Press Releases

Congressional Health Reform Bill Falls Short on Comprehensive and Affordable Coverage for Low-Income Children Nov 11, 2009 05:49PM

CHILDREN'S HEALTH FUND ISSUES A REPORT CARD TO CONGRESS; LAUDS THE MANDATE FOR UNIVERSAL COVERAGE FOR CHILDREN BUT CRITICIZES THE PLANNED ELIMINATION OF CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM (CHIP)

NEW YORK, Nov. 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Children's Health Fund (CHF), a national organization that advocates for and provides clinical care to disadvantaged and medically underserved children, today issued a Report Card that graded the child health provisions in the Congressional Health Reform bill that was passed in the House of Representatives on November 7.

"CHF applauds the House of Representatives on producing this historic health reform bill which will provide tens of millions of currently uninsured Americans access to secure health insurance coverage," said Caroline DeRosa, Senior Director for Policy & Advocacy for CHF. "However, there is more that must be done to protect and expand health care for children. As health reform continues to be deliberated in the Senate - and then back to the full Congress - we urge lawmakers to revisit the provisions of the bill that deal with coverage and access for children. We want lawmakers to ensure that the hard-won gains accomplished by 12 years of the CHIP program do not get weakened as the legislation makes its way to the President's desk. As the ratings in the CHF Report Card point out, we remain concerned about overall affordability of health care coverage for low income families in general, and the integrity of the CHIP programs in particular."

CHF asked six questions of the bill and responded with a grading system from A to F. The highest grade issued was an A-minus; to the bill's provision mandating health insurance coverage for all children; CHF found that the mandate is estimated to cover 96% of the population.

The lowest, given twice, was a C-minus; these grades addressed the issue of access to care for children; due to the lack of affordability that raises the risk of people forgoing coverage. In addition there is concern about a major government safety net, CHIP. The bill in its current form does not provide sufficient safeguards ensuring that coverage for children currently on CHIP will be as good or better under the new proposal.

The Report Card was graded by asking six questions of the bill:

1. Does the proposal require that all children have coverage?

CHF Grade: A-

2. Does the proposal provide comprehensive coverage for children?

CHF Grade: B-

3. Does the proposal provide affordable coverage for children?

CHF Grade: C-

4. Will all children currently enrolled in or eligible for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and Medicaid have the same or better coverage?

CHF Grade: C-

5. Does the proposal expand and strengthen the pediatric workforce?

CHF Grade: B-

6. Does the proposal sufficiently reimburse providers for the care of children?

CHF Grade: B

Comprehensive care received a B-minus grade due to a lack of mandate for early and periodic screening, diagnosis and treatment, the standard of care for children for which CHF advocates. The bill takes positive steps to expand and strengthen the pediatric work force through new grant programs for physicians as well as medical students, for which there exists a dearth of care providers in both rural and urban areas around the country. More needs to be done in this area and therefore a B-minus was given.

Lastly, the bill proposes to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for primary care services to 100% parity with Medicare rates and then 90% in 2015 and going forward. The provision receives a B as lower payment rates can result in fewer doctors accepting Medicaid patients.

The Children's Health Fund (CHF), founded in 1987 by pediatrician Irwin Redlener and singer-song-writer Paul Simon, is the nation's leading pediatric provider of mobile-based health care for homeless and low-income children and their families. CHF's mission is to bring health care directly to those in need through the development and support of innovative medical programs, response to public health crises, and the promotion of guaranteed access to health care for all children. Teams of dedicated medical professionals in CHF's 24 pediatric programs in 15 states and the District of Columbia have brought essential primary care services through more than 2 million patient visits. www.childrenshealthfund.org

SOURCE Children's Health Fund

Help SC Johnson Help Team Earth Nov 11, 2009 05:47PM

RACINE, Wis., Nov. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Looking to do some good? One good deed might be as close as your computer keyboard. SC Johnson, maker of well-known brands including Glade®, OFF!®, Scrubbing Bubbles®, Ziploc® and Windex®, has launched a blog to collect environmental tips and inspire dialogue. For each tip shared, SC Johnson will give $1 to Conservation International's Team Earth project, up to $25,000.

"We know the families who buy our products also care about the environment and are trying to make a difference in their homes, such as by recycling. We wanted to team up with these consumers to make a difference, together," explained Kelly Semrau, Vice President of Global Public Affairs and Communication for SC Johnson. "Knowing the average mom spends 12 hours online each week* researching, connecting with friends and family, and sharing information - we knew an online program would be a fast and easy way for her to participate."

