EX-1.01 2 d937483dex101.htm EX-1.01 EX-1.01

Exhibit 1.01

MAD CATZ INTERACTIVE, INC.

Conflict Minerals Report

Reporting Period: January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2014

 

1. Introduction

This Conflict Minerals Report (“Report”) of Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. (“Mad Catz,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) has been prepared pursuant to Rule 13p-1 (the “Rule”) and Form SD promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for the reporting period from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014 (the “Reporting Period”). Numerous terms in this Report are defined in the Rule and Form SD and the reader is referred to those sources and to SEC Release No. 34-67716, issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on August 22, 2012, for such definitions.

The Rule requires us to disclose annually whether any products that we manufactured or contracted to manufacture during the Reporting Period contain certain specified minerals which are necessary to the functionality or production of the products and whether those specified minerals, if found necessary, originated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or any adjoining country (each a “Covered Country” and collectively, the “Covered Countries”). The specific minerals at issue are cassiterite, columbite-tantalite, gold, wolframite, and their derivatives, which are limited to tin, tantalum and tungsten (collectively, “Conflict Minerals”). If any of these Conflict Minerals originated in the Covered Countries, we are also required under the Rule to submit this Report, which describes the due diligence we performed in an effort to determine the source and chain of custody of those Conflict Minerals, among other things.

After conducting our reasonable country of origin inquiry (“RCOI”), briefly described below, we know or have reason to believe that some of our products manufactured or contracted for manufacture during the Reporting Period contain necessary Conflict Minerals that originated, or may have originated, in the Covered Countries and that they are not or may not be from recycled or scrap sources. Accordingly, we conducted due diligence on the source and chain of custody of those necessary Conflict Minerals that originated in the Covered Countries for the Reporting Period.

Certain statements in this Report contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include expectations concerning the Company’s future actions to engage suppliers, to identify to the extent possible the source of Conflict Minerals in its products and to take other actions regarding its product sourcing. The Company’s actual actions or results may differ materially from those expected or anticipated in the forward-looking statements due to both known and unknown risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, decisions to make changes in the Company’s continual improvement efforts and delays or difficulties in engaging suppliers and identifying the source of Conflict Minerals contained in the Company’s products.

This Report has not been audited, nor is an independent private sector audit required for this Report under the Rule, the SEC partial stay of the Rule, or existing SEC guidance and instruction.

 

2. Company Overview

Mad Catz designs, manufactures (primarily through third parties in Asia), markets and distributes innovative interactive entertainment products marketed under its Mad Catz® (gaming), Tritton® (audio), and Saitek® (simulation) brands. Mad Catz products, which primarily include headsets, mice, keyboards, controllers, specialty controllers, and other accessories, cater to passionate gamers across multiple platforms including in-home gaming consoles, handheld gaming consoles, Windows® PC and Mac® computers, smart phones, tablets and other mobile devices. Mad Catz distributes its products through its online store as well as distribution via many leading retailers around the globe. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Mad Catz also maintains offices in Europe and Asia.


3. Products

During this reporting period, we identified the following products (the “Subject Products”) that we manufactured or contracted to manufacture and that may contain necessary Conflict Minerals:

 

    Wired and wireless audio headsets;

 

    Wired and wireless optical and laser mice;

 

    Wired and wireless keyboards;

 

    Wired and wireless gamepads, controllers, and racing wheels;

 

    Wired fightsticks;

 

    Flight simulation hardware, including: instrument panels, flight sticks, yokes and pedals, trim wheels, and flight throttles;

 

    Android-based micro-console for gaming and media applications;

 

    Flight simulation and gaming software; and

 

    Various parts and accessories for our primary product lines (i.e., mouse pads and gaming surfaces, game clocks, adaptor cables, replacement levers and panels, protective carrying cases and bags).

 

4. Reasonable Country of Origin Inquiry

We determined after review that necessary Conflict Minerals were contained in certain of our products during the Reporting Period. Because of this determination, we conducted a RCOI, which was designed to determine whether any of the necessary Conflict Minerals in our products originated or may have originated in a Covered Country or came from recycled or scrap sources.

For the Reporting Period, we used our sourcing and procurement data and internal inquiries to identify eight (8) suppliers who supplied us necessary Conflict Minerals during the Reporting Period. We contacted each of these suppliers and asked them to provide information on (1) the Conflict Minerals contained in each of the products manufactured for Mad Catz by that supplier and (2) the source of the Conflict Minerals, including smelter/refinery information and location of mines. Each supplier was asked to complete the Conflict Minerals Reporting Template (“CMRT”) developed by the Conflict-Free Sourcing Initiative (the “CFSI”).

