of up to 20 years.

 

Insider trading violations, however, are not limited to violations of U.S. federal securities laws. Other federal and state civil or criminal laws also may be violated in connection with insider trading.

 

2.    Control Persons. The Company and its supervisory personnel, if they fail to take appropriate steps to prevent illegal insider trading, may in certain circumstances, be subject to the following penalties:

 

 

a civil penalty of up to 3 times the profit gained or loss avoided as a result of the employee’s violation or the greater of the civil monetary penalty amount under 15

U.S.C. 78 u-1(a)(3) (Exchange Act Sec. 21A(a)(3)), adjusted for inflation with the CPI-U multiplier; and

 

 

a criminal penalty of up to $25,000,000.

 

3.    Possible Company-Imposed Disciplinary Actions. Employees of the Company who violate this Policy shall also be subject to disciplinary action by the Company, which may include ineligibility for future participation in the Company’s equity incentive plan or termination of employment.

 

 

 

F.

Size of Transaction and Reason for Transaction Do Not Matter

 

 

The size of the transaction or the amount of profit received does not have to be significant to result in prosecution. The SEC. the stock exchanges and NASDAQ have the ability to monitor even the smallest trades, and they use sophisticated electronic surveillance techniques to uncover insider trading. Brokers and dealers are required by law to inform the SEC of any possible violations by people who may have material, non-public information. The SEC aggressively investigates and prosecutes even small insider trading violations and violations where the trader, tipper or tippee did not profit from the trading.

 

 

 

G.

Examples of Insider Trading

 

Examples of insider trading cases include actions brought against corporate officers, directors, employees and consultants who traded in a company’s securities after learning of significant confidential corporate developments; friends, business associates, family members and other tippees of such officers, directors, employees and consultants who traded in the securities after receiving such information; government employees who learned of such information in the course of their employment; and other persons who misappropriated, and took advantage of, confidential information from their employers.

 

 

The following are illustrations of insider trading violations. These illustrations are hypothetical and, consequently, not intended to reflect on the actual activities or business of the Company or any other entity.

 

Trading by Insider

 

An officer of X Corporation learns that earnings to be reported by X Corporation will increase dramatically. Prior to the public announcement of such earnings, the officer purchases X Corporation’s stock. The officer, an Insider, is liable for all profits as well as penalties of up to three times the amount of all profits. The officer also is subject to, among other things, criminal prosecution, including up to $5,000,000 in additional fines and 20 years in jail. Depending upon the circumstances, X Corporation and the individual to whom the officer reports also could be liable as controlling persons.

 

Trading by Tippee

 

 

An officer of X Corporation tells a friend that X Corporation is about to publicly announce that it has concluded an agreement for a major acquisition. This tip causes the friend to purchase X Corporation’s stock in advance of the announcement. The officer is jointly liable with his friend for all of the friend’s profits, and each is liable for all civil penalties of up to three times the amount of the friend’s profits. The officer and his friend are also subject to criminal prosecution and other remedies and sanctions, as described above.

 

 

 

H.

Prohibition of Records Falsification and False Statements

 

Section 13(b)(2) of the 1934 Act requires companies subject to the 1934 Act (such as the Company) to maintain proper internal books and records and to devise and maintain an adequate system of internal accounting controls. The SEC has supplemented the statutory requirements by adopting rules that prohibit (1) any person from falsifying records or accounts subject to the above requirements and (2) officers or directors from making any materially false, misleading, or incomplete statement to any accountant in connection with any audit or filing with the SEC. These provisions reflect the SEC’s intent to discourage officers, directors and other persons with access to the Company’s books and records from taking action that might result in the communication of materially misleading financial information to the investing public.                                             

 

 

IV.

STATEMENT OF PROCEDURES PREVENTING INSIDER TRADING

 

To ensure compliance with this Policy and applicable U.S. securities laws, and to avoid even the appearance of trading on the basis of inside information, the following procedures have been established, and will be maintained and enforced, by the Company to prevent insider trading. Each of the officers, directors, employees and Applicable Consultants are required to follow these procedures.

 

 

 

A.

