EX-1.01 2 d934806dex101.htm EX-1.01 EX-1.01

Exhibit 1.01

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY PLC

CONFLICT MINERALS REPORT

FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD FROM

JANUARY 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 2019

INTRODUCTION

This Conflict Minerals Report (“Report”) for Seagate Technology public limited company (together with its subsidiaries, the “Company,” “Seagate,” “we,” “us” or “our”) is provided in accordance with Rule 13p-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Rule”), for the reporting period from January 1 to December 31, 2019 (the “Reporting Period”). This Report is being filed as Exhibit 1.01 to our Specialized Disclosure Report on Form SD and is also posted on our website at http://www.seagate.com/global-citizenship/. Information contained on, or accessible through, our website is not a part of this Report.

The Rule imposes certain reporting obligations on the registrants of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) whose manufactured products contain tin, tantalum, tungsten, or gold (“3TG,” also defined by the Rule as “Conflict Minerals”). The Democratic Republic of the Congo (“DRC”) and its adjoining countries have extensive reserves of 3TG, some of which are illegally sourced and traded by armed groups who are responsible for significant human rights violations (“armed groups”). The purpose of the Rule is to encourage companies whose products contain 3TG to endeavor to source from suppliers who do not directly or indirectly support such armed groups through their purchasing decisions. The DRC and its adjoining countries, Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia, are collectively referred to in this Report as the “Covered Countries.”

Seagate recognizes the need for universal human rights protections and is dedicated to maintaining a supply chain that supports the dignity and innate rights of all persons. Seagate prohibits the use in its products of 3TG whose supply chains contribute to human rights abuses or significant environmental degradation. This includes a commitment to not use 3TG that directly or indirectly finance armed conflict or benefit armed groups. Importantly, Seagate does not support the avoidance of sourcing 3TG from the Covered Countries as a way of fulfilling this objective. Seagate firmly believes that the use of validated responsibly-sourced 3TG from Conflict Affected and High Risk Areas (“CAHRAs”), including the Covered Countries, is a socially responsible practice.

As of December 31, 2019, 100 percent of the active 3TG smelters and refiners (“SORs”, or “SOR” in the singular) in Seagate’s supply chain participated in a third-party audit program and were validated to be conformant with the Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (“RMAP”) standard. In this report, ‘conformant with the RMAP standard’ includes gold refiners recognized by the Responsible Minerals Initiative (“RMI”) as conformant under the Cross Recognition Policy, Version 3, dated May 2019, administered jointly by the RMI, the London Bullion Market Association, and the Responsible Jewellery Council.

For the Reporting Period, Seagate found no reasonable basis for concluding that any 3TG in our products directly or indirectly financed or benefitted armed groups, and thus believe our entire portfolio of products to be DRC conflict free, as defined in the Rule.

COMPANY AND PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

Seagate is a leading provider of data storage technology and solutions. Our principal products are hard disk drives, commonly referred to as disk drives, hard drives or HDDs. In addition to HDDs, the Company produces a broad range of data storage products including solid state drives (“SSDs”), solid state hybrid drives (“SSHDs”) and storage subsystems. HDDs are devices that store digitally encoded data on rapidly rotating disks with magnetic surfaces. HDDs continue to be the primary medium of mass data storage due to their performance attributes, reliability, high quality, and cost effectiveness. Complementing existing data center storage architecture, SSDs use integrated circuit assemblies as memory to store data, and most SSDs use NAND flash memory. In addition to HDDs and SSDs, SSHDs combine the features of SSDs and HDDs in the same unit, containing a high-capacity HDD and a smaller SSD acting as a cache to improve performance of frequently accessed data.

 

1


HDD

The Company’s HDD products are designed for both mass-capacity storage and legacy markets. These markets were previously categorized as enterprise servers and storage systems, edge non-compute applications, and edge compute applications.

Mass-capacity storage supports high capacity, low-cost storage applications, including nearline, video and image applications, and network-attached storage (“NAS”).

Seagate’s nearline hard drives are designed to address the needs of the enterprise hyperscale storage market. Our disk drives for video and image applications are built to support a high-write workload and are optimized for applications that require always-on, always-recording performance. Our NAS drives are built to support the performance and reliability demanded by small and medium businesses, and incorporate interface software with custom-built health management, error recovery controls, power settings, and vibration tolerance.

Legacy markets include consumer centric applications such as desktop and notebook PCs; digital video recorders (“DVRs”); gaming consoles, and; consumer applications; as well as performance oriented mission critical applications.

Seagate’s desktop drives ship in both traditional HDD and SSHD configurations and are designed for applications such as PCs and workstations. Our notebook drives are designed for laptops, mobile storage, external storage systems, all-in-one PCs, and ultra-slim desktop PCs. Our digital entertainment HDDs are used in DVRs and media centers and our gaming HDDs are specifically optimized for console gaming usage. Seagate’s mission critical drives are designed for data centers’ most write-intensive applications.

SSD

The Company’s SSD product portfolio is primarily comprised of Serial Attached SCSI and Non-Volatile Memory Express and is designed primarily for applications in enterprise servers and storage systems, as well as for general compute applications, PC gaming, and NAS systems. The Company’s enterprise data solutions portfolio includes storage subsystems for enterprises, cloud service providers, scale-out storage servers and original equipment manufacturers.

APPLICABILITY OF THE RULE

Seagate is a partially vertically integrated company; we make our own recording heads and media, which are then assembled into finished functional data storage devices. We do not directly procure 3TG from mines. Apart from limited instances, we do not directly procure 3TG from SORs; rather, we purchase parts, components, materials, and subassemblies containing these metals. As such, Seagate occupies the supply chain position of a downstream company as defined by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (“OECD”) Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas, Third Edition (the “OECD Guidance”).

