Gold Exploration in West Africa

[FL]

Crew Offer for Guinor [details]

Crew Gold Corporation Offers to Purchase 100% of Guinor Gold Corporation in a US$ 328 Million Fully Financed All Cash Transaction

Crew expected to have annual production of 600,000+ ounces of gold in 2007 following completion of the transaction


Crew Gold Corporation President & CEO Mr. Jan Vestrum and Guinor Gold Corporation President & CEO Mr. Trevor Schultz will host a conference call at 11:00 a.m. (North American EST) October 17, 2005 to provide further details regarding the combination. Call-in numbers are as follows:
North America - Toll free: 800-814-4857
Toronto: 416-640-4127
United Kingdom - 00-800-0000-2288
Norway - 00-800-0022-8228
Germany - 00-800-0022-8228
An internet broadcast of the conference call is also available. Details are located at the end of this release.
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/NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES/

LONDON, United Kingdom, Oct. 17 /CNW/ - Crew Gold Corporation (TSX & OSE: CRU), an international mining company focused on becoming an intermediate sized gold producer, and Guinor Gold Corporation (TSX & OSE: GNR) today announced that they have entered into an agreement under which Crew has agreed to offer to purchase 100% of Guinor's common shares, at a price of C$1.50 per common share, in an all cash, fully financed transaction valued at approximately C$ 389 million (US$ 328 million). As part of the transaction, Crew will also offer to purchase Guinor common shares issuable on exercise of Guinor's outstanding options and broker warrants.

On completion of the transaction, Crew will have:

- Anticipated gold production of more than 600,000 ounces in 2007;
- Proven & Probable gold reserves of approximately 2.5 million ounces and gold resources of approximately 7.4 million ounces;
- Target cash costs averaging US$ 220 - 240 per ounce;
- Growth opportunities from a substantial portfolio of greenfiel exploration properties;
- Potential upside in its non-gold portfolio

"This major transaction will help us reach our publicly stated goal of transforming Crew Gold from a junior exploration and production company into a considerable intermediate size international miner," said Mr. Jan Vestrum, President & CEO, Crew Gold Corporation. "We will enhance the depth of our senior management and technical team and have a strategic portfolio in several of the world's important gold districts."

Mr. Vestrum added: "We also believe this transaction will expand our already strong shareholder base by providing us with greater visibility in the important North American capital markets."

"We believe that this all cash offer is fair to our shareholders and provides them with the opportunity to reinvest in what is destined to be one of the sector's most exciting companies," said Mr. Trevor Schultz, President & CEO, Guinor Gold Corporation. "I personally look forward to joining a dynamic and growing international miner that has significant production and the resources to bring an asset such as LEFA to value."

Transaction Overview

Under the terms of the agreement, Crew will make a cash offer to Guinor shareholders of C$1.50 for each Guinor common share. The offer price represents a 20% premium to the weighted average closing price of Guinor's common share over the last 30 trading days on the TSX (C$1.25). The Crew offer is fully financed with US$ 300 million to be provided by a limited number of existing Crew shareholders in Europe who have guaranteed US$ 150 million of new equity and subscribed for US$ 150 million of Crew's five-year 6.0% convertible debentures with a conversion price of NOK 12.16 (C$2.23). The transaction is expected to be completed in early December and no later than January 15, 2006.
The Board of Directors of Guinor has determined that the Crew cash offer is in the best interests of Guinor, and is fair to the Guinor shareholders and will be recommending that shareholders accept the offer. In addition, BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. and Macquarie North America Ltd., Guinor's financial advisors, have provided opinions to the Guinor Board of Directors that the Crew offer is fair, from a financial point of view, to the Guinor shareholders.

Key Investment Highlights of Guinor Gold

Crew considers Guinor to be one of the premier operating companies in the strategically important West African gold region. Guinor is a gold mining and exploration company that operates the LEFA Corridor Gold Project in Guinea through its 85% ownership of its subsidiary Société Miniére de Dinguiraye ("SMD"). The Government of Guinea is a 15% partner in SMD. As the current heap leach production of Guinor is tailing off, Guinor is implementing a US$ 150 million CIL plant expansion. Once the plant is completely operational, full output is forecast for 2007 at more than 300,000 oz/year with a forecasted cash cost of US$ 234 per ounce before royalties (with royalties calculated at a gold price of US$ 400 per ounce).