The new blog, at www.scjohnson.com/TeamEarthTips, invites families to share stories about how they minimize their impact on the earth. From now through November 18, for every tip or tactic posted on the blog, SC Johnson will contribute $1 to Conservation International's Team Earth effort aiming to raise $25,000 by the end of the program on the 18th.

Team Earth is a worldwide sustainability effort uniting businesses, non-profit organizations, scientists, educators and individuals to address the most pressing environmental issues facing humanity. SC Johnson is a founding member of Team Earth, and was proud to kick off the initiative with actor Harrison Ford, the CEOs of Starbucks and Harrah's Entertainment, and others. More information is available at the Team Earth website: www.teamearth.com

"Conservation International says that every year, the earth loses 32 million acres of tropical forests - an area the size of England. We want to help, and to engage our consumers as we do so. Online efforts like our Team Earth Tips are one small way to get the dialogue started," said Semrau. "Facebook has over 300 million active users. One in five Internet users now Tweets or uses other tools to share updates about themselves.** We can all do a lot of good if we put the power of these tools into spreading and supporting Team Earth and other sustainability initiatives. Together, we can do so much more."

About SC Johnson:

SC Johnson is a family-owned and managed business dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, and insect control. It markets such well-known brands as GLADE®, OFF!®, PLEDGE®, RAID®, SCRUBBING BUBBLES®, SHOUT®, WINDEX® and ZIPLOC® in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including AUTAN®, BAYGON®, BRISE®, ECHO®, KABIKILLER®, KLEAR®, and MR. MUSCLE®. The 123-year old company, with more than $8 billion in sales, employs approximately 12,000 people globally and sells products in more than 110 countries. www.scjohnson.com

* Source: Yankelovich MONITOR 2009.

** Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project

SOURCE SC Johnson

Xlibris Releases I Was Killed by My Best Friend -- New Book Tells the True Story of an African Girl Who Relies on Faith to Survive Nov 11, 2009 05:47PM

ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 11, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Xlibris, the leading print-on-demand self-publishing services provider, announces today the release of I Was Killed by My Best Friend: A Story of My Death to Sin and My Life in Christ, a new book about faith and struggles in life, authored by Alice Leszek.

I Was Killed by My Best Friend tells the engaging story of a girl no different from any girl growing up in America. She lives in Africa blessed with a loving family, but soon her life becomes nothing like what most girls here have to encounter. She goes through stressful times as war becomes a looming threat and causes financial loss and periodic separation from loved ones; gossip leads to mistrust and broken hearts; and HIV/AIDS becomes a source of confusion and fear. An antiquated system of marriage leads to homelessness and total loneliness. A reconciled friendship leads to temporary comfort, but at a terrible cost. With all of these trials and tribulations, she relies on her belief in God to survive. This book also contains countless articles that deal with Christian living, mankind's purpose in life, and more.

Readers who wish to order a copy of I Was Killed by My Best Friend are encouraged to visit Xlibris.com, call (888) 795-4274 or send an email to orders@xlibris.com today.

About the Author

Alice Leszek was born in Kampala, Uganda and now resides in Orlando, Florida with her loving husband Gregory. The author currently owns and operates a hair salon and enjoys traveling and sharing the Word of God.

          I Was Killed by My Best Friend * by Alice Leszek
          A Story of My Death to Sin and My Life in Christ
                 Publication Date: November 9, 2009
       Trade Paperback; $19.99; 213 pages; 978-1-4415-9325-2
        Trade Hardback; $29.99; 213 pages; 978-1-4415-9326-9

Members of the media who wish to review this book may request a complimentary paperback copy by contacting the publisher at (888) 795-4274 x. 7479. To purchase copies of the book for resale, please fax Xlibris at (610) 915-0294 or call (888) 795-4274 x. 7876.

For more information, contact Xlibris at (888) 795-4274 or on the web at www.Xlibris.com.

CONTACT:  Xlibris
          Marketing Services
          (888) 795-4274 x. 7876
          MarketingServices@Xlibris.com

Homebuyer Tax Credit Has Added Benefits for Armed Services Members, Others Nov 11, 2009 05:46PM

SAN DIEGO, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 11/11/09 -- The National Association of Realtors® today thanked the many members in the U.S. military on active duty for their services to America, and reminded them of special benefits for them in the recent extension and expansion of the homebuyer tax credit law.

