Wednesday, December 5, 2012

BMO Financial Group Reports Strong Net Income of $4.2 billion for 2012, Driving Strong EPS Growth

BMO Financial GroupBMO Bank of Montreal

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - December 5, 2012) - BMO Financial Group (TSX:BMO)(NYSE:BMO) and BMO Bank of Montreal -

Financial Results Highlights(1):

Fiscal 2012 Compared with Fiscal 2011:

           ·          Net income of $4,189 million, up $1,075 million or 35%

           ·          Adjusted net income(2)of $4,092 million, up $817 million or 25%

           ·          EPS(3)of $6.15, up 27%

           ·          Adjusted EPS(2)(3) of $6.00, up 18%

           ·          Provisions for credit losses of $765 million; adjusted provisions of $471 million, down $637 million

           ·          Common Equity Ratio increases to 10.5% using a Basel II approach

Fourth Quarter 2012 Compared with Fourth Quarter 2011:

           ·          Net income of $1,082 million, up $314 million or 41%

           ·          Adjusted net income(2)of $1,125 million, up $293 million or 35%

           ·          EPS(3)of $1.59, up 43%

           ·          Adjusted EPS(2)(3) of $1.65, up 38%

           ·          ROE of 15.6%, compared with 12.7%

           ·          Adjusted ROE(2)of 16.3%, compared with 13.9%

           ·          Provisions for credit losses of $192 million; adjusted provisions of $113 million, down $168 million

For the fourth quarter ended October 31, 2012, BMO Financial Group reported strong net income of $1,082 million or $1.59 per share. On an adjusted basis, net income was $1,125 million or $1.65 per share. For fiscal 2012, net income was $4,189 million and EPS was $6.15. Adjusted net income was $4,092 million and adjusted EPS was $6.00.

(1) Effective the first quarter of 2012, BMO''s consolidated financial statements and the accompanying Interim Management''s Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) or Financial Review are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), as described in Note 1 to the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended October 31, 2012. Amounts in respect of comparative periods for 2011 have been restated to conform to the current presentation. References to GAAP mean IFRS, unless indicated otherwise.

(2) Results and measures in this document are presented on a GAAP basis. They are also presented on an adjusted basis that excludes the impact of certain items. Items excluded from fourth quarter 2012 results in the determination of adjusted results totalled a charge of $43 million after tax, comprised of a $35 million after tax net benefit of credit-related items in respect of the acquired Marshall &Ilsley Corporation (M&I) performing loan portfolio; costs of $153 million ($95 million after tax) for the integration of the acquired business; a $34 million ($24 million after tax) charge for amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets on all acquisitions; a benefit on run-off structured credit activities of $67 million ($67 million after tax); a restructuring charge of $74 million ($53 million after tax) to align our cost structure for the current and future business environment; and a decrease in the collective allowance for credit losses of $49 million ($27 million after tax). Adjusted results and measures are non-GAAP and are detailed in the Adjusted Net Income section, and (for all reported periods) in the Non-GAAP Measures section of the Financial Review, where such non-GAAP measures and their closest GAAP counterparts are disclosed.

(3) All Earnings per Share (EPS) measures in this document refer to diluted EPS unless specified otherwise. EPS is calculated using net income after deductions for net income attributable to non-controlling interest in subsidiaries and preferred share dividends.

Note: All ratios and percentage changes in this report are based on unrounded numbers.

"BMO''s fourth quarter results mark a strong finish to a pivotal year for the bank," said Bill Downe, President and Chief Executive Officer, BMO Financial Group. "In the quarter we successfully completed the conversion of the core banking platform in the U.S. and turned the page on the purchase of M&I, announced 24 months ago. Since the fourth quarter of 2010, we have generated reported earnings of $7.3 billion and increased BMO''s book value from $19.3 billion to $26.2 billion - an increase of 18%. During the year we increased the dividend and grew net loans and acceptances by 7.4% and deposits by 7.1%. A concerted focus on efficiency was reflected in a reduction of 700 full-time employees.

"P&C Canada experienced good quarter-over-quarter balance sheet growth - with loans and deposits up. We continue to see growth in residential mortgage market share, and believe the changes to Canada''s mortgage market announced earlier this year, which are aligned with BMO''s risk practices and ongoing efforts to encourage Canadians to borrow smartly, are having the desired moderating effect on housing prices in most markets.

