AGNICO EAGLE ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT IN CARTIER RESOURCES INC.

Rhea-AI Summary

Agnico Eagle Mines (NYSE: AEM) has announced a significant investment in Cartier Resources through a non-brokered private placement. The company will subscribe for 20,770,000 units at C$0.13 per unit, totaling C$2,700,100. Each unit includes one common share and one warrant exercisable at C$0.18 for five years.

Following the private placement, expected to close around April 10, 2025, Agnico Eagle's ownership in Cartier will increase to approximately 27.7% undiluted and 32.2% on a partially-diluted basis. The agreement includes amended investor rights, allowing Agnico Eagle to: increase its ownership ceiling from 19.97% to 32%, nominate up to three board directors, and gain demand registration and piggy-back registration rights.

Positive

• Strategic increase in ownership stake to up to 32.2% in Cartier Resources
• Enhanced control rights with ability to nominate up to three board directors
• Acquisition of additional voting power through warrant rights
• Secured demand registration and piggy-back registration rights for potential share sales

Negative

• Significant cash outlay of C$2,700,100 for investment
• Dilution of existing shareholders through new share issuance

Insights

Financial Analyst

Agnico Eagle Mines' C$2.7 million strategic investment in Cartier Resources reinforces its position as a significant stakeholder, increasing ownership from 26.6% to 27.7% on an undiluted basis. The transaction structure is particularly noteworthy, as it includes warrants that could potentially push Agnico's ownership to 32.2% if exercised.

The renegotiated investor rights agreement significantly enhances Agnico's influence, raising the ownership ceiling from 19.97% to 32% and expanding board nomination rights. This positions Agnico with substantially greater control over Cartier's future direction while stopping short of a full acquisition.

While the financial commitment is minimal relative to Agnico's $52.8 billion market capitalization (representing just 0.005%), the strategic value lies in the expanded governance rights and potential resource optionality. Cartier's exploration portfolio could provide Agnico with pipeline opportunities in mining-friendly Quebec, complementing their existing regional operations.

This transaction follows Agnico's established pattern of making strategic investments in junior miners with promising assets, allowing them to secure future development options without immediate capital commitments. Investors should view this as a low-risk, potentially high-reward positioning move within Agnico's broader portfolio management strategy.

Mining Industry Specialist

This incremental investment in Cartier Resources aligns with Agnico Eagle's regional consolidation strategy in the Abitibi gold belt. By increasing its strategic position to 27.7% ownership (potentially 32.2% with warrants), Agnico secures additional influence over Cartier's exploration assets without the immediate capital demands of a complete acquisition.

The modified investor agreement is particularly significant for its governance implications. Agnico has negotiated expanded board representation rights (up to three directors based on ownership thresholds) and registration rights that provide flexibility for future transactions. These provisions effectively give Agnico considerable control without triggering a formal takeover.

From a resource perspective, this modest financial commitment (C$2.7 million) buys Agnico enhanced optionality on Cartier's Quebec exploration portfolio, including the East Cadillac property adjacent to Agnico's Canadian Malartic operations. This creates potential operational synergies should any discoveries reach development stage.

The transaction structure—units priced at C$0.13 with C$0.18 warrants exercisable over five years—provides Agnico with significant upside exposure if Cartier's exploration efforts prove successful. This represents a calculated, low-risk approach to resource expansion that complements Agnico's established operating presence in the region without meaningfully impacting their balance sheet.

Stock Symbol:  AEM (NYSE and TSX)

TORONTO, March 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE: AEM) (TSX: AEM) ("Agnico Eagle") announced today that it has agreed to subscribe for 20,770,000 units ("Units") of Cartier Resources Inc. ("Cartier") in a non-brokered private placement at a price of C$0.13 per Unit for total consideration of C$2,700,100 (the "Private Placement"). Each Unit is comprised of one common share of Cartier (a "Common Share") and one common share purchase warrant of Cartier (each, an "Offering Warrant"). Each Offering Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one Common Share at a price of C$0.18 for a period of five years following the closing date of the Private Placement, subject to acceleration in certain circumstances. Closing is expected to occur on or about April 10, 2025 and is subject to certain conditions.

Agnico Eagle currently owns, or exercises control and direction over, an aggregate of 97,022,944 Common Shares and 7,000,000 Common Share purchase warrants entitling Agnico Eagle to acquire 7,000,000 Common Shares (the "Existing Warrants"), representing approximately 26.6% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on an undiluted basis and 28.0% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on a partially-diluted basis (assuming the exercise of the Existing Warrants). On closing of the Private Placement, assuming that 39,432,000 Common Shares are issued by Cartier in connection with the concurrent "best efforts" private placement offering announced by Cartier, Agnico Eagle will own 117,792,944 Common Shares, 20,770,000 Offering Warrants and 7,000,000 Existing Warrants, representing approximately 27.7% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on an undiluted basis and approximately 32.2% of the Common Shares on a partially-diluted basis (assuming the exercise of the Existing Warrants and Offering Warrants held by Agnico Eagle).

