Companies have been living with the SEC’s conflict minerals rule since August 2012. What is in store for 2015 and beyond? What new developments and risks should companies be aware of?

Join Dynda Thomas and Sarah Rathke, partners at Squire Patton Boggs, and Douglas Hileman, President of Douglas Hileman Consulting, for an in-person briefing to find out.

We are pleased to have Doug Hileman join us for this Breakfast Briefing. His firm conducted an IPSA in each of the first two years of the Rule, and was one of only three US-based firms to do so for the 2014 reporting period.

The briefing will provide updates and insights on issues many companies are confronting for this reporting period – and as they plan their conflict minerals program for 2016. This briefing will focus on what reporting companies and their suppliers need to know about the following:

• What is the impact of the recent Court of Appeals decision on the legal challenge?

• How does this align with other SEC Guidance, industry standards, or enforceable requirements?

• How are the conflict minerals filings being analyzed and ranked, by whom – and does this matter?

• Will these studies influence how companies prepare their SEC filings for 2015?

• How else can the NGO scoring reports be used to enhance conflict minerals programs?

• Are companies required to provide an independent private sector audit (IPSA) with their calendar year 2015 report?

• Why are some companies choosing to provide an IPSA?

• What should be considered in an IPSA procurement?

• How can you reduce the costs of an IPSA?

• Can an IPSA actually help reduce other costs of your conflict minerals program?

• What is the status of the proposed European regulation and what steps need to be taken to prepare for it?

• Besides the requirements of the SEC Rule, what other risks can arise from conflict minerals?

• What can be done to reduce these risks?

There will be ample time for questions and answers with the professionals, and for discussion with other affected companies.