
| Code of Business Conduct and Ethics As of: July 2007 |
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Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
This Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the "Code") summarizes the ethical standards and key policies that guide the business conduct of 3PAR Inc. (the "Company" or "3PAR"). The purpose of this Code is to promote ethical conduct and deter wrongdoing. The policies outlined in this Code are designed to ensure that the Company's employees, including its officers ("employees"), and members of its board of directors ("directors") act in accordance with not only the letter but also the spirit of the laws and regulations that apply to the Company's business. The Company expects its employees and directors to exercise good judgment to uphold these standards in their day-to-day activities and to comply with all applicable policies and procedures in the course of their relationship with the Company. Employees and directors are expected to read the policies set forth in this Code and ensure that they understand and comply with them. The Code should also be provided to and followed by the Company's agents and representatives, including consultants. The Code does not cover every issue that may arise, but it provides general guidelines for exercising good judgment. Employees and directors should refer to the Company's other policies and procedures for implementing the general principles set forth below. Any questions about the Code or the appropriate course of conduct in a particular situation should be directed to the Company's Chief Financial Officer. Any violations of laws, rules, regulations or this Code should be reported immediately. The Company will not allow retaliation against an employee or director for such a report made in good faith. Employees and directors who violate this Code will be subject to disciplinary action, which may include a termination of employment. Each employee and director must sign the acknowledgement form at the end of this Code and return the form to the Company's Human Resources Department indicating that he or she has received, read, understood and agreed to comply with the Code. The signed acknowledgment form will be placed in the individual's personnel files. The Company expects all employees and directors to act with the highest standards of honesty and ethical conduct. The Company considers honest conduct to be conduct that is free from fraud or deception and is characterized by integrity. The Company considers ethical conduct to be conduct conforming to accepted professional standards of conduct. Ethical conduct includes the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships, as discussed below. III. ACCOUNTABILITY AND REPORTING; IDENTIFYING VIOLATIONS Reporting Procedures
If an employee has concerns relating to 3PAR's accounting, internal controls, auditing matters, financial record keeping, or public disclosures, he or she should also notify the Audit Committee of 3PAR's Board of Directors by sending a letter to its Chairman, Chris Paisley, c/o 3PAR Inc., 4209 Technology Drive, Fremont, California 94538. You may also notify the Audit Committee by sending an email to an internal Audit Committee email address that is available to all 3PAR employees at 3PAR's internal website. Email notifications to the internal Audit Committee link will be delivered directly to members of the Audit Committee. To the extent reasonably possible, 3PAR will preserve a reporting person's anonymity in connection with any investigation of a suspected violation. If an employee has concerns about anonymity, we encourage him or her to send an anonymous letter via mail to the personnel identified above, outlining the concerns and suspected violation and providing as much detail as possible to permit, if appropriate, an investigation into the issues raised. In addition, an employee should review 3PAR's Complaint Procedures for Accounting and Auditing Matters, which is available on 3PAR's internal and external websites. It is against 3PAR policy and this Code to retaliate in any manner, including harassment or threats, against any person who has in good faith reported a suspected violation of this Code or any other 3PAR policy. Identifying Violations To assist employees in the day-to-day monitoring of our business conduct, the following is a partial list of facts or circumstances that could suggest a violation of the Code. This list is not exhaustive but provides examples of situations that employees should avoid and that should be reported.