NAR was the main proponent in getting the homebuyer's tax credit extended into 2010 and expanded to include present homeowners.

"NAR is the leading advocate for private property and homeownership issues, and firmly believes that those who are in service to their country should be full participants in the homebuyer tax credit law," said NAR President Charles McMillan, broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Dallas-Fort Worth. "These men and women are often hindered by hardships from full participation in the American Dream of homeownership because their duty disrupts them in the buying and selling of a home."

Two special provisions in the present tax credit law assist members of the military, intelligence and foreign services in taking advantage of the homebuyer tax credit, said McMillan.

Armed services members, as well as intelligence service and foreign service personnel, who are on active duty and out of the U.S. for 90 days during any part of 2009, get an additional year to buy their homes, to May 1, 20ll. Another benefit is a waiver on the time of occupancy of the home purchased with the tax credit. Homebuyers who purchase their home using the tax credit must use that home as a principal residence for a period of no fewer than three years, or must forfeit the entire credit. Military, intelligence and foreign service members do not have to repay the credit if they have to sell their home after fewer than three years occupancy due to official business.

First-time homebuyers who are eligible can obtain a tax credit of $8,000. Current homeowners are eligible for a $6,500 tax credit, provided they have lived in the home they are selling, or have sold, as principal residence for five consecutive years in the past eight years.

Income limits for eligible homebuyers are expanded to $125,000 for single buyers and $225,000 for couples. The purchase price of the home cannot exceed $800,000. To help guard against fraud, buyers are required to attach documentation of purchase to their tax return.

The National Association of Realtors®, "The Voice for Real Estate," is America's largest trade association, representing 1.2 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

Information about NAR is available at www.realtor.org. News releases are posted in the Web site's "News Media" section in the NAR Media Center.

REALTOR® is a registered collective membership mark which may be used only by real estate professionals who are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and subscribe to its strict Code of Ethics. Not all real estate agents are REALTORS®. All REALTORS® are members of NAR.

For further information contact:
Lucien Salvant
202-383-1176
Email Contact

Aura Minerals Announces Third-Quarter 2009 Results Nov 11, 2009 05:45PM

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Nov. 11, 2009) - Aura Minerals Inc. (TSX: ORA) ("Aura Minerals" or the "Company") today announced its financial and operating results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009. All amounts are expressed in Canadian dollars unless otherwise specified.

Third Quarter Highlights

- Signed definitive agreements to purchase the producing San Andres gold mine in Honduras (the "San Andres Mine") and the producing Sao Francisco and Sao Vicente gold mines in Brazil (the "Sao Francisco Mine" and "Sao Vicente Mine", respectively);

- Closed the acquisition of the San Andres Mine, effective August 25, 2009;

- Gold production totalled 6,925 ounces for the period from August 26 to September 30, 2009;

- Gold sales totalled 7,175 ounces for the same period;

- Total cash costs(1)of US$534 per ounce of gold produced during the period;

- Completed an equity financing on July 15, 2009 for gross proceeds of $125,125,000;

- Current cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2009, of $46.8 million with an additional $60.9 million in restricted cash reserved for the acquisition of the Sao Francisco Mine and the Sao Vicente Mine, expected to occur in Q1 2010;

- Appointed a new Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Britt Reid, and two additional board members, Messrs. John Ivany and Tom Ogryzlo;

- Received the installation licence ("LI") for the Serrote Deposit, which allows the Serrote Deposit to proceed to the construction stage;

- Issued a preliminary economic assessment study (the "PEA Study") for the Serrote Deposit, showing robust economics;

- Completed a new resource estimate for the Aranzazu copper-gold-silver mine in Mexico (the "Aranzazu Project");

- Continued to advance the engineering and mine development at the Aranzazu Project toward a planned restart of operations in the second quarter of 2010;

- Mine operating earnings of $0.1 million for the quarter, including a fair value adjustment to cost of sales of $3.9 million as a result of the purchase accounting rules, compared to a loss of $0.9 million in the third quarter of 2008; and

- Net loss of $6.7 million or $0.05 per share for the quarter compared to a net loss of $14.1 million or $0.12 per share in the third quarter of 2008.