Trading Blackout Periods

 

 

No officer, director, employee or Applicable Consultant, or any immediate family member or any member of the household of any such person, shall purchase or sell any security of the Company during the period beginning at market close on the trading day that is two weeks prior to the last trading day of any fiscal quarter of the Company and ending at market close on the second full trading day after the public release of earnings data for such fiscal quarter of the Company or during any other trading suspension period declared by the Company, except for:

 

 

purchases of the Company’s securities from the Company or sales of the Company’s securities to the Company, or the surrender to the Company of the Company’s securities (e.g., to cover withholding obligations upon the vesting or settlement of equity-based awards);

 

 

exercises of stock options or other equity awards or vesting of equity-based awards that do not involve a market sale of the Company’s securities (the “cashless exercise” of a Company stock option does involve a market sale of the Company’s securities, and therefore would not qualify under this exception);

 

 

bona fide gifts of the Company’s securities;

 

 

automatic ‘sell-to-cover’ transactions required to satisfy tax liability relating to vesting and settlement of RSUs only, as permitted by the applicable award agreement; and

 

 

purchases or sales of the Company’s securities made pursuant to any binding contract, specific instruction or written plan entered into while the purchaser or seller, as applicable, was unaware of any material, non-public information and which contract, instruction or plan (i) meets all requirements of the affirmative defense provided by Rule 10b5-1, (ii) was pre-cleared in advance pursuant to this Policy and (iii) has not been amended or modified in any respect after such initial pre-clearance without such amendment or modification being pre-cleared in advance pursuant to this Policy.

 

Exceptions to the blackout period policy may be approved only by the General Counsel, or if the General Counsel is unavailable, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, or, in the case of exceptions for directors, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors or Chairperson of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.

 

 

From time to time, the Company, through the Board of Directors, the Company’s Disclosure Committee or the General Counsel, may recommend that some or all officers, directors, employees, Applicable Consultants or others suspend trading in the Company’s securities because of developments that have not yet been disclosed to the public. Individuals affected by such an event-specific, “special” blackout period will be notified by the Company that they are subject to the blackout. Subject to the exceptions noted above, all those affected should not trade in our securities while the suspension is in effect, and in the event that a press release is issued by the Company in connection with the event that resulted in the event-specific blackout, such suspension shall continue for two full trading days after the public release. Additionally, individuals affected by such an event-specific, “special” blackout period should not disclose to others that we have suspended trading. The failure of the Company to designate a person as being subject to a “special” blackout period will not relieve that person of the obligation not to trade while aware of material, non-public information.

 

 

B.

Pre-Clearance of All Trades by All Officers, Directors, Certain Employees as May Be Designated by the General Counsel and Applicable Consultants

 

To provide assistance in preventing inadvertent violations of applicable securities laws and to avoid the appearance of impropriety in connection with the purchase and sale of the Company’s securities, all transactions in the Companys securities (including without limitation, acquisitions and dispositions of Company stock, the net or cashless exercise of stock options and the sale of Company stock issued upon exercise of stock options) by officers, directors, certain employees as may be designated by the General Counsel and Applicable Consultants, other than exercises of stock options with cash or other equity awards or vesting of equity-based awards that do not involve a market sale of the Companys securities must be pre-cleared by the General Counsel, or if the General Counsel is unavailable, the Companys Chief Financial Officer.

 

As part of the pre-clearance process, the individual requesting pre-clearance must confirm that he or she is not in possession of material, non-public information. Pre-clearance does not relieve anyone of his or her responsibility under SEC rules. For clarity, transactions in the Company’s securities pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan, which was approved in advance of entering into the plan, are considered pre-cleared.

 

 

 

C.

Post-Termination Transactions

 

 

With the exception of the pre-clearance requirement, the insider trading laws continue to apply to transactions in the Company’s securities even after termination of service to the Company. If an individual is in possession of material, non-public information when his or her service terminates, that individual may not trade in the Company’s securities until that information has become public or is no longer material.

 

 

D.

Information Relating to the Company

 

 

1.

Access to Information

 

Access to material, non-public information about the Company, including the Company’s business, earnings or prospects, should be limited to officers, directors, employees and Applicable Consultants on a need-to-know basis. In addition, such information should not be communicated to anyone outside the Company under any circumstances (except in accordance with the Company’s policies regarding the protection or authorized external disclosure of Company information) or to anyone within the Company on an other than need-to-know basis.

 

In communicating material, non-public information to employees of the Company, all officers, directors, employees and Applicable Consultants must take care to emphasize the need for confidential treatment of such information and adherence to the Company’s policies with regard to confidential information.