In the last six months of 2004 Guinor produced some outstanding drillresults with a program that led to significant increases in resources and reserves. As of March 2005, Guinor's proven and probable reserves were 2.3 million oz (40.5 Mt @ 1.7 g/t) contained within a measured and indicated resource of 3.43 million oz (68.1 Mt @ 1.6 g/t) and an inferred resource of 0.9 million oz (18.8 Mt @ 1.4 g/t). Guinor has continued its successful drilling into 2005. Guinor's recent drilling activities commenced in July 2005, for a total of 89 reverse circulation holes for 8,499 meters and 10 diamond drill holes for 406 meters. The drilling has extended the mineralized strike and depth of the gold deposits at Lero South, Camp de Base, Bofeko and Fayalala within the LEFA Corridor Gold Project in Guinea.

In Lero South, recent drilling extended the mineralized strike at the high-grade zone that remains open on strike, extending west of the Lero pit. Three of the more significant intercepts are hole LKC 617 which returned 27 meters (no holes are at true width) at a grade of 10.94 g/t, LKC 630 which returned 17 meters at 12.84 g/t, and LKCD 644 which returned 21 meters at a grade of 8.23 g/t with all intercepts within the softer near surface saprolite material. The drilling continues on the trend discovered in the second half of 2004 that added 102,000 ozs of indicated resources (0.75M tonnes at a grade of 4.23 g/t), at a grade significantly above the average reserve grade of 1.75 g/t. Drilling at Camp de Base, Bofeko and Fayalala - together with Lero South - continues to present positive intersects in the near surface, near pit saprolite material.

Combined Portfolio

The acquisition of Guinor by Crew will create a portfolio that contains majority ownership of three current and near-term producing gold mines in Greenland, Guinea and the Philippines, a 20% stake in the Barberton gold mine in South Africa, several gold exploration properties, and a number of non-gold mineral properties, including the Mindoro nickel project in the Philippines.

Crew's producing gold mine, Nalunaq (82% owned), located in Greenland currently has annual production of 100,000 ounces. Crew's recently acquired Apex Mining Company (72.5% owned), situated in the Philippines, is targeted to produce more than 100,000 ounces in 2006 and 200,000 ounces by 2007. The attributable share of production from Crew's 20% interest in the Barberton mine in South Africa is approximately 20,000 ounces of gold per year.

The table below highlights the key metrics of the combined company's major gold assets:
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Project Forecast Target Resources (100%) Reserves (100%)
Production Cash Cost
2007 (100%) per oz.
2007
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Nalunaq 105,000 oz. US$200-250 313,000 oz. (M&I)
926,000 oz. (Inferred)
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Apex 200,000 oz. US$220-240 1,868,183 oz.(*) 155,545 oz.(*)
(Masara)
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LEFA 300,000 oz. US$ 234 3,400,000 oz. (M&I) 2,300,000 (2P)
900,000 oz. (Inferred)
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(*) According to the Bureau of Mines and Geoscience, a Philippines Government Agency, Masara has a gold reserve in the range of 500,000 -600,000 tonnes at 9-10 g/t (JORC) and an inferred resource of1.7 to 1.9 million ounces at similar grades. However, Crew has commissioned an independent resource evaluation according to the Canadian standard NI 43-101 to confirm the MGB estimate.

Crew's principal non-gold asset is the Mindoro Nickel property, a large nickel laterite deposit located in a concession area of 97 sq. km. in the Philippines. The potential resource is estimated at more than 200 million tonnes of nickel ore, grading approximately 0.94% Ni. A positive pre-feasibility study conducted by Kvaerner was completed by a previous owner of the property and Crew has signed a non-exclusive memorandum of understanding with Jilin Jien Nickel Corp related to the potential development of the project.

Significant Exploration and Development Upside

On completion of the transaction, in addition to the extensive exploration ongoing at the properties that are in proximity to its existing producing mines, Crew will have an exploration portfolio that includes:
- Niaqornarsuk Gold Development Project in Greenland where three new discoveries are being examined;
- Akuliaruseq Exploration Property where Crew holds a 284 sq. exploration license and has collected a 109 g/t gold sample in a major shear structure;
- Ringvassoy and Kvaenangen, two highly prospective gold exploration projects, both with finds of visible gold;
- Dinguiraye Concession (which contains the LEFA Corridor Gold Project) and encouraging regional exploration within the 1,559 sq. km. lease area; and
- Prospective nickel, molybdenite and sulphur projects.

