Silvercorp Metals Board Proposes Approval of Shareholder Rights Plan

Silvercorp Metals SVM announces that its annual general meeting (the "Meeting") is scheduled to be held at 10:00 am PST on Friday, September 23, 2011. The Meeting will be held at the Malaspina Room located on the Concourse Level of the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, 900 Canada Place Way, Vancouver, British Columbia. The Company's board of directors has proposed the approval of a shareholders' rights plan (the "Rights Plan") designed to encourage the fair and equal treatment of shareholders in connection with any takeover bid for the Company's outstanding securities. The Rights Plan is substantially the same as the existing Rights Plan dated August 11, 2008 and requires reconfirmation at the Meeting. The Rights Plan is intended to provide the Company's board of directors with adequate time to assess a takeover bid, to consider alternatives to a takeover bid as a means of maximizing shareholder value, to allow competing bids to emerge and to provide the Company's shareholders with adequate time to properly assess a takeover bid without undue pressure. The board of directors are not currently aware of any pending or proposed takeover bid for the Company but believes the Company's shares are undervalued relative to its financial performance, prospects, and to the quality of its various silver-lead-zinc projects in China. The Rights Plan is similar to plans adopted by other Canadian companies after being ratified by their respective shareholders. Company shareholders should refer to the information circular for the Meeting for further details. Adoption of the Rights Plan will also be subject to regulatory approval.