 

 

2.

Inquiries From Third Parties

 

Inquiries from third parties, such as industry analysts or members of the media, about the Company should be directed to Michael Mandarello, the Company’s Chief Legal Officer at m[email protected].

 

 

 

E.

Limitations on Access to Company Information

 

The following procedures are designed to maintain confidentiality with respect to the Company’s business operations and activities.

 

All officers, directors, employees and Applicable Consultants should take all steps and precautions necessary to restrict access to, and secure, material, non-public information by, among other things:

 

 

 

maintaining the confidentiality of Company-related transactions;

 

 

conducting their business and social activities so as not to risk inadvertent disclosure of confidential information. Review of confidential documents in public places should be conducted so as to prevent access by unauthorized persons;

 

 

restricting access to documents and files (including computer files) containing material, non-public information to individuals on a need-to-know basis (including maintaining control over the distribution of documents and drafts of documents);

 

 

 

promptly removing and cleaning up all confidential documents and other materials from conference rooms following the conclusion of any meetings;

 

 

disposing of all confidential documents and other papers, after there is no longer any business or other legally required need, through shredders when appropriate;

 

 

 

restricting access to areas likely to contain confidential documents or material, non-public information;

 

 

safeguarding laptop computers, mobile devices, tablets, memory sticks, CDs and other items that contain confidential information; and

 

 

avoiding the discussion of material, non-public information in places where the information could be overheard by others such as in elevators, restrooms, hallways, restaurants, airplanes or taxicabs.

 

Personnel involved with material, non-public information, to the extent feasible, should conduct their business and activities in areas separate from other Company activities.

 

 

F.

Individual Responsibility

 

Every employee, officer and director has the individual responsibility to comply with this Policy against insider trading, regardless of whether a transaction is executed outside a blackout period or is pre-cleared by the Company. The restrictions and procedures are intended to help avoid inadvertent instances of improper insider trading, but appropriate judgment should always be exercised by each employee, officer and director in connection with any trade in the Company’s securities.

 

An employee, officer or director may, from time to time, have to forego a proposed transaction in the Company’s securities even if he or she planned to make the transaction before learning of the material, non-public information and even though the Insider believes he or she may suffer an economic loss or forego anticipated profit by waiting.

 

 

V.

ADDITIONAL PROHIBITED TRANSACTIONS

 

The Company has determined that there is a heightened legal risk and/or the appearance of improper or inappropriate conduct if the persons subject to this Policy engage in certain types of transactions. Therefore, officers, directors, employees and Applicable Consultants shall comply with the following policies with respect to certain transactions in the Company securities:

 

 

A.

Short Sales

 

Short sales of the Company’s securities evidence an expectation on the part of the seller that the securities will decline in value, and therefore signal to the market that the seller has no confidence in the Company or its short-term prospects. In addition, short sales may reduce the seller’s incentive to improve the Company’s performance. For these reasons, short sales of the Company’s securities are prohibited by this Policy. In addition, as noted below, Section 16(c) of the 1934 Act absolutely prohibits Section 16 reporting persons from making short sales of the Company’s equity securities, i.e., sales of shares that the Insider does not own at the time of sale, or sales of shares against which the Insider does not deliver the shares within 20 days after the sale.

 

 

 

B.

Publicly Traded Options

 

 

A transaction in options is, in effect, a bet on the short-term movement of the Company’s stock and therefore creates the appearance that an officer, director, employee or Applicable Consultant is trading based on inside information. Transactions in options also may focus an officer’s, director’s, employee’s or Applicable Consultant’s attention on short-term performance at the expense of the Company’s long-term objectives. Accordingly, transactions in puts, calls or other derivative securities involving the Company’s equity securities, on an exchange or in any other organized market, are prohibited by this Policy.

 

 

 

C.

Hedging Transactions

 

Certain forms of hedging or monetization transactions, such as zero-cost collars and forward sale contracts, allow an Insider to lock in much of the value of his or her stock holdings, often in exchange for all or part of the potential for upside appreciation in the stock. These transactions allow the Insider to continue to own the covered securities, but without the full risks and rewards of ownership. When that occurs, the Insider may no longer have the same objectives as the Company’s other stockholders. Therefore, hedging transactions involving the Company’s equity securities, including but not limited to zero-cost collars and forward sale contracts, are prohibited by this Policy.