We are subject to the Rule because certain products that we manufacture or contract to be manufactured contain 3TG that are necessary to the functionality or production of our products. Accordingly, we are required under the Rule to conduct a reasonable country of origin inquiry (“RCOI”) designed to determine in good faith whether any of the 3TG in our products either originated in the Covered Countries or came from recycled or scrap materials.

Seagate’s products contain one or more of the 3TG metals, which are necessary to the functionality or production of the products. Each of the 3TG comprise less than 0.1% of the mass of products by weight, with the exception of SSDs where tin content approaches 1%.

 

2


COLLABORATION

Our focus on responsible sourcing began well in advance of the adoption of the Rule. Seagate has been a member of the Responsible Business Alliance (“RBA”) since 2004 and our employees have worked closely with this organization to improve the social, ethical, and environmental practices of our global supply chain. The RBA is the world’s largest industry coalition dedicated to corporate social responsibility in global supply chains. Through the RBA’s RMI, we have worked, and continue to work, with other companies focusing on responsible 3TG sourcing.

Seagate firmly believes that maintaining an ethical supply chain takes a collective effort. We rely on our direct suppliers to provide information with respect to the origin of the 3TG contained in the parts, components, materials, and subassemblies supplied to us. In all cases, the information relating to the 3TG contained in our products comes from suppliers and from information provided to us through our membership in the RBA and the RMI.

Seagate recognizes that robust and lasting business relationships are critical in building resiliency and reducing risk in the supply chain. We strive to build strong connections with our suppliers, industry peers, and customers. During the Reporting Period, Seagate staff visited the majority of our direct suppliers at their sites. We also sponsored, hosted, and participated in industry conferences, workgroups, and trainings with these stakeholders.

DUE DILIGENCE PROGRAM DESIGN

The OECD Guidance established a five-step framework for due diligence as a basis for responsible supply chain management of 3TG from CAHRAs. We outline select elements of our due diligence program design below. To determine the source and chain of custody of 3TG necessary for the production of our products, we conducted due diligence on our supply chain using measures developed to ascertain whether the 3TG originated from the Covered Countries and, if so, whether the purchase of such 3TG directly or indirectly finances or benefits armed groups.

Due Diligence Design Framework

Our Conflict Minerals due diligence measures have been designed to conform to the OECD Guidance for 3TG for “downstream companies” (as defined in the OECD Guidance) in all material respects. Our due diligence measures addressed the following steps:

 

  1.

Establish strong Company management systems;

 

  a.

We have adopted a Conflict Minerals policy. The policy is available on our corporate website (available at https://www.seagate.com/global-citizenship/responsible-sourcing-of-minerals/) and has been communicated to our suppliers, employees, and internal consultants.

 

  b.

We have senior-level employees, who are members of cross-functional working groups within the Company, who are responsible for the management and continued implementation of our Conflict Minerals compliance strategy. This group includes representatives from our supply chain, sustainability, financial reporting and legal organizations.

 

  c.

Employees at manufacturing sites receive training on the RBA Code of Conduct requirements.

 

  d.

We utilize the Conflict Minerals Reporting Template (the “CMRT”) developed by the RBA and Global E-Sustainability Initiative and administered by the RMI to identify SORs in our supply chain. The CMRT requires that suppliers provide information concerning the usage and sourcing of 3TG in their products.

 

  e.

We utilize internal counsel and internal consultants to assist with our compliance efforts.

 

  f.

Seagate is an active member of the RBA and the RMI.

 

  g.

Designated employees and internal consultants address various aspects of our due diligence program.

 

  h.

Materials procurement contracts reference and require RBA Code of Conduct or Conflict Minerals compliance.

 

  i.

We have a third-party managed Ethics Helpline as a grievance mechanism for employees, suppliers, or other stakeholders where concerns can be reported, including concerns relating to our Conflict Minerals management program. Reports may be made in English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Korean, Malay, Portuguese, and Thai at (800) 968-4925 or online at https://seagate.alertline.com/.

 

3


  2.

Identify and assess risks in our supply chain;

 

  a.

We require suppliers who provide parts, components, materials, or subassemblies containing 3TG to provide a CMRT unless the supplier has previously disclosed the 3TG is not intentionally added or used in the product or production process.

 

  b.

We review supplier CMRTs for completeness relative to our internal operating procedures and controls. We reject CMRTs that appear inaccurate, incomplete, or not aligned with established acceptance criteria and request the supplier to perform additional due diligence to address identified issues.

 

  c.

We use the Smelter List maintained by the RMI to assess whether SORs are validated as conformant with the RMAP standard.

 

  3.

Design and implement a strategy to respond to identified risks;

 

  a.

Designated employees monitor and report risks to certain members of our senior management team.

 

  b.

Suppliers are requested to remove SORs that are not validated as conformant with the RMAP standard, or not actively pursuing validation, from the supply chain.

 

  4.

Carry out independent third-party audit of supply chain due diligence at identified points in the supply chain;

 

  a.

We support independent third-party audits through our RMI membership.

 

  b.

We assess information provided by the RMI to determine if a SOR is conformant with the RMAP standard.

 

  c.

Direct suppliers are required to undergo an RBA Validated Assessment Program audit once every two years.

 

  5.

Report on supply chain due diligence.

 

  a.

We file annually a Form SD and a Conflict Minerals Report with the SEC and make them publicly available on our website.

 

  b.

We publish annually a Global Citizenship Annual Report and make it publicly available on our website.

Due Diligence Measures Performed

Our due diligence measures for the Reporting Period included the following activities:

 

   

The Seagate Corporate Policy on Conflict Minerals (the “Policy”) is posted on our external corporate website and communicated to Seagate’s direct suppliers, our employees, and internal consultants. The Policy seeks to eliminate our use of 3TG that contribute to human rights abuses in the Covered Countries.

 

   

We maintained our internal risk management plan, the Corporate Standard Operating Procedure for Conflict Minerals Management (the “Management Plan”).

