ABRAXAS
PETROLEUM CORPORATION
CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS
INTRODUCTION
The Company has a long-standing commitment to conduct our business in compliance
with all applicable laws and regulations and in accordance with the highest
ethical principles. Among our guiding principles are honesty, integrity, and
quality in all that we do. This Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
(the "Code") has been approved by the Board of Directors and provided
to our employees in order to assist them in meeting our legal and ethical obligations
and to promote:Honest and ethical conduct in all of our business dealings, including
the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal
and professional relationships;Full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable
disclosure in all reports and documents filed by the Company with, or submitted
to, the Securities and Exchange Commission and in other public communication
made by the Company;Compliance with applicable governmental rules and regulations;
Avoidance of conflicts of interest, including disclosure to the person(s) identified
below of any material transaction or relationship that reasonably could be expected
to give rise to a conflict; Prompt internal reporting of violations of this
Code to the appropriate person or persons identified herein; andAccountability
for adherence to this Code.This Code is applicable to all Company's employees
(including all full and part-time employees and certain persons that provide
services on our behalf, such as agents), officers (including, but not limited,
to the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Controllers,
Finance Managers and any other employees performing similar functions) and directors
(Company's officers and directors also collectively referred herein as Senior
Officers). As used in this Code, unless the context otherwise requires, references
to the "Company" shall mean Abraxas Petroleum Corporation and all
of its controlled subsidiaries, whether domestic or foreign, and references
to the "Board" or "Board of Directors" shall mean the Board
of Directors of Abraxas Petroleum Corporation.This Code covers a wide range
of business practices and procedures. It does not cover every issue that may
arise, but it sets out basic principles to guide all employees of the Company.
All of our employees must conduct themselves accordingly and seek to avoid even
the appearance of improper behavior. If a law conflicts with a policy in this
Code, you must comply with the law; however, if a local custom or policy conflicts
with this Code, you must comply with this Code. If any aspect of this Code is
unclear to you, or if you have any questions or face dilemmas that are not addressed,
you should ask any member of the Audit Committee listed in section 14 how to
handle the situation. Because this Code discusses both our legal and ethical
responsibilities, non-compliance with certain aspects of this Code could result
not only in disciplinary action, up to and including termination, but may also
subject the individual offender and the Company to civil and/or criminal liability.If
you are in, or aware of, a situation that you believe may violate or lead to
a violation of this Code, follow the guidelines described in Section 14 of this
Code.As required by law, rule, or regulation, this Code shall be made available
to the public.
1. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS
Obeying the law, both in letter and in spirit, is the foundation on which this
Company's ethical standards are built. All employees must respect and obey all
applicable laws, rules and regulations of each city, state, and country in which
we operate. Although not all employees are expected to know the details of all
of these laws, it is important to know enough to determine when to seek advice
from appropriate personnel (see section 14).
2. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
A "conflict of interest" exists when a person's private interest interferes
in any way with the interests of the Company as a whole. A conflict situation
can arise when an employee, officer, or director takes actions or has interests
that may make it difficult to perform his or her Company work objectively and
effectively. Conflicts of interest may also arise when an employee, officer
or director, or members of his or her family, receives improper personal benefits
as a result of his or her position in the Company. Loans to, or guarantees of
obligations of, employees and their family members may create conflicts of interest.
It is almost always a conflict of interest for a Company employee to work simultaneously
for a competitor, customer or supplier of the Company. The best policy is to
avoid any direct or indirect business connection with the Company's customers,
suppliers, or competitors, except on the Company's behalf. Conflicts of interest
are prohibited as a matter of Company policy, except under guidelines approved
by the Board of Directors. Conflicts of interest may not always be clear-cut,
so if you have a question, you should consult with executive level management
or the individuals designated in Section 14 of this Code.
3. INSIDER TRADING
Employees, officers and directors who have access to confidential information
are not permitted to use or share that information for stock trading purposes
or for any other purpose except the conduct of our business. All non-public
information about the Company should be considered confidential information.
To use non-public information for personal financial benefit or to "tip"
others who might make an investment decision on the basis of this information
is not only unethical but also illegal. If you have any questions, please consult
the Company's policy on insider trading.
