Conflict Minerals: Section 1502 of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act requires SEC reporting companies to make annual disclosure of gold, tin, tantalum and tungsten that originate from conflict mines in the region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is necessary for the production or sale of products they manufacture. Apex Microtechnology’s Conflict Minerals statement is outlined below:

“Conflict Minerals” refers to minerals or other derivatives mined in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and in adjoining countries where revenues may directly or indirectly finance armed groups engaged in civil war resulting in serious social and environmental abuses. In July 2010, the United States Congress passed HR4173, the Dodd-Frank Financial Reform Bill section 1502(b), requiring all US stock listed companies and their suppliers to disclose the chain of custody usage of conflict minerals (Tin, Tantalum, Tungsten, and Gold, referred to as 3TG).

Apex Microtechnology supports this legislation and the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC)/Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) position to avoid the usage of conflict minerals mined from the DRC and adjoining countries. Apex Microtechnology does not knowingly use metals derived from the Conflict Region in our products and will continue to monitor its supply chain in order to maintain visibility surrounding this issue.

To assist in assuring that Apex Microtechnology products do not use 3TG minerals, Apex will require suppliers to provide written evidence detailing their diligence to confirm raw materials used to produce components supplied to Apex do not originate from the Conflict Region. Evidence of due diligence from each supplier may include, but not be limited to, the following:

  • Evidence of a Corporate Policy supporting EICC and GeSI Initiatives, publicly available (such as a link on their public website).
  • Completion of the EICC-GeSI due diligence tool to communicate its sources of the 3TG minerals.

Apex will continue to apply due diligence in determining the source of the 3TG metals in its products.