 

   

We maintained an internal team to implement the Management Plan. Through cross-functional collaboration, the team undertook the following measures, which were designed to support our compliance with the Rule and our Management Plan:

 

  1.

Maintained requirements in supplier contracts to define Seagate’s expectations of suppliers regarding sourcing of 3TG and reporting of information to Seagate.

 

4


  2.

Conducted a review to identify direct (i.e., first tier) suppliers of parts, components, materials, and subassemblies containing 3TG necessary to the functionality or production of our products (“3TG Direct Suppliers”).

 

  3.

Requested that all 3TG Direct Suppliers provide information to us regarding their 3TG using the CMRT to ascertain, for each of the 3TG, the SOR(s) where it was processed.

 

  4.

Reviewed and endeavored to validate the information provided by our 3TG Direct Suppliers by establishing a process that includes an assessment of the completeness and reasonableness of the information provided, then conducting follow-up communications to address deficiencies, if any.

 

  5.

Compared the SORs identified by 3TG Direct Suppliers via the CMRT against the RMI list of SORs that are validated as conformant with the RMAP standard.

 

  6.

Supported the RMI through membership in the RBA, membership in the RMI, and requests of our 3TG Direct Suppliers to encourage the SORs in their supply chains to achieve conformance with the RMAP standard.

 

  7.

Made periodic reports to Seagate senior management.

 

   

Obtained an independent private sector audit on this Report. See Appendix A for more information.

ANALYSIS OF SUPPLIER DATA AND DUE DILIGENCE DETERMINATION

Reasonable Country of Origin Inquiry

To conduct our RCOI, we utilized the RMI’s RCOI data together with the data our suppliers provided on their CMRTs. The RMI RCOI data provides the countries from which SORs validated as conformant with the RMAP standard are known to source 3TG, and it is used to determine the possible origins of the 3TG in our products.

Based on our RCOI, Seagate does not know or have reason to believe that its 3TG originated or may have originated in the Covered Countries, except where we utilized SORs validated as conformant with the RMAP standard. The RMI does not disclose the individual countries from which each SOR sources 3TG. Rather, the RMI discloses groupings, by SOR, of countries from which each of its 3TG minerals may originate. In addition, the country of origin of 3TG is not disclosed for every SOR recognized by RMI under the Cross Recognition Policy. Thus, the following list provides a view of countries from which 3TG in our products may be sourced while simultaneously possibly not fully enumerating every country from which our 3TG is sourced.

Possible Countries of Origin for Mined Material (excludes Recycled/Scrap sources)*

 

Country

  

Tantalum

  

Tin

  

Tungsten

  

Gold

Argentina

            X

Armenia

            X

Australia

   X    X    X    X

Austria

   X         

Azerbaijan

            X

Benin

            X

Bolivia (Plurinational State of)

   X    X    X    X

 

5


Country

  

Tantalum

  

Tin

  

Tungsten

  

Gold

Botswana

            X

Brazil

   X    X    X    X

Burkina Faso

            X

Burundi

   X    X    X   

Canada

            X

Chile

            X

China

   X    X    X    X

Colombia

   X    X    X    X

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

   X    X    X    X

Cyprus

            X

Dominican Republic

            X

Ecuador

            X

Egypt

            X

Eritrea

            X

Ethiopia

   X          X

Finland

            X

Georgia

            X

Ghana

            X

Guatemala

            X

Guinea

   X    X    X    X

Guyana

            X

Honduras

            X

India

   X         

Indonesia

      X    X    X

Iran

            X

Ivory Coast

            X

Kazakhstan

            X

Kenya

            X

Kyrgyzstan

            X

Laos

      X    X    X

Lebanon

            X

Madagascar

   X         

Malaysia

   X    X    X    X

Mali

            X

Mauritania

            X

Mauritius

            X

Mexico

            X

Mongolia

      X    X    X

Morocco

            X

Mozambique

   X         

 

6


Country

  

Tantalum

  

Tin

  

Tungsten

  

Gold

Myanmar

      X    X   

Namibia

   X          X

Nicaragua

            X

Niger

            X

Nigeria

   X    X    X   

Papua New Guinea

            X

Peru

      X    X    X

Philippines

            X

Portugal

      X      

Puerto Rico

            X

Russian Federation

   X    X    X    X

Rwanda

   X    X    X    X

Saudi Arabia

            X

Senegal

            X

Sierra Leone

   X         

Slovakia

            X

Solomon Islands

            X

South Africa

            X

Spain

            X

Suriname

            X

Swaziland

            X

Sweden

            X

Taiwan

      X    X   

Tanzania

            X

Thailand

   X    X    X    X

Togo

            X

Turkey

            X

Uganda

      X    X    X

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

      X    X   

United States of America

         X    X

Uruguay

            X

Uzbekistan

         X    X

Venezuela

      X      

Zambia

            X

Zimbabwe

   X          X

 

*

Table compiled using RCOI data version 39 from the RMI, dated December 13, 2019, the last release of the Reporting Period.

 

7


The Rule requires that companies determine whether the 3TG in their products either originated in the Covered Countries or came from recycled or scrap sources. The following table depicts the results of our efforts to determine whether the SORs for each of the 3TG in our supply chain source from the Covered Countries.