 

 

 

D.

 Purchases of the Companys Securities on Margin; Pledging the Companys Securities to Secure Margin or Other Loans

 

Purchasing on margin means borrowing from a brokerage firm, bank or other entity in order to purchase the Company’s securities (other than in connection with a “cashless exercise” of stock options under the Company’s equity plans). Margin purchases of the Company’s securities are prohibited by this Policy. Pledging the Company’s securities as collateral to secure loans is prohibited. This prohibition means, among other things, that you cannot hold the Company’s securities in a “margin account” (which would allow you to borrow against your holdings to buy securities).

 

 

E.

Partnership Distributions

 

Nothing in this Policy is intended to limit the ability of a private equity partnership or other similar entity with which a director is affiliated to distribute Company securities to its partners, members or other similar persons. It is the responsibility of each affected director and the affiliated entity, in consultation with their own counsel (as appropriate), to determine the timing of any distributions, based on all relevant facts and circumstances and applicable securities laws.

 

 

 

VI.

RULE 10b5-1 TRADING PLANS, SECTION 16 AND RULE 144

 

 

A.    Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plans. It is strongly recommended that all directors and employees with a title of VICE PRESIDENT OR HIGHER must conduct any transactions in the Companys securities pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan.

 

 

1.

Overview

 

Rule 10b5-1 will protect directors, officers, employees and Applicable Consultants from insider trading liability under Rule 10b5-1 for transactions under a previously established contract, plan or instruction to trade in the Company’s stock (a “Trading Plan”) entered into in good faith and in accordance with the terms of Rule 10b5-1 and all applicable state laws and will be exempt from the trading restrictions set forth in this Policy. The initiation or revocation of, and any modification to, any such Trading Plan will be deemed to be a transaction in the Company’s securities, and such initiation, revocation or modification is subject to all limitations and prohibitions relating to transactions in the Company’s securities. Each such Trading Plan, and any modification or revocation thereof, must be submitted to and pre-approved by the General Counsel, or if the General Counsel is unavailable, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, who may impose such conditions on the implementation and operation of the Trading Plan as the General Counsel, or if the General Counsel is unavailable, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, deems necessary or advisable. The General Counsel may prescribe certain forms of Trading Plans to which employees’ Trading Plans must conform. The General Counsel may also require that Trading Plans be arranged with a specified broker. However, compliance of the Trading Plan to the terms of Rule 10b5-1 and the execution of transactions pursuant to the Trading Plan are the sole responsibility of the person initiating the Trading Plan, not the Company or the General Counsel.

 

Trading Plans do not exempt individuals from complying with Section 16 short-swing profit rules or liability.

 

Rule 10b5-1 presents an opportunity for Insiders to establish arrangements to sell (or purchase) Company stock without the restrictions of trading windows and blackout periods, even when there is undisclosed material information. A Trading Plan may also help reduce negative publicity that may result when key executives sell the Company’s stock. Rule 10b5-1 only provides an “affirmative defense” in the event there is an insider trading lawsuit. It does not prevent someone from bringing a lawsuit.

 

A director, officer, employee or Applicable Consultant may enter into a Trading Plan only when he or she is not in possession of material, non-public information, and only during a trading window period outside of the trading blackout period. Although transactions effected under a Trading Plan will not require further pre-clearance at the time of the trade, any transaction (including the quantity and price) made pursuant to a Trading Plan of a Section 16 reporting person must be reported to the Company promptly on the day of each trade to permit the Company’s filing coordinator to assist in the preparation and filing of a required Form 4. The Company requires a cooling-off period of at least 30 days between the establishment of a Trading Plan and commencement of any transactions under such plan.

 

The Company reserves the right from time to time to suspend, discontinue or otherwise prohibit any transaction in the Company’s securities, even pursuant to a previously approved Trading Plan, if the General Counsel or the Board of Directors, in its discretion, determines that such suspension, discontinuation or other prohibition is in the best interests of the Company. Any Trading Plan submitted for approval hereunder should explicitly acknowledge the Company’s right to prohibit transactions in the Company’s securities. Failure to discontinue purchases and sales as directed shall constitute a violation of the terms of this Policy and result in a loss of the exemption set forth herein.

