Dia Bras Announces Third Quarter 2012 Financial Results

TSX Venture Exchange - DIB
Bolsa de Valores de Lima - DIB

TORONTO, Nov. 27, 2012 /CNW/ - Dia Bras Exploration Inc. (TSX-V:DIB) (BVL:DIB) ("Dia Bras") (the "Company") is pleased to announce the filing of its unaudited Financial Statements and Management Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") for the third quarter of 2012. All amounts are presented in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated. For the full Financial Statements or MD&A please visit the Company's website www.diabras.com or SEDAR at www.sedar.com

Daniel Tellechea, President and CEO of Dia Bras, commented "Dia Bras continued to achieve strong financial and operational results during the third quarter of 2012. The successful integration of Minera Corona into the Company, coupled with the production ramp up at Bolivar has resulted in the highest quarter of production to date. The Company added substantial value with significant increases in reserves and resources during the quarter and will continue with its aggressive exploration and development plans going forward".

The following table sets out selected information for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2012:

Financial Highlights

• Adjusted net income attributable to shareholders of $11.6 million or $0.07 per share for the third quarter of 2012 compared to $17.3 million or $0.13 per share for the same period in 2011. Adjusted net income of $41.8 million and $7.8 million, for the nine month period ended September 30 of 2012 and 2011, respectively. Adjusted net income attributable to shareholders is defined by management as the net income shown in the financial statements plus non-cash depletion charges due to the acquisition of Corona. Adjusted net income in the third quarter of 2012 includes a non-recurrent tax charge of $5.0 million associated with the sale of the Company's hydroelectric asset during the first quarter of 2012.
• EBITDA of $26.9 million for the third quarter of 2012 compared to $23.3 million for the same period in 2011. EBITDA of $70.9 million and $24.4 million in the nine month period ended on September 30 of 2012 and 2011, respectively.
• Cash flow generated from operative activities of $11.9 million for the third quarter of 2012 compared to $16.6 million for the same period in 2011. Cash flow of $37.3 million and $28.7 million, for the nine month period ended September 30 of 2012 and 2011, respectively. The decrease recorded during the third quarter of 2012 is driven by higher uses of cash for working capital due to changes in accounts receivables.
• Income taxes of $6.4 million for the third quarter of 2012 compared to $0.9 million in the same period of 2011. Income taxes of $7.4 million and $1.7 million in the nine month period ended on September 30 of 2012 and 2011, respectively. The increase in income taxes during the third quarter of 2012 is mainly driven by a $5.0 million non-recurrent tax charge associated with the sale of the Company's hydroelectric asset during the first quarter of 2011.
• Net loss attributable to shareholders of $10.1 million or $0.07 per share for the third quarter of 2012 compared to a net income of $0.9 million ($nil per share) for the same period in 2011. Net loss of $18.0 million and $12.6 million, for the nine month period ended September 30 of 2012 and 2011, respectively.
• A large component of the third quarter net loss for 2012 is a non-cash depletion charge in Peru of $21.7 million. This depletion charge has been calculated based on the units of production of the fair valued $363.9 million mineral property asset purchased in the acquisition of Corona on May 26, 2011. Management expects non-cash depletion cost will be reduced in future periods as the reserves and resources at the Yauricocha mine are increased.
• Cash and cash equivalents of $92.6 million at the end of the third quarter of 2012 compared to $20.2 million at the end of December of 2011.
• Revenues of $46.1 million for the third quarter of 2012 compared to $43.2 million for the same period in 2011. Revenues of $136.4 million and $64.8 million, in the nine month period ended September 30 of 2012 and 2011, respectively.
• A negative silver ("Ag") cash cost of US$23.13 per ounce ("oz") in Yauricocha in the third quarter of 2011 and a negative US$ 22.63 for the nine month period ended September 30, 2012. Copper cash cost of US$1.52 per pound ("lb") at Bolivar for the third quarter of 2012 and US$ 1.25 per pound for the nine month period ended September 30, 2012. Higher by-product cash costs during 2012 at both Yauricocha and Bolivar were mainly driven by lower revenues from by-product production.

Operational Highlights

• Silver production of 681,845 oz in the third quarter of 2012 compared to 585,483 oz for the same period in 2011. Silver production of 1,936,798 oz and 905,732 oz, for the nine month period ended in 2012 and 2011, respectively.
• Copper ("Cu") production of 3.5 million pounds in the third quarter of 2012 compared to 3.9 million lb for the same period in 2011. Cu production of 9.0 milion lb and 5.9 million lb, for the nine month period ended in 2012 and 2011, respectively.
• Lead ("Pb") production of 10.0 million lb in the third quarter of 2012 compared to 8.3 million lb for the same period in 2011. Pb production of 27.0 million lb and 11.2 million lb, for the nine month period ended in 2012 and 2011, respectively.
• Zinc ("Zn") production of 15.4 million lb in the third quarter of 2012 compared to 14.5 million lb for the same period in 2011. Zn production of 39.8 million lb and 18.9 million lb, for the nine month period ended in 2012 and 2011, respectively.
• Gold ("Au") production from the Yauricocha Mine was 2,409 oz in the third quarter of 2012 and 8,310 oz for the nine month period ended in 2012.

