AuRico Gold Reports First Quarter Financial Results; Company-Wide Production of 54,027 Gold Ounces at Cash Costs of $696 per Ounce and Reconfirms Annual Guidance; Declares Dividend

- TORONTO, May 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- AuRico Gold Inc. (TSX: AUQ) (NYSE: AUQ), ("AuRico" or the "Company") today announced first quarter financial results. For the first quarter of 2015, the Company has delivered another solid quarter of operational and financial results. The continued success of the ramp-up of the Young-Davidson underground mine will underpin the period-over-period production growth expected throughout the year, with the underground operation favourably exceeding plan and reporting an impressive 4,900 tonnes per day in April. The Company will host a conference call on Thursday, May 7, 2015 beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (details below). All amounts are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated. This release contains forward looking information and reference is made to the cautionary statement below. To view "Young-Davidson Quarterly Gold Production", please click: http://files.newswire.ca/975/YDQuarterlyAuProduction.pdf First Quarter 2015 Operational Results   Financial Highlights   Operational Highlights "We have reported a solid start to the year by delivering another quarter of strong performance from the cornerstone Young-Davidson mine and have demonstrated an impressive start to the second quarter with Young-Davidson reporting underground productivity of 4,900 tonnes per day in April, near the mid-point of our year-end target." stated Scott Perry, CEO of AuRico Gold. He continued, "During the quarter the Company also announced a merger of equals with Alamos Gold, which represents a transformational and logical business combination that will create a new leading intermediate gold producer with three low-cost producing mines, a significant organic growth profile, all of which is underpinned by a solid balance sheet. Shareholders will also benefit from the creation of AuRico Metals as they retain ongoing exposure to significant, unlocked value in the highly prospective Kemess project, and stable, diversified sources of royalty revenue." Corporate Update Young-Davidson Update El Chanate Update   Adjusted Net Earnings Reconciliation   Adjusted Operating Cash Flow Reconciliation   Adjusted Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA")   Non-GAAP Measures The Company uses the measures adjusted net earnings, cash costs per ounce, adjusted operating cash flow, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA in this press release, which do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS" or "GAAP"). They are, therefore, considered to be non-GAAP measures and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. The non-GAAP measures cash costs per ounce and EBITDA are reconciled to the Company's financial statements beginning on page 16 of the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2015. Adjusted net earnings is comprised of net earnings, adjusted for specific items. While the adjustments to net earnings in this measure include items that are recurring, adjusted net earnings is a useful measure as the unrealized gains / losses on foreign exchange, fair value adjustments on derivatives, unrealized and realized gains and losses on investments, corporate restructuring costs, gains on the retained interest royalty, losses on the convertible notes tender offer, impairment charges, and other non-recurring items do not reflect the underlying operating performance of the Company's core mining business in the periods presented and are not necessarily indicative of future operating results. Adjusted operating cash flow excludes the change in non-cash operating working capital, which includes changes in receivables, inventories, prepaid assets, and payables. Management uses adjusted operating cash flow as a measure internally to evaluate the underlying operating cash flow performance of the Company as a whole for the reporting periods presented, and to assist with the planning and forecasting of future operating cash flow. Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA, adjusted for exploration expense and other non-cash items included in earnings. While the adjustments to net earnings in this measure includes items that are recurring, adjusted EBITDA is a valuable indicator of the Company's ability to generate liquidity by producing operating cash flow to fund working capital needs, service debt obligations, and fund capital expenditures. Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis The financial statements and related Management's Discussion and Analysis can be found on the Company's website at www.auricogold.com or under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com and with the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml ("Edgar"). Q1 2015 Dividend Declared The quarterly dividend is linked to operating cash flow ("OCF"), whereby the Company pays out 20% of the OCF generated in the preceding quarter, divided by the Company's outstanding common shares at the time the dividend is approved. On May 6, 2015, the Board of Directors declared the Company's quarterly dividend payment of $0.01 per share for the first quarter ended March 31, 2015, payable on June 2, 2015 to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 19, 2015. Upcoming News Flow Webcast and Conference Call A webcast and conference call will be held on Thursday, May 7, 2015 starting at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Senior management will be on the call to discuss the results. Please ask to be placed into the AuRico Gold 2015 First Quarter Results Conference Call. Conference Call Access Conference Call Live WebcastThe conference call will be broadcast live on the internet via webcast. To access the webcast, please follow this link: http://www.newswire.ca/en/webcast/detail/1510135/1683431. Archive Call AccessIf you are unable to attend the conference call, a replay will be available until midnight, May 14, 2015 by dialing the appropriate number below: Archive WebcastThe webcast will be archived for 90 days. To access the archived webcast, visit the