Toronto, Ontario - July 22, 2010 - Kinross Gold Corporation (TSX:K) (NYSE:KGC) ("Kinross"¹) today announced that it has entered into an agreement with B2Gold Corp ("B2Gold"¹) to acquire B2Gold's right to an interest in the Kupol East and West exploration licence areas. Under the terms of a previous agreement, Kinross had undertaken to secure a 37.5% joint venture interest for B2Gold in the Kupol East and West exploration licence areas. According to the new agreement, Kinross is no longer obligated to enter into joint venture arrangements with B2Gold in respect of Kinross' 75% interest in these licence areas. In exchange, Kinross will pay B2Gold: US$33 million in cash on closing; contingent payments based on National Instrument 43-101 qualified proven and probable reserves at the subject properties, should such reserves be declared in future; and, payments based on net smelter returns from any future production at the properties. Further details are described in the definitive agreement. The closing is subject to certain customary conditions, and is expected to occur in August, 2010.

The Kupol East and West exploration licences will remain 100%-owned by the Chukotka Mining & Geological Company (CMGC), which also owns 100% of the Kupol mine. CMGC is owned 75% by Kinross and 25% by the State Unitary enterprise of the Chukotsky Autonomous Okrug (Chukotsnab). The licence areas subject to this transaction lie adjacent to the Kupol mine site and are approximately 100 kilometres south of the Dvoinoye and Vodorazdelnaya properties.

(1) Refers to both companies and their applicable subsidiaries.