"Over the past two years, with the acquisition of Marshall &Ilsley Corporation, we have fundamentally transformed the bank, changed its growth trajectory, and enhanced long-term value for shareholders. BMO Harris Bank has strong deposit market share positions in our core Midwest markets, and our U.S. footprint has doubled in size.

"During the year over 600 U.S. bank branches have been refreshed; high visibility BMO signage and promotion have been put in place; and 1,370 bank machines were raised to a new standard. Our reputation as a consistent commercial lender continues to grow. The core commercial and industrial portfolio in the U.S. has now increased in four sequential quarters - up 15 per cent from a year ago.

"Our efforts to attract new client assets in our wealth businesses have been effective. Of note, our U.S. wealth segment, which has an advantaged private banking and asset management platform, delivered over $100 million in adjusted earnings in 2012. In Canada, we continue to innovate as a leader in the ETF market and BMO InvestorLine''s introduction of adviceDirect means that even if you are a do-it-yourself investor, you can get specific investment recommendations to help you manage your portfolio so you don''t have to feel like you''re on your own.

"BMO Capital Markets continues to deliver very good earnings with strong ROE. Our reputation as experienced advisors who help clients navigate emerging opportunities continues to grow.

"We are confident that each of our U.S. businesses - personal and commercial, wealth, and capital markets - has the scale to compete for new customers. We are well-positioned to leverage the investments we have made in each of these businesses and focus on organic growth.

"I would like to thank our customers for the trust they place in the bank and in particular acknowledge the customers who were part of the conversion of the core banking platform in the U.S. for their continuing loyalty. We recognize that critical to the bank''s success is our ability to serve customers exceptionally well - and help them succeed. The bank''s employees are at the heart of our differentiation strategy; they continuously drive forward our vision to define great customer experience - and I would like to acknowledge them for their hard work and the great improvements being made in the way work gets done more efficiently for our customers.

"As we look ahead to 2013, we are confident that each of our businesses is positioned to deliver high quality sustained earnings growth against a high standard of customer experience," concluded Mr. Downe.

Concurrent with the release of results, BMO announced a first quarter 2013 dividend of $0.72 per common share, unchanged from the preceding quarter and equivalent to an annual dividend of $2.88 per common share. BMO''s capital position is strong. We announced our intention, subject to the approval of OSFI and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX), to initiate a normal course issuer bid for up to 15,000,000 of the bank''s own common shares.

BMO''s 2012 audited annual consolidated financial statements and accompanying management''s discussion & analysis (MD&A) will be available today at www.bmo.com, along with the supplementary financial information report.

Operating Segment Overview


To View the Full Content of this article click here

 

Contact Information

Media Relations Contacts

Ralph Marranca, Toronto

416-867-3996

ralph.marranca@bmo.com

Valerie Doucet, Montreal

514-877-8224

valerie.doucet@bmo.com

Investor Relations Contacts

Sharon Haward-Laird

Head, Investor Relations

416-867-6656

sharon.hawardlaird@bmo.com

Andrew Chin

Senior Manager

416-867-7019

andrew.chin@bmo.com

Chief Financial Officer

Tom Flynn           

Executive Vice-President and CFO

416-867-4689

tom.flynn@bmo.com

Corporate Secretary

Barbara Muir

Senior Vice-President, Deputy General Counsel,

Corporate Affairs and Corporate Secretary

416-867-6423

corp.secretary@bmo.com




© 2012 Marketwire, Incorporated. All rights reserved.

Audience Extends Momentum in China With BBK vivo X1 -- The World's Thinnest Smartphone

Audience

Audience and BBK Recognize Demand for Improved Mobile Speech Recognition With Latest Automated Speech Recognition Assist Technology From Audience

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA--(Marketwire - December 5, 2012) - Audience®, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADNC), the leader in advanced voice and audio processing for mobile devices, today announced that the Audience earSmart eS305 processor was selected by BBK for the new vivo X1 smartphone. The vivo X1 is the world's thinnest smartphone at only 6.55 mm and offers a groundbreaking voice experience by leveraging Audience earSmart technology to increase the accuracy of mobile speech recognition with Audience's Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) Assist technology. As the use of voice interface for hands-free operation of mobile phones becomes increasingly important, the dependability of cloud or device speech recognition is becoming a key differentiator for the leading edge of the smartphone market.