Agnico Eagle and Cartier were party to an amended and restated investor rights agreement dated May 20, 2022 (the "Existing Agnico IRA"), pursuant to which Agnico Eagle was entitled to certain rights (subject to maintaining certain ownership thresholds), including: (a) the right to participate in certain equity financings by Cartier in order to acquire up to a 19.97% ownership interest in Cartier; and (b) the right to nominate one person (and in the case of an increase in the size of the board of directors of Cartier to 10 or more directors, two persons) to the board of directors of Cartier. In addition, Agnico Eagle Abitibi Acquisition Corp. (successor to O3 Mining Inc.), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Agnico Eagle, and Cartier were party to an investor rights agreement dated April 21, 2022 (the "Existing O3 IRA"), pursuant to which Agnico Eagle Abitibi Acquisition Corp. was entitled to certain rights (subject to maintaining certain ownership thresholds), including: (i) the right to participate in certain equity financings by Cartier in order to maintain its then-current ownership interest in Cartier; and (ii) the right to nominate one person to the board of directors of Cartier.

Immediately prior to entering into the subscription agreement in respect of the Private Placement, the Existing O3 IRA was terminated and the Existing Agnico IRA was amended and restated in order to, among other things: (a) increase the ownership interest ceiling in the participation right and top-up right from 19.97% to the greater of Agnico Eagle's pro rata ownership interest in Cartier at the applicable time and 32%; (b) amend the nomination right to permit Agnico Eagle to nominate between one and three individuals to the board of directors of Cartier (based on certain ownership thresholds and the size of the board of directors of Cartier); and (c) grant Agnico Eagle demand registration and piggy-back registration rights in respect of the potential sale of Common Shares by Agnico Eagle.

Agnico Eagle is acquiring the Common Shares and Offering Warrants for investment purposes. Depending on market conditions and other factors, Agnico Eagle may, from time to time, acquire additional Common Shares, common share purchase warrants or other securities of Cartier or dispose of some or all of the Common Shares, Offering Warrants, Existing Warrants or other securities of Cartier it owns at such time.

An early warning report will be filed by Agnico Eagle in accordance with applicable securities laws. To obtain a copy of the early warning report, please contact:

Agnico Eagle Mines Limited
c/o Investor Relations
145 King Street East, Suite 400
Toronto, Ontario M5C 2Y7
Telephone: 416-947-1212
Email: investor.relations@agnicoeagle.com

Agnico Eagle's head office is located at 145 King Street East, Suite 400, Toronto, Ontario M5C 2Y7. Cartier's head office is located at 1740, chemin Sullivan, bureau 1000, Val d'Or, Québec J9P 7H1.

About Agnico Eagle

Agnico Eagle is a Canadian based and led senior gold mining company and the third largest gold producer in the world, producing precious metals from operations in Canada, Australia, Finland and Mexico, with a pipeline of high-quality exploration and development projects. Agnico Eagle is a partner of choice within the mining industry, recognized globally for its leading sustainability practices. Agnico Eagle was founded in 1957 and has consistently created value for its shareholders, declaring a cash dividend every year since 1983.

Forward-Looking Statements

The information in this news release has been prepared as at March 20, 2025. Certain statements in this news release, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", 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. These statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may", "will" or similar terms.

Forward-looking statements in this news release include, without limitation, statements relating to the expected closing of the Private Placement (including the expected closing date), Agnico Eagle's ownership interest in Cartier upon closing of the Private Placement and Agnico Eagle's acquisition or disposition of securities of Cartier in the future.

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. Many factors, known and unknown, could cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Other than as required by law, Agnico Eagle does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements.

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SOURCE Agnico Eagle Mines Limited

FAQ

What is the value of Agnico Eagle's (AEM) investment in Cartier Resources?

Agnico Eagle is investing C$2,700,100 through a private placement of 20,770,000 units at C$0.13 per unit.

When will Agnico Eagle's (AEM) private placement in Cartier Resources close?

The private placement is expected to close on or about April 10, 2025.

What percentage will Agnico Eagle (AEM) own in Cartier Resources after the investment?

Agnico Eagle will own 27.7% undiluted and 32.2% on a partially-diluted basis after the investment.

What are the terms of the warrants in AEM's Cartier Resources investment?

Each warrant allows purchase of one common share at C$0.18 for five years after closing, subject to acceleration conditions.

What new rights does Agnico Eagle (AEM) gain in Cartier Resources?

AEM gains increased ownership rights up to 32%, ability to nominate up to three board directors, and demand registration and piggy-back registration rights.