TORONTO, April 1, 2014
/CNW/ – AuRico Gold Inc. (TSX: AUQ) (NYSE: AUQ), (“AuRico” or
the “Company”) today announces preliminary first quarter production
results. All amounts are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated. (Results
for the first quarter 2014 are estimates only and are subject to change.)

AuRico
is reporting its seventh consecutive quarter of record production, representing
a 10% increase over the prior quarter and a 17% increase over the first quarter
of 2013. The solid quarter-over-quarter production growth was driven by
increased production from both our cornerstone Young–Davidson mine and the El Chanate mine.
Period-over-period production growth is expected to continue going forward,
underpinned by the ongoing ramp-up in production at the Young–Davidson mine
located in northern Ontario.

Record
Quarter-Over-Quarter Production Growth

Preliminary 2014 First
Quarter Operational Results

“We
are pleased with the progression of the ramp-up at the Young–Davidson mine, which has underpinned a seventh
consecutive quarter of record, company-wide production,” stated Scott Perry, President and CEO of AuRico. He continued,
“The increase in underground mining rates to 4,000 tonnes per day by the
end of 2014 and to an ultimate target of 8,000 tonnes per day in 2016 will
continue to drive higher production at lower unit costs.”

Young-Davidson
Update

• During
  the quarter, the underground mine averaged approximately 2,600 tonnes per
  day at grades in-line with reserve grade estimates. Underground
  productivity is expected to increase steadily throughout the remainder of
  the year to reach a productivity target of 4,000 tonnes per day by the end
  of the year and an ultimate productivity level of 8,000 tonnes per day at
  the end of 2016.
• The
  shaft & hoisting infrastructure was commissioned in October 2013 and will facilitate significant
  increases in underground productivities and corresponding cost efficiency
  improvements as the underground mine continues to ramp up to its ultimate
  productivity levels.
• For the
  first full quarter of commercial production, underground unit mining costs
  are in-line with expectations at approximately $45
  per tonne, including costs associated with the recently commissioned paste
  backfill operation. Unit mining costs are expected to decrease steadily
  throughout the year, corresponding with planned quarter-over-quarter
  increases in underground productivity. Underground cash costs per ounce in
  the quarter are expected to be in-line with guidance levels.
• During
  the quarter underground development advance exceeded planned levels with
  approximately 3,400 metres completed, an average of 38 metres per day. The
  Company continues to advance underground development to position the mine
  for sustainable, period-over-period, productivity increases in 2014 and
  beyond.
• The mill
  facility continues to operate at, or above, planned levels and averaged
  approximately 7,150 tonnes per day during the first quarter. Mill
  productivity increased in March to average approximately 8,200 tonnes per
  day following the receipt of an amended permit that increased the daily
  processing limit to 10,000 tonnes per calendar day. While the mill facility
  is expected to average between 7,000 and 7,500 tonnes per day in 2014,
  this increase in throughput will provide considerable flexibility as the
  underground mine continues ramping up to its target of 8,000 tonnes per
  day at the end of 2016.

El
Chanate Update

• The El
  Chanate open pit mined an average of approximately 95,800 tonnes per day
  during the quarter in-line with planned levels.
• Crushing
  and stacking rates remained in-line with targeted levels.
• Cash
  costs for the quarter are expected to be at the lower end of guidance.

Upcoming
News Flow

The
Company expects to issue the following updates during the first half of 2014:

• Q1 2014
  Financial Results (May 8)
• Annual
  General Meeting (May 9)
• Company-Wide
  Exploration Update (late-May)

Annual General Meeting

AuRico
Gold’s 2014
Annual General and Special Meeting for shareholders will be held on Friday, May 9, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, at the TMX Broadcast Centre,
130 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario.

About AuRico Gold

AuRico Gold
is a leading Canadian gold producer with mines and projects in North America that have solid production growth and
exploration potential. The Company is focused on its core operations including
the Young–Davidson
gold mine in northern Ontario and the El Chanate
mine in Sonora State, Mexico. AuRico’s project
pipeline also includes advanced development opportunities in Canada and Mexico.
AuRico’s head office is located in Toronto, Ontario,
Canada.

Cautionary
Statement

This
press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking
information as defined under Canadian and U.S. securities laws.  All
statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking
statements. The words “expect”, “believe”, “anticipate”,
“will”, “intend”, “estimate”,
“forecast”, “budget” and similar expressions identify
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include information as
to strategy, plans or future financial or operating performance, such as the
Company’s expansion plans, project timelines, production plans, projected cash
flows or capital expenditures, cost estimates, projected exploration results,
reserve and resource estimates and other statements that express management’s
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, are inherently subject to
significant uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could
cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the
forward-looking statements, including: uncertainty of production and cost
estimates; fluctuations in the price of gold and foreign exchange rates; the
uncertainty of replacing depleted reserves; the risk that the Young–Davidson shaft
will not perform as planned; the risk that mining operations do not meet
expectations; the risk that projects will not be developed accordingly to
budgets or timelines, changes in laws in Canada,
Mexico and other jurisdictions in which the
Company may carry on business; risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits
or approvals for operations or projects such as Kemess; disputes over title to
properties; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development;
risks related to aboriginal title claims; compliance risks with respect to
current and future environmental regulations; disruptions affecting operations;
opportunities that may be pursued by the Company; employee relations;
availability and costs of mining inputs and labor; the ability to secure
capital to execute business plans; volatility of the Company’s share price;
continuation of the dividend and dividend reinvestment plan; the effect of
future financings; litigation; risk of loss due to sabotage and civil
disturbances; the values of assets and liabilities based on projected future
cash flows; risks arising from derivative instruments or the absence of
hedging; adequacy of internal control over financial reporting; changes in
credit rating; and the impact of inflation. Actual results and developments are
likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by
the forward-looking statements contained herein. Such statements are based on a
number of assumptions which may prove to be incorrect, including assumptions
about: business and economic conditions; commodity prices and the price of key
inputs such as labour, fuel and electricity; credit market conditions and
conditions in financial markets generally; revenue and cash flow estimates,
production levels, development schedules and the associated costs; ability to
procure equipment and supplies and on a timely basis; the timing of the receipt
of permits and other approvals for projects and operations; the ability to
attract and retain skilled employees and contractors for the operations; the
accuracy of reserve and resource estimates; the impact of changes in currency
exchange rates on costs and results; interest rates; taxation; and ongoing
relations with employees and business partners. 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.

SOURCE AuRico Gold Inc.

PDF available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2014/04/01/20140401_C8214_DOC_EN_38734.pdf

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