EX-99.23 24 t15063exv99w23.htm EX-99.23 exv99w23
 

WHEATON RIVER MINERALS LTD
Third Quarter Report
September 30, 2004

 


 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis
of Results of Operations and Financial Condition
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis should be read in conjunction with the Company’s unaudited consolidated financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and related notes thereto which have been prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles. In addition, the following should be read in conjunction with the 2003 audited consolidated financial statements, the related annual Management’s Discussion and Analysis, and the Annual Information Form/40F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities. All figures are in United States dollars unless otherwise noted. This Management’s Discussion and Analysis has been prepared as of November 9, 2004.

THIRD QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

  Net earnings of $31.4 million ($0.06 per share), compared with $14.7 million ($0.03 per share) in 2003.
 
  Operating cash flows of $46.2 million (2003 — $31.5 million).
 
  Sales of 149,700 gold equivalent ounces and 36.4 million pounds of copper (2003 — 126,100 gold equivalent ounces and 28.3 million pounds of copper).
 
  Total cash costs of minus $37 per gold equivalent ounce (2003; $98).
 
  Debt-free, following repayment of $65.5 million of debt during the quarter.
 
  $86.3 million cash distribution received from Alumbrera.
 
  Entered into a $300 million acquisition facility, increasing cash resources available for acquisitions to $500 million.
 
  Silver Wheaton transaction completed on October 15, 2004, resulting in Wheaton holding 75% of a pure silver company having a market capitalization of approximately $500 million (Wheaton’s share — $375 million).
 
  Unsolicited takeover bid from Coeur d’Alene Mines successfully rejected.

OVERVIEW

Wheaton River Minerals Ltd. (“Wheaton” or the “Company”) is a growth-oriented precious metals mining company with operations in Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and Australia.

During 2002 Wheaton acquired the Luismin gold/silver mines in Mexico, followed by the 2003 acquisition of a 37.5% interest in the world-class Alumbrera gold/copper mine in Argentina and 100% of the Peak gold mine in Australia. The Company also acquired the Los Filos gold project in Mexico in 2003 and in January, 2004, acquired the Amapari gold project in northern Brazil.

In continuation of this growth strategy, during March 2004, Wheaton and IAMGold Corporation (“IAMGold”) announced that their boards of directors had agreed to combine the two companies, subject to shareholder approvals and certain other conditions. On July 6, 2004, IAMGold did not receive the necessary shareholder approvals and Wheaton terminated the agreement to combine with IAMGold.

 


 

In May 2004, Coeur d’Alene Mines Corporation (“Coeur”) launched an unsolicited takeover bid for Wheaton. In early September 2004, Wheaton’s Board of Directors recommended that Wheaton shareholders reject the Coeur offer as being financially inadequate and highly dilutive. On September 28, 2004 Coeur announced that their bid had failed.

Wheaton is now unhedged, debt-free and has available cash resources of $500 million to pursue further growth opportunities.

Summarized Financial Results

                                                                 
    September 30
  June 30
  March 31
  December 31
    2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
  2003
  2002
(Notes 2 and 3)
                                                               
Sales ($000’s)
  $ 103,251     $ 63,142     $ 89,268     $ 28,814     $ 113,204     $ 17,257     $ 103,420     $ 17,938  
Gold (ounces)
    120,700       105,400       123,000       92,600       129,700       35,100       136,200       32,300  
Silver (ounces)
    1,792,000       1,515,900       1,654,500       1,500,500       1,612,900       1,561,900       1,475,900       1,672,200  
Gold equivalent (ounces) (Note 1)
    149,700       126,100       148,700       112,400       156,500       55,600       156,000       55,600  
Copper (lbs)
    36,405,200       28,296,800       32,499,000       28,139,400       42,879,500       3,551,000       53,731,500        
Net earnings ($000’s)
  $ 31,377     $ 14,689     $ 21,120     $ 11,088     $ 33,671     $ 4,064     $ 27,818     $ 2,577  
Earnings per share
                                                               
• Basic
  $ 0.06     $ 0.03     $ 0.04     $ 0.03     $ 0.06     $ 0.02     $ 0.06     $ 0.01  
• Diluted
  $ 0.05     $ 0.03     $ 0.03     $ 0.03     $ 0.05     $ 0.02     $ 0.05     $ 0.01  
Cash flow from operations ($000’s)
  $ 46,242     $ 31,453     $ 38,941     $ 20,990     $ 61,848     $ 9,752     $ 64,483     $ 5,631  
Average realized gold price ($’s per ounce)
  $ 402     $ 366     $ 388     $ 353     $ 412     $ 347     $ 385     $ 323  
Average realized silver price ($’s per ounce)
  $ 6.47     $ 5.00     $ 6.09     $ 4.61     $ 6.78     $ 4.64     $ 5.29     $ 4.51  
Average realized copper price ($’s per lb)
  $ 1.38     $ 0.81     $ 1.22     $ 0.74     $ 1.33     $ 0.68     $ 0.96     $  
Total cash costs (per gold equivalent ounce) (Note 4)
  $ (37 )   $ 98     $ 19     $ 90     $ (67 )   $ 175     $ (39 )   $ 186  
Cash and cash equivalents ($000’s)
  $ 90,004     $ 128,037     $ 103,482     $ 55,140     $ 173,814     $ 20,540     $ 151,878     $ 22,936  
Total assets ($000’s)
  $ 984,128     $ 711,648     $ 1,001,161     $ 618,419     $ 1,039,387     $ 377,267     $ 891,005     $ 152,098  
Long-term debt ($000’s)
  $     $ 152,342     $ 65,463     $ 177,342     $ 132,783     $     $ 122,423     $  
Shareholders’ equity ($000’s)
  $ 735,516     $ 436,773     $ 701,821     $ 331,038     $ 679,901     $ 314,900     $ 556,118     $ 108,054  


(1)   Gold and silver are accounted for as co-products at the Luismin mines. Silver sales are converted into gold sales using the ratio of the average gold price to the average silver price for the period. For the three months ended September 30, 2004, the equivalency ratio was 62 ounces of silver equals one ounce of gold sold (September 30, 2003 — 73).
 
(2)   Includes Peak’s results from March 18, 2003 onwards.
 
(3)   Includes, with the exception of sales, 25% of Alumbrera’s total operating results for the period March 18 to June 23, 2003, and 37.5% of the results for the period June 24, 2003 onwards. Sales include 37.5% of Alumbrera’s total sales for the period from June 24, 2003 onwards. Prior to June 24, 2003, the Company used the equity method to account for its 25% investment in Alumbrera.
 
(4)   The calculation of total cash costs per ounce for Peak and Alumbrera is net of by-product copper sales revenue.

 


 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

                                                 
    Three Months Ended September 30, 2004
    Luismin
  Peak
  Alumbrera
  Amapari
  Corporate
  Total
    (Note 1)   (Note 2)   (Note 3)                        
Sales ($000’s)
  $ 24,406     $ 14,610     $ 65,049     $     $ (814 )   $ 103,251  
Gold (ounces)
    33,400       33,100       54,200                   120,700  
Silver (ounces)
    1,792,000                               1,792,000  
Gold equivalent (ounces)(Note 1)
    62,400       33,100       54,200                   149,700  
Copper (lbs)
          1,491,500       34,913,700                   36,405,200  
Net earnings (loss) ($000’s)
  $ 8,611     $ 4,563     $ 23,996     $ 181     $ (5,974 )   $ 31,377  
Average realized gold price ($’s per ounce)
  $ 402     $ 400     $ 405     $     $     $ 402  
Average realized silver price ($’s per ounce)
  $ 6.47     $     $     $     $     $ 6.47  
Average realized copper price ($’s per lb)
  $     $ 1.29     $ 1.38     $     $     $ 1.38  
Total cash costs (per gold equivalent ounce)
  $ 150     $ 161     $ (374 )   $     $     $ (37 )
                                                 
    Three Months Ended September 30, 2003
    Luismin
  Peak
  Alumbrera
  Amapari
  Corporate
  Total
    (Note 1)   (Note 2)   (Note 3)                        
Sales ($000’s)
  $ 17,152     $ 14,639     $ 31,351     $     $     $ 63,142  
Gold (ounces)
    27,600       39,200       38,600                   105,400  
Silver (ounces)
    1,515,900                               1,515,900  
Gold equivalent (ounces) (Note 1)
    48,300       39,200       38,600                   126,100  
Copper (lbs)
          1,843,000       26,453,800                   28,296,800  
Net earnings (loss) ($000’s)
  $ 4,145     $ 1,721     $ 8,919     $     $ (96 )   $ 14,689  
Average realized gold price ($’s per ounce)
  $ 366     $ 365     $ 366     $     $     $ 366  
Average realized silver price ($’s per ounce)
  $ 5.00     $     $     $     $     $ 5.00  
Average realized copper price ($’s per lb)
  $     $ 0.80     $ 0.81     $     $     $ 0.81  
Total cash costs (per gold equivalent ounce)
  $ 180     $ 223     $ (132 )   $     $     $ 98  


(1)   Gold and silver are accounted for as co-products at the Luismin mines. Silver sales are converted into gold sales using the ratio of the average gold price to the average silver price for the period. For the three months ended September 30, 2004 the equivalency ratio was 62 ounces of silver equals one ounce of gold sold (September 30, 2003 — 73).
 
(2)   The calculation of total cash costs per ounce of gold at Peak is net of by-product copper sales revenue.
 
(3)   Includes Wheaton’s 37.5% share of the results of Alumbrera. The calculation of total cash costs per ounce of gold for Alumbrera is net of by-product copper sales revenue. If copper production were treated as a co-product, average total cash costs at Alumbrera for the three months ended September 30, 2004 would be $185 per ounce of gold and $0.53 per pound of copper (September 30, 2003 — $151 per ounce of gold and $0.41 per pound of copper).

