Longwei Petroleum Signs Sales Agreements with Major Huajie Customers

TAIYUAN CITY, China, Oct. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Longwei Petroleum Investment Holding Ltd. (NYSE MKT: LPH) ("Longwei" or the "Company"), an energy company engaged in the storage and distribution of finished petroleum products in the People's Republic of China ("PRC"), today announced it has signed purchase agreements with nine major customers for its Huajie facility and received the endorsement of local government and business leaders based on a site visit to its new facility on October 23, 2012.

The Huajie facility site visit by local government leaders included Mr. Zhong, the General Director of the Fanshi County Commerce Bureau; Mr. An, the General Director of the Xinzhou Commerce Bureau; and Mr. Wang, the Vice Director of the Yuanping Railway Operations Bureau; in addition to other local business leaders. These leaders had high praise for Longwei's purchase of the Huajie facility.  They pledged their support to ensure its success by assisting Longwei to expand its customer base quickly by encouraging local enterprises in Fanshi County to utilize the new facility and increase their petroleum consumption.  The local leaders view the new facility as a stimulant for regional growth and as a key piece of infrastructure to support local employment and economic development. 

"We are pleased to receive the full support of the local government and business leaders, and their endorsement to help us build our customer base," said Cai Yongjun, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Longwei.  "Since opening the facility, we have signed contracts with at least nine major regional industrial companies in mining, steel and logistics.  We are looking forward to adding more customers and extending our reach into this fast-growing industrial area of northern Shanxi Province."

The officials toured the facility and new operations with the Company's management team.  Longwei demonstrated the facility's working processes, including storage and pumping operations, fire control, and other safety and environmental measures.  The group expressed a high degree of satisfaction with the facility's workflow, safety and quality control.

Longwei expects year-over-year revenue growth of approximately 26.6% to $646.3 million, and net income growth of approximately 24.2% to $77.6 million, adjusted for the warrant derivative liability, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013.  The growth is driven primarily by the ramp-up of the Huajie facility and organic growth at the Company's two existing facilities.

Recent economic indicators show that the PRC economy has stabilized and expects higher growth in the fourth quarter of 2012.  "Now is a critical point for the country's industrial economy.  Positive factors are accumulating," said Zhu Hongren, Chief Engineer of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.  The PRC also surpassed the United States as the world's largest recipient of global foreign direct investment in the first half of 2012, showing that global investors have confidence in the world's second-largest economy.  China Daily (October 26, 2012).

"We expect meaningful revenue contribution from our Huajie facility beginning in the second half of fiscal 2013 as we ramp up our operations and sales efforts," said Michael Toups, Chief Financial Officer of Longwei.  "Based on our experience during the Gujiao ramp-up phase in 2010, we are confident we can develop this new market quickly."

The GDP growth rate for Shanxi during 2011 was 13%, according to China Daily (March 13, 2012), and it is expected to be approximately 10% for 2012, which outpaces the general economic growth estimates of 7.5% in the PRC. The provincial government has estimated the fixed-asset investment in Shanxi to be RMB 5 trillion (approximately $790 billion) over the next five years, according to China Daily (September 13, 2011).  The provincial government also recently announced an additional RMB 1 trillion (approximately $158 billion) in local development projects as part of the region's industrial stimulus plan, according to China Securities News (August 23, 2012). The Company believes its locations within Shanxi Province are advantageous to the growth of its business model.

Longwei has received strong interest from institutional and private investors in visiting its facilities, including the new Huajie facility.  The Company plans to host an investor and analyst day to invite shareholders and interested parties to tour its facilities.  Once plans are finalized, the Company will release additional details.

Longwei recently reported revenues of US $510.6 million and net income of US $65.1 million for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012.  At the June 30, 2012 fiscal year-end, the Company reported total assets of US $342.3 million and a book value per share of $3.31.

About Longwei Petroleum Investment Holding Limited

Longwei Petroleum Investment Holding Limited is an energy company engaged in the storage and distribution of finished petroleum products in the People's Republic of China. The Company's oil and gas operations consist of transporting, storing and selling finished petroleum products, entirely in the PRC. The Company's headquarters are located in Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province. The Company has a storage capacity for its products of 220,000 metric tons located at three storage facilities within Shanxi: Taiyuan, Gujiao and Huajie, which have an individual storage capacity of approximately 50,000 metric tons ("mt"), 70,000mt, and 100,000mt, respectively.  The Company has the necessary licenses to operate and sell petroleum products not only in Shanxi, but throughout the entire PRC. The Company's storage tanks have the largest storage capacity of any non-government operated entity in Shanxi.

The Company seeks to earn profits by selling its products at competitive prices with timely delivery to transportation companies, coal mining operations, power supply customers, large-scale gas stations and small, independent gas stations. The Company also earns revenue from agency fees by acting as a purchasing agent for other intermediaries in Shanxi, and through limited sales of diesel and gasoline at two retail gas stations, each located at the Company's Taiyuan and Gujiao facilities. The Company seeks to continue to expand its customer base and distribution platform through the utilization of its large storage capacity, which allows the Company the flexibility to take advantage of pricing, supply and demand fluctuations in the marketplace.

Longwei was recently named to the Forbes list of "Asia's 200 Best Under a Billion" from a universe of 15,000 companies.  Forbes ranked the companies based on sales growth, earnings growth and return on equity in the past 12 months and over three years.  As was reported, Longwei's three-year track record is 45% sales growth, 28% earnings per share growth and 28% return on equity.  The Forbes article can be found at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/christinasettimi/2012/07/25/asias-200-best-under-a-billion.

For further information on Longwei Petroleum Investment Holding Limited, please visit http://www.longweipetroleum.com. You may register to receive Longwei Petroleum Investment Holding Limited's future press releases or request to be added to the Company's distribution list by contacting Dave Gentry at [email protected].

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about Longwei's industry, management's beliefs and certain assumptions made by management. Readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Because such statements involve risks and uncertainties, the actual results and performance of the Company may differ materially from the results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Longwei's operations are conducted in the PRC and, accordingly, are subject to special considerations and significant risks not typically associated with companies in North America and Western Europe. These include risks associated with, among others, the political, economic and legal environment and foreign currency exchange. The Company's results may be adversely affected by changes in the political and social conditions in the PRC and by changes in governmental policies with respect to laws and regulations, anti-inflationary measures, currency conversion, remittances abroad, and rates and methods of taxation. Other potential risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to the ability to procure, properly price, retain and successfully complete projects, and changes in products and competition. Unless otherwise required by law, the Company also disclaims any obligation to update its view of any such risks or uncertainties or to announce publicly the result of any revisions to the forward-looking statements made here. Readers should review carefully reports or documents the Company files periodically with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contact:      

At the Company:
Michael Toups, Chief Financial Officer
Tel: U.S. Office +1-727-641-1357
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://www.longweipetroleum.com

Investor Relations:
Mike Bowdoin
RedChip Companies, Inc.
Tel: +1-800-733-2447, Ext. 110
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://www.redchip.com 

SOURCE Longwei Petroleum Investment Holding Ltd.