Trading Policy
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Released
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Trading Policy
ReNerve Limited (the Company)
ACN 614 848 216
1.
Introduction
1.1
Purpose
This document sets out ReNerve Ltd’s (Company) policy regarding its directors, officers,
employees, consultants and contractors (irrespective of location) who Deal or may Deal
in Company Securities and should be read in its entirety.
The purpose of this Policy is to:
1.2
(a)
provide a summary of the law on insider trading in Australia;
(b)
outline the prohibitions on dealing in Company Securities to prevent the misuse
of unpublished information which could materially affect the value of such
securities;
(c)
ensure that the reputation of the Company, its directors, officers, employees,
consultants and contractors is not adversely impacted by perceptions of dealing
in securities at inappropriate times; and
(d)
achieve high standards of corporate conduct and support market confidence in
the integrity of Dealing in Company Securities.
Source of legal obligations
The sources of legal obligations underpinning this Policy include:
2.
(a)
the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (Corporations Act), which, among other things,
prohibits insider trading by anyone (regardless of geographical location); and
(b)
the ASX Listing Rules, ASX Guidance Note 27 (Trading Policies) and ASX Corporate
Governance Principles and Recommendations, which set out requirements for
responsible trading in listed company shares.
Insider trading prohibition – the law
It is an offence under the Corporations Act to Deal using Inside Information, or
communicate Inside Information to others who will, or are likely to, Deal on the Inside
Information.
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3.
Dealing in Company securities
3.1
When a Designated Person MAY Deal
A Designated Person may Deal in Company Securities unless restricted from doing so
under clause 3.2 (When a Designated Person May Not Deal).
3.2
When a Designated Person MAY NOT Deal
(a)
(b)
3.3
Subject to clause 4 (Exceptions), a Designated Person may not Deal in Company
Securities during the following designated Black-out Periods:
(i)
the period two weeks prior to, and 24 hours after the release of the
Company's quarterly results;
(ii)
the period two weeks prior to, and 24 hours after the release of the
Company's half-year results;
(iii)
the period two weeks prior to, and 24 hours after the release of the
Company's full-year results;
(iv)
the 21 calendar days up to and including the date of the Annual General
Meeting; and
(v)
any other period determined by the Chair in consultation with the
Company Secretary to be a Black-out Period from time to time.
In addition to the restrictions in clause 3.2(a), a Designated Person may not Deal
in Company Securities at any time if he or she has:
(i)
information that he or she knows, or ought reasonably to know, is Inside
Information; or
(ii)
not complied with clause 5 (Notice of Dealing in Company Securities).
When employees, consultants or contractors (other than a Designated Person) MAY
Deal
An employee, consultant or contractor (who is not a Designated Person) may, at any time,
Deal in Company Securities if he or she does not have information that he or she knows,
or ought reasonably to know, is Inside Information.
3.4
When employees, consultants or contractors (other than a Designated Person) MAY
NOT Deal
An employee, consultant or contractor (who is not a Designated Person) who has
information that he or she knows, or ought reasonably to know, is Inside Information may
not:
(a)
Deal in Company Securities;
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(b)
advise, procure or encourage another person to deal in Company Securities; or
(c)
pass on information to any person if they know, or ought reasonably to know, that
the person may use the information to Deal in (or procure another person to Deal
in) Company Securities.
4.
Exceptions
4.1
Permitted dealings
Subject to not being in the possession of Inside Information, a Designated Person may at
any time:
(a)
transfer Company Securities already held into a superannuation fund or other
saving scheme in which the Designated Person is a beneficiary;
(b)
invest in, or trade in units of, a fund or other scheme (other than a scheme only
investing in Company Securities) where the assets of the fund or scheme are
invested at the discretion of a third party;
(c)
undertake to accept, or accept, a takeover offer;
(d)
participate in an offer or invitation made to all or most security holders, including
a rights issue, equal access buy-back, security purchase plan or dividend or
distribution reinvestment plan, where the timing and structure of the offer or
invitation has been approved by the Board. This includes decisions relating to
whether or not to take up the entitlements and sale of entitlements required to
provide for the take up of the balance of entitlements under a renounceable pro
rata issue;
(e)
exercise (but not Deal with the securities following exercise) an option or right
under an employee incentive scheme where the final date for the exercise of the
option or right falls during a Black-out Period or the Company has had a number
of consecutive Black-out Periods and the Designated Person could not reasonably
have been expected to exercise it at a time when free to do so;
(f)
acquire (but not Deal with the securities following acquisition) Company shares
by conversion of financial instruments giving rights to conversion to shares (e.g.