 


 

                                                 
    Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004
    Luismin
  Peak
  Alumbrera
  Amapari
  Corporate
  Total
    (Note 1)   (Note 2)   (Note 4)                        
Sales ($000’s)
  $ 70,830     $ 44,054     $ 193,514     $     $ (2,675 )   $ 305,723  
Gold (ounces)
    99,300       99,500       174,600                   373,400  
Silver (ounces)
    5,059,400                               5,059,400  
Gold equivalent (ounces) (Note 1)
    180,800       99,500       174,600                   454,900  
Copper (lbs)
          5,468,600       106,315,100                   111,783,700  
Net earnings (loss) ($000’s)
  $ 18,888     $ 10,933     $ 71,768     $ 396     $ (15,817 )   $ 86,168  
Average realized gold price ($’s per ounce)
  $ 401     $ 395     $ 404     $     $     $ 401  
Average realized silver price ($’s per ounce)
  $ 6.44     $     $     $     $     $ 6.44  
Average realized copper price ($’s per lb)
  $     $ 1.30     $ 1.31     $     $     $ 1.31  
Total cash costs (per gold equivalent ounce)
  $ 159     $ 184     $ (346 )   $     $     $ (29 )
                                                 
    Nine Months Ended September 30, 2003
   
    Luismin
  Peak
  Alumbrera
  Amapari
  Corporate
  Total
    (Note 1)   (Note 2)   (Notes 3 and 4)                        
Sales ($000’s)
  $ 47,908     $ 25,719     $ 35,586     $     $     $ 109,213  
Gold (ounces)
    78,200       70,800       84,100                   233,100  
Silver (ounces)
    4,578,300                               4,578,300  
Gold equivalent (ounces) (Note 1)
    139,200       70,800       84,100                   294,100  
Copper (lbs)
          1,843,000       58,144,200                   59,987,200  
Net earnings (loss) ($000’s)
  $ 10,225     $ 2,898     $ 17,142     $     $ (424 )   $ 29,841  
Average realized gold price ($’s per ounce)
  $ 356     $ 355     $ 358     $     $     $ 356  
Average realized silver price ($’s per ounce)
  $ 4.75     $     $     $     $     $ 4.75  
Average realized copper price ($’s per lb)
  $     $ 0.82     $ 0.77     $     $     $ 0.77  
Total cash costs (per gold equivalent ounce)
  $ 188     $ 230     $ (108 )   $     $     $ 114  


(1)   Gold and silver are accounted for as co-products at the Luismin mines. Silver sales are converted into gold sales using the ratio of the average gold price to the average silver price for the period. For the nine months ended September 30, 2004 the equivalency ratio was 62 ounces of silver equals one ounce of gold sold (September 30, 2003 — 75).
 
(2)   Peak results include the Company’s 100% interest from March 18, 2003 onwards. The calculation of total cash costs per ounce of gold is net of by-product copper sales revenue.
 
(3)   Includes, with the exception of sales, 25% of Alumbrera’s total operating results for the period March 18 to June 23, 2003, and 37.5% of the results for the period June 24, 2003 onwards. Sales include 37.5% of Alumbrera’s total sales for the period from June 24, 2003 onwards. Prior to June 24, 2003, the Company used the equity method to account for its 25% investment in Alumbrera.
 
(4)   The calculation of total cash costs per ounce of gold for Alumbrera is net of by-product copper sales revenue. If copper production were treated as a co-product, average total cash costs at Alumbrera for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 would be $163 per ounce of gold and $0.50 per pound of copper (September 30, 2003 — $145 per ounce of gold and $0.39 per pound of copper).

 


 

OPERATIONAL REVIEW

Luismin Mines

                                         
    Sep 30   Jun 30   Mar 31   Dec 31   Sep 30
    2004
  2004
  2004
  2003
  2003
• Ore mined (tonnes)
    191,800       198,200       214,000       181,800       186,300  
• Ore milled (tonnes)
    187,800       192,600       209,800       176,000       182,800  
• Grade — Gold (grams/tonne)
    5.95       5.61       5.19       5.21       5.01  
— Silver (grams/tonne)
    326.23       302.17       266.00       291.15       285.88  
• Recovery — Gold (%)
    95       95       94       97       97  
— Silver (%)
    91       89       90       90       91  
• Production — Gold (ounces)
    34,200       33,300       32,700       28,100       28,300  
— Silver (ounces)
    1,798,700       1,664,400       1,615,500       1,483,300       1,520,700  
— Gold equivalent (ounces) (Note 1)
    63,100       59,600       59,100       48,000       49,200  
• Sales — ($’000’s)
  $ 24,406     $ 22,709     $ 23,715     $ 18,343     $ 17,152  
— Gold (ounces)
    33,400       33,500       32,400       28,100       27,600  
— Silver (ounces)
    1,792,000       1,654,500       1,612,900       1,475,900       1,515,900  
— Gold equivalent (ounces) (Note 1)
    62,400       59,200       59,200       47,900       48,300  
• Net earnings ($’000’s)
  $ 8,611     $ 4,636     $ 5,641     $ 577     $ 4,145  
• Average realized gold price ($’s per ounce)
  $ 402     $ 392     $ 410     $ 393     $ 366  
• Average realized silver price ($’s per ounce)
  $ 6.47     $ 6.09     $ 6.78     $ 5.29     $ 5.00  
• Total cash costs (per gold equivalent ounce)
  $ 150     $ 159     $ 170     $ 179     $ 180  


(1)   Gold and silver are accounted for as co-products at the Luismin mines. Silver sales are converted into gold sales using the ratio of the average gold price to the average silver price for the period. For the three months ended September 30, 2004 the equivalency ratio was 62 ounces of silver equals one ounce of gold sold (September 30, 2003 — 73).

During the third quarter of 2004, the Luismin gold/silver operations in Mexico sold 62,400 gold equivalent ounces, compared with sales of 48,300 gold equivalent ounces in the same period of 2003. This 29% increase was primarily due to increased gold and silver grades processed. Sales revenue increased 42% from the same period in 2003, due to the increased volumes sold and increases in the price of gold (+10%) and silver (+29%).

Total cash costs were $150 per gold equivalent ounce in the third quarter of 2004, compared with $180 during the third quarter of 2003 and $159 in the second quarter of 2004, mainly due to the increased gold and silver grades processed.

General and administrative expenses for the third quarter of 2004 were $932,000, compared with $937,000 in the same period of 2003 and $1,253,000 in the second quarter of 2004. Income tax expense, which typically approximates 33%, was 23%, contributing approximately $1.0 million of net earnings for the quarter. The reduced tax rate for the quarter arose primarily as a result of higher tax deductions on inter-company financing from Wheaton.

As a result, Luismin generated net earnings of $8,611,000 for the quarter, more than double the 2003 third quarter earnings.

 


 

Throughout 2004 significant exploration results have been achieved at the Luismin mines; including deep and on-strike extensions of the San Dimas central block veins and new discoveries, including the Itzel vein system and the Paula and Nancy veins. During the third quarter the development of these veins have continued with very good results. At San Martin, Cuerpo 30 has also proved to be more significant in size than expected, and development has reached Cuerpo 31, where drill results indicate better than expected grades. The exploration results have been achieved through a combination of geophysical surveys, deep diamond drilling and underground development, and are currently in the process of being fully quantified.

Peak Mine

                                         
    Sep 30   Jun 30   Mar 31   Dec 31   Sep 30
    2004
  2004
  2004
  2003
  2003
• Ore mined (tonnes)
    144,400       114,000       178,300       219,200       352,700  
• Ore milled (tonnes)
    162,200       164,600       170,800       153,100       157,500  
• Grade — Gold (grams/tonne)
    7.94       7.04       6.44       5.93       7.81  
— Copper (%)
    0.55       0.55       0.83       0.54       0.53  
• Recovery — Gold (%)
    89       89       91       88       85  
— Copper (%)
    81       68       82       77       84  
• Production — Gold (ounces)
    37,100       32,900       32,100       25,700       33,600  
— Copper (lbs)
    1,590,200       1,331,300       2,578,900       1,396,800       1,438,100  
• Sales — ($’000’s)
  $ 14,610     $ 14,137     $ 15,307     $ 10,756     $ 14,639  
— Gold (ounces)
    33,100       33,000       33,400       26,500       39,200  
— Copper (lbs)
    1,491,500       1,384,900       2,592,200       1,121,100       1,843,000  
• Net earnings ($’000’s)
  $ 4,563     $ 3,132     $ 3,238     $ 2,379     $ 1,721  
• Average realized gold price ($’s per ounce)
  $ 400     $ 379     $ 405     $ 391     $ 365  
• Average realized copper price ($’s per lb)
  $ 1.29     $ 1.28     $ 1.29     $ 0.90     $ 0.80  
• Total cash costs (per ounce) (Note 1)
  $ 161     $ 172     $ 217     $ 302     $ 223  


(1)   The calculation of total cash costs per ounce of gold is net of by-product copper sales revenue.

Peak sold 33,100 ounces of gold and 1.5 million pounds of copper during the three months ended September 30, 2004, compared with 39,200 ounces of gold and 1.8 million pounds of copper during the same period of 2003. Despite this decrease in sales volumes, sales revenue was almost unchanged from 2003, as a result of higher gold (+10%) and copper (+61%) prices.

Ore mined for the third quarter was 144,400 tonnes, down significantly from the same period last year, due primarily to ceasing production from the New Cobar open pit in the first quarter of 2004. Since that date, all ore mined has been from underground operations.

Gold production for the third quarter increased 13% as compared with the second quarter, as a result of increased grades processed. Copper production increased 19%, as compared with the second quarter, as a result of increased recoveries (81% versus 68%). Second quarter recoveries were unusually low as a result of processing 50,000 tonnes of stockpiled open pit ore during the quarter.

Total cash costs averaged $161 per ounce (net of by-product copper sales revenue) during the quarter, compared with $223 per ounce during the comparative quarter in 2003. Approximately $35 per ounce of this improvement is attributable to cost improvements implemented since June 2003, which were achieved despite a 7% strengthening in the average Australian/US dollar exchange rate. Total cash costs were further reduced by approximately $25 per ounce due to higher by-product copper credits resulting from the 61% increase in copper prices.

 


 

Negotiations were completed on a new power supply contract during the quarter. This process resulted in a four year contract being finalized at prices substantially lower than those in place prior to Wheaton’s purchase of Peak. The ongoing commercial review of the mine operations has consistently resulted in the reduction of unit prices of supplies and contracts. An agreement for the ongoing sale of copper/gold concentrate until the end of 2005 was also completed during the quarter.

As a result, Peak generated net earnings of $4,563,000 for the quarter, its most profitable result in more than two years.

Development of the New Cobar decline was commenced during the quarter, from a portal in the recently completed New Cobar open pit. As at September 30, 2004, the decline had been advanced 275 meters and is destined to allow development of ore below the old open pit. Production from this ore body is expected to commence in late 2005.

