VANCOUVER, British Columbia - May 22, 2008 – SilverCrest Mines Inc. (“SilverCrest” or the “Company”) announces that its Board of Directors has adopted a shareholder rights plan (the “Rights Plan”).  The Rights Plan, which took effect May 21, 2008, has been adopted to ensure the fair treatment of shareholders in the event of any take-over offer for the Company’s common shares.
The Rights Plan is not intended to prevent take-over bids that treat shareholders fairly.  Bids that meet certain requirements intended to protect the interests of all shareholders are deemed to be ‘Permitted Bids’ under the Rights Plan.  Permitted Bids are offers to acquire common shares of the Company made by way of take-over bid circular and which must, among other requirements described in the Rights Plan, remain open for at least 60 days.

SilverCrest is not adopting the Rights Plan in response to, or in anticipation of, any specific take-over bid or proposal to acquire control of the Company.  The Rights Plan is similar to plans adopted by other Canadian companies.  The full text of the Rights Plan will be available on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com.

The Rights Plan is subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange and to ratification by the Company’s shareholders at the next meeting of shareholders.  If ratified by shareholders, the Rights Plan will expire at the termination of the Company’s annual general meeting in 2011, unless extended upon reconfirmation by shareholders at that meeting. Subsequently, the Rights Plan must be reconfirmed by shareholders at every third annual general meeting of the Company thereafter.
SilverCrest Mines Inc. is a “Silver Focused” exploration and development company with a portfolio of high grade silver deposits and exploration properties located in Mexico and El Salvador. This property portfolio, which includes reported indicated and inferred silver resources and substantial exploration potential, provides an important base from which SilverCrest can develop its corporate objective of becoming a significant silver asset based company. The Company’s immediate initiative is to acquire and develop substantial silver resources and ultimately to operate high grade silver mines throughout North, Central and South America.