Conflict of Interest Policy
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST POLICY
OF
ASSOCIATION OF INSOLVENCY AND RESTRUCTURING ADVISORS
ARTICLE I
PURPOSE
The purpose of the conflicts of interest policy is to protect the interest of Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Advisors (the “Association”) and each of its affiliates when it is contemplating entering into a transaction or arrangement that might benefit the private interest of a director or officer of the Association. This policy is intended to supplement but not replace any applicable state laws governing conflicts of interest applicable to nonprofit and charitable Associations.
ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS
1. Interested Person
Any director, officer, or member of a committee with board delegated powers who has a direct or indirect financial interest, as defined below, is an interested person. If a person is an interested person with respect to any affiliate of the Association, he or she is an interested person with respect to the Association and all of its affiliates.
2. Financial Interest
A person has a financial interest if the person has, directly or indirectly, through business, investment or family –
a. an ownership or investment interest in any entity with which the Association or any affiliate has a transaction or arrangement, or
b. a compensation arrangement with the Association or an affiliate or with any entity or individual with which the Association or an affiliate has a transaction or arrangement, or
c. a potential ownership or investment interest in, or compensation arrangement with, any entity or individual with which the Association or an affiliate is negotiating a transaction or arrangement.
Compensation includes direct and indirect remuneration as well as gifts or favors that are substantial in nature.
A financial interest is not necessarily a conflict of interest. Under Article III, Section 2, a person who has a financial interest may have a conflict of interest only if the appropriate board or committee decides that a conflict of interest exists.
ARTICLE III
PROCEDURES
1. Duty to Disclose
In connection with any actual or possible conflicts of interest, an interested person must disclose the existence of his or her financial interest and must be given the opportunity to disclose all material facts to the directors or members of committees with board delegated powers considering the proposed transaction or arrangement.
2. Determining Whether a Conflict of Interest Exists
After disclosure of the financial interest and all material facts, and after any discussion with the interested person, he/she shall leave the meeting while the determination of a conflict of interest is discussed and voted upon. The remaining board or committee members shall decide if a conflict of interest exists.
3. Procedures for Addressing the Conflict of Interest
a. An interested person may make a presentation at the board or committee meeting, but after such presentation, he/she shall leave the meeting during the discussion of, and the vote on, the transaction or arrangement that results in the conflict of interest.
b. The chair of the board or committee shall, if appropriate, appoint a disinterested person or committee to investigate alternatives to the proposed transaction or arrangement.
c. After exercising due diligence, the board or committee shall determine whether the Association or affiliate can obtain a more advantageous transaction or arrangement with reasonable efforts from a person or entity that would not give rise to a conflict of interest.
d. If a more advantageous transaction or arrangement is not reasonably attainable under circumstances that would not give rise to a conflict of interest, the board or committee shall determine by a majority vote of the disinterested members whether the transaction or arrangement is in the Association's best interest and for its own benefit and whether the transaction is fair and reasonable to the Association and shall make its decision as to whether to enter into the transaction or arrangement in conformity with such determination.
4. Violations of the Conflicts of Interest Policy
a. If the board or committee has reasonable cause to believe that a member has failed to disclose actual or possible conflicts of interest, it shall inform the member of the basis for such belief and afford the member an opportunity to explain the alleged failure to disclose.
b. If, after hearing the response of the member and making such further investigation as may be warranted in the circumstances, the board or committee determines that the member has in fact failed to disclose an actual or possible conflict of interest, it shall take appropriate disciplinary and corrective action.
ARTICLE IV
RECORDS OF PROCEEDINGS
The minutes of the board and all committees with board- delegated powers shall contain --
1. the names of the persons who disclosed or otherwise were found to have a financial interest in connection with an actual or possible conflict of interest, the nature of the financial interest, any action taken to determine whether a conflict of interest was present, and the decision as to whether a conflict of interest in fact existed.
2. the names of the persons who were present for discussions and votes relating to the transaction or arrangement, the content of the discussion, including any alternatives to the proposed transaction or arrangement, and a record of any votes taken in connection therewith.
ARTICLE V
COMPENSATION
1. A director who receives compensation, directly or indirectly, from the Association or affiliate for services is precluded from voting on matters pertaining to his or her compensation.
2. A member of any committee whose jurisdiction includes compensation matters and who receives compensation, directly or indirectly, from the Association or affiliate for services is precluded from voting on matters pertaining to that member's compensation.
ARTICLE VI
ANNUAL STATEMENTS
Each director, principal officer and member of a committee with board delegated powers shall annually sign a statement which affirms that such person --
a. has received a copy of the conflicts of interest policy,
b. has read and understands the policy,
c. has agreed to comply with the policy, and
d. understands that the Association is a charitable organization and that in order to maintain its federal tax exemption it must engage primarily in activities which accomplish one or more of its tax-exempt purposes.