SOR Sourcing Summary

 

Metal

   Mined Material    Not
Disclosed
   100% Recycled
or Scrap
   SORs Likely Sourced
from Covered
Countries
   SORs Not Likely Sourced from
Covered Countries

Tantalum

   11    25    0    2

Tin

   2    38    0    5

Tungsten

   6    32    0    4

Gold

   70    16    1    19

Smelters and Refiners

We carried out the actions described in the ‘Due Diligence Measures Performed’ section above to ascertain the source and chain of custody of the 3TG used in our supply chain. For the Reporting Period, 100% of our 3TG Direct Suppliers provided CMRT data to us. Given the dynamic nature of the supply chain, we provide below the snapshot list of SORs understood to be operating and in our supply chain at the close of the Reporting Period. Our 3TG Direct Suppliers have named these SORs as their sources of 3TG in the products we buy from them. We have subjected each incoming CMRT to systematic scrutiny, often followed by additional supplier communication. Except for a few instances, the SOR lists provided to us were complete. Several suppliers indicated that their SOR lists were substantially complete but possibly not exhaustive. The list below includes all 3TG SORs reported to be in our supply chain and understood to be in operation as of December 31, 2019. However, as we base our determination on the information provided to us in CMRTs and on the RMI data, the 3TG in our products may come from other sources that have yet to be identified. In addition, the inclusion of any name on our list does not imply that its 3TG necessarily comprise portions of our products. This is because some suppliers provide CMRTs at the supplier level instead of the part level, resulting in overinclusion. Inclusion on this list only implies that the 3TG in all our products may come from these sources.

SORs in Operation and in the Seagate Supply Chain

 

Metal

  

Name of Smelter or Refiner

  

Country of Location

  

Smelter or Refiner
RMAP Status as of

December 31, 2019

Gold

   8853 S.p.A.    Peru    Conformant

Gold

   Advanced Chemical Company    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA    Conformant

Gold

   Aida Chemical Industries Co., Ltd.    JAPAN    Conformant

Gold

   Al Etihad Gold LLC    UNITED ARAB EMIRATES    Conformant*

Gold

   Allgemeine Gold-und Silberscheideanstalt A.G.    GERMANY    Conformant

Gold

   Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex (AMMC)    UZBEKISTAN    Conformant

Gold

   AngloGold Ashanti Corrego do Sitio Mineracao    BRAZIL    Conformant

Gold

   Argor-Heraeus S.A.    SWITZERLAND    Conformant

Gold

   Asahi Pretec Corp.    JAPAN    Conformant

Gold

   Asahi Refining Canada Ltd.    CANADA    Conformant

Gold

   Asahi Refining USA Inc.    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA    Conformant

Gold

   Asaka Riken Co., Ltd.(Gold)    JAPAN    Conformant

Gold

   AU Traders and Refiners    SOUTH AFRICA    Conformant

Gold

   Aurubis AG    GERMANY    Conformant

 

8


Metal

  

Name of Smelter or Refiner

  

Country of Location

  

Smelter or Refiner
RMAP Status as of
December 31, 2019

Gold

   Bangalore Refinery    INDIA    Conformant

Gold

   Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Central Bank of the Philippines)    PHILIPPINES    Conformant

Gold

   Boliden AB    SWEDEN    Conformant

Gold

   C. Hafner GmbH + Co. KG    GERMANY    Conformant

Gold

   CCR Refinery—Glencore Canada Corporation    CANADA    Conformant

Gold

   Cendres + Metaux S.A.    SWITZERLAND    Conformant

Gold

   Chimet S.p.A.    ITALY    Conformant

Gold

   Chugai Mining    JAPAN    Conformant

Gold

   DODUCO GmbH    GERMANY    Conformant

Gold

   Dowa(Gold)    JAPAN    Conformant

Gold

   DS PRETECH Co., Ltd.    KOREA, REPUBLIC OF    Conformant

Gold

   DSC (Do Sung Corporation)    KOREA, REPUBLIC OF    Conformant

Gold

   Eco-System Recycling Co., Ltd.    JAPAN    Conformant

Gold

   Eco-System Recycling Co., Ltd. North Plant    JAPAN    Conformant

Gold

   Eco-System Recycling Co., Ltd. West Plant    JAPAN    Conformant

Gold

   Emirates Gold DMCC    UNITED ARAB EMIRATES    Conformant

Gold

   Geib Refining Corporation    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA    Conformant

Gold

   Gold Refinery of Zijin Mining Group Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Gold

   HeeSung Metal Ltd.    KOREA, REPUBLIC OF    Conformant

Gold

   Heimerle + Meule GmbH    GERMANY    Conformant

Gold

   Heraeus Metals Hong Kong Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Gold

   Heraeus Precious Metals GmbH & Co. KG    GERMANY    Conformant

Gold

   Inner Mongolia Qiankun Gold and Silver Refinery Share Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Gold

   Ishifuku Metal Industry Co., Ltd.    JAPAN    Conformant

Gold

   Istanbul Gold Refinery    TURKEY    Conformant

Gold

   Italpreziosi    ITALY    Conformant

Gold

   Japan Mint    JAPAN    Conformant

Gold

   Jiangxi Copper Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Gold

   JSC Uralelectromed    RUSSIAN FEDERATION    Conformant

Gold

   JX Nippon Mining & Metals Co., Ltd.    JAPAN    Conformant

Gold

   Kazzinc    KAZAKHSTAN    Conformant

Gold

   Kennecott Utah Copper LLC    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA    Conformant

Gold

   KGHM Polska Miedz Spolka Akcyjna    POLAND    Conformant

Gold

   Kojima Chemicals Co., Ltd.    JAPAN    Conformant

Gold

   Korea Zinc Co., Ltd.    KOREA, REPUBLIC OF    Conformant

 

9


Metal

  

Name of Smelter or Refiner

  

Country of Location

  

Smelter or Refiner
RMAP Status as of
December 31, 2019

Gold

   Kyrgyzaltyn JSC    KYRGYZSTAN    Conformant

Gold

   L’Orfebre S.A.    ANDORRA    Conformant

Gold

   LS-NIKKO Copper Inc.    KOREA, REPUBLIC OF    Conformant

Gold

   Marsam Metals    BRAZIL    Conformant

Gold

   Materion    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA    Conformant

Gold

   Matsuda Sangyo Co., Ltd.    JAPAN    Conformant

Gold

   Metalor Technologies (Hong Kong) Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Gold

   Metalor Technologies (Singapore) Pte., Ltd.    SINGAPORE    Conformant

Gold

   Metalor Technologies (Suzhou) Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Gold

