EP Engineered Clays, an Affiliate of EP Minerals, Acquires Bleaching Clay and Activated Clay Catalyst Assets from BASF

Global leader in diatomite, perlite and clay products used as
microfiltration media, functional additives and absorbents expands its
product portfolio

RENO, Nev.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#diatomaceousearth—EP Engineered Clays Corporation, an affiliate of EP Minerals, LLC,
a worldwide leader in engineered products derived from industrial
minerals, announced today that it has acquired bleaching clay and
mineral adsorbents assets from BASF Corporation. The transaction
includes a Jackson, Mississippi, production site, a clay mine in
Aberdeen, Mississippi, and the mineral rights associated with a mine
located in the Navajo Nation near Sanders, Arizona. Approximately 70
employees will be joining the newly established EP Engineered Clays
Corporation.

“We’re really excited by this acquisition,” said EP Minerals’ President
and CEO Gregg Jones. “It expands our portfolio of high-performance
liquid processing and purification media and builds our share position
in the attractive catalyst end market. Moreover, it provides additional
opportunities for further organic growth through innovation,” Jones
said. “Like our traditional diatomaceous earth, perlite and clay
material platforms, our new calcium bentonite (clay) materials are
highly amenable to modification and the development of new
high-performance proprietary products. We expect significant market,
applications technology, and research and development synergies with
this acquisition,” said Jones.

In recent years, EP Minerals has significantly increased its research
and product development capabilities and has evolved from a traditional
industrial minerals company into one that increasingly views itself as a
creator of, and producer of, engineered materials. “We’ve always been
known for our high-quality ores and products, our high-touch customer
service, and our experienced technical service capabilities. Those
factors, combined with our new product innovation strategy, are
transforming EP Minerals for the future,” said Jones. The company is
developing and commercializing new proprietary products in many areas,
including the following:

• Conventional filtration media characterized by non-detectable levels
  of crystalline silica and reduced levels of extractable impurities
• Ultra-high purity, ultra-high performance filtration media for the
  clarification of high purity liquids
• Low-density, highly absorbent diatomite materials for use in
  lightweight pet litters
• Granular diatomite soil amendments which reduce evaporation in
  hydroponic and conventional soil blends and growth media
• Very white, bright, functional additives containing non-detectable
  levels of crystalline silica for use in coatings
• NXT arsenic adsorption media for removal of arsenic from water
• Low-dust, non-respirable powdered mineral products for use in
  filtration and functional additives applications
• New test methods for precise determination of the mineralogy of the
  company’s products
• Multiple use microfiltration media and associated regeneration
  processes

“EP Minerals and EP Engineered Clays Corporation are delighted to expand
our resource and manufacturing footprints into the great states of
Mississippi and Arizona and to the Navajo Nation,” said Jones. Jones
added, “We extend a warm welcome to our new employees and customers. We
look forward to many years of success in Mississippi, Arizona, and the
Navajo Nation together with our new employees. We’re committed to
providing the highest-quality products and services to our new customers
worldwide.”

About EP Minerals

EP Minerals, LLC and its affiliate, EP Engineered Clays Corporation, are
global producers of engineered materials derived from industrial
minerals, including diatomaceous earth (DE), perlite and calcium
bentonite, which are used in the clarification and purification of
liquids, and as catalysts, absorbents and functional additives, by
thousands of companies and consumers in over 80 countries. For more
information on EP Minerals, visit www.epminerals.com.
For more information on EP Engineered Clays, visit www.epengineeredclays.com.

Contacts

EP Minerals, LLC
Julie Brown, 775-276-2780
Director of
Marketing Communications
[email protected]