UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
___________________

FORM 8-K
___________________

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 1, 2017
___________________

AVADEL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
___________________

Ireland
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
 
000-28508
(Commission File Number)
98-1341933
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
Block 10-1
Blanchardstown, Corporate Park, Ballycoolin
Dublin 15, Ireland
 (Address of Principal Executive Offices)
 
 
 
Not Applicable
(Zip Code)
 
 

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:   +353 1 485 1200
___________________


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
£              Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
£              Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
£              Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
£              Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))



Item 5.05                            Amendments to the Registrant's Code of Ethics, or Waiver of a Provision of the Code of Ethics.

As part of its regular review of the corporate governance policies of Avadel Pharmaceuticals plc (the "Company"), the Company's board of directors (the "Board") adopted and approved the Company's Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the "Business Code") effective March 1, 2017.  The Business Code supersedes the previous version of the Standards of Business Conduct and reflects, among other things, certain updates which the Company believes are consistent with current governance best practices.

In addition, the Board adopted and approved amendments to the Company's Code of Ethics, which is renamed the "Financial Integrity Policy."  The amendments, which are effective March 7, 2017,  include revisions to (i) reflect the new name of the Company, Avadel Pharmaceuticals plc, (ii) rename the Code of Ethics as the Financial Integrity Policy, and (iii) clarify the officers to whom the Financial Integrity Policy applies, namely the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, Senior Tax Director and Controller.

The foregoing descriptions of the Business Code and the Financial Integrity Policy are only summaries, do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, and should be read in conjunction with, the complete text of the Business Code and the Financial Integrity Policy filed as Exhibits 14.1 and 14.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.  The Business Code and the Financial Integrity Policy will be posted on the corporate governance page of the Company's website at www.avadel.com.  The changes to the Business Code and the Financial Integrity Policy did not result in any explicit or implicit waiver of any provision of the Business Code or the Financial Integrity Policy in effect prior to the changes.

 
  Item 9.01                            Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

14.1
 
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics of Avadel Pharmaceuticals plc
14.2
 
Financial Integrity Policy of Avadel Pharmaceuticals plc


SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
               AVADEL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC
               By:              /s/ Phillandas T. Thompson
               Phillandas T. Thompson
               Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

Date: March 7, 2017




Exhibit Index


14.1
 
14.2
 



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Financial Integrity Policy
 
 

Avadel Pharmaceuticals plc
Financial Integrity Policy
Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers
This document sets out the Financial Integrity Policy ("Policy") of Avadel Pharmaceuticals plc (including its subsidiaries and affiliates, the "Company").  The Company has a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics ("Code") which is applicable to all directors, officers and employees of the Company. The Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, Senior Tax Director and Controller or persons performing similar functions (collectively, the "Senior Financial Officers"), are bound by the provisions set forth therein relating to ethical conduct, conflicts of interest and compliance with the law. In addition to the Code, Senior Financial Officers are subject to the following Policy regarding financial integrity and reporting:
1. The Senior Financial Officers are individually responsible for full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable financial statements and/or disclosure in the reports and documents that the Company files with or submits to the SEC (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission) and in other public communications made by the Company. Accordingly, it is the responsibility of each Senior Financial Officer to bring promptly to the attention of the Disclosure Committee and the Audit Committee any material information of which he or she may become aware that affects the financial statements and/or disclosures made by the Company in its public filings or otherwise assist the Disclosure Committee and the Audit Committee in fulfilling its responsibilities as specified in the Company's Committee Charters.
2. Each Senior Financial Officer shall promptly bring to the attention of the Disclosure Committee and the Audit Committee any information he or she may have concerning (a) significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the Company's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data or (b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company's financial reporting, disclosures or internal controls.
3. The Senior Financial Officers shall not, directly or indirectly, take any action to fraudulently influence, coerce, manipulate or mislead any independent public or certified public accountant engaged in the performance of an audit or review of the financial statements of the Company that are required to be filed with the SEC if such person knew (or should have reasonably known) that such action could, if successful, result in rendering such financial statements materially misleading. For purposes of this Policy, actions that "could, if successful, result in rendering such financial statements materially misleading" include, but are not limited to, actions taken at any time with respect to the professional engagement period to fraudulently influence, coerce, manipulate or mislead an auditor:
a. To issue a report on the Company's financial statements that is not warranted in the circumstances (due to material violations of generally accepted accounting principles, generally accepted auditing standards or other applicable standards);
b. Not to perform audit, review or other procedures required by generally accepted auditing standards or other applicable professional standards;
c. Not to withdraw an issued report; or
d. Not to communicate matters to the Company's Audit Committee.

4. Each Senior Financial Officer shall promptly bring to the attention of the (a) General Counsel or the Chief Executive Officer and (b) the Audit Committee any information he or she may have concerning any violation of the Code, including any actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships, involving any management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company's financial reporting, disclosures or internal controls.
5. Each Senior Financial Officer shall promptly bring to the attention of the (a) General Counsel or the Chief Executive Officer and (b) the Audit Committee any information he or she may have concerning evidence of a material violation of the securities or other laws, rules or regulations applicable to the Company and the operation of its business, by the Company or any agent thereof, or of a violation of the Code or this Policy.
6. The Board of Directors shall determine, or designate appropriate persons to determine, appropriate actions to be taken in the event of violations of the Code or this Policy by the Company's Senior Financial Officers. Such actions shall be reasonably designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote accountability for adherence to the Code and to this Policy, and shall include written notices to the individual involved that the Board has determined that there has been a violation, censure by the Board, demotion or re-assignment of the individual involved, suspension with or without pay or benefits (as determined by the Board) and/or termination of the individual's employment. In determining what action is appropriate in a particular case, the Board of Directors or such designee shall take into account all relevant information, including the nature and severity of the violation, whether the violation was a single occurrence or repeated occurrences, whether the violation appears to have been intentional or inadvertent, whether the individual in question had been advised prior to the violation as to the proper course of action and whether or not the individual in question had committed other violations in the past.