Exploration activity continued in the quarter with drilling at Chesney, Gladstone, Great Cobar and Illewong. Positive results included getting a clear indication of significant mineralization within Chesney in areas previously considered to be barren. The drilling at Illewong, a grass roots area, showed indications of gold mineralization.

Alumbrera Mine (Wheaton interest — 37.5%)

                                         
    Sep 30   Jun 30   Mar 31   Dec 31   Sep 30
(Wheaton’s share only)
  2004
  2004
  2004
  2003
  2003
• Ore mined (tonnes)
    2,935,000       3,113,700       2,836,900       2,409,000       2,219,300  
• Ore milled (tonnes)
    3,400,600       3,222,200       3,171,400       3,415,000       3,043,100  
• Grade — Gold (grams/tonne)
    0.65       0.64       0.80       0.94       0.83  
— Copper (%)
    0.54       0.49       0.58       0.69       0.67  
• Recovery — Gold (%)
    77       74       77       74       73  
— Copper (%)
    89       88       91       89       89  
• Production — Gold (ounces)
    55,200       49,200       62,800       75,900       59,000  
— Copper (lbs)
    36,151,200       30,193,700       36,512,700       47,098,200       39,895,700  
• Sales — ($’000’s)
  $ 65,049     $ 53,353     $ 75,112     $ 74,320     $ 31,351  
— Gold (ounces)
    54,200       56,500       63,900       81,600       38,600  
— Copper (lbs)
    34,913,700       31,114,100       40,287,300       52,610,400       26,453,800  
• Net earnings ($’000’s)
  $ 23,996     $ 16,923     $ 30,849     $ 26,015     $ 8,919  
• Average realized gold price ($’s per ounce)
  $ 405     $ 388     $ 417     $ 379     $ 366  
• Average realized copper price ($’s per lb)
  $ 1.38     $ 1.21     $ 1.33     $ 0.96     $ 0.81  
• Total cash costs (per ounce) (Note 1)
  $ (374 )   $ (218 )   $ (435 )   $ (277 )   $ (132 )


(1)   The calculation of total cash costs per ounce of gold for Alumbrera is net of by-product copper sales revenue. If copper production were treated as a co-product, third quarter 2004 average total cash costs at Alumbrera for the three months ended September 30, 2004 would be $185 per ounce of gold and $0.53 per pound of copper (September 30, 2003 — $151 per ounce of gold and $0.41 per pound of copper). This year-on-year increase in total cash costs primarily arises as a result of a 22% decrease in gold grades milled and a 19% decrease in copper grades milled, as compared with the third quarter of 2003.

Wheaton’s share of Alumbrera’s third quarter 2004 sales amounted to 54,200 ounces of gold and 34.9 million pounds of copper, compared with 38,600 ounces of gold and 26.5 million pounds of copper during the third quarter of 2003. The 2003 sales were unusually low, as a result of product shipments late in the quarter (Wheaton’s share — 20,400 ounces of gold and 13.4 million pounds of copper) not being recognized in sales until the fourth quarter. Gold and copper production was higher than in the second quarter in accordance with the mine plan, and fourth quarter production is anticipated to increase further.

 


 

The third quarter average realized copper price of $1.38 per pound was significantly higher than the 2003 price of $0.81 per pound and was the primary reason for the lower total cash costs in 2004 versus 2003, which are presented net of by-product copper sales revenue.

Mill production during the quarter achieved two consecutive months of over 3 million tonnes throughput (100% basis) as the newly commissioned flotation plant is optimized. This increased throughput is expected to continue.

During the quarter, Alumbrera commenced accruing cash taxes payable, which will be due in May, 2005. Wheaton’s share at September 30, 2004 amounted to $22.7 million.

Wheaton’s share of Alumbrera’s net earnings for the quarter amounted to $24.0 million, a significant increase as compared with the 2003 earnings of $8.9 million.

During the third quarter, Wheaton received a cash distribution from Alumbrera of $86.3 million (2003 — $22.5 million). This followed the early repayment of the Alumbrera bank debt during the second quarter of 2004, allowing all future cash generated by the mine operations to be distributable to the owners.

PROJECT DEVELOPMENT REVIEW

Amapari Project

Construction and development activity at the Amapari open pit heap leach project in northern Brazil accelerated during the period, with design work on the project over 90% complete at quarter end. Project construction manning numbers have reached over 890 and will rise to a peak of about 1,200 before reducing considerably for commissioning and operations in the fourth quarter of 2005.

The site civil works program has been running at over 50,000 tonnes per day of cut and fill earth movement. The permanent access road was opened with completion expected in November, thus eliminating the use of the longer, less efficient, exploration access road.

Equipment and contract commitments now include the plant tankage and heap leach and pond liners. All mining equipment has now been ordered with some trucks already working on the site. Pit pre-stripping will commence in earnest in the fourth quarter of 2004. Equipment delivery of crushers, and heap leach stackers and reclaimers, will occur in the fourth quarter with erection to immediately follow.

Infill drilling of the ore bodies continued with over 8,000 meters of drilling completed year to date. This drilling is designed to more finely define the ore bodies for detailed operational mine planning. Results so far clearly confirm the known ore boundaries and may increase the reserve. A revised ore reserve estimate as at December 31, 2004 will be completed early in 2005.

House refurbishment activity continued in the existing nearby town of Serra de Navio where senior operations staff will be accommodated. The permanent senior operations management team is largely in place with detailed planning for mine commissioning well underway.

The operations team has embarked on a number of sustainable development initiatives in the community including local business development, health and education support, and training in agricultural methods.

This commitment to sustainable development will continue for the life of the project as it does at all Wheaton operations in accordance with corporate philosophies.

Capital expenditures of $8,651,000 during the quarter were in line with the budget.

 


 

Los Filos Project

The Los Filos project in Mexico continues to advance well. Since Los Filos was acquired in November 2003, over 20,000 meters of core drilling has been completed, primarily to provide metallurgical samples, improve geotechnical information, increase resource confidence and for condemnation in areas where mineralization was not closed off by previous drilling. Step out drilling has been successful to the east, with the best result from drill hole LF18-04, reporting 3.77 g/t of gold over 48 meters of core length. Drilling continues in this zone.

Wheaton has recently received an updated resource model for Los Filos from Snowden Mineral Industry Consultants of Vancouver, Canada, which demonstrates an increase in the global resource at Los Filos of over 15% since acquisition, as a result of exploration success.

Wheaton is pleased to report the following in-pit resources, defined using measured and indicated resources and a US$375 gold price. This in-pit resource captures over 80% of the measured and indicated global resource contained metal, and continued drilling to improve the confidence level of the inferred resources outside the pit shell is underway.

                         
            Gold   Contained
Resource Class
  Ore
  Grade
  Gold
    Tonnes (000’s)   (grams/tonne)   Ounces (000’s)
Measured Mineral Resource:
                       
Crush-Leach (+0.5 g/t gold)
    12,453       1.05       421  
ROM Leach (0.22-0.5 g/t gold)
    5,130       0.37       61  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total Measured Resource
    17,583       0.85       482  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Indicated Mineral Resource:
                       
Crush-Leach (+0.5 g/t gold)
    28,000       1.43       1,286  
ROM Leach (0.22-0.5 g/t gold)
    16,364       0.34       178  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total Indicated Resource
    44,364       1.03       1,465  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Measured and Indicated Resource:
                       
Crush-Leach (+0.5 g/t gold)
    40,453       1.31       1,707  
ROM Leach (0.22-0.5 g/t gold)
    21,494       0.35       240  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total Measured and Indicated Resource
    61,947       0.98       1,947  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Inferred Mineral Resource:
                       
Crush-Leach (+0.5 g/t gold)
    2,621       0.97       81  
ROM Leach (0.22-0.5 g/t gold)
    3,105       0.34       34  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total Inferred Resource
    5,726       0.63       116  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 

  This resource estimate is calculated as of September 30, 2004 in accordance with the standards of Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum National Instrument 43-101 (“NI 43-101”).
 
  Resource estimate by Andrew P. Ross, P.Geo. of Snowden Mining Industry Consultants, Vancouver. Optimization Pit Shell reported by Mike Hester, P.Eng., of Independent Mining Consultants, Tucson, Arizona. Both are Qualified Persons as per NI 43-101.

 


 

  Drilling, sampling, and sample security under the supervision of Reynaldo Rivera, Luismin Chief Geologist and member of AUSIMM, and Randy V.J. Smallwood, P.Eng., Director, Project Development for Wheaton River Minerals Ltd. Procedures reviewed and approved by Andrew Ross, P.Geo., of Snowden Mineral Industry Consultants. All are Qualified Persons as per NI 43-101.
 
  Mineral resources do not have demonstrated economic viability.
 
    The metallurgical testing program is nearly complete, and heap pad geotechnical investigations have been completed. The Los Filos Feasibility Study is expected to be completed by March 31, 2005, incorporating the revised resource model. Permitting and community discussions are well under way, with a surface rights agreement signed with the local community that covers all surface areas of the project. Wheaton anticipates production from Los Filos early in 2006.

Corporate

                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30
  September 30
(in thousands)
  2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
General and administrative expenses
  $ (1,526 )   $ (980 )   $ (5,448 )   $ (3,131 )
Interest and finance fees
    (1,037 )     (930 )     (2,565 )     (1,026 )
Gain on sale of marketable securities
    1,316       1,231       1,415       2,005  
Corporate transaction costs
    (1,427 )           (4,238 )      
Share purchase option expense
    (344 )           (1,429 )     (293 )
Amortization
    (884 )     (378 )     (1,563 )     (421 )
Other
    (2,072 )     746       (2,969 )     1,831  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Loss before income taxes
    (5,974 )     (311 )     (16,797 )     (1,035 )
Income tax recovery
          215       980       611  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Corporate net loss
  $ (5,974 )   $ (96 )   $ (15,817 )   $ (424 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

Increased corporate activity resulted in higher general and administrative expenses during 2004 in comparison with 2003.

Interest and finance fees relate primarily to the June 2003 bank debt financing to acquire an additional 12.5% interest in Alumbrera. This debt was fully repaid during the quarter out of cash on hand.

Corporate transaction costs for the third quarter mainly represent costs incurred to successfully reject the unsolicited bid by Coeur which concluded September 28, 2004 when they announced they had failed to garner enough support to pursue their bid. Also included are additional costs incurred for the previously proposed business combination with IAMGold. On July 6, 2004, IAMGold did not receive the necessary shareholder approvals to effect the proposed combination and Wheaton terminated the agreement with IAMGold.

