Democratic Republic of the Congo

Conflict Mineral Disclosure Rules

The SEC recently adopted final disclosure and reporting rules requiring certain public companies to disclose information about their use of “conflict minerals” originating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (the “DRC”) or an adjoining country. The new rules are mandated by the Dodd-Frank Act and address concerns that trading in conflict minerals by armed groups is helping to finance conflicts in the DRC region and contributing to a humanitarian crisis.  Click here to read more.

Dodd-Frank Act: Proposed Rules to Implement Sections 1502-1504 Relating to Conflict Minerals, Mine Safety and Payments by Resource Extraction Issuers

Among the other notable changes to the U.S. financial regulatory system, the Dodd-Frank Act included three sections of particular importance to petroleum and mining companies registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These sections deal with “conflict minerals” from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and adjoining countries, the reporting of mine safety matters, and the disclosure of payments to domestic and foreign governments by resource extraction issuers. Click here to read more.