   Metalor Technologies S.A.    SWITZERLAND    Conformant

Gold

   Metalor USA Refining Corporation    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA    Conformant

Gold

   Metalurgica Met-Mex Penoles S.A. De C.V.    MEXICO    Conformant

Gold

   Mitsubishi Materials Corporation(Gold)    JAPAN    Conformant

Gold

   Mitsui Mining and Smelting Co., Ltd.(Gold)    JAPAN    Conformant

Gold

   MMTC-PAMP India Pvt., Ltd.    INDIA    Conformant

Gold

   Moscow Special Alloys Processing Plant    RUSSIAN FEDERATION    Conformant

Gold

   Nadir Metal Rafineri San. Ve Tic. A.S.    TURKEY    Conformant

Gold

   Nihon Material Co., Ltd.    JAPAN    Conformant

Gold

   Ogussa Osterreichische Gold- und Silber-Scheideanstalt GmbH    AUSTRIA    Conformant

Gold

   Ohura Precious Metal Industry Co., Ltd.    JAPAN    Conformant

Gold

   OJSC “The Gulidov Krasnoyarsk Non-Ferrous Metals Plant” (OJSC Krastsvetmet)    RUSSIAN FEDERATION    Conformant

Gold

   OJSC Novosibirsk Refinery    RUSSIAN FEDERATION    Conformant

Gold

   PAMP S.A.    SWITZERLAND    Conformant

Gold

   Planta Recuperadora de Metales SpA    CHILE    Conformant

Gold

   Prioksky Plant of Non-Ferrous Metals    RUSSIAN FEDERATION    Conformant

Gold

   PT Aneka Tambang (Persero) Tbk    INDONESIA    Conformant

Gold

   PX Precinox S.A.    SWITZERLAND    Conformant

Gold

   Rand Refinery (Pty) Ltd.    SOUTH AFRICA    Conformant

Gold

   Remondis Argentia B.V.    NETHERLANDS    Conformant

Gold

   Royal Canadian Mint    CANADA    Conformant

Gold

   SAAMP    FRANCE    Conformant

 

10


Metal

  

Name of Smelter or Refiner

  

Country of Location

  

Smelter or Refiner
RMAP Status as of
December 31, 2019

Gold

   Safimet S.p.A    ITALY    Conformant

Gold

   Samduck Precious Metals    KOREA, REPUBLIC OF    Conformant

Gold

   SAXONIA Edelmetalle GmbH    GERMANY    Conformant

Gold

   SEMPSA Joyeria Plateria S.A.    SPAIN    Conformant

Gold

   Shandong Zhaojin Gold & Silver Refinery Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Gold

   Sichuan Tianze Precious Metals Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Gold

   Singway Technology Co., Ltd.    TAIWAN, PROVINCE OF CHINA    Conformant

Gold

   SOE Shyolkovsky Factory of Secondary Precious Metals    RUSSIAN FEDERATION    Conformant

Gold

   Solar Applied Materials Technology Corp.    TAIWAN, PROVINCE OF CHINA    Conformant

Gold

   Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd.    JAPAN    Conformant

Gold

   SungEel HiTech    KOREA, REPUBLIC OF    Conformant

Gold

   T.C.A S.p.A    ITALY    Conformant

Gold

   Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K.    JAPAN    Conformant

Gold

   The Refinery of Shandong Gold Mining Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Gold

   Tokuriki Honten Co., Ltd.    JAPAN    Conformant

Gold

   Torecom    KOREA, REPUBLIC OF    Conformant

Gold

   Umicore Brasil Ltda.    BRAZIL    Conformant

Gold

   Umicore Precious Metals Thailand    THAILAND    Conformant

Gold

   Umicore S.A. Business Unit Precious Metals Refining    BELGIUM    Conformant

Gold

   United Precious Metal Refining, Inc.    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA    Conformant

Gold

   Valcambi S.A.    SWITZERLAND    Conformant

Gold

   Western Australian Mint (T/a The Perth Mint)    AUSTRALIA    Conformant

Gold

   WIELAND Edelmetalle GmbH    GERMANY    Conformant

Gold

   Yamamoto Precious Metal Co., Ltd.    JAPAN    Conformant

Gold

   Yokohama Metal Co., Ltd.    JAPAN    Conformant

Gold

   Zhongyuan Gold Smelter of Zhongjin Gold Corporation    CHINA    Conformant

Tantalum

   Asaka Riken Co., Ltd.(Tantalum)    JAPAN    Conformant

Tantalum

   Changsha South Tantalum Niobium Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tantalum

   D Block Metals, LLC    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA    Conformant

Tantalum

   Exotech Inc.    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA    Conformant

Tantalum

   F&X Electro-Materials Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tantalum

   FIR Metals & Resource Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

 

11


Metal

  

Name of Smelter or Refiner

  

Country of Location

  

Smelter or Refiner
RMAP Status as of
December 31, 2019

Tantalum

   Global Advanced Metals Aizu    JAPAN    Conformant

Tantalum

   Global Advanced Metals Boyertown    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA    Conformant

Tantalum

   Guangdong Zhiyuan New Material Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tantalum

   H.C. Starck Co., Ltd.    THAILAND    Conformant

Tantalum

   H.C. Starck Hermsdorf GmbH    GERMANY    Conformant

Tantalum

   H.C. Starck Inc.    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA    Conformant

Tantalum

   H.C. Starck Ltd.    JAPAN    Conformant

Tantalum

   H.C. Starck Smelting GmbH & Co. KG    GERMANY    Conformant

Tantalum

   H.C. Starck Tantalum and Niobium GmbH    GERMANY    Conformant

Tantalum

   Hengyang King Xing Lifeng New Materials Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tantalum

   Jiangxi Dinghai Tantalum & Niobium Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tantalum