"BBK has a technical powerhouse in the vivo X1 smartphone. They are delivering an outstanding feature set in an incredibly sleek package while responding to the consumer demand for a superior voice and audio experience," said Andy Keane, vice president of marketing for Audience. "The Audience earSmart advanced voice processor is the key component in delivering that experience. By working with industry innovators like BBK we are creating a far better ASR experience that will be the key to realizing the promise of voice as the user interface of the future."

"BBK chose Audience because we wanted to work with the leader in voice processing technology," said Feng Lei, Director of Marketing for BBK. "Delivering seamless ASR Assist capabilities as part of the best voice experience is a key differentiator for the vivo X1 smartphone. Audience earSmart technology builds on and accelerates the BBK vision of delivering the best smartphone experience to our customers."

ASR Assist is a set of hardware-accelerated algorithms that isolate voice energy to improve the accuracy of speech-enabled applications regardless of surrounding environmental noise. These applications and the ASR engines powering them are impeded by noise sources such as background voices, music, street noise, and more. Without ASR Assist, the result is often a poor user experience where the engine fails to recognize the spoken words and the application fails to complete the assigned task. The BBK vivo X1 uses Audience ASR Assist technology to analyze the primary speaker's voice and surrounding audio environment. The vivo X1 then processes this data for improved application performance, accuracy and task completion -- even in noisy, distracting environments.

About the BBK vivo X1
The BBK vivo X1 features the highest quality voice and audio experience by leveraging Audience earSmart technology with industry leading ASR Assist capabilities. It is also the world's thinnest smartphone at a mere 6.55 mm thick. The BBK vivo X1 runs Android 4.11 and features a 4.7-inch screen with a resolution of 960x540 pixels. It also features an ARM Cortex A9 processor running at 1.2 GHZ, 1 GB RAM, 16 GB ROM and dual front/rear cameras. The BBK vivo X1 will retail for ¥ 2,498 ($400) and will be available through both the BBK online store and SuNing Yi purchase.

About Audience
Audience is the leader in advanced voice and audio processing for mobile devices. Its family of earSmart(tm) intelligent voice processors is based on the processes of human hearing, to suppress background noise and enhance mobile voice quality. Audience's technology substantially improves the mobile voice experience, while also improving the performance of speech-based services, and enhancing audio quality for multimedia. Audience earSmart(tm) processors are featured in mobile devices from leading providers in Asia-Pacific, Europe and the U.S. The company is based in Mountain View, California. For more information, see www.audience.com.


For more information on earSmart(tm) Advanced Voice processors from Audience, please go here.

ADNC-G

For more information, contact:

Diane Vanasse
Audience, Inc.
408-242-0027
dvanasse@audience.com



© 2012 Marketwire, Incorporated. All rights reserved.

Invivoscribe Launches Genection, a New Personalized Molecular Medicine Company Delivering Global Access to the Entire Clinically-Actionable Genetic Test Menu

Invivoscribe

SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwire - December 4, 2012) - Invivoscribe Technologies, Inc., a privately-held life science company based in San Diego, California, announces the launch of Genection, Inc.

Genection provides physicians with a dedicated online platform for global access to the entire clinically-actionable genetic test menu, including both routine and esoteric genetic tests, exome and whole genome sequencing, cancer somatic mutation testing, and pharmacogenomics.

Genection's model is not payor driven, so prescribing physicians have access to genetic tests that may currently be unavailable, overlooked, or even inaccessible through their patients' managed care plans and health care institutions. Combine this comprehensive genetic test offering with convenient online ordering, seamless linking of multiple CLIA and CAP accredited laboratories for reporting and interpretation and integrated service offerings such as next generation sequencing and advanced bioinformatics in a singular location and Genection is streamlining the entire diagnostic pipeline.

"Genection is a valuable tool in the personalized molecular medicine landscape. Clinicians spend too much of their time identifying and ordering clinically relevant genetic tests, while struggling to keep abreast of the flood of clinical information around new biomarkers," said Bradley Patay, M.D., Genection's Chief Medical Officer. "In addition to the broad selection of genetic tests available to order through their service, Genection offers one of the most relevant new genomic testing services next generation sequencing used to detect driver mutations in cancer." Oncologists appreciate that current more effective and individualized cancer treatment programs require improved diagnostic stratification of their patients. Using targeted gene assays for deep sequencing of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, and exome sequencing to identify rare or unknown genes that may contribute to an individual's cancer, an oncologist can better identify the underlying cause of a patient's tumor to create a more targeted treatment plan.

