& LEVITTOWN, Pa., March 1, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- StoneMor Partners L.P. (NYSE:STON) announced that Standard and Poor's has upgraded the company's corporate debt rating from CCC+ to B-. This upgrade is due to the growth in the company's asset base which significantly impacts the creditworthiness of the issue. In addition, they removed the company and its debt issue from CreditWatch, with negative implications, and indicated a stable outlook for both. StoneMor uses working capital to fund the growth in its merchandise trust and accounts receivable which are a by-product of expansion and increases in pre-need sales. Because these growth related items have a negative impact on cash flow from operations, Standard and Poor's downgraded the company's corporate rating from B to B-.&

Lawrence Miller, StoneMor's President and CEO stated "We are pleased that Standard and Poor's recognizes the strength of the company's balance sheet which led to the upgrade in the rating on the bond issue. We also note that the same growth that provides for a positive move in our bond rating led to the downgrade in the company's corporate rating. As we have continuously reported the execution of our business strategy results in a significant build in our liquid assets and timing differences on the receipt of our cash. As we continue to grow our asset base, we anticipate that the amount we collect on accounts receivable and withdraw from our trust funds will exceed the increase in accounts receivable and trust deposits from new acquisitions which will increase cash flow."

About StoneMor Partners L.P.

StoneMor Partners L.P., headquartered in Levittown, Pennsylvania, is an owner and operator of cemeteries and funeral homes in the United States, with 274 cemeteries and 69 funeral homes in 28 states and Puerto Rico. StoneMor is the only publicly traded death care company structured as a partnership. StoneMor's cemetery products and services, which are sold on both a pre-need (before death) and at-need (at death) basis, include: burial lots, lawn and mausoleum crypts, burial vaults, caskets, memorials, and all services which provide for the installation of this merchandise.

For additional information about StoneMor Partners L.P., please visit StoneMor's website, and the Investor Relations section, at http://telecomadvisors.biz/www.stonemor.com .

This press release is intended to be a qualified notice under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446-4(b). Brokers and nominees should treat one hundred percent (100.0%) of [StoneMor's] distributions to non-U.S. investors as being attributable to income that is effectively connected with a United States trade or business. Accordingly, [StoneMor's] distributions to non-U.S. investors are subject to federal income tax withholding at the highest applicable effective tax rate.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release, including, but not limited to, information regarding the status and progress of the StoneMor's operating activities, the plans and objectives of StoneMor's management, assumptions regarding StoneMor's future performance and plans, and any financial guidance provided, as well as certain information in other filings with the SEC and elsewhere, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A(i) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E(i) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The words "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "project," "expect," "predict," and similar expressions identify these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated, including, but not limited to, the following: uncertainties associated with the integration or the anticipated benefits of StoneMor's recent acquisitions; uncertainties associated with future revenue and revenue growth; the effect of the current economic downturn; the impact of StoneMor's significant leverage on its operating plans; the ability of StoneMor to service its debt and pay distributions; the decline in the fair value of certain equity and debt securities held in StoneMor's trusts; StoneMor's ability to attract, train and retain an adequate number of sales people; uncertainties associated with the volume and timing of pre-need sales of cemetery services and products; increased use of cremation; changes in political or regulatory environments, including potential changes in tax accounting and trusting policies; StoneMor's ability to successfully implement a strategic plan relating to producing operating improvements, strong cash flows and further deleveraging; StoneMor's ability to complete and fund additional acquisitions; and various other uncertainties associated with the death care industry and StoneMor's operations in particular.

When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements set forth in StoneMor's Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC. StoneMor assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or any other forward-looking statements made by it, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

CONTACT: Tim Yost          (215) 826-2800

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