We received CMRT responses from all of the suppliers who supplied us necessary Conflict Minerals during the Reporting Period. Based on those responses, we determined that Conflict Minerals present in certain of our products, as well as Conflict Minerals utilized in the production of certain of our product parts, may have originated in the Covered Countries and were not from scrap or recycled sources. Accordingly, in accordance with the Rule, we performed due diligence in an effort to determine the source and chain of custody of these necessary Conflict Minerals.

 

5. Due Diligence

Mad Catz designed its due diligence framework in conformity with, in all material respects, the criteria and five-step framework set forth in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (“OECD”) Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas, Second Edition, and related Supplements on Tin, Tantalum and Tungsten and on Gold (collectively, “OECD Guidance”), specifically as it relates to our position in the minerals supply chain as a “downstream” purchaser.

 

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In conformity with the OECD Guidance, below is a description of the measures we performed for the Reporting Period to exercise due diligence on the source and chain of custody of the necessary Conflict Minerals contained in our products that we had reason to believe may have originated from the Covered Countries and may not have come from recycled or scrap sources.

OECD Step 1: Establish Strong Company Management Systems

 

    We continued to review and publicly communicate our Conflict Minerals policy, located within our policy on Supply Chain Code of Standards and Responsibilities, to ensure that we conduct all of our operations and activities in compliance with the Conflict Minerals legislation.

 

    We maintained a risk management plan that includes due diligence reviews of suppliers, smelters and refiners which we identified may be sourcing or processing Conflict Minerals from the Covered Countries which may not be from recycled or scrap sources.

 

    We maintained an internal Conflict Minerals Taskforce with cross functional team members and executives, communication and supplier engagement, due diligence compliance process and measurement, record keeping, and escalation procedures to implement the risk management plan.

OECD Step 2: Identify and Assess Risk in the Supply Chain

 

    We compiled a list of all suppliers who provide components that are used in the manufacturing of all Mad Catz products.

 

    We stratified the supplier list by the commodity type provided by each given supplier.

 

    We excluded from the supplier list commodity types for which there is no risk of the use of Conflict Minerals.

 

    We actively surveyed the remaining suppliers by submitting the CFSI CMRT and utilizing reasonable means to obtain self-declarations identifying the minerals used in the manufacture of products, the origin of any Conflict Minerals used, where applicable, included in the product(s) provided to Mad Catz.

 

    Where necessary, we followed up with those direct suppliers contacted to obtain additional information and/or responses to supply chain survey template that we identified contained incomplete or potentially inaccurate information to seek additional clarifying information.

 

    We used the CMRT to review our direct suppliers’ due diligence activities, such as whether they had a Conflict Minerals policy, required their own suppliers to source from processing facilities validated by an independent audit firm, and implemented a review process that includes corrective action management.

 

    We used the CMRT to identify Conflict Minerals processing facilities if reported in our supply chain by direct suppliers.

 

    We determined if the processing facilities adhere to responsible sourcing practices by cross-checking with the list of Conflict Free Smelter Program (“CFSP”) compliant processing facilities.

 

    We obtained countries of origin (when available) for CFSP-compliant processing facilities by relying on information provided by our direct suppliers and other public data sources.

OECD Step 3: Design and Implement a Strategy to Respond to Risk

 

    We reported information on the source and chain of custody of Conflict Minerals in our supply chain to our Conflict Minerals working team and Conflicts Mineral Taskforce on a regular basis.

 

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    We maintained a Conflict Minerals risk management plan that sets forth direct supplier-risk management strategies ranging from continued procurement to disengagement.

 

    We provided formal and informal continuing education and training to members of our Conflict Minerals Taskforce and our other employees who are involved with Conflict Minerals and suppliers.

OECD Step 4: Third-Party Audit of Smelter/Refiner’s Due Diligence Practices

 

    Because we do not source directly from processing facilities, we rely on the publicly-available results of the CFSP, London Bullion Market Association (“LBMA”) and Responsible Jewellery Council (“RJC”) third-party audits to validate the responsible sourcing practices of processing facilities in our supply chain.

 

    The CFSI recognizes processing facilities as CFSP-compliant through validations conducted by the LBMA and RJC.

OECD Step 5: Report Annually on Supply Chain Due Diligence

 

    We file a Form SD and Conflict Minerals Report with the SEC on an annual basis. Our Form SD and Conflict Minerals Report are also available on our website.