 

 

Officers, directors, employees and Applicable Consultants may adopt Trading Plans with brokers that outline a pre-set plan for trading of the Company’s stock, including the exercise of options. Trades pursuant to a Trading Plan generally may occur at any time. However, as noted above, the Company requires a cooling-off period of at least 30 days between the establishment of a Trading Plan and commencement of any transactions under such plan. Subject to the terms of the Trading Plan, an individual may adopt more than one Trading Plan. Please review the following description of how a Trading Plan works.

 

Pursuant to Rule 10b5-1, an individual’s purchase or sale of securities will not be “on the basis of” material, non-public information if:

 

 

First, before becoming aware of the information, the individual enters into a binding contract to purchase or sell the securities, provides instructions to another person to sell the securities or adopts a written plan for trading the securities (i.e., the Trading Plan).

 

 

 

Second, the Trading Plan must:

 

 

specify the amount of securities to be purchased or sold, the price at which the securities are to be purchased or sold and the date on which the securities are to be purchased or sold;

 

 

provide a written formula or algorithm, or computer program, for determining the amount of securities to be purchased or sold and the price at which and the date on which the securities are to be purchased or sold; or

 

 

prohibit the individual from exercising any subsequent influence over the purchase or sale of the Company’s stock under the Trading Plan in question.

 

 

Third, the purchase or sale must occur pursuant to the Trading Plan and the individual must not enter into a corresponding hedging transaction or alter or deviate from the Trading Plan.

 

 

2.

Revocation of and Amendments to Trading Plans

 

Revocation of Trading Plans should occur only in unusual circumstances. Effectiveness of any revocation, modification or amendment of a Trading Plan will be subject to the prior review and approval of the General Counsel, or if the General Counsel is unavailable, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. Revocation is effected upon written notice to the broker. Once a Trading Plan has been revoked, the participant should wait at least 30 days before trading outside of a Trading Plan and 180 days before establishing a new Trading Plan. You should note that revocation of a Trading Plan can result in the loss of an affirmative defense for past or future transactions under a Trading Plan. You should consult with your own legal counsel before deciding to revoke a Trading Plan. In any event, you should not assume that compliance with the 180-day bar will protect you from possible adverse legal consequences of a Trading Plan revocation.

 

A person acting in good faith may amend a prior Trading Plan so long as such amendments are made outside of a quarterly blackout or other blackout period and at a time when the Trading Plan participant does not possess material, non-public information. Plan amendments require a cooling-off period of at least 30 days between the amendment of a Trading Plan and commencement of any transactions under such plan.

 

 

A Trading Plan shall include provision for suspension or revocation in certain circumstances, such as the announcement of a merger or the occurrence of an event that would cause the transaction either to violate the law or be expected to have an adverse effect on the Company. The General Counsel or administrator of the Company’s stock plans is authorized to notify the broker in such circumstances, thereby insulating the Insider in the event of suspension or revocation.

 

 

 

3.

Discretionary Plans

 

Although non-discretionary Trading Plans are preferred, discretionary Trading Plans, where the discretion or control over trading is transferred to a broker, are permitted if pre-approved by the General Counsel, or if the General Counsel is unavailable, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer.

 

The General Counsel of the Company, or if the General Counsel is unavailable, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, must pre-approve any Trading Plan, arrangement or trading instructions, etc., involving potential sales or purchases of the Company’s stock or option exercises, including but not limited to, blind trusts, discretionary accounts with banks or brokers, or limit orders. The actual transactions effected pursuant to a pre-approved Trading Plan will not be subject to further pre-clearance for transactions in the Company’s stock once the Trading Plan or other arrangement has been pre-approved by the General Counsel or, if applicable, the Chief Financial Officer.

 

 

 

4.

Reporting (if Required)

 

If required, an SEC Form 144 will be completed and filed by the individual/brokerage firm in accordance with the existing rules regarding Form 144 filings. A footnote at the bottom of the Form 144 should indicate that the trades “are in accordance with a Trading Plan adopted under 10b5-1.” For Section 16 reporting persons, Forms 4 are required to be filed before the end of the second business day following the date that the broker, dealer or plan administrator informs the individual that a transaction was executed, provided that the date of such notification is not later than the third business day following the trade date. A similar footnote should be placed at the bottom of the Form 4 as outlined above.

