Lihua on Track to Launch Production on New Smelters in April

 

DANYANG, China, April 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Lihua International, Inc. (NASDAQ: LIWA) ("Lihua" or the "Company"), a leading Chinese developer, designer, and manufacturer of low cost, high quality alternatives to pure copper products, including refined copper products and superfine and magnet wire, as well as copper clad aluminum ("CCA") wire, today announced that it is on track to commence production of copper anode on its two new smelters by the end of April.  The construction team is currently completing the connection of the recycling system to the smelters and the dedicated power grid.  Each of these smelters will add 25,000-30,000 tons of copper anode capacity on an annualized basis, giving Lihua a total of 85,000-95,000 tons of copper anode capacity per year and a total of 135,000 – 145,000 tons of refined copper production capacity per year.

"Despite the recent weakness in Lihua's share price, there have been no developments within the Company that would warrant this level of volatility. On the contrary, our business has never been stronger," said Mr. Jianhua Zhu, Lihua's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Demand from our primary copper anode customers continues to grow, and the volume demand from our largest customer alone already exceeds our post-expansion production capacity. Several weeks ago, we reported record results for 2011 and guided for year-over-year growth of more than 20% in both gross profit and non-GAAP net income in 2012. We remain confident in Lihua's growth prospects and the fundamental strength of our business.  With a number of catalysts that we expect will begin having a positive effect on our business in the near future, as well as continued support from our loyal investors, we believe that our Company's valuation can become more aligned with and better reflect the strength of our business."

Lihua carefully monitors its stock's trading patterns. The Company is currently reviewing recent unusual trading activity and plans to report any suspicious activity to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, as appropriate.

Lihua reiterated its financial guidance for full-year 2012 gross profit to be between $93 million and $96 million, and non-GAAP net income between $61 million and $64 million, representing year-over-year growth of 23-27% and 22-28%, respectively. The Company expects that 2012 growth will be largely the result of continued strong demand in China for recycled copper and copper alternative products in the overall copper consumption market including the household appliance, consumer white goods and infrastructure markets, as well as the increase in production capacity. In addition, the Company will distribute its second special dividend of $0.03 per share on April 13, 2012 to shareholders of record as of March 31, 2012.

About Lihua International, Inc.

Lihua, through its two wholly owned subsidiaries, Lihua Electron and Lihua Copper, is a leading value-added manufacturer of copper replacement products for China's rapidly growing copper wire and copper replacement product market. Lihua is one of the first vertically integrated companies in China to develop, design and manufacture lower cost, high quality alternatives to pure copper magnet wire and pure copper alternative products. Lihua's products include CCA and refined copper products. Current product offerings include CCA and pure copper wire, copper rod and copper anode.  Except for CCA wire, all other products are produced from recycled scrap copper. Lihua's products are sold in China either directly to manufacturers or through distributors in the wire and cable industries and manufacturers in a wide variety of industries including the consumer electronics, white goods, automotive, utility, telecommunications and specialty cable industries. Lihua's corporate and manufacturing headquarters are located in the heart of China's copper industry in Danyang, Jiangsu Province. For more information, visit: http://www.lihuaintl.com.

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Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including, without limitation, statements about its business or growth strategy, general industry conditions including availability of copper or recycled scrap copper, future operating results of the Company, capital expenditures, expansion and growth opportunities, bank borrowings, financing activities and other such matters, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that its expectations stated in this press release are based on reasonable assumptions, actual results may differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements.

Please note that information in this press release reflects management views as of the date of issuance.

Contact:

The Piacente Group, Inc.
Investor Relations
Brandi Floberg or Lee Roth
(212) 481-2050
[email protected]

SOURCE Lihua International, Inc.