   Jiangxi Tuohong New Raw Material    CHINA    Conformant

Tantalum

   JiuJiang JinXin Nonferrous Metals Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tantalum

   Jiujiang Nonferrous Metals Smelting Company Limited    CHINA    Conformant

Tantalum

   Jiujiang Zhongao Tantalum & Niobium Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tantalum

   KEMET Blue Metals    MEXICO    Conformant

Tantalum

   KEMET Blue Powder    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA    Conformant

Tantalum

   LSM Brasil S.A.    BRAZIL    Conformant

Tantalum

   Metallurgical Products India Pvt., Ltd.    INDIA    Conformant

Tantalum

   Mineracao Taboca S.A.(Tantalum)    BRAZIL    Conformant

Tantalum

   Mitsui Mining and Smelting Co., Ltd.(Tantalum)    JAPAN    Conformant

Tantalum

   Ningxia Orient Tantalum Industry Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tantalum

   NPM Silmet AS    ESTONIA    Conformant

Tantalum

   Power Resources Ltd.    MACEDONIA, THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF    Conformant

Tantalum

   QuantumClean    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA    Conformant

Tantalum

   Resind Industria e Comercio Ltda.(Tantalum)    BRAZIL    Conformant

Tantalum

   RFH Tantalum Smeltry Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tantalum

   Solikamsk Magnesium Works OAO    RUSSIAN FEDERATION    Conformant

 

12


Metal

  

Name of Smelter or Refiner

  

Country of Location

  

Smelter or Refiner
RMAP Status as of
December 31, 2019

Tantalum

   Taki Chemical Co., Ltd.    JAPAN    Conformant

Tantalum

   Telex Metals    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA    Conformant

Tantalum

   Ulba Metallurgical Plant JSC    KAZAKHSTAN    Conformant

Tantalum

   XinXing HaoRong Electronic Material Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tin

   Alpha    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA    Conformant

Tin

   Chenzhou Yunxiang Mining and Metallurgy Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tin

   Chifeng Dajingzi Tin Industry Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tin

   China Tin Group Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tin

   Dowa(Tin)    JAPAN    Conformant

Tin

   EM Vinto    BOLIVIA (PLURINATIONAL STATE OF)    Conformant

Tin

   Fenix Metals    POLAND    Conformant

Tin

   Gejiu Fengming Metallurgy Chemical Plant    CHINA    Conformant

Tin

   Gejiu Kai Meng Industry and Trade LLC    CHINA    Conformant

Tin

   Gejiu Non-Ferrous Metal Processing Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tin

   Gejiu Yunxin Nonferrous Electrolysis Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tin

   Gejiu Zili Mining And Metallurgy Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tin

   Guangdong Hanhe Non-Ferrous Metal Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tin

   Guanyang Guida Nonferrous Metal Smelting Plant    CHINA    Conformant

Tin

   HuiChang Hill Tin Industry Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tin

   Huichang Jinshunda Tin Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tin

   Ma’anshan Weitai Tin Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tin

   Magnu’s Minerais Metais e Ligas Ltda.    BRAZIL    Conformant

Tin

   Malaysia Smelting Corporation (MSC)    MALAYSIA    Conformant

Tin

   Melt Metais e Ligas S.A.    BRAZIL    Conformant

Tin

   Metallic Resources, Inc.    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA    Conformant

Tin

   Metallo Belgium N.V.    BELGIUM    Conformant

Tin

   Metallo Spain S.L.U.    SPAIN    Conformant

Tin

   Mineracao Taboca S.A.(Tin)    BRAZIL    Conformant

Tin

   Minsur    PERU    Conformant

Tin

   Mitsubishi Materials Corporation(Tin)    JAPAN    Conformant

 

13


Metal

  

Name of Smelter or Refiner

  

Country of Location

  

Smelter or Refiner
RMAP Status as of
December 31, 2019

Tin

   Nankang Nanshan Tin Manufactory Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tin

   O.M. Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd.    THAILAND    Conformant

Tin

   O.M. Manufacturing Philippines, Inc.    PHILIPPINES    Conformant

Tin

   Operaciones Metalurgical S.A.    BOLIVIA (PLURINATIONAL STATE OF)    Conformant

Tin

   PT Artha Cipta Langgeng    INDONESIA    Conformant

Tin

   PT Mitra Stania Prima    INDONESIA    Conformant

Tin

   PT Refined Bangka Tin    INDONESIA    Conformant

Tin

   PT Timah (Persero) Tbk Kundur    INDONESIA    Conformant

Tin

   PT Timah (Persero) Tbk Mentok    INDONESIA    Conformant

Tin

   Resind Industria e Comercio Ltda.(Tin)    BRAZIL    Conformant

Tin

   Rui Da Hung    TAIWAN, PROVINCE OF CHINA    Conformant

Tin

   Soft Metais Ltda.    BRAZIL    Conformant

Tin

   Thai Nguyen Mining and Metallurgy Co., Ltd.    VIET NAM    Conformant

Tin

   Thaisarco    THAILAND    Conformant

Tin

   Tin Technology & Refining    UNITED STATES    Conformant

Tin

   White Solder Metalurgia e Mineracao Ltda.    BRAZIL    Conformant

Tin

   Yunnan Chengfeng Non-ferrous Metals Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tin

   Yunnan Tin Company Limited    CHINA    Conformant

Tin

   Yunnan Yunfan Non-ferrous Metals Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tungsten

   A.L.M.T. TUNGSTEN Corp.    JAPAN    Conformant

Tungsten

   ACL Metais Eireli    BRAZIL    Conformant

Tungsten

   Asia Tungsten Products Vietnam Ltd.    VIET NAM    Conformant

Tungsten

   Chenzhou Diamond Tungsten Products Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tungsten

   Chongyi Zhangyuan Tungsten Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tungsten

   Fujian Jinxin Tungsten Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tungsten

   Ganzhou Haichuang Tungsten Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tungsten

   Ganzhou Huaxing Tungsten Products Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tungsten

