Record revenue exceeds $1 billion; margins up 50%, adjusted operating cash flow up 82%

Adjusted net earnings up 134%

Toronto, Ontario - November 2, 2011 - Kinross Gold Corporation (TSX: K, NYSE: KGC) today announced its results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2011.

(This news release contains forward-looking information that is subject to the risks and assumptions set out in our Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information located on page 9 of this news release. All dollar amounts in this news release are expressed in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted.)

Third quarter highlights

Financial and operating results:

• Production⁽²⁾: 647,983 gold equivalent ounces, a 13% increase over Q3 2010.
• Revenue: $1,069.2 million, a 45% increase over Q3 2010.
• Production cost of sales⁽³⁾: $634 per gold equivalent ounce, compared with $517 in Q3 2010.
• Attributable margin⁽⁴⁾: $1,012 per ounce sold, a 50% increase over Q3 2010.
• Adjusted operating cash flow⁽⁵⁾: $421.6 million, an 82% increase over Q3 2010. Adjusted operating cash flow per share was $0.37 in Q3, compared with $0.30 in Q3 2010.
• Adjusted net earnings^(1,5): $273.4 million, a 134% increase over Q3 2010. Adjusted net earnings per share were $0.24, compared with $0.15 in Q3 2010.
• Reported net earnings⁽¹⁾: $212.6 million, or $0.19 per share, compared with $540.9 million, or $0.71 per share, for Q3 2010. Q3 2010 earnings included significant one-time gains.
• Outlook: The Company expects to be within its 2011 forecast guidance for production (2.6 - 2.7 million attributable gold equivalent ounces) and production cost of sales ($565 - 610 per gold equivalent ounce).

Growth projects:

• Kinross continues to advance its major growth projects at Tasiast, Fruta del Norte, Lobo-Marte, and Dvoinoye, all of which are proceeding on schedule.
• The Company has received approval of the Environmental Impact Assessment for early works at Tasiast and mobilization for construction has commenced. Capital commitments at Tasiast to the end of Q3 were $782 million.

Exploration:

• Further drilling and exploration at Tasiast continue to increase the Company's confidence in the orebody and define new areas for potential growth.
• In Chile, recent drilling at the Pompeya target at La Coipa has led to the discovery of a significant area of mineralization close to surface, and drilling to further define this new zone will continue in Q4 2011.

Corporate responsibility:

• During the third quarter, Kinross was named to both the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index, indices composed of global and regional leaders in corporate responsibility.

CEO Commentary

Tye Burt, President and CEO, made the following comments in relation to third quarter 2011 results:

"Kinross recorded another strong quarter, with revenue exceeding $1 billion for the first time, and adjusted operating cash flow increasing by more than 82% year-over-year to a record $422 million. Adjusted net earnings were more than double those of the same period last year, while adjusted net earnings per share increased by 60%. Cost of sales per ounce was higher than the previous quarter, due to industry-wide cost pressures, as well as the impact of mining lower grade portions of the orebody at several operations. Overall, we remain on track to meet our 2011 production and cost of sales guidance.

"We made significant progress in the quarter advancing our industry-leading growth program. Our drilling campaign at Tasiast continues both to confirm our confidence in the resource and indicate potential further expansions to our previous model. We received approval of the first phase environmental impact assessment at Tasiast, and mobilization for construction is underway. We continued to advance our other growth projects, all of which remain on schedule. Meanwhile, our global exploration effort continues to bear fruit, with the discovery of an important new area of mineralization close to surface at La Coipa in Chile.

"Our successful completion of a $1 billion debt offering during the quarter confirmed the market's confidence in Kinross' ability to deliver on our strategy, and strengthened our foundation for growth."

Please click here to download a PDF of the full release.

Please click here to download the Third Quarter 2011 Report.

