MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Feb. 11, 2014) - Richmont Mines Inc. (TSX:RIC)(NYSE MKT:RIC), ("Richmont" or the "Corporation"), is pleased to announce updated corporate mineral reserve and resource estimates as of December 31, 2013, along with forecasted 2014 production, capital expenditures and exploration budget. The Corporation also announces that, as a result of a downward adjustment to the W Zone Mine reserve base, it will incur a $13.5 million non-cash write-down on the W Zone Mine in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Highlights:

• Total Proven & Probable Reserve ounces increased 3% year-over-year using US$1,225/oz gold price, versus gold price of US$1,450/oz last year;
• Total Measured & Indicated Resource ounces increased 5% year-over-year, including Indicated Resources of 168,897 gold ounces, grading 11.52 g/t, established at Island Gold Deep;
• Total Inferred Resource ounces increased 20% year-over-year, including an expanded Inferred Resource of 954,583 gold ounces, grading 9.29 g/t, at Island Gold Deep;
• W Zone Mine reserve base reduced following 2013 production and a re-interpretation of the geology following exposure from mining; Richmont will incur a $13.5 million, or $0.34 per share, non-cash write-down on the asset base in the fourth quarter of 2013;
• 2014 capital expenditures budget of $18.1 million, of which $16.3 million will be earmarked for the continued development of the Island Gold Mine and Island Gold Deep;
• 2014 exploration budget of $3.8 million, primarily at the Beaufor and Island Gold mines;
• 2014 production forecast of 70,000 to 80,000 ounces of gold.

Paul Carmel, President and CEO of Richmont Mines commented: "We are very pleased that our recent efforts have resulted in overall increases in both our mineral reserves and resources year-over-year, and are particularly pleased with the 168,897 ounces of indicated resources that were defined at Island Gold Deep as well as exceeding our one million ounce resource target for the Island Gold property. Our diamond drilling focus in 2014 will largely be on infill drilling at our operations and at Island Gold Deep, while the majority of our capital expenditures will be focused on development at our Island Gold Mine including Island Gold Deep. On the production front, we are expecting 2014 to be a better year than 2013, as we will have four producing operations that, combined, will generate approximately 70,000 to 80,000 ounces of gold. The production loss from the W Zone Mine will be replaced in 2014 with a higher mill throughput from our Monique Mine, thus lowering the impact on our production profile."

Island Gold Mine (including Island Gold Deep) Reserves and Resources

Proven and Probable Reserve level and grade at the Island Gold Mine increased to 143,506 gold ounces grading 6.09 g/t at December 31, 2013, up from 141,456 gold ounces grading 5.60 g/t at the end of December 2012, with definition drilling completed throughout the year enabling the Corporation to more than replace 2013 production.

Estimated Measured and Indicated resources on a consolidated Island Gold property basis totaled 233,330 ounces of gold at December 31, 2013. This compared to Measured and Indicated resources at the end of 2012 of 110,958 ounces of gold, as no Indicated resources were defined at Island Gold Deep at that time. While definition drilling completed during 2013 successfully reclassified some resources as reserves within the Island Gold Mine, the Corporation's primary focus was on advancing the Island Gold Deep exploration drilling program. Estimated Inferred resources on a consolidated basis totaled 1,037,327 ounces of gold at the end of 2013. This compared to Inferred resources of 563,886 ounces of gold at the end of 2012.

Beaufor Mine Reserves and Resources

Proven and Probable Reserves were largely replaced year-over-year at the Beaufor Mine, decreasing to 31,133 gold ounces at December 31, 2013, from 39,114 gold ounces at December 31, 2012, with the reserve grade increasing slightly year-over-year to 6.81 g/t from 6.20 g/t. The updated reserve level reflects annual gold production, partially offset by additional reserves being established as a result of definition drilling. Measured and Indicated Resources decreased slightly to 155,439 ounces of gold at the end of December 2013 versus 160,263 ounces of gold at the end of 2012, as some resources were transformed into reserves. Inferred Resources as of December 31, 2013 were 188,679 ounces of gold, versus 187,274 ounces of gold at the end of 2012, and are mostly below the existing infrastructure of the mine.

Monique Mine Reserves and Resources

At December 31, 2013, Proven and Probable Reserves at the Monique Mine totaled 30,702 gold ounces and Indicated Resources, which are underground, located directly below the open-pit, were 16,858 ounces of gold. This compared to Indicated Resources of 55,112 gold ounces and Inferred Resources of 362 gold ounces at December 31, 2012.

