Corporate Ethics:
Almaden's
Code of Business Ethics
Employees, officers and consultants
of Almaden Minerals Ltd., its subsidiaries and affiliates, represent
the Company and are expected to act in a manner that will enhance
the Company's reputation for honesty, integrity and reliability.
The Code of Business Ethics (the "COBE") is a statement
on the Company's Business Practices and on how it does business.
The COBE applies to all employees, officers and consultants of
the Company.
The following Fundamental Principles
of appropriate business conduct have been established for all
employees, officers and consultants working for or representing
the Company. They are applicable in all countries in which the
Company operates, unless the laws of those countries require
a higher standard.
The COBE addresses conduct
that is particularly important to proper dealings with the people
and entities with whom the Company interacts, but reflects only
a part of its commitment. The following additional policies and
agreements supplement or amplify the Code in certain areas and
should be read in conjunction with the Code:
- Securities Trading Policy
- Communications Policy
- Conflict of Interest and
Confidentiality undertaking to abide by this COBE, executed by
each employee or consultant as a term of employment (consider
drafting, if necessary)
It is the responsibility of
each individual to apply common sense, together with his or her
own highest personal ethical standards, in making business decisions
where there is no stated guideline in the Code. Unyielding personal
integrity is the foundation of corporate integrity.
Fundamental Principles:
A. Compliance with Laws
The Company will conduct its
business in full compliance with all laws, regulations and other
legal requirements applicable wherever the Company is carrying
on business. No person shall directly or indirectly give, offer
or agree to give or offer a loan, reward, advantage or benefit
of any kind to a foreign public official or to any person for
the benefit of a foreign public official in contravention of
the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act or other law or
regulation of similar import or effect as may be applicable to
a specific transaction.
B. Conflict of Interest
Employees, officers and consultants
must ensure that no conflict exists between their personal interest
and those of the Company. Persons should also avoid placing themselves
in positions that may be perceived as conflicts.
Use of Position
Employees, officers and consultants
should not take advantage of their position to obtain or provide
inappropriate benefits for themselves, family members, business
associates or friends. Benefits will be deemed to be inappropriate
if it could be perceived that they are obtained or provided through
favouritism or conflict of interest.
Offering or Accepting Gifts
and Benefits
Offering or accepting gifts
or benefits from suppliers, contractors and others may present
a conflict of interest and this is never acceptable. Some gifts
or benefits of token or small value are acceptable, others are
not. Individuals should consider the circumstances, timing and
nature of the gift when deciding whether it is appropriate.
Generally, it is inappropriate to offer or accept gifts or benefits
other than:
- the normal exchange of hospitality
between persons doing business together,
- token gifts exchanged as
part of protocol, or
- the normal presentation of
gifts to persons participating in public or Company functions.
Relationships with Others
Employees, officers and consultants
should not place themselves in situations where they are, or
appear to be, under the obligation or influence of anyone who
is or may be doing business with the Company including suppliers,
contractors or competitors.
Business Relationship with
the Company
Employees, officers and consultants
should not, directly or indirectly, provide products or services
to the Company or enter into any business contract with the Company
outside of their regular employment. Some exceptions may be acceptable,
but must first be documented as to the full extent of the Company's
interest and must receive prior written approval by an executive
officer of the Company.
Other Employment and Business
Officers and consultants who
are self-employed or are involved in other businesses must ensure
these activities do not interfere with job duties or conflict
with the interests of the Company.
Corporate Opportunities
Employees, officers and consultants
may not take personal advantage of opportunities that are presented
or discovered as a result of their position with the Company
or through use of Company property or information. Opportunities
that are developed privately may be in conflict if they are related
to the Company's existing or proposed lines of business.
C. Confidential Information
In some course of employment,
employees, officers or consultants may have access to information
that is non-public, confidential, privileged, or of value to
competitors of the Company or that may be damaging to the Company
if improperly disclosed. These individuals may also have access
to the confidential information of companies with which the Company
does business.
Employees, officers and consultants
must protect the confidentiality of information concerning the
Company and its business activities as well as that of companies
having business dealings with the Company. Employees, officers
or consultants who leave the Company have an ongoing obligation
to keep such information confidential.
