VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(CCNMatthews - July 25, 2007) - Silver Wheaton Corp. ("Silver Wheaton") (TSX:SLW)(NYSE:SLW) has completed the previously announced acquisition from Goldcorp Inc. ("Goldcorp") of 25% of the life of mine silver production from Goldcorp's Penasquito Project, located in Zacatecas, Mexico, for an upfront cash payment of US$485 million. 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.
The Penasquito Project is a gold-silver-zinc-lead deposit that is expected to become the largest mine in Mexico, containing (as of June 2007) proven and probable silver reserves of 864 million ounces and measured and indicated silver resources, exclusive of reserves, of 413 million ounces. Construction progress at Penasquito remains on schedule for initial heap leaching of oxide ore during 2008 and start-up of the first milling and flotation circuit by late 2009.
Silver Wheaton is not required to fund any capital expenditures at Penasquito, including any expansion scenarios. Goldcorp has provided 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 has retained 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 entered into a credit agreement with the Bank of Nova Scotia and BMO Capital Markets, as co-lead arrangers and administrative agents, to borrow US$200 million under a non-revolving term loan (the "Term Loan") and up to US$300 million under a revolving term loan (the "Revolving Loan"). The Revolving Loan is for a period of seven years and the Term Loan is to be repaid in equal instalments over a period of seven years, however, prepayments are permitted at any time. In connection with the Penasquito transaction, the Term Loan was drawn down in full and the Revolving Loan was drawn down in the amount of US$246 million with the balance of the upfront consideration paid from cash on hand.
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.
The attributable silver reserves and resources to Silver Wheaton from the Penasquito Project are outlined in the following table:
Penasquito Project Reserves and Resources(1)
Contained
Tonnage Silver Grade Silver
(million (grams per (million
Category tonnes) tonne) ounces)
-------------------------------------- -------- ------------ -----------
Reserves (Silver Wheaton's 25% portion)
--------------------------------------
Proven 117.2 32.8 123.8
Probable 112.1 25.6 92.2
-------- ------------ -----------
Proven + Probable 229.4 29.3 216.0
-------- ------------ -----------
-------- ------------ -----------
Resources (Silver Wheaton's 25% portion)
---------------------------------------
Measured 26.8 21.2 18.2
Indicated 142.9 18.5 85.0
-------- ------------ -----------
Measured + Indicated 169.6 18.9 103.3
-------- ------------ -----------
Inferred 305.0 13.0 127.0
(1) Penasquito reserves and resources reported represent the 25% share
attributable to Silver Wheaton on a pro forma basis. The complete
database of drillhole results at Penasquito can be found on Goldcorp's
website at www.goldcorp.com. Open pit limits were determined using a
floating cone optimization routine, with cost parameters and metal
recovery rates updated since the prior reserve announcement in
June 2006. Metal prices utilized in the pit design were:
US$525 per ounce of gold, US$10.00 per ounce of silver,
US$0.40 per pound of lead and US$0.80 per pound of zinc.
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
