Conflict Minerals Disclosure
Mueller Water Products, Inc. (“Mueller”) is furnishing this report to comply with Rule 13p-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Rule”). The Rule was adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) to implement reporting and disclosure requirements related to conflict minerals as directed by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010. The term “conflict mineral” is defined to include cassiterite, columbite-tantalite, gold, wolframite, and their derivatives (tin, tantalum, and tungsten), unless the Secretary of State determines that additional minerals or their derivatives are financing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or an adjoining country (the “Covered Countries”). The Rule imposes reporting obligations on SEC registrants whose manufactured products contain conflict minerals that are necessary to the functionality or production of their products.
Mueller has adopted a Supplier Code of Conduct that supports the goals expressed by Congress in enacting Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The Supplier Code of Conduct supports Mueller’s commitment to complying with the due diligence obligations required by SEC rules and regulations and Mueller’s expectations from its suppliers regarding conflict minerals disclosures. In addition, the Supplier Code of Conduct includes language requiring suppliers to represent to Mueller that all materials supplied by them are sourced responsibly. The Supplier Code of Conduct resides on Mueller’s corporate website (https://www.muellerwaterproducts.com/environmental-social-and-governance). The information on Mueller’s website and information accessible through it are not incorporated into this specialized disclosure report.
Conflict Minerals Disclosure.
Reasonable Country of Origin Inquiry and Determination. Because Mueller’s procurement process does not involve direct purchases from mines, smelters, or refiners (“SORs”), Mueller relies on its suppliers to furnish details regarding the source of conflict minerals present in the materials and components they supply. Individuals with primary responsibility for purchasing materials and components at each of Mueller’s business units conducted in good faith a reasonable country of origin inquiry with respect to products Mueller manufactured or contracted for manufacture during calendar year 2023 (the “Reporting Period”). The scope of the inquiry included foreign and domestic suppliers of materials and components likely to contain one or more conflict minerals from whom Mueller’s primary business units purchased during the Reporting Period. Supplier engagement included, among other efforts, delivery of (A) an introductory email requesting completion of the Responsible Minerals Initiative’s Conflict Minerals Reporting Template to disclose the source(s) of any conflict minerals in the supplier’s goods and (B) subsequent emails intended to prompt non-responsive suppliers to respond or to obtain additional SOR background as needed.
Based on the responses received as a result of its reasonable country of origin inquiry, Mueller has determined that, with respect to necessary conflict minerals in products Mueller manufactured or contracted for manufacture during the Reporting Period, Mueller does not have sufficient reason to believe that the conflict minerals did not originate in a Covered Country or were from recycled or scrap sources.
Consistent with the public statement of the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission made public on April 7, 2017, Mueller has provided only the disclosure required under the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of Item 1.01 of Form SD.
The information discussed above is also available at www.muellerwaterproducts.com/conflictmineralsdisclosure.
The website and information accessible through it are not incorporated into this specialized disclosure report.