Forward-Looking Statements
The information in this news release has been prepared
as at December 5, 2011. Certain statements contained in this
press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within
the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995 and "forward looking information" under the
provisions of Canadian provincial securities laws and are referred to
herein as "forward-looking statements". When used in
this document, words such as "anticipate",
"expect", "estimate," "forecast,"
"planned", "will", "likely",
"schedule" and similar expressions are intended to identify
forward-looking statements.
Such statements include without limitation: the
Company's forward-looking production guidance, including estimated ore grades,
reserves and resources, project timelines, drilling results, orebody
configurations, metal production, life of mine trends, production
estimates, the estimated timing of scoping and other studies, the
methods by which ore will be extracted or processed, recovery rates,
mill throughput, and projected exploration and capital expenditures,
including costs and other estimates upon which such projections are
based; the Company's plans to assess, monitor and remediate subsidence
issues at Goldex and the related costs; the Company's plans to continue
exploration drilling at Goldex; the potential to resume mining or other
discontinued operations at Goldex; and other statements and information
regarding anticipated trends with respect to the Company's operations,
exploration and the funding thereof. Such statements reflect the
Company's views as at the date of this press release and are subject to
certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Forward-looking
statements are necessarily based upon a number of factors and
assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Agnico-Eagle as of the
date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant
business, economic and competitive uncertainties and
contingencies. The factors and assumptions of Agnico-Eagle
contained in this news release, which may prove to be incorrect,
include, but are not limited to, the assumptions set forth herein and
in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F (the "Form 20-F")
in respect of the year ended December 31, 2010 and management's
discussion for the periods ended March 31, 2011, June 30, 2011 and
September 30, 2011, all of which are filed with securities regulators
in Canada and the United States, as well as: that there are no
significant disruptions affecting operations, whether due to labour
disruptions, supply disruptions, damage to equipment, natural
occurrences, equipment failures, accidents, political changes, title
issues or otherwise; that permitting, production and expansion at
Goldex proceed on a basis consistent with current expectations and that
Agnico-Eagle does not change its plans relating to Goldex; that the
exchange rate between the Canadian dollar and the United States dollar
will be approximately consistent with current levels or as set out in
this news release; that prices for gold, silver, zinc, copper and lead
will be consistent with Agnico-Eagle's expectations; that prices for
key mining and construction supplies, including labour costs, remain
consistent with Agnico-Eagle's current expectations; that Agnico-Eagle's
current estimates of mineral reserves, mineral resources, mineral
grades and metal recovery are accurate; that there are no material
delays in the timing for completion of ongoing growth projects; that
the Company's current plans to optimize production are successful; and
that there are no material variations in the current tax and regulatory
environment. Many factors, known and unknown, could cause the
actual results to be materially different from those expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include,
but are not limited to: the volatility of prices of gold and other
metals; uncertainty of mineral reserves, mineral resources, mineral
grades and metal recovery estimates; uncertainty of future production,
capital expenditures, and other costs; currency fluctuations; financing
of additional capital requirements; cost of exploration and development
programs; mining risks; risks associated with foreign operations;
governmental and environmental regulation; the volatility of the
Company's stock price; and risks associated with the Company's
byproduct metal derivative strategies. For a more detailed
discussion of such risks and other factors, see the Form 20-F, as well
as the Company's other filings with the Canadian Securities
Administrators and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "SEC"). The Company does not intend, and does not
assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements and
information, except as required by law. Accordingly, readers are
advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements. Certain of the foregoing statements, primarily
related to projects, are based on preliminary views of the Company with
respect to, among other things, grade, tonnage, processing, recoveries,
mining methods, capital costs, total cash costs, minesite costs, and
location of surface infrastructure. Actual results and final
decisions may be materially different from those currently anticipated.
Notes To Investors Regarding The Use
Of Resources
Cautionary Note To Investors
Concerning Estimates Of Measured
And Indicated Resources
This press release uses the terms "measured
resources" and "indicated resources". We advise
investors that while those terms are recognized and required by
Canadian regulations, the SEC does not recognize them. Investors
are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in
these categories will ever be converted into reserves.
Cautionary Note To Investors Concerning Estimates Of
Inferred Resources
This press release also uses the term "inferred
resources". We advise investors that while this term is
recognized and required by Canadian regulations, the SEC does not
recognize it. "Inferred resources" have a great amount
of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their
economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or
any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules,
estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of
feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases.
Investors are cautioned not to assume that part or all of an inferred
resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable.
Scientific And Technical Data
Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited is reporting mineral resource
and reserve estimates in accordance with the CIM guidelines for the
estimation, classification and reporting of resources and reserves.
Cautionary Note To U.S. Investors - The SEC permits U.S.
mining companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only those
mineral deposits that a company can economically and legally extract or
produce. Agnico-Eagle uses certain terms in this press release,
such as "measured", "indicated", and
"inferred", and "resources" that the SEC guidelines
strictly prohibit U.S. registered companies from including in their
filings with the SEC. U.S. investors are urged to consider closely the
disclosure in our Form 20-F, which may be obtained from us, or from the
SEC's website at: http://sec.gov/edgar.shtml.