Genection has agreements in place with several top CLIA and CAP accredited laboratories as well as sequencing centers. "Our initial partners include ARUP Laboratories, Foundation Medicine, Cypher Genomics, the Laboratory for Personalized Molecular Medicine (LabPMM) in the U.S., as well as its ISO15189 compliant laboratory (LabPMM GmbH) in Martinsried, Germany," said Suzanne Graham, Genection's Senior Manager of Business Development. "Genection also has established relationships with sequencing providers, including Illumina and Ambry Genetics." Moreover, Genection has alliances with a consortium of genetic counselors, to provide current informed decision making support, reducing costs of the informed consent process, and helping to avoid unnecessary testing.

What does this integration mean for a physician and their patient?

"In order to make personalized molecular medicine a clinical reality, new platforms need to be developed for the delivery of healthcare. Genection's mission seeks to accelerate this adoption process," Dr. Patay continued. "The combination of CLIA-validated genetic testing, whole exome or whole genome sequencing and broad targeted assays, along with critical bioinformatics, analytic tools, and interpretative guidelines will contribute to timely definitive diagnoses for patients with rare, unexplained diseases or complex diseases; in essence, this integration will speed delivery of genomic test results and improve patient care."

More than just facilitating ordering and transmitting patient reports and data, Genection's service is designed to vastly improve the communication between genetic counselors, physicians and patients. The Genection web application provides HIPAA compliant, secure patient data management for physicians and health organizations. As patient care moves to more team-based management, it is vital for patient information to integrate with several clinicians, and not be limited to one single provider. Genection streamlines this process, allowing clinicians to share test results and genetic information with other healthcare providers, which can assist in a diagnosis for a patient and accelerate creation of individualized treatment plans and potentially life-saving therapies.

Genection also serves as the gateway for the global Together We Cure initiative, which allows acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients and physicians to share clinical information to facilitate more rapid development of AML targeted therapeutics.

Genection is a privately held company owned by Invivoscribe Technologies, Inc., founded 18 years ago by its Chairman & CEO, Jeffrey E. Miller, Ph.D. Dr. Miller will serve as President of Genection. Bradley A. Patay, MD is Genection's Chief Medical Officer, and Suzanne M. Graham, Ph.D., is Senior Manager of Business Development.

 

Contact Information

Genection, Inc.
Suzanne Graham
Sr. Manager, Business Development
858-224-6666
sgraham@genection.com

 

© 2012 Marketwire, Incorporated. All rights reserved.

Arkadin Anywhere to Drive Greater Web Conferencing Adoption with its User-Friendly Ergonomic Design

Arkadin

Next Generation Service Makes Collaboration More Productive and Enjoyable

Marketwire, PARIS, December 4, 2012 - Arkadin, one of the world's largest collaboration service providers, today introduced the next generation of Arkadin®Anywhere(tm), a robust and intuitive application of its core web conferencing service.  Newly designed with input from ergonomic specialists for exceptional simplicity and enjoyment, it is seamlessly integrated with ArkadinAnytime's premium audio for a complete collaboration experience.

One-click Sharing, Anytime, from Anywhere in Real-time: 

The new configuration of the interface makes the most used functions immediately available at the touch of fingertips. With one click, users have a streamlined conference screen for instant application and document sharing.  Key features:

  •         Quick share buttons for fast, intuitive sharing of screens, applications, whiteboards or documents
  •         Moderator console has an easy, yet comprehensive icon-driven conference control panel
  •         Instant invitations for inviting new participants anytime during conferences
  •         Public and private chat pop-ups when new messages are received
  •         Audio and Web recording for instant editing and sharing of content
  •         One-click audio access activates instant call-back for joining conferences
  •         Mobile integration for conferencing on-the-go with iPad and Android apps for tablets

 

Simple, Intuitive Interface Drives Swift Adoption

Demand for web conferencing is increasing significantly as companies seek greater efficiency and productivity for communicating across geographically dispersed teams. In their Analysis of the Global Web Conferencing Market, November 2012, Frost & Sullivan reports hosted web conferencing usage growth at 25-30%, with greater penetration forecast for SMBs as vendors introduce easy to use and cost efficient pricing models.  Their analysis positions Arkadin as the fastest growing Conferencing Service Provider (CSP) worldwide.

"Our enhancements reflect the most desired characteristics for web conferencing as cited in leading end-user surveys that rate ease-of-use, performance and reliability as key factors for adoption," says Stephane Seigneurin, vice president of product management, Arkadin. "We're confident ArkadinAnywhere will have strong appeal, especially among SMBs who need a simple 'plug and play' solution for their standard conferencing applications. With one click their employees can begin collaborating with minimal training, resulting in rapid adoption throughout their organizations."

