Vancouver, BC, March 31, 2005 –
Goldcorp Inc. (TSX: G; NYSE: GG), and Wheaton River Minerals Ltd. (TSX:
WRM; AMEX: WHT) (together “Goldcorp”), are pleased to announce that they
have completed the acquisition by their Mexican operating arm, Luismin,
of the 2.4 million ounce Bermejal Gold Deposit in Mexico for cash
consideration of US$70 million from Minera El Bermejal, S. de R.L. de
C.V., a joint venture of Industrias Peñoles S.A. de C.V. and Newmont
Mining Corporation.
The Bermejal Gold Deposit is located 2 kilometres
south of Goldcorp’s Los Filos Gold Deposit, where feasibility studies
are nearing completion. The acquisition increases Goldcorp’s current
measured and indicated mineral resources in the Guerrero Gold Belt
district to nearly 6 million ounces of gold. The immediate proximity to
Goldcorp’s Los Filos Gold Deposit will allow the use of a joint
processing facility for ore from both deposits and should result in the
Los Filos project becoming the largest gold mining operation in Mexico,
with average annual production expected to exceed 300,000 ounces. For
further details of the indicated mineral resource estimate for the
Bermejal Gold Deposit, please see the press release of Goldcorp dated
March 22, 2005.
In February 2005, Goldcorp announced that its
offer for Wheaton River was successful and this merger is expected to be
finalized in April 2005. The combined company, which continues as
Goldcorp under the direction of Wheaton River management, creates the
world’s lowest cost million ounce gold producer, with 2005 gold
production expected to exceed 1.1 million ounces of gold at a cash cost
of less than US$60 per ounce. By 2007, gold
production is expected to grow to over 1.5 million ounces. The combined
company has a strong balance sheet with approximately US$500 million in
cash and gold bullion, and no debt.
Cautionary Statements
Safe Harbour Statement under the United States
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Except for the
statements of historical fact contained herein, the information
presented constitutes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such
forward-looking statements, including but not limited to those with
respect to the price of gold, silver and copper, the timing and amount
of estimated future production, costs of production, reserve
determination and reserve conversion rates involve known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual
results, performance or achievements of Wheaton or Goldcorp to be
materially different from any future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Such factors include, among others, risks related to the integration of
acquisitions, risks related to international operations, risks related
to joint venture operations, the 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, future prices of gold, silver and copper,
as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled “Risk
Factors” in the Form 40-F for each company on file with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. Although Wheaton
and Goldcorp have attempted to identify important factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially, 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.
This news release uses the terms “Measured”,
“Indicated” and “Inferred” Resources. United States investors are
advised that, while such terms are recognized and required by Canadian
regulations, the U.S. 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:
Julia Hasiwar Director, Investor Relations Goldcorp Inc. 1560-200 Burrard Street Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3L6 Telephone: (604) 696-3011 Fax: (604) 693-3001 Email: info@goldcorp.com Website: www.goldcorp.com
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