EX-19.1 2 rani-ex19_1.htm EX-19.1 EX-19.1

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INSIDER TRADING POLICY

 

 

 

 

Introduction

 

This policy determines acceptable transactions in the securities of Rani Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. (the “Company” or “Rani”) by our employees, directors and consultants. During the course of your employment, directorship or consultancy with the Company, you may receive important information that is not yet publicly available (“inside information”), about the Company or about other publicly-traded companies with which the Company has business dealings. Because of your access to this inside information, you may be in a position to profit financially by buying or selling, or in some other way dealing, in the Company’s stock, or stock of another publicly-traded company, or to disclose such information to a third party who does so profit (a “tippee”).

 

Insider Trading Policy

 

Securities Transactions

 

Use of inside information by someone for personal gain, or to pass on, or “tip,” the inside information to someone who uses it for personal gain, is illegal, regardless of the quantity of shares, and is therefore prohibited. You can be held liable both for your own transactions and for transactions effected by a tippee, or even a tippee of a tippee. Furthermore, it is important that the appearance of insider trading in securities be avoided. The only exception is that transactions directly with the Company, e.g., option exercises for cash or purchases under the Company’s employee stock purchase plan, are permitted. However, the subsequent sale (including the sale of shares in a cashless exercise program) or other disposition of such stock is fully subject to these restrictions.

 

Inside Information

 

As a practical matter, it is sometimes difficult to determine whether you possess inside information. The key to determining whether nonpublic information you possess about a public company is inside information is whether dissemination of the information would likely affect the market price of the company’s stock or would likely be considered important, or “material,” by investors who are considering trading in that company’s stock. Certainly, if the information makes you want to trade, it would probably have the same effect on others. Remember, both positive and negative information can be material. If you possess inside information, you may not trade in a company’s stock, advise anyone else to do so or communicate the information to anyone else until you know that the information has been publicly disseminated. This policy also applies to all family members and other household members of those covered by this policy and all companies controlled by those covered by this policy. You may never recommend to another person that he or she buy, hold or sell our stock. This means that in some circumstances, you may have to forego a proposed transaction in a company’s securities even if you planned to execute the transaction prior to learning of the inside information and even though you believe you may suffer an economic loss or sacrifice an anticipated profit by waiting. “Trading” includes engaging in short sales, transactions in put or call options, hedging transactions and other inherently speculative transactions.

 

You may not participate in “chat rooms” or other electronic discussion groups or contribute to blogs, bulletin boards or social media forums on the Internet concerning the activities of Rani or other companies with which Rani does business, even if you do so anonymously, unless doing so is part of your job responsibilities and you have explicit authorization from the Company’s Chief Financial Officer.

 

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Although by no means an all-inclusive list, information about the following items may be considered to be inside information until it is publicly disseminated:

 

(a)
financial results or forecasts;

 

(b)
major new products or processes;

 

(c)
acquisitions or dispositions of assets, divisions, companies, etc.;

 

(d)
pending public or private sales of debt or equity securities;

 

(e)
major contract awards or cancellations;

 

(f)
scientific, clinical or regulatory results;

 

(g)
top management or control changes;

 

(h)
possible tender offers or proxy fights;

 

(i)
significant writeoffs;

 

(j)
significant litigation;

 

(k)
impending bankruptcy;

 

(l)
gain or loss of a significant license agreement or other contracts with customers or suppliers;

 

(m)
pricing changes or discount policies;

 

(n)
corporate partner relationships; and

 

(o)
notice of issuance of patents;

 

(p)
declaration of stock splits, dividends or changes in dividend policy.

 

For information to be considered publicly disseminated, it must be widely disclosed through a press release or SEC filing, and a sufficient amount of time must have passed to allow the information to be fully disclosed. Generally speaking, information will be considered publicly disseminated after two full trading days have elapsed since the date of public disclosure of the information. For example, if an announcement of inside information of which you were aware was made prior to trading on Wednesday, then you may execute a transaction in the Company’s securities on Friday.

 

Stock Trading by Directors, Employees and Consultants

 

We require that all directors, employees and consultants limit their transactions in the Company’s stock to defined time periods following public dissemination of quarterly and annual financial results and notify, and receive approval from, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer prior to engaging in transactions in the Company’s stock and observe other restrictions designed to minimize the risk of apparent or actual insider trading.

 

Covered Insiders

 

The provisions outlined in this stock trading policy apply to all directors, employees and consultants of the Company. Generally, any entities or family members or others whose trading activities are controlled

 

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or influenced by any of such persons should be considered to be subject to the same restrictions. Persons subject to this policy are reminded that although this policy is not applicable to third-parties such as investment funds and partnerships engaged in the investment of securities in the ordinary course of business that such person may be deemed to control or influence, federal securities laws prohibiting insider trading remain applicable, and such persons are advised to seek separate counsel if the trading activities of such third-party would, if this policy were applicable, otherwise violate this policy.

