Exhibit 19.1
LSB INDUSTRIES, INC. INSIDER TRADING POLICY
This Insider Trading Policy (this “Policy”) is intended to prevent violations of the federal securities laws and to protect LSB Industries, Inc.’s and its subsidiaries’ (collectively, the “Company”) reputation for integrity and ethical conduct.
“Insider trading” refers generally to buying or selling a security, in breach of a fiduciary duty or other relationship of trust and confidence, while in possession of material non-public information about the security. Trading includes engaging in short sales, transactions in put or call options, hedging transactions, and other inherently speculative transactions. Insider trading violations may also include “tipping” such information, securities trading by the person “tipped,” and securities trading by those who misappropriate such information.
The scope of insider trading violations can be wide reaching. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) has brought insider trading cases against corporate officers, directors, and employees who traded the corporation’s securities after learning of significant, confidential corporate developments; friends, business associates, family members, and other “tippees” of such officers, directors, and employees who traded the securities after receiving such information; employees of law, banking, brokerage, and printing firms who were given such information in order to provide services to the corporation whose securities they traded; government employees who learned of such information because of their employment by the government; and other persons who misappropriated, and took advantage of, confidential information from their employers.
An “insider” can include officers, directors, major stockholders and employees of an entity whose securities are publicly traded. In general, an insider must not trade for personal gain in the securities of that entity if that person possesses material non-public information about the entity. In addition, an insider who is aware of material non-public information must not disclose such information to family, friends, business or social acquaintances, employees or independent contractors of the entity (unless such employees or independent contractors have a position within the entity giving them a clear right and need to know), and other third parties. An insider is responsible for assuring that his or her family members comply with insider trading laws. An insider may make trades in the market or discuss material information only after the material information has been made public.
General. Violation of the prohibition on insider trading can result in a prison sentence and civil and criminal fines for the individuals who commit the violation, and civil and criminal fines for the entities that commit the violation. The Company can be subject to a civil monetary penalty even if the directors, officers or employees who committed the violation concealed their activities from the Company.
Bounties. The SEC is offering bounties to persons who provide information leading to the imposition of the civil penalty.
Illegal insider trading is against the policy of the Company. Such trading can cause significant harm to the reputation for integrity and ethical conduct of the Company. Individuals who fail to comply with the
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Exhibit 19.1
requirements of this Policy are subject to disciplinary action, at the sole discretion of the Company, including dismissal for cause. In addition, it is the policy of the Company to comply with all applicable securities laws when transacting in its own securities.
Non-public, or inside, information about the Company that is not known to the investing public may include, among other things, strategic plans; significant capital investment plans; negotiations concerning acquisitions or dispositions; major new contracts (or the loss of a major contract); other favorable or unfavorable business or financial developments, projections or prospects; a change in control or a significant change in management; significant litigation, settlements, or regulatory developments; price shares or discount policies; impending securities splits, securities repurchases, securities dividends or changes in dividends to be paid; a call of securities for redemption; and, most frequently, financial results.
All information about the Company is considered non-public information until it is disseminated in a manner calculated to reach the securities marketplace through recognized channels of distribution and public investors have had a reasonable period of time to react to the information. Generally, information which has not been available to the investing public for at least two (2) full business days is considered to be non-public. Recognized channels of distribution include annual reports, SEC filings, press releases, marketing materials, and publication of information in prominent financial publications, such as The Wall Street Journal.
Non-public information is material if it might reasonably be expected to affect the market value of the securities and/or influence investor decisions to buy, sell or hold securities. If a person feels the information is material, it probably is. Moreover, it should be remembered that plaintiffs who challenge and judges who rule on particular transactions have the benefit of hindsight.
In all cases, the responsibility for determining whether a person is in possession of material non-public information rests with that person, and any action on the part of the Company, the General Counsel or any other employee or director pursuant to this Policy (or otherwise) does not in any way constitute legal advice or insulate an individual from liability under applicable securities laws. If a person is in doubt as to whether information is public or material, that person should wait until the information becomes public, or should refer questions to the Company’s General Counsel.
The Company’s records must always be treated as confidential. Items such as interim and annual financial statements and similar information are proprietary (that is, information pertaining to and used exclusively by the Company), and proprietary information must not be disclosed or used for any purpose other than for Company business and only to such individuals whose jobs require them to have that information. All Company policies and procedures designed to preserve and protect confidential information must be strictly followed at all times.