ArkadinAnywhere is delivered as a service, on demand in 17 languages for instant access from web browsers without any downloads. Competitive pricing plans are offered for domestic or international conferencing. Arkadin's local customer and technical support is available via embedded chat console or from Arkadin's live customer service, 24/7.

 

About Arkadin

 Founded in 2001, Arkadin is one of the largest and fastest growing Collaboration Service Providers in the world. With a vision rooted in the belief that progress emerges from people's desire to share, Arkadin offers a complete range of remote audio, web, video conferencing and Unified Communications solutions. The services are delivered in the SaaS model for fast, scalable deployments and a high ROI.  Its global network of 51 operating centres in 30 countries has dedicated local-language support teams to service its 26,000 customers.

  

North America, Asia
Sylvia Chen
s.chen@arkadin.com

 

© 2012 Marketwire, Incorporated. All rights reserved.

Energizer Resources Reports 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate for its Green Giant, Madagascar, Graphite Property

Energizer Resources Inc.

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - December 3, 2012) - Energizer Resources Inc. (TSX: EGZ)(OTCBB: ENZR)(FRANKFURT: YE5) ("Energizer" or the "Company") is pleased to report the results of the mineral resource estimate for its Molo graphite deposit, located in Madagascar.

The Molo deposit is located in the Green Giant Graphite project area, and is part of the joint venture (JV) property with Malagasy Minerals Limited in Madagascar. Energizer has a 75% ownership interest and is the operator of the project.

The graphite mineral resource was prepared by Desmond Subramani, Pr.Sci.Nat. (400184/06) and John Hancox, Pr.Sci.Nat. (400224/04), independent Qualified Persons with Caracle Creek International Consulting (Pty) Ltd (CCIC) of Johannesburg, South Africa. A Technical Report in compliance with National Instrument (NI) 43-101 will be filed on SEDAR within 45 days of this release. CCIC has verified the information in this release.

Mineral Resource Estimate

 The mineral resource estimate is based on 48 drill holes (total 9551 metres) and 18 trenches (total 3637 metres) drilled by Energizer, at an average spacing of 100 metres along strike and 50 metres along dip. Three mineralised zones were interpreted and modelled for the resource calculation. A 'Low Grade' zone is based on the graphitic gneiss lithological boundary, within which an eastern and western 'High Grade' zone occurs. 'High Grade' zones are based on a 6.0% C threshold as a guideline. The block model was developed using Datamine Studio™ software. Blocks are 40 metres long, 10 metres wide and 10 metres high. Various cut-off grades were calculated for the model, and are listed in the table provided below. All grades are reported as percentage carbon (%C).

·         Indicated resources totalling 84.04 Million tonnes (Mt) grading 6.36% C, above a 2% C cut-off grade.

      ·         Inferred resources totalling 40.34Mt grading 6.29% C, above a 2% C cut-off grade.

·         Mineralised zones in the resource estimation, start from the surface and continue to a maximum depth of 385 metres, with a total extension of 1630 metres. The zones remain open along strike and at depth.

·         Two 'High Grade' zones occur on the western and eastern flanks of the Molo deposit, with a combined total Indicated resource of 60.17 Mt, grading 8.1% C, above a 4% C cut-off grade. 

·         Values displayed in the table are undiluted and "in-situ" as no economic parameters, such as mining, milling or metallurgy recovery have been applied to the values. As such, economic viability is yet to be established.

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Resource Table for Molo Deposit inclusive of 'Low' and 'High' grade zones

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                Indicated Resources      Inferred Resources 

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 % C Cut-off                           Tonnes      C%           Tonnes     C%

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 0.50                                84 695 805    6.32       40 725 804   6.25

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 1.00                                84 592 371    6.33       40 679 513   6.25

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 1.50                                84 387 713    6.34       40 562 609   6.27

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 2.00                                84 041 923    6.36       40 339 436   6.29

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 2.50                                83 056 941    6.41       39 563 716   6.37

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 3.00                                81 050 035    6.50       38 329 848   6.49

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 3.50                                78 191 613    6.62       36 153 216   6.68

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 4.00                                74 044 160    6.78       33 500 374   6.92

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 4.50                                67 070 222    7.03       30 391 779   7.19

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 5.00                                56 835 242    7.44       27 197 419   7.47

