Exhibit 1.01
Windstream Holdings, Inc.
Windstream Services, LLC
Conflict Minerals Report
For the Year ended December 31, 2015
Rule 13p-l under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Form SD (together, the “Rule”) require a public reporting company to conduct certain inquiries and due diligence, and making related disclosures when the company manufactures or contracts to manufacture products containing conflict minerals necessary to the functionality or production of those products. Conflict minerals, as defined by the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”), are cassiterite, columbite-tantalite, gold, wolframite, and their derivatives, which are limited to tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold (“3TG”) for the purposes of this Conflict Minerals Report (the “Report”). The statute underlying the Rule, Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, was prompted by the U.S. Congress’ concern that exploitation and trade of conflict minerals in the Democratic Republic of Congo (“DRC”) and neighboring countries (together with the DRC, referred to as the “Covered Countries”) are helping to finance armed groups engaging in extreme levels of violent conflict and committing human rights abuses, creating a humanitarian crisis.
Pursuant to the Rule, if following a good faith reasonable country of origin inquiry (“RCOI”), a company knows or has reason to believe that any of the necessary conflict minerals in its supply chain may have originated in the Covered Countries and may not be from recycled or scrap resources, then the company must exercise due diligence regarding the conflict minerals’ source and chain of custody and file a report describing its due diligence measures.
This Report has been prepared pursuant to the Rule and describes the RCOI and due diligence measures of Windstream Holdings, Inc. (“Windstream Holdings”) and Windstream Services, LLC (“Windstream Services”) for the reporting period January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015. Unless the context indicates otherwise, the terms “Windstream,” “we,” or “our” refer to Windstream Holdings and its subsidiaries, including Windstream Services.
Company Overview
Windstream is a leading provider of advanced network communications and technology solutions for consumers, businesses, enterprise organizations and carrier partners across the United States. We provide data, cloud solutions, unified communications and managed services to small business and enterprise clients. We also offer bundled services, including broadband, security solutions, voice and digital television to consumers. The company supplies core transport solutions on a local and long-haul fiber-optic network spanning approximately 125,000 miles, the sixth largest fiber network in the nation. Our basic offerings are classified in the following categories: consumer, small business, carrier, and enterprise. Our consumer services primarily consist of high-speed Internet, traditional voice and video services. Our small business service offerings include a wide range of advanced Internet voice and web conferencing products. Carrier services include network bandwidth to other telecommunication carriers and network operators. Enterprise services include multi-site networking, integrated voice and data services, Unified Communications as a Service and hosted voice, colocation and data center services, managed network services, and other cloud services.
To provide the services above, Windstream typically sources customer premise network and communication equipment from outside suppliers. However, with the acquisition of PAETEC Holding LLC, formerly PAETEC Holding Corp. (“PAETEC”) in 2011, Windstream acquired Allworx Corp. (“Allworx”), a wholly owned subsidiary of PAETEC which designs and supports its own customer premise equipment.
Management Framework
In consideration of the implementation of the Rule, we established an internal team to oversee the design, development and implementation of our framework for a conflict minerals compliance program. Our internal team includes subject matter experts from relevant functions such as purchasing, quality assurance, manufacturing, and external reporting. The team of subject matter experts is responsible for implementing our conflict minerals compliance strategy and is led by our Senior Consultant of External Reporting. Windstream’s Disclosure Committee, comprised of members of executive and senior management, and the Audit Committee of Windstream Holdings’ Board of Directors are briefed about the results of our due diligence efforts on a regular basis.
The team considered the management framework and methodologies for the RCOI and due diligence process, including: determination of in scope products and suppliers; education and engagement of suppliers to solicit information about the existence and sourcing of conflict minerals in supplier provided materials, components and products; and quality assurance and verification processes as described further below. Our conflict minerals compliance program was designed to conform in all material respects to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas: Third Edition and the related supplements for gold, tin, tantalum and tungsten (the “OECD Guidance”), specifically as they relate to our position in the minerals supply chain as a downstream company.
Determination of Products, Components and Related Suppliers
Windstream performed a comprehensive analysis of our products, and the role that suppliers play throughout our manufacturing and product delivery processes. Through this analysis, we determined, to the best of our knowledge, that Allworx is our only subsidiary that manufactures or contracts to manufacture products with components containing 3TG. Allworx designs and supports customer premise equipment that is manufactured by two contract manufacturers. This equipment, primarily VoIP phones and PBX servers (“Allworx CPE”), is comprised of components that contain 3TG, and these components are sourced by the contract manufacturers. Windstream does not make direct purchases of raw ore or unrefined conflict minerals and makes no direct purchases in the Covered Countries. Allworx CPE sales accounted for less than 1.0 percent of Windstream’s overall revenue for the year ended December 31, 2015.
Accordingly, for the purposes of this Report only the direct suppliers of these two contract manufacturers were considered.
Supplier Engagement
As a “downstream company” in the metals supply chain, we are many tiers removed from smelters and refiners (“SORs”) that process the metals found in our final products, and there are many intervening third parties between the original sources of conflict minerals and us. Therefore, we must rely on our immediate suppliers, with which we have business relationships, to provide information regarding the sourcing, including country of origin, of necessary conflict minerals. Our immediate suppliers, in turn, typically, are also downstream in the supply chain and have similar challenges in achieving supply chain transparency. Due to the limited number of certain component suppliers, it can be difficult to switch to another supplier if an existing supplier is not responsive, making supplier engagement and participation especially important.
To educate suppliers and facilitate compliance with the Rule, a new provision was incorporated into the terms and conditions of our standard master purchasing agreement templates. Additionally, we are integrating these terms and conditions into contractual agreements with suppliers as master agreements are executed with new suppliers and renewed with existing suppliers. Note, because not all suppliers use the standard master purchasing agreement template and most supply contracts have multi-year terms, it will take a number of years to ensure all supplier contracts contain the appropriate conflict minerals-related clauses.
Under the terms of our standard master purchasing agreement, suppliers agree to comply with the Rule, including providing us with information regarding the country of origin and source of conflict minerals used in the supplier goods sold to us. If a supplier is found to not be in compliance with these objectives, the supplier is expected to develop, implement and document plans to remedy the non-compliance. Windstream has the right to terminate its relationship with the supplier in the event of continued non-compliance that cannot be resolved.