A "final" or "bankable" feasibility study is
required to meet the requirements to designate reserves under Industry
Guide 7.
Estimates for the Goldex mine were calculated using
historic three-year average metals prices and foreign exchange rates in
accordance with the SEC Industry Guide 7. Industry Guide 7
requires the use of prices that reflect current economic conditions at
the time of reserve determination, which the Staff of the SEC has
interpreted to mean historic three-year average prices. The
assumptions used for the mineral reserves and resources estimates
reported by the Company today were based on three-year average prices
for the period ending December 31, 2010 of $1,024 per ounce gold and a
C$/US$ exchange rate of 1.08.
NI 43-101 requires mining companies to disclose reserves
and resources using the subcategories of "proven" reserves,
"probable" reserves, "measured" resources,
"indicated" resources and "inferred"
resources. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not
have demonstrated economic viability.
A mineral reserve is the economically mineable part of a measured or indicated resource demonstrated by at
least a preliminary feasibility study. This study must include
adequate information on mining, processing, metallurgical, economic and
other relevant factors that demonstrate, at the time of reporting, that
economic extraction can be justified. A mineral reserve includes
diluting materials and allows for losses that may occur when the
material is mined. A proven mineral reserve is the economically
mineable part of a measured resource for which
quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape and physical
characteristics are so well established that they can be estimated with
confidence sufficient to allow the appropriate application of technical
and economic parameters, to support production planning and evaluation
of the economic viability of the deposit. A probable mineral
reserve is the economically mineable part of an indicated mineral
resource for which quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape and
physical characteristics can be estimated with a
level of confidence sufficient to allow the appropriate application of
technical and economic parameters, to support mine planning and
evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit.
A mineral resource is a concentration or occurrence of
natural, solid, inorganic or fossilized organic material in or on the
Earth's crust in such form and quantity and of such a grade or quality
that it has reasonable prospects for economic extraction. The
location, quantity, grade, geological characteristics and continuity of
a mineral resource are known, estimated or interpreted from specific
geological evidence and knowledge. A measured mineral resource is
that part of a mineral resource for which
quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape and physical
characteristics can be estimated with a level of confidence sufficient
to allow the appropriate application of technical and economic
parameters, to support mine planning and evaluation of the economic
viability of the deposit. The estimate is based on detailed and
reliable exploration, sampling and testing information gathered through
appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits,
workings and drill holes that are spaced closely enough to confirm both
geological and grade continuity. An indicated mineral resource is
that part of a mineral resource for which
quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape and physical
characteristics can be estimated with a level of confidence sufficient
to allow the appropriate application of technical and economic
parameters, to support mine planning and evaluation of the economic
viability of the deposit. The estimate is based on detailed and
reliable exploration and testing information gathered through
appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits,
workings and drill holes that are spaced closely enough for geological
and grade continuity to be reasonably assumed. An inferred
mineral resource is that part of a mineral
resource for which quantity and grade or quality can be estimated on
the basis of geological evidence and limited sampling and reasonably
assumed, but not verified, geological and grade continuity. The
estimate is based on limited information and sampling gathered through
appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits,
workings and drill holes.
Investors are cautioned not to assume that part or all
of an inferred resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable.
A Feasibility Study is a comprehensive technical and
economic study of the selected development option for a mineral project
that includes appropriately detailed assessments of realistically
assumed mining, processing, metallurgical, economic, marketing, legal,
environmental, social and governmental considerations together with any
other relevant operational factors and detailed financial analysis,
that are necessary to demonstrate at the time of reporting that
extraction is reasonably justified (economically mineable). The
results of the study may reasonably serve as the basis for a final
decision by a proponent or financial institution to proceed with, or
finance, the development of the project. The confidence level of
the study will be higher than that of a Pre-Feasibility Study.
The mineral reserves presented in this disclosure are
separate from and not a portion of the mineral resources.
Additional information on the Goldex mineral project
that is required by NI 43-101, sections 3.2 and 3.3 and paragraphs 3.4
(a), (c) and (d) can be found in the Technical Report referred to
below, which may be found at www.sedar.com.
Other important operating information can be found in the Company's
Form 20-F and its news release dated October 19, 2011.
Property/Project name and
location
|
Qualified Person
responsible for the current Mineral Resource and Reserve Estimate
and relationship to Agnico-Eagle
|
Qualified Person
responsible for Exploration and relationship to Agnico-Eagle
|
Date of most recent SEDAR
Technical Report (NI 43-101) disclosure
|
Goldex
Quebec, Canada
|
Richard Genest, ing.,
Goldex Division Superintendent of geology
|
Richard Genest, ing.,
Goldex Division Superintendent of geology
|
October 19, 2011
|
|