 

6. Results of Good Faith RCOI and Due Diligence Process

Based on the information obtained pursuant to the good faith RCOI and due diligence processes described above, for the Reporting Period, we do not have sufficient information with respect to the Conflict Minerals to determine the country of origin of all of the Conflict Minerals we use to manufacture the Subject Products and thus are unable to determine whether any of the Conflict Minerals originated in the Covered Countries and, if so, whether the Conflict Minerals were from recycled or scrap sources, financed conflict in the Covered Countries or did not finance conflict in the Covered Countries.

Our inability to reach specific and verifiable conclusions as to the products containing or utilizing Conflict Minerals, despite our efforts, primarily resulted from the following challenges or complicating factors.

 

    We are dependent on information received from our direct suppliers to conduct our good faith RCOI process.

 

    We have a varied supplier base with differing levels of resources and sophistication, and many of our suppliers are not themselves subject to the Rule.

 

    The information our suppliers provided was often incomplete and required significant follow-up. For example, in several instances, Mad Catz received, after repeat inquires, conflicting or incomplete information regarding those facilities utilized to manufacture Mad Catz products, as well as insufficient information regarding the mine(s) or source(s) of origin of those Conflict Minerals. Nevertheless, each supplier response was evaluated and, where possible, validated to determine sufficiency, accuracy or completeness of its response. For each supplier response, Mad Catz subsequently assessed whether the Conflict Minerals identified, or those Conflict Minerals that may not have been identified, were consistent with the nature and characteristics of the manufactured product or supplied part. For each supplier response that was insufficient, potentially inaccurate or incomplete, Mad Catz contacted that supplier for follow up, sometimes contacting certain suppliers on multiple occasions. When a supplier EICC-GeSI response stated that Conflict Minerals were sourced from the Covered Countries and identified the smelter involved, Mad Catz endeavored to verify whether the smelter referenced by the supplier was identified on the EICC-GeSI Conflict Free Smelter List. If a supplier stated that Conflict Minerals in its product were not sourced from the Covered Countries but did not substantiate that information, Mad Catz proceeded to verify that supplier response. Typically, verification involved a more detailed review of the supplier’s smelter response and, where possible, discussion with the supplier. If a supplier’s response could not be validated through details provided to Mad Catz with regard to the smelter and/or smelters involved, then the supplier response in question was determined to be uncertain or unknown relative to the question of sourcing of raw material and was reflected as such in the Mad Catz EICC-GeSI template summary.

 

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    Suppliers provided responses at a company or divisional level, and not at a product level specific to the materials and components we use in the Subject Products.

 

    As a downstream purchaser of Conflict Minerals, our due diligence measures can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance regarding the source and chain of custody of the necessary Conflict Minerals. Our due diligence processes are based on the necessity of seeking data from our direct suppliers and those suppliers seeking similar information within their supply chains to identify the original sources of the necessary Conflict Minerals. Our ability to influence cooperation from certain suppliers was limited when our use of these suppliers was mandated by our customers or when we were multiple tiers away from the smelter in the supply chain.

 

    We rely, to a large extent, on information collected and provided by independent third party audit programs. Such sources of information may yield inaccurate or incomplete information and may be subject to fraud.

 

    The unavailability of country of origin and chain of custody information from our suppliers on a continuous, real-time basis. Under the Dodd-Frank Act and the Rule, a product is “DRC conflict free” if it meets the required standard every day of the reporting year; conversely, a product would “not be found to be DRC conflict free” if it does not meet the required standard even one day of the reporting year. The supply chain of commodities such as Conflict Minerals is a multi-step process operating more or less on a daily basis, with ore being delivered to smelters and refiners, with smelters and refiners smelting or refining ores into metal containing derivatives such as ingots, with the derivatives being shipped, sold and stored in numerous market locations around the world and with distributors and purchasers holding varying amounts of the derivatives in inventory for use. Since we do not have direct contractual relationships with smelters and refiners, we rely on our direct suppliers to gather and provide specific information about the date when the ore is smelted into a derivative and later shipped, stored, sold and first entered the stream of commerce. We directly seek sourcing data on a periodic basis from our direct suppliers as well as certain smelters and refiners. We ask that the data cover the entire reporting year, and we seek to use contract provisions requiring the suppliers to promptly update us in the event that the sourcing data changes.

As a result, we have not been able to identify or verify all of the smelters from which our suppliers sourced the Conflict Minerals. For the Conflict Minerals which we were able to identify information about the smelter, we have noted that some of the smelters are currently on the conflict free smelters list published by the CFSI.

