The electronics industry, including HiDeep, uses tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold (called 3TG or Conflict Minerals) in the production of various products. These metals are extracted from
the minerals casserite, columbite-tantalite, wolframite and gold ore, some of which may be mined or traded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and adjoining countries(DRC).
Unfortunately, the minerals are used for direct and indirect funding of armed groups engaged in conflict and human rights abuses are occurred in the process.
On August 22, 2012, the US Securities and Exchange Commission(the SEC) released final rules relating to Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act(Dodd-Frank act)
that require all public companies to annually disclose and report to the SEC whether any of their products contain 3TG minerals that may have originated from mines in the Democratic
Republic of Congo or any adjoining country that support armed groups or rebels in the region.