UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 40-F
o REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT
OF 1934
OR
ý ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015
Commission file number: 1-13422
AGNICO EAGLE MINES LIMITED
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
| Ontario, Canada | 1040 | 98-0357066 | ||
(Province of other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
145 King Street East, Suite 400
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5C 2Y7
(416) 947-1212
(Address and telephone number of Registrant's principal executive offices)
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
900 Third Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, New York 10022
Attention: Scott D. Fisher
(212) 588-5500
(Name, address (including zip code) and telephone number (including area code) of agent for service in the
United States)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Common Shares, without par value | New York Stock Exchange | |
(Title of Class) |
(Name of exchange on which registered) |
Securities
registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
(Title of Class)
Securities
for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:
None
(Title of Class)
For annual reports, indicate by check mark the information filed with this Form:
ý Annual information form ý Audited annual financial statements
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer's classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.
218,028,368 Common Shares as of December 31, 2015
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes ý No o
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes o No o
Agnico Eagle Mines Limited ("Agnico Eagle" or the "Company") is a Canadian issuer eligible to file its annual report pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), on Form 40-F pursuant to the multi-jurisdictional disclosure system of the Exchange Act. The Company is a "foreign private issuer" as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Equity securities of the Company are accordingly exempt from Sections 14(a), 14(b), 14(c), 14(f) and 16 of the Exchange Act pursuant to Rule 3a12-3.
This Annual Report on Form 40-F and the exhibits attached hereto (the "Form 40-F") contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to, among other things, the Company's plans, objectives, expectations, estimates, beliefs, strategies and intentions and can generally be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe", "budget", "could", "estimate", "expect", "forecast", "intend", "likely", "may", "plan", "project", "schedule", "should", "target", "will", "would" or other variations of these terms or similar words. Forward-looking statements in this Form 40-F include, but are not limited to, the following:
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 upon which the forward-looking statements in this Form 40-F are based, and which may prove to be incorrect, include the assumptions set out elsewhere in this Form 40-F as well as: that there are no significant disruptions affecting Agnico Eagle's operations, whether due to labour disruptions, supply disruptions, damage to equipment, natural or man-made occurrences, mining or milling issues, political changes, title issues or otherwise; that permitting, development and expansion at each of Agnico Eagle's mines and mine development
projects proceed on a basis consistent with expectations, and that Agnico Eagle does not change its exploration or development plans relating to such projects; that the exchange rates between the Canadian dollar, Euro, Mexican peso and the U.S. dollar will be approximately consistent with current levels or as set out in this Form 40-F; that prices for gold, silver, zinc and copper 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 expectations; that production meets expectations; that Agnico Eagle's current estimates of mineral reserves, mineral resources, mineral grades and mineral recoveries are accurate; that there are no material delays in the timing for completion of development projects; and that there are no material variations in the current tax and regulatory environment that affect Agnico Eagle.
The forward-looking statements in the Form 40-F reflect the Company's views as at the date hereof and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company or industry results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the risk factors set out under "Risk Factors" on page 86 of the Company's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2015, which is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 40-F and incorporated by reference herein (the "AIF"). Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as otherwise required by law, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statements to reflect any change in the Company's expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. This Form 40-F contains information regarding anticipated total cash costs per ounce, all-in sustaining costs per ounce and minesite costs per tonne in respect of the Company or at certain of the Company's mines and mine development projects. The Company believes that these generally accepted industry measures are realistic indicators of operating performance and are useful in allowing year over year comparisons. Investors are cautioned that this information may not be suitable for other purposes.
Agnico Eagle presents its consolidated financial statements in United States dollars. All dollar amounts in this Form 40-F are stated in United States dollars ("U.S. dollars", "$" or "US$"), except where otherwise indicated. On March 15, 2016, the noon exchange rate (as reported by the Bank of Canada) of United States dollars into Canadian dollars ("C$") was US$1.00 equals C$1.3359.
NOTE TO INVESTORS CONCERNING ESTIMATES OF
MINERAL RESERVES AND MINERAL RESOURCES
The mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates contained in this Form 40-F have been prepared in accordance with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities' (the "CSA") National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). These standards are similar to those used by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission's (the "SEC") Industry Guide No. 7, as interpreted by Staff at the SEC ("Guide 7"). However, the definitions in NI 43-101 differ in certain respects from those under Guide 7. Accordingly, mineral reserve information contained or incorporated by reference herein may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies. Under the requirements of the SEC, mineralization may not be classified as a "reserve" unless the determination has been made that the mineralization could be economically and legally produced or extracted at the time the reserve determination is made. The SEC does not recognize measures of "mineral resource".