We engaged a third-party data collection vendor, GreenSoft Technology, Inc. (“GreenSoft”), to conduct outreach and archive the received supplier responses to our RCOI for one of our two manufacturers. GreenSoft used the standard Conflict Minerals Reporting Template established by the Conflict-Free Sourcing Initiative (“CFSI”), an initiative of the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition (“EICC”) and Global e-Sustainability Initiative. We worked closely with the other manufacturer to develop a survey, provide training, conduct outreach, and summarize results. The smelters and refiners identified in the supply chain survey were compared to the list of smelter and refining facilities identified as “conflict free” by the CFSI’s Conflict Free Smelter Program (“CFSP”) for tantalum, tin, tungsten and gold. Through the CFSP validation process, which is voluntary, an independent third party audits the procurement and processing activities of a smelter or refiner to determine if it showed sufficient documentation to demonstrate with reasonable confidence that the minerals the smelter or refiner processed originated from conflict free sources. CFSP-compliant smelters and refiners receive a “conflict free” designation from CFSI.
Assessment of Risk in the Supply Chain
Analysis of Supplier Responses
As stated above, we conducted a supply chain survey of the direct suppliers of our contract manufacturers to obtain country of origin information for the necessary conflict minerals in the Allworx CPE. The supply chain survey requested the suppliers to identify the smelters, refineries, or recyclers and scrap supplier sources, as well as countries of origin of the conflict minerals in products they supply. We also leveraged data from CFSI and the CFSP to trace the mine of origin of the 3TG to its ore level and compared the smelters and refiners identified in the surveys against the lists of facilities which have received a “conflict free” designation by the CFSP, which provides country of origin information on the conflict minerals sourced by such facilities. Based on this RCOI, we know or have reason to believe that a portion of the necessary conflict minerals in the Allworx CPE originated or may have originated in the Covered Countries and, we know or have reason to believe that those necessary conflict minerals may not be solely from recycled or scrap sources. Below is a summary of the country of origin information collected as a result of our RCOI efforts.
We have identified 144 direct suppliers to our contract manufacturers of the Allworx CPE. Of these suppliers, we received 139 responses to our supply chain survey. Fifty direct suppliers indicated they sourced at least one conflict mineral from the Covered Countries. The table below identifies the number of these direct suppliers by conflict mineral sourced from the Covered Countries and their SORs’ CFSP designation:
|
| | | | | | | | |
| | Tantalum | Tin | Gold | Tungsten |
| Direct suppliers to our contract manufacturers sourcing from Covered Countries | 32 |
| 48 |
| 12 |
| 29 |
|
| All SORs validated as CFSP-compliant | 25 |
| 14 |
| 3 |
| 10 |
|
| One or more SORs not currently CFS certified | 7 |
| 34 |
| 9 |
| 19 |
|
As the result of our RCOI, we have identified 705 smelters and refineries within our supply chain. Among these 705 smelters and refineries, 221 are on CFSI’s list of CFSP-compliant smelters and refineries and considered to be conflict free. With respect to the other 484, the CFSI has not provided an opinion as whether or not the minerals procured from these smelters and refineries originate from the Covered Countries.
We determined that certain components used in the Allworx CPE contain 3TG, which originated in the following countries: Angola, Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Burundi, Canada, Chile, China, Columbia, DRC, Ethiopia, Germany, Guyana, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Russia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United States of America, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe.
Smelters have been identified as being located in the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Estonia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Republic of Korea, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zimbabwe.
Set forth below is the list of smelters and refiners identified within our supply chain during 2015 as of May 12, 2016. For more details and the most current status of each smelter, please visit the CFSI website at www.conflictfreesourcing.org.
|
| |
| Smelters and Refiners | Metal |
| Acade Noble Metal (Zhao Yuan) Corporation | Gold |
| Academy Precious Metals (China) Co., Ltd. | Gold |
| Accurate Refining Group | Gold |
| Advanced Chemical Company | Gold |
| Aida Chemical Industries Co., Ltd. * | Gold |
| Aktyubinsk Copper Company TOO | Gold |
| Al Etihad Gold Refinery DMCC | Gold |
| Allgemeine Gold-und Silberscheideanstalt A.G. * | Gold |
| Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex (AMMC) * | Gold |
| AngloGold Ashanti Córrego do Sítio Mineração * | Gold |
|
| |
| Smelters and Refiners | Metal |
| Anhui Tongling Nonferrous Metal Mining Co., Ltd. | Gold |
| ANZ | Gold |
| Argor-Heraeus S.A. * | Gold |
| Asahi Pretec Corporation * | Gold |
| Asahi Refining Canada Limited * | Gold |
| Asahi Refining USA Inc. * | Gold |
| Asaka Riken Co., Ltd. * | Gold |
| Asarco | Gold |
| Atasay Kuyumculuk Sanayi Ve Ticaret A.S. | Gold |
| Aurubis AG * | Gold |
| Baiyin Nonferrous Metals Corporation (BNMC) | Gold |