Commenting on the third quarter, Patrick Downey, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are very pleased to report our first production from the recently acquired San Andres Mine. Operational improvements have been our major focus at San Andres since we took over the operation in August, and we expect to see the results of those improvements beginning in the fourth quarter of 2009, with increased gold production and lower cash costs per ounce. In that regard, we have produced 6,983 ounces for the month of October which is the highest monthly production to date for 2009 at the San Andres Mine and we expect to meet or exceed the previous guidance of 18,000 ounces for the quarter. Further production increases are planned for 2010 based on completion of the new crusher-conveyor system and improvements to the overall heap leach operations.

We anticipate completing the acquisition of the Sao Francisco Mine and Sao Vicente Mine in the first quarter of 2010, which along with our planned restart at the Aranzazu copper-gold-silver mine in the second quarter of 2010 will solidify our position as an emerging mid-tier gold producer. Looking ahead, we intend to maximize returns at all projects through cost management and operational efficiencies."

Third Quarter Financial Review

In the third quarter of 2009, mine operating earnings are $0.1 million, including the fair value adjustment to cost of sales of $3.9 million as a result of the purchase accounting rules. This compares to a mine operating loss of $0.9 million in the third quarter of 2008. Third quarter 2009 net loss was $7.2 million or $0.05 per basic share, compared to a net loss of $14.1 million or $0.12 per basic share, in the same period in 2008. The decrease in net loss from the third quarter 2008 is primarily due to the Company's acquisition of the San Andres Mine in August 2009, which positively impacted earnings, a $1.3 million reduction in stock-based compensation, and a $6.0 million reduction in exploration costs, offset by an increased foreign exchange loss of $0.6 million and a loss on derivatives of $2.0 million.

Third quarter gold sales are 7,175 ounces from the San Andres Mine at an average realized gold price of US$964 per ounce, for total sales of $7.5 million (US$6.9 million). This compares to 1,188 dry metric tonnes of concentrate shipments, containing 607,700 pounds of copper, 164 ounces of gold and 7,644 ounces of silver from the Aranzazu Project in the corresponding quarter of 2008 for total sales of $1.6 million (US$1.6 million). The Aranzazu Project remained in care and maintenance during the current quarter.

Total cash costs(1) per ounce of gold sold are US$944 and include the purchase accounting adjustment, as referred to above, of US$498 per ounce allocated to the acquisition date inventory which was then sold during the period. Total cash costs(1) per gold ounce produced from August 26 to quarter-end is US$534. There is no comparable cost data for the corresponding period in 2008.

Cash used by operations in the third quarter of 2009 is $6.7 million, compared to $12.5 million for the same period in 2008. The reduction in cash used in the third quarter of 2009 as compared to the same period in 2008 is attributable to the positive contribution from the San Andres, despite such results only being included since August 25th, and the net reduction in other expenses referred to above. Aura Minerals expects that cash flow from operations will increase in the fourth quarter of 2009, being the Company's first full quarter of operations from the San Andres Mine.

The financial information presented above does not constitute a management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A") as contemplated by relevant securities rules and should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited financial statements and MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2008 and with the Company's third quarter 2009 unaudited financial statements and MD&A for the quarter ended September 30, 2009, which are now available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com under the Company's profile or on the Company's web-site.

Operational and Project Review

San Andres Mine

Since acquiring the San Andres Mine on August 25, 2009, the Company's focus has been as follows:

- ongoing operational improvements with a focus on leaching operations to increase overall recovery and reduce on-site cash costs; and

- completion of the expansion project, which consists of a new primary crusher-conveyor system. The new system will significantly reduce haulage distances, which will reduce cash costs and provide an opportunity to increase throughput. The system is expected to be fully operational in the first quarter of 2010.

The table below sets out selected operating information for the San Andres Mine, for the period from August 26 to September 30, 2009:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating Information
Ore mined (tonnes)                                                  417,244
Gold
  Grade (g/t)                                                         0.709
  Recovery rate (%)                                                    72.8%
  Production (ounces)                                                 6,925
  Sales (ounces)                                                      7,175
Average cash cost(1) of gold produced (US$/ounce)                      $534
Average cash cost(1) of gold sold, including fair value
 impact from purchase price allocation of US$498 (US$/ounce)           $944
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aranzazu Project

All mining activities at the Aranzazu Project were temporarily suspended on December 10, 2008 to preserve cash resources in light of weakening metal prices in the second half of 2008. All capital projects, including underground development work, were also deferred at that time. In August 2009, the Company approved a restart plan for the Aranzazu Project that envisions a startup in the second quarter of 2010. Total capital expenditures associated with the restart of the Aranzazu Project are estimated to be US$20 million. The capital expenditures include new ramp development, stope development, mine infrastructure including additional mine ventilation and some additional mine equipment. Also included are the upgrades to the process plant to expand the capacity to 2,600 tonnes per day ("tpd"), with further upgrades planned to increase throughput to 3,000 tpd. In addition, confirmatory metallurgical testwork is underway for the continued optimization of copper and gold recovery.

