On December 15, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued proposed rules implementing disclosure and reporting requirements regarding the use by issuers of conflict minerals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and adjoining countries (DRC countries) added as Section 13(p) to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 by Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Section 1502(e)(4) of the Dodd-Frank Act defines “conflict mineral” as cassiterite, columbite-tantalite, gold, wolframite, or their derivatives, or any other minerals or their derivatives determined by the Secretary of State to be financing conflict in the DRC countries. The proposed rules are expected to apply to many more issuers than might have first been expected due to the various uses of conflict minerals and their derivatives and the SEC’s broad definition of “manufacture.”

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