| Bangalore Refinery Pvt Ltd. | Gold |
| Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Central Bank of the Philippines) * | Gold |
| Bauer Walser AG | Gold |
| Boliden AB * | Gold |
| C. Hafner GmbH + Co. KG * | Gold |
| Caridad | Gold |
| CCR Refinery - Glencore Canada Corporation * | Gold |
| Cendres + Métaux S.A. | Gold |
| CHALCO Yunnan Copper Co. Ltd. | Gold |
| Changzhou Chemical Research Institute Co. Ltd. | Gold |
| Cheong Hing | Gold |
| Chimet S.p.A. * | Gold |
| China Gold International Resources Corp. Ltd. | Gold |
| China Golddeal | Gold |
| China National Gold Group Corporation | Gold |
| Chinese Government | Gold |
| Chugai Mining | Gold |
| Codelco | Gold |
| Colt Refining | Gold |
| CS | Gold |
| Daejin Indus Co. Ltd | Gold |
| Daeryong ENC | Gold |
| Daye Non-Ferrous Metals Mining Ltd. * | Gold |
| DHF Technical Products | Gold |
| Do Sung Corporation | Gold |
| Doduco * | Gold |
| Dong’guan Dong wu Violent-toxic Chemical Products Co., Ltd. | Gold |
| Dongguan Dongxu Metal Surface Hanlde Co. Ltd. | Gold |
| Dongguan Standard Electronic Material Co., Ltd. | Gold |
| Dongguanshi Sutande Dianzi Cailiao Youxiangongsi | Gold |
| Dong-Wo Co., Ltd. | Gold |
| Dowa * | Gold |
| Duoxin | Gold |
| E-Chem Enterprise Corp. | Gold |
| E-Chememi Enterprise Corp. (Futures Exchange) | Gold |
| Eco-System Recycling Co., Ltd. * | Gold |
| Emirates Gold DMCC * | Gold |
| ESG Edelmetall-Service | Gold |
|
| |
| Smelters and Refiners | Metal |
| Faggi Enrico S.p.A. | Gold |
| Feinhütte Halsbrücke GmbH | Gold |
| Fidelity Printers and Refiners Ltd. | Gold |
| Gansu Seemine Material Hi-Tech Co., Ltd. | Gold |
| Geib Refining Corporation | Gold |
| Gejiu Zili Mining & Smelting Co. Ltd. | Gold |
| Guangdong Jinding Gold Limited | Gold |
| Guangdong MingFa Precious Metal Co., Ltd. | Gold |
| Guoda Safina High-Tech Environmental Refinery Co., Ltd. | Gold |
| Hangzhou Fuchunjiang Smelting Co., Ltd. | Gold |
| Harima Smelter | Gold |
| Harmony Gold Refinery | Gold |
| Heesung Catalysts Corp. | Gold |
| Heesung Metal | Gold |
| Heimerle + Meule GmbH * | Gold |
| Henan San Men Xia | Gold |
| Heraeus Ltd. Hong Kong (China)* | Gold |
| Heraeus Ltd. Hong Kong (Hong Kong)* | Gold |
| Heraeus Precious Metals GmbH & Co. KG * | Gold |
| Heraeus Zhaoyuan Changshu Electronic Material Co., Ltd. | Gold |
| Hisikari Mine | Gold |
| HMG | Gold |
| Hon Shen Co. Ltd. | Gold |
| Hunan Chenzhou Mining Co., Ltd. | Gold |
| Hwasung CJ Co. Ltd. | Gold |
| Inner Mongolia Qiankun Gold and Silver Refinery Share Company Limited * | Gold |
| Ishifuku Metal Industry Co., Ltd. * | Gold |
| Istanbul Gold Refinery * | Gold |
| Japan Mint * | Gold |
| Japan Pure Chemical | Gold |
| Jia Lung Corp | Gold |
| Jiangsu Sue Large Special Chemical Reagent Co., Ltd. | Gold |
| Jiangxi Copper Company Limited * | Gold |
| Jie sheng | Gold |
| Jin Dong Heng | Gold |
| JinBao Electronic Co., Ltd. | Gold |
| Jinfeng Gold Mine Smelter | Gold |
| Jinlong Copper Co., Ltd. | Gold |
| JSC “Aurat” | Gold |
| JSC Ekaterinburg Non-Ferrous Metal Processing Plant * | Gold |
| JSC Uralelectromed * | Gold |
| JX Nippon Mining & Metals Co., Ltd. * | Gold |
| K.A Rasmussen as | Gold |
| Kaloti Precious Metals | Gold |
| Kazakhmys Smelting LLC | Gold |
| Kazzinc * | Gold |
| Kee Shing | Gold |
| Kennecott Utah Copper LLC * | Gold |
| KGHM Polska Miedź Spółka Akcyjna | Gold |
|
| |
| Smelters and Refiners | Metal |
| Kojima Chemicals Co., Ltd. * | Gold |
| Korea Metal Co. Ltd | Gold |
| Korea Zinc Co. Ltd. | Gold |
| Kunshan Jinli chemical industry reagents Co., Ltd. | Gold |
| Kyocera Corporation | Gold |
| Kyrgyzaltyn JSC * | Gold |
| L’ azurde Company For Jewelry | Gold |
| LBMA | Gold |
| Lian Xing Plating Factory | Gold |
| Lingbao Gold Company Limited | Gold |
| Lingbao Jinyuan Tonghui Refinery Co., Ltd. | Gold |
| LINXENS | Gold |
| Littlefuse | Gold |
| LS-Nikko Copper Inc. * | Gold |
| Luoyang Zijin Yinhui Gold Refinery Co., Ltd. | Gold |
| Malaysia Smelting Corporation Berhad | Gold |
| Materion * | Gold |
| Matsuda Sangyo Co., Ltd. * | Gold |
| Mead Metals | Gold |
| Metahub Industries Sdn. Bhd. | Gold |
| Metallo Chimique | Gold |
| Metalor France | Gold |
| Metalor Technologies (Hong Kong) Ltd. (China)* | Gold |
| Metalor Technologies (Hong Kong) Ltd. (Hong Kong)* | Gold |
| Metalor Technologies (Singapore) Pte., Ltd. * | Gold |
| Metalor Technologies (Suzhou) Ltd. | Gold |
| Metalor Technologies S.A. * | Gold |
| Metalor USA Refining Corporation * | Gold |
| Met-Mex Penoles, S.A. * | Gold |
| Mitsubishi Materials Corporation * | Gold |
| Mitsui Mining and Smelting Co., Ltd. * | Gold |
| MK Electronics | Gold |
| MMTC-PAMP India Pvt., Ltd. * | Gold |
| Morris and Watson | Gold |
| Moscow Special Alloys Processing Plant * | Gold |
| N.E. Chemcat Corporation | Gold |
| Nadir Metal Rafineri San. Ve Tic. A.Ş. * | Gold |
| Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combinat * | Gold |
| Neomax Hitachi | Gold |
| Nihon Material Co., Ltd. * | Gold |
| Niihama Nickel Refinery | Gold |
| Ningbo Kangqiang | Gold |
| Nippon Micrometal Corporation | Gold |
| Ögussa Österreichische Gold- und Silber-Scheideanstalt GmbH * | Gold |
| Ohio Precious Metals, LLC * | Gold |
| Ohura Precious Metal Industry Co., Ltd. * | Gold |
| OJSC “The Gulidov Krasnoyarsk Non-Ferrous Metals Plant” (OJSC Krastvetmet) * | Gold |
| OJSC Kolyma Refinery | Gold |
| OJSC Novosibirsk Refinery * | Gold |
|
| |
| Smelters and Refiners | Metal |
| PAMP S.A. * | Gold |
| Penglai Penggang Gold Industry Co., Ltd. | Gold |