No director, officer or employee of the Company shall at any time make any recommendation or express any opinion as to trading in the Company’s securities.
Information learned about other entities in a special relationship with the Company, such as acquisition negotiations, is confidential and must not be given to outside persons without proper authorization.
All confidential information in the possession of a director, officer or employee is to be returned to the Company at the termination his or her relationship with the Company.
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Exhibit 19.1
General Rule. Directors, officers and employees of the Company shall not effect any transaction in the Company’s securities if they possess material non-public information about the Company. This restriction generally does not apply to the exercise of stock options under the Company’s stock option or deferred compensation plans, but would apply to the sale of any shares acquired under such plans. The provisions set forth in this Paragraph VI and all other provisions of this Policy shall equally apply to the directors, officers and employees of any subsidiary of the Company.
Open Window. Generally, except as described in this policy, all Company employees, directors, officers, and consultants may buy or sell the Company’s securities only during an “open window” that opens at the opening of the market on the first trading day following the public dissemination of the Company’s annual or quarterly financial results and closes at the close of market on the last trading day two weeks before the end of the next fiscal quarter (or such other period as the board of directors may define from time to time). In addition, the Company shall have the right to impose special blackout periods during which such persons will be prohibited from trading any securities of the Company even though the trading window would otherwise be open. The fact that the open window has closed early or has not opened should be considered material non-public information. An employee, director, officer or consultant who believes that special circumstances require them to trade outside the open window should consult the General Counsel or his designee. Permission to trade outside the open window will be granted only where the circumstances are extenuating and there appears to be no significant risk that the trade may be subsequently questioned.
Exceptions to Open Window Period.
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Exhibit 19.1
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Exhibit 19.1
Pre-Clearance and Advance Notice of Transactions. In addition to the requirements above, officers, directors, and other applicable members of management who have been notified that they are subject to pre- clearance requirements face a further restriction: Even during an open trading window, they may not engage in any transaction in the Company’s securities, including any purchase or sale in the open market, loan, or other transfer of beneficial ownership without first obtaining pre-clearance of the transaction from the Company’s General Counsel or his designee at least two business days before the proposed transaction. The General Counsel or his designee will then determine whether the transaction may proceed and, if so, will direct the legal department to assist such person in complying with any required reporting requirements under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act. Pre-cleared transactions not completed within five business days will require new pre-clearance. The Company may choose to shorten this period.
For persons subject to pre-clearance, advance notice of gifts or plans to exercise an outstanding stock option must be given to the General Counsel or his designee. Once any transaction takes place, the officer, director, or applicable member of management must immediately notify the General Counsel or his designee so that the Company may assist such person with any Section 16 reporting obligations.
Black-out Communications. In addition to the foregoing restrictions, the Company reserves the right to issue “black-out notices” to specified persons when material non-public information exists. Any person who receives such a notice shall treat the notice as confidential and shall not disclose its existence to anyone else.
Trading in Securities of Other Entities. In addition, no director, officer or employee of the Company shall effect any transaction in the securities of another entity, the value of which is likely to be affected by actions of the Company that have not yet been publicly disclosed. This provision is in addition to the restrictions on trading in securities of other entities set forth in any Code of Business Conduct and Ethics of the Company.
Post-Termination Transactions. This Policy continues to apply to transactions in Company 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 Company Securities until that information has become public or is no longer material.
Applicability to Family Members. The foregoing restrictions on trading are also applicable to family members’ accounts, accounts subject to the control of personnel subject to this Policy or any family member, and accounts in which personnel subject to this Policy or any family member has any beneficial interest, except that the restrictions on trading do not apply to accounts where investment decisions are made by an independent investment manager in a fully discretionary account. Personnel subject to this Policy are responsible for assuring that their family members comply with the foregoing restrictions on trading. For purposes of this Policy, “Family Members” include one’s spouse and all members of the family who reside in one’s home.
Prohibition of Speculative or Short-term Trading. No employee, director, or consultant to the Company 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. For more information, see the Company’s Policy Regarding Pledging and Hedging of Company Securities.
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Exhibit 19.1
If any person subject to this Policy has reason to believe that material non-public information of the Company has been disclosed to an outside party without authorization, that person should report this to the General Counsel or his designee immediately.
