## Patents and Trademarks 

The Company owns or has the right to use approximately 320 patents and approximately 878 trademarks related to its business. Our patents expire between 2014 and 2036. Our trademarks continue indefinitely. The Company believes that its rights under its existing patents, patent applications and trademarks are of value to its operations, but no one patent, application or trademark is material to the conduct of the Company's business as a whole. 

## Insurance 

The Company maintains liability and property insurance and insurance for business interruption in the event of damage to its production facilities and certain other insurance covering risks associated with its business. The Company believes such insurance is adequate for the operation of its business. There is no assurance that in the future the Company will be able to maintain the coverage currently in place or that the premiums will not increase substantially. 

## Employees 

At December 31, 2013, the Company employed 1,978 persons, of whom 1,010 were employed outside of the United States. 

## Environmental, Health and Safety Matters 

The Company’s operations are subject to federal, state, local and foreign laws an d regulations relating to the environment and health and safety. Certain of the Company’s operations involve and have involved the use and release of substances that have  been and are classified as toxic or hazardous within the meaning of these laws and regulations. Environmental operating permits are, or may be, required for certain of the Company’s operations and such permits are subject to modification, renewal and revocation . The Company regularly monitors and reviews its operations, procedures and policies for compliance with these laws and regulations. The Company believes its operations are in substantial compliance with these laws and regulations and that there are no violations that would have a material effect on the Company. Despite these compliance efforts, some risk of environmental and other damage is inherent in the Company’s operations, as it is with other companies engaged in similar businesses, and there can be no assura nce that material violations will not occur in the future. The cost of compliance with these laws and regulations is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company. 

Laws and regulations are subject to change. See Item 1A, Risk Factors, for information regarding the possible effects that compliance with new environmental laws and regulations, including those relating to climate change, may have on our businesses and operating results. 

Under the terms of certain agreements entered into in connection with the Company's initial public offering in 1992, Pfizer Inc ("Pfizer") agreed to indemnify the Company against certain liabilities being retained by Pfizer and its subsidiaries including, but not limited to, pending lawsuits and claims, and any lawsuits or claims brought at any time in the future alleging damages or injury from the use, handling of or exposure to any product sold by Pfizer's specialty minerals business prior to the closing of the initial public offering. 

## Available Information 

The Company maintains an internet website located at http://www.mineralstech.com. Its reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, and amendments to those reports, as well as its Proxy Statement and filings under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are available free of charge through the Investor Relations page of its website, as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Investors may access these reports through the Company's website by navigating to "Investor Relations" and then to "SEC Filings." 

Financial information concerning our business segments and the geographical areas in which we operate appears in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Information related to our executive officers is included in Item 1 0, “Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.” 

## Item 1A. Risk Factors 

Our business faces significant risks. Set forth below are all risks that we believe are material at this time. Our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks. These risks should be read in conjunction with the other information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. 

## x Worldwide general economic, business, and industry conditions have had, and may continue to have, an adverse effect on the Company’s results. 

The global economic instability of the past few years has caused, among other things, declining consumer and business confidence, volatile raw material prices, instability in credit markets, high unemployment, fluctuating interest and exchange rates, 