IV. FINANCIAL RECORDS AND PUBLIC DISCLOSURE General Principles Applicable to Employees Each employee having any responsibility for, or involvement in, financial reporting or accounting must have an appropriate understanding of relevant accounting and financial reporting principles, standards, laws, rules, and regulations as well as 3PAR's financial and accounting policies, controls, and procedures. Each employee having any responsibility for, or involvement in, the customer sales and support process or managing relationships with 3PAR's vendors must understand the accounting and financial reporting implications of 3PAR's transactions with these parties. All such employees should consult with the Finance Department to discuss any requests for non-standard terms or conditions. All such employees are responsible for insuring the accuracy and completeness of all documentation relating to customer sales and support or vendor transactions. The terms and conditions of any transaction between 3PAR and any customer or vendor must be fully and completely reflected in the documentation governing the transaction. The existence of oral or written agreements or understandings of any kind that are not part of the documentation relating to the transaction and that are not reported to the Finance Department as part of such transaction is an absolute violation of this Code and constitutes grounds for immediate termination. Examples of such agreements or understandings include (but are not limited to) requests for payment terms that differ from those reflected in purchase orders or other documentation or rights to return or cancel orders or products that are not reflected in the documentation. Employees involved in customer and vendor transactions are responsible to consult with the Finance Department if any customer or vendor requests that 3PAR consent to any term or condition that would not be fully reflected in the documentation relating to the transaction. Even employees not directly involved in financial reporting, accounting, sales or purchasing will likely come into contact with financial records or reports or with other documents on which employees preparing financial statements will depend. These may include vouchers, time sheets, invoices, or expense reports. We expect every employee, regardless of his or her familiarity or involvement with finance or accounting matters or principal job responsibilities or functions, to use all reasonable efforts to ensure that every business record or report with which he or she deals is accurate, complete, reliable, and timely submitted. Each employee is specifically required to use all reasonable efforts to ensure the following provisions of the Code are satisfied:
Employees Controlling 3PAR Funds Every employee of 3PAR is personally responsible for all 3PAR funds over which he or she exercises control. No employee may allow any agent or contractor of 3PAR to exercise control over any funds of 3PAR without the prior approval of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Dealing With Auditors Our auditors have a duty to review our records in a fair and accurate manner. All employees must cooperate fully with independent and internal auditors in good faith and in accordance with law. No employee may fraudulently induce, or influence, coerce, manipulate, or mislead, our independent or internal auditors regarding any financial record, process, control, procedure or other matter. Public Communications and Reports 3PAR files reports and other documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission, NYSE Arca, and other governmental and regulatory agencies. In addition, from time to time, 3PAR makes other public announcements, such as issuing press releases. Employees involved in the preparation of these reports, documents, or announcements are expected to use all reasonable efforts to ensure that 3PAR's disclosures are complete, accurate, objective, relevant, timely and understandable. In addition, employees are expected to comply with 3PAR's disclosure controls and procedures, which are designed to ensure full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in our public reports and communications. If an employee believes that any public disclosure by 3PAR is materially false or misleading, or if any employee becomes aware of material information that he or she believes should be disclosed to the public, he or she should bring the information to the attention of the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, or the Audit Committee. An employee should take similar action if he or she believes that questionable accounting or auditing conduct or practices have occurred or are occurring. Intentional Misconduct Intentional misrepresentations of the Company's financial performance or any other action by an employee that intentionally compromises the integrity of 3PAR's reports (financial or otherwise), records, or public disclosures is a specific and extremely severe violation of this Code. Any violation of this Code arising from an intentional misrepresentation, including failure to report potential misrepresentations by others, will be viewed as severe misconduct and will be subject to severe penalties, including termination of employment. Examples of such intentional misconduct would include, but are not limited to, the following:
V. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS Employees and directors must comply with all laws, rules and regulations applicable to the Company and its business, as well as applicable Company policies and procedures. Each employee and director must acquire appropriate knowledge of the legal requirements relating to his or her duties sufficient to enable him or her to recognize potential problems and to know when to seek advice from the Company's Chief Financial Officer. Violations of laws, rules and regulations may subject the violator to individual criminal or civil liability, as well as to discipline by the Company. These violations may also subject the Company to civil or criminal liability or the loss of business. Any questions as to the applicability of any law, rule or regulation should be directed to the Company's Chief Financial Officer. The purpose of the Company's insider trading policy is to establish guidelines to ensure that all employees and directors comply with laws prohibiting insider trading. No employee or director in possession of material, non-public information may trade the Company's securities (or advise others to trade) from the time they obtain such information until after adequate public disclosure of the information has been made. Employees and directors who knowingly trade Company securities while in possession of material, non-public information or who tip information to others will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action up to and including termination. Insider trading is also a crime. Employees and directors also may not trade in stocks of other companies about which they learn material, non-public information through the course of their employment or service. Any questions as to whether information is material or has been adequately disclosed should be directed to the Company's Chief Financial Officer. Additional information regarding insider trading can be found in the Company's Insider Trading Policy.