Effective January 1, 2004, the Company retroactively adopted the amended recommendations of the CICA Handbook Section 3870, “Stock-Based Compensation and other Stock-based Payments”, whereby the fair value of all stock options granted is estimated using the Black-Scholes method and are recorded in operations over their vesting periods. In 2003, stock-based awards made to non-employees were recognized and measured using the fair value based method at the date of grant, whereas for stock options granted to employees and directors, no expense was recorded. The amended recommendations have been applied retroactively from January 1, 2002 in the financial statements, without restatement of prior periods. As a result, as of January 1, 2004, retained earnings decreased by $16,848,000, share purchase options (a separate component of shareholders’ equity) increased by $14,861,000, share capital increased by $1,883,000 and contributed surplus increased by $104,000.

The total compensation expense recognized in the statement of operations for share purchase options granted in the three months ended September 30, 2004 amounted to $344,000 (nine months ended September 30, 2004 — $1,429,000). Had the same basis been applied to 2003 share purchase options granted, net earnings would have been as follows:

                 
    Three Months
Ended
  Nine Months
Ended
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
  Sep 30, 2003
  Sep 30, 2003
Net earnings
  $ 14,689     $ 29,841  
Additional compensation expense of employees
    (124 )     (9,181 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Pro forma net earnings
  $ 14,565     $ 20,660  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Pro forma basic and diluted earnings per share
  $ 0.03     $ 0.05  
 
   
 
     
 
 

Stock-based compensation expense is determined using an option pricing model assuming no dividends are to be paid, a weighted average volatility of the Company’s share price of 50% (2003 — 60%), an annual risk free interest rate of 3% (2003 — 4%) and expected lives of three years (2003 — three years).

 


 

Amortization expense was higher for the quarter as compared with 2003 as it includes amortization of debt issue costs on the recent $300 million acquisition facility entered into in August 2004. Other expenses include the amortization against sales of the cost of gold put options, which were required to be purchased under the Company’s June 2003 debt financing.

No significant cash taxes were paid during 2004.

Non GAAP measures — total cash cost per gold equivalent ounce calculation

The Company reports total cash costs on a sales basis. In the gold mining industry, this is a common performance measure but does not have any standardized meaning. The following table provides a reconciliation of total cash costs per ounce to the financial statements:

                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30
  September 30
(in thousands, except per ounce amounts)
  2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
Cost of sales per financial statements
  $ 37,970     $ 28,446     $ 111,773     $ 53,292  
Alumbrera equity adjustment (Note 1)
                      (1,769 )
Treatment and refining charges
    7,053       6,158       21,956       6,362  
Non-cash adjustments
    (1,198 )     (318 )     (2,665 )      
By-product copper sales
    (51,275 )     (23,427 )     (149,182 )     (26,381 )
Royalties
    1,929       1,480       4,723       1,905  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
 
  $ (5,521 )   $ 12,339     $ (13,395 )   $ 33,409  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Divided by gold equivalent ounces sold
    149,700       126,100       454,900       294,100  
Total cash costs per ounce
  $ (37 )   $ 98     $ (29 )   $ 114  

(1)   Total cash costs are calculated as if the Company’s initial acquisition of a 25% interest in Alumbrera had been accounted for on a proportionately consolidated basis. The consolidated financial statements however present the initial 25% interest using the equity method until the Company increased its interest to 37.5% on June 24, 2003, and thereafter accounted for its interest on a proportionately consolidated basis.

 


 

    LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
    At September 30, 2004 the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $90.0 million (December 31, 2003 — $151.9 million) and working capital of $115.4 million (December 31, 2003 — $147.5 million).
 
    In the opinion of management, the working capital at September 30, 2004, together with cash flows from operations, are sufficient to support the Company’s normal operating requirements on an ongoing basis.
 
    Total assets increased to $984.1 million at September 30, 2004 from $891.0 million at December 31, 2003. Contributing to the growth was the January 9, 2004 acquisition of the Amapari gold project located in northern Brazil for $25 million in cash, 33.0 million Wheaton River common shares and 21.5 million Wheaton River Series “B” common share purchase warrants. Based upon the trading price of the common shares and warrants at the time of closing, this represents aggregate consideration of approximately $114.6 million, including $1.1 million of acquisition costs.
 
    During the quarter, the Company generated operating cash flows of $46,242,000, compared with $31,453,000 during the same period of 2003. For the nine months to September 30, 2004, operating cash flows were $147,031,000, compared with $62,195,000 in 2003.
 
    During 2003, the Company entered into a $75 million bank loan facility which consisted of a $50 million term loan bearing interest at LIBOR plus 2.75% and a $25 million revolving working capital facility bearing interest at LIBOR plus 3%. During June 2004, the Company amended the facility such that the full $75 million is a revolving working capital facility. The amended facility bears interest at LIBOR plus 1.625% to 2.25% depending on covenant ratios, has no set repayment terms, and matures in June 2007. The balance of this facility at September 30, 2004 was $nil (December 31, 2003 — $45,000,000).
 
    During August 2004, the Company entered into a $300 million acquisition facility which is available to finance up to three separate acquisitions. The facility is available until November 24, 2005, and amounts drawn down are required to be refinanced or repaid by February 24, 2006. Net proceeds from any debt refinancing or equity issue (not undertaken in connection with an acquisition) together with the net proceeds from significant asset sales, will be applied to prepay amounts outstanding under the facility. Security will be granted under the facility only over acquired assets, together with guarantees by any subsidiaries of Wheaton which acquire such assets. Amounts drawn down under the facility will bear interest at LIBOR plus 2.25% per annum, increasing to LIBOR plus 4.5% per annum over the term of the facility. Related debt issue costs during the quarter of $6,733,000 have been deferred and, to September 30, 2004, $561,000 has been amortized to earnings.
 
    During the quarter, Wheaton repaid long-term debt of $65,463,000. As a result, total long-term debt at September 30, 2004 was $nil, compared with $122,423,000 at December 31, 2003.
 
    During the three months ended September 30, 2004, the Company disposed of marketable securities for a gain of $1,316,000 and invested a total of $21,945,000 in property, plant and equipment, including $6,325,000 at the Luismin operations, $2,948,000 at Peak, $4,016,000 at Alumbrera and $8,651,000 at Amapari.
 
    As of November 9, 2004, there were 570,289,000 common shares of the Company issued and outstanding. In addition, the Company had 22,499,000 stock options outstanding under its share option plan and 176,359,000 share purchase warrants outstanding.

 


 

Derivative instruments

The Company has employed metal, interest rate and Canadian dollar forward and option contracts to manage exposure to fluctuations in metal prices and foreign currency exchange rates. In 2003, the Company acquired put options to sell gold at a price of $300 per ounce during the period from January 2004 to June 2008. At September 30, 2004, the Company held put options to sell 569,000 ounces of gold and the fair value of these options was $585,000. During 2003, the Company also entered into a gold-indexed interest rate swap transaction which has a fair value at September 30, 2004 of minus $1,435,000.

Commitments

Commitments exist for capital expenditures in 2004 and 2005 of $18,641,000 and $3,378,000 respectively.

Long-term debt

The Company repaid all long-term debt during the quarter.

Related party transactions

In 2001, the Company entered into a financial advisory agreement with Endeavour Financial Corporation (“Endeavour”), a corporation which until July 2004 had two directors in common. Under the terms of this agreement, which can be cancelled on 30 days notice, Endeavour provides financial advisory services to the Company and is entitled to a monthly fee of $10,000 and a success fee to be negotiated based on the value of any acquisitions, dispositions and financings. During the third quarter of 2004, Endeavour was paid consulting and financial advisory fees of $1,234,000 (2003 — $30,000), primarily related to services provided in securing the Company’s $300 million acquisition facility. A further fee of $1,125,000 is payable to Endeavour upon the first draw down under this facility.

OUTLOOK

The Company has planned capital expenditures for the remainder of 2004 of approximately $33 million. Of these, approximately
$16 million will be incurred at Amapari, $5 million at Peak, $2 million at Alumbrera, and $10 million at the Luismin operations (of which $3 million relates to Los Filos and $7 million to San Dimas and San Martin).

On October 15, 2004, Wheaton and Chap Mercantile Inc. (“Silver Wheaton”) announced the closing of the previously disclosed Silver Wheaton transaction. Pursuant to the transaction, Silver Wheaton agreed to purchase 100% of the silver produced by Wheaton’s Luismin mining operations in Mexico for an upfront payment of Cdn$46 million in cash and 540 million Silver Wheaton common shares plus a payment of $3.90 per ounce of delivered refined silver, subject to adjustment. As a result, effective October 15, 2004, Wheaton owned approximately 75% of the shares of Silver Wheaton and will consolidate Silver Wheaton’s financial statements from that date.

In 2004, Wheaton expects to produce approximately 600,000 gold equivalent ounces at a cash cost of less than $50 per ounce. By 2006, with the Los Filos and Amapari projects in operation, overall production will increase to 900,000 gold equivalent ounces at a total cash cost of less than $100 per ounce.

Additional information relating to the Company, including its Annual Information Form, is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
This Management’s Discussion & Analysis contains certain forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including without limitation, statements regarding future plans and objectives of the Company are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations are disclosed in Company documents filed from time to time with the Toronto Stock Exchange and other regulatory authorities.