 

Window Period

 

Generally, except as set forth in this policy, all directors, employees and consultants may buy or sell securities of the Company only during a “window period” that opens after two full trading days have elapsed after the public dissemination of the Company’s annual or quarterly financial results and closes two weeks before the end of the next quarter. This window period may be closed early or may not open if, in the judgment of the Company’s (i) Chief Executive Officer and (ii) Chief Financial Officer, there exists undisclosed information that would make trades by the Company’s directors, employees and consultants inappropriate. It is important to note that the fact that the window period has closed early or has not opened should be considered inside information. Any directors, employees or consultants who believe that special circumstances require him or her to trade outside the window period should consult with the Company’s Chief Financial Officer who will consult with the Company’s outside counsel. Permission to trade outside the window period will be granted only where the circumstances are extenuating and there appears to be no significant risk that the trade may subsequently be questioned.

 

Exceptions to Window Period

 

1.
ESPP/Option Exercises. Employees who are eligible to do so may purchase stock under the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) on periodic designated dates in accordance with the ESPP without restriction to any particular period. Directors, employees and consultants may exercise options for cash granted under the Company’s stock option plans without restriction to any particular period. However, the subsequent sale of the stock (including sales of stock in a cashless exercise, but not forfeitures of stock to the Company) acquired upon the exercise of options or pursuant to the ESPP is subject to all provisions of this policy.

 

2.
10b5-1 Automatic Trading Programs. In addition, purchases or sales of the Company’s securities made pursuant to, and in compliance with, a written plan established by a director or executive officer or other member of management that meets the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (a “Trading Plan”) may be made without restriction to any particular period provided that (i) the Trading Plan was established in good faith, in compliance with the requirements of Rule 10b5-1, at the time when such individual was not in possession of inside information about the Company and the Company had not imposed any trading blackout period,

(ii) the Trading Plan was reviewed by the Company prior to establishment, solely to confirm compliance with this policy and the securities laws. The Company must be notified of the establishment of any such Trading Plan, any amendments to such Trading Plan and the termination of such Trading Plan.

 

Pre-Clearance and Advance Notice of Transactions

 

In addition to the requirements of above, directors and executive officers may not engage in any transaction in the Company’s securities, including any purchase or sale in the open market, loan, pledge, hedge or other transfer of beneficial ownership. Officers and directors must first obtain pre-clearance of the transaction from the Company’s Chief Financial Officer (the “Clearing Officer”) at least two business days in advance of the proposed transaction. The Clearing Officer will then determine whether the transaction may proceed and, if so, will direct the Compliance Coordinator (as identified in the Company’s Section 16 Compliance Program) to assist in complying with the reporting requirements under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, if any. Pre-cleared transactions not completed within five business days shall require new pre-clearance under the provisions of this paragraph. The Company may, at its discretion, shorten such period of time.

 

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Advance notice of gifts or an intent to exercise an outstanding stock option shall be given to a Clearing Officer. To the extent possible, advance notice of upcoming transactions to be effected pursuant to an established Trading Plan shall also be given to a Clearing Officer. Upon completion of any transaction, the directors, employees or consultants must immediately notify the Compliance Coordinator and any other individuals identified in Section 3 of the Company’s Section 16 Compliance Program so that the Company may assist in any Section 16 reporting obligations.

 

Prohibition of Speculative or Short-Term Trading

 

No director, employee or consultant to Rani may engage in short sales, transactions in put or call options, hedging transactions, margin accounts, pledges, or other inherently speculative transactions with respect to the Company’s stock at any time.

 

Short-Swing Trading/Control Stock/Section 16 Reports

 

Officers and directors subject to the reporting obligations under Section 16 of the Exchange Act should take care not to violate the prohibition on short-swing trading (Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act) and the restrictions on sales by control persons (Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended), and should file all appropriate Section 16(a) reports (Forms 3, 4 and 5), which are enumerated and described in the Company’s Section 16 Compliance Program, and any notices of sale required by Rule 144.

 

Duration Of Policy’s Applicability

 

This policy continues to apply to your transactions in the Company’s stock or the stock of other public companies engaged in business transactions with the Company even after your employment, directorship or consultancy with the Company has terminated. If you are in possession of inside information when your relationship with the Company concludes, you may not trade in the Company’s stock or the stock of such other company until the information has been publicly disseminated or is no longer material.

 

Penalties

 

Anyone who effects transactions in the Company’s stock or the stock of other public companies engaged in business transactions with the Company (or provides information to enable others to do so) on the basis of inside information is subject to both civil liability and criminal penalties, as well as disciplinary action by the Company. An employee, director or consultant who has questions about this policy should contact his or her own attorney or the Company’s General Counsel.

 

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