 

 

 

5.

Options

 

 

Exercises of options for cash may be executed at any time. “Cashless exercise” option exercises are subject to trading windows. However, the Company will permit same day sales under Trading Plans. If a broker is required to execute a “cashless exercise” in accordance with a Trading Plan, then the Company must have exercise forms attached to the Trading Plan that are signed, undated and with the number of shares to be exercised left blank. Once a broker determines that the time is right to exercise the option and dispose of the shares in accordance with the Trading Plan, the broker will notify the Company in writing and the administrator of the Company’s stock plans will fill in the number of shares and the date of exercise on the previously signed exercise form. The Insider should not be involved with this part of the exercise.

 

 

6.

Trades Outside of a Trading Plan

 

During an open trading window, trading in the Company securities not pursuant to an approved Trading Plan is allowed as long as the trading instructions in the approved Trading Plan continue to be followed.

 

 

7.

Public Announcements

 

The Company may make a public announcement that Trading Plans are being implemented in accordance with Rule 10b5-1. It will consider in each case whether a public announcement of a particular Trading Plan should be made. It may also make public announcements or respond to inquiries from the media as transactions are made under a Trading Plan.

 

 

8.

Prohibited Transactions

 

The transactions prohibited under Section V of this Policy, including among others short sales and hedging transactions, may not be carried out through a Trading Plan or other arrangement or trading instruction involving potential sales or purchases of the Company’s securities.

 

 

 

9.

No Section 16 Protection

 

 

The use of Trading Plans does not exempt participants from complying with the Section 16 reporting rules or liability for short-swing trades.

 

 

10.

Limitation on Liability

 

None of the Company, the Authorizing Officer or the Company’s other employees will have any liability for any delay in reviewing, or refusal of, a Trading Plan submitted pursuant to this Section VI.A. Notwithstanding any review of a Trading Plan pursuant to this Section VI.A, none of the Company, the Authorizing Officer or the Company’s other employees assumes any liability for the legality or consequences relating to such Trading Plan to the person adopting such Trading Plan.

 

 

B.

Section 16: Insider Reporting Requirements, Short-Swing Profits and Short Sales (Applicable to Officers, Directors and 10% Stockholders)

 

 

 

1.

Reporting Obligations Under Section 16(a): SEC Forms 3, 4 and 5

 

 

Section 16(a) of the 1934 Act generally requires all officers, directors (each, a “Section 16 insider”) and beneficial owners of more than ten percent of our outstanding stock (each, a “10% stockholder”), within 10 days after the Section 16 insider becomes an officer, director, or 10% stockholder, to file with the SEC an “Initial Statement of Beneficial Ownership of Securities” on Form 3 listing the amount of the Company’s stock, options and warrants which the Section 16 insider beneficially owns. Following the initial filing on Form 3, changes in beneficial ownership of the Company’s stock, options and warrants must be reported on Form 4, generally within two business days after the date on which such change occurs, or in certain cases on Form 5, within 45 days after fiscal year end. A Form 4 must be filed even if, as a result of balancing transactions, there has been no net change in holdings. In certain situations, purchases or sales of Company stock made within six months prior to the filing of a Form 3 must be reported on Form 4. Similarly, certain purchases or sales of Company stock made within six months after an officer or director ceases to be an Insider must be reported on Form 4.

 

 

2.

Recovery of Profits Under Section 16(b)

 

For the purpose of preventing the unfair use of information which may have been obtained by a Section 16 insider, any profits realized by any officer, director or 10% stockholder from any “purchase” and “sale” of Company stock during a six-month period (so called “short-swing profits”) are subject to recovery by the Company. When such a purchase and sale occurs, good faith is no defense. The Section 16 insider is liable even if compelled to sell for personal reasons, and even if the sale takes place after full disclosure and without the use of any inside information.

 

The liability of an Insider under Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act is only to the Company itself. The Company, however, cannot waive its right to short swing profits, and any Company stockholder can bring suit in the name of the Company. Reports of ownership filed with the SEC on Form 3, Form 4 or Form 5 pursuant to Section 16(a) (discussed above) are readily available to the public, and certain attorneys carefully monitor these reports for potential Section 16(b) violations. In addition, liabilities under Section 16(b) may require separate disclosure in the Company’s annual report to the SEC on Form 10-K or its proxy statement for its annual meeting of stockholders. No suit may be brought more than two years after the date the profit was realized. However, if the Section 16 insider fails to file a report of the transaction under Section 16(a), as required, the two-year limitation period does not begin to run until after the transactions giving rise to the profit have been disclosed. Failure to report transactions and late filing of reports require separate disclosure in the Company’s proxy statement.