| Perth Mint * | Gold |
| Prioksky Plant of Non-Ferrous Metals * | Gold |
| PT Aneka Tambang (Persero) Tbk * | Gold |
| PX Précinox S.A. * | Gold |
| Rand Refinery (Pty) Ltd. * | Gold |
| Realized the Enterprise Co., Ltd. | Gold |
| Republic Metals Corporation * | Gold |
| Royal Canadian Mint * | Gold |
| Rui Sheng | Gold |
| Sabin Metal Corp. | Gold |
| Samduck Precious Metals | Gold |
| Samwon Metals Corp. | Gold |
| SAXONIA Edelmetalle GmbH | Gold |
| Schone Edelmetaal B.V. * | Gold |
| Scotia Mocatta | Gold |
| ScotiaMocatta, The Bank of Nova Scotia | Gold |
| SEMPSA Joyería Platería S.A. * | Gold |
| Senju Metal Industry Co., Ltd. | Gold |
| Sewon Korea | Gold |
| Shandon Jin Jinyin Refining Limited | Gold |
| Shandong Jun Mai Fu | Gold |
| Shandong Tarzan Bio-Gold Industry Co., Ltd. | Gold |
| Shandong Zhaojin Gold & Silver Refinery Co., Ltd. * | Gold |
| Shangdong Gold (Laizhou) * | Gold |
| Shanghai Gold Exchange | Gold |
| Shanghai Kyocera Electronics Co. Ltd. | Gold |
| Shen Zhen Thousand Island Ltd. | Gold |
| Shenzhen Fujun Material Technology Co., Ltd. | Gold |
| Shenzhen Heng Zhong Industry Co., Ltd. | Gold |
| Shenzhen Tiancheng Chemical Co. Ltd. | Gold |
| ShenZhen urban pubic bureau of China | Gold |
| Shinko Electric Industries Co., Ltd. | Gold |
| Sichuan Tianze Precious Metals Co., Ltd. * | Gold |
| Singway Technology Co., Ltd. * | Gold |
| SOE Shyolkovsky Factory of Secondary Precious Metals * | Gold |
| Sojitz | Gold |
| Solar Applied Materials Technology Corp. * | Gold |
| Soochow University’s | Gold |
| Standard Bank | Gold |
| Sudan Gold Refinery | Gold |
| Sumisho | Gold |
| Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. * | Gold |
| Suzhou Xingrui Noble | Gold |
| T.C.A S.p.A * | Gold |
| Taizhou Changsanjiao Co., Ltd. | Gold |
| Tai’zhou City Yangtze River Delta Electron Ltd. | Gold |
| Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K. * | Gold |
|
| |
| Smelters and Refiners | Metal |
| Technic, Inc. | Gold |
| The Great Wall Gold and Silver Refinery of China * | Gold |
| THE HUTTI GOLD MINES CO.LTD | Gold |
| Tokuriki Honten Co., Ltd. * | Gold |
| Torecom | Gold |
| UBS AG | Gold |
| Umicore Brasil Ltda. * | Gold |
| Umicore Galvanotechnik GmbH | Gold |
| Umicore Precious Metals Thailand * | Gold |
| Umicore S.A. Business Unit Precious Metals Refining * | Gold |
| United Precious Metal Refining, Inc. * | Gold |
| United Refining | Gold |
| Uyemura | Gold |
| Valcambi S.A. * | Gold |
| WIELAND Edelmetalle GmbH | Gold |
| Williams/ Williams Brewster | Gold |
| Wuxi Middle Treasure Materials | Gold |
| Yamamoto Precious Metal Co., Ltd. * | Gold |
| Yantai Zhaojin Precious Metals Co., Ltd. | Gold |
| Yokohama Metal Co., Ltd. * | Gold |
| Yueqing Chemical & Light Industry & Building Materials Co., Ltd. | Gold |
| Yunnan Chengfeng | Gold |
| Yunnan Metallurgical Group Co., Ltd. | Gold |
| Zhe Jiang Guang Yuan Noble Metal Smelting Factory | Gold |
| Zhongshan Public Security Bureau, Guangdong Province, China | Gold |
| Zhongyuan Gold Smelter of Zhongjin Gold Corporation * | Gold |
| Zijin Mining Industry Corporation * | Gold |
| Avon Specialty Metals Ltd. | Tantalum |
| Changsha South Tantalum Niobium Co., Ltd. * | Tantalum |
| Conghua Tantalum and Niobium Smeltry * | Tantalum |
| D Block Metals, LLC * | Tantalum |
| Douluoshan Sapphire Rare Metal Co.Ltd.* | Tantalum |
| E.S.R. Electronics | Tantalum |
| Exotech Inc. * | Tantalum |
| F&X Electro-Materials Ltd. * | Tantalum |
| FIR Metals & Resource Ltd. * | Tantalum |
| Gannon & Scott | Tantalum |
| Ganzhou Grand Sea W & Mo Group Co. Ltd. | Tantalum |
| Global Advanced Metals Aizu * | Tantalum |
| Global Advanced Metals Boyertown * | Tantalum |
| Guangdong Zhiyuan New Material Co., Ltd. * | Tantalum |
| Guizhou Zhenhua Xinyun Technology Ltd., Kaili Branch | Tantalum |
| H.C. Starck Co., Ltd. * | Tantalum |
| H.C. Starck GmbH Goslar * | Tantalum |
| H.C. Starck GmbH Laufenburg * | Tantalum |
| H.C. Starck Hermsdorf GmbH * | Tantalum |
| H.C. Starck Inc. * | Tantalum |
| H.C. Starck Ltd. * | Tantalum |
| H.C. Starck Smelting GmbH & Co. KG * | Tantalum |
|
| |
| Smelters and Refiners | Metal |
| Hengyang King Xing Lifeng New Materials Co., Ltd. * | Tantalum |
| Hi-Temp * | Tantalum |
| Jiangxi Dinghai Tantalum & Niobium Co., Ltd. * | Tantalum |
| JiuJiang JinXin Nonferrous Metals Co., Ltd. * | Tantalum |
| Jiujiang Tanbre Co., Ltd. * | Tantalum |
| Jiujiang Zhongao Tantalum & Niobium Co., Ltd. * | Tantalum |
| KEMET Blue Metals * | Tantalum |
| Kemet Blue Powder * | Tantalum |
| King-Tan Tantalum Industry Ltd. * | Tantalum |
| LSM Brasil S.A. * | Tantalum |
| Metallurgical Products India Pvt. Ltd. (MPIL) * | Tantalum |
| Mineração Taboca S.A. * | Tantalum |
| Mitsui Mining & Smelting * | Tantalum |
| Molycorp Silmet A.S. * | Tantalum |
| Ningxia Orient Tantalum Industry Co., Ltd. * | Tantalum |
| Nippon Mining & Metals | Tantalum |
| Plansee SE Liezen * | Tantalum |
| Plansee SE Reutte * | Tantalum |
| QuantumClean * | Tantalum |
| Resind Indústria e Comércio Ltda. * | Tantalum |
| RFH * | Tantalum |
| Shanghai Jiangxi Metals Co. Ltd | Tantalum |
| Solikamsk Metal Works * | Tantalum |
| Taki Chemicals * | Tantalum |
| Telex Metals * | Tantalum |
| Tranzact, Inc. * | Tantalum |
| Ulba Metallurgical Plant JSC * | Tantalum |
| XinXing HaoRong Electronic Material Co., Ltd. * | Tantalum |
| Yichun Jin Yang Rare Metal Co., Ltd. * | Tantalum |
| Zhuzhou | Tantalum |
| Zhuzhou Cemented Carbide Group * | Tantalum |
| 5N Plus | Tin |
| AK Steel Corp. | Tin |
| Aleris | Tin |
