day after the public release of earnings data for such fiscal quarter or during any other trading suspension period declared by the Company, except for purchases and sales made pursuant to the permitted transactions described in Section II.
For the avoidance of doubt, any designation by the Board of Directors of the employees who are subject to quarterly black-out periods may be updated from time to time by the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or General Counsel.
Exceptions to the black-out period policy may be approved only by the General Counsel (or, in the case of an exception for the General Counsel or persons or entities subject to this policy as a result of their relationship with the General Counsel, the Chief Financial Officer or, in the case of exceptions for directors or persons or entities subject to this policy as a result of their relationship with a director, the Board of Directors or the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors).
From time to time, the Company, through the Board of Directors, the Company’s disclosure committee, General Counsel or Chief Financial Officer, may recommend that officers, directors, employees or others suspend trading in the Company’s securities because of developments that have not yet been disclosed to the public. Subject to the exceptions noted above, all of those affected should not trade in the Company’s securities while the suspension is in effect, and should not disclose to others that we have suspended trading. Any trading suspension will remain effective until revoked by the General Counsel.
Post-Termination Transactions
If an individual is in possession of material, non-public information when his or her service terminates, that individual may not trade in the Company’s securities until that information has become public or is no longer material.
Information Relating to the Company
1. Access to Information
Access to material, non-public information about the Company, including the Company’s business, earnings or prospects, should be limited to officers, directors and employees of the Company on a need-to-know basis. In addition, such information should not be communicated to anyone outside the Company under any circumstances (except in accordance with the Company’s policies regarding the protection or authorized external disclosure of Company information) or to anyone within the Company on an other than need-to-know basis.
In communicating material, non-public information to employees of the Company, all officers, directors and employees must take care to emphasize the need for confidential treatment of such information and adherence to the Company’s policies with regard to confidential information.
2. Inquiries From Third Parties
Inquiries from third parties, such as industry analysts or members of the media, about the Company should be directed to the Chief Financial Officer or the General Counsel.
Limitations on Access to Company Information
The following procedures are designed to maintain confidentiality with respect to the Company’s business operations and activities.