 

Officers and directors should consult the attached “Short-Swing Profit Rule Section 16(b) Checklist” attached hereto as Attachment A, in addition to consulting the General Counsel or, if applicable, the Chief Financial Officer, prior to engaging in any transactions involving the Company’s securities, including without limitation, the Company’s stock, options or warrants.

 

 

3.

Short Sales Prohibited Under Section 16(c)

 

Section 16(c) of the 1934 Act prohibits Insiders absolutely from making short sales of the Company’s equity securities. Short sales include sales of stock which the Insider does not own at the time of sale, or sales of stock against which the Insider does not deliver the shares within 20 days after the sale. Under certain circumstances, the purchase or sale of put or call options, or the writing of such options, can result in a violation of Section 16(c). Insiders violating Section 16(c) face criminal liability.

 

The General Counsel should be consulted if you have any questions regarding reporting obligations, short-swing profits or short sales under Section 16.

 

 

C.

Rule 144 (Applicable to Officers, Directors and 10% Stockholders)

 

Rule 144 provides a safe harbor exemption to the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for certain resales of “restricted securities” and “control securities.” “Restricted securities” are securities acquired from an issuer, or an affiliate of an issuer, in a transaction, or chain of transactions, not involving a public offering. “Control securities” are any securities owned by directors, executive officers or other “affiliates” of the issuer, including stock purchased in the open market and stock received upon exercise of stock options. Sales of Company securities by affiliates (generally, directors, officers and 10% stockholders of the Company) must comply with the requirements of Rule 144, which are summarized below:

 

 

Current Public Information. The Company must have filed all SEC-required reports during the last 12 months.

 

 

Volume Limitations. Total sales of Company common stock by a covered individual for any three-month period may not exceed the greater of: (i) 1% of the total number of outstanding shares of Company common stock, as reflected in the most recent report or statement published by the Company, or (ii) the average weekly reported volume of such shares traded during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of the requisite Form 144.

 

 

Method of Sale. The shares must be sold either in a “broker’s transaction” or in a transaction directly with a “market maker.” A “broker’s transaction” is one in which the broker does no more than execute the sale order and receive the usual and customary commission. Neither the broker nor the selling person can solicit or arrange for the sale order. In addition, the selling person or Board member must not pay any fee or commission other than to the broker. A “market maker” includes a specialist permitted to act as a dealer, a dealer acting in the position of a block positioner, and a dealer who holds himself out as being willing to buy and sell Company common stock for his own account on a regular and continuous basis.

 

 

Notice of Proposed Sale. A notice of the sale (a Form 144) must be filed with the SEC at the time of the sale. Brokers generally have internal procedures for executing sales under Rule 144 and will assist you in completing the Form 144 and in complying with the other requirements of Rule 144.

 

If you are subject to Rule 144, you must instruct your broker who handles trades in Company securities to follow the brokerage firm’s Rule 144 compliance procedures in connection with all trades.

 

 

VII.

EXECUTION AND RETURN OF CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE

 

After reading this Policy, all Non-Employee Directors, Executive Officers and Applicable Consultants must execute and return to the General Counsel the Certification of Compliance form attached hereto as Attachment B. All other management and employees must certify online upon completion of the Company’s mandatory insider trading training course that they have read and understand this Policy and that they agree to comply with it (the “Online Certification of Compliance”). The Online Certification of Compliance is the same in all material respects as the Certification of Compliance form attached hereto as Attachment B.

 

 

* * * * *

 

ATTACHMENT A

 

SHORT-SWING PROFIT RULE SECTION 16(B) CHECKLIST

 

Note: ANY combination of PURCHASE AND SALE or SALE AND PURCHASE within six months of each other by an officer, director or 10% stockholder (or any family member living in the same household or certain affiliated entities) results in a violation of Section 16(b), and the “profit” must be recovered by Venus Concept Inc. (the “Company”). It makes no difference how long the shares being sold have been held or, for officers and directors, that you were an insider for only one of the two matching transactions. The highest priced sale will be matched with the lowest priced purchase within the six-month period.