options or convertible securities) where the final date for the conversion of the
security falls during a Black-out Period or the Company has had a number of
consecutive Black-out Periods and the Designated Person could not reasonably
have been expected to exercise it at a time when free to do so;
(g)
acquire Company securities under a bonus issue made to all holders of securities
of the same class;
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4.2
(h)
acquire Company securities under a dividend reinvestment, or top-up plan that is
available to all holders of securities of the same class;
(i)
acquire, or agree to acquire or exercise options under a Company employee share
plan;
(j)
withdraw ordinary shares in the Company held on behalf of the Designated Person
in an employee share plan where the withdrawal is permitted by the rules of that
plan;
(k)
acquire ordinary shares in the Company as a result of the exercise of options held
under an employee share scheme; or
(l)
where the Designated Person is a trustee, trade in the securities of the Company
by that trust, provided the Designated Person is not a beneficiary of the trust and
any decision to trade during a Black-out Period is taken by the other trustees or
by the investment managers independently of the Designated Person.
Approval to dispose or transfer Company Securities in exceptional circumstances
(a)
In exceptional circumstances a Designated Person may seek written approval
from the Chair (Approval Officer) to dispose of or transfer (but not acquire or
otherwise Deal with) Company Securities during a Black-out Period (Disposal
Consent).
(b)
The Approval Officer will act with caution in determining whether there are
exceptional circumstances, which may include, but will not be limited to, where:
(c)
(d)
(i)
the Designated Person is in severe financial hardship and a pressing
financial commitment cannot be satisfied otherwise than by disposing of
Company Securities; or
(ii)
the Designated Person is required by a court order, or there are court
enforceability undertakings, to transfer or dispose of Company Securities
or there is some other overriding legal regulatory requirement for them
to do so.
A Designated Person seeking Disposal Consent based on clause 4.2(b)(i) must
provide the Approval Officer with:
(i)
a written application stating all of the facts; and
(ii)
copies of relevant supporting documentation, including contact details of
the Designated Person's accountant, bank and other such independent
institutions (where applicable).
A Designated Person seeking Disposal Consent based on clause 4.2(b)(ii) must
provide the Approval Officer with a written application accompanied by relevant
court and/or supporting legal documentation (where applicable).
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(e)
The Approval Officer may grant Disposal Consent to a Designated Person:
(i)
only if that Designated Person is not in possession of Inside Information;
and
(ii)
on such terms and conditions (including the duration of the right to
dispose or transfer) as considered reasonable in the circumstances by the
Approval Officer.
(f)
The Approval Officer will notify the Board of any Disposal Consent granted to a
Designated Person.
(g)
A Disposal Consent, if granted, will be issued in writing to the Designated Person
and will contain a specified time period during which the disposal or transfer can
be made.
5.
Exceptions
5.1
Approval requirements
5.2
5.3
(a)
Any Designated Person (other than the Chair) wishing to Deal in Company
Securities must obtain the prior written approval of the Chair or the Board before
doing so.
(b)
If the Chair wishes to Deal in Company Securities, the Chair must obtain the prior
approval of the Board before doing so.
Approvals to Deal
(a)
All requests to Deal in Company Securities as referred to in clause 5.1 must include
the intended volume of securities to be Dealt in and an estimated time frame for
the Dealing.
(b)
Copies of written approvals must be forwarded to the Company Secretary prior
to the approved Dealing.
Notification
(a)
Subsequent to approval obtained in accordance with clause 5.2, any Designated
Person who Deals in Company Securities must notify the Company Secretary in
writing of the details of the transaction within five business days of the Dealing
occurring.
(b)
The notification obligation in clause 5.3(a) operates at all times but does not apply
to acquisitions of shares or options by employees made under employee share or
option schemes, nor does it apply to the acquisition of shares as a result of the
exercise of options under an employee share scheme.
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6.
Other restrictions
6.1
Incomplete Buy or Sell Orders
(a)
(b)
6.2
6.3
Buy or sell orders for Company Securities which are placed but not completed
outside of a Black-out Period are subject to the following restrictions once the
Black-out Period commences:
(i)
the order must be completed within five trading days otherwise it will
lapse; and
(ii)
the order cannot be varied.
Any order subject to this procedure should be notified in writing to the Company
Secretary within 24 hours of the Black-out Period commencing.
Derivatives
(a)
The Company prohibits the use of Derivatives in relation to unvested equity
instruments, including performance share rights, and vested Company Securities
that are subject to disposal restrictions (such as a 'Holding Lock').
(b)
Derivatives may be used in relation to vested positions which are not subject to
disposal restrictions subject to compliance with the law and the other provisions
of this Policy.
Prohibition on Margin Loan Arrangements
Designated Persons may not:
6.4
(a)
enter into a Margin Loan or similar funding arrangement to acquire any Company
Securities; or
(b)
use Company Securities as security for a Margin Loan or similar funding
arrangement.
Securities of other companies
The prohibitions in the Corporations Act against insider trading applies equally to where
Inside Information is being held by a person about another listed company or entity. This
may occur, for example, where in the course of negotiating a transaction with the
Company, another listed entity provides confidential information about itself or another
listed entity. Accordingly, if a person possesses Inside Information in relation to the
securities of another listed entity, they must not Deal in those securities.
