AMCOL International Corporation (NYSE: ACO) Reports Amendment to Agreement to Acquire Interest in South African Chromite Mine

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., February 23, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — AMCOL
International Corporation (NYSE: ACO) today announced that Chrome Corporation
Limited and AMCOL have amended the agreement pursuant to which AMCOL will
acquire an interest in a chromite mine in the Republic of South Africa.
Chromite ore is a feedstock used to produce chrome sand. AMCOL currently
markets chrome sand to the metalcasting industry in the U.S.

Under the terms of the amended agreement, AMCOL will purchase a 53%
interest in a holding company that holds a 74% interest in the chrome mine for
approximately US$14.0 million. The transaction is not contingent on any
additional consents or approvals and is expected to close on or before
February 25, 2009. In addition, AMCOL will acquire an option to purchase
Chrome Corporation’s remaining 47% interest for US$12.4 million at any time
during the next two years. If AMCOL does not exercise its option, the amended
agreement provides that Chrome Corporation has the right to put its remaining
47% interest to AMCOL for US$12.1 million at any time within 60 days after the
expiration of AMCOL’s option. A South African Black Economic Empowerment
Enterprise will own the remaining 26% interest in the chrome mine.

Gary Castagna, President, Global Minerals & Materials, commented, “This
investment provides AMCOL the opportunity to be an integrated supplier of
chrome sand to steel foundries. Not only will we be committed to providing
the highest quality product in the industry, our technical services will meet
the same exemplary standard for which we are known in the green-sand foundry
market. We expect to rapidly develop the business since mining has already
commenced at the site. Initially, we will process the ore at a smaller-scale
facility; however, in the near future, we expect to invest in a world-class
plant with upgraded process technology.”

AMCOL International, headquartered in Hoffman Estates, IL, produces and
markets a wide range of specialty minerals and materials used for industrial,
environmental and consumer-related applications. AMCOL is the parent of
American Colloid Co., CETCO (Colloid Environmental Technologies Company),
CETCO Oilfield Services Company and the transportation operations, Ameri-co
Carriers, Inc. and Ameri-co Logistics, Inc. AMCOL’s common stock is traded on
the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ACO. AMCOL’s web address is
www.amcol.com.

SOURCE AMCOL International Corporation