VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(CCNMatthews - April 16, 2007) - Silver Wheaton Corp. ("Silver Wheaton") (TSX:SLW)(NYSE:SLW) is pleased to announce that it has agreed to acquire from Goldcorp Inc. ("Goldcorp") 25% of the life of mine silver production from Goldcorp's Penasquito Project, located in Zacatecas, Mexico. With this acquisition, Silver Wheaton expects to have annual silver sales of 22 million ounces in 2009, increasing to over 26 million ounces by 2012.
Based on a feasibility study completed in July 2006, the Penasquito Project has reserves representing 17 years of gold, silver, zinc and lead production, with peak annual silver delivery to Silver Wheaton of 8.5 million ounces. The project remains on schedule for initial production from heap leaching of oxide ore by late 2008 and full operation of the mill and flotation circuit by late 2009.
As a result of this transaction, Silver Wheaton's attributable proven and probable silver reserves will increase by 144 million ounces to 278 million ounces (an increase of 107%), attributable measured and indicated silver resources will increase by 62 million ounces to 121 million ounces (an increase of 104%) and attributable inferred silver resources will increase by 221 million ounces to 514 million ounces (an increase of 75%). See reserve and resource tables at the end of this news release.
Goldcorp is continuing exploration drilling on the Penasquito Project. Since the July 2006 feasibility study, Goldcorp has drilled 114 additional core holes totalling over 80,000 meters in length, and reports that results of this latest activity have identified significant intersections that continue to support the potential for resource expansion in 2007.
Silver Wheaton will pay US$485 million in cash for the right to acquire 25% of the Penasquito silver production. In addition, Silver Wheaton will pay an ongoing per-ounce operating cost payment equal to the lesser of US$3.90 (subject to annual inflationary adjustments) and the prevailing market price per ounce of silver delivered under the contract.
Silver Wheaton will not be required to fund any capital expenditures at Penasquito, including any expansion scenarios. Goldcorp will provide a completion guarantee to Silver Wheaton that the Penasquito Mine will be constructed with certain minimum production criteria by certain dates. As a result of this transaction, Silver Wheaton will retain a right of first refusal on any further sales of silver streams from Penasquito for the mine life for so long as Goldcorp maintains at least a 20% interest in Silver Wheaton. Goldcorp's right to maintain its pro-rata interest in Silver Wheaton has been extended to December 31, 2009. Goldcorp currently owns approximately 49% of the issued and outstanding shares of Silver Wheaton.
In order to fund the US$485 million cash consideration, Silver Wheaton has arranged US$485 million in bank debt through the Scotia Capital Inc. and BMO Capital Markets. Silver Wheaton will not issue any shares in connection with the transaction.
"This acquisition is company transforming, providing Silver Wheaton with a significant silver stream at a low, fixed, cost for many years. In addition, we have the benefit of the exploration and production upside, if production levels or mine life exceed those envisioned in the July, 2006 feasibility study," said Peter Barnes, President and Chief Executive Officer of Silver Wheaton. "This transaction is significantly accretive, increasing the long-term cash flow per share by approximately 20%. In financing the acquisition with no equity dilution, we have maximized long-term value for our shareholders."
Scotia Capital Inc. acted as financial advisor to Silver Wheaton with respect to the transaction.
Silver Wheaton appointed a special committee of non-executive directors not related to Goldcorp to consider and make a recommendation on the transaction and the special committee has unanimously recommended the approval of the transaction. The Board of Directors of Silver Wheaton, on the recommendation of the special committee, has also approved the transaction.
TD Securities Inc. acted as financial advisor and provided a fairness opinion in respect of the transaction to the special committee of the Board of Directors of Silver Wheaton.
Closing of the transaction is subject to execution of definitive agreements containing customary representations, warranties and covenants by both parties, as well as receipt of all required regulatory approvals and third party consents, including acceptance by the Toronto Stock Exchange. The transaction is expected to close by May 31, 2007.
