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Code of Ethics
All officers, employees and directors of any
member of the American National Insurance Company family of companies
must be familiar with and adhere to this published Code of Ethics.
We feel that it is important for anyone dealing with Standard Life and
Accident to be aware that such a code is in place and that it is
stringently enforced.
American National Insurance Company Code of
Business Conduct and Ethics
This Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”) applies to
all officers, employees, and directors of American National Insurance
Company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries (collectively, the
“Company”). All references in this Code to “you” and “we” are intended
to include such persons. This Code is a supplement to other Company
policies and procedures.
This Code provides guidance on how to maintain the Company’s
commitment to being ethical in all of its business dealings. In all
Company matters, you must abide by the ethics and compliance
principles set forth in this Code as well as all other applicable
corporate policies and procedures. Violations of the Code or other
policies are subject to disciplinary action, up to and including
termination. In some cases, civil and criminal penalties may also
apply.
You are expected to know, understand, and comply with the policies set
forth in this Code. Accordingly, you should read the Code carefully to
make sure you understand all of the provisions of the Code, the
consequences of not complying with the Code, and the importance of the
Code to the Company’s continuing success. You will be required to sign
a statement of compliance annually, pledging that you have read and
understood this Code, and that you will abide by all of its
provisions.
This Code cannot anticipate every possible situation or cover every
topic in detail. The central concept of the Code is to confirm the
Company’s commitment to the principles of ethical and lawful business
conduct, and all of our business decisions should be evaluated in this
light. The business endeavors of the Company must be conducted in
accordance with the highest ethical and moral standards, avoiding any
activity or transaction which would be in contravention of the law. It
is important for all of us to remember that the Company’s success
depends in large measure upon public confidence in our integrity and
principled business conduct.
I. Conflicts of Interest
You owe a duty of loyalty and a duty of care to
the Company. A conflict of interest exists when your private interests
interfere in any way with the interests of the Company as a whole. A
conflict of interest may arise when you take actions or have personal
interests that are incompatible with the interests of the Company or
that may make it difficult for you to perform your work objectively
and effectively. The basic principle to be observed is that your
corporate position should not be used to make a personal profit. You
are expected to exercise prudent judgment in the interpretation of
this Code and be alert to any situation that might be subject to
question.
Examples of Conflicts of Interest
A transaction involving an actual or apparent
conflict of interest must be avoided unless you receive prior approval
of the transaction from the Board of Directors if you are a director
or officer, or prior approval of the President of the Company if you
are a non-officer employee. The following is a non-exhaustive list of
typical conflicts of interest which are prohibited unless the required
prior approval is received:
- The direct or indirect acceptance of a commission, fee, expense
payment, gift, or other pecuniary benefit, other than modest gifts of
common business courtesy with des minimis value, from any source
other than the Company on account of, in connection with, or in any
way related to any person or firm with whom the Company has existing
or potential business dealings or investment interests;
- The ownership or acquisition, either directly or indirectly, of a
material interest in any outside concern which does business with the
Company or in any real or personal property which the Company is
purchasing, leasing, or selling, or on which the Company is making or
has an outstanding loan;
- The holding of an office in, or the direct or indirect ownership
of a material interest in any competitor of the Company; and
- The participation in or purchase of, either directly or
indirectly, an offering of any tangible or intangible personal
property to the Company, including stocks, notes, securities
convertible into stock, warrants or similar properties, but not
including purchases made at open market quotations not less than one
business day after the Company has purchased or declined to purchase
any part of the offering to the Company.
Company Opportunities
You may not use Company property or information
or your position with the Company for personal gain. If you are
presented with a business opportunity through the use of Company
property or information or because of your position with the Company,
and if such opportunity is within the Company’s lines of business,
then you must first present the business opportunity to the Company
before pursuing it in an individual capacity. Each such business
opportunity that you wish to pursue must be disclosed to a supervisor,
who shall then contact the executive officer to whom he or she
reports. If the Company issues a written waiver of its right to pursue
the business opportunity and grants you written consent to pursue the
business opportunity, you may do so on the same terms and conditions
as originally proposed and consistent with the other ethical
guidelines established by this Code and Company policies.
II. Integrity
You are required to act honestly and deal
fairly and ethically in all of the Company’s business relationships,
whether with its policyholders, customers, suppliers, competitors, or
other Company personnel. This requirement goes beyond mere compliance
with the law. You should not take unfair advantage of anyone through
manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information,
misrepresentation of material facts, or any other unfair or unethical
practice.
Compliance
You must comply fully with this Code and all applicable federal,
state, and local laws, rules, and regulations that govern the
Company’s business. Because the laws that are applicable to the
Company’s business are often very complex, and penalties for
violations can be severe, you should discuss any legal questions that
you may have with your supervising Company officer, who may refer your
question to the Company’s legal counsel. If you suspect or become
aware of a violation of law by a Company director, officer, or
employee, it is your responsibility to report this immediately to the
Company’s Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs.
