U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SLCA) today announced an agreement to acquire a leading regional sand producer for approximately $210 million, subject to certain adjustments at closing. The transaction will be funded using a combination of cash on hand (57%) and restricted stock (43%).The acquisition of the NBR Sand unit of the privately-owned New Birmingham Inc. is expected to close in August 2016.
The business, located in Tyler, Texas, operates a single sand mine and plant that has the capacity to produce just over two million tons of fine-grade frac sand per year. The east Texas facility currently sells its products FOB the plant to customers that are primarily drilling and completing wells in the nearby basins. Once completely integrated into U.S. Silica's market-leading operating, sales and distribution platforms, the Company anticipates the acquisition is expected to generate EPS accretion of $0.20 to $0.30 in 2017.
Bryan Shinn, president and chief executive officer of U.S. Silica said, "This accretive acquisition adds to our capacity and product offering for the growing regional sands market, increasing our ability to effectively satisfy our customer's needs. We expect to unlock the full potential of this excellent mine by utilizing our strong customer relationships and powerful distribution network. We believe demand for regional sands will continue to grow as a cost effective proppant option for many completions and this is another important step to position U.S. Silica as a leader in the regional sand market."
Shinn added, "Our team continues to work diligently to identify and close additional attractive, highly accretive acquisitions that are aligned with our corporate strategy. We have a strong pipeline of opportunities that will help our customers meet their goals in an environment with potentially surging sand proppant demand as energy markets recover."
The NBR Sand unit produces 40/70 Mesh and 100 Mesh Silica Sand. The low-cost, state-of-the-art facility is on approximately 1,400 acres near Interstate 20. It includes 12 storage silos with capacity of more than 10,000 tons and five load-out lanes. The property has more than 20 years of quality reserves. Closing is pending customary regulatory and other approvals.
About U.S. Silica
U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc., a member of the Russell 2000, is a leading producer of commercial silica used in the oil and gas industry, and in a wide range of industrial applications. Over its 116-year history, U.S. Silica has developed core competencies in mining, processing, logistics and materials science that enable it to produce and cost-effectively deliver over 260 products to customers across its end markets. The Company currently operates nine industrial sand production plants and eight oil and gas sand production plants. The Company is headquartered in Frederick, Maryland and also has offices located in Chicago, Illinois and Houston, Texas.