 


 

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(US dollars and shares in thousands, except per share amounts — Unaudited)

                                         
            Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
            September 30
  September 30
    Note
  2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
Sales
          $ 103,251     $ 63,142     $ 305,723     $ 109,213  
 
           
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Cost of sales
            37,970       28,446       111,773       53,292  
Royalties
            1,929       1,480       4,723       1,905  
Depreciation and depletion
            12,503       11,414       36,546       16,967  
Reclamation
            258       117       767       351  
 
           
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
 
            52,660       41,457       153,809       72,515  
 
           
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Earnings from mining operations
            50,591       21,685       151,914       36,698  
 
           
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Expenses and other income
                                       
General and administrative
            2,458       1,917       8,867       6,208  
Interest and finance fees
            920       1,712       4,859       2,119  
Exploration
            740       496       2,164       1,399  
Amortization
            884       463       2,703       605  
Corporate transaction costs
    4       1,427             4,238        
Other (income) expense
    5       (977 )     (3,887 )     893       (5,800 )
 
           
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
 
            5,452       701       23,724       4,531  
 
           
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Earnings before the following
            45,139       20,984       128,190       32,167  
Equity in earnings of Minera Alumbrera Ltd
                              7,324  
 
           
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Earnings before income taxes
            45,139       20,984       128,190       39,491  
Income tax expense
            13,762       6,295       42,022       9,650  
 
           
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Net earnings
          $ 31,377     $ 14,689     $ 86,168     $ 29,841  
 
           
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Earnings per share
                                       
Basic
          $ 0.06     $ 0.03     $ 0.15     $ 0.08  
 
           
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Diluted
          $ 0.05     $ 0.03     $ 0.13     $ 0.08  
 
           
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding
                                       
Basic
            568,647       450,656       567,535       376,155  
Diluted
            644,277       502,448       649,062       396,500  

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements

 


 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(US dollars and shares in thousands — Unaudited)

                         
            September 30   December 31
    Note
  2004
  2003
Assets
                       
Current
                       
Cash and cash equivalents
          $ 90,004     $ 151,878  
Appropriated cash
                  8,840  
Marketable securities
    6       1,529       1,142  
Accounts receivable
            46,954       31,824  
Product inventory and stockpiled ore
    7       17,155       16,726  
Supplies inventory
            10,144       10,083  
Other
            5,350       4,287  
 
           
 
     
 
 
 
            171,136       224,780  
Property, plant and equipment
    8       728,589       583,911  
Stockpiled ore
    7       58,707       60,736  
Future income taxes
            4,230       7,211  
Other
    9       21,466       14,367  
 
           
 
     
 
 
 
          $ 984,128     $ 891,005  
 
           
 
     
 
 
Liabilities
                       
Current
                       
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
          $ 28,996     $ 31,402  
Income taxes payable
            22,993       1,062  
Current portion of long-term debt
    10             41,000  
Other
            3,738       3,832  
 
           
 
     
 
 
 
            55,727       77,296  
Long-term debt
    10             81,423  
Future income taxes
            163,614       145,730  
Provision for reclamation and closure
            18,204       19,604  
Future employee benefits and other
            11,067       10,834  
 
           
 
     
 
 
 
            248,612       334,887  
 
           
 
     
 
 
Shareholders’ Equity
                       
Share purchase options
            16,754       877  
Contributed surplus
            704       600  
Share purchase warrants
            16,660        
Share capital
                       
Common shares
                       
Authorized: unlimited shares, no par value;
Issued and outstanding: 570,220 (December 31, 2003 - 533,697)
            582,527       505,090  
Retained earnings
            118,871       49,551  
 
           
 
     
 
 
 
            735,516       556,118  
 
           
 
     
 
 
 
          $ 984,128     $ 891,005  
 
           
 
     
 
 

Commitments (Note 13)

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements

 


 

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004 and Year Ended December 31, 2003
(US dollars, shares and warrants in thousands — Unaudited)
 

                                                                 
                    Share Purchase                    
    Common Shares
  Warrants
  Share
Purchase
  Contributed   Retained
Earnings
   
    Shares
  Amount
  Warrants
  Amount
  Options
  Surplus
  (Deficit)
  Total
At January 1, 2003
    190,400     $ 115,152       64,550     $     $ 410     $ 600     $ (8,108 )   $ 108,054  
Share options exercised
    6,621       5,431                                     5,431  
Warrants issued
                100,360                                
Warrants exercised
    9,602       5,192       (9,602 )                             5,192  
Shares issued
    327,074       402,266                                     402,266  
Share issue costs, net of tax
          (22,951 )                                   (22,951 )
Fair value of stock options issued to non-employees
                            467                   467  
Net earnings
                                        57,659       57,659  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
At December 31, 2003
    533,697       505,090       155,308             877       600       49,551       556,118  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting policy (Note 2 (a))
          1,883                   14,861       104       (16,848 )      
Share options exercised
    3,127       3,252                   (413 )                 2,839  
Warrants exercised
    396       563       (396 )                             563  
Shares and warrants issued on acquisition of Amapari (Note 3)
    33,000       71,885       21,516       16,660                         88,545  
Share issue costs, net of tax
          (146 )                                   (146 )
Fair value of stock options issued
                            1,429                   1,429  
Net earnings
                                        86,168       86,168  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
At September 30, 2004
    570,220     $ 582,527       176,428     $ 16,660     $ 16,754     $ 704     $ 118,871     $ 735,516  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

Shareholders’ Equity (Note 11)

 
The accompanying notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements

 


 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(US dollars in thousands — Unaudited)  

                                         
            Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
            September 30
  September 30
    Note
  2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
Operating Activities
                                       
Net earnings
          $ 31,377     $ 14,689     $ 86,168     $ 29,841  
Reclamation expenditures
            (1,196 )     (758 )     (2,161 )     (1,205 )
Cash distribution from Minera Alumbrera Ltd
                              12,610  
Items not affecting cash:
                                       
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
            13,387       11,877       39,249       17,572  
Provision for reclamation
            258       (2,368 )     767       (2,134 )
Gain on sale of marketable securities
            (1,316 )     (1,231 )     (1,415 )     (2,005 )
Future income taxes
            (7,547 )     6,210       19,675       9,343  
Future employee benefits
            1,199       (218 )     758       (338 )
Share purchase option expense
            344             1,429       293  
Equity in earnings of Minera Alumbrera Ltd
                              (7,324 )
Other
            1,332       (1,564 )     677       (1,514 )
Change in non-cash working capital
    12       8,404       4,816       1,884       7,056  
 
           
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Cash generated by operating activities
            46,242       31,453       147,031       62,195  
 
           
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Financing Activities
                                       
Long-term debt
                              75,000  
Repayment of long-term debt
            (65,463 )     (25,000 )     (137,623 )     (25,000 )
Debt issue costs
            (6,754 )     (378 )     (7,826 )     (4,046 )
Common shares issued
            1,974       73,193       3,402       296,666  
Common share issue costs
                  (4,514 )     (146 )     (20,448 )
Deferred gold put options
                              (5,786 )
 
           
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Cash (applied to) generated by financing activities
            (70,243 )     43,301       (142,193 )     316,386  
 
           
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Investing Activities
                                       
Property, plant and equipment
            (21,945 )     (7,401 )     (50,190 )     (18,394 )
Proceeds on sale of marketable securities
            33,035       5,297       33,194       7,130  
Purchases of marketable securities
            (282 )     (3,515 )     (31,551 )     (3,515 )
Appropriated cash
                        8,840        
Acquisition of Mineração Pedra Branco do Amapari Ltda, net of cash acquired
    3                   (25,785 )      
Acquisition of Minera Alumbrera Ltd, net of cash acquired
                              (224,356 )
Acquisition of Peak Gold Mines Pty Ltd, net of cash acquired
                  (18 )           (34,187 )
Other
            (285 )     3,780       (1,220 )     (158 )
 
           
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Cash generated by (applied to) investing activities
            10,523       (1,857 )     (66,712 )     (273,480 )
 
           
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
            (13,478 )     72,897       (61,874 )     105,101  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
            103,482       55,140       151,878       22,936  
 
           
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
          $ 90,004     $ 128,037     $ 90,004     $ 128,037  
 
           
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

Supplemental cash flow information (Note 12)

 
The accompanying notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements

 


 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004
(US dollars — Unaudited)  

1.   DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND NATURE OF OPERATIONS
 
    Wheaton River Minerals Ltd (“Wheaton” or the “Company”) is engaged in gold mining and related activities including exploration, extraction, processing, refining and reclamation. The Company has mining operations in Mexico, Argentina and Australia, project development activities in Mexico and Brazil, and ongoing exploration activities in Mexico, Brazil and Australia. The Company is in the process of reclaiming the Golden Bear Mine in Canada, which ceased commercial production in 2001.
 
    On January 9, 2004, the Company acquired the Amapari gold project in northern Brazil (Note 3).
 
2.   SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
    These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and they follow the same accounting policies and methods of application as the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2003 except as noted below. These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements do not include all the information and note disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles for annual financial statements and therefore should be read in conjunction with the most recent annual audited consolidated financial statements and the notes below. Differences between Canadian and United States generally accepted accounting principles, which would have a material effect on these unaudited interim consolidated financial statements, are explained in Note 16.
 
(a)   Stock-based compensation
 
    Effective January 1, 2004, the Company adopted the amended recommendations of the CICA Handbook Section 3870, “Stock-based Compensation and Other Stock-based Payments”. Under the amended standards of this Section, the fair value of all stock-based awards granted are estimated using the Black-Scholes model and are recorded in operations over their vesting periods. The compensation cost related to stock options granted after January 1, 2004 is recorded in operations.
 
    Previously, the Company provided note disclosure of pro forma net earnings and pro forma earnings per share as if the fair value based method had been used to account for share purchase options granted to employees, directors and officers after January 1, 2002. The amended recommendations have been applied retroactively from January 1, 2002 without restatement of prior periods. As a result, as of January 1, 2004, retained earnings decreased by $16,848,000, share purchase options (a separate component of shareholders’ equity) increased by $14,861,000, share capital increased by $1,883,000 and contributed surplus increased by $104,000.
 
    The total compensation expense recognized in the statement of operations for share purchase options granted in the three months ended September 30, 2004 amounted to $344,000 (nine months ended September 30, 2004 — $1,429,000). Had the same basis been applied to 2003 share purchase options granted, net earnings would have been as follows:

 


 

                 
    Three Months   Nine Months
    Ended   Ended
    September 30   September 30
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
  2003
  2003
Net earnings
  $ 14,689     $ 29,841  
Additional compensation expense of employees
    (124 )     (9,181 )
     
     
 
Pro forma net earnings
  $ 14,565     $ 20,660  
     
     
 
Pro forma basic and diluted earnings per share
  $ 0.03     $ 0.05  
     
     
 

    Stock-based compensation expense is determined using an option pricing model assuming no dividends are to be paid, a weighted average volatility of the Company’s share price of 50% (2003 — 60%), an annual risk free interest rate of 3% (2003 — 4%) and expected lives of three years (2003 — three years).
 
(b)   Derivative instruments
 
    The Company has employed metal, interest rate and Canadian dollar forward and option contracts to manage exposure to fluctuations in metal prices and foreign currency exchange rates. For derivative contracts that have been designated as effective hedges and where the documentation standards as described by Accounting Guideline 13, “Hedging Relationships” (“AcG-13”) have been met, gains or losses are recognized in sales when the hedged production is sold. For derivative contracts that have not been designated as hedges or do not meet the documentation standards under AcG-13, gains or losses arising from the changes in their fair value subsequent to January 1, 2004 are recorded in operations.
 
