China Shen Zhou Reports 2011 First Quarter Financial Results

BEIJING, May 16, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- China Shen Zhou Mining & Resources, Inc. ("China Shen Zhou" or the "Company") (NYSEAMEX: SHZ), a Company engaged in the exploration, development, mining and processing of fluorite, zinc, lead, copper, and other nonferrous metals in China, today announced financial results for the first quarter 2011 ended March 31, 2011.

2011 First Quarter Financial Highlights

• Revenues reached $1.9 million from $0.9 million in the 2011 first quarter,
• Gross margin was 35.0% compared with 8.0% in the first quarter last year,
• Cash and equivalents were $7.7 million.

Ms. Xiaojing Yu, the Chairwoman and CEO, commented, "We have made great progress in our operations and gained financial strength through our equity offering. Our resources and assets have risen through our 55% ownership in the Xinyi Fluorite Company. We look forward to reaping the benefits of rising fluorite prices and our larger fluorite volumes. The 2011 year will be highlighted by marked improvement in sales and earnings."

First Quarter Financial Results

For the first quarter of 2011, net sales were $1.9 million, an approximate $975,000 or 106% increase from approximately $0.9 million in the same quarter of 2010. Net sales grew due to the sales volume of fluorite powder for the 2011 first quarter reaching approximately 6,000 tons, a 150% gain from approximately 2,400 tons for the first quarter of 2010.  The average sales price of fluorite powder for the three months ended March 31, 2011 increased approximately 103% to $248 per ton from $122 per ton for the first quarter of 2010. Due to the inclement weather in the first quarter of 2011 and 2010, the Company ceased processing non-ferrous metals and recorded no sales for that segment.

Gross profit was $664,000 for the first quarter of 2011 compared with a gross profit of $73,000 in the 2010 first quarter. The profit increase was mainly due to much higher fluorite volumes and prices combined with the use of the larger processing plant which started operation in August 2010. The gross margin in the first quarter of 2011 was 35.0% compared with 8.0% in the first quarter last year.

Selling expenses in the first quarter of 2011 were $36,000, as compared to $13,000 in the 2010 first quarter. Selling expenses as a percentage of total net sales were 2.0% as compared to 1.0% in the first quarter of 2010.

General & Administrative ("G&A") expenses in the first quarter of 2011 were $2.1 million compared with $1.1 million in the 2010 first quarter.  The increase was due to higher amortization of mineral resources exploration expenses, greater administrative expenses from the newly acquired Xinyi Fluorite Company, and increased professional fees.

Total operating expenses in the first quarter of 2011 were $2.1 million compared with $1.1 million in the 2010 first quarter.

The operating loss in the 2011 first quarter was $1.5 million versus a loss of $1.0 million in the 2010 first quarter.

Net loss attributable to stockholders for the first quarter of 2011 was $1.6 million, or $0.06 per diluted and basic share, compared with net loss attributable to stockholders of $0.8 million, or $0.03 per diluted and basic shares, in the 2010 first quarter.

Recent Developments

On January 13, 2011, China Shen Zhou Mining & Resources, Inc. signed an equity transfer agreement with the shareholders of Xinyi Fluorite Company Ltd. and agreed to pay RMB 65 million (approximately US$ 9.85 million) to acquire a 55% equity position in Xinyi. Payment under the agreement consists of RMB 50 million (approximately US$ 7.58 million) in China Shen Zhou's common shares and RMB 15 million (approximately US$ 2.27 million) in cash. The Company's Xingzhen subsidiary, together with two individual investors, also agreed to pay an additional RMB 28 million (approximately US$ 4.24 million) to Xinyi including RMB 20 million (US$ 3.03 million) for the renovation of Xinyi's mining facilities. This acquisition was made to further develop China Shen Zhou's fluorite resources for the production of value-added fluorine chemicals – one of its core businesses. The management of China Shen Zhou Mining hopes that the new entity could produce approximately 35,000 metric tons of fluorite powder to generate about $10 million in revenue and between $5 million to $6 million of net income in 2011. Then the fluorite powder production of Xinyi is expected to increase by about 70% to 60,000 metric tons next year.