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7.
Penalties
7.1
Insider trading is a criminal offence. A person who commits a breach of the insider trading
provisions could be subject to both civil and criminal penalties for the individual and for
the Company.
7.2
In addition, the insider trader, and any other persons involved in the contravention, may
also be liable to compensate third parties for any resulting loss.
8.
Policy compliance
8.1
During the year the Company may require confirmation from Designated Persons that
they have complied with this Policy. The Company may also require confirmation (or
declarations) of holdings in securities. All such requested information must be supplied
within five business days of the request being made.
8.2
A breach of this Policy will be regarded very seriously and may lead to disciplinary action
being taken (including termination of employment). If the Company becomes aware of
any breach of this Policy, then the Company may report such breach to the Australian
Securities and Investments Commission.
9.
Who to contact
If an individual is in any doubt regarding their proposed dealing in securities, they should
contact the Company Secretary.
10.
Publication
This Policy will be made available from the Company website (www.ReNerve.ai).
11.
Review
This policy shall be reviewed annually by the Board to ensure that it is operating effectively
and ascertain whether changes are required to the policy.
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12.
Defined terms
For the purposes of this Policy:
Company
Securities
Black-out
Periods
Dealing
Derivatives
Designated
Persons
Inside
Information
Margin Loan
includes shares, options, warrants, derivatives and interests in shares
(including vested options and vested performance share rights) linked
in any way to the underlying price of shares in the Company.
means a relevant period as defined by the Company when Designated
Persons may not Deal in Company Securities.
includes:
a) applying for, acquiring or disposing of securities;
b) entering into an agreement to apply for, acquire or dispose of,
securities; and
c) granting, accepting, acquiring, disposing, exercising or
discharging an option or other right or obligation to acquire or
dispose of securities.
include:
a) derivatives within the meaning given in section 761D of the
Corporations Act (such as options, forward contracts, swaps,
futures, warrants, caps and collars); and
b) any other transaction in financial products which operate to
limit (in any way) the economic risk associated with holding the
relevant securities.
means each of:
a) the Directors of the Company;
b) any person who by their role or otherwise, becomes aware of
Inside Information by having access to confidential material
which may contain potentially price sensitive information
including the Company board papers, periodic disclosure
materials or any other relevant document; and
c) in relation to those persons identified in paragraphs (a) and (b)
above, the following people are also deemed to be Designated
Persons:
(i)
their spouse or any of their children (including
stepchildren) under the age of 18 years;
(ii)
a trust which they, any members of their
(iii)
family, or family-controlled company are a trustee or
beneficiary; and
(iv)
a company which they or their family control.
means information, which is not generally available to the market and,
if it were generally available to the market, would be likely to have a
material effect on the price or value of securities. Annexure A provides
further details about what constitutes Inside Information.
any lending or similar arrangement allowing a person to borrow money
to invest in securities using existing investments as security.
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Annexure A – Inside Information
1.
Inside information
Inside Information means information, which is not generally available to the market and,
if it were generally available to the market, would be likely to have a material effect on
the price or value of securities.
2.
Inside information that is generally available
2.1
Information is considered to be generally available if:
(a)
it consists of readily observable matter; or
(b)
it has been made known in a manner likely to bring it to the attention of investors
in securities and a reasonable period for dissemination of that information has
elapsed; or
(c)
it may be deduced, inferred or concluded from the above.
2.2
Information will be generally available if it has been released to the ASX, published in an
Annual Report or prospectus or otherwise been made generally available to the investing public
and a reasonable period of time has elapsed after the information has been disseminated in one
of these ways.
2.3
For the purposes of the insider trading provisions of the Corporations Act, information is
defined broadly and includes matters of supposition and other matters which are insufficiently
definite to warrant being made known to the public. It also includes matters relating to the
intentions of a person.
3.
Material Effect on the Price of Securities
3.1
Information is considered by the Corporations Act to be likely to have a material effect on
the price or value of securities of a company if the information would, or would be likely to,
influence persons who commonly invest in securities in deciding whether or not to subscribe for,
buy or sell those securities.
3.2
It is not possible to list all of information that may be material, however, the following
type of information would be likely to be considered to have a material effect on the Company's
share price:
(a)
information regarding a material increase or decrease in the Company's financial
performance from previous results or forecasts, such as changes to profit results;
(b)
a proposed material business or asset acquisition or sale;
(c)
the damage or destruction of a material operation of the Group;
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(d)
proposed material legal proceedings to be initiated by or against the Company;
(e)
regulatory action or investigations undertaken by a Government authority;
(f)
the launch of a new business or material new product; or
(g)
a proposal to undertake a new issue of securities or major change in financing.
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