Americas Petrogas Provides Update on Argentina and Peru Operations

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - November 2, 2012) - Americas Petrogas (TSX VENTURE:BOE) ("Americas Petrogas" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on its activities in Argentina and Peru.

 

Argentina

 

Conventional Light Oil

 

For the third quarter of 2012, Americas Petrogas has continued to increase production and sell oil from two of its conventional blocks, Medanito Sur and Rinconada Norte, both operated by the Company. Production for the third quarter averaged approximately 2200 bopd (net), an increase of approximately 49% over the average daily production during the second quarter of 2012. During October 2012, average production exceeded 3,000 bopd (net) representing an increase of approximately 36% over the average daily production during the third quarter.

 

Construction of the Company''s own production/processing facilities to handle up to 6300 bopd of gross production is continuing and is expected to be completed before the end of 2012.

 

Unconventional Shale Oil and Gas

·         On the Totoral block (Americas Petrogas - 90% working interest and operator), the Company has completed all logistics and is about to perform a hydraulic fracture stimulation ("frac") program, followed by testing of the La Hoya well, LHo.x-1, which completed drilling in July 2012. The Totoral block is located at the southern region of the Neuquen Basin where the Company has identified the Vaca Muerta at a much shallower depth compared to other parts of the Basin.

 

·         On the Los Toldos II block (Americas Petrogas - 45% working interest and operator), the Los Toldos Este well, LTE.x-1, which completed drilling earlier in 2012 and completed fracing in September, continues to be flow tested.

 

·         On the Los Toldos II block, the Aguada de Afuera well, ADA.x-1, which was spud in early October 2012 continues to be drilled and is currently at a depth of approximately 2,750 metres (9,022 feet) with a projected total depth of 3,350 metres (10,990 feet).

 

·         On the Los Toldos I block (Americas Petrogas - 45% working interest and operator), drilling of the ALL.x-1 well was completed in September 2012 and analysis of the cores and cuttings is underway and leading towards developing a plan for future completion and testing.

 

·         On the Huacalera block (Americas Petrogas -- 39% working interest and operated by Apache), the Hua.x-1 well, which completed drilling in the third quarter of 2011, is being prepared for a second frac in another zone of the Vaca Muerta formation.

          

Peru

 

GrowMax Agri Corp., owned 80% by the Company, continues to advance on its potash and phosphates projects in Peru through its Peruvian subsidiary, Americas Potash Peru SA. Recently, Americas Potash Peru acquired an additional approximately 10,000 hectares of concession lands in the Sechura Desert with potential for phosphates and other minerals. These additional lands are located directly North of lands recently acquired by Vale SA. Separately from these newly-acquired lands, in 2011, Vale SA, in joint venture with Mitsui & Co. and Mosaic Company, put into production a 3.9 million tonne (capacity) per year surface phosphate mine nearby Americas Potash Peru''s concessions. Golder Associates Ltd. in Peru has been engaged to assist Americas Potash Peru towards completion of a resources report for phosphates.

 

Ercosplan, Americas Potash Peru''s consultant responsible for completing a Potash resources report, continues to advance and expects completion of the report before the end of 2012.

 

Mr. Barclay Hambrook, President and CEO of Americas Petrogas said, "We continue to execute on our immediate, medium-term and long-term plans to grow our oil production, reserves and resources, de-risk our shale oil and gas blocks as well as adding value to our potash and phosphate projects in Peru."

 

About Americas Petrogas Inc.

 

Americas Petrogas Inc. is a Canadian company whose shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "BOE". Americas Petrogas has conventional and unconventional (shale and tight sands) oil and gas interests in numerous blocks in the Neuquen Basin of Argentina. Americas Petrogas has joint venture partners, including ExxonMobil, Apache and Gran Tierra Energy, on various blocks in Argentina. For more information about Americas Petrogas, please visit www.americaspetrogas.com.

 

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" as such term is used in applicable Canadian and US securities laws. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as "forward-looking statements". These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based upon forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

 

In particular, statements (express or implied) contained herein regarding future production levels, the ability to complete construction of production and processing facilities in a timely fashion or at all, plans for drilling, testing, completing and fracing unconventional wells and the ability to commercially produce hydrocarbons therefrom and the completion or timing of reports for potash and phosphates should all be viewed as forward-looking statements.

 

There can be no assurance that such forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could vary or differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this press release. The forward-looking statements contained herein are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

 

Forward-looking statements are made based on management''s beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements, if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable law.

