Do you guys remember Silverado Gold Mines keeping the best part of their Ester Dome project and Agnico-Eagle snaped-up all the remaining Ester Dome property that Garry decided he didn't want to keep ? Agnico-Eagle is next door to Silverado Gold Mines. HEY, lets make a deal ? $$ Ka-Ching Ka-Ching $$

Gold miner Agnico-Eagle looks to make deals

OTTAWA — Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd. said Thursday it will look to expand its strategic investment portfolio with the addition of two or three new investments in the $20 million to $50 million range.

Chief executive Sean Boyd said one possibility being considered would be in a new region for the company which already has operations in Canada, Finland, Mexico and the United States.

“We have the financial capacity now and we have the technical capacity to expand that strategic investment portfolio and that’s consistent with how we built the company of the last 20 years or so,” Boyd told a conference call with financial analysts.

On Wednesday said it would begin paying a quarterly dividend of 16 cents (U.S.) per share starting next year compared with is current payment of an annual dividend of 18 cents per share.

In its outlook, the company said its payable gold production was forecast to increase by approximately 18 per cent next year to between 1.13 million ounces and 1.23 million ounces.

Total cash costs in 2011 are expected to be in the range of $420 (U.S.) to $470 per ounce.

Capital expenditures next year are expected to total about $313 million, including $272 million at the company’s mines and $41 million on capitalized exploration.

Agnico-Eagle’s exploration budget is expected to total $145 million (U.S.) next year, up 30 per cent from 2010.

http://www.thestar.com/business/companies/article/908073--gold-miner-agnico-eagle-looks-to-make-deals