Stock Symbols: AEM (NYSE)
AGE (TSX)
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN
AUSTRALIA OR JAPAN. THE OFFER IS NOT BEING MADE TO PERSONS WHOSE
PARTICIPATION REQUIRES FURTHER PROSPECTUSES, FILINGS OR OTHER MEASURES IN
ADDITION TO THOSE REQUIRED UNDER SWEDISH AND U.S. LAW.
TORONTO, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited
("Agnico-Eagle") announced today that its offer to acquire all the outstanding
shares of Riddarhyttan Resources AB (publ) ("Riddarhyttan") has been extended
to 4:00 p.m. CET (10:00 a.m. EDT) on September 23, 2005. The offer remains
subject to the terms and conditions set out in the offer document mailed to
shareholders of Riddarhyttan on August 8, 2005, including acceptance of the
offer to such an extent that Agnico-Eagle becomes owner of more than 90% of
the outstanding shares of Riddarhyttan on a fully-diluted basis.
Agnico-Eagle previously announced a recommended exchange offer of 0.1137
shares of Agnico-Eagle for each outstanding share of Riddarhyttan not
currently owned by Agnico-Eagle.
The Board of Directors of Riddarhyttan has unanimously recommended that
Riddarhyttan shareholders accept this offer. Based upon the $14.07 closing
price of Agnico-Eagle on the New York Stock Exchange and exchange rates on
September 12, 2005, the offer values each share of Riddarhyttan at SEK 12.09.
On May 11, 2005, the last trading day before the announcement of the offer,
the closing price was SEK 8.05 per Riddarhyttan share on the Stockholm Stock
Exchange.
During the initial offer period, 37,678,142 shares of Riddarhyttan were
tendered to the offer, representing 35.6% of the outstanding shares and voting
rights of Riddarhyttan. Together with the 14,763,669 shares currently owned by
Agnico-Eagle, representing 14.0% of the outstanding shares and voting rights
of Riddarhyttan, this represents an aggregate of 52,441,811 shares, or
approximately 49.6% of the outstanding shares and voting rights of
Riddarhyttan.
Provided that all conditions of the offer are satisfied, settlement is
expected to commence on or about September 30, 2005. Riddarhyttan shareholders
who have questions about the offer should contact Enskilda Securities,
Nybrokajen 5, 103 36 Stockholm, Sweden, +46 8 52 22 95 00 or SEB, Issues &
Part-ownership Programmes, Rissneleden 110, 106 40 Stockholm, Sweden,
+46 8 639 2750.
U.S. Information
Agnico-Eagle has filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-4
containing an offer document regarding the offer. This press release does not
constitute an offer to purchase or sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell
or purchase shares of Riddarhyttan or Agnico-Eagle to any person in the United
States of America, its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction
or to, or for the account or benefit of a U.S. person (as defined in
Regulation S under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended). The
offer will be made to those persons solely under the offer document that is
part of the registration statement. Investors and stockholders are advised to
read the offer document and other documents relating to the offer carefully
because they include important information regarding the offer. Investors and
stockholders may obtain a free copy of the offer document and certain other
documents relating to the offer from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Free
copies of these documents can also be obtained by directing a request to
Agnico-Eagle. YOU SHOULD READ THE OFFER DOCUMENT AND OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING
TO THE OFFER CAREFULLY BEFORE MAKING A DECISION CONCERNING THE OFFER.
UK Information
This press release has been approved solely for the purposes of Section
21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 by Citigroup Global Markets
Limited of Citigroup Centre, 33 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5LB.
Citigroup Global Markets Limited is acting for Agnico-Eagle and no one else in
connection with the Offer and will not be responsible to any other person for
providing the protections afforded to clients of Citigroup Global Markets
Limited or for providing advice in relation to the Offer.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-
looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In this news release, the words "anticipate",
"expect", "estimate", "forecast", "plan" and similar words and expressions are
intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements, including
statements relating to the timing and completion of the offer, reflect Agnico-
Eagle's views at this time with respect to future events and are subject to
certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause the
actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by
such forward-looking statements, including, among others, those discussed
under the heading "Risk Factors" in the offer document filed as part of the
Registration Statement on Form F-4 and in Agnico-Eagle's Annual Information
Form and Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2004.
Agnico-Eagle does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update
these forward-looking statements.
About Agnico-Eagle
Agnico-Eagle is a long-established Canadian gold producer with operations
located in northwestern Quebec and exploration and development activities in
Canada, the United States and Mexico. Agnico-Eagle's LaRonde Mine in Quebec is
Canada's largest gold deposit. The Company has full exposure to higher gold
prices consistent with its policy of no forward gold sales. It has paid a cash
dividend for 25 consecutive years.
SOURCE Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited
CONTACT: David Smith, Director, Investor Relations, (416) 947-1212
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