On January 24, 2011, China Shen Zhou Mining & Resources, Inc. announced that it successfully completed a sale of common shares to several institutional investors for approximately $20 million of common stock, at a price of $7.05 per share, in a registered direct offering. Institutional investors have been issued 2,836,882 common shares together with warrants to purchase up to 851,066 shares of common stock which, if fully exercised for cash, would provide an additional $7.2 million in gross proceeds to the Company. The three-year warrants have an exercise price of $8.46 per share and are exercisable immediately following the closing date. The securities were offered and sold pursuant to the Company's effective shelf registration statement and a prospectus supplement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The net proceeds are being used for general corporate purposes and working capital, including general and administrative expenses, and potential ordinary course acquisitions that complement our business. In addition, the Company will use approximately $5 million of the net proceeds from this offering for the acquisition and renovation of the mining facilities of the Xinyi Fluorite Company.

On March 31, 2011, China Shen Zhou Mining & Resources, Inc. announced that its subsidiary, Xinyi Fluorite Company Ltd. ("Xinyi"), held a grand ceremony at the Zi Yi Shan Hotel in Jingde County, Anhui Province, on March 28, 2011 to celebrate the initial commercial production at the Sanxi Old Town flotation plant. Xinyi expects to produce 35,000 metric tons of fluorite powder in 2011 with estimated income to reach approximately RMB 70 million, which is consistent with management's expectation at the time of acquisition.

On April 12, 2011, China Shen Zhou Mining & Resources, Inc. through its subsidiary Inner Mongolia Wulatehouqi Qianzhen Ore Processing Co., Ltd. ("Qianzhen Mining"), entered into an equity transfer agreement to sell its 60% equity interest in Wulatehouqi Qingshan Nonferrous Metal Development Co., Ltd. to a Chinese citizen Mr. Mao Huang. Qingshan Metal owns mining rights to and related assets of Qingxing No.2 Mine. The Investor is a related party to the Company and holds 5% of the shares in Xinjiang Buerjin County Xingzhen Mining Company, a subsidiary of the Company. The Company holds 90% of the equity interests in Xingzhen Mining. Total consideration is in the amount of RMB 8.5 million (approximately US$ 1.3 million). The payment of the Transfer Price will offset the debt owed by Qianzhen Mining to the Investor. After the transfer, Qianzhen Mining will no longer hold any equity interests in Qingshan Metal.

On April 27, 2011, China Shen Zhou Mining & Resources, Inc. announced that the Company's subsidiary, Xiangzhen Mining, will increase the prices of its fluorite powder products from the current RMB 2,500 per ton (approximate $380 per ton) to RMB 3,100 per ton (approximate $470 per ton) on May 1, 2011. Last year, due to the insufficient cash flow of its operations, Xiangzhen's signed sales orders at fixed sales prices and received cash more than 3 months in advance from customers. Therefore, the Company did not receive full benefit from the increase in the market price of fluorite ores.

About China Shen Zhou Mining & Resources, Inc.

China Shen Zhou Mining & Resources, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is engaged in the exploration, development, mining, and processing of fluorite and nonferrous metals such as zinc, lead and copper in China. The Company has the following principal areas of interest in China: (a) fluorite extraction and processing in the Sumochaganaobao region of Inner Mongolia; (b) fluorite extraction and processing in Jingde County, Anhui Province; ( c ) zinc/copper/lead exploration, mining and processing in Wulatehouqi of Inner Mongolia; and (d) zinc/copper exploration, mining and processing in Xinjiang.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release may include certain statements that are not descriptions of historical facts, but are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "will", "believes", "expects" or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements may also include statements about our proposed discussions related to our business or growth strategy, which is subject to change. Such information is based upon expectations of our management that were reasonable when made but may prove to be incorrect. All of such assumptions are inherently subject to uncertainties and contingencies beyond our control and upon assumptions with respect to future business decisions, which are subject to change. We do not undertake to update the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. For a description of the risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, see our most recent Annual Report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Form 10-K, and our subsequent SEC filings. Copies of filings made with the SEC are available through the SEC's electronic data gathering analysis retrieval system (EDGAR) at http://www.sec.gov .

Contact Information

Kevin Theiss/Min Liu
Investor Relations
Grayling
Tel: +1-646-284-9409

[email protected]

[email protected]

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SOURCE China Shen Zhou Mining & Resources, Inc.