Conflict Minerals

“The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted annual disclosure requirements in connection with the conflict minerals provision of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, requiring publicly traded companies to disclose whether certain minerals necessary to the functionality or production of products manufactured or contracted to be manufactured conflict minerals that originated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (“DRC”) or an adjoining country (together with the DRC, “Covered Countries”). These certain minerals referred to as “conflict minerals” include tantalum (columbite-tantalite), tin (cassiterite), tungsten (wolframite) and gold (3TGs).

Northwire strives to have a conflict free supply chain and is committed to working with its Suppliers to increase transparency regarding the origin of minerals contained in its products. Northwire requires its Suppliers to undertake reasonable due diligence with their sub-tier suppliers and/or subcontractors to identify whether any of the products supplied to Northwire contains 3TGs sourced from the Covered Countries and, if so, whether the mines and smelters identified are certified as “conflict free” by an independent third party.

Northwire is also committed to complying with all the conflict mineral requirements under the Act and all the rules and regulations issued by the SEC and also expects Suppliers to comply with these requirements.”