Louvem Mines Inc. (TSX VENTURE: LOV)

--  Net earnings of $75,430, or nil per share, for the first quarter of
2010, compared with net earnings of $336,844, or $0.01 per share, for
the comparable period of 2009;
--  $5,227,634 in cash and cash equivalents and no long term debt at March
31, 2010;
--  Parent Company Richmont Mines Inc. (TSX: RIC)(NYSE Amex: RIC) announces
intention to acquire outstanding 30% of Louvem that it does not
currently own.

Louvem Mines Inc. (TSX VENTURE: LOV), ("Louvem" or the "Company"), announces its financial results for the first quarter of 2010, ended March 31, 2010. Financial results are based on Canadian GAAP and dollars are reported in Canadian currency, unless otherwise noted.

Revenues were $2,801,882 in the first quarter of 2010, compared with revenues of $3,393,656 for the comparable period in 2009. A total of 2,452 ounces of gold were sold at an average price of US$1,096 (CAN$1,140) in the first three months of 2010, versus gold sales of 3,000 ounces at an average price of US$984 (CAN$1,124) in the first quarter of 2009. The year-over-year decrease in revenues was mainly attributable to a lower number of gold ounces being sold, the effects of which were partially offset by an increase in the average price per ounce of gold sold.

The Company posted net earnings of $75,430, or nil per share, in the first quarter of 2010, down from earnings of $336,844, or $0.01 per share, for the first quarter of 2009. Operating cash flow was $81,473 in the quarter, versus $322,958 in the comparable period of 2009, with the year-over-year difference due to a lower revenue base that stemmed from fewer gold ounces being sold.

Total expenses for the first quarter of 2010 were $2,706,020, compared with $2,869,725 in the same period of 2009. Operating costs for the first three months of 2010 totalled $2,256,547, compared with $2,290,095 in the first quarter of 2009. Exploration expenses fell by $143,867 year-over-year to $134,983 in the first quarter of 2010, a reflection of the extensive exploration program in 2009. Depreciation and depletion expense increased from $75,013 in 2009 to $112,782 in 2010. This was driven by a higher depreciation and depletion rate per ounce of gold sold, calculated based on proven and probable reserves, which declined year-over-year at the Beaufor Mine.

First Quarter News

On March 31, 2010, Louvem's parent company, Richmont Mines Inc. (TSX - NYSE Amex: RIC), ("Richmont"), announced that it intended to acquire the 30% of the issued and outstanding shares of Louvem that it currently did not own. Under terms of the transaction proposed by Richmont, Louvem shareholders would receive one Richmont share for each 5.4 shares of Louvem held. This represents a value of $0.76 per Louvem share, and is a premium of approximately 48% to Louvem shareholders, based on the March 30, 2010 closing prices on the TSX Venture Exchange and the TSX of Louvem shares and Richmont shares, respectively.

Subsequent to this announcement, Louvem's Board of Directors established an independent committee comprised of Mr. Gaston Gagnon and Mr. Pierre Barbeau, both independent directors of Louvem, to review and assess the terms of the proposal made by Richmont. The independent committee retained the services of Colby, Monet, Demers, Delage & Crevier LLP to act as legal advisor, and KPMG LLP to act as financial advisor to the independent committee in connection with the transaction. KPMG LLP was also given the mandate to provide the independent committee with an opinion as to the fairness of the proposed transaction for minority Louvem shareholders, from a financial point of view. The transaction remains subject to the approval of the Board of Directors of Louvem, regulatory approvals, the execution of definitive documentation and the approval of Louvem shareholders.

A surface exploration program on the Beaufor Mine property was completed in the first quarter of 2010. This program identified one promising zone - Zone 350 - located approximately 800 metres to the southwest of the mine infrastructure. This zone is composed of a quartz vein that contains pyrite, tourmaline and visible gold, and varies in thickness from 0.35 metres to 2.8 metres. A total of 2,904 metres over 8 holes were drilled on this zone. Several interesting intercepts were documented, notably 100.00 g/t over a true width of 0.91 metres in hole 50-01, and 23.57 g/t over a true width of 0.90 metres in hole 35-01. The results suggest that Zone 350 covers a minimum lateral distance of 350 metres, and is open at depth and laterally. More exploration drilling is planned in the near future on this area of the property, to further investigate the potential of this zone.

Also during the first quarter of 2010, the Beaufor Mine reached a production level of 1,000,000 gold ounces over its mine life. The mine produced a total of 517,129 gold ounces over the 27 years that it was in operation during the period 1933 until 1995. Since commercial production resumed in 1996, the mine produced an additional 482,871 gold ounces, reaching the lifetime production milestone of 1,000,000 gold ounces in March 2010.