Conference Call
A conference call will be held Monday, April 16, 2007 at 5:00 pm (Eastern Time) to discuss this transaction. To participate in the live call use one of the following methods:
Dial toll free from Canada or the US 1-888-802-2268 Dial from outside Canada or the US 1-913-312-1271 Pass code 1955408 Live webcast www.silverwheaton.com Participants should dial in five to ten minutes before the call. The conference call will be recorded and you can listen to an archive of the call by one of the following methods: Dial toll free from Canada or the US 1-888-203-1112 Dial from outside Canada or the US 1-719-457-0820 Pass code 1955408 Archived webcast www.silverwheaton.com
Silver Wheaton is the only public mining company with 100% of its operating revenue from silver production. The Company expects to have annual silver sales of approximately 15 million ounces in 2007, increasing to 22 million ounces by 2009 and over 26 million ounces by 2012. Silver Wheaton is unhedged and well positioned for further growth.
Mr. Randy Smallwood, P.Eng., Executive Vice President of Corporate Development of Silver Wheaton, who is a "qualified person" as such term is defined under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release.
Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves (1,4,5,6) (As of December 31, 2006)
Silver Contained
Tonnage Grade Silver
(million (grams per (million
Category tonnes) tonne) ounces)
San Dimas Mine Proven 1.57 410.2 20.7
Probable 2.75 375.6 33.2
---- ----- ----
Proven + Probable 4.31 388.2 53.8
---- ----- ----
---- ----- ----
Los Filos Project Proven 25.16 2.8 2.3
Probable 177.48 6.2 35.6
------ ----- ----
Proven + Probable 202.65 5.8 37.9
------ ----- ----
------ ----- ----
San Martin Mine Proven 0.32 32.7 0.3
Probable 0.71 47.8 1.1
---- ----- ----
Proven + Probable 1.03 43.2 1.4
---- ----- ----
---- ----- ----
Zinkgruvan Mine Proven 6.64 113.0 24.1
Probable 2.01 59.0 3.8
---- ----- ----
Proven + Probable 8.65 100.4 27.9
---- ----- ----
---- ----- ----
Yauliyacu Mine Proven 1.21 110.6 4.3
Probable 1.95 140.8 8.8
Proven + Probable 3.16 129.2 13.1
---- ----- ----
---- ----- ----
Penasquito Project(7) Proven 66.98 35.4 76.3
Mill Probable 52.25 30.2 50.7
----- ---- ----
Proven + Probable 119.23 33.2 127.1
------ ---- -----
------ ---- -----
Penasquito Project(7) Proven 17.06 24.2 13.3
Heap Leach Probable 4.70 22.4 3.4
---- ---- ----
Proven + Probable 21.76 23.8 16.6
----- ---- ----
----- ---- ----
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Silver Wheaton TOTAL Proven 141.3
-----
-----
Probable 136.6
-----
-----
Proven + Probable 277.9
-----
-----
Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves (1,2,3,4,5,6) (As of December 31,
2006)
Silver Contained
Tonnage Grade Silver
------- ----- ---------
Category tonnes) tonne) ounces)
--------
San Dimas Mine Inferred 17.27 320.8 178.1
Los Filos Project Measured 10.19 4.0 1.3
Indicated 79.61 5.1 13.0
----- --- ----
Measured + Indicated 89.80 4.9 14.3
----- --- ----
----- --- ----
Inferred 71.49 5.4 12.4
San Martin Measured 0.02 204.0 0.2
Indicated 0.2 234.0 1.5
--- ----- ---
Measured + Indicated 0.22 230.8 1.7
---- ----- ---
---- ----- ---
Inferred 1.79 138.7 8.0
Zinkgruvan Mine Measured 0.54 24.0 0.4
Zinc Concentrate Indicated 1.25 85.0 3.4
---- ---- ---
Measured + Indicated 1.79 66.7 3.8
---- ---- ---
---- ---- ---
Inferred 7.79 101.0 25.3
Zinkgruvan Mine Indicated 2.80 32.0 2.9
Copper Concentrate Inferred 0.89 28.0 0.8
Yauliyacu Mine Measured 0.25 326.8 2.6
Indicated 3.47 303.3 33.8
Measured + Indicated 3.72 304.9 36.5
---- ----- ----
---- ----- ----
Inferred 8.38 256.7 69.2
Penasquito Project(7) Measured 28.58 26.4 24.2
Mill Indicated 39.23 26.0 32.8
----- ---- ----
Measured + Indicated 67.80 26.2 57.0
----- ---- ----
----- ---- ----
Inferred 601.15 11.0 212.3
Penasquito Project(7) Measured 4.03 13.6 1.8
Heap Leach Indicated 5.28 17.4 3.0
---- ---- ---
Measured + Indicated 9.30 15.8 4.7
---- ---- ---
---- ---- ---
Inferred 43.00 5.8 8.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Silver Wheaton TOTAL Measured 30.5
Indicated 90.4
----
Measured + Indicated 120.9
Inferred 514.2
Notes:
1. All Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources have been calculated as
of December 31, 2006 in accordance with the standards of the
Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum and
National Instrument 43-101.