Company's website at www.auricogold.com or follow this link: http://www.newswire.ca/en/webcast/detail/1510135/1683431. Annual General and Special Meeting AuRico Gold's 2015 Annual General and Special Meeting for shareholders will be held on Thursday, May 7, 2015at10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, at the Toronto Region Board of Trade, 77 Adelaide St., W., Toronto, ON M5X 1C1. About AuRico GoldAuRico Gold is a leading Canadian gold producer with mines and projects in North America that have significant production growth and exploration potential. The Company is focused on its core operations including the cornerstone Young-Davidson gold mine in northern Ontario, and the El Chanate mine in Sonora State, Mexico. AuRico's project pipeline also includes the advanced development Kemess Underground Project in northern British Columbia and the Lynn Lake Gold Camp in northern Manitoba. The Company also has other exploration opportunities in Canada and Mexico. AuRico's head office is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Cautionary Statement This press release contains certain information that constitutes "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" as defined under Canadian and U.S. securities laws. All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. The words "expect", "believe", "anticipate", "contemplate", "may", "could", "will", "intend", "estimate", "forecast", "target", "budget", "schedule" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, those under the headings , "Young-Davidson Highlights" and "El Chanate Highlights" which include, without limitation, statements with respect to our expectations on underground productivity levels, underground unit mining cost, underground development, mill facility processing rate, cash flow, free cash flow, cash costs, information as to our strategy, plans and future financial and operating performance, such as our expansion plans, project timelines, production plans, projected cash flows or capital expenditure levels, cost estimates, mining or milling methods, projected exploration results, resource and reserve estimates and other statements that express our expectations or estimates of future performance. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of factors and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management at the time of making such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Such factors and assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to: changes to current estimates of mineral reserves and resources; fluctuations in the price of gold; changes in foreign exchange rates (particularly the Canadian dollar, Mexican peso and U.S. dollar); the impact of inflation; changes in our credit rating; any decision to declare a quarterly dividend; employee relations; litigation; disruptions affecting operations; availability of and increased costs associated with mining inputs and labor; development delays at the Young-Davidson mine; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; inherent risks associated with mining and mineral processing; the risk that the Young-Davidson and El Chanate mines may not perform as planned; uncertainty with the Company's ability to secure capital to execute its business plans; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses and permits, including the necessary licenses, permits, authorizations and/or approvals from the appropriate regulatory authorities for the Kemess Underground project; contests over title to properties; changes in national and local government legislation in Canada, Mexico and other jurisdictions in which the Company does or may carry on business in the future; risk of loss due to sabotage and civil disturbances; the impact of global liquidity and credit availability and the values of assets and liabilities based on projected future cash flows; risks arising from holding derivative instruments; business opportunities that may be pursued by the Company, as well as those factors discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form. Actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Such statements are based on a number of assumptions which may prove to be incorrect, including, but not limited to, the assumptions set forth in our most recent Form 40-F/Annual Information Form. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Specific reference is made to the most recent Form 40-F/Annual Information Form on file with the SEC and Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities for a discussion of some of the factors underlying forward-looking statements. In particular, forward-looking information included in this document includes, but is not limited to: (1) production estimates and production growth rates, which assume accuracy of projected ore grade, mining rates, recovery timing and recovery rate estimates and may be impacted by unscheduled maintenance, labour and contractor availability; (2) capital expenditures and other cash costs, which assume foreign exchange rates and accuracy of production estimates, and may be impacted by unexpected maintenance, the need to hire external resources and accelerated capital plans; (3) profits and free cash flow, which assume production and expenditure estimates and may be impacted by gold prices, production estimates, and the timing of payments, (4) reserves and resources which are forward looking statements by their nature involving implied assessment, and may be impacted by metal prices, future drilling results, operating costs, mining recoveries and dilution rates, and (5) the proposed merger with Alamos, which is subject to shareholder and other applicable regulatory approvals, and satisfaction of other customary conditions. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate, accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements or information contained herein. 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. For further information: please visit the AuRico Gold website at www.auricogold.com or contact: Scott Perry, President and Chief Executive Officer, AuRico Gold Inc., 1-647-260-8880; Anne Day, Vice President, Investor Relations and Communications, AuRico Gold Inc., 1-647-260-8880