AuRico Gold to Acquire Northgate Minerals and Create A Leading Intermediate Gold Company

AuRico Gold Inc. (NYSE: AUQ)and Northgate Minerals Corporation (NYSE: NXG) announce that they have entered into a definitive acquisition agreement to create a new leading intermediate gold producer. The new company will have 5 operating gold mines, a sixth mine targeting production in 2012 and 3 gold development projects in Mexico, Canada, and Australia, three of the top global mining jurisdictions.

The combined company is completely unhedged and offers full exposure to record gold and silver prices and an exceptional growth profile from approximately 475,000[1] gold equivalent ounces[2] this year to 730,000+[3] Aue ounces in 2013 (growth of approximately 54%). All figures in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise indicated.

Under the terms of the Agreement, AuRico will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Northgate on the basis of 0.365 AuRico common shares per Northgate common share. Based on both companies' 20-day volume weighted average prices on the Toronto Stock Exchange ending on August 26, 2011, the exchange ratio under the offer represents a 45% premium to Northgate's shareholders.