On June 1, 2004, Standard&Poor's Ratings Services placed its 'B-'corporate credit and senior unsecured debt ratings on Coeur D'Alene Mines Corp. on CreditWatch with positive implications following the company's announcement that it intends to acquire Wheaton River Minerals Ltd. in a stock and cash transaction valued at approximately $1.8 billion. The deal remains subject to several conditions and is expected to close by Sept. 30, 2004. The CreditWatch action reflects what is likely to be a meaningful improvement in Coeur's business and financial profile upon the successful acquisition of lower-cost producer Wheaton, a precious metals mining company. Standard&Poor's expects that its ratings on Coeur would likely be raised several notches. Standard&Poor's will continue to