(c)   Basis of presentation
 
    These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. Principal subsidiaries and investments at September 30, 2004 are listed below:

                     
                    Operations and
        Ownership       Development
Subsidiary
  Location
  Interest
  Status
  Projects Owned
Luismin SA de CV (“Luismin”)
  Mexico     100 %   Consolidated   San Dimas, San Martin and Nukay mines and Los Filos gold development project
Peak Gold Mines Pty Ltd (“Peak”)
  Australia     100 %   Consolidated   Peak mine
Mineração Pedra Branco do Amapari Ltda (“Amapari”)
  Brazil     100 %   Consolidated   Amapari gold
development project
Minera Alumbrera Ltd (“Alumbrera”)
  Argentina     37.5 %   Proportionately
consolidated
  Alumbrera mine

 


 

(d)   Investment in Minera Alumbrera Ltd
 
    On March 18, 2003 the Company acquired a 25% indirect interest in Alumbrera which was accounted for using the equity method and the Company’s share of earnings of Alumbrera have been included in the earnings of the Company since that date.
 
    On June 24, 2003 the Company acquired an additional 12.5% indirect interest in Alumbrera. As a result of this acquisition, the Company now has joint control over Alumbrera and therefore has proportionately consolidated its 37.5% share of the financial statements of Alumbrera from June 24, 2003 onward.
 
(e)   Comparative amounts
 
    Certain comparative amounts have been reclassified to conform to presentation adopted in 2004.
 
3.   ACQUISITION OF AMAPARI GOLD DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
 
    On January 9, 2004 the Company acquired a 100% interest in the Amapari gold development project in Brazil for total consideration of $114,649,000 including acquisition costs. Of the purchase price, $25,000,000 was paid in cash and $88,545,000 by way of 33 million Wheaton common shares and 21.5 million Series “B” common share purchase warrants.
 
    The acquisition of Amapari has been accounted for using the purchase method. The preliminary allocation of the purchase price is summarized in the table below.

         
(in thousands)
       
Purchase price:
       
Cash paid
  $ 25,000  
Shares and share purchase warrants issued
    88,545  
Acquisition costs
    1,104  
 
   
 
 
 
  $ 114,649  
 
   
 
 
Net assets acquired:
       
Cash
  $ 319  
Non-cash working capital
    (2,368 )
Property, plant and equipment
    131,898  
Debt acquired
    (15,200 )
 
   
 
 
 
  $ 114,649  
 
   
 
 

    Project debt of $15,200,000 due to Anglogold Brazil Ltda, assumed in connection with the acquisition, was repaid in June 2004 out of cash on hand.

 


 

4.   CORPORATE TRANSACTION COSTS
 
    On March 30, 2004, Wheaton and IAMGold Corporation (“IAMGold”) announced that their boards of directors had unanimously agreed to combine the companies, subject to shareholder approvals and certain other conditions. On July 6, 2004, IAMGold did not receive the necessary shareholder approvals to effect the proposed combination and Wheaton terminated the agreement to combine with IAMGold. As a result, the Company has written off $3,307,000 of related costs.
 
    During May 2004, Coeur d’Alene Mines Corporation (“Coeur”) launched an unsolicited takeover bid for Wheaton and on September 28, 2004, Coeur announced they had failed to garner enough support to pursue their bid. Costs incurred to successfully reject this bid amounted to $931,000.
 
5.   OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)

                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30
  September 30
(in thousands)
  2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
Interest income
  $ 653     $ 81     $ 1,865     $ 802  
Gain on sale of marketable securities
    1,316       1,231       1,415       2,005  
Foreign exchange (loss) gain
    (426 )     2,304       (2,171 )     3,499  
Share purchase option expense
    (344 )           (1,429 )     (293 )
Other
    (222 )     271       (573 )     (213 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
 
  $ 977     $ 3,887     $ (893 )   $ 5,800  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

6.   MARKETABLE SECURITIES

                 
    September 30   December 31
(in thousands)
  2004
  2003
Marketable securities at market value
  $ 4,937     $ 1,702  
 
   
 
     
 
 

7.   PRODUCT INVENTORY AND STOCKPILED ORE

                 
    September 30   December 31
(in thousands)
  2004
  2003
Stockpiled ore
  $ 63,167     $ 62,174  
Work in process
    4,113       2,891  
Finished goods
    8,582       12,397  
 
   
 
     
 
 
 
    75,862       77,462  
Less: non-current stockpiled ore
    58,707       60,736  
 
   
 
     
 
 
 
  $ 17,155     $ 16,726  
 
   
 
     
 
 

    Non-current stockpiled ore is primarily comprised of lower grade ore at Alumbrera, which will be processed later in the mine life. This inventory is valued at the lower of cost and net realizable value.

 


 

8.   PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

                                                 
    September 30, 2004
  December 31, 2003
            Accumulated                   Accumulated    
(in thousands)
  Cost
  Depletion
  Net
  Cost
  Depletion
  Net
Mineral properties
                                               
Luismin mines, Mexico
  $ 128,887     $ (11,101 )   $ 117,786     $ 120,736     $ (6,070 )   $ 114,666  
Peak mine, Australia
    32,017       (5,948 )     26,069       25,672       (2,518 )     23,154  
Alumbrera mine, Argentina
    27,142       (6,361 )     20,781       27,142       (2,091 )     25,051  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
 
    188,046       (23,410 )     164,636       173,550       (10,679 )     162,871  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Plant and equipment
                                               
Luismin mines, Mexico
    48,074       (5,539 )     42,535       42,519       (3,334 )     39,185  
Peak mine, Australia
    19,717       (3,790 )     15,927       17,726       (1,736 )     15,990  
Alumbrera mine, Argentina
    252,137       (40,109 )     212,028       246,559       (20,553 )     226,006  
Corporate, Canada
    476       (305 )     171       456       (261 )     195  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
 
    320,404       (49,743 )     270,661       307,260       (25,884 )     281,376  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Properties under development
                                               
Los Filos project, Mexico
    98,419             98,419       93,691             93,691  
El Limón project, Mexico
    42,161             42,161       42,161             42,161  
Other projects, Mexico
    4,819             4,819       3,667             3,667  
Amapari project, Brazil
    147,893             147,893       145             145  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
 
    293,292             293,292       139,664             139,664  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
 
  $ 801,742     $ (73,153 )   $ 728,589     $ 620,474     $ (36,563 )   $ 583,911  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

    Sale of Metates property
 
    Effective February 25, 2004, the Company sold its 50% interest in the Metates property in Mexico to American Gold Capital Corporation (“American Gold”), a company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company received 5,000,000 shares of American Gold as consideration, 3,750,000 of which remain in escrow to be released over the period to February 2007. The Company did not record a gain at the time of the disposition; however, gains on the sale of the shares will be recorded in income when the shares are sold. The Company sold 500,000 shares during the period for a gain of $358,000.

 


 

9.   OTHER NON-CURRENT ASSETS

                         
            September 30   December 31
(in thousands)
  Note
  2004
  2003
Deferred gold put options
  10 (ii)   $ 4,701     $ 5,786  
Deferred debt issue costs
  10 (i, ii)     9,803       3,497  
Other
            6,962       5,084  
 
           
 
     
 
 
 
          $ 21,466     $ 14,367  
 
           
 
     
 
 

10.   LONG-TERM DEBT

                 
    September 30   December 31
(in thousands)
  2004
  2003
Corporate debt
               
Acquisition facility (i)
  $     $  
Revolving working capital facility (ii)
           
Term loan (ii)
          45,000  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total bank indebtedness
          45,000  
Promissory note (iii)
          19,443  
 
   
 
     
 
 
 
          64,443  
Non-recourse project debt
               
Alumbrera (Wheaton’s 37.5% share) (iv)
          57,980  
 
   
 
     
 
 
 
          122,423  
Less: current portion
          41,000  
 
   
 
     
 
 
 
  $     $ 81,423  
 
   
 
     
 
 

(i)   During August 2004, the Company entered into a $300 million acquisition facility which is available to finance up to three separate acquisitions. The facility is available until November 24, 2005, and amounts drawn down are required to be refinanced or repaid by February 24, 2006. Net proceeds from any debt refinancing or equity issue (not undertaken in connection with an acquisition) together with the net proceeds from significant asset sales, will be applied to prepay amounts outstanding under the facility. Security will be granted under the facility only over acquired assets, together with guarantees by any subsidiaries of Wheaton which acquire such assets. Amounts drawn down under the facility will bear interest at LIBOR plus 2.25% per annum, increasing to LIBOR plus 4.5% per annum over the term of the facility.
 
    Debt issue costs of $6,733,000 have been deferred and are amortized to earnings over the term of the debt facility. An amount of $561,000 has been amortized to September 30, 2004. A further $1,125,000 of debt issue costs will be payable upon the first draw down under this facility.

 


 

(ii)   During 2003 the Company entered into a $75,000,000 loan facility which consisted of a $50,000,000 term loan bearing interest at LIBOR plus 2.75% and a $25,000,000 revolving working capital facility bearing interest at LIBOR plus 3%. During June 2004, the Company amended the facility such that the full $75,000,000 is a revolving working capital facility. The amended facility bears interest at LIBOR plus 1.625% to 2.25% depending on covenant ratios, has no net repayment terms, and matures in June 2007. During September 2004, the Company repaid the outstanding amount out of cash on hand.
 
    Under the terms of the loan agreement, during 2003 the Company acquired options to sell 700,000 ounces of gold at a price of $300 per ounce during the period January 2004 to June 2008. The cost of $5,786,000 was deferred and is amortized against sales as the options expire or are exercised. An amount of $1,085,000 has been amortized to September 30, 2004 (December 31, 2003 — $nil). The fair value of the 569,000 ounces of unexpired put options at September 30, 2004 was $585,000. During 2003, the Company entered into a gold-indexed interest rate swap transaction which had a fair value at September 30, 2004, of minus $1,435,000. The facility is secured by corporate guarantees of Luismin and Amapari.
 
    Debt issue costs of $5,334,000 have been deferred and are amortized to earnings over the term of the debt. An amount of $1,704,000 has been amortized to September 30, 2004 (December 31, 2003 - $745,000).
 