It is Company policy to disclose
material information to the public only through specific limited
channels to avoid inappropriate publicity and to ensure that
all those with an interest in the Company will have equal access
to material information. All inquiries or calls from the financial
media, financial analysts and shareholders should be referred
to a Disclosure Officer or in accordance with the Company's Communication
Policy.
D. Fiscal Integrity and
Responsibility
While all employees, officers
and consultants have a responsibility to protect the Company's
assets, the management of the Company are specifically responsible
for establishing and maintaining appropriate internal controls
to safeguard Company assets against loss from unauthorised or
improper use or disposition.
E. Health, Safety and Environment
The Company is committed to
providing a safe and healthy working environment and protecting
the public interest with standards and programs that meet or
exceed industry standards and applicable government codes, standards
and regulations in all jurisdictions in which it does business.
The Company's operations are
to be conducted in a manner that protects the health and safety
of individuals and all people in the communities where the Company
operates.
F. Employment Practices
The Company is committed to
a workplace environment where employees, officers and consultants
are treated with dignity, fairness and respect. All persons have
the right to work in an atmosphere that provides equal employment
opportunities and is free of discriminatory practices and illegal
harassment.
G. Protection and Proper
Use of Common Assets
Employees, officers and consultants
shall ensure that the Company's assets are protected and property
and efficiently used for legitimate business purposes.
Use of Corporate Property
The property of the Company,
including its premises, equipment, materials, software and data
is only to be used for legitimate company purposes. Reasonable
care should be exercised to protect property against loss or
damage. Company property should not be used for personal benefit.
Individuals should be mindful of the fact that the Company retains
the right to access, review, and monitor and disclose any information
transmitted, received or stored using its electronic equipment
in accordance with applicable law.
Property Rights of Others
Employees, officers and consultants
must protect and honour the ownership rights of others in their
intellectual property and information, keeping such information
confidential and using such intellectual property and information
only for authorized purposes.
Misuse of Computer Equipment
Employees, officers and consultants
may not, while acting on behalf of the Company or while using
Company computing or communications equipment or facilities either:
- access the internal computer
system or other resource of another entity without express written
authorization from the entity responsible for operating that
resource; or
- commit any unlawful or illegal
act, including harassment, liable fraud, sending of unsolicited
bulk e-mail in violation of applicable law, trafficking and contraband
of any kind, or espionage.
All data residing on or transmitted
through our computing and communications facilities, including
e-mail and word processing documents, is the property of the
Company and subject to inspection, retention and review in accordance
with applicable law.
H. Financial Professionals
The Company requires honest
and accurate recording and reporting of financial information
in order to make responsible business decisions. All financial
books, records and accounts must accurately reflect all transactions
and events and conform to generally accepted accounting principles
and to the Company's system of internal controls. No false or
artificial entries may be made.
All financial professionals
serving in finance, accounting, treasury, tax or investor relations
roles will produce full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable
disclosure in reports and documents that the Company files with
the TSX Exchange, the AMEX Exchange and other regulators and
in public communications made of all information relating to
the Company, its financial condition and results of operation.
Financial professionals are prohibited from directly or indirectly
taking any action to fraudulently influence, coerce, manipulate
or mislead the independent public auditors for the purpose of
rendering the financial statements of the Company misleading
in any way.
I. Reporting
Taking action to prevent problems
is part of the Company's culture. We require our employees, officers
and directors to talk to senior management to report and discuss
known or suspected unethical or illegal conduct involving the
Company or its employees. Retaliation against any employee who
honestly reports a concern to the Company about unethical or
illegal conduct will not be tolerated. Reference is made to the
Company's Whistleblower Policy.
J. Violations
Violations of the COBE will
not be tolerated. Any employee, officer or consultant who violates
the standards in the COBE may be subject to disciplinary action,
up to and including termination of employment, association and,
in appropriate cases, civil legal action or referral for criminal
prosecution.
K. Waivers
Any waiver of this COBE for
employees or consultants other than executive officers may be
made only by a Disclosure Officer designated under the Company's
Communications Policy, and any waiver for executive officers
or directors may only be made by the Board of Directors or a
duly constituted committee of the Board of Directors of the Company.
Any waivers will be promptly disclosed as required by law or
any applicable regulatory authority.
L. No Rights Created
This COBE is a statement of
the 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 create any rights
in any employee, officer, consultant, supplier, competitor, stockholder
or any other person or entity.
March 26th, 2006