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 5.50                                48 607 341    7.82       23 810 769   7.79

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 6.00                                43 402 393    8.07       20 627 295   8.10

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 6.50                                39 357 804    8.26       18 990 582   8.27

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 7.00                                34 860 275    8.46       17 052 556   8.44

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 7.50                                28 488 283    8.72       14 778 049   8.62

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 8.00                                21 195 711    9.05       10 740 950   8.94

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 8.50                                14 975 866    9.40        7 470 018   9.26

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 9.00                                 9 500 675    9.78        4 136 308   9.70

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 9.50                                 5 596 149   10.15        2 253 455  10.08

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 10.00                                2 716 659   10.60        1 132 428  10.43

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Table 1 Molo resource summary table, as at December 2012.

Interpolation Parameters

Ordinary Kriging was used to interpolate the block model using two metre sample composites. Each zone had its search ellipse parameters to interpolate the grade. A primary search ellipse (based on the geo-statistical characteristics of the deposit model) of 70 metres along strike, 40 metres down dip and 10 metres across strike was applied. A single value of 2.36t/m3 density was used for all models. Capping values of 13% C and 15% C were applied to the assays for the eastern and western 'high' grade zones respectively.

To report the resource and interpret the zones limits, a cut-off grade of 2% C and 4% C were applied to constrain the model for 'Low' and 'High' grade zones respectively.

Classification

Classification of the resource used the following criteria as guidelines: 

·         The geological interpretation and its relationship with mineralisation;

·         Logging and sampling techniques;

·         The quality and reliability of the geological database;

·         The spatial coverage and spacing of drillholes;

·         Estimation technique.

Preliminary Economic Assessment Update

DRA Mineral Projects ('DRA') of Johannesburg, South Africa continues to author the preliminary economic assessment report ("PEA). This report was scheduled for release in December, 2012, but has now been rescheduled for release in Q1 of 2013 due to re-engineering of the plant operating parameters. According to Craig Scherba, P.Geo, President and COO of Energizer, "The calculation of our graphite resource is a significant accomplishment for the Company, and impacts the next milestone for Energizer, which is the release of our PEA study. The original mine design parameters were based on an assumed head-grade of 6% C, and with the quantification by CCIC of significant tonnage at a much higher grade (9% vs 6% C), we believe a head-grade 40-60% higher than originally designed for is obtainable. Consequently, since less material will need to be processed to obtain the same volume of graphite flake, the capital and operating requirements for the mine should be significantly reduced in relation to the original design. DRA has therefore been authorized to begin redesigning the mine based on these new parameters.

Qualified Person

Desmond Subramani, Pr.Sci.Nat. and John Hancox, Pr.Sci.Nat. of Caracle Creek International Consulting Inc. (Caracle Creek) of Johannesburg, South Africa, who are the Independent Qualified Persons under National Instrument 43-101 responsible for the resource estimate, have reviewed this release. Both Subramani and Hancox are the authors of the NI 43-101 Resource Report, which will be filed within 45 days of this news release.

For more information, please visit our website at www.energizerresources.com.

Safe Harbour: This press release may contain forward-looking statements that may involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results could differ materially from expectations and projections set out herein.

Cautionary Statement: The above resource estimates were calculated in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 as required by Canadian securities regulatory authorities. For United States reporting purposes, Industry Guide 7 (under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), as interpreted by the Staff of the SEC, applies different standards in order to classify mineralization as a reserve. Among other things, the terms "measured", "indicated" and "inferred" mineral resources are required pursuant to National Instrument 43-101, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize such terms. Canadian standards differ significantly from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and mineral resource information contained herein is not comparable to similar information regarding mineral reserves disclosed in accordance with the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. This mineral resource estimate includes inferred resources that are normally considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. There is also no certainty that the inferred mineral resource will be converted to the measured and indicated mineral resource categories through further drilling, or into a mineral reserve once economic considerations are applied.

U.S. investors should understand that "inferred" mineral resources have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. In addition, investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the Company's mineral resources constitute or will be converted into reserves.

Contact Information:

Energizer Resources Inc.

Brent Nykoliation

Senior Vice President, Corporate Development

Toll Free: 800.818.5442 or 416.364.4911

bnykoliation@energizerresources.com

Energizer Resources Inc.

Craig Scherba

President and COO       

Toll Free: 800.818.5442 or 416.364.4911

www.energizerresources.com



© 2012 Marketwire, Incorporated. All rights reserved.