An employee's personal activities and relationships must not conflict, or appear to conflict, with those of 3PAR. An employee's decisions and actions in the course of employment should be based on the best interests of 3PAR, not based on his or her own personal relationships or business and financial interests. We expect each employee to evaluate his or her personal relationships and activities to determine whether a conflict exists or could appear to exist and to avoid such relationships and activities. Common conflicts arise through the employment or business activities of a spouse, significant other, or other relative or through personal or business relationships through which an employee or a spouse, significant other, or relative may have a personal or economic relationship. Any situation where it may be difficult for an employee to perform his or her work impartially, objectively, or effectively and in the best interests of 3PAR could suggest that a conflict exists. Each employee is required to disclose immediately to a supervisor, the Finance Department, or the Human Resources Department if he or she becomes aware that any personal relationship or business or financial interest conflicts, or may appear to conflict, with those of 3PAR. Supervisors with concerns that any actual or suspected conflict, whether their own or related to a reporting employee, would violate the Code should contact the Finance Department or Human Resources Department. Employee Conflicts Conflicts arise in numerous situations, and it is not possible to categorize every potential conflict. Again, the employee is responsible to evaluate these situations and confer with his or her supervisor or finance or human resources personnel. Conflicts such as those relating to an employee's work schedule, duties, and responsibilities are specifically described in the employee handbook. In connection with the Code, we have also adopted the following conflicts policies relating to business or financial interests of employees (for the following purposes, "employee" does not include non-employee directors of 3PAR): The foregoing list of conflicts is not exclusive, and other situations or circumstances that are not listed could give rise to conflicts. It is the responsibility of each employee to identify potential conflicts and consult with his or her supervisor or other appropriate personnel concerning conflicts. 3PAR may, in its sole and absolute discretion, rescind any approval granted with respect to an actual or potential conflict of interest if for any reason 3PAR determines it to be in the best interests of the company. Additional Conflict Provisions Relating to Non-Employee Directors Members of 3PAR's Board of Directors who are not also employees have special responsibilities to 3PAR but are also prominent individuals with substantial other responsibilities. Members of the Board will be required to disclose to other directors any personal, financial, business, or other economic interest they may have in any transaction submitted for approval by the Board and must recuse themselves from participating in any decision in which there exists a conflict of interest between their personal interests and the interests of 3PAR. Each non-employee director must promptly inform 3PAR if he or she performs services as a director, employee, consultant, contractor, or agent for any customer, supplier, or other third party with whom 3PAR has a business relationship. No non-employee director may serve as a director, employee, consultant, contractor, or agent for any competitor of 3PAR. VIII. NO LOANS TO EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OR DIRECTORSAs indicated under "Conflicts of Interest," it is the policy of the Company not to extend or maintain credit, to arrange for the extension of credit, or to renew an extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan to or for any director or executive officer of the Company. Any questions about whether a loan has been made to a director or executive officer in violation of this policy should be directed to the Company's Chief Financial Officer. As indicated under "Conflicts of Interest" above, employees and directors are prohibited from: The Company seeks to excel while operating fairly and honestly, never through unethical or illegal business practices. Each employee and director should endeavor to deal fairly with the Company's customers, suppliers, competitors and employees. No employee or director should take unfair advantage of anyone through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation of material facts, or any other unfair dealing practices. Employees must act in a manner that creates value for the Company's customers and helps to build a relationship based upon trust. The Company and its employees have provided products and services for many years and have built up significant goodwill over that time. This goodwill is one of our most important assets, and Company employees must act to preserve and enhance the Company's reputation. The Company's suppliers make significant contributions to the Company's success. To create an environment where the Company's suppliers have an incentive to work with the Company, suppliers must be confident that they will be treated lawfully and in an ethical manner. The Company's policy is to purchase supplies based on need, quality, service, price and terms and conditions. The Company's policy is to select significant suppliers or enter into significant supplier agreements though a competitive bid process where possible. In selecting suppliers, the Company does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual preference, marital status, medical condition, veteran status, physical or mental disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. A