| Alpha * | Tin |
| Alpha Metals Korea Ltd. | Tin |
| Alrec | Tin |
| Aluminum Alloys Inc. | Tin |
| Aluminum Resources | Tin |
| Amalgamated Metals Corporation, Ketabang | Tin |
| Amalgamet (United States) | Tin |
| Amalgamet Inc. (Peru) | Tin |
| American Iron and Metal (Canada) | Tin |
| American Iron and Metal (United States) | Tin |
| Ampere Polska Sp. z o.o. (trader) | Tin |
| An Thai Minerals Company Limited | Tin |
| An Vinh Joint Stock Mineral Processing Company | Tin |
| An Xin Xuan Xin Yue You Se Jin Shu Co. Ltd. | Tin |
| Aoki Loboratories Ltd. | Tin |
|
| |
| Smelters and Refiners | Metal |
| Arco Alloys | Tin |
| Asahi Solder Tech (Wuxi) Co. Ltd. | Tin |
| Assaf Conductors Ltd. | Tin |
| ATI Metalworking Products | Tin |
| Atlantic Metals | Tin |
| Atlas Pacific | Tin |
| AURA-II | Tin |
| Ausmelt Limited | Tin |
| Ayrubis | Tin |
| Balver Zinn | Tin |
| Beijing Oriental Guide Welding Materials Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Best Metals | Tin |
| BNT Chemicals Gmbh | Tin |
| Bonoka.Beliting INDONESIA | Tin |
| Brinkmann Chemie AG | Tin |
| Britannia Refined Metals Ltd. | Tin |
| C. Hafner GmbH + Co. KG | Tin |
| CFC Cooperativa dos Fundidores de Cassiterita da Amazonia Ltda. | Tin |
| Chenzhou Gold Arrow Solder Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Chenzhou Yun Xiang mining limited liability company | Tin |
| Chernan Technology Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| China Rare Metal Material Co., Ltd. * | Tin |
| CNMC (Guangxi) PGMA Co. Ltd. | Tin |
| Colonial Metals Co. | Tin |
| Continental | Tin |
| Cookson Alpha Metals(Shenzhen)Co.Ltd | Tin |
| Cooper Santa * | Tin |
| COPPER 100 | Tin |
| CSC Pure Technologies | Tin |
| CV Ayi Jaya * | Tin |
| CV Dua Sekawan | Tin |
| CV Duta Putra Bangka | Tin |
| CV Gita Pesona * | Tin |
| CV Justindo * | Tin |
| CV Makmur Jaya | Tin |
| CV Serumpun Sebalai * | Tin |
| CV United Smelting * | Tin |
| CV Venus Inti Perkasa * | Tin |
| Dae Kil | Tin |
| Daewoo International | Tin |
| Darley Dale Smelter | Tin |
| Dongguan Yuecheng Metal Materials Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Dowa * | Tin |
| Dr.-Ing. Max Schloetter GmbH & Co. KG | Tin |
| Duksan Hi-Metal | Tin |
| Duoluoshan Sapphire Rare Metal Co. Ltd | Tin |
| Eastern Alloys | Tin |
| Electroloy Metal Co. Ltd | Tin |
| Electroloy Metal Pte | Tin |
|
| |
| Smelters and Refiners | Metal |
| Electro-Mechanical Facility of the Cao Bang Minerals & Metallurgy Joint Stock Company | Tin |
| Elmet S.L.U. (Metallo Group) * | Tin |
| EM Vinto * | Tin |
| Essar Steel Algoma | Tin |
| Estanho de Rondônia S.A. | Tin |
| E-tech Philippines | Tin |
| Eximetal S.A. | Tin |
| Feinhütte Halsbrücke GmbH | Tin |
| Felder GmbH - Löttechnik | Tin |
| Fenix Metals * | Tin |
| Ferro Alloys de México, S.A. de C.V. | Tin |
| First Copper Technology Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Fuji Metal Mining Corp. | Tin |
| Funsur | Tin |
| Furukawa Electric | Tin |
| Gebrueder | Tin |
| Gejiu Gold Smelter Minerals Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Gejiu Non-Ferrous Metal Processing Co., Ltd. * | Tin |
| Gejiu Yunxin Nonferrous Electrolysis Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Gejiu Zi-Li | Tin |
| Gold Bell Group | Tin |
| Goodway | Tin |
| Grant Manufacturing and Alloying | Tin |
| H. Kramer & Co. | Tin |
| Hana-High Metal | Tin |
| Hanbaek Nonferrous Metals | Tin |
| HeChi Metallurgical Chemical factory | Tin |
| Heesung Material Ltd. | Tin |
| Heimerle und Meule | Tin |
| Heraeus Materials Singapore Pte, Ltd. | Tin |
| Heraeus Oriental Hitec Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Heraeus Precious Metals | Tin |
| Heraeus Zhaoyuan Changshu Electronic Material Co., Ltd | Tin |
| High Quality Technology Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| High-Power Surface Technology | Tin |
| Hitachi Cable | Tin |
| HL Thorne | Tin |
| Hong-Qiao Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Hua Eng Wire & Cable Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Huanggang City Tongding Metallic Material Co. Ltd. | Tin |
| HuiChang Hill Tin Industry Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Huichang Jinshunda Tin Co. Ltd. | Tin |
| Hunan Chun-chang Non-ferrous Smelting & Concentrating Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Hyundai-Steel | Tin |
| IBF Industria Brasileira de Ferroligas Ltda. | Tin |
| IMC-MetalsAmerica, LLC | Tin |
| Impag AG | Tin |
| Imperial Zinc | Tin |
| Inbra Industria E Comercio de Metais Ltda. | Tin |
|
| |
| Smelters and Refiners | Metal |
| Indonesian Tin Ingot | Tin |
| Ing. Josef Kořínek | Tin |
| International Wire Group, Inc | Tin |
| IPS | Tin |
| Ishihara Chemical Co. Ltd. | Tin |
| Ishikawa Metal Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Japan New Metals Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Jau Janq Enterprise Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Jean Goldschmidt International | Tin |
| Jia Tian | Tin |
| Jiangmen Huayuan Industry Co. Ltd. | Tin |
| Jiangxi Copper Corporation (JCC) | Tin |
| JiangXi JiaWang | Tin |
| Jiangxi Nanshan | Tin |
| Jin Zhou | Tin |
| Ju Tai Industrial Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Kai Unita Trade Limited Liability Company | Tin |
| Kalas Wire | Tin |
| Karas Plating Ltd. | Tin |
| Katapang | Tin |
| Keeling & Walker | Tin |
| Kewei Tin Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Kiesow Dr. Brinkmann | Tin |
| Kihong T&G | Tin |
| KME Germany | Tin |
| Koepp Schaum GmbH | Tin |
| Koki Japan | Tin |