W Zone Mine Reserves and Resources

The W Zone Mine had Proven and Probable Reserves of 12,832 gold ounces at December 31, 2013, down from 30,680 gold ounces at the end of December 2012. The year-over-year decrease follows 2013 production and a re-interpretation of the geology following exposure from mining. Consequently, approximately 9,600 ounces were reclassified as Measured and Indicated Resources at the end of 2013, versus as Reserves at the end of 2012. Estimated Measured and Indicated Resources at December 31, 2013 increased to 33,051 gold ounces, from 23,377 gold ounces at the end of December 2012.

As a result of the reduction in the W Zone Mine's reserve base, and the resulting impact on expected future production from this operation, the Corporation will incur a $13.5 million, or $0.34 per share, non-cash write-down on the asset base in the fourth quarter of 2013. The Corporation is targeting annual production of approximately 4,000 ounces of gold for the year, after which point operations will be suspended.

Wasamac Gold Property Resources

The Wasamac Gold Property had total Measured and Indicated Resources of 1,402,263 gold ounces, and additional Inferred Resources of 1,605,388 gold ounces at December 31, 2013, unchanged from December 2012 levels.

Francoeur Gold Property Resources

The Francoeur Gold Property had total Measured and Indicated Resources of 66,587 gold ounces and additional Inferred Resources of 4,135 gold ounces at December 31, 2013. These levels were unchanged from those of December 2012.

About Richmont Mines Inc.

Richmont Mines has produced over 1,400,000 ounces of gold from its operations in Quebec, Ontario and Newfoundland since beginning production in 1991. The Corporation currently produces gold from the Island Gold Mine in Ontario, and the Beaufor Mine, Monique Mine and the W Zone Mine in Quebec. The Corporation is also advancing the Island Gold Deep project beneath the Island Gold Mine in Ontario. With over 20 years of experience in gold production, exploration and development, and prudent financial management, the Corporation is well-positioned to cost-effectively build its Canadian reserve base and to successfully enter its next phase of growth. Richmont routinely posts news and other important information on its website (www.richmont-mines.com).

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements that include risks and uncertainties. When used in this news release, the words "estimate", "project", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "believe", "hope", "may" and similar expressions, as well as "will", "shall" and other indications of future tense, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and apply only as of the date on which they were made.

The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements include changes in the prevailing price of gold, the Canadian-United States exchange rate, grade of ore mined and unforeseen difficulties in mining operations that could affect revenue and production costs. Other factors such as uncertainties regarding government regulations could also affect the results. Other risks may be set out in Richmont Mines' Annual Information Form, Annual Reports and periodic reports.

Cautionary note to US investors concerning resource estimates

Information in this press release is intended to comply with the requirements of the Toronto Stock Exchange and applicable Canadian securities legislation, which differ in certain respects with the rules and regulations promulgated under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Exchange Act"), as promulgated by the SEC. The reserve and resource estimates in this press release were prepared in accordance with Regulation 43-101 adopted by the Canadian Securities Administrators. The requirements of Regulation 43-101 differ significantly from the requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").

U.S. Investors are urged to consider the disclosure in our annual report on Form 20-F, File No. 001-14598, as filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act, which may be obtained from us (without cost) or from the SEC's web site: http://sec.gov/edgar.shtml.

Regulation 43-101

The Mineral reserve and resource estimations as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 were performed by qualified persons as defined by Regulation 43-101 and were supervised by Mr. Daniel Adam, Geo., Ph.D., Vice-President, Exploration, an employee of Richmont Mines Inc. Please refer to the SEDAR website (www.sedar.com) for full reports and additional corporate documentation.

The reserve and resource estimations of Beaufor, Island Gold and W Zone mines were prepared using a gold price of US$1,225 (CAN$1,300) per ounce for 2013 and US$1,450 (CAN$1,450) per ounce for 2012.

The resource estimation of the Francoeur Mine was established at the end of 2012 using a gold price of US$1,450 (CAN$1,450) per ounce, and was prepared by qualified persons as defined by Regulation 43-101 and was supervised by Mr. Daniel Adam, Geo., Ph.D., Vice-President, Exploration, an employee of Richmont Mines Inc.

The resource estimate of the Wasamac property was established at the end of 2012 using a gold price of US$1,450 (CAN$1,450) per ounce. It was performed by Mr. Daniel Adam, Geo., Ph.D., Vice-President, Exploration, an employee of Richmont Mines Inc., and a qualified person as defined by Regulation 43-101.

The Monique Mine reserve and resource estimate as of December 31, 2013 was established using a gold price of US$1,225 (CAN$1,300) per ounce and was performed by Mr. Daniel Adam, Geo., Ph.D., Vice-President, Exploration, an employee of Richmont Mines Inc., and a qualified person as defined by Regulation 43-101. A 43-101 technical report was completed for the first reserve estimation of this property on July 1st, 2013, and was filed on SEDAR on September 13, 2013.

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Investor Relations:
Jennifer Aitken
RICHMONT MINES INC.
514 397-1410 ext. 101
[email protected]