On May 30, 2013, the staff (the “Staff”) of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) published Frequently Asked Questions (“FAQs”) regarding certain disclosures required under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”). The new FAQs provide important guidance to issuers regarding disclosures they may be required to make in connection with products containing conflict minerals and certain payments made by resource extraction issuers.

BACKGROUND -

Title XV of the Dodd-Frank Act, entitled “Miscellaneous Provisions,” contains these “specialized corporate disclosure” provisions, which include...