4. CORPORATE OPPORTUNITIES
Employees, officers, and directors are prohibited from taking for themselves
personally, opportunities that are discovered through the use of corporate property,
information, or position, except for opportunities as to which management or
the Board of Directors have been fully informed and have expressly found consistent
with the Company's business objectives. Employees, officers, and directors owe
a duty to the Company to advance its legitimate interests when opportunities
arise. No employee, officer, or director may use corporate property, information,
or position for improper personal gain, and no employee may compete with the
Company directly or indirectly.
5. COMPETITION AND FAIR DEALING
We seek to outperform our competition fairly and honestly. We seek competitive
advantages through superior performance, never through unethical or illegal
business practices. Stealing proprietary information, possessing trade secret
information that was obtained without the owner's consent, or inducing such
disclosures by past or present employees of other companies is prohibited. Each
employee, officer, and director should endeavor to respect the rights of and
deal fairly with the Company's customers, suppliers, competitors, and employees.
No employee, officer or director should take unfair advantage of anyone through
manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation
of material facts, or any other intentional unfair-dealing practice. The purpose
of business entertainment and gifts in a commercial setting is to create goodwill
and sound working relationships, not to gain unfair advantage with customers.
No gift or entertainment, that exceeds in value what is generally considered
common courtesy usually associated with ethical business practices, should ever
be directly or indirectly offered, given, provided or accepted by any Company
officer, director, employee, any family member of an employee, or any agent
(acting in its capacity as such) to or from any customer, supplier, or competitor
of the Company.
6. DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT
The diversity of the Company's employees is a tremendous asset. The Company
is 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. [Please refer to the Company's Policies and Procedures
for more information on discrimination and harassment.]
7. HEALTH AND SAFETY
The Company strives to provide each employee with a safe and healthy work environment.
Each employee has a responsibility to maintain a safe and healthy workplace
for all other 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 alcohol
or illegal drugs. The use, sale, transfer, or possession of alcohol, illegal
drugs, or other illegal substances is strictly prohibited while on Company property
or while on Company business and will not be tolerated. This prohibition also
includes illegal or improper use of controlled substances. Reporting to work
while impaired by any such substance is also strictly prohibited.
8. RECORD-KEEPING
The Company requires honest and accurate recording and reporting of information
in order to make responsible business decisions. For example, only the true
and actual number of hours worked should be reported. Many employees regularly
use business expense accounts, which must be documented and recorded accurately.
If you are not sure whether a specific expense may be legitimately charged to
the Company, ask your supervisor. All of the Company's books, records, accounts
and financial statements must be maintained in reasonable detail, must appropriately
reflect the Company's transactions and must conform both to applicable legal
requirements and to the Company's system of internal controls. Unrecorded or
"off the books" funds or assets should not be maintained unless permitted
by applicable law or regulation. Periodic and other reports (financial and otherwise)
to foreign, federal, state, and local government agencies must present a full,
fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure by the Company. Business
records and communications often become public, and we should avoid exaggeration,
derogatory remarks, guesswork, or inappropriate characterizations of people
and companies that can be misunderstood. This applies equally to e-mail, internal
memos, and formal reports. Records should always be retained or destroyed according
to the Company's record retention policies.
9. CONFIDENTIALITY AND PROTECTION OF COMPANY ASSETS
Employees, officers, and directors must maintain the confidentiality of information
entrusted to them by the Company, its customers, partners, or business associates,
except when disclosure is required by laws or regulations. Confidential information
includes all non-public information that might be of use to competitors, or
which might be harmful to the Company or its customers, partners, or business
associates if disclosed. It includes information that suppliers and customers
have entrusted to us or that the Company has obligated itself to maintain in
confidence. The obligation to preserve confidential information continues even
after employment ends. Employees are obligated to protect the Company's assets,
including its proprietary information. Proprietary information includes intellectual
property such as trade secrets, patents, trademarks, and copyrights, as well
as business, marketing and service plans, engineering and manufacturing ideas,
designs, databases, records, salary information, and any unpublished financial
data and reports. Unauthorized use or distribution of this information would
violate Company policy. It could also be illegal and result in civil or even
criminal penalties.
