Seminar: Conflict Minerals 2014: Looking Back and Looking Ahead

Nov 6, 2014 | Research and Markets
Chicago, Illinois

This highly interactive two day seminar on SEC compliance will:

- review the current status of the conflict minerals disclosure requirements and new SEC guidance/interpretations
- discuss impact on privately-held companies not subject to SEC jurisdiction
- present a general overview of the 2013 filings based on a review of 100% of the filings conducted in conjunction with Georgetown Law School
- explore approaches to applicability scoping, key definitions and filing triggers
- discuss data quality concerns/limitations, implications and opportunities for improvement
- clarify the delineation between Reasonable Country of Origin Inquiry (RCOI) and due diligence
- examine Independent Private Sector Audit (IPSA) triggers, auditor guidance and reports
- present Conflict Minerals Report (CMR) strategies to minimize the IPSA cost and effort

The highlight of the session is a real time opportunity to informally benchmark your company’s SEC filings against companies of your choosing based on the data gathered by Elm Sustainability Partners and Georgetown Law School.

Additionally, we recognize that some attendees may be new to the topic and desire a review of the basics. A basics session will be held on the first day that covers the background and fundamental requirements, scope, definitions and terms. This short introduction will help those new to the program as well as offer a refresher for others.

Learning Objectives:

This course is intended to be pragmatic. The learning objectives will help issuers and suppliers alike to develop strategies for calendar year 2014 and beyond that meet their own circumstances, and gain deeper understanding of supplier limitations and customer needs/use of conflict minerals information.

Upon completing this course participants will:

- Understand the SEC disclosure requirements based on new information and the 2013 filings
- Apprehend key definitions and applicability
- Be able to clearly delineate between RCOI and due diligence
- Identify weaknesses in supplier data and ways to improve its reliability and credibility
- Understand various CMR approaches and implications
- Identify cost savings opportunities related to the IPSA
- Recognize where they stand in relation to peer companies based on 2013 filings

Who Will Benefit:

This course is designed for people who have any level of involvement in their company’s conflict minerals team. Typically, the internal teams are cross-functional so this course will benefit a wide range of individuals that have responsibilities related to conflict minerals, such as:

- Senior management responsible for signing SEC filings
- Legal counsel
- Procurement professionals
- Supply chain managers
- Regulatory professionals
- Trade, import/export and customs professionals
- Compliance professionals
- Production managers
- Environmental, health and safety professionals
- Internal audit staff
- Manufacturing engineers
- Research, development and design engineers
- Process owners

Topic Background:

The first deadline for filing the inaugural US Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) conflict minerals disclosures has passed and there is a great deal of variance in companies’ approaches to the Reasonable Country of Origin Inquiry (RCOI), due diligence activities and conflict minerals reports (CMRs). With that now in the rear view mirror, issuers (and their suppliers) can begin working towards increased consistency and reliability of content, format and expectations of the next filing covering calendar year 2014. However, there is more to be learned and done as uncertainty surrounds the “DRC Conflict Undeterminable” classification after calendar year 2014. Conflict minerals programs and strategies will evolve rapidly guided by the first year learnings and new goals and requirements.