The following table sets out consolidated production results for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2012:

Exploration Highlights

• On July 17, 2012 the Company announced significant drill results from its exploration programme at the Promontorio Mine at the Cusi Project. Drill assays substantially increased the known silver-disseminated zone and Dia Bras' geologists believe the area to extend over an area of at least 150 metres by 200-300 metres. Within this disseminated silver zone drill hole DC12B476 intersected 7.1 metres (true width) averaging 1,296 g/t Ag, this interval was part of a larger intersection of 21.0 metres (true width) averaging 543 g/t Ag.
• On July 24, 2012 the Company reported positive drill results from its in-fill drill programme designed to increase resource categories at the Yauricocha Mine Area. Recent drilling at the Antacaca, Rosaura and Catas ore bodies has increased known copper-type and polymetallic-type mineralization along strike and at depth. At Catas, eight of the thirteen holes drilled returned significant results and expanded known copper-type and polymetallic type mineralization up to 160 metres along strike while remaining open at depth. Drilling at Antacanca-Rosaura returned positive results for eighteen of the twenty-two holes completed and shows that these two ore bodies merge at depth occurring over a strike length of 200 metres.
• On August 30, 2012 an updated NI 43-101 compliant resource estimate was announced at the Company's Bolivar Mine in Chihuahua, Mexico. The total estimated Measured and Indicated resources are 15,404,000 tonnes averaging 0.79% Cu, 19.4 g/t Ag and 1.01% Zn at a mill cut-off grade of 0.66% copper-equivalent ("CuEq"). The total estimated Inferred Resources are 6,164,000 tonnes averaging 0.73% Cu, 18.1 g/t Ag and 0.93% Zn at the same cut-off.
• On September 6, 2012 the Company completed an updated NI 43-101 reserve and resource estimate on its Yauricocha Property in the Yauyos Province, Peru. This estimate was an update to the resource report released on May 25, 2011 and has an effective date of January 1, 2012. The estimated total Proven and Probable Reserves are 4,162,940 tonnes averaging 119.7 g/t Ag, 0.70% Cu, 2.81% Pb, 2.57% Zn and 0.92 g/t Au. The estimated total Measured and Indicated Resources, including reserves, are 4,181,390 averaging 121.8 g/t Ag, 2.91% Pb, 0.72% Cu, 2.54% Zn and 0.93 g/t Au. The estimated total Inferred Resources are 1,794,330 tonnes averaging 58.62 g/t Ag, 1.57% Pb, 0.64% Cu 1.08% Zn and 1.10 g/t Au.
• On September 12, 2012 the Company identified a significant tonnage target below the central mine workings at the Yauricocha Mine. The potential of the target below the known mine workings is approximately 5-6 million tonnes, roughly averaging 90-110 g/t Ag, 2-3% Pb, 0.5-1.0% Cu, 2-3% Zn and 0.6-1.0 g/t Au. This target is in addition to the reserves and resources previously announced on September 6, 2012 and the Company will continue to explore this new zone in the fourth quarter of 2012 and 2013.
• On September 12, 2012 the Company identified a significant tonnage target below the central mine workings at the Yauricocha Mine. The potential of the target below the known mine workings is approximately 5-6 million tonnes, roughly averaging 90-110 g/t Ag, 2-3% Pb, 0.5-1.0% Cu, 2-3% Zn and 0.6-1.0 g/t Au. This target is in addition to the reserves and resources previously announced on September 6, 2012 and the Company will continue to explore this new zone in the fourth quarter of 2012 and 2013.

Corporate Highlights

• On August 24, 2012 Corona announced a change in its dividend policy. The new policy will significantly increase Corona's financial flexibility because it delegates to the board of Corona the prerogative to distribute dividends during the year and it eliminates the requirement stated in the prior policy that Corona distribute at least 50% of its yearly earnings as dividends. The new policy will increase liquidity and help to facilitate the development of the mining infrastructure needed to exploit Yauricocha's ore bodies to depth.

Quality Assurance

The technical content of this news release has been approved by Thomas L. Robyn, Ph.D., CPG, RPG, a Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101 and Head of Exploration for Dia Bras Exploration, Inc.

About Dia Bras

Dia Bras Exploration is a Canadian exploration & mining company focused on precious and base metals in Chihuahua State, other areas of northern Mexico, and most recently at its Yauricocha silver-lead-zinc-copper-gold mine in Peru. The Company is accelerating exploration at the Yauricocha property as well as pursuing the development and exploration of its most advanced Mexican assets - the Bolivar Property (copper-zinc-silver) and the Cusi Property (silver-lead) and is exploring in Mexico several precious metal targets such as La Sidra gold project at the Bolivar Property, Las Coloradas silver project at Melchor Ocampo (Zacatecas State), the Bacerac silver project (Sonora State), and the La Verde gold project at the Batopilas Property (Chihuahua State).

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Forward-looking Statements

Except for statements of historical fact, all statements in this news release without limitation regarding new projects, acquisitions, future plans and objectives are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

SOURCE: Dia Bras Exploration Inc.