B. Gifts
It is against Company policy for a director, officer or employee of the Company to offer anything of value to an existing or potential clinical investigator, Institutional Review Board, patient or other party that would inappropriately influence the design, conduct, enrollment or outcome of clinical studies. Similarly, it is against Company policy for a director, officer or employee to offer anything of value to an existing or potential customer that would inappropriately influence that consumer to select a Company product.
There are similar concerns involving potential conflicts of interest in other external business relationships. Generally, giving or receiving gifts, meals or entertainment involving our external business relationships should meet all of the following criteria:
| • | | they do not violate applicable law or fail to comply with Company policy; |
| • | | they do not constitute a bribe, kickback or other improper payment; |
| • | | they have a valid business purpose; |
| • | | they are appropriate as to time, place and value (modest; not lavish or extravagant); |
| • | | they are infrequent; and |
| • | | they do not influence or appear to influence the behavior of the recipient. |
Gifts of cash or marketable securities may not be given or accepted regardless of amount.
C. Dealing with Government Officials
All dealings with government officials, including, but not limited to, lobbying, political contributions to candidates and meeting with government agencies, shall be in accordance with all applicable national, state and local laws and regulations in each country in which the Company conducts business and shall comply with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the “FCPA”), as set forth below).
No director, officer or employee shall offer or promise a payment or reward of any kind, directly or indirectly, to any federal, state, local or foreign government official (i) for or because of an official act performed or to be performed by that official; or (ii) in order to secure preferential treatment for the Company or its employees. No director, officer or employee shall offer or promise any federal, state, local or foreign government official gifts, entertainment, gratuities, meals, lodging, travel or similar items that are designed to influence such officials. Further, because of the potential for misunderstanding, no director, officer or employee of the Company may confer gifts, special favors, gratuities or benefits to such an official even if there is no matter pending before that official. The Company also strictly prohibits any director, officer or employee from making any payment or providing a thing of value if the person knows, or reasonably believes or suspects that any portion of the payment or thing of value will be offered, given or promised, directly or indirectly, to any government official.
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