News
Lundin Mining Closes Previously Announced Agreement to Sell Zinkgruvan Silver Production to Silver Wheaton
FOR: LUNDIN MINING CORPORATION TSX SYMBOL: LUN DECEMBER 8, 2004 - 16:39 ET Lundin Mining Closes Previously Announced Agreement to Sell Zinkgruvan Silver Production to Silver Wheaton VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(CCNMatthews - Dec. 8, 2004) - Lundin Mining Corporation (TSX:LUN) (O-LIST STOCKHOLMBORSEN:LUMI) ("Lundin Mining" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced agreement with Chap Mercantile Inc. (to be re-named "Silver Wheaton") whereby Lundin Mining has agreed to sell all of its silver production from the Zinkgruvan mine in Sweden to Silver Wheaton in consideration for an upfront cash payment of US$50 million, 30 million Silver Wheaton shares, and 30 million whole share purchase warrants, plus a per ounce payment at a price equal to the lesser of (a) US$3.90 (subject to a consumer price adjustment after three years) and (b) the then prevailing market price per ounce of silver. Each warrant is exercisable at C$0.80 into one Silver Wheaton common share and expires on August 5, 2009. Lundin Mining has agreed to deliver a minimum of 40 million ounces of silver to Silver Wheaton over a 25-year period. The Zinkgruvan zinc, lead and silver mine is expected to produce approximately 2 million ounces of silver per year in addition to 130 million pounds (59,000 metric tonnes) of zinc and 70 million pounds (32,000 metric tonnes) of lead annually at low cash costs. If at the end of the 25-year period, Lundin Mining has not delivered the agreed 40 million ounces, then it has agreed to pay to Silver Wheaton US$1.00 per ounce of silver not delivered. Macquarie acted as financial advisor to Lundin Mining in connection with this transaction. Lundin Mining is a Canadian mining and exploration company with a primary focus in Scandinavia. The main asset of the company is the Zinkgruvan mine, located about 200 kilometers southwest of Stockholm, Sweden. The mine has been producing zinc, lead and silver on a continuous basis since 1857. Zinkgruvan has consistently ranked in the lowest cost quartile among zinc mines in the world. Lundin Mining holds approximately 37 percent of the shares of NAN, a mining and exploration company listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol NAN. NAN's primary asset is the Storliden copper and zinc mine in the Skellefte District of northern Sweden, which has been in production since 2001. Lundin Mining also holds a large copper/gold exploration project in the prolific Norrbotten Mining District in northern Sweden. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Edward F. Posey, President This News Release contains forward looking statements which are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward looking statements. The Company does not intend to update this information and disclaims any legal liability to the contrary. -30-
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Lundin Mining Corporation
Sophia Shane
Head of Corporate Communications
(604) 689-7842
(604) 689-4250 (FAX)
or
Lundin Mining Corporation
Robert Eriksson
Investor Relations - Europe
+46 8 545 074 70
+46 8 545 074 71 (FAX)