Dec 9 2007
Coeur d'Alene Mines Corporation today announced that its shareholders have overwhelmingly approved the proposals related to the acquisitions of Bolnisi Gold NL and Palmarejo Silver and Gold Corporation at a Special Meeting held this afternoon in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
"We are extremely pleased with the outcome of today's vote and the addition to Coeur of the Palmarejo silver and gold project, which is expected to increase company-wide silver production to nearly 30 million ounces by 2009, and at very low costs," said Dennis E. Wheeler, Coeur's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "The addition of the Palmarejo project to the company's existing asset mix will transform Coeur into a high-growth, low-cost, long-life, and sustainable world-leading silver company with exciting exploration potential. We would like to thank our shareholders for their support and we look forward to delivering the benefits of this transaction."
The final tabulation indicates that more than 88% of the shares voted were cast in support of the proposals on which the company's shareholders were asked to vote. Earlier this week, shareholders for both Bolnisi and Palmarejo voted overwhelmingly in favor of the transaction.
As a result of this transaction, Coeur's Australian-listed CHESS Depositary Interests (CDIs) (ASX:CXC) will be added to Australia 's S&P/ASX 200 indices.
The Palmarejo project is expected to begin production in early 2009 at an annualized rate of approximately 10.4 million ounces of silver and 115,000 ounces of gold per year with cash costs, net of gold bi-product, of an estimated ($0.41) per ounce of silver and an initial mine life of nine years. Exploration continues on the large land package, with current measured and indicated mineral resources of 88.7 million silver ounces and 1.0 million measured and indicated gold ounces and an additional 61.4 million ounces of inferred silver mineral resources and 0.7 million inferred gold ounces.