   Ganzhou Jiangwu Ferrotungsten Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tungsten

   Ganzhou Seadragon W & Mo Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

 

14


Metal

  

Name of Smelter or Refiner

  

Country of Location

  

Smelter or Refiner
RMAP Status as of
December 31, 2019

Tungsten

   Global Tungsten & Powders Corp.    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA    Conformant

Tungsten

   Guangdong Xianglu Tungsten Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tungsten

   H.C. Starck Smelting GmbH & Co.KG    GERMANY    Conformant

Tungsten

   H.C. Starck Tungsten GmbH    GERMANY    Conformant

Tungsten

   Hunan Chenzhou Mining Co., Ltd.(Tungsten)    CHINA    Conformant

Tungsten

   Hunan Chuangda Vanadium Tungsten Co., Ltd. Wuji    CHINA    Conformant

Tungsten

   Hunan Chunchang Nonferrous Metals Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tungsten

   Hunan Litian Tungsten Industry Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tungsten

   Hydrometallurg, JSC    RUSSIAN FEDERATION    Conformant

Tungsten

   Japan New Metals Co., Ltd.    JAPAN    Conformant

Tungsten

   Jiangwu H.C. Starck Tungsten Products Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tungsten

   Jiangxi Gan Bei Tungsten Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tungsten

   Jiangxi Tonggu Non-ferrous Metallurgical & Chemical Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tungsten

   Jiangxi Xinsheng Tungsten Industry Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tungsten

   Jiangxi Yaosheng Tungsten Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tungsten

   Kennametal Fallon    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA    Conformant

Tungsten

   Kennametal Huntsville    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA    Conformant

Tungsten

   KGETS Co., Ltd.    KOREA, REPUBLIC OF    Conformant

Tungsten

   Lianyou Metals Co., Ltd.    TAIWAN, PROVINCE OF CHINA    Conformant

Tungsten

   Malipo Haiyu Tungsten Co., Ltd.    CHINA    Conformant

Tungsten

   Moliren Ltd    RUSSIAN FEDERATION    Conformant

Tungsten

   Niagara Refining LLC    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA    Conformant

Tungsten

   Nui Phao H.C. Starck Tungsten Chemicals Manufacturing LLC    VIET NAM    Conformant

Tungsten

   Philippine Chuangxin Industrial Co., Inc.    PHILIPPINES    Conformant

Tungsten

   Tejing (Vietnam) Tungsten Co., Ltd.    VIET NAM    Conformant

Tungsten

   Unecha Refractory metals plant    RUSSIAN FEDERATION    Conformant

Tungsten

   Wolfram Bergbau und Hütten AG    AUSTRIA    Conformant

Tungsten

   Woltech Korea Co., Ltd.    KOREA, REPUBLIC OF    Conformant

 

15


Metal

  

Name of Smelter or Refiner

  

Country of Location

  

Smelter or Refiner
RMAP Status as of
December 31, 2019

Tungsten

  

Xiamen Tungsten (H.C.) Co., Ltd.

  

CHINA

  

Conformant

Tungsten

  

Xiamen Tungsten Co., Ltd.

  

CHINA

  

Conformant

Tungsten

  

Xinfeng Huarui Tungsten & Molybdenum New Material Co., Ltd.

  

CHINA

  

Conformant

Tungsten

  

Xinhai Rendan Shaoguan Tungsten Co., Ltd.

  

CHINA

  

Conformant

 

*

Al Etihad Gold Refinery was participating in an Extended Corrective Action Plan as of December 31, 2019 and returned to conformant status effective February 7, 2020.

During the Reporting Period, Seagate was able to facilitate the removal of all identified non-conformant SORs from our supply chain. We use an in-house database, referred to as the Compliance Assurance System (“CAS2”), to maintain product-level compliance data. The Conflict Minerals portion of CAS2 was revamped in the first half of the Reporting Period leading to significant efficiencies in data processing and data management. In addition, tools were developed to provide better internal visibility on program metrics, including a dashboard available to employees and internal contractors which displays the status of 3TG Direct Suppliers and SORs with respect to the RMAP standard and our Policy, respectively. Our supply chain organization has been working to build resiliency in the supply chain by ensuring that, where possible, components are not sourced from a single supplier. Our improvements during the Reporting Period, with respect to our sourcing practices, can be partially attributed to our supply chain organization having real-time visibility on Conflict Minerals program metrics and leveraging sourcing arrangements with suppliers to ensure that non-conformant SORs were removed from the supply chain if they failed to participate in the RMAP.

FUTURE PLANS TO IMPROVE DUE DILIGENCE AND SUPPLIER RESPONSIVENESS

Seagate expects to pursue several initiatives to continue to maintain a responsible supply chain, including the following:

 

   

Continue to seek supplier commitments to responsible sources of 3TG, to request that suppliers have their SORs engage in the validation audit process, and, if necessary, convert to other preferred sources.

 

   

Continue to refine CAS2 to further automate our data management, better facilitate supplier communications, and provide improved metrics to guide our risk management.

 

   

In calendar year 2020, we will refresh all our 3TG Direct Supplier data using the latest CMRT. We continue to work with the RBA and the RMI to improve processes that encourage responsible sourcing of 3TG in a manner that avoids de facto boycott of legitimate minerals from CAHRAs.

 

   

Increase our focus on artisanal scale mining practices to ensure that initiatives we support are not negatively impactful to local workers.

 

   

Increase our focus on activities upstream of SORs to gain better visibility on the real-world conditions in the localities that the 3TG in our products are sourced from.

 

16


   

Continue to advocate our stance that responsible supply chain due diligence extends beyond 3TG. In calendar year 2020, we will refresh our cobalt sourcing data using the Cobalt Reporting Template developed by the RMI and continue to support the responsible sourcing of cobalt. We will also explore engaging in expanded due diligence efforts for other minerals that have negative human rights and/or environmental impacts.