 

Contact Information

 

Americas Petrogas Inc.
Barclay Hambrook, P. Eng., MBA
President and CEO
(403) 685-1888
inquiries@americaspetrogas.com
www.americaspetrogas.com

 

© 2012 Marketwire, Incorporated. All rights reserved.

Vantage Drilling Company Schedules Third Quarter 2012 Earnings Release Date and Conference Call

HOUSTON, TX--(Marketwire - November 1, 2012) - Vantage Drilling Company ("Vantage") (NYSE MKT: VTG) today announced that it will conduct a call at 12:00 PM Eastern Time on November 9, 2012 to discuss operating results for the third quarter 2012 and recent developments. Vantage will release earnings before the market opens on November 9, 2012. To access the conference call, U.S. callers may dial toll free 800-289-0458 and international callers may dial 913-312-0402. The pass code will be 4475811. Please call ten minutes ahead of time to ensure proper connection. A replay of the conference call will be available for two weeks following the call and can be accessed by dialing 888-203-1112 for U.S. callers and 719-457-0820 for international callers. The access code for the replay is 4475811.

About the Company

Vantage, a Cayman Islands exempted company, is an offshore drilling contractor, with an owned fleet of four Baker Marine Pacific Class 375 ultra-premium jackup drilling rigs and two ultra-deepwater drillships, the Platinum Explorer and the Titanium Explorer, as well as an additional ultra-deepwater drillship, the Tungsten Explorer, now under construction. Vantage's primary business is to contract drilling units, related equipment and work crews primarily on a dayrate basis to drill oil and natural gas wells. Vantage also provides construction supervision services for, and will operate and manage, drilling units owned by others. Through its fleet of seven owned and managed drilling units, Vantage is a provider of offshore contract drilling services globally to major, national and large independent oil and natural gas companies.

 

Contact Information

For further information, contact:
Paul A. Bragg
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
(281) 404-4700

 

© 2012 Marketwire, Incorporated. All rights reserved.

GOLDEN TIME Study Shows BIOTRONIK AlCath(R) Gold Ablation Catheter Creates Lesions 33% Faster

Results Published in the Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology Show Faster, More Efficient Ablation Achieved With Gold-Tip vs. Platinum-Iridium-Tip Catheter 

BERLIN--(Marketwire - November 1, 2012) - BIOTRONIK, a leading manufacturer of medical technology, today announced that the company's AlCath^® Gold ablation catheter enables faster, more efficient ablation procedures. Lesions created by a standard catheter in 60 seconds only take 40 seconds to create with these novel devices -- without compromising patient safety. Results of the study, which investigated the ablation time efficiency of gold catheters, are published in the Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology (JICE)¹. 

Conducted at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics in Hungary in cooperation with Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, Netherlands, the study investigated in vitro lesion formation in relation to ablation time and power delivered using 4-mm, nonirrigated, platinum-iridium catheters versus gold-tip catheters. Results showed that gold-tip catheters can create the same excellent lesions in 33.3% less ablation time. There was no difference in tip temperature due to the temperature-controlled settings, but a considerable difference was observed in the mean power delivery. Because the gold alloy possesses a thermal conductivity that is four times higher than the platinum-iridium used in conventional catheters, it allows greater energy delivery with a lower tip temperature. 

"The results have a high relevance for clinical practice," explains Dr. Tamás Szili-Török, MD, PhD, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands. "We usually program temperature limits of 40-55°C for 4-mm tip catheters without gold. As soon as the tip temperature reaches the programmed maximum, the generator automatically decreases the power delivery. Gold-tip catheters, however, result in an increased energy transfer into the tissue, so the tip temperature is lower even though energy delivery is higher. This ultimately leads to reduced procedure times, helping the physician conduct ablations more efficiently." 

This latest data confirms results previously published from the AURUM 8 trial and proves the superiority of gold catheters.² With a total of 463 patients, AURUM 8 was the largest randomized atrial flutter ablation study in the world. 

"BIOTRONIK is continuously bringing new solutions to market that help physicians excel in the way they treat patients in their daily practices," commented Christoph Böhmer, President International, BIOTRONIK. "BIOTRONIK's AlCath^® Gold ablation catheter, made using 99.9% pure gold, provides four times greater thermal conductivity compared with platinum; maintains a cooler tip temperature; facilitates fast, efficient lesion formation; and reduces coagulation -- resulting in reduced catheter exchange rates during the procedure." 

About BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG
As one of the world's leading manufacturers of cardiovascular medical devices, with several million devices implanted, BIOTRONIK is represented in over 100 countries by its global workforce of more than 5,600 employees. Known for having its finger on the pulse of the medical community, BIOTRONIK assesses the challenges physicians face and provides the best solutions for all phases of patient care, ranging from diagnosis to treatment to patient management. Quality, innovation and reliability define BIOTRONIK and its growing success -- and deliver confidence and peace of mind to physicians and their patients worldwide. 

More information: www.biotronik.com 

References
¹ Tibor Balázs et.al, Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology (2012), Ablation time efficiency and lesion volume.
² Lewalter et al., Europace (2010), Gold vs. platinum-iridium tip catheter for cavotricuspid isthmus ablation: the AURUM 8 study. 

 

Contact:
Manuela Schildwachter
Communications & PR Manager
BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG
Woermannkehre 1
12359 Berlin
Tel. +49 (0) 30 68905 1466
Email: manuela.schildwaechter@biotronik.com

 

© 2012 Marketwire, Incorporated. All rights reserved.

Caterpillar Logistics Services Becomes Neovia Logistics Services

New Corporate Identity Launched Following Ownership Transition

CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwire - November 1, 2012) - The business formerly known as Caterpillar Logistics Services today announced a new name and corporate brand identity, Neovia Logistics Services. Neovia provides third-party logistics solutions to the automotive, industrial, mining, aerospace and defense industries.

Platinum Equity, a Los Angeles-based private equity firm, acquired a majority interest in the company from Caterpillar Inc. in July. Caterpillar retained a 35 percent equity stake.

"The new name, which translates to 'a new path,' and our brand mark expresses our forward-thinking culture as we set off on that path," said Neovia CEO Jos Opdeweegh. "The new visual identity, in which multiple geometric shapes are brought together in a simple, unified icon symbolizes the agility, flexibility and problem-solving capabilities the people of Neovia bring to our customers."

Mr. Opdeweegh was named CEO in August, has extensive experience in management and logistics in Europe, the Americas, and Asia.

"As a world-class provider of value chain solutions, we help our customers face complex challenges every day. Neovia embraces that complexity, and works tirelessly to simplify logistics," said Mr. Opdeweegh. "We know that success lies in a customer-centered approach. We will endeavor to create value and help our customers' businesses perform even better."

The company specializes in service parts logistics, and also provides solutions for maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) and manufacturing logistics.

"Neovia has a strong management team with a clear and compelling vision for the future," said Platinum Equity Partner Jacob Kotzubei. "The company has a long tradition of providing outstanding service to customers in multiple industries around the world. Our long-term plan is to help Neovia expand its service offering and further diversify its reach. We are excited about the prospects for the business and are committed to helping it achieve its full potential."

Neovia has a global footprint with approximately 97 facilities and employees in 25 countries. The business was first established by Caterpillar in 1986.

About Neovia:
Neovia is the global, integrated logistics service provider for companies facing complex logistics challenges. Today, Neovia provides customer-centric supply chain solutions across six continents in key sectors including industrial, automotive, mining, maintenance, repair and operations (MRO), oil and gas, consumer durables, aerospace and defense, high tech and electronics, and health care. Neovia provides end-to-end supply chain solutions with specific expertise in value chain strategy, network design, and execution. The Neovia team creates and employs innovative technology and systems to provide customized services in management of warehouses, operations, inventory, and transportation, as well as inbound manufacturing, reverse logistics, and more. Visit www.neovialogistics.com

About Platinum Equity:
Platinum Equity (www.platinumequity.com) is a global M&A&O® firm specializing in the merger, acquisition, and operation of companies that provide services and solutions to customers in a broad range of business markets, including information technology, telecommunications, logistics, metals services, manufacturing, and distribution. Since its founding in 1995 by Tom Gores, Platinum Equity has completed over 140 acquisitions.

 

Contact Information

Contacts:
Cheryl A. Cryer
Director, Global Marketing and Communications
630-743-4156
cheryl.cryer@neovialogistics.com

 

© 2012 Marketwire, Incorporated. All rights reserved.

Creating Blue Ocean Opportunities for the Medical Devices Industry

MEDiT 2012 to Generate International Business Opportunities

HSINCHU, TAIWAN--(Marketwire - November 2, 2012) -  Taiwan's medical devices industry in 2011 generated output of nearly NT$100 billion, and despite weak global economic growth, output is expected to expand 7% in 2012, in part from an initiative by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) to promote backbone enterprises in the industry. The MOEA's Industrial Development Bureau (IDB) has organized the two-day MEDiT 2012 with the aim of assisting local brand name medical device companies to forge inroads into emerging Eastern European markets and to forge collaboration with international pharmaceutical heavyweights, thereby creating blue ocean opportunities. 

Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Woody Tyzz-Jiun Duh commented that his ministry has pinpointed five areas to form industrial clusters and develop high-end brand name products, namely kidney dialysis care, respiratory care, in vitro diagnosis technology, minimally invasive surgery, and high-end dental technology. The initiatives in this regard will enhance Taiwan's international competitiveness and will help Taiwan's high quality, but reasonably priced medical device products find appropriate markets. In addition, Taiwan will become an important supplier of key components and in the process become part of the global supply chain, which will create even more business opportunities. 

Dr. Shau Yio-wha, Director of ITRI's Biomedical Technology and Device Research Laboratories, pointed out that Taiwan's producers of medical devices already offer products with outstanding technology and quality. Given huge opportunities in emerging markets in Eastern Europe, such as Russia and Poland, which are presently replacing older devices, Taiwan is poised to fill the demand with its top quality, but reasonably priced products. Dr. Shau added that MEDiT 2012 will offer a platform for interaction with international medical device heavyweights to help local firms enter those markets. Dr. Shau furthermore stated that Taiwan has long been recognized for its expertise in testing medical devices, and in the future it is poised to play an important role this field in conjunction with the development of new medicines.

Industry representatives from the United States, Germany, Japan, mainland China, and Singapore have been invited to speak at this year's MEDiT. Ann Costello, Vice President of Business Development and Strategic Planning for Ventana Medical Systems, a member of the Roche Group, which is the world's largest supplier of blood glucose test strips, will share her company's experiences and observations in the in vitro diagnostics market. Dr. Martin Schloh, a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, will discuss the successful sales experiences of medical device companies in emerging Eastern European markets. Dr. JP Stephan, Senior Research Scientist for Genentec, one of the world's largest biotech companies, will analyze how medical devices can be used to hasten the development and commercialization of new drugs. Also, Mr. Bai Zhipeng, Chairman of the China Continua, will explain how the two sides of the Taiwan Strait can create opportunities by standardizing specifications for medical equipment used by the Chinese.

About ITRI please visit www.itri.org.tw

Press Contact:
ITRI's Office of Marketing Communications
Hans Wu
03-591-7612 / 0937-665-858
hanswu@itri.org.tw

 

© 2012 Marketwire, Incorporated. All rights reserved.

DIAGNOS Enters Into MoU With Indian State of Madhya Pradesh and Sets Stage for Expansion in India

INDORE, MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA and BROSSARD, QUEBEC, CANADA--(Marketwire - November 2, 2012) - Diagnos Inc. ("DIAGNOS" or "the Corporation") (TSX VENTURE:ADK) leader in diabetic retinopathy screening and healthcare technical services including algorithm development, data analysis, and image processing, announces today the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian State of Madhya Pradesh for the provision of diabetic retinopathy screening services to the diabetic population of the State.

The MoU was signed subsequent to meetings with the Honourable Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Principal Secretary, Public Health & Family Welfare, Mr. Pravir Krishn, and Controller - Food and Drug, Department of Public Health & Family Welfare, Dr. M. Geetha, during the Global Investors Summit in Indore. Under the terms of the MoU, the State Health Authorities will help assure required infrastructure facilities, incentives, concessions, and all necessary clearances under the State''s ''single window system'' for the launch of a State-Wide Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Program.

"The Government of Madhya Pradesh has created an excellent environment and opportunity for international firms like Diagnos to enter the State and to establish operations. We are very grateful for their hospitality and support, as well as the excellent support provided to us by the Quebec Office located within the Canadian Consulate in Mumbai. This MoU assures us that the Government will promote and support our efforts to offer DR screening services to the estimated 5 million people with diabetes in the State. With the support of local authorities, we plan to begin to implement mobile screening units to start to cover some of the 1,100 primary health centers and 8,800 sub-centers. We have already begun putting into place the necessary agreements with local healthcare providers to treat patients with positive screening results. If the pledged government support materializes under this MoU, and agreements with local healthcare providers proceed as planned, our present objective is to screen between 100,000 and 200,000 diabetic patients in the State in 2013, and expand from there." Peter Nowacki, Diagnos Vice-President - Healthcare.

