CDE Coeur Mining Inc

Coeur Receives Canadian Regulatory Approvals for Wheaton River Acquisition COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho, Sept. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Coeur d'Alene Mines Corporation (NYSE:CDE) today announced that it has received the approval of the Minister of Industry under the Investment Canada Act for its offer to purchase all of the outstanding common shares of Wheaton River Minerals Ltd. (TSX: WRM, Amex: WHT). In approving the acquisition, the Minister determined that the transaction is likely to be of "net benefit to Canada" for purposes of the Investment Canada Act. Coeur also announced that the Commissioner of Competition under the Competition Act (Canada) has granted Coeur an advance ruling certificate, which constitutes compliance with the notification and waiting period requirements under the Competition Act (Canada). As a result, Coeur has now received all necessary Canadian regulatory approvals to proceed with the acquisition of Wheaton River. Dennis E. Wheeler, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Coeur, said, "We are pleased that we have now received all necessary Canadian regulatory approvals for our offer to acquire Wheaton River. This represents another step toward the completion of a Coeur-Wheaton River combination." Coeur's tender offer is open for acceptance until 5:00 pm (EDT) on September 30, 2004, unless extended. CIBC World Markets Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. are acting as dealer managers for the offer. Wheaton River shareholders can obtain more information about the offer by contacting MacKenzie Partners, Inc., which is serving as information agent, by calling (800) 322-2885 (toll-free) or (212) 929-5500 (collect). 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 shareholders. 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. Coeur's offer to purchase is being made to Wheaton River shareholders only pursuant to tender offer material as required by applicable law. This communication also is not a solicitation of proxies from any securities holder of Coeur or Wheaton River. Coeur has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission a Registration Statement on Form S-4 and a Schedule TO and has filed the Canadian offer materials with Canadian securities regulators. Coeur also has filed a registration statement on Form S-4 which contains a combined proxy statement/prospectus relating to a special meeting of Coeur shareholders to consider certain matters relating to the proposed Coeur-Wheaton River combination and includes information regarding the participants in the related proxy solicitation. YOU ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, THE SCHEDULE TO, THE OFFER AND CIRCULAR MAILED TO WHEATON SHAREHOLDERS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING PROXY MATERIALS, FILED WITH THE SEC AND CANADIAN SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITIES, BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. You can obtain such materials, and any amendments and supplements thereto, (as they become available) without charge at the SEC's website, http://www.sec.gov/ (for materials filed with the SEC) and on SEDAR, http://www.sedar.com/ (for materials filed with Canadian securities regulators). In addition, you may obtain offer materials and any related proxy statement/prospectus (as they become available)materials and the other documents filed by Coeur with the SEC and the Canadian securities regulators 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. Contacts: James A. Sabala Chief Financial Officer 208-769-8152 Mitchell J. Krebs Vice President Of Corporate Development 773-255-9808 Tony Ebersole Investor Relations 800-523-1535 Judith Wilkinson / Matthew Sherman Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher 212-355-4449 Dan Burch / Steve Balet MacKenzie Partners, Inc. 212-929-5500 DATASOURCE: Coeur d'Alene Mines Corporation CONTACT: James A. Sabala, Chief Financial Officer, +1-208-769-8152, Mitchell J. Krebs, Vice President Of Corporate Development, +1-773-255-9808, or Tony Ebersole, Investor Relations, 800-523-1535, all of Coeur d'Alene Mines Corporation; or Judith Wilkinson or Matthew Sherman, both of Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher, +1-212-355-4449, for Coeur d'Alene Mines Corporation; or Dan Burch or Steve Balet, both of MacKenzie Partners, Inc., +1-212-929-5500, for Wheaton River Web site: http://www.coeur.com/

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