Pascua-Lama Update And The Extension Of Silver Stream Agreements

VANCOUVER, BC - Silver Wheaton Corp. reported an update and announced an amendment to the silver streaming agreement with Barrick Gold Corporation regarding the Pascua-Lama project.

Barrick has decided to temporarily suspend construction activities at Pascua-Lama, except those required for environmental protection and regulatory compliance. The decision to re-start will depend on improved project economics such as go-forward costs, the outlook for metal prices, and reduced uncertainty associated with legal and other regulatory requirements.

The ramp down will be carried out in a way that allows for an efficient and effective re-start when conditions warrant. In the meantime, the company will update and refine capital cost estimates and stage the project's remaining development into distinct phases with specific work programs, budgets and objectives. This staged approach will also facilitate more efficient planning and execution, more effective capital deployment, and improved cost control. The company will also continue to explore further opportunities to improve the project's risk-adjusted returns, such as strategic partnerships and royalty or other income streaming agreements. Most importantly, Barrick's decision will maintain the option value of this major world class resource and its potential to generate significant cash flows during its 25 year mine life and beyond."

In Silver Wheaton's original contract with Barrick, throughout 2014 and 2015 Silver Wheaton will be entitled to silver production from three of Barrick's currently producing mines, the Lagunas Norte, Pierina, and Veladero mines (collectively "Barrick's Other Mines"), to the extent of any production shortfall at Pascua-Lama, until Barrick satisfies the completion test.

As part of the newly revised agreement with Barrick, Silver Wheaton will now be entitled to the production from Barrick's Other Mines for an additional year (until the end of 2016) to the extent of any production shortfall at Pascua-Lama.

The original contract with Barrick provided Silver Wheaton with a completion test, requiring Barrick to complete Pascua-Lama to at least 75% of design capacity by December 31, 2015. Silver Wheaton amended the contract earlier this year to extend the completion test deadline by one year. Given the developments announced today by Barrick and the extra year of silver production to be received from Barrick's Other Mines, Silver Wheaton has agreed to extend the completion test deadline an additional year to December 31, 2017. According to the silver purchase agreement, if the requirements of the completion test have not been satisfied by the amended completion date, the agreement may be terminated by Silver Wheaton. In such an event, Silver Wheaton will be entitled to the return of the upfront cash consideration of $625 million less a credit for any silver delivered up to that date.

"We see Barrick's decision to suspend operations until they have full access to the Pascua-Lama site as a fiscally prudent approach, which under the current circumstances, should enhance the project's capital efficiency and improve the project's economics going forward," said Randy Smallwood, Silver Wheaton's President and Chief Executive Officer. "While we would like to see more certainty regarding Pascua-Lama, we view the additional year of silver revenue from three of Barrick's other mines as adequate compensation to justify extending the outside completion test date by a year. Pascua-Lama is a world class gold and silver project, and we are encouraged by Barrick's approach to ensure better cost containment and continued investment to address social, environmental and regulatory obligations, as we view this strategy as crucial for the project moving forward. We look forward to continuing to work with Barrick."