Conflict of Minerals

CONFLICT OF MINERALS POLICY

Ritbearing is concerned that the trade of conflict minerals mined in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) may be fueling human rights atrocities in the region. These minerals and their refined metals – tantalum, tin, tungsten and gold (3TG) – are widely used in the end markets served by Ritbearing. As a result, we support the actions of governments and organizations to increase supply chain transparency and enable companies to source conflict-free minerals.

On August 22, 2012, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved the final rule regarding the sourcing of conflict minerals under Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Under this rule, publicly traded companies must report to the SEC the presence of conflict minerals originating in the DRC or adjoining countries in the products they manufacture or contract to manufacture if the conflict minerals are necessary to the functionality or production of a product.

The bearings manufactured by Ritbearing & its suppliers, are processed without using any of the so called 3TG Metals (Tantalum, Tungsten, Tin, Gold) in the steel sourced and/or smelted from the Democratic Republic of Congo or Africa.

Ritbearing is committed to using suppliers that share our values on human rights, ethics and environmental responsibility. Violation of this Conflicts of Mineral Policy set forth above may result in termination of Ritbearing’s business relationship with the offending supplier.