During the quarter, the Company completed 12,200 metres of close-space core drilling at the high-grade resources within the Calcocita, Arroyos Azules and BW zones for conversion of resources into proven and probable reserves as part of the planned restart of operations. As part of this program, results from 17 holes were released during the quarter. Based on results to date, an additional 14,000 metres of drilling has been approved for additional resource definition on several mineralized zones east of the Arroyos Azules zone. An underground diamond drill rig is also being mobilized to site in December 2009 and will be used for stope definition work in the near-term mine planning areas of the BW, Mexicana and Arroyos Azules zones.

On November 2, 2009, the Company issued updated resource estimates using 0.5% and 0.8% copper cut-offs and based on all drilling completed to September 2009. The cut-offs are based on copper values only. The resource estimate, based on the 0.8% Cu cut-off, will now be used for reserve definition and detailed mine design at the Arroyos Azules and BW Zones for the ongoing development and the planned mine re-start. Details of the updated resource estimate can be found in the press release dated November 2, 2009 (see News Release No. 2009-15).

With the wide mineralization, favourable ground conditions and the fact that the Aranzazu Project has a large and expanding resource base open on strike at both ends and at depth, the Company plans to complete a review for additional mine and plant expansion. The expansion would be based on a low cost bulk mining scenario such as sub-level caving, similar to that used at several other operations. If suited to such a bulk mining high tonnage operation, the Company plans to proceed to the next stages of such development during 2010. Work would include extensive drilling, geotechnical and engineering design.

Arapiraca Project

In August 2009, the Company announced that it had been granted the LI issued by the Alagoas State Environmental Agency for the Serrote Deposit. The LI allows the Serrote Deposit to proceed to the construction stage.

In connection with the Serrote Deposit, the Company announced results from the PEA Study dated September 30, 2009, and entitled "Preliminary Economic Assessment, Serrote da Laje Deposit of the Arapiraca Copper-Gold-Iron Ore Project, State of Alagoas, Brazil" prepared for Aura Minerals by Gordon Zurowski, P.Eng. of PEG Mining Consultants Inc. in conjunction with Ronald G. Simpson, P.Geo. of GeoSim Services Inc. and Brian Kennedy, P.Eng. The PEA Study supports an open pit and concentrator processing 41,000 tpd of ore feed producing a copper-gold concentrate and an iron rich (67% Fe) magnetite concentrate. Highlights of the PEA Study include the following:

- The Serrote Deposit contains 157.4 million tonnes of mineable sulphide material in the Measured and Indicated categories (64.8 million tonnes in the Measured and 92.6 million tonnes in the Indicated category), with an additional 12.2 million tonnes in the Inferred category, which only represents approximately 7% of the total tonnes;

- Average annual copper production is expected to be 137 million pounds with the average in the first three years totalling approximately 155 million pounds;

- Average annual magnetite production is expected to be approximately 1.3 million tonnes of concentrate;

- The average life of mine cash cost(1) for copper is estimated at US$0.82 per pound including by-product credits for iron and gold sales;

- The expected after-tax net present value is US$325 million at a 10% discount rate and the after-tax internal rate of return is 25.4%; and

- The expected payback period is 2.8 years. Commodity prices assumed for the financial analysis are US$2.00 per pound of copper, US$800 per ounce of gold, and US$0.85 per dry metric tonne unit of iron ore fines.

Based on the positive results of the PEA Study, the Company plans to advance the Serrote Deposit through to the feasibility study level by the third quarter of 2010. Drilling has commenced to acquire dedicated representative metallurgical samples to follow up on the recently completed testwork at SGS Lakefield in Ontario, Canada. This work will be aimed at further improving copper recovery and concentrate grades and optimizing the process flowsheet. Drilling is also underway to convert Inferred resources to the Measured and Indicated categories.

