DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES/

TSX:ORA

VANCOUVER, June 15 /CNW/ - Aura Minerals Inc. (TSX: ORA) (the "Company" or "Aura Minerals") announced today that it has entered into an agreement with a syndicate led by Canaccord Capital Corporation (the "Underwriters"), which have agreed to purchase, on a bought deal private placement basis, 182,000,000 subscription receipts, (the "Subscription Receipts") at a price of C$0.55 per Subscription Receipt for aggregate gross proceeds of C$100,100,000 (the "Offering"). The Company has granted the Underwriters an Underwriters' option to purchase up to C$25,025,000 of additional Subscription Receipts, exercisable at any time up to 48 hours prior to the closing of the Offering. The Offering is subject to certain conditions, including regulatory approval.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering to acquire from Yamana Gold Inc. (collectively, the "Acquisition"), the San Andres Gold Mine located in Honduras (such Honduras property being hereinafter referred to as the "First Stage Property") and the Sao Francisco and Sao Vicente Gold Mines located in Brazil (such Brazil properties being hereinafter referred to as the "Second Stage Properties"). Please refer to the Company's June 9, 2009 press release announcing the Acquisition.

Each Subscription Receipt will entitle the holder thereof to acquire at the Escrow Release Time (as defined herein), for no additional consideration and subject to adjustment, one (1) common share of the Company (each an "Underlying Share"). The Subscription Receipts will automatically convert into Underlying Shares at the later to occur of (i) the Escrow Release Time, and (ii) concurrent with the Prospectus Qualification (as herein defined), subject to the Company satisfying the Escrow Release Conditions (as herein defined) prior to the Final Escrow Deadline (as herein defined). The Subscription Receipts will only convert into Underlying Shares pursuant to the foregoing automatic conversion mechanism and will not be convertible upon any act by the holder. The Subscription Receipts and the Underlying Shares will be subject to a four month hold period in Canada.

Upon the closing of the Offering, 100% of the gross proceeds of the Offering will be deposited in escrow (the "Escrowed Funds").