The Company maintains a number of policies that are designed to
assist employees in complying with applicable law in the conduct of
the Company’s business. These include the Company’s policies on sexual
harassment, equal employment opportunity, insider trading, and
substance abuse, which are described in other written materials
available to you.
Bribery and Other Improper Payments
The Company must maintain high ethical and professional standards
in dealings with government officials and members of the private
sector. Accordingly, you must not, on behalf of the Company, directly
or indirectly promise, offer or make payment in money or anything of
value to anyone, including any government official, agent, or employee
of any government, political party, labor organization or business
entity or any candidate of a political party, with the intent to
induce favorable business treatment or to improperly affect business
or government decisions. This prohibition does not restrict your
individual, personal right to make lawful contributions of your own
funds to any organization or political candidate you wish.
Full, Fair, Accurate, Timely and
Understandable Disclosure
It is Company policy to make full, fair,
accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure in compliance with all
applicable laws and regulations in all reports and documents that the
Company files with, or submits to, applicable regulatory bodies and in
all other public communications made by the Company.
Concerns Regarding Accounting and Auditing
Matters
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors
has established written procedures for the receipt, retention, and
treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting,
internal accounting controls, or auditing matters, and for the
confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the Company of
concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters. The
Audit Committee Complaint Procedures are available on the intranet
maintained by the Company for its employees, as well as on the
Company’s internet website.
III. Protection of Company Assets
Company Assets
You must protect the Company’s assets and
ensure their efficient and appropriate use. Theft, carelessness, and
waste have a direct impact on the Company’s profitability. All Company
assets must be used in accordance with applicable Company policies and
procedures.
Confidentiality
You may have access to extensive files of information regarding
policyholders, customers, suppliers, employees, and consultants. Much
of this information is confidential, and we have an obligation to keep
it that way. In this regard, information about our policyholders is
particularly sensitive. They must be able to trust that we will treat
such information with care and not disclose it except as may be
required or permitted by law. The Company’s Confidential Documents
Handling and Disposal Policy governs the use and disclosure of
confidential policyholder information and confidential Company
financial information.
Corporate Information Management
The information systems activity of the Company is to be conducted
in a secure environment. Information systems has become an integral
part of all business and administrative processes of the Company. As
such, the security, reliability, and integrity of the associated data,
processes, and systems are of vital importance. The Company’s
Corporate Information Management Security Policy and Guidelines set
forth the guiding principles for ensuring such security, reliability,
and integrity.
IV. Enforcement of the Code
Reporting of Violations
If you have knowledge or suspicion of a violation of this Code, you
must immediately report it to the Company’s Senior Vice President,
Corporate Affairs. You may report anonymously if you choose. Any
reported violations or suspected violations of the Code involving any
accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters relating
to the Company should be reported to the Audit Committee Chairman in
accordance with the Company’s Audit Committee Complaint Procedures
discussed above.
The Company will not permit retaliation for reports made in good
faith.
Investigation of Reported Violations
Investigations of reported violations of the Code shall be at the
direction of the Company’s Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs.
After such investigation, the Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs
will make recommendations, if any, to the Company President. The
Chairman of the Audit Committee shall be notified of the facts and
recommendations associated with any investigation of any Company
officer or director for violations of this Code.
Disciplinary Action of Noncompliance
The Company intends to use every reasonable effort to prevent the
occurrence of conduct not in compliance with this Code and to halt any
such conduct as soon as reasonably possible after its discovery.
Company personnel who violate this Code or other Company policies and
procedures may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including
termination. In appropriate circumstances, the Company may pursue
civil remedies or seek criminal prosecution.
Waivers of Code Violations
Waivers of violations of the Code by directors
or executive officers must receive approval of the Board of Directors.
All other waivers of violations of the Code must be approved by the
President of the Company or his or her designee. Any such waivers,
along with the reason for such waiver, must be reported on the
Company’s internet website within five business days.
Annual Certification of Compliance
You will be required to complete a
certification upon first accepting a position with the Company and
annually thereafter acknowledging your understanding of, and
compliance with, this Code.
V. Publication of the Code; Annual Statement
Disclosure
This Code shall be published on the intranet
maintained by the Company for its employees, as well as on the
Company’s internet website. The adoption of this Code must be
disclosed in the Company’s annual report to shareholders. Such
disclosure shall state that the Code is available on the Company’s
internet website, stating the address of such website, and that any
waivers granted will be posted on the website.
VI. No Rights Created
This Code is a statement of fundamental
principles and key policies and procedures that govern the Conduct of
the Company’s business. It is not intended to and does not in any way
constitute an employment contract or an assurance of continued
employment or otherwise create any rights in you.
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