supplier to the Company is generally free to sell its products or services to any other party, including Company competitors. In some cases where the products or services have been designed, fabricated, or developed to the Company's specifications, the agreement between the parties may contain restrictions on sales. The Company requires compliance with laws and regulations governing export controls in both the United States and in the countries where the Company conducts its business. A number of countries maintain controls on the destinations to which products may be exported. Some of the strictest export controls are maintained by the United States against countries that the U.S. government considers unfriendly or as supporting international terrorism. The U.S. regulations are complex and apply both to exports from the United States and to exports of products from other countries, when those products contain U.S.-origin components or technology. In some circumstances, an oral presentation containing technical data made to foreign nationals in the United States may constitute an export subject to control. Any questions about export control laws and regulations should be directed to the Company's Chief Financial Officer Business gifts and entertainment are designed to build goodwill and sound working relationships among business partners. A problem may arise if: Employees must use good judgment and ensure there is no violation of these principles. Any questions about whether any gifts or proposed gifts are appropriate should be directed to the Company's Chief Financial Officer. Employees should understand that special requirements might apply when contracting with any governmental body (including national, state, provincial, municipal, or other similar governmental divisions on local jurisdictions). Because government officials are obligated to follow specific codes of conduct and laws, special care must be taken in government procurement. Some key requirements for doing business with government are: When dealing with public officials, employees and directors must avoid any activity that is or appears illegal or unethical. Promising, offering or giving of favors, gratuities or gifts, including meals, entertainment, transportation, and lodging, to government officials in the various branches of U.S. government, as well as state and local governments, is restricted by law. Employees and directors must obtain pre-approval from the Company's Chief Financial Officer before providing anything of value to a government official or employee. The foregoing does not apply to lawful personal political contributions. In addition, the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act prohibits giving anything of value, directly or indirectly, to officials of foreign governments or foreign political candidates in order to obtain or retain business. Illegal payments to government officials of any country are strictly prohibited. Additional information regarding the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act can be found in the Company's Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Compliance Policy. It is the Company's policy to comply fully with all local, state, federal, foreign and other applicable laws, rules and regulations regarding political contributions. The Company's funds or assets must not be used for, or be contributed to, political campaigns or political practices under any circumstances without the prior written approval of the Company's Chief Financial Officer and, if required, the Company's Board of Directors. XVII. PROTECTION AND PROPER USE OF COMPANY ASSETS Theft, carelessness and waste have a direct impact on the Company's profitability. Employees and directors should protect the Company's assets and ensure their efficient use. All Company assets should be used for legitimate business purposes. Company assets include intellectual property such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, business and marketing plans, engineering and manufacturing ideas, designs, salary information and any unpublished financial data and reports. Unauthorized use or distribution of this information is a violation of Company policy. XVIII. USE OF COMPUTERS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT The Company strives to furnish employees with the equipment necessary to efficiently and effectively perform their jobs. Employees must care for that equipment and use it responsibly and only for Company business purposes. If employees use Company equipment at their home or off site, precautions must be taken to protect such Company equipment from theft or damage. Employees must immediately return all Company equipment when their employment relationship with the Company ends. While computers and other electronic devices are made accessible to employees to assist them to perform their jobs and to promote our interests, all such computers and electronic devices, whether used entirely or partially on the Company's premises or with the aid of the Company's equipment or resources, must remain fully accessible to the Company and will remain the sole and exclusive property of the Company. Employees should not maintain any expectation of privacy with respect to any electronic communications made using Company equipment. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Company retains the right to gain access to any such information, at any time, with or without your knowledge, consent or approval. All software used by employees to conduct Company business must be appropriately licensed. Employee should never make or use illegal or unauthorized copies of any software, whether in the office, at home, or on the road, since doing so may constitute copyright infringement and may expose the employee and the Company to potential civil and criminal liability. The Company's information technology department will inspect Company computers periodically to verify that only approved and licensed software has been installed. Any non licensed/supported software will be removed. XX. USE OF ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS Employees must use electronic communication devices in a legal, ethical, and appropriate manner. Electronic communications devices include computers, e mail, connections to the Internet, intranet and extranet and any other public or private networks, voice mail, video conferencing, facsimiles, telephones or future types of electronic communication. Employees may not post or discuss information concerning Company products or business on the Internet without the prior written consent of the Company's Chief Financial Officer. It is not possible to identify every standard and rule applicable to the use of electronic communications devices. Employees are therefore encouraged to use sound judgment whenever using any feature of the Company's communications systems. Employees and directors should maintain the confidentiality of information entrusted to them by the Company or its affiliates, customers, partners, distributors and suppliers, except when disclosure is specifically authorized by the Company's Chief Financial Officer or required by law. Confidential information includes all non-public information that might be of use to competitors, or harmful to the Company or its affiliates, customers, partners, distributors and suppliers if disclosed. Any questions about whether information is confidential should be directed to the Company's Chief Financial Officer. All of the Company's books, records, accounts and financial statements must be maintained in reasonable detail, must appropriately reflect the transactions and matters to which they relate and must conform both to applicable legal requirements and to the Company's system of internal controls. All assets of the Company must be carefully and properly accounted for. The making of false or misleading records or documentation is strictly prohibited. Unrecorded funds or assets should not be maintained. Please refer also to the more detailed requirements under Section IV (Financial Records and Public Disclosure). The Company complies with all laws and regulations regarding the preservation of records. Records should be retained or destroyed only in accordance with the Company's document retention policies. Any questions about these policies should be directed to the Company's Chief Financial Officer. A legal hold suspends all document destruction procedures in order to preserve appropriate records under special circumstances, such as litigation or government investigations. The Company's Chief Financial Officer determines and identifies what types of Company records or documents are required to be placed under a legal hold and will notify employees if a legal hold is placed on records for which they are responsible. Employees must not destroy, alter or modify records or supporting documents that have been placed under a legal hold under any circumstances. A legal hold remains effective until it is officially released in writing by the Company's Chief Financial Officer. If an employee is unsure whether a document has been placed under a legal hold, such employee should preserve and protect that document while the Chief Financial Officer is contacted. The information in the Company's public communications, including filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, must be full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable. All employees and directors are responsible for acting in furtherance of this policy. In particular, each employee and director is responsible for complying with the Company's disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls for financial reporting. Any questions concerning the Company's disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls for financial reporting should be directed to the Company's Chief Financial Officer. Please refer also to the more detailed requirements under Section IV (Financial Records and Public Disclosure). Anyone that believes that questionable accounting or auditing conduct or practices have occurred or are occurring should refer to the Company's Complaint Procedures for Accounting and Auditing Matters. The Company has established specific policies regarding who may communicate information to the public, the press and the financial analyst communities: These designees are the only people who may communicate externally on behalf of the Company. Employees and directors should refer all inquiries or calls from the press, from stockholders to the Company's Chief Financial Officer, which will see that the inquiry is directed to the appropriate authority within the Company. Employees and directors may not publish or make public statements outside the scope of employment with or service to the Company that might be perceived or construed as attributable to the Company without preapproval from the Company's Chief Financial Officer. Any such statement must include the Company's standard disclaimer that the publication or statement represents the views of the specific author and not of the Company. XXVI. DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT The diversity of the Company's employees is a tremendous asset. We are firmly committed to providing equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and will not tolerate any illegal discrimination or harassment of any kind. Examples include derogatory comments based on racial or ethnic characteristics and unwelcome sexual advances. The Company strives to provide each employee with a safe and healthy work environment. Each employee has