 

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Set forth below is the list of known smelters we identified through our good faith RCOI and related due diligence:

 

Subject Mineral

  

Smelter or Refiner Name

  

Location of
Smelter/ Refiner

Gold    Aida Chemical Industries Co. Ltd.    Japan
Gold    Allgemeine Gold-und Silberscheideanstalt A.G.    Germany
Gold    Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex (AMMC)    Uzbekistan
Tin    Alpha    United states
Gold    AngloGold Ashanti Córrego do Sítio Minerção    Brazil
Tin    China Rare Metal Materials Company    China
Tin    CNMC (Guangxi) PGMA Co. Ltd.    China
Tin    CV Serumpun Sebalai    Indonesia
Tantalum    Fujian Nanping Ta/Nb Ltd.    China
Tungsten    Ganzhou Huaxing Tungsten Products Co., Ltd.    China
Tungsten    Ganzhou Seadragon W & Mo Co., Ltd.    China
Tungsten    Hunan Chunchang Nonferrous Metals Co., Ltd.    China
Tin    Jiangxi Nanshan    China
Tantalum    Jiangxi Yichun Ta/Nb Ltd.    China
Tantalum    JiuJiang Jinxin Nonferrous Metals Co.Ltd    China
Tin    Malaysia Smelting Corporation    Malaysia
Tantalum    Metal Do Co. Ltd.    Japan
Tantalum    Ningxia Orient Tantalum Industry Co. Ltd.    China
Tin    PT Bangka Tin Industry    Indonesia
Tin    PT Tambang Timah    Indonesia
Gold    Shandong Zhaojin Gold & Silver Refinery Co. Ltd    China
Gold    Shanghai Gold Exchange    China
Tantalum    Talison Minerals Pty Ltd    Australia
Gold    Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K.    Japan
Gold    The Great Wall Gold and Silver Refinery of China    China
Gold    The Refinery of Shandong Gold Mining Co. Ltd    China
Tantalum    Ulba    Kazakhstan
Gold    Western Australian Mint trading as The Perth Mint    Australia
Tantalum    Yichun Jin Yang Rare Metal Co., Ltd    China
Tin    Yunnan Chengfeng    China
Tin    Yunnan Tin Company, Ltd.    China
Gold    Zhejiang Suijin    China
Gold    Zhongyuan Gold Smelter of Zhongjin Gold Corporation    China
Tantalum    Zhuzhou Cement Carbide    China

Despite our good faith, reasonable country of origin inquiries, due to the number of suppliers for which we have not received confirmed responses for all of our questions regarding the source and chain of custody of the necessary Conflict Minerals in our Subject Products, we currently have not obtained sufficient information from all of our suppliers to determine the origin, name and location of the facilities used to process all of the necessary Conflict Minerals.

Nevertheless, based on the information we have obtained pursuant to our good faith reasonable country of origin inquiries and due diligence process, we compiled the following list of presently known countries of origin for the Conflict Minerals originating from the smelters listed in the foregoing tables:

Country of Origin

 

Australia    Bolivia    Brazil    Chile    China
Germany    Indonesia    Japan    Kazakhstan    Malaysia
South Korea    United States    Uzbekistan      

 

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7. Risk Mitigation

We recognize that we have ongoing obligations under the reporting requirements of Rule 13p-1 and our Conflict Minerals Policy, and will seek to take additional steps in 2015 to continue and improve our good faith RCOI and due diligence processes. We expect to take the following steps, among others, to improve our due diligence measures and to further mitigate the risk that the Conflict Minerals contained in our products are financing conflict in the Covered Countries:

 

    We will continue to work with suppliers who provided incomplete or insufficient information in an effort to obtain compete and accurate information in 2015;

 

    We will again request information and supporting data from each supplier manufacturing products for Mad Catz that are subject to 2015 reporting requirements by utilizing the revised CMRT; and will pursue a completed template response that identifies material down to the smelter and mine;

 

    We will again follow our due diligence process to review and validate supplier responses that are obtained in support of Mad Catz 2015 Conflict Minerals reporting;

 

    We will provide our Conflict Minerals Policy to suppliers as part of our CMRT based supplier inquiry process for 2015;

 

    We will consider the addition of certain Conflict Minerals clauses in our purchase order standard terms and conditions and further consider the addition of a Conflict Minerals clause to our agreement templates for incorporation in new agreements. Current Mad Catz agreements also will be reviewed and a Conflict Minerals clause considered to be added as required; and

 

    We will provide continuing education and training to members of our Conflict Minerals Taskforce and our other employees who are involved with Conflict Minerals and suppliers.

 

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