Kinross Announces US$250 Million Bought Deal Financing

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Feb 24, 2016) - Kinross Gold Corp. (TSX:K)(NYSE:KGC) announced today that it has entered into an agreement with a syndicate of underwriters led by TD Securities Inc. and Scotiabank for a bought deal public equity offering of 83,400,000 common shares of Kinross at a price of US$3.00 per common share for gross proceeds of approximately US$250 million.

The Company has granted the underwriters an option, exercisable at the offering price for a period of 30 days following the closing of the offering, to purchase up to an additional 15% of the offering to cover over-allotments, if any. The offering is expected to close on or about March 4, 2016 and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals including the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange and the securities regulatory authorities.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the offering to strengthen its balance sheet and improve the long-term liquidity position of the Company by using approximately US$175 million of the net proceeds to repay the credit facilities that were utilized to purchase assets from Barrick Gold Corp.. The remainder of the proceeds will be used to repay debt maturing in 2016 and for general corporate purposes.

The Company expects to file a preliminary prospectus supplement to its existing base shelf prospectus dated February 11, 2016 on or about February 24, 2016 and intends to file a final prospectus supplement to its existing base shelf prospectus on or about February 25, 2016, in each case with the securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces of Canada and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved the contents of this news release. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

The Company has filed a registration statement (including the existing base shelf prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the Company has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Company and the offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the Company, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus or you may request it, in Canada from TD Securities Inc. in Canada, Attention: Symcor, NPM (tel: 289-360-2009, email: sdcconfirms@td.com), 1625 Tech Avenue, Mississauga ON L4W 5P5; or you may request them from TD Securities (USA) LLC in the United States. (tel: 212-827-7392), 31 W 52nd Street, New York NY 10019, or from Scotia Capital Inc. in Canada, Attention: Equity Capital Markets (tel: 416-862-5837), Scotia Plaza, 66th Floor, 40 King Street West, M5W 2X6, Toronto, Ontario; or from Scotia Capital in the United States, Attention: Equity Capital Markets (tel: 212-225-6853), 1 Liberty Plaza, 25th Floor, 165 Broadway, New York, NY, 10006.

About Kinross Gold Corporation

Kinross is a Canadian-based senior gold mining company with mines and projects in the United States, Brazil, Chile, Ghana, Mauritania, and Russia. Kinross maintains listings on the Toronto Stock Exchange (symbol:K) and the New York Stock Exchange (symbol:KGC).

Cautionary statement on forward-looking information

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained or incorporated by reference in this news release including, but not limited to, any information as to the future financial or operating performance of Kinross, constitute "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of certain securities laws, including the provisions of the Securities Act (Ontario) and the provisions for "safe harbor" under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this news release. The words "expect" or "intends" or variations of or similar such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, should or will be achieved, received or taken, or will occur or result and similar such expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Kinross as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. These uncertainties and contingencies can affect, and could cause, Kinross' actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward looking statements made by, or on behalf of, Kinross. There can be no assurance that forward looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. All of the forward looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those made in our filings with the securities regulators of Canada and the U.S, including but not limited to those cautionary statements made in the "Risk Factors" section of our most recently filed Annual Information Form and the "Risk Analysis" sections of our Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2015. These factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect Kinross. Kinross disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law.

Contact

Media Contact
Kinross Gold Corp.
Louie Diaz
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications
416-369-6469
louie.diaz@kinross.com
Investor Relations Contact
Kinross Gold Corp.
Tom Elliott
Vice-President, Investor Relations
416-365-3390
tom.elliott@kinross.com