Enhanced Management Resources

Crew expects to add to the strength of its world-class management team with the integration of key Guinor management and technical personnel. Trevor Schultz, current President & CEO of Guinor, has agreed to become President of African Operations with Crew. Mr. Schultz's previous experience includes his tenure as Chief Operating Officer of Ashanti Gold.

Details of Offer and Follow-on Financing

The offer is fully financed. Crew has received private placement subscriptions for five-year senior unsecured convertible bonds for an aggregate of US $150 million. The bonds will have an annual coupon of 6% per annum and will be convertible at the option of the holder into common shares of Crew at a conversion price of NOK 12.16 (C$2.23) per common share. Crew has also received guarantees to subscribe for common shares, on a private placement basis, in the aggregate amount of US $150 million, which, together with the proceeds of the bond issues and Crew's existing cash reserves, will be more than sufficient to finance the transaction.

Crew is intending to undertake a broader placement of common shares by way of a private placement offering of subscription receipts in the range of approximately US$ 150 - 200 million that will be co-led by Pareto Securities Inc. of Norway and Sprott Securities Inc. of Canada. Proceeds from the subscription receipts placement would replace the US$ 150 million equity guarantees. The subscription price for the Crew shares under the subscription receipt placement will be established through a book building process provided however that the subscription price shall not be below NOK 9 (or the equivalent amount in Canadian dollars) per share, which is the floor price under the guarantees. Each of the guarantors who have provided guarantees will be entitled to subscribe for and be allotted common shares under the subscription receipt placement for an amount equal to no less than 75% of the amount of their guarantee commitment.

Crew and Guinor have entered into a support agreement with respect to the offer. Crew and Guinor expect to mail Crew's offer and take-over bid circular, the Guinor board of directors circular and related documents to Guinor shareholders in the next two weeks. Crew's offer will be open for acceptance for 35 days following the date of mailing, unless withdrawn or extended. The offer will be subject to certain conditions, including receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals and acceptance of the offer by Guinor shareholders owning not less than 66 2/3rd percent of the Guinor common shares on a fully diluted basis. Once the 66 2/3rd acceptance level is met, Crew will take steps to acquire all the remaining Guinor common shares. The offer is also conditional upon approval by Crew's shareholders of an increase in its authorized capital and the approval of Crew's existing convertible bondholders to additional borrowing by Crew. In this regard, Crew has obtained written commitments from existing shareholders who hold approximately 53% of its common shares to vote in favour of the authorized capital increase. Crew has also obtained writtencommitments from 67% of Crew's existing convertible bondholders to waive the prohibition on additional borrowing.

The support agreement also prohibits Guinor from soliciting other offers and provides for the payment of a fee of $16 million to Crew by Guinor in the event the acquisition is not completed for certain reasons, including a superior proposal, and by Crew to Guinor in the event that shareholder or convertible bondholder approval is not obtained or the Crew financings are not completed. Sprott Securities Inc. and Pareto Securities Inc. are acting as financial advisors to Crew and BMO Nesbitt Burns and Macquarie North America are acting as financial advisors to Guinor.

Conference Call Details

Crew Gold's Management Group will host a conference call at 11:00 a.m. eastern time in North America to provide further details of the proposed transaction. A webcast of this conference call is available at

http://www.newswire.ca/en/webcast/viewEvent.cgi eventID=1277100

A replay of the conference call will be available from 1:00 p.m. EST October 17, 2005 until Monday October 24, 2005. The phone numbers to access the replay are: 877-289-8525 (toll-free) or 416-640-1917. The passcode is 21158359.

Safe Harbour Statement
[ obvious "forward-looking statements" trivia etc. ]

For further information: Contact Information:
London: Jan A. Vestrum, President & CEO, Crew Gold Corp., [phone]; Trevor Schultz, President & CEO, Guinor Gold Corp., [phone];
John Barker, Vice President, Guinor Gold Corp., [phone]; Toronto: Martti Kangas, The Equicom Group, [phone] x 243; Andreas Curkovic, The Equicom Group, [phone] x 262


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