 

Sales

 

If a sale is to be made by an officer, director or 10% stockholder (or any family member living in the same household or certain affiliated entities):

 

1.    Have there been any purchases by the insider (or family members living in the same household or certain affiliated entities) within the past six months?

 

2.    Have there been any option grants or exercises not exempt under Rule 16b-3 within the past six months?

 

3.    Are any purchases (or non-exempt option exercises) anticipated or required within the next six months?

 

 

4.

Has a Form 4 been prepared?

 

Note: If a sale is to be made by an affiliate of the Company, has a Form 144 been prepared and has the broker been reminded to sell pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended?

 

Purchases And Option Exercises

 

If a purchase or option exercise for Company stock is to be made:

 

1.    Have there been any sales by the insider (or family members living in the same household or certain affiliated entities) within the past six months?

 

2.    Are any sales anticipated or required within the next six months (such as tax-related or year-end transactions)?

 

 

3.

Has a Form 4 been prepared?

 

Before proceeding with a purchase or sale, consider whether you are aware of material inside information which could affect the price of the Company stock. All transactions in the Companys securities by officers and directors must be pre-cleared by contacting the General Counsel, or if the General Counsel is unavailable, the Companys Chief Financial Officer.

 

ATTACHMENT B CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE

 

RETURN BY [          ] [insert return deadline] TO:         Michael Mandarello, Chief Legal Officer

 

CC:

FROM:                   

 

RE:         INSIDER TRADING COMPLIANCE POLICY OF VENUS CONCEPT INC.

 

I have received, read and understand the above-referenced Insider Trading Compliance Policy and undertake, as a condition to my present and continued employment with (or, if I am not an employee, affiliation with) Venus Concept Inc., to comply fully with the policies and procedures contained therein.

 

I also hereby certify, to the best of my knowledge, that during the calendar year ending December 31, ____, I have complied fully with all policies and procedures set forth in the Policy.

 

 

SIGNATURE         DATE

 

 

 

NAME

 

 

 

TITLE

 

ATTACHMENT C

 

 

EXAMPLES OF MATERIAL INFORMATION

 

Changes in corporate structure

 

changes in share ownership that may affect control of the company

 

 

changes in corporate structure such as reorganizations, amalgamations, or mergers

 

take-over bids, issuer bids, or insider bids

 

 

Changes in capital structure

 

the public or private sale of additional securities

 

 

planned repurchases or redemptions of securities

 

planned splits of common shares or offerings of warrants or rights to buy shares

 

any share consolidation, share exchange, or stock dividend

 

changes in a company’s dividend payments or policies

 

the possible initiation of a proxy fight

 

material modifications to the rights of security holders

 

Changes in financial results

 

a significant increase or decrease in near-term earnings prospects

 

 

unexpected changes in the financial results for any period

 

 

shifts in financial circumstances, such as cash flow reductions, major asset write-offs or write-downs

 

changes in the value or composition of the company’s assets

 

any material change in the company’s accounting policies

 

Changes in business and operations

 

any development that affects the company’s resources, technology, products or markets

 

a significant change in capital investment plans or corporate objectives

 

major labour disputes or disputes with major contractors or suppliers

 

 

significant new contracts, products, patents, or services or significant losses of contracts or business

 

significant discoveries by resource companies

 

 

changes to the Board or executive management, including the departure of the company’s Chairman, CEO, CFO (or persons in equivalent positions)

 

the commencement of, or developments in, material legal proceedings or regulatory matters

 

 

waivers of corporate ethics and conduct rules for officers, directors, and other key employees

 

any notice that reliance on a prior audit is no longer permissible

 

 

de-listing of the company’s securities or their movement from one quotation system or exchange to another

 

Acquisitions and dispositions

 

significant acquisitions or dispositions of assets, property or joint venture interests

 

 

acquisitions of other companies, including a take-over bid for, or merger with, another company

 

Changes in credit arrangements

 

the borrowing or lending of a significant amount of money

 

any mortgaging or encumbering of the company’s assets

 

 

defaults under debt obligations, agreements to restructure debt, or planned enforcement procedures by a bank or any other creditors

 

changes in rating agency decisions

 

significant new credit arrangements