Highvista Gold Inc. Completes $963,000 Financing and Enters Into Option and Joint Venture Agreement

Highvista Gold Inc. ("Highvista" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:HVV) is pleased
to report that it closed a non-brokered private placement financing for gross
proceeds of $963,000 (the "Private Placement") through the issuance of 4,815,000
units (the "Units") of the Company to AuRico Gold Inc. ("AuRico Gold") at a
price of $0.20 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company
and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each a "Warrant"), each whole
Warrant entitling AuRico Gold to purchase one common share at an exercise price
of $0.25 per share until June 28, 2015. The securities comprising the Units are
subject to a statutory hold period that will expire on October 29, 2013.


"We are pleased to have AuRico Gold as a partner and investor," stated Rick
Adams, President and CEO of Highvista. "With their proven exploration and
development expertise, strong corporate balance sheet, and close proximity to
our Canasta Dorada Project, we believe this strategic partnership will be
mutually beneficial going forward." 


The Company plans to use the net proceeds from the Private Placement to fund
exploration of the Company's properties, for administrative expenses and
unallocated working capital.


Prior to the completion of the Private Placement, AuRico Gold did not
beneficially own or exercise control or direction over any securities of the
Company. Following completion of the Private Placement, AuRico Gold beneficially
owns 4,815,000 common shares of the Company and 2,407,500 Warrants. This
represents approximately 12.07% of the issued and outstanding common shares of
the Company on an undiluted basis, or approximately 17.08% on a partially
diluted basis, assuming full exercise of the 2,407,500 Warrants, and that no
other party exercises warrants or options of the Company. The Private Placement
was a private transaction outside of any market or other facility. The Units
were acquired by AuRico Gold in connection with the entering into of the Option
and JV Agreement (as defined below) and for investment purposes. The
subscription agreement dated June 28, 2013 between AuRico Gold and the Company
provides AuRico Gold with a right to participate pro rata in any subsequent
offering of common shares or securities exchangeable for or convertible into
common shares of the Company for a period of three (3) years, provided AuRico
Gold holds, directly or indirectly, common shares of the Company which equal at
least 8% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company on a
non-diluted basis. AuRico Gold may, in the future, increase or decrease its
ownership of securities in the Company, from time to time depending upon the
business and prospects of the Company and future market conditions. 


In addition to the Private Placement, the Company also entered into an option
and joint venture agreement (the "Option and JV Agreement") with AuRico Gold
over the El Chanate Extension comprising approximately 30 percent of the
Company's Canasta Dorada gold project. The Option and JV Agreement grants AuRico
Gold the option to earn a 51% undivided interest in the El Chanate Extension
currently owned by the Company's Mexican subsidiary by incurring an aggregate of
$3 million in exploration expenditures on the subject property over the next
three years. AuRico Gold can earn a further 19% interest in the joint venture
(bringing its aggregate interest to 70%) by funding the preparation of a
feasibility study on the subject property. Further work programs of the joint
venture will be funded by AuRico Gold and Highvista pro rata to their joint
venture interest, subject to customary dilution provisions.


About Highvista

Highvista owns 100% of a Mexican subsidiary that controls the 24,055 hectare
Canasta Dorada Gold Project. This project is located in the Sonoran Gold Belt
immediately adjacent to AuRico Gold's El Chanate Mine.


Details of Highvista's Canasta Dorada Project can be viewed at the Company's
website at www.highvistagold.com. 


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. AuRico Gold
is focused on its core operations including the Young-Davidson gold mine in
northern Ontario and the El Chanate mine in Sonora State, Mexico and its project
pipeline also includes advanced development opportunities in Canada and Mexico.
AuRico Gold's head office is located at 110 Yonge Street, Suite 160, Toronto, ON
M5C 1T4 Canada. 


Reader Advisory

Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking
statements". These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to,
statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Private Placement.
Forward-looking statements express, as at the date of this press release, the
Company's plans, estimates, forecasts, projections, expectations, or beliefs as
to future events or results. Forward-looking statements are based on certain
assumptions, including the key assumptions and parameters on which such
estimates are based, involve risks and uncertainties and there can be no
assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. Therefore, actual
results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such
statements. Factors that could cause results or events to differ materially from
current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements,
include, but are not limited to, the effect of capital market conditions and
other factors on capital availability, and changes in project parameters as
exploration results are obtained and plans continue to be refined and other
risks more fully described in the Company's management discussion & analysis of
financial position and results of operations, which is available on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the
forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Except as required
by law, Highvista assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or any other
reason.


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HAVE NOT BEEN, AND WILL NOT BE, REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES
ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR
SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. PERSONS UNLESS REGISTERED OR EXEMPT
THEREFROM.


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TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS PRESS RELEASE.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: 
Highvista Gold Inc.
Richard Adams
President and CEO
[phone]
[phone] (FAX)
www.highvistagold.com