AuRico Gold Completes Acquisition of Northgate Minerals Corporation

AuRico Gold Inc. AUQ is pleased to announce that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of Northgate Minerals Corporation NXG. With the completion of this strategic acquisition, AuRico is now positioned as a new leading intermediate gold producer with five operating mines and Young-Davidson targeting production at the end of Q1 2012. Ocampo and Young-Davidson alone have the potential to produce over 500,000 gold equivalent ounces at lowest quartile cash costs. With a strong balance sheet and a robust and growing cash flow profile, the new company is led by an experienced management team with a proven track record of creating value in the industry. "We are pleased to complete this transformational acquisition and begin to leverage the potential of our expanded asset base. The combination of our key assets significantly expands our production profile and establishes the company as a leading intermediate, low cost producer with a substantial growth platform and a compelling valuation opportunity," stated Rene Marion, President and Chief Executive Officer of AuRico. The acquisition was carried out by way of a plan of arrangement pursuant to the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and was approved by the Supreme Court of British Columbia. Shareholders of both AuRico and Northgate voted overwhelmingly in favour to approve AuRico's acquisition of Northgate at their respective special meetings of shareholders each held on October 24, 2011. Under the terms of the acquisition, AuRico, among other things, acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Northgate on the basis of 0.365 AuRico common shares for each common share of Northgate. In connection with the acquisition, AuRico will amalgamate with Northgate and Northgate will be delisted from trading on the TSX and NYSE Amex effective Wednesday, October 26, 2011.