IAMGOLD Reports End of Illegal Strike at its Rosebel Gold Mine in Suriname

All monetary amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated.

TORONTO, Dec. 14, 2015 /CNW/ - IAMGOLD Corporation ("IAMGOLD" or the "Company") announced that employees at the Company's Rosebel Gold Mine in Suriname ("Rosebel") ended their illegal strike at the end of last week and the mine has resumed production.   Rosebel lost approximately 9,000 of attributable gold production and $9.4 million of revenue due to the strike.  

Rosebel can now move ahead to complete the process laying off 160 or approximately 10% of its employees as necessitated by the decline in the gold price.   Over 90 employees have already voluntarily accepted the offer.

Rosebel is expected to produce in excess of 280,000 attributable ounces in 2015, which combined with the planned production from the Company's other mines should result in IAMGOLD meeting its expected production guidance of between 780,000 and 815,000 attributable ounces of gold.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

All information included in this news release, including any information as to the Company's future financial or operating performance, and other statements that express management's expectations or estimates of future performance, other than statements of historical fact, constitute forward looking information or forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this news release. For example, forward-looking statements contained in this news release include, without limitation, statements with respect to: the Company's guidance for production, operations outlook, cost management initiatives, development and expansion projects, exploration, the timing and amount of estimated future production and government regulation of mining operations.  Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by, but are not limited to the use of the words "can", "may", "should", "expect", "plan" or "guidance" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. The Company cautions the reader that reliance on such forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual financial results, performance or achievements of IAMGOLD to be materially different from the Company's estimated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements, and the forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, legislative, political or economic developments in the jurisdictions in which the Company carries on business; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; laws and regulations governing the protection of the environment; employee relations; availability and increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; and the risks involved in the exploration, development and mining business. Risks and unknowns inherent in all projects include the inaccuracy of estimated reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries, capital and operating costs of such projects, and the future prices for the relevant minerals. Actual costs and economic returns may differ materially from IAMGOLD's estimates or IAMGOLD could fail to obtain the governmental approvals necessary for the operation of a project; in either case, the project may not proceed, either on its original timing or at all.

For a more comprehensive discussion of the risks faced by the Company, and which may cause the actual financial results, performance or achievements of IAMGOLD to be materially different from the company's estimated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking information or forward-looking statements, please refer to the Company's latest Annual Information Form, filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities at www.sedar.com, and filed under Form 40-F with the United States Securities Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml. The risks described in the Annual Information Form (filed and viewable on www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml, and available upon request from the Company) are hereby incorporated by reference into this news release.

The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as required by applicable law.

About IAMGOLD

IAMGOLD (www.iamgold.com) is a mid-tier mining company with four operating gold mines on three continents. A solid base of strategic assets in North and South America and West Africa is complemented by development and exploration projects and continued assessment of accretive acquisition opportunities. IAMGOLD is in a strong financial position with extensive management and operational expertise.

Please note:

This entire news release may be accessed via fax, e-mail, IAMGOLD's website at www.iamgold.com and through CNW Group's website at www.newswire.ca. All material information on IAMGOLD can be found at www.sedar.com or at www.sec.gov.

Si vous désirez obtenir la version française de ce communiqué, veuillez consulter le http://www.iamgold.com/French/accueil/default.aspx.

SOURCE IAMGOLD Corporation

Bob Tait, VP Investor Relations, IAMGOLD Corporation, Tel: [phone] Mobile: [phone]; Laura Young, Director Investor Relations, IAMGOLD Corporation, Tel: [phone] Mobile: [phone], Toll-free: 1-888-464-9999 [email protected]