If any person subject to this Policy has reason to believe that an insider of the Company or someone outside of the Company has acted, or intends to act, on material non-public information, that person should report this to the General Counsel or his designee immediately.
If it is determined that an individual maliciously and knowingly reports false information to the Company with intent to do harm to another person or the Company, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken according to the severity of the charges, up to and including dismissal. All such disciplinary action will be taken at the sole discretion of the Company.
The adoption, maintenance and enforcement of this Policy is not intended to result in the imposition of liability upon the Company for any insider trading violations where such liability would not exist in the absence of this Policy.
Each of the officers and directors of the Company and employees of and consultants and contractors to the Company and its subsidiaries has the individual responsibility to comply with this Policy against insider trading for themselves as well as their family members and members of their household, regardless of whether the Company has recommended a trading window to that insider or any other insiders of the Company. The guidelines set forth in this Policy are guidelines only, and appropriate judgment should be exercised in connection with any trade in the Company’s securities.
An insider 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.
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 or directorship with the Company has terminated. If you are in possession of material non-public 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.
Questions. All questions regarding this Policy should be directed to the General Counsel.
Last Updated: January, 2023
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Exhibit 19.1
CONFIRMATION
[To be signed by members of the Board of Directors and Covered Persons]
I HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE RECEIVED, HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THE FOREGOING POLICIES OF THE COMPANY.
Date: |
Signature |
Print Name |
Signature Page to
Insider Trading Policy Confirmation
Exhibit 19.1
EXHIBIT A
Submitted Pursuant to:
LSB INDUSTRIES, INC. INSIDER TRADING POLICY PRE-CLEARANCE TRADING APPROVAL FORM
I, (name), seek pre-clearance to engage in the transaction described below:
Acquisition or Disposition (circle one)
Name: |
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Account Number:
Date of Request:
Amount or # of Shares:
Broker: |
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I hereby certify that, to the best of my knowledge, the transaction described herein is not prohibited by the Insider Trading Policy.
Signature: Print Name:
Approved or Disapproved (circle one)
Date of Approval:
Signature: Print Name:
General Counsel Approval:
If approval is granted, you are authorized to proceed with this transaction for immediate execution, but not during a blackout period if a Covered Person.
Exhibit A
Exhibit 19.1
EXHIBIT B
GUIDELINES FOR 10b5-1 TRADING PLANS
Rule 10b-5, promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), imposes significant liabilities on insiders who trade the securities of companies while in possession of material non-public information. However, Rule 10b5-1 provides an affirmative defense that applies to persons who can establish that a trade was made pursuant to a binding contract, written plan or instruction to another person that came into existence before the person became aware of the material non-public information and meets very specific conditions set forth in the rule. These so-called “10b5-1 plans” provide corporate insiders with increased trading flexibility.
To gain the protections of the affirmative defense available under Rule 10b5-1, an insider must, among other requirements, adopt the 10b5-1 plan while not aware of material non-public information, enter into such plan in good faith and not as a plan or scheme to evade the prohibitions of Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act, and act in good faith with respect to such 10b5-1 plan.
Any document intended to qualify as a 10b5-1 plan must adhere to the requirements of Rule 10b5-1, including the restrictions set forth below, and such document (including any amendments or modifications thereof) must be reviewed and approved by the General Counsel or his designee in advance of adoption, amendment or modification.
Exhibit B
Exhibit 19.1
[In addition to the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 as set forth above or otherwise contained in such rule, and in order to avoid even the appearance of practices that might be viewed as abusive based on later developments, the following additional requirements apply to 10b5-1 plans under the Company’s Insider Trading Policy:
Exhibit B
Exhibit 19.1
Exhibit B
Exhibit 19.1
Under the Company’s Insider Trading Policy, the General Counsel is required to be notified prior to any director, officer, employee or consultant entering into, modifying or terminating a 10b5-1 plan or selling shares outside of a 10b5-1 plan. In addition, the General Counsel must be notified prior to any other person who is subject to the Company’s Insider Trading Policy entering into, modifying or terminating a 10b5-1 plan.
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1 Discuss whether, given the new requirement to file a copy of the Company’s insider trading policy, these additional provisions should be removed from the policy.
Exhibit B