responsibility for maintaining a safe and healthy workplace for all employees by following safety and health rules and practices and reporting accidents, injuries and unsafe equipment, practices or conditions. Violence and threatening behavior are not permitted. Employees should report to work in condition to perform their duties, free from the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol. The use of illegal drugs in the workplace will not be tolerated. XXVIII. COMPLIANCE STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES No code of business conduct and ethics can replace the thoughtful behavior of an ethical employee or director or provide definitive answers to all questions. Since the Company cannot anticipate every potential situation, certain policies and procedures have been put in place to help employees and directors approach questions or problems as they arise. A. Designated Ethics Officer The Company's Chief Financial Officer has been designated as the Company's Ethics Officer with responsibility for overseeing and monitoring compliance with the Code. The Ethics Officer reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer with respect to these matters and also will make periodic reports to the Company's Audit Committee regarding the implementation and effectiveness of this Code as well as the policies and procedures put in place to ensure compliance with the Code. B. Seeking Guidance Employees and directors are encouraged to seek guidance from supervisors, managers or other appropriate personnel when in doubt about the best course of action to take in a particular situation. In most instances, questions regarding the Code should be brought to the attention of the Company's Chief Financial Officer. C. Reporting Violations If an employee or director knows of or suspects a violation of the Code, or of applicable laws and regulations, he or she must report it immediately as described under Section III (Accountability and Reporting). Anyone that believes that questionable accounting or auditing conduct or practices have occurred or are occurring should refer to the Company's Complaint Procedures for Accounting and Auditing Matters. D. No Retaliation Any employee or director who observes possible unethical or illegal conduct is encouraged to report his or her concerns. Reprisal, threats, retribution or retaliation against any person who has in good faith reported a violation or suspected violation of law, this Code or other Company policies, or against any person who is assisting in any investigation or process with respect to such a violation, is prohibited. Any employees involved in retaliation will be subject to serious disciplinary action by the Company. Furthermore, the Company could be subject to criminal or civil actions for acts of retaliation against employees who "blow the whistle" on U.S. federal securities law violations and other federal offenses. E. Investigations Reported violations will be promptly investigated. The Board of Directors or its designated committee will be responsible for investigating violations and determining appropriate disciplinary action for matters involving members of the Board of Directors or executive officers. The Board of Directors or its designated committee may designate others to conduct or manage investigations on its behalf and recommend disciplinary action. Subject to the general authority of the Board of Directors to administer this Code, the Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Executive Officer will be jointly responsible for investigating violations and determining appropriate disciplinary action for other employees, agents and contractors. The Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Executive Officer may designate others to conduct or manage investigations on their behalf and recommend disciplinary action. The Board of Directors reserves the right to investigate violations and determine appropriate disciplinary action on its own or to designate others to do so in place of, or in addition to, the Chief Financial Officer. It is imperative that the person reporting the violation not conduct an investigation on his or her own. However, employees and directors are expected to cooperate fully with any investigation made by the Company into reported violations. F. Discipline/Penalties Employees and directors who violate the laws or regulations governing the Company's business, this Code, or any other Company policy, procedure or requirement may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination. Employees and directors who have knowledge of a violation and fail to move promptly to report or correct it, or who direct or approve violations, may also be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination. Furthermore, violations of some provisions of this Code are illegal and may subject the employee or director to civil and criminal liability. XXIX. AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION AND WAIVER This Code may be amended or modified by the Board of Directors or a committee of the Board of Directors. Any waiver of this Code for a director, executive officer and any financial or accounting officer at the level of the principal accounting officer or controller or above, may be made only by the Board of Directors, and must be promptly disclosed to stockholders if and as required by law or the rules of the stock exchange or over the counter trading system on which the Company's stock is traded or quoted. Waivers with respect to other employees or applicable contractors may be made only by the Company's Chief Financial Officer. Any waiver of this Code with respect to a conflict of interest transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, must be approved in advance by the Company's Audit Committee. |