INDEPENDENT PRIVATE SECTOR AUDIT

We obtained an independent private sector audit of this Conflict Minerals Report by Elm Sustainability Partners LLC. The Independent Private Sectors Auditor’s Report is provided in Appendix A.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Conflict Minerals Report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical fact. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements about our future plans to improve due diligence and supplier responsiveness and to seek supplier commitments in this regard. These forward-looking statements also involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from our expectations. Such risks and uncertainties include the veracity of information directly or indirectly provided to us by others and expectations regarding future smelter and refiner participation in conflict-free verification regimens. Information concerning other risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from our expectations include, among others, those risks and uncertainties discussed in our filings with the SEC, including those under the captions “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on August 2, 2019 and in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 1, 2019, February 4, 2020 and April 30, 2020. Except as may be required by law, we undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.

 

17


APPENDIX A

 

LOGO

INDEPENDENT PRIVATE SECTOR AUDITOR’S REPORT

To the Board of Directors:

elm sustainability partners llc conducted an Independent Private Sector Audit (IPSA) of the Seagate Technology public limited company, (“the Company”) Conflict Minerals Report for the reporting period of January 1 to December 31, 2019. We examined evidence relating to the audit objectives set forth in 17 CFR Part 249b.400, Section 1, Item 1.01, which state that the auditor is to express an opinion or conclusion as to:

 

   

whether the design of the Company’s due diligence framework as set forth in the Conflict Minerals Report for reporting period from January 1 to December 31, 2019, is in conformity, in all material respects, with the criteria set forth in the Organisation of Economic Co-Operation and Development Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas, Third Edition 2016 (“OECD Due Diligence Guidance”), and

 

   

whether the Company’s description of the due diligence measures it performed, as set forth in the Conflict Minerals Report for the reporting period from January 1 to December 31, 2019, is consistent with the due diligence process that the Company undertook.

Management is responsible for the design of the Company’s due diligence framework, the description of the Company’s due diligence measures set forth in the Conflict Minerals Report and performance of the due diligence measures. Our responsibility is to express an opinion or conclusion in relation to the stated audit objectives. The mandated audit objectives and our examination did not include evaluating:

 

   

The consistency of the due diligence measures that the Company performed with either the design of the Company’s due diligence framework or the OECD Due Diligence Guidance;

 

   

The completeness of the Company’s description of the due diligence measures performed;

 

   

The suitability of the design or operating effectiveness of the Company’s due diligence process;

 

   

Whether a third party can determine from the Conflict Minerals Report if the due diligence measures the Company performed are consistent with the OECD Due Diligence Guidance;

 

   

The Company’s reasonable country of origin inquiry (RCOI), including the suitability of the design of the RCOI, its operating effectiveness, or the results thereof;

 

   

The adequacy or completeness of the Company’s applicability determinations of parts, components, materials or products used, sold, manufactured by or for the Company;

 

   

The Company’s conclusions about the source or chain of custody of its conflict minerals or the DRC Conflict Free status of parts, components, materials or products used, sold, manufactured by or for the Company; or

 

   

The operational status during the reporting period of any disclosed smelter or refiner.

 

18


We do not express an opinion or offer any other form of conclusion or assurance on those or any other matters in any section of the Conflict Minerals Report other than the sections titled Design of Due Diligence Measures Taken and Due Diligence Performed by Seagate.

Audit planning began March 18, 2020 and the audit activities were conducted March 26, through April 10, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the audit was conducted remotely using web-based file sharing and a series of four teleconference calls on March 26, 2020, April 6, 2020, April 7, 2020 and April 10, 2020. No impairments or threats to our independence as an auditor were identified prior to, during or after this audit. As the basis for this audit, the Company provided the Conflict Minerals Report that was current on April 4, 2020. For the first audit objective, we reviewed the following audit evidence and compared it to the OECD Due Diligence Guidance: (a) detailed conflict minerals program documentation relating to each of the five steps, (b) evidence of data management, program execution and controls, and (c) interviews with the individuals directly involved in executing the conflict minerals program; thereby providing reasonable assurance that the design of the due diligence framework described in the section of the Conflict Minerals Report titled Due Diligence Design Framework is in conformity with, in all material respects, the OECD Due Diligence Guidance. For the second audit objective, we reviewed 100% of the information provided by the Company documenting that it undertook the due diligence measures described in the section of the Conflict Minerals Report titled Due Diligence Measures Performed. We also conducted interviews with the individuals directly involved in performing those due diligence measures. The Audit Team Leader and internal quality control reviewer are senior level Principals that hold certifications from the Board of Environmental Auditor Certifications, an independent accredited certification body that requires conformance to established ethics, independence requirements and annual continuing education. The original auditor’s notes were evaluated by the internal quality control reviewer to confirm that the audit work performed and evidence obtained supports the findings or conclusions in this audit report. Additional information on our firm’s audit quality assurance practices and the external Peer Review report on our conformance to the generally accepted government auditing standards (“Yellow Book”) Performance Audit standards is available on our website.

Management was provided an opportunity to review and offer comments on a draft of this report and had no comments to the draft report.

In our opinion,

 

   

the design of the Company’s due diligence framework as set forth in the section of the Conflict Minerals Report titled Due Diligence Design Framework for the reporting period from January 1 to December 31, 2019, is in conformity, in all material respects, with the OECD Due Diligence Guidance, and

 

   

the Company’s description of the due diligence measures it performed as set forth in section of the Conflict Minerals Report titled Due Diligence Measures Performed for the reporting period from January 1 to December 31, 2019, is consistent with the due diligence process that the Company undertook.

We conducted this performance audit in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain sufficient, appropriate evidence to provide a reasonable basis for our findings and conclusions based on our audit objectives. We believe that the evidence obtained provides a reasonable basis for our findings based on our audit objectives.

 

LOGO

Foothill Ranch, California

April 23, 2020

 

19