Spotlight on PetroCom, LLC

•PetroCom, LLC Honored as one of New Orleans’ Best Places to Work for 2006

NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 19: PetroCom, LLC was recently honored as one of the best places to work in New Orleans at CityBusiness’s fourth annual Best Places to Work luncheon. PetroCom was recognized for their outstanding commitment to employees in the large business category, which includes companies with more than 50 employees.

PetroCom was selected for the honor based on the results of a comprehensive employee survey conducted by CityBusiness earlier this year. Additionally, the selection process included employee satisfaction as well as categories such as salary, benefits, vacation time, bonus perks and in-house development.

“We are very proud of the culture at PetroCom and are honored to receive this award for the third year in a row. We strive to continually create and sustain both a challenging and rewarding work environment,” comments PetroCom President and COO Ken Wright. “We are fortunate to have the most dedicated professionals in the industry here at PetroCom.”

This year marks the 20th Anniversary of PetroCom’s first offshore cell site, which is the first in the world and located 40 miles southeast of Galveston, Texas. What began as a single cell site quickly grew into a 100,000 square mile network reaching from Brownsville, Texas to Mobile, Alabama.

Honors were extended to this year’s nominees for each the small and large business categories during the 2006 Best Places to Work luncheon on Friday, Dec. 8 at the downtown Sheraton Hotel.

•PetroCom Expands Communication Solutions by installing a full-service emergency response solution for offshore client

NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 15, 2006: In the anticipation of heightened activity for the next several hurricane seasons, PetroCom LLC has increased its telecommunication services by implementing a full-service emergency response solution for some of BP’s largest platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. Along with the ability to service all communication needs during a catastrophic event such as a hurricane, the emergency response package also provides the customer with necessary disaster recovery services.

PetroCom created a full-service emergency response solution to service five of BP’s offshore platforms. PetroCom secured a secondary teleport in Atlanta that allowed communication services to be transferred from the main teleport in Louisiana in the event of a disaster, natural or otherwise. In addition to servicing the communication needs through the emergency response plan, PetroCom also provides BP with a fully functioning disaster recovery team that includes technicians and engineers that can be on location during an evacuation situation. With the devastating effects on and offshore from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, PetroCom is now able to accommodate the needs of offshore businesses before, during and after such disastrous events.

"Petrocom's emergency response program provides BP with the total communication solution they needed for their deepwater offshore production," said PetroCom’s Director of HSE and Emergency Preparedness, John Hebert. "Regardless of what type of disaster and where it happens, they will have communications restored very quickly."

•PetroCom, LLC To Be Acquired by H.I.G. Capital Affiliate & Plans Merger with Sola Communications, LLC

New Orleans, LA, September 13, 2006: PetroCom LLC, (“PetroCom” or the “Company”) announced today that it has entered into a binding agreement to be acquired by an affiliate of H.I.G. Capital (“H.I.G.”), a Miami-based private investment firm. Headquartered in New Orleans, LA, PetroCom is a leading cellular carrier in the Gulf of Mexico and a full-service telecommunications solutions provider for the offshore industry.

PetroCom President Ken Wright commented, “We are thrilled to partner with a premier private equity firm as we enter our next stage of growth. H.I.G.’s investment represents an important milestone in our Company’s history, and their support will enable us to significantly expand our footprint. We will continue to provide excellent service to our valued customers in the Gulf, while broadening our service offerings into new products and markets, both domestic and international.”

Earlier this year H.I.G., through its Bayside Capital affiliate, acquired Sola Communications, a leader in the delivery of telecommunications related services for the offshore oil and gas and emergency services markets. Anthony DiSimone, Managing Director of H.I.G., said, “We look forward to working with PetroCom and its management team to build the premier Company in offshore remote communications. H.I.G. is committed to growing its remote communications businesses, and believes that both PetroCom’s cellular and satellite offerings are highly complementary to Sola’s suite of satellite and related customized communications solutions. The combined businesses will allow us to significantly broaden the scope of the critical services we provide for our customers.” According to Mr. DiSimone the existing executive management teams at each company will remain in place.

“PetroCom’s mission is to fulfill the ever-expanding voice and data communications needs of the offshore oil and gas industry,” added Ken Wright, president and COO of PetroCom. “Teaming our cellular and satellite expertise with Sola’s customized communications solutions is a win-win for both companies, and more importantly, our current and future customers.”

PetroCom is the fifth Gulf Area company in which H.I.G. has invested in the past few years. Others include Rotorcraft Leasing in Broussard, La., Houma-based Redfish Rentals, Total Safety, which is based in Houston with offices throughout Louisiana, and Sola Communications.
The transaction is subject to government approval and is expected to close sometime in the 4th quarter of 2006. Simmons & Company International served as financial advisor to PetroCom for this transaction.

•About PetroCom

Based in New Orleans, La., PetroCom LLC is a full-service telecommunications and network solutions company with more than 20 years experience in the offshore industry. PetroCom’s portfolio includes Cellular and Satellite networking products and services designed for the global offshore energy marketplace. In 2004, PetroCom became a communications pioneer by launching the first Satellite-based 3G offshore wireless network based on GSM technology. The network covers over 100,000 square miles offshore in the US Gulf of Mexico. Headquartered in New Orleans, PetroCom also has offices in Lafayette, LA, and Houston. For more information, visit PetroCom online at http://www.petrocom.com.

•About SOLA Communications, LLC

Based in Lafayette, La., and with offices in Houston and Larose, La., Sola Communications, LLC specializes in the design, installation, enhancement and service of telecommunications, antenna and tower, and satellite solutions. Sola Communications has a longstanding reputation for delivering superior service and innovative products and solutions. Sola's products and services have no geographic boundaries and are available worldwide.
www.solacomm.com

•About H.I.G. Capital

H.I.G. Capital LLC ("H.I.G.") is a leading private equity and venture capital investment firm with more than $3 billion of equity capital under management. Based in Miami, and with offices in Atlanta, Boston, and San Francisco, H.I.G. specializes in providing capital to small and medium-sized companies with attractive growth potential. H.I.G. invests in management-led buyouts and recapitalizations of profitable and well managed manufacturing or service businesses. H.I.G. also has extensive experience with financial restructurings and operational turnarounds. Since its founding, H.I.G. has completed in excess of 70 transactions. The firm currently manages a portfolio of more than 50 companies with combined revenues in excess of $5 billion. For more information, please refer to the H.I.G. website at http://www.higcapital.com.