2. All Mineral Resources are exclusive of Mineral Reserves.
3. Mineral Resources which are not Mineral Reserves do not have
demonstrated economic viability.
4. The Qualified Person for the Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource
estimates as defined by National Instrument 43-101 are as follows:
a. San Dimas, San Martin - Reynaldo Rivera, MAusIMM, an employee of
Luismin, S.A. de C.V., the Mexican operating subsidiary of Goldcorp
Inc.
b. Los Filos - Reynaldo Rivera, MAusIMM, Luismin S.A. de C.V.
c. Zinkgruvan - Lars Malmstrom, Chief Geologist, and Per Hedstrom,
Senior Geologist, both employees of Zinkgruvan.
d. Yauliyacu - Randy Smallwood, P.Eng., Executive Vice President of
Silver Wheaton Corp.
e. Penasquito - as per Glamis June 21, 2006 press release
5. Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources are estimated using appropriate
recovery rates and commodity prices as follows:
a. San Dimas and San Martin Reserves - US$7.00 per silver ounce
b. San Dimas and San Martin Resources - US$7.00 per silver ounce
c. Zinkgruvan Reserves and Resources - US$5.75 per silver ounce
d. Yauliyacu Reserves and Resources - US$10.00 per silver ounce
6. Silver Wheaton's purchase agreement with Glencore provides for the
delivery of up to 4.75 million ounces of silver per year for 20 years
so long as production allows. Silver production at Yauliyacu in excess
of 4.75 million ounces per year is to the credit of Glencore, and
therefore a portion of the reserves and resources from Yauliyacu may
relate to production which may be for the credit of Glencore.
7. Penasquito reserves and resources reported represent the 25% share
attributable to Silver Wheaton.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the expected future silver sales by Silver Wheaton and the amount of estimated future production from the Penasquito Project. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Silver Wheaton to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to the integration of acquisitions, the absence of control over mining operations from which Silver Wheaton purchases silver and risks related to these mining operations, including risks related to international operations, actual results of current exploration activities, actual results of current reclamation activities, conclusions of economic evaluations, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Description of the Business - Risk Factors" in Silver Wheaton's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2006 incorporated by reference into Silver Wheaton's Form 40-F on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. Although Silver Wheaton has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Silver Wheaton does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
CAUTIONARY NOTE TO U.S. INVESTORS CONCERNING ESTIMATES OF MEASURED, INDICATED AND INFERRED RESOURCES
This news release uses the terms "Measured", "Indicated" and "Inferred" Resources. U.S. investors are advised that while such terms are recognized and required by Canadian regulations, the Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize them. "Inferred Resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of Inferred Resources may not form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of Measured or Indicated Resources will ever be converted into reserves. U.S. investors are also cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an Inferred Mineral Resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Silver Wheaton Corp.
David Awram
Director, Investor Relations
1-800-380-8687
Email: info@silverwheaton.com
Website: www.silverwheaton.com
