As a responsible participant in the tantalum industry and a member company of the TIC, we are aware of the seriousness of conflict materials out of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

We have held meetings, conducted training sessions, and studied documents, news and reports from the UN and various non-governmental organizations (NGOs), all in an effort to conform our practices to the practices of the miners, smelters and other segments of the industry with whom we do business.

The overwhelming majority of the material we buy is purchased from well-known manufacturers. Hi-Temp does not generally buy tantalum from traders, and does not knowingly buy tantalum that originates from conflict zones. Effective immediately, we are requiring additional documentation from any of our suppliers that buy or deal in mined or smelted tantalum, in order to help assure that Hi-Temp is not using (directly or indirectly) any tantalum that has been mined at any location in the conflict area in DRC.

In addition, we are implementing the following policies and procedures:

1. To prevent any conflict minerals from coming to Hi-Temp, we will not knowingly purchase any ore which has come directly or indirectly from DRC.
2. As one of our Contract Terms, a Certificate of Origin(s) of Mines and Countries must be supplied with each shipment, indicating the origin of the minerals and relevant proofs of royalty, tax, duty payment and transportations in line with country level 1, 2 and 3.
3. For materials supplied to us since January 2009 by suppliers that buy or deal in mined or smelted tantalum, we are going to request certificates of Origins of Mines as soon as possible. However, we recognize that it might not be the policy of some countries to issue such documentation, or that no system exists there to do so at the moment. In these cases, we are going to do what we can to meet the spirit of certificates of Origins of Mines, such as location mining areas, etc.
4. Hi-Temp is now working closely with TIC and EICC on the purchase of raw materials from miners and smelters. In these cases, we are visiting suppliers and mines, and requesting all documents which meet EICC and TIC's requirements for country level 1, 2 and 3.
5. Hi-Temp respects the law, honors human rights, and aims to be a reliable and ethical supplier to EICC members and others.