Coeur d'Alene Mines for Wheaton River Minerals Ltd
 

FILED BY COEUR D’ALENE MINES CORPORATION PURSUANT TO
RULE 425 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND DEEMED
FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 14A-12 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

SUBJECT COMPANY: WHEATON RIVER MINERALS LTD. (NO. 1-31561)


     
Coeur d’Alene Mines Corporation
505 Front Avenue, P.O. Box I
Coeur d’Alene, ID 83816-0316
Telephone 208.667.3511
Facsimile 208.667.2213
  (COEUR D'ALENE LOGO)

Press Release


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COEUR REITERATES REQUEST TO WHEATON RIVER BOARD TO BEGIN
NEGOTIATIONS FOR COEUR-WHEATON RIVER MERGER

     Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, July 6, 2004 — Following the termination of the Wheaton River Minerals Ltd. (TSX:WRM, AMEX:WHT)-IAMGold Corporation arrangement agreement, Coeur d’Alene Mines Corporation (NYSE:CDE) today reiterated its request to the Wheaton River Board that it commence negotiations regarding a Coeur-Wheaton River merger.

     Dennis E. Wheeler, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Coeur d’Alene, said, “We are pleased with today’s outcome and we are encouraged by the strong support we continue to receive from Wheaton River shareholders for our offer. We reiterate our request to the Wheaton River Board that they begin negotiations to make the Coeur-Wheaton River merger a reality.”

     As previously announced, Coeur is in the process of preparing the necessary filings for the U.S. and Canadian authorities to take its tender offer directly to Wheaton River shareholders as soon as practicable.

     CIBC World Markets Inc. and JP Morgan are acting as co-financial advisors to Coeur.

     Coeur d’Alene Mines Corporation is the world’s largest primary silver producer, as well as a significant, low-cost producer of gold. The Company has mining interests in Nevada, Idaho, Alaska, Argentina, Chile and Bolivia.

Cautionary Statement

This document contains numerous forward-looking statements relating to the Company’s silver and gold mining business. Such forward-looking statements include the statements above as to the impact of the proposed acquisition on both the combined entity and the Company’s stockholders. Such statements are subject to numerous assumptions and uncertainties, many of which are outside the Company’s control. These include negotiation and completion of a formal transaction agreement, governmental regulatory processes, the Company’s ability to successfully integrate the operations of Wheaton River, assumptions with respect to future revenues, expected mining program performance and cash flows and the outcome of contingencies. Operating, exploration and financial data, and other statements in this document are based on information the company believes reasonable, but involve significant uncertainties as to future gold and silver prices, costs, ore grades, estimation of gold and silver reserves, mining and processing conditions, the completion and/or updating of mining feasibility studies, changes that could result from the Company’s future acquisition of new mining properties or businesses, the risks and hazards inherent in the mining business (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, weather or geologically related conditions), regulatory and permitting matters, risks inherent in the ownership and operation of, or investment in, mining properties or businesses in foreign countries, as well as other uncertainties and risk factors set out in the Company’s filings from time to time with the SEC, including, without limitation, the Company’s reports on Form 10-K and

 


 

Form 10-Q. Actual results and timetables could vary significantly from the estimates presented. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

This communication is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell shares of Wheaton River or Coeur. This communication is not a solicitation of a proxy from any security holder of Coeur d’Alene Mines Corporation or Wheaton River Minerals Ltd. YOU ARE URGED TO READ ALL TENDER OFFER MATERIALS AND ANY RELATED PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS WHEN FILED WITH THE SEC AND THE SECURITIES COMMISSIONS OR EQUIVALENT REGULATORY AUTHORITIES IN CANADA BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. You will be able to obtain such materials, and any amendments and supplements thereto, (as they become available) without charge at the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. In addition, you may obtain tender offer materials and any related proxy statement/prospectus (as they become available) and the other documents filed by Coeur with the SEC by requesting them in writing from, 400 Coeur d’Alene Mines Building, 505 Front Avenue, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83814, Attn: Investor Relations, tel: (208) 667-3511.

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Contacts:
  James A. Sabala
  Chief Financial Officer
  208-769-8152
   
  Mitchell J. Krebs
  Vice President Of Corporate Development
  773-255-9808
   
  Joele Frank / Judith Wilkinson
  Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
  212-355-4449
   
  Dan Burch / Steve Balet
  MacKenzie Partners, Inc.
  212-929-5500