(iii)   The promissory note was due to Rio Algom, and had a maturity date of May 30, 2005. During September 2004, the Company repaid the outstanding amount out of cash on hand.
 
(iv)   The Alumbrera project debt was incurred in 1997 to finance the construction and operation of the Alumbrera Mine. During May 2004 Alumbrera repaid the outstanding debt out of cash on hand.
 
(v)   The Company has an Aus$5,000,000 ($3,573,000), unsecured, revolving working capital facility for its Peak mine operations of which $nil was drawn down at September 30, 2004. The loan bears interest related to the Australian Treasury Bill rate plus 1.5% per annum.
 
11.   SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
    In January 2004, the Company issued 33 million common shares and 21.5 million Series “B” warrants as partial consideration for the acquisition of Amapari (Note 3).
 
(a)   Warrants

                 
            Weighted
            Average
            Exercise
    Warrants   Price
    Outstanding
  (Cdn$)
At January 1, 2003
    64,549,997     $ 1.52  
Issued in connection with issuance of shares
    100,359,522       2.27  
Exercised
    (9,601,400 )     0.76  
 
   
 
         
At December 31, 2003
    155,308,119       2.05  
Issued in connection with acquisition of Amapari (Note 3)
    21,516,000       3.10  
Exercised
    (396,061 )     1.89  
 
   
 
         
At September 30, 2004
    176,428,058       2.18  
 
   
 
         

 


 

The following table summarizes information about the warrants outstanding at September 30, 2004:

                     
        Warrants   Exercise
Description
  Expiry Date
  Outstanding
  Price (Cdn$)
Common share purchase warrants
  May 30, 2007     54,784,647     $ 1.65  
Series “A” share purchase warrants
  May 30, 2007     57,344,837       1.65  
Series “B” share purchase warrants
  August 25, 2008     64,298,574       3.10  
 
       
 
         
 
        176,428,058          
 
       
 
         

(b)   Share purchase options

                 
            Weighted
            Average
    Options   Exercise Price
    Outstanding
  (Cdn$)
At January 1, 2003
    8,258,890     $ 0.79  
Granted
    22,965,000       2.20  
Exercised
    (6,620,694 )     1.09  
Forfeited
    (132,333 )     1.24  
 
   
 
         
At December 31, 2003
    24,470,863       2.03  
Granted
    1,155,000       3.77  
Exercised
    (3,127,034 )     1.19  
 
   
 
         
At September 30, 2004
    22,498,829       2.24  
 
   
 
         

12.   SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION

                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30
  September 30
(in thousands)
  2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
Change in non-cash working capital
                               
Accounts receivable
  $ (12,090 )   $ 10,639     $ (15,078 )   $ 11,932  
Product inventory and stockpiled ore
    (617 )     (7,046 )     1,600       (9,944 )
Supplies inventory
    (192 )     172       (61 )     (729 )
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    1,015       (873 )     (2,554 )     5,591  
Income taxes payable
    21,309       (60 )     21,931       47  
Other
    (1,021 )     1,984       (3,954 )     159  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
 
  $ 8,404     $ 4,816     $ 1,884     $ 7,056  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

 


 

                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30
  September 30
(in thousands)
  2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
Non-cash financing and investing activities
                               
Shares and share purchase warrants issued on acquisition of Amapari (Note 3)
  $     $     $ 88,545     $  
Promissory note issued (Note 10 (iii))
                      25,000  
Additional consideration for Luismin operations
          22,367             22,367  
Marketable securities received on sale of property, plant and equipment
          1,127       31       1,277  
Operating activities included the following cash payments
                               
Interest paid
  $ 1,142     $ 491     $ 5,054     $ 522  
Income taxes paid
    305       90       1,928       302  

13.   COMMITMENTS
 
    Commitments exist for capital expenditures of $18,641,000 in 2004 and $3,378,000 in 2005.
 
14.   SEGMENTED INFORMATION
 
    The Company’s reportable operating and geographical segments are summarized in the table below.

                                                 
    Three Months Ended September 30, 2004
(in thousands)
  Mexico
  Australia
  Argentina
  Brazil
  Corporate
  Total
Sales
  $ 24,406     $ 14,610     $ 65,049     $     $ (814 )   $ 103,251  
Cost of sales
    9,997       6,265       21,708                   37,970  
Depreciation and depletion
    2,337       2,201       7,965                   12,503  
Other
    58       506       1,623                   2,187  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Earnings from mining operations
    12,014       5,638       33,753             (814 )     50,591  
General and administrative
    (932 )                       (1,526 )     (2,458 )
Interest and finance fees
    (19 )     (83 )     219             (1,037 )     (920 )
Other income (expenses)
    54       (20 )     308       181       (2,597 )     (2,074 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Earnings (loss) before income taxes
  $ 11,117     $ 5,535     $ 34,280     $ 181     $ (5,974 )   $ 45,139  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Capital asset expenditures
  $ 6,325     $ 2,948     $ 4,016     $ 8,651     $ 5     $ 21,945  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

 


 

                                                 
    Three Months Ended September 30, 2003
(in thousands)
  Mexico
  Australia
  Argentina
  Brazil
  Corporate
  Total
Sales
  $ 17,152     $ 14,639     $ 31,351     $     $     $ 63,142  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Cost of sales
    8,154       8,909       11,383                   28,446  
Depreciation and depletion
    1,616       2,461       7,337                   11,414  
Other
    66       436       1,095                   1,597  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Earnings from mining operations
    7,316       2,833       11,536                   21,685  
General and administrative
    (937 )                       (980 )     (1,917 )
Interest and finance fees
    86       (12 )     (856 )           (930 )     (1,712 )
Other (expenses) income
    (370 )     (363 )     2,062             1,599       2,928  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Earnings (loss) before income taxes
  $ 6,095     $ 2,458     $ 12,742     $     $ (311 )   $ 20,984  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Capital asset expenditures
  $ 5,075     $ 1,281     $ 1,041     $     $ 4     $ 7,401  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
                                                 
    Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004
(in thousands)
  Mexico
  Australia
  Argentina
  Brazil
  Corporate
  Total
Sales
  $ 70,830     $ 44,054     $ 193,514     $     $ (2,675 )   $ 305,723  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Cost of sales
    29,742       21,664       60,367                   111,773  
Depreciation and depletion
    7,236       5,484       23,826                   36,546  
Other
    176       1,531       3,783                   5,490  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Earnings from mining operations
    33,676       15,375       105,538             (2,675 )     151,914  
General and administrative
    (3,419 )                       (5,448 )     (8,867 )
Interest and finance fees
    (49 )     (85 )     (2,160 )           (2,565 )     (4,859 )
Other (expenses) income
    (1,571 )     (1,862 )     (852 )     396       (6,109 )     (9,998 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Earnings (loss) before income taxes
  $ 28,637     $ 13,428     $ 102,526     $ 396     $ (16,797 )   $ 128,190  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Capital asset expenditures
  $ 19,756     $ 8,032     $ 6,369     $ 15,995     $ 38     $ 50,190  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total assets
  $ 345,541     $ 58,909     $ 365,501     $ 160,141     $ 54,036     $ 984,128  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

 


 

                                                 
    Nine Months Ended September 30, 2003
(in thousands)
  Mexico
  Australia
  Argentina
  Brazil
  Corporate
  Total
Sales
  $ 47,908     $ 25,719     $ 35,586     $     $     $ 109,213  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Cost of sales
    24,114       16,157       13,021                   53,292  
Depreciation and depletion
    4,496       4,115       8,356                   16,967  
Other
    200       863       1,193                   2,256  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Earnings from mining operations
    19,098       4,584       13,016                   36,698  
General and administrative
    (3,077 )                       (3,131 )     (6,208 )
Interest and finance fees
    (39 )     (43 )     (1,011 )           (1,026 )     (2,119 )
Other (expenses) income
    (945 )     (401 )     2,020             3,122       3,796  
Equity in earnings of Alumbrera
                7,324                   7,324  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Earnings (loss) before income taxes
  $ 15,037     $ 4,140     $ 21,349     $     $ (1,035 )   $ 39,491  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Capital asset expenditures
  $ 11,639     $ 5,700     $ 1,041     $     $ 14     $ 18,394  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total assets (December 31, 2003)
  $ 315,271     $ 51,429     $ 422,701     $     $ 101,604     $ 891,005  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

15.   SUBSEQUENT EVENT
 
    On October 15, 2004, Wheaton and Chap Mercantile Inc. (“Silver Wheaton”) announced the closing of the previously disclosed Silver Wheaton transaction. Pursuant to the transaction, Silver Wheaton agreed to purchase 100% of the silver produced by Wheaton’s Luismin mining operations in Mexico for an upfront payment of Cdn$46 million in cash and 540 million Silver Wheaton common shares plus a payment of $3.90 per ounce of delivered refined silver, subject to adjustment.
 
    As a result, effective October 15, 2004, Wheaton owned approximately 75% of the shares of Silver Wheaton and will consolidate Silver Wheaton’s financial statements from that date.
 