| Koki Products Co., Ltd | Tin |
| Kovohutě Příbram Nástupnická, A.S. | Tin |
| Kunming High-tech Industrial Developing Area | Tin |
| Kuntai | Tin |
| Kupol | Tin |
| Leybold Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Lian Xing Plating Factory | Tin |
| Lingbao Jinyuan tonghu | Tin |
| Linwu Xianggui Smelter Co | Tin |
| Liuzhhou China Tin * | Tin |
| LS-Nikko Copper Inc | Tin |
| Lupon Enterprise Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| M&R Claushuis BV | Tin |
| Ma On Shuguang Smelting Plant | Tin |
| MacDermid | Tin |
| Magnesium Elekton Inc. | Tin |
| Magnu’s Minerais Metais e Ligas Ltda. * | Tin |
| Malaysia Smelting Corporation (MSC) * | Tin |
| Materials Eco-Refining Co. Ltd. | Tin |
| MCP Metal Specialist Inc. | Tin |
| MCP Mining & Chemical Products Ltd. UK | Tin |
| Mecomsa, S.A. de C.V. | Tin |
|
| |
| Smelters and Refiners | Metal |
| Medeko Cast s.r.o. | Tin |
| Melt Metais e Ligas S/A * | Tin |
| Meng neng | Tin |
| MENTPL | Tin |
| Metahub Industries Sdn. Bhd. | Tin |
| Met-AL | Tin |
| Metallic Resources, Inc. * | Tin |
| Metallo-Chimique N.V. * | Tin |
| Metalor | Tin |
| Metropolitan Alloys Corp | Tin |
| Millard Wire | Tin |
| Minchali Metal Industry | Tin |
| Mineração Taboca S.A. * | Tin |
| Mineral-Metal s.r.o. | Tin |
| Ming Li Jia smelt Metal Factory | Tin |
| Minmetals Ganzhou Tin Co. Ltd. | Tin |
| Minsur * | Tin |
| Mits-Tec (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. | Tin |
| Mitsubishi Electric Metecs Co. Ltd. | Tin |
| Mitsubishi Materials Corporation * | Tin |
| Monette | Tin |
| Multiple Xin Precision Metal Electroplating Factory | Tin |
| N.E. Chemcat Corporation | Tin |
| Nathan Trotter & Co., Inc. | Tin |
| Neuhaus | Tin |
| Nghe Tinh Non-Ferrous Metals Joint Stock Company | Tin |
| Nihon Genma MFG Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Nihon Genma MFG Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Nihon Kagaku Sangyo Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Nihon Superior Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Ningbo Jintian copper (Group ) Company Limited | Tin |
| Nippon Filler Metals Ltd. | Tin |
| Norteña de Metales, S.A. | Tin |
| North Star BlueScope Steel, LLC | Tin |
| Novosibirsk Integrated Tin Works | Tin |
| Nucor Steel | Tin |
| O.M. Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd. * | Tin |
| O.M. Manufacturing Philippines, Inc. * | Tin |
| OMSA * | Tin |
| Palm International | Tin |
| Phoenix Metal Ltd. | Tin |
| Poongsan Corporation | Tin |
| Posco | Tin |
| Prifer Com de Sucata | Tin |
| Productos Minerales del Norte S.A. de C.V. | Tin |
| PT Alam Lestari Kencana | Tin |
| PT Aries Kencana Sejahtera * | Tin |
| PT Artha Cipta Langgeng * | Tin |
| PT ATD Makmur Mandiri Jaya * | Tin |
|
| |
| Smelters and Refiners | Metal |
| PT Babel Inti Perkasa * | Tin |
| PT Babel Surya Alam Lestari | Tin |
| PT Bangka Kudai Tin | Tin |
| PT Bangka Prima Tin * | Tin |
| PT Bangka Putra Karya | Tin |
| PT Bangka Timah Utama Sejahtera | Tin |
| PT Bangka Tin Industry * | Tin |
| PT Belitung Industri Sejahtera * | Tin |
| PT BilliTin Makmur Lestari * | Tin |
| PT Bukit Timah * | Tin |
| PT Cipta Persada Mulia * | Tin |
| PT Citra Logam AlphaSejahtera | Tin |
| PT DS Jaya Abadi * | Tin |
| PT Eunindo Usaha Mandiri * | Tin |
| PT Fang Di MulTindo | Tin |
| PT Hanjaya Perksas Metals | Tin |
| PT HP Metals Indonesia | Tin |
| PT Inti Stania Prima * | Tin |
| PT Karimun Mining | Tin |
| PT Koba Tin | Tin |
| PT Mitra Stania Prima * | Tin |
| PT Panca Mega Persada * | Tin |
| PT Pelat Timah Nusantara Tbk | Tin |
| PT Prima Timah Utama * | Tin |
| PT Refined Bangka Tin * | Tin |
| PT Sariwiguna Binasentosa * | Tin |
| PT Seirama Tin Investment | Tin |
| PT Singkep Times Utama | Tin |
| PT Stanindo Inti Perkasa * | Tin |
| PT Sukses Inti Makmur * | Tin |
| PT Sumber Jaya Indah * | Tin |
| PT Supra Sukses Trinusa | Tin |
| PT Tambang Timah * | Tin |
| PT Timah * | Tin |
| PT Tinindo Inter Nusa * | Tin |
| PT Tirus Putra Mandiri | Tin |
| PT Tommy Utama * | Tin |
| PT Wahana Perkit Jaya * | Tin |
| PT Yinchendo Mining Industry | Tin |
| PT.Tanloaug Tinah | Tin |
| Pure Technology | Tin |
| Pure Technology | Tin |
| Qualitek delta philippines | Tin |
| Rahman Hydrulic Tin Sdn Bhd | Tin |
| Redring Solder (M) SDN BHD | Tin |
| Redsun | Tin |
| Resind Indústria e Comércio Ltda. * | Tin |
| Ritchey Metals | Tin |
| Rohm & Hass | Tin |
|
| |
| Smelters and Refiners | Metal |
| Rohm und Haas | Tin |
| RSI | Tin |
| RST | Tin |
| Rui Da Hung * | Tin |
| S Company | Tin |
| Samatron | Tin |
| Samhwa Non-ferrorus Metal Ind. Co. Ltd | Tin |
| Samtec | Tin |
| San-Etsu Metals | Tin |
| seirenngyousya | Tin |
| Senju Metal Industry Co. (SMIC) | Tin |
| Sevotrans | Tin |
| SGS Bolivia S.A. | Tin |
| Shan Tou Shi Yong Yuan Jin Shu Zai Sheng Co. Ltd. | Tin |
| Shanghai Hubao Coppe | Tin |
| Shanghai Yuanhao Surface Finishing Co. Ltd. | Tin |
| ShangHai YueQiang Metal Products Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Shao Xing Tian Long Tin Matewrials Co. Ltd. | Tin |
| Shapiro | Tin |
| Shen Zhen Rui Yun Feng Industry Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Shenmao Technology Inc. | Tin |
| Shenzhen Chemicals & Light Industry Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Shenzhen City Thai Industrial Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Shenzhen Keaixin Technology | Tin |
| Shenzhen New Jin Spring Solder Products Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Shenzhen Yi Cheng Industrial | Tin |
| Showa KaKo | Tin |
