U.S. Silica Announces Cost Reduction Actions

KATY, Texas, Nov. 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc. SLCA today announced a reduction in its workforce of approximately 230 employees to improve efficiencies and better align operations and support staffing with the current challenges in its energy markets.  Expected annual SG&A savings from these actions as well as other cost reductions are approximately $20 million.

The staffing reductions equal approximately 10% of the total company workforce and include corporate employees and the idling of both the Utica, Illinois and Tyler, Texas mines.  Other facilities impacted, but not idled are; Crane County in Texas, Sparta, Wisconsin, and Festus, Missouri.  The workforce reduction in operations will reduce staffed O&G capacity by 7 million tons, which will be better aligned with current demand.

The Company expects to incur approximately $1.7 million in related severance costs in the fourth quarter of 2019 and will consider any impairment charges as it closes the fourth quarter and fiscal year end.

"The difficult decisions announced today are an important element of our plan to protect margins and generate free cash flow in an increasingly competitive oil and gas completions market," said Bryan Shinn, president and chief executive officer.  "The actions taken realign our operational footprint and cost structure to more efficiently serve energy customers while simultaneously supporting the expected growth of our Industrials & Specialty Products segment.''

About U.S. Silica

U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc. is a global performance materials company and last-mile logistics provider and is a member of the Russell 2000 Index. The Company is a leading producer of commercial silica used in a wide range of industrial applications and in the oil and gas industry. Over its 119-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 1,500 diversified products to customers across its multiple end markets. U.S. Silica's wholly-owned subsidiaries include EP Minerals and SandBox Logistics™. EP Minerals is an industry leader in the production of products derived from diatomaceous earth, perlite, engineered clays, and non-activated clays. SandBox Logistics™ is a state-of-the-art leader in proppant storage, handling and well-site delivery, dedicated to making proppant logistics cleaner, safer and more efficient. The Company currently operates 27 mines and production facilities. The Company is headquartered in Katy, Texas and has offices in Reno, Nevada and Chicago, Illinois

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws — that is, statements about the future, not about past events. Such statements often contain words such as "expect," "may," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "intend," "anticipate," "should," "could," "will," "see," "likely," and other similar words. Forward-looking statements address matters that are, to varying degrees, uncertain, such as statements regarding the Company's expected annual SG& A savings. The Company cannot give any assurance that such statements will prove correct. These statements are subject to, among other things, the risks and uncertainties detailed in the Company's most recent Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual outcomes may vary materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update publicly or revise such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc. 
Michael Lawson
Vice President of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
301-682-0304
lawsonm@ussilica.com 

SOURCE U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.