Primero Meets Annual Silver Purchase Agreement Threshold Six Weeks Earlier Than 2013

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - March 13, 2014) - Primero Mining Corp. ("Primero" or the "Company") (TSX:P)(NYSE:PPP) announced today that it has successfully produced the annual threshold of 3.5 million ounces of silver and will now begin selling 50% of the silver produced at San Dimas at spot prices for its own account until August 5, 2014. The Company estimates that it will sell between 1,250,000 and 1,500,000 ounces of silver at spot realized prices by August 5, 2014.

The Company assumed the silver purchase agreement when it acquired the San Dimas mine in 2010 and the agreement was renegotiated in order for Primero to participate in the silver produced above the annual threshold amount. The silver purchase agreement annual threshold increases to 6.0 million ounces on August 5, 2014 and remains there for the remainder of the mine life. For further details on the Company's Silver Purchase Agreement, please refer to http://www.primeromining.com/Operations/San-Dimas-Mine/Silver-Purchase-Agreement/default.aspx.

About Primero

Primero Mining Corp. is a Canadian-based precious metals producer that owns 100% of the San Dimas gold-silver mine and the Cerro del Gallo gold-silver-copper development project in Mexico and 100% of the Black Fox mine and Grey Fox exploration property in Timmins, Ontario. Primero offers immediate exposure to un-hedged, below average cash cost gold production with a substantial resource base in politically stable jurisdictions. The Company is focused on becoming a leading intermediate gold producer by building a portfolio of high quality, low cost precious metals assets in the Americas.

Primero's website is www.primeromining.com.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release contains "forward-looking statements", within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business and operations of Primero Mining Corp. and its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, "Primero" or the "Company"). All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "will", "expects", "is focused on becoming", "to become", "estimates" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results.

The assumptions made by the Company in preparing the forward-looking information contained in this news release, which may prove to be incorrect, include, but are not limited to: the expectations and beliefs of management; the specific assumptions set forth above in this news release; that the Company will be able to realize the anticipated silver production, that the Company will sell certain amounts of silver at spot prices, and that the Company will be able to build a portfolio of high quality, low cost precious metals assets in the Americas.

Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Primero to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including: that the Company may not realize anticipated production; that costs may not be below average; the Company may not be able to become an intermediate gold producer by building a portfolio of high quality, low cost precious metals assets in the Americas. Certain of these factors are discussed in greater detail in Primero's registration statement on Form 40-F on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and its most recent Annual Information Form on file with the Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities and available at www.sedar.com.

Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. In addition, although Primero has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and accordingly are subject to change after such date. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of our operating environment. Primero does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are included in this document, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.