^{(1) "Net earnings" figures in this release represent "net earnings attributed to common shareholders."}

^{(2) Unless otherwise stated, production figures in this release are based on Kinross' share of Kupol (75% up to April 27, 2011, 100% thereafter) and 90% of Chirano production.}

^{(3) "Production cost of sales per gold equivalent ounce" is a non-GAAP measure defined as production cost per the financial statements divided by the attributable number of gold equivalent ounces sold, both reduced for Kupol sales attributable to a third-party shareholder (75% up to April 27, 2011) and Chirano sales to a 10% minority interest holder. Production cost is equivalent to total cost of sales (per the financial statements), less depreciation and amortization, and is generally consistent with cost of sales as reported under Canadian GAAP prior to the adoption of IFRS.}

^{(4) "Attributable margin per ounce sold" is a non-GAAP measure and defined as "average realized gold price per ounce" less "attributable production cost of sales per gold equivalent ounce sold."}

^{(5) Reconciliation of non-GAAP measures is located on page 11 of this news release.}

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information
All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained or incorporated by reference in this news release, 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 harbour’’ 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. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements with respect to: possible events, the future price of gold and silver, the estimation of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the realization of mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production, capital expenditures, costs and timing of the development of projects and new deposits, success of exploration, development and mining activities, permitting timelines, currency fluctuations, requirements for additional capital, government regulation of mining operations, environmental risks, unanticipated reclamation expenses, title disputes or claims and limitations on insurance coverage. The words ‘‘plans’’, “proposes”, ‘‘expects’’ or ‘‘does not expect’’, ‘‘is expected’’, ‘‘budget’’, ‘‘scheduled’’,”timeline”, “envision”, ‘‘estimates’’, ‘‘forecasts”, “guidance”, “opportunity”, “objective”, “outlook”, “potential”, “targets”, “models”, ‘‘intends’’, ‘‘anticipates’’, or ‘‘does not anticipate’’, or ‘‘believes’’, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results ‘‘may’’, ‘‘could’’, ‘‘would’’, ‘‘should’’, ‘‘might’’, or ‘‘will be taken’’, ‘‘occur’’ or ‘‘be achieved’’ and similar 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. The estimates, models and assumptions of Kinross referenced, contained or incorporated by reference in this news release, which may prove to be incorrect, include, but are not limited to, the various assumptions set forth herein and in our most recently filed Annual Information Form and our most recently filed Management’s Discussion and Analysis as well as: (1) there being no significant disruptions affecting the operations of the Company or any entity in which it now or hereafter directly or indirectly holds an investment, whether due to labour disruptions, supply disruptions, power disruptions, damage to equipment or otherwise; (2) permitting, development, operations, expansion and acquisitions at Paracatu (including, without limitation, land acquisitions and permitting for the construction and operation of the new tailings facility) being consistent with our current expectations; (3) development of and production from the Phase 7 pit expansion and heap leach project at Fort Knox continuing on a basis consistent with Kinross’ current expectations; (4) the viability, permitting and development of the Fruta del Norte deposit being consistent with Kinross’ current expectations; (5) political and legal developments in any jurisdiction in which the Company, or any entity in which it now or hereafter directly or indirectly holds an investment, operates being consistent with its current expectations including, without limitation, the implementation of Ecuador’s new mining and investment laws and related regulations and policies, and negotiation of an exploitation contract and an investment protection contract with the government, being consistent with Kinross’ current expectations; (6) permitting, construction, development and production at Cerro Casale being consistent with the Company’s current expectations; (7) the viability, permitting and development of the Lobo-Marte project, including, without limitation, the metallurgy and processing of its ore, being consistent with our current expectations; (8) the exchange rate between the Canadian dollar, Brazilian real, Chilean peso, Russian rouble, Mauritanian ouguiya, Ghanaian cedi and the U.S. dollar being approximately consistent with current levels; (9) certain price assumptions for gold and silver; (10) prices for natural gas, fuel oil, electricity and other key supplies being approximately consistent with current levels; (11) production and cost of sales forecasts for the Company, and entities in which it now or hereafter directly or indirectly holds an investment, meeting expectations; (12) the accuracy of the current mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates of the Company and any entity in which it now or hereafter directly or indirectly holds an investment; (13) labour and materials costs increasing on a basis consistent with Kinross’ current expectations; (14) the development of the Dvoinoye and Vodorazdelnaya deposits being consistent with Kinross’ expectations; (15) the viability of the Tasiast and Chirano mines, and the permitting, development and expansion of the Tasiast and Chirano mines on a basis consistent with Kinross’ current expectations; and (16) access to capital markets, including but not limited to securing partial project financing for the Dvoinoye, Fruta del Norte and the Tasiast expansion projects, being consistent with the Company’s current expectations. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: fluctuations in the currency markets; fluctuations in the spot and forward price of gold or certain other commodities (such as diesel fuel and electricity); changes in interest rates or gold or silver lease rates that could impact the mark-to-market value of outstanding derivative instruments and ongoing payments/receipts under any interest rate swaps and variable rate debt obligations; risks arising from holding derivative instruments (such as credit risk, market liquidity risk and mark-to-market risk); changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls, policies and regulations; the security of personnel and assets; political or economic developments in Canada, the United States, Chile, Brazil, Russia, Ecuador, Mauritania, Ghana, or other countries in which Kinross, or entities in which it now or hereafter directly or indirectly holds an interest, do business or may carry on business; business opportunities that may be presented to, or pursued by, us; our ability to successfully integrate acquisitions and complete divestitures; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations; the speculative nature of gold exploration and development including, but not limited to, the risks of obtaining necessary licenses and permits; diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; adverse changes in our credit rating; and contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of gold exploration, development and mining, including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding and gold bullion losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance, or the inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks). Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can directly or indirectly 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. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management’s expectations and plans relating to the future. All of the forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those made in our other filings with the securities regulators of Canada and the United States including, but not limited to, the cautionary statements made in the ‘‘Risk Factors’’ section of our most recently filed Annual Information Form and Management Discussion and Analysis for the 2010 fiscal year. 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 or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law. Key Sensitivities Approximately 60%-70% of the Company's costs are denominated in US dollars. A 10% change in foreign exchange could result in an approximate $7 impact in cost of sales per ounce. 6 A $10 change in the price of oil could result in an approximate $3 impact on cost of sales per ounce. The impact on royalties of a $100 change in the gold price could result in an approximate $3 impact on cost of sales per ounce. Other information Where we say ‘‘we’’, ‘‘us’’, ‘‘our’’, the ‘‘Company’’, or ‘‘Kinross’’ in this news release, we mean Kinross Gold Corporation and/or one or more or all of its subsidiaries, as may be applicable. The technical information about the Company’s material mineral properties (other than drilling and other exploration activities) contained in this news release has been prepared under the supervision of Mr. Rob Henderson, an officer of the Company who is a “qualified person” within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101.The technical information about the Company’s drilling and exploration activities contained in this news release has been prepared under the supervision of Dr. Glen Masterman, an officer with the Company who is a “qualified person” within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101.

About Kinross

Kinross is a Canadian-based gold mining company with mines and projects in Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Ghana, Mauritania, Russia and the United States, employing approximately 7,500 people worldwide.

Kinross' strategic focus is to maximize net asset value and cash flow per share through a four-point plan built on: delivering mine and financial performance; attracting and retaining the best people in the industry; achieving operating excellence through the "Kinross Way"; and delivering future value through profitable growth opportunities.

Kinross maintains listings on the Toronto Stock Exchange (symbol:K) and the New York Stock Exchange (symbol:KGC).

Media Contact

Steve Mitchell
Vice-President, Corporate Communications
phone: 416-365-2726
steve.mitchell@kinross.com

Investor Relations Contact

Erwyn Naidoo
Vice-President, Investor Relations
phone: 416-365-2744
erwyn.naidoo@kinross.com