The Company is also completing follow-up drilling at the Caboclo target as this could provide additional near-surface higher-grade copper and gold ore, which could be fed to the concentrator in the early years of operations thereby further enhancing project economics.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Aura Minerals held cash and cash equivalents of $46.8 million and restricted cash of $60.9 million as at September 30, 2009, compared with $35.3 million in cash and cash equivalents on June 30, 2009. The change in cash and cash equivalents is comprised mainly of the following items:

- $6.7 million used by operations for the third quarter;

- $118.7 million in net proceeds from a bought deal private placement offering which closed July 15, 2009;

- $38.3 million (US$35.9 million) paid in connection with the acquisition of the San Andres Mine; and

- $61.7 million (US$56.8 million) transferred to restricted cash on August 25, 2009.

The Company's overall debt position is $27.6 million, comprised of promissory notes payable in connection with the acquisition of the San Andres Mine. The restricted cash amount of $60.9 million is held in escrow and will be used to fund the cash portion of the consideration required for proposed acquisition of the Sao Francisco Mine and Sao Vicente Mine, expected to close in the first quarter of 2010.

Capital expenditures for the fourth quarter of 2009 are expected to be approximately US$9.8 million, with US$5.3 million allocated to the ongoing installation of the new crusher-conveyor system at the San Andres Mine, and US$4.5 million to the ongoing development at the Aranzazu Project. The above expenditures will be funded from the Company's current treasury and cash flows generated from current operations at the San Andres Mine in Q4 2009.

Additionally, the Company expects that the drilling program underway at the Serrote Deposit, in the amount of approximately US$6.0 million over the next twelve months, the remaining 2010 development expenditures at the Aranzazu Project, in the amount of US$15.5 million, on-going corporate administrative expenses, and the repayment of interest and principal on the promissory notes and deferred purchase price consideration payable will also be funded by the Company's current treasury, cash flows generated from the San Andres Mine, and from anticipated cash flows upon the restart of the Aranzazu Project in mid-2010.

2009 Forecast Update

Aura Minerals is providing 2009 gold production guidance of approximately 25,000 ounces at total cash costs(1) of below US$500 per ounce of gold produced. All 2009 gold production will come from the Company's San Andres Mine.

Conference call

Aura Minerals' management will host a conference call and live webcast for analysts and investors on Thursday, November 12, 2009, at 8 a.m. Pacific Time (11 a.m. Eastern Time) to review the results. Participants may access the call by calling the operator 416-695-6622 or toll-free access at 1-800-396-7098. Participants are encouraged to call in 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.

The call is being webcast and can be accessed at Aura Minerals' website. Those who wish to listen to a recording of the conference call at a later time may do so by calling 416-695-5800 or 1-800-408-3053 (passcode 4542303#). This playback version of the call will be available until November 27, 2009.

Non-GAAP Measures

This document includes certain non-GAAP performance measures, in particular, the total cash costs of gold per ounce and per pound of copper. This non-GAAP measure does not have any standardized meaning within Canadian GAAP and therefore may not be comparable to a similar measure presented by other companies. Cash costs are presented as they represent an industry standard method of comparing certain costs on a per unit basis, and the Company believes that this information is useful to management and certain investors in evaluating the Company's performance. The data presented is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with Canadian GAAP. Total cash costs include on-site mining, processing and, administration costs, off-site refining and royalty charges, reduced by by-product credits, but exclude amortization, reclamation, and exploration costs, as well as capital expenditures. Total cash costs are divided by ounces to arrive at per ounce cash costs.

About Aura Minerals Inc.

Aura Minerals is a Canadian resource company focused on the acquisition, exploration, development and operation of gold and base metal projects in the Americas. The Company's portfolio includes the San Andres Gold Mine in Honduras, the Aranzazu Copper-Gold-Silver Project in Mexico, and the feasibility-stage Serrote Deposit at the Arapiraca Copper-Gold-Iron Ore Project in Brazil. In addition, the Company has acquired the producing Sao Francisco and Sao Vicente Gold Mines in Brazil, subject to regulatory approvals.

(1) Cash costs are a non-GAAP measure. Refer to cautionary note regarding non-GAAP measures in this news release.

Cautionary Statement:

This news release contains forward-looking statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include those risks set out in Aura Minerals' public documents filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although Aura Minerals believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Aura Minerals disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
        Aura Minerals Inc.
        Patrick Downey
        President & Chief Executive Officer
        (604) 669-4777
        Fax: (604) 696-0212 (FAX)
        info@auraminerals.com
        www.auraminerals.com

Source: Aura Minerals Inc.