Beaufor Mine (100%)


------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three months ended
March 31,     March 31,
2010          2009
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tonnes(1)                                           25,262        29,463
Head grade (g/t)                                      6.15          6.47
Gold recovery (%)                                    98.16         97.86
Recovered grade (g/t)                                 6.04          6.34
Ounces sold(1)                                       4,903         6,001
Cash cost per ounce (US$)                              885           668

Louvem's share of investment in property,
plant and equipment (CAN$)                        348,927       143,530
Louvem's share in exploration expenses
(CAN$)                                            134,983       278,850

Deferred development (metres)                          600            91

Diamond drilling (metres)
Definition                                        10,808         4,119
Exploration                                        1,832         5,976
------------------------------------------------------------------------

(1) Louvem's share is 50%.

A total of 25,262 tonnes from the Beaufor Mine were processed in the first quarter of 2010 at an average recovered grade of 6.04 g/t, versus 29,463 tonnes at an average recovered grade of 6.34 g/t in the comparable period of 2009. Total cash cost per ounce produced rose to US$885 (CAN$920) in the current quarter, from US$668 (CAN$763) in the prior year, a reflection of lower tonnage, a lower average recovered grade, and higher mining costs associated with increased development needed to access the mining areas. A total of 4,903 ounces of gold were sold from this mine in the first quarter of 2010 at an average price of US$1,096 (CAN$1,140), in line with the mine's annual sales target of 20,000 ounces of gold. This was compared to 6,001 ounces of gold sold at an average price of US$984 (CAN$1,124) in the comparable period of 2009. Louvem's share of the gold ounces sold was 2,452 ounces in the first quarter of 2010, versus 3,000 ounces in the comparable period of 2009. In addition to exploration and definition drilling, the main priority at the Beaufor Mine is to assess different mining methods in order to reach ore zones more efficiently, with the intended result of reducing operating costs and increasing recovered grades.

Annual and Special General Meeting of Shareholders

Louvem will hold its Annual and Special General Meeting of shareholders at 10:00 am on Friday, June 18, 2010, at 1155 Rene-Levesque Boulevard West, 40th floor, in Montreal. The notice of the Annual and Special General Meeting of shareholders and Management Information Circular will be sent to shareholders within the coming days.

Martin Rivard

President and Chief Executive Officer

About Louvem Mines Inc.

The Company has a 50% interest in the Beaufor Mine and owns other exploration properties located near Val-d'Or, in northwestern Quebec, Canada. More information on Louvem Mines can be found on its website at: www.louvem.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements that include risks and uncertainties. When used in this news release, the words "project", "expect", "may" and similar expressions, as well as "will" 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 revenues and production costs. Other factors such as uncertainties regarding government regulations could also affect the results. Other risks may be set out in Louvem's Annual Information Form, Annual Reports and periodic reports.

Regulation 43-101

The geological data in this news release has been reviewed by Mr. Daniel Adam, Geo., Ph.D, Exploration Manager, an employee of Richmont Mines Inc., the operator of the Beaufor Mine, and a qualified person as defined by regulation 43-101.

KEY FINANCIAL DATA


Three-month period
ended March 31,
2010           2009
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Results ($)
Revenues                                          2,801,882      3,393,656
Net earnings                                         75,430        336,844
Cash flow from operations                            81,473        322,958

Results per share ($)
Net earnings basic                                        -           0.01

Weighted average number of common shares
outstanding                                     25,929,689     25,929,689
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
March       December
31, 2010       31, 2009
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Financial position ($)
Total assets                                      8,781,958      8,330,756
Working capital                                   4,997,635      5,193,254
Long term debt                                            -              -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

SALES AND PRODUCTION DATA


--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three-month period
Beaufor Mine - 50 %                                        ended March 31,

2010            2009
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gold sales (ounces)                                  2,452           3,000
Production of gold (ounces)                          2,817           2,425
Cash cost (per ounce sold) (US$)                       885             668
Cash cost (per ounce sold) (CAN$)                      920             763
Average selling price (per ounce of gold)
(US$)                                               1,096             984
Average selling price (per ounce of gold)
(CAN$)                                              1,140           1,124
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Average exchange rate used for 2009: US$1 = CAN$1.1420

2010 ESTIMATED EXCHANGE RATE: US$1 = CAN$1.0401

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts: Louvem Mines Inc. Jennifer Aitken Investor Relations 514-397-1448 514-397-8620 (FAX) jaitken@richmont-mines.com

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