Result of the investigation

In order to understand the reasons that led to the tragedy, Samarco, Vale and BHP Billiton immediately requested an investigation of the New York-based law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP shortly after the rupture of the Fundão dam. The office was hired under the premise of absolute independence; Samarco fully cooperated with the external investigation, providing all the information and integral access to its units and to its employees.

In conducting the independent research, Cleary Gottlieb has developed a panel of experts from the geotechnical area of Brazil, Canada and the United States to support the analyzes. The leader of this panel was Professor Norbert Morgenstern, an internationally recognized authority in geotechnical engineering, professor emeritus of Civil Engineering at the University of Alberta. Field inspections, data analyzes, laboratory tests, modeling surveys and interviews with those involved were carried out.

The public disclosure of the results was made at the end of August 2016, at a press conference with participation of Samarco executives and shareholders.

Access Cleary Gottlieb’s full report about the collapse of the dam: http://fundaoinvestigation.com