| Shuer Der Industry (Jiangsu) Co. Ltd. | Tin |
| Singapore Asahi Chemical & Solder Industries | Tin |
| Singapore LME Tin | Tin |
| Sinitron, Shenmao Solder (M) Sdn. Bhd. | Tin |
| Sizer Metals PTE Ltd. | Tin |
| SMIC SENJU MALAYSIA | Tin |
| Snow up to the City of Suzhou Chemical Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Soft Metais Ltda. * | Tin |
| Solder Coat Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Solderindo | Tin |
| Sorimetal | Tin |
| STANCHEM Sp. j. (trader) | Tin |
| Steel Dynamics | Tin |
| Stretti | Tin |
| Sundwigger Messingwerk | Tin |
| Suzhou Feixiang Solder Materials Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Suzhou Jinyi Jewelry Factory | Tin |
| Swissmetal | Tin |
| Swopes Salvage | Tin |
| Taiwan Total Co. Ltd. | Tin |
| Talcang City Nankang Metal Materila Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Tamura | Tin |
|
| |
| Smelters and Refiners | Metal |
| Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K. | Tin |
| TAP | Tin |
| TCC steel | Tin |
| TDK | Tin |
| Technic | Tin |
| Tennent Metal PTY Ltd. | Tin |
| Termomecanica | Tin |
| Thai Solder Industry Corp.,Ltd. | Tin |
| Thailand Smelting & Refining Co.Ltd.* | Tin |
| The Miller Company | Tin |
| Tianshui Longbo Business & Trade Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Todini and Co. SPA | Tin |
| Traxys | Tin |
| Trialco | Tin |
| Tuyen Quang Non-Ferrous Metals Joint Stock Company | Tin |
| Uni Bros Metal PTE Ltd. | Tin |
| Uniforce Metal Industrial Corp. | Tin |
| United Smelter | Tin |
| Univertical Corp | Tin |
| Untracore Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Unvertical International(Suzhou)Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Vertex Metals Incorporation | Tin |
| Vinto | Tin |
| Vitkovicke slevarny | Tin |
| VQB Mineral and Trading Group JSC * | Tin |
| Welley | Tin |
| Well-Lin Enterprise Co. Ltd. | Tin |
| Western Australian Mint trading as The Perth Mint | Tin |
| Westfalenzinn | Tin |
| White Solder Metalurgia e Mineração Ltda. * | Tin |
| Wieland Metals | Tin |
| Wieland Werke AG | Tin |
| Wilhelm Westmetall, Germany | Tin |
| Wu Xi Shi Yi Zheng Ji Xie She Bei Company | Tin |
| Wuxi Lantronic Electronic Co. Ltd. | Tin |
| Wuxi Yunxi | Tin |
| XiHai | Tin |
| Xin Wang Copper Smelter | Tin |
| Xingrui Noble Metal Material Co. Ltd. | Tin |
| Xinmao Tin Corp., Ltd. | Tin |
| Yantai ZhaoJin Kasfort Precious Incorporated Company | Tin |
| Yifeng Tin Industry (Chenzhou) Co. Ltd. | Tin |
| Yokohama Metal Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| YTMM | Tin |
| Yun’an Dian’xi Tin Mine | Tin |
| Yunnan Chengfeng Non-ferrous Metals Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Yunnan Chengo Electric Smelting Plant | Tin |
| YunNan GeJiu Jin Ye Mineral Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Yunnan Tin Company, Ltd. * | Tin |
|
| |
| Smelters and Refiners | Metal |
| Yunnan Xiangyunfeilong Non-Ferrous Metals Co. Ltd. | Tin |
| Yuntinic Chemical GmbH | Tin |
| Yutinic Reousrces | Tin |
| Zhangzhou Macro Real Non-Ferrous Metals | Tin |
| Zhangzhou Xiangcheng Hongyu Building Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Zhaojin Gold and Silver Refinery Limited | Tin |
| Zhejiang Huangyan Xinqian Electrical Equipment Fittings Factory | Tin |
| ZhongShi | Tin |
| Zhongyuan Gold Smelter of Zhongjin Gold Corporation | Tin |
| Zhuhai Horyison Solder Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| Zhuzhou Smelter Group Co., Ltd. | Tin |
| A.L.M.T. TUNGSTEN Corp. * | Tungsten |
| Asia Tungsten Products Vietnam Ltd. * | Tungsten |
| Chongyi Zhangyuan Tungsten Co., Ltd. * | Tungsten |
| Dayu Jincheng Tungsten Industry Co., Ltd. | Tungsten |
| Dayu Weiliang Tungsten Co., Ltd. | Tungsten |
| Fujian Jinxin Tungsten Co., Ltd. * | Tungsten |
| Ganxian Shirui New Material Co., Ltd. | Tungsten |
| Ganzhou Huaxing Tungsten Products Co., Ltd. * | Tungsten |
| Ganzhou Jiangwu Ferrotungsten Co., Ltd. * | Tungsten |
| Ganzhou Non-ferrous Metals Smelting Co., Ltd. | Tungsten |
| Ganzhou Seadragon W & Mo Co., Ltd. * | Tungsten |
| Ganzhou Sinda W & Mo Co. Ltd. | Tungsten |
| Ganzhou Yatai Tungsten Co., Ltd. * | Tungsten |
| Global Tungsten & Powders Corp. * | Tungsten |
| Guangdong Xianglu Tungsten Industry Co., Ltd. * | Tungsten |
| H.C. Starck GmbH * | Tungsten |
| H.C. Starck Smelting GmbH & Co. KG * | Tungsten |
| Hunan Chenzhou Mining Co., Ltd. * | Tungsten |
| Hunan Chuangda Vanadium Tungsten Co., Ltd. Wuji * | Tungsten |
| Hunan Chuangda Vanadium Tungsten Co., Ltd. Yanglin | Tungsten |
| Hunan Chunchang Nonferrous Metals Co., Ltd. * | Tungsten |
| Hydrometallurg, JSC * | Tungsten |
| Japan New Metals Co., Ltd. * | Tungsten |
| Jiangwu H.C. Starck Tungsten Products Co., Ltd. | Tungsten |
| Jiangxi Gan Bei Tungsten Co., Ltd. * | Tungsten |
| Jiangxi Minmetals Gao’an Non-ferrous Metals Co., Ltd. | Tungsten |
| Jiangxi Richsea New Materials Co., Ltd. | Tungsten |
| Jiangxi Tonggu Non-ferrous Metallurgical & Chemical Co., Ltd. | Tungsten |
| Jiangxi Xinsheng Tungsten Industry Co., Ltd. | Tungsten |
| Jiangxi Xiushui Xianggan Nonferrous Metals Co., Ltd. * | Tungsten |
| Jiangxi Yaosheng Tungsten Co., Ltd. | Tungsten |
| JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation | Tungsten |
| Kennametal Huntsville * | Tungsten |
| Kennametal Inc. | Tungsten |
| Malipo Haiyu Tungsten Co., Ltd. * | Tungsten |
| Niagara Refining LLC * | Tungsten |
| Nui Phao H.C. Starck Tungsten Chemicals Manufacturing LLC * | Tungsten |
| Sanher Tungsten Vietnam Co., Ltd. | Tungsten |
|
| |
