FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SMART SAND, PROVIDER OF HIGH QUALITY PROPPANT TO THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY, ANNOUNCES MAJOR INVESTMENT IN OAKDALE WISCONSIN FACILITY
Provider of Premium “Northern White” Frac Sand has Extensive Reserve Base and Key Transportation Links; Clearlake Capital Group is Sole Sponsor
Fairless Hills, PA and Santa Monica, CA – June 6, 2012 – Smart Sand, Inc. (“Smart Sand” or the “Company”) and Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. (“Clearlake”) today announced a major investment in the Company’s state-of-the-art frac sand facility in Oakdale, Wisconsin. The facility, located on more than 1,100 acres, has an initial processing capacity of over one million tons per year, an extensive base of in-place.
Smart Sand was founded in 2010 to supply much-needed high-quality proppant to the unconventional oil and gas industry. The Oakdale facility is strategically located on a major rail line, which will enable reliable, cost-effective delivery of large volumes of premium Northern White frac sand direct to key producing regions, including the Bakken and Eagle Ford formations, and the Utica and Marcellus shales. Smart Sand’s extensive reserve base will allow it to produce a wide range of products for the production of unconventional oil and gas including 20/40, 30/50, and 40/70 mesh sizes.
Charles Young, founder, president and board member of Smart Sand, said, “We are very pleased to announce the construction of this facility, which will provide reliable supplies of high-quality frac sand to our industry partners. With an extensive reserve base, Smart Sand will be able to easily expand its processing capacity and adjust its production mix to accommodate customer needs in the highly dynamic unconventional oil and gas market. Smart Sand’s value proposition and logistical advantages are clear, and we are also pleased to announce that we have already committed a significant portion of our initial production capacity.”
Clearlake first invested in Smart Sand in September 2011, partnering with existing management and committing up to $75 million. José E. Feliciano, founding partner at Clearlake and chairman of the Smart Sand board of directors stated, “Smart Sand is an exciting company that is well-positioned to deliver an essential, consumable product to the growing unconventional oil and gas industry. We believe the quality of the sand and the company’s superior access to rail and transportation logistics, plus its extensive reserve base and its ability to further expand capacity, will make the company a low-cost producer and a key supplier to the hydraulic fracturing supply chain.”
Andrew Speaker, chief executive officer and board member of Smart Sand, said, “Smart Sand is also pleased to partner with Clearlake, a sponsor with strong financial resources and deep energy sector expertise. We look forward to building on this exciting start as we seek to become the supplier of choice in the industry.”
Colin Leonard, a vice president at Clearlake, also serves on Smart Sand’s board of directors.
ABOUT SMART SAND
Smart Sand, Inc. provides high-quality proppant to the oil and gas industry. The company has more than 1,100 acres at its main facility in Oakdale, Wisconsin. Smart Sand’s facilities are located near major rail transport lines, ensuring reliable, cost-effective delivery to major North American shale plays. The company was founded in 2010. For more information, please visit www.smartsand.net.
ABOUT CLEARLAKE CAPITAL GROUP
Clearlake is a private investment firm focused on special situations private equity such as corporate divestitures, recapitalizations, buyouts, restructurings, turnarounds and other equity investments. Clearlake seeks to partner with world-class management teams by providing patient, long-term capital and operational expertise to invest in businesses going through change. Clearlake’s founding principals have led over 50 investments totaling more than $3 billion of capital in the firm’s core target sectors: industrials and energy, technology and business services, and consumer and healthcare. For more information, please visit www.clearlakecapital.com.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
FOR CLEARLAKE
Owen Blicksilver Public Relations, Inc.
Kristin Celauro, [email protected], (732) 433-5200
Jennifer Hurson, [email protected], (845) 507-0571