"We are pleased to support companies from Québec who wish to make a strategic foray into the Indian market. We are very happy having been able to support Diagnos in securing this MoU with the Government of Madhya Pradesh, at the Global Investors Summit in Indore, organized by our office with Québec as the official partner state to the Government of Madhya Pradesh in organizing this Summit. We look forward to continuing to support a long and productive cooperation between the Government of Québec, Québec-based companies, and the various levels of government in India." Benoit-Jean Bernard, Québec Bureau Director, Mumbai, India.

"We continue to look to large developing markets such as India that require efficient and effective screening services like our CARA platform and our recently launched ''Beat It in a Blink!'' program. We are very pleased with this MoU and plan to deploy an operation in the State of Madhya Pradesh, to serve the large local population approximately 10-fold the size of Quebec, which represents a material opportunity for Diagnos." Andre Larente, Diagnos President.

About Madhya Pradesh

Located in the center of India, Madhya Pradesh is the second largest state in the country by size, bordering seven other states, within the close proximity of all major markets and tier-one cities across the country. The State''s population of over 70 million constitutes a strong consumer base with a 10 year urbanization growth rate of 26% with bigger cities growing at 40%. Economically, Madhya Pradesh is one of the fastest growing states in India backed by an impressive CAGR of 9.5% during the period 2006-12, with 230 industrial areas including, 19 growth centers and 10 product specific industrial parks and four Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to facilitate industrial investments. The population is served by 50 district hospitals, 1,100 primary health centers and 8,800 sub-centers.

About CARA

CARA is a tele-ophthalmology platform that integrates with existing equipment (hardware and software) and processes at the point of care (POC) and comprises: image upload, image enhancement automated pre-screening, grading by a specialist, and referral to a specialist. CARA''s image enhancement algorithms make standard retinal images sharper, clearer, and easier to read. CARA is accessible securely over the internet, and is compatible with all recognized image formats and brands of fundus cameras, and is EMR compatible. CARA is a cost-effective tool for screening large numbers of patients, in real-time and has been approved by regulatory authorities including Health Canada, US Food and Drug Administration, and the European Union.

About DIAGNOS

Founded in 1998, DIAGNOS is a publicly traded Canadian corporation with a mission to commercialize technologies combining contextual imaging and traditional data mining thereby improving decision making processes. DIAGNOS offers products, services, and solutions to clients in a variety of fields including healthcare and natural resources.

Forward-looking statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the Corporation. By their nature, these forward-looking statements necessarily imply risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include risks associated with market acceptance, competitive developments, the world economic situation and other factors. Except for ongoing obligations under securities laws to disclose all material information to investors, we disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For further information, please visit our website at www.diagnos.com or the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com.

Andre Larente
President
DIAGNOS inc.
1-877-678-8882 or (450) 678-8882, ext.: 224
alarente@diagnos.com
Louis Morin
Bid Capital Markets
514-845-1101
bidcapital@videotron.ca

 

© 2012 Marketwire, Incorporated. All rights reserved.

Mercuria-Announcement of New Senior Executive

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND--(Marketwire - November 2, 2012) - Mercuria Energy Group Ltd ("Mercuria") is pleased to announce that Roger Jones has joined the company in the capacity of Global Head of Non-Oil Trading and a member of the company board.

In this new role, Roger will be responsible for the worldwide trading activities in Power and Gas, LNG, Base Metals, Carbon Emissions, Agricultural Products and Global Equities.

Roger''s career spans more than 25 years in the commodity trading business and he will add a wealth of expertise and experience to the Mercuria management team. After starting his career at Cargill, Roger also worked at Phibro before becoming Head of Energy Trading at Deutsche Bank.

Roger joins from Barclays where, in his role as Global Head of Commodities, he was responsible for leading a globally diverse commodity business. He brings to Mercuria outstanding cross commodity trading management expertise and he will be instrumental in Mercuria''s continued development and future growth in the non-oil markets.

About Mercuria Energy

Mercuria is an international group of companies active over a wide spectrum of energy & commodity markets including crude oil and refined petroleum products, natural gas (including LNG), power, coal, base metals, biodiesel, and carbon emissions.

It is one of the world''s top five largest independent energy traders. In 2011 Mercuria had sales in excess of $75 billion and operates from over 30 offices worldwide.

In addition to its trading core, Mercuria owns up-stream and mid-stream assets ranging from oil reserves to infrastructure and storage terminals. It also has substantial investments in the upstream coal sector.

 

Contact Information

Press Contacts:
Mercuria Communications
Sophie Caverzasio
+41 22 595 88 55
scaverzasio@mercuria.com

 

© 2012 Marketwire, Incorporated. All rights reserved.