| Smelters and Refiners | Metal |
| Tejing (Vietnam) Tungsten Co., Ltd. * | Tungsten |
| Vietnam Youngsun Tungsten Industry Co., Ltd. * | Tungsten |
| Wolfram Bergbau und Hütten AG * | Tungsten |
| Wolfram Company CJSC | Tungsten |
| Wolfram JSC, Russia | Tungsten |
| Xiamen Tungsten (H.C.) Co., Ltd. * | Tungsten |
| Xiamen Tungsten Co., Ltd. * | Tungsten |
| Xinhai Rendan Shaoguan Tungsten Co., Ltd. * | Tungsten |
| Zhuzhou Cemented Carbide Group Co. Ltd.* | Tungsten |
* Indicates smelters and refiners which have received a “conflict free” designation from the CFSP.
SOR Verification
SORs, given their position upstream in the supply chain, are in a better position to know the source of 3TG coming into their facilities. Therefore, we attempted to identify risks in the supply chain by assessing the due diligence practices of the SORs associated with the identified components.
Less than half of the responding 3TG suppliers provided SOR information for all applicable metals, and those that provided such information identified hundreds of entities alleged to be SORs. If SOR information was provided by a supplier, GreenSoft attempted to verify that the entities identified as SORs were actually metals processors. Where it was found that the name of an entity provided as an SOR was not directly involved in the smelting, refining or recycling of the relevant metal, the supplier who provided the information was contacted to attempt to obtain additional information about the origin of its 3TG.
If a SOR name was verified as a metals processor, then GreenSoft attempted to match the SOR to available lists of SORs that have been certified by internationally recognized validation programs, such as the CFSI Conflict-Free Smelter Program and the London Bullion Market Association Good Delivery Program. Suppliers associated with certified SORs were assumed to have responsibly obtained the relevant 3TG from sources that did not directly or indirectly finance or otherwise benefit armed groups in the Covered Countries. If a SOR was not certified by an internationally recognized validation program, GreenSoft (i) attempted to contact the SOR to gain more information about its sourcing practices and (ii) conducted additional research regarding the SOR’s sourcing practices.
Considerations Regarding Survey Responses
Although information was requested specifically for the components in our products, a portion of the suppliers responded generally to the survey, providing the same answers that they provided to every customer requesting conflict mineral information. Therefore, we were unable to determine whether any 3TG reported by those suppliers was actually in our products or to validate that any of the identified SORs were actually in our supply chain.
Conclusion
For the 2015 reporting period, we do not have conclusive information regarding the country of origin of, or facilities used to process, all components containing 3TG. Our efforts to determine the mine or location of origin of the necessary conflict minerals in the components with the greatest possible specificity consisted of the due diligence measures described in this Report, and although a portion of the SORs identified were matched to certified lists, not all necessary conflict minerals in the components containing 3TG were confirmed to be sourced from all certified SORs. Because the majority of information received from our contract manufacturers’ immediate suppliers was not complete, accurate or reliable, and taking into account the considerations regarding survey responses described above, the verification and quality assurance processes described above are ongoing.
Supply Chain Risk Management and Mitigation
Due to the breadth and complexity of our products and respective supply chain, it will take time for the various supply chain and industry participants to institute programs and agreed processes to gather verifiable information on conflict minerals sourcing and chain of custody. Our due diligence program is an iterative process and progress will be incremental over time. Using our supply chain due diligence processes, driving accountability within the supply chain by leveraging the industry standard CFSI/CFSP, and continuing our outreach efforts, we hope to further develop transparency into our supply chain.
During 2016, we plan to continue to review and further develop our due diligence program with respect to 3TG. As part of these efforts, we expect to:
| |
| • | Enhance supplier communication to improve the response rate and accuracy of suppliers’ smelters surveys to determine conflict mineral status. |
| |
| • | Identify suppliers utilizing non-CFSP compliant smelters and, if alternate CFSP-compliant suppliers are available and approved for use, remove them from the approved vendor list until such time as they become CFSP compliant. |
Independent Third-Party Audit of SOR due Diligence Practices
We do not have a direct relationship with any SORs, and therefore we do not perform direct audits of the due diligence practices of these entities. We must instead rely on internationally recognized validation programs that facilitate independent third-party audits of SORs and validate that an SOR has met the requirements of the OECD Guidance. Furthermore, we rely upon industry (for example, EICC and CFSI) efforts to influence smelters and refineries to get audited and certified through the CFSP.
Report on Supply Chain Due Diligence
As indicated in the Form SD, this Report is publicly available on our website at www.windstream.com.