10. PROPER USE OF COMPANY ASSETS
All employees, officers, and directors should endeavor to protect the Company's
assets and ensure their efficient use. Theft, carelessness, and waste have a
direct impact on the Company's profitability. All Company assets should be used
only for legitimate business purposes. Any suspected incident of fraud or theft
should be immediately reported for investigation. Company charge accounts, credit
cards, bank accounts, and other resources are strictly limited to Company use.
11. PAYMENTS TO GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL
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. It is strictly prohibited to make illegal
payments to government officials of any country. In addition, the U.S. government
has a number of laws and regulations regarding business gratuities which may
be accepted by U.S. government personnel. The promise, offer, or delivery to
an official or employee of the U.S. government of a gift, favor or other gratuity
in violation of these rules would not only violate Company policy but could
also be a criminal offense. State and local governments, as well as foreign
governments, may have similar rules. Consult your supervisor if you have any
questions.
12. WAIVERS OF THIS CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS
Waivers of this Code will not be granted except in limited circumstances, so
as to protect the Company to the greatest extent possible. Any waivers of this
Code for the Company's Senior Officers may only be made by the Board of Directors
after disclosure of all material facts by the individual seeking the waiver,
and any waiver granted will be promptly disclosed as required by law or stock
exchange regulation. Any waivers for other individuals may only be granted by
the Board of Directors, or it's Audit Committee after disclosure of all material
facts by the individual seeking the waiver.
13. REPORTING ANY ILLEGAL OR UNETHICAL BEHAVIOR
Each employee, officer and director is required to immediately report, in accordance
with Section 14 below, what he or she believes in good faith to be an actual
or potential violation of this Code by any employee, officer and director of
the Company. It is the policy of the Company not to allow retaliation or retribution
for reports of possible violations of this Code by others made in good faith
by employees. "Good faith" does not mean that you have to be right
- but it does mean that you believe that you are providing truthful information.
Employees are expected to cooperate in internal investigations of misconduct.
14. COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES
All employees, officers and directors must work to ensure prompt and consistent
action against violations of this Code. However, in some situations it is difficult
to know right from wrong. Since we cannot anticipate every situation that will
arise, it is important that we have a way to approach a new question or problem.
These are the steps to keep in mind:
1.
Make sure you have all the facts. In order to reach the right solutions,
we must be as fully informed as possible.
2. Ask yourself: What specifically am I being asked to do? Does it seem
unethical or improper? This will enable you to focus on the specific question
you are faced with, and the alternatives you have. Use your judgment and
common sense.
3. Clarify your responsibility and role. In most situations, there is shared
responsibility. Are your colleagues informed?
4. Seek help from Company resources. In the rare case where it may not be
appropriate to discuss an issue with your supervisor, or where you do not
feel comfortable approaching your supervisor with your question, discuss
it with a member of the Audit Committee.
5. You may report ethical violations in confidence and without fear of retaliation.
If your situation requires that your identity be kept secret, your anonymity
will be protected. The Company does not permit retaliation or retribution
of any kind against employees for good faith reports of violations to this
Code.
6. Always ask first, act later: If you are unsure of what to do in any situation,
seek guidance before you act.
Notwithstanding any of the principles and guidelines set forth above, any
employee, officer or director of the Company that is convinced that any
employee, officer or director has violated this Code must immediately report
that information to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors by contacting
any of the following members of the Audit Committee at the numbers or addresses
shown below:
|
C.
Scott Bartlett (Chairman)
Franklin A. Burke
Paul A. Powell, Jr.
Brian L. Melton
|
c/o
Corporate Secretary
Abraxas Petroleum Corporation
18803 Meisner Drive
San Antonio, Texas 78258 |
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (or its designee) will be responsible
for the enforcement of this Code relating to employees, officers and directors.
This Code sets forth guidelines which all officers, directors and employees
will be required to follow and any failure to comply with this Code may result
in discipline, up to and including termination. However, nothing in this Code
shall be construed to create a contractual right to employment where none previously
existed nor shall it in any way alter the at-will nature of any employee's employment.
The Company reserves the right to amend, alter, or terminate this Code or its
policies at any time for any reason.