Company Trading Policy

 

Proposed Trading

To help people determine if a proposed transaction in the Company’s securities might breach these laws, it is a requirement that any employee, consultant or Director proposing to trade in Company securities first advise the Chairman (in writing) of the details of such proposed trade and not trade until the Chairman advises that such trade is permissible.

In such a case, the Chairman will seek to determine if he believes that the Company is in possession of inside information or that such proposed trade is, for any other reason, not in the best interests of the Company. If neither of these circumstances applies, then the Chairman will advise (in writing) the person seeking to trade that the same is permissible under this policy.

Such approval would not constitute a representation that such person would not be in breach of the law in so trading, as it is such person’s obligation to make such determination. None-the-less, this process is designed to assist the person in making such determination. The Chairman will endeavour to respond quickly and, in any event, within 3 business days.

Short-Term Trading

It is also a policy of the Company that employees, consultants and Directors not engage in “short-term” trading in securities in the Company or in any close business associate (such as a joint venture partner, major supplier , major buyer, etc.) of the Company. Short-term trading means buying and selling the same security within 30 days.

Closed Periods (CP) Policy

There are periods of time, called “closed periods”, during which it is prohibited, under this policy, that the Company’s directors, employees and such of the Company’s contractors that the Company shall advise are covered by this provision (“Person”) trade in the Company’s securities or in any derivatives created over or in respect of the Company’s securities.

Closed Period means a time period commencing 2 business days prior and extending to the date and time of the announcement by the Company of its quarterly, half-yearly or full year results (“Announcement Date”).  

A Person who wishes to seek exemption from this prohibition in order to sell securities during a closed period and who believes that he is subject to exceptional circumstances may seek (in writing) permission from the Chairman to so trade. If the Chairman is of the opinion that exceptional circumstances do exist in relation to that Person he may give permission (in writing) to such Person to so trade during a specified period of time and, in those circumstances, such Person would not be in breach of this CP policy in so trading. 

Exceptional circumstances include where the Person wishing to trade is in severe financial hardship. This may include where a Person has a pressing financial commitment that cannot be satisfied otherwise than by selling such securities. Also included may be where the Person is required by a court order or enforceable undertakings or some other legal or regulatory requirement to sell the securities.

Trading that the Company may consider excluded from this CP policy includes where the trading results in no change in a beneficial interest in the securities (change of name on register only); where trading occurs via investment in a scheme or other arrangement where the investment decisions are exercised by a third party , where the Person has no control or influence with respect to trading decisions; and where the trading occurs under an offer to all or most of the securities holders of the Company.

For the avoidance of doubt, where the Chairman determines that exceptional circumstance exist a key management personnel may still not trade the Company securities if to do so would be a breach of insider trading provisions of the Corporations Act or Australian Securities Exchange restrictions (e.g. Listing Rule prohibitions on trading in securities during closed periods).

Director's Securities Holdings

The Company will maintain a register of the securities holdings of Directors and each Director shall promptly (within one business day) report to the Company officer maintaining that register the details of any change in such holdings of such Director.

Confirmation of Trading

Where a proposed transaction is approved under this policy, the details of the carrying out of such transaction shall promptly (with 3 business days) be provided (in writing) to the Chairman.

Obligations on Chairman

Where an obligation under this policy applies to the Chairman, then any approval or notification that would otherwise be required to be made to the Chairman shall be made to the Managing Director.

Comments and Presentations

It is inevitable that employees, consultants and Directors are asked to or, as part of their role, make comments on the Company and its operations. If it is not part of a Person’s role to make such comments it is often better to simply decline to do so. If it is necessary (or part of a person’s role) to comment, it is very important that inside information not be passed on. Also, when the person or the Company is in receipt of inside information, no recommendation or comment should be made in respect of trading in the Company’s securities, not withstanding that the inside information is not passed on.

Company representatives should also avoid alluding to various developments by inference.  Examples of this could include:  “I can’t tell you the results of the [exploration activity] but you won’t be disappointed” or “I think you will be impressed with the results when released”.  In such circumstances it is appropriate for Company representatives to make no comment or to say they are “unable to comment at this time” (without further elaboration).

Where it is necessary or desirable to make comments or presentations on the Company these must be limited to information contained in presentations or releases approved by the Managing Director, which will usually have been released to the Australian Securities Exchange and copied to the Company’s website.

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