Silvercorp

Silvercorp is a low-cost silver-producing Canadian mining company with multiple mines in China. The Company recently commenced commercial production at its GC project in southern China.  The Company’s vision is to deliver shareholder value by focusing on the acquisition of under developed projects with resource potential and the ability to grow organically.

History

Facilitated by China's 1997 Mineral Resource Law (click here), Silvercorp first entered China in 2003 to capitalize on the country's vastly underexplored geological potential. While the Chinese government invested tremendously in geological exploration in the 1950s and 1960s, leading to many discoveries, very little capital or advanced exploration technology was available to exploit them fully. China's 1997 Mineral Resource Law was adopted specifically to enable foreign mining companies to explore and mine in the country -- inviting in the advanced exploration technology, expertise and funding China needed to truly develop its resources.

In 2004, Silvercorp acquired the Ying project, a small producing mine in the Henan province, and exploration over the next two years led to the discovery of high-grade silver-lead-zinc mineralization in a multitude of narrow veins similar to the prolific Coeur d'Alene silver district in Idaho, U.S.A. On March 31, 2006, Silvercorp received its first mining permit from the Ministry of Land & Resources and commercial production of silver, lead and zinc from the Ying mine began the next day. Following on its success at the Ying mine, Silvercorp acquired three nearby mines – HPG, TLP & LM – to consolidate the Ying Mining District in 2007.

Today, Silvercorp is China's largest publicly listed primary silver producer, with annual production of 5.1 million ounces of silver in fiscal year 2015. The Company also produced 51.5 million pounds of lead, 15.9 million pounds of zinc and 5,900 ounces of gold during the same period. In addition to its operational success, Silvercorp is considered a preferred mining company in the Henan province, having built a solid reputation for upholding high safety and environmental standards and for supporting local community initiatives. Additionally, Silvercorp has become the largest non-state-controlled company and one of the top tax payers in Luoyang City. This strong brand name has been instrumental in gaining and building the support of city, county and provincial governments.

Silvercorp recently commenced commercial production at its GC silver-lead-zinc project in Guangdong Province, its newest production base in China. While the Company's near team focus is on cost control, cash preservation, and protecting its strong balance sheet, longer term Silvercorp plans to continue its growth through future consolidation, exploration, mine development and acquisition, with a focus in China.

Corporate Background

The Company’s shares are listed for trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “TSX”) under the symbol “SVM”, and the Company is a reporting issuer in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

Silvercorp was formed as Spokane Resources Ltd. pursuant to an amalgamation of Julia Resources Corporation and MacNeill International Industries Inc. under the Company Act (British Columbia) on October 31, 1991. By a special resolution dated October 5, 2000, Spokane Resources Ltd. consolidated its share capital on a ten for one basis and altered its Memorandum and Articles of Incorporation by changing its name to “SKN Resources Ltd.” On May 2, 2005, the Company filed a Notice of Alteration with the Registrar of Companies changing its name from “SKN Resources Ltd.” to “Silvercorp Metals Inc.”.