The mineral reserve figures presented herein are estimates, and no assurance can be given that the anticipated tonnages and grades will be achieved or that the indicated level of recovery will be realized. The Company does not include equivalent gold ounces for byproduct metals contained in mineral reserves in its calculation of contained ounces.
Cautionary Note to Investors Concerning Estimates of Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources
The Form 40-F uses the terms "measured mineral resources" and "indicated mineral resources". Investors are advised 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 mineral reserves.
Cautionary Note to Investors Concerning Estimates of Inferred Mineral Resources
The Form 40-F uses the term "inferred mineral resources". Investors are advised that while this term is recognized and required by Canadian regulations, the SEC does not recognize it. "Inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that any part or all 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 any part or all of an inferred mineral resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable.
NOTE TO INVESTORS CONCERNING CERTAIN MEASURES OF PERFORMANCE
The Form 40-F presents certain measures, including "total cash costs per ounce", "all-in sustaining costs per ounce" and "minesite costs per tonne", that are not recognized measures under United States generally accepted accounting principles ("US GAAP"). This data may not be comparable to data presented by other gold producers. For a reconciliation of these measures to the figures presented in the consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with US GAAP, see the management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2015, which is filed as Exhibit 99.3 to this Form 40-F and incorporated by reference herein (the "Annual MD&A"). The Company believes that these generally accepted industry measures are realistic indicators of operating performance and are useful in allowing year over year comparisons. However, these non-US GAAP measures should be considered together with other data prepared in accordance with US GAAP, and these measures, taken by themselves, are not necessarily indicative of operating costs or cash flow measures prepared in accordance with US GAAP. This Form 40-F also contains information as to estimated future total cash costs per ounce, all-in sustaining costs per ounce and minesite costs per tonne. The estimates of total cash costs per ounce, all-in sustaining costs per ounce and minesite costs per tonne are based upon the total cash costs per ounce, all-in sustaining costs per ounce and minesite costs per tonne that the Company expects to incur to mine gold at its projects and, consistent with the reconciliation provided, do not include production costs attributable to accretion expense and other asset retirement costs, which will vary over time as each project is developed and mined. It is therefore not practicable to reconcile these forward-looking non-US GAAP financial measures to the most comparable US GAAP measure.
DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
The Company's management, with the participation of the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2015 pursuant to Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. In addition, the design of disclosure controls and procedures must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and that management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the benefits of possible controls and procedures relative to their costs.
Based on such evaluation, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of December 31, 2015, the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were designed at a reasonable assurance level and were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information the Company is required to disclose in reports that the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company's management, including the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
MANAGEMENT'S ANNUAL REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
Management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer and effected by the Company's board of directors (the "Board"), management and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future
periods are subject to risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
The Company's management, including the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, assessed the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015. In making this assessment, the Company's management used the criteria set out by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control — Integrated Framework. Based upon its assessment, management concluded that, as of December 31, 2015, the Company's internal control over financial reporting was effective.
The effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015 has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in its attestation report on page 2 of the Company's Annual Audited Consolidated Financial Statements, which are filed as Exhibit 99.2 to this Form 40-F and incorporated by reference herein (the "Annual Financial Statements").
The Company will continue to periodically review its disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting and may make modifications from time to time as considered necessary or desirable.
ATTESTATION REPORT OF THE REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Ernst & Young LLP's attestation report on management's assessment of the Company's internal control over financial reporting is found on page 2 of the Annual Financial Statements.
CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
Management regularly reviews its system of internal control over financial reporting and makes changes to the Company's processes and systems to improve controls and increase efficiency, while ensuring that the Company maintains an effective internal control environment. Changes may include such activities as implementing new, more efficient systems, consolidating activities, and migrating processes.
There was no change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this Form 40-F that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
IDENTIFICATION OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Board has a separately-designated standing Audit Committee established in accordance with section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act. The Audit Committee is composed of Dr. Leanne Baker (Chair), Mr. Mel Leiderman, Dr. Sean Riley and Mr. Jamie Sokalsky, as described under "Audit Committee — Composition of the Audit Committee" on page 104 of the AIF.
AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT
The Board has determined that the Company shall have at least one "audit committee financial expert" (as defined in paragraph (8) of General Instruction B to Form 40-F) and that Mr. Mel Leiderman and Mr. Jamie Sokalsky are the Company's "audit committee financial experts" serving on the Audit Committee of the Board. Each of the Audit Committee financial experts is "independent" under applicable listing standards.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
Ernst & Young LLP served as the Company's independent public accountant for each of the fiscal years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2015. For a description of the total amount billed to the Company by Ernst & Young LLP for services performed in the last two fiscal years by category of service (audit fees, audit-related fees, tax fees and all other fees), see "Audit Committee — External Auditor Service Fees" on page 105 of the AIF. No audit-related fees, tax fees or other non-audit fees were approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.
AUDIT COMMITTEE PRE-APPROVAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
For a description of the pre-approval policies and procedures of the Company's Audit Committee, see "Audit Committee — Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures" on page 104 of the AIF.
The Company has a "code of ethics" (as defined in paragraph (9) of General Instruction B to Form 40-F) that applies to its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, principal accounting officer, controller and persons performing similar functions. The Company's code of ethics is available on the Company's website at www.agnicoeagle.com or, without charge, upon request from the Corporate Secretary, Agnico Eagle Mines Limited, Suite 400, 145 King Street East, Toronto, Ontario M5C 2Y7 (telephone 416-947-1212).
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
Not applicable.
For tabular disclosure of the Company's contractual obligations, see page 14 of the Annual MD&A under the heading "Liquidity and Capital Resources".
Not applicable.
The Company is subject to a variety of corporate governance guidelines and requirements enacted by the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX"), the Canadian securities regulatory authorities, the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") and the SEC. The Company is listed on the NYSE and, although the Company is not required to comply with most of the NYSE corporate governance requirements to which the Company would be subject if it were a U.S. corporation, the Company's governance practices differ from those required of U.S. domestic issuers in only the following respects. The NYSE rules for U.S. domestic issuers require shareholder approval of all equity compensation plans (as defined in the NYSE rules) regardless of whether new issuances, treasury shares or shares that the Company has purchased in the open market are used. The TSX rules require shareholder approval of share compensation arrangements involving new issuances of shares, and of certain amendments to such arrangements, but do not require such approval if the compensation arrangements involve only shares purchased in the open market. The NYSE rules for U.S. domestic issuers also require shareholder approval of certain transactions or series of related transactions that result in the issuance of common shares, or securities convertible into or exercisable for common shares, that have, or will have upon issuance, voting power equal to or in excess of 20% of the voting power outstanding prior to the transaction or if the issuance of common shares, or securities convertible into or exercisable for common shares, are, or will be upon issuance, equal to or in excess of 20% of the number of common shares outstanding prior to the transaction. The TSX rules require shareholder approval of acquisition transactions resulting in dilution in excess of 25%. The TSX also has broad general discretion to require shareholder approval in connection with any issuances of listed securities. The Company complies with the TSX rules described in this paragraph.
Agnico Eagle undertakes to make available, in person or by telephone, representatives to respond to inquiries made by the SEC staff, and to furnish promptly, when requested to do so by the SEC staff, information relating to: the securities in relation to which the obligation to file an annual report on Form 40-F arises; or transactions in said securities.
This Form 40-F, which includes the exhibits filed herewith (other than the section of the AIF entitled "Ratings"), is incorporated by reference into the Company's Registration Statements on Form F-3D (registration no. 333-190888) and Form S-8 (registration nos. 333-130339 and 333-152004). Each of the AIF (other than the section entitled "Ratings"), the Annual Financial Statements and the Annual MD&A is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the Company's Registration Statement on Form F-10 (registration no. 333-206498).
Exhibit
|
Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|
99.1 |
Annual Information Form of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2015. |
||
99.2 |
Annual Audited Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company, including the notes thereto, as at December 31, 2015 and 2014 and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2015, together with the auditors' report thereon and the auditors' report on internal control over financial reporting. |
||
99.3 |
Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2015. |
||
99.4 |
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a), pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
||
99.5 |
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a), pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
||
99.6 |
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
||
99.7 |
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
||
99.8 |
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. |
||
99.9 |
Consent of Daniel Doucet. |
||
99.10 |
Consent of Donald Gervais. |
||
99.11 |
Consent of Louise Grondin. |
||
99.12 |
Consent of Tim Haldane. |
||
99.13 |
Consent of Paul Cousin. |
||
99.14 |
Consent of Francis Brunet. |
||
99.15 |
Consent of Dominique Girard. |
||
99.16 |
Consent of Christian Provencher. |
||
Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, the Company certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 40-F and has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.
| Toronto, Canada March 23, 2016 |
AGNICO EAGLE MINES LIMITED | |||
by |
/s/ DAVID SMITH David Smith Senior Vice-President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer |
|||