16.   DIFFERENCES IN GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES BETWEEN CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES
 
    These financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in Canada (“Canadian GAAP”). The differences between Canadian GAAP and accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“US GAAP”) as they relate to these financial statements are summarized below:

 


 

                                         
    Three Months Ended September 30, 2004
            Alumbrera            
            Equity            
    Canadian   Adjustments   US GAAP        
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
  GAAP
  (Note (a))
  Adjustments
  Note
  US GAAP
Consolidated Statements of Operations
                                       
Sales
  $ 103,251     $ (65,049 )   $             $ 38,202  
Earnings from mining operations
    50,591       (33,753 )     (1,172 )     (c )     15,666  
Equity in earnings of Minera Alumbrera Ltd
          23,996       160       (e )     24,156  
Earnings before income taxes
    45,139       (10,284 )     (1,224 )             33,631  
Net earnings
    31,377             (799 )             30,578  
Comprehensive income
                    932       (b )     31,510  
Earnings per share — basic
  $ 0.06                             $ 0.05  
Earnings per share — diluted
    0.05                               0.05  
                                         
    Three Months Ended September 30, 2003
            Alumbrera            
            Equity            
    Canadian   Adjustments   US GAAP        
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
  GAAP
  (Note (a))
  Adjustments
  Note
  US GAAP
Consolidated Statements of Operations
                                       
Sales
  $ 63,142     $ (31,351 )   $             $ 31,791  
Earnings from mining operations
    21,685       (11,536 )     (1,621 )     (c )     8,528  
Equity in earnings of Minera Alumbrera Ltd
          8,919       (1,086 )     (e )     7,833  
Earnings before income taxes
    20,984       (3,823 )     (3,707 )             13,454  
Net earnings
    14,689             (3,039 )             11,650  
Comprehensive income
                    268       (b )     11,918  
Earnings per share — basic
  $ 0.03                             $ 0.03  
Earnings per share — diluted
    0.03                               0.02  

 


 

                                         
    Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004
   
            Alumbrera            
            Equity            
    Canadian   Adjustments   US GAAP        
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
  GAAP
  (Note (a))
  Adjustments
  Note
  US GAAP
Consolidated Statements of Operations
                                       
Sales
  $ 305,723     $ (193,514 )   $             $ 112,209  
Earnings from mining operations
    151,914       (105,538 )     (3,717 )     (c )     42,659  
Equity in earnings of Minera Alumbrera Ltd
          71,768       1,443       (e )     73,211  
Earnings before income taxes
    128,190       (30,758 )     (1,975 )             95,457  
Net earnings
    86,168             (857 )             85,311  
Comprehensive income
                    2,848       (b )     88,159  
Earnings per share — basic
  $ 0.15                             $ 0.15  
Earnings per share — diluted
    0.13                               0.13  
                                         
    Nine Months Ended September 30, 2003
            Alumbrera            
            Equity            
    Canadian   Adjustments   US GAAP        
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
  GAAP
  (Note (a))
  Adjustments
  Note
  US GAAP
Consolidated Statements of Operations
                                       
Sales
  $ 109,213     $ (35,586 )   $             $ 73,627  
Earnings from mining operations
    36,698       (13,016 )     (3,027 )     (c )     20,655  
Equity in earnings of Minera Alumbrera Ltd
    7,324       9,818       (1,086 )     (e )     16,056  
Earnings before income taxes
    39,491       (4,207 )     (5,113 )             30,171  
Net earnings
    29,841             (3,931 )             25,910  
Comprehensive income
                    (1,315 )     (b )     24,595  
Earnings per share — basic and diluted
  $ 0.08                             $ 0.07  

 


 

                                         
    September 30, 2004
            Alumbrera            
            Equity            
    Canadian   Adjustments   US GAAP        
(in thousands)
  GAAP
  (Note (a))
  Adjustments
  Note
  US GAAP
Consolidated Balance Sheets
                                       
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 90,004     $ (16,776 )   $             $ 73,228  
Other current assets
    81,132       (56,705 )     3,408       (b )     27,835  
Property, plant and equipment
    728,589       (232,809 )     (8,431 )     (c )     487,349  
Investment in Minera Alumbrera Ltd
          252,802       (396 )     (e )     252,406  
Other non-current assets
    84,403       (59,211 )     (1,822 )     (e )     23,370  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
             
 
 
 
  $ 984,128     $ (112,699 )   $ (7,241 )           $ 864,188  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
             
 
 
Current liabilities other than long-term debt
  $ 55,727     $ (35,769 )   $             $ 19,958  
Other non-current liabilities
    192,885       (76,930 )     (3,169 )     (c,e )     112,786  
Shareholders’ equity
    735,516             (4,072 )             731,444  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
             
 
 
 
  $ 984,128     $ (112,699 )   $ (7,241 )           $ 864,188  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
             
 
 
                                         
    December 31, 2003
            Alumbrera            
            Equity            
    Canadian   Adjustments   US GAAP        
(in thousands)
  GAAP
  (Note (a))
  Adjustments
  Note
  US GAAP
Consolidated Balance Sheets
                                       
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 151,878     $ (56,054 )   $             $ 95,824  
Other current assets
    72,902       (56,420 )     560       (b )     17,042  
Property, plant and equipment
    583,911       (251,057 )     (4,714 )     (c )     328,140  
Investment in Minera Alumbrera Ltd
          278,529       (1,615 )     (e )     276,914  
Other non-current assets
    82,314       (59,170 )     (2,121 )     (e )     21,023  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
             
 
 
 
  $ 891,005     $ (144,172 )   $ (7,890 )           $ 738,943  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
             
 
 
Current liabilities other than long-term debt
  $ 36,296     $ (18,345 )   $             $ 17,951  
Long-term debt
    122,423       (57,980 )                   64,443  
Other non-current liabilities
    176,168       (67,847 )     (2,051 )     (c,e )     106,270  
Shareholders’ equity
    556,118             (5,839 )             550,279  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
             
 
 
 
  $ 891,005     $ (144,172 )   $ (7,890 )           $ 738,943  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
             
 
 

 


 

(a)   Joint Venture
 
    Under Canadian GAAP, the Company has accounted for its joint venture interest in Alumbrera on a proportionate consolidation basis. Under US GAAP, the Company is required to equity account for its investment in Alumbrera and record in earnings its proportionate share of Alumbrera net income in accordance with US GAAP.
 
(b)   Marketable securities
 
    Marketable securities are carried at the lower of cost and market value under Canadian GAAP. Under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 115, portfolio investments classified as available-for-sale securities are recorded at market value. The resulting gains or losses are included in the determination of other comprehensive income.
 
(c)   Depreciation and depletion
 
    Under Canadian GAAP, depletion expense is calculated in reference to proven and probable reserves and a portion of resources, whereas under US GAAP, depletion expense is calculated in reference to proven and probable reserves only.
 
(d)   Income taxes
 
    Under Canadian GAAP, future income taxes are calculated based on enacted or substantially enacted tax rates applicable to future years. Under US GAAP, only enacted rates are used in the calculation of future income taxes. This difference in GAAP did not result in a difference in the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2003 and the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004.
 
    US GAAP adjustments have been tax affected based on enacted or substantially enacted statutory tax rates applicable to the relevant jurisdiction.
 
(e)   Accounting for derivative instruments and hedging activities
 
    SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, is effective for all fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2000 and standardizes the accounting for derivative instruments. The Company has chosen, for US GAAP purposes, to mark its foreign exchange, gold and interest rate derivative contracts to market. The Company’s put options on future gold production have been excluded from the mark-to-market calculation as it expects to deliver into these contracts in the normal course of business.
 
(f)   Recently released accounting pronouncements
 
    During 2004, The Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) formed a committee (“Committee”) to evaluate certain mining industry accounting issues, including issues arising from the application of SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations” (“SFAS No. 141”) to business combinations within the mining industry and the capitalization of costs after the commencement of production, including deferred stripping.
 
    In March 2004, the EITF reached a consensus, based upon the Committee’s deliberations and ratified by the FASB, that mineral interests conveyed by leases should be considered tangible assets. On April 30, 2004, the FASB issued a FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) amending SFAS No. 141 and SFAS No. 142 to provide that certain mineral use rights are considered tangible assets and that mineral use rights should be accounted for based on their substance. The FSP is effective for the first reporting period beginning after April 29, 2004, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect that the adoption of this statement will have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operation.
 
    During 2004, deliberations began on EITF Issue No. 04-6, Accounting for Stripping Costs Incurred during Production in the Mining Industry. In the mining industry, companies may be required to remove overburden and other mine waste materials to access mineral deposits. The costs of removing overburden and waste materials are often referred to as “stripping costs.” During the development of a mine (before production begins), it is generally accepted in practice that stripping costs are capitalized as part of the depreciable cost of building, developing, and constructing the mine. Those capitalized costs are typically amortized over the productive life of the mine using the units-of-production method. A mining company may continue to remove overburden and waste materials, and therefore incur stripping costs, during the production phase of the mine. Questions have been raised about the appropriate accounting for stripping costs incurred during the production phase, and diversity in practice exists. In response to these questions, the EITF has undertaken a project to develop an Abstract to address the questions and clarify the appropriate accounting treatment for stripping costs under US GAAP. The EITF is in the process of deliberating these questions and upon completion of their deliberations they will issue EITF 04-6, which will represent an authorative US GAAP pronouncement for stripping costs. EITF 04-6 is expected to be approved and issued in fourth quarter 2004, following which the Company will evaluate the impact, if any, the adoption of EITF 04-6 will have on the Company’s financial position or results of operation.
 
    During 2004, EITF Issue No. 03-1, The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments, was issued and establishes guidance to be used in determining when an investment is considered impaired, whether that impairment is other than temporary, and the measurement of an impairment loss. The Company does not expect that the adoption of this statement will have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operation.

 


 

     
CANADA — HEAD OFFICE
Wheaton River Minerals Ltd
Waterfront Centre
Suite 1560 — 200 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 3L6
Telephone:      (604) 696-3000
Fax:                   (604) 696-3001
Website:          www.wheatonriver.com

MEXICO OFFICE
Luismin SA de CV
Arquimedes #130 — 8th Floor, Polanco
11560 Mexico, DF
Telephone:      52 (55) 9138-4000
Fax:                   52 (55) 5280-7636

AUSTRALIA OFFICE
Wheaton Minerals Asia Pacific Pty Ltd
Suite 1002, Level 10
Gold Fields House
1 Alfred Street
Sydney, NSW 2000
Telephone:      61 (2) 9252-1220
Fax:                   61 (2) 9252-1221

BRAZIL OFFICE
Mineração Pedra Branco do Amapari Ltda
Praia Do Flamengo 154 — 4th Floor
Rio de Janiero RJ 22210-030
Telephone:      55 (21) 2122-0500
Fax:                   55 (21) 2122-0560
  DIRECTORS
Lawrence Bell
Douglas Holtby
Eduardo Luna
Ian McDonald
Antonio Madero
Ian Telfer

OFFICERS
Ian Telfer
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Russell Barwick
Executive Vice-President, Operations
Peter Barnes
Executive Vice-President & Chief Financial Officer
Eduardo Luna
President, Luismin SA de CV

INVESTOR RELATIONS
Julia Hasiwar
Director, Investor Relations
Toll free: (800) 567-6223
Email: ir@wheatonriver.com

STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING
Toronto Stock Exchange:
WRM
American Stock Exchange:
WHT

TRANSFER AGENT
CIBC Mellon Trust Company
1600 — 1066 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 3X1
Toll-free in Canada and the United States:
(800) 387-0825
Outside of Canada and the United States:
(416) 643-5500
Email: inquiries@cibcmellon.com

AUDITORS
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Vancouver, BC