Canadian Solar Opens New Research Center and Signs Agreements With Leading R&D Organizations

TORONTO, Feb. 2 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- Canadian Solar Inc. ("the Company", "CSI" or "we") (Nasdaq: CSIQ) today announced the official opening of its new PV Cell Research Center. The new center is located in the Company's solar cell Fab II in Suzhou and consolidates all of the Company's R&D facilities in one place.

The purpose of the center is to improve the efficiency and production yield of both regular polysilicon cells and our proprietary solar grade e-cells. CSI has been actively investigating several high efficiency solar cell structures, including selective emitter, N-type and back-contact cells. The Company has signed research partnership contracts with DuPont, University of Toronto and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. The partnership with DuPont will focus on improving our solar grade cells. The research center is the only provincially accredited PV cell research center in Jiangsu Province. It is currently staffed by 20 scientists, engineers and technicians, four of whom have PhD's. The center will ultimately have a staff of 38. The 1500 M2 facility will cost a total of USD $10 million, with the bulk of the expenditures paid in 2008.

Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman and CEO stated: "CSI is now executing a four-year cell efficiency research program that will lead to better products and lower costs. Both the solar-grade cells for our e-Modules and regular silicon cells can benefit from this research. The program objective is to significantly improve our cell conversion efficiency. Our goal is to bring our average cell efficiency for polysilicon monocrystalline cells to 18.5% and solar grade cells to 15.5% within 12 months. In this effort, we are proud to partner with some of the world's leading R&D organizations including DuPont, University of Toronto and Shanghai Jiao Tong University and look forward to jointly exploring new materials and manufacturing methods in order to better our efficiency and product development."

About Canadian Solar Inc. (Nasdaq: CSIQ)

Founded in 2001, Canadian Solar Inc. (CSI) is a vertically integrated manufacturer of solar cell, solar module and custom-designed solar application products serving customers worldwide. CSI is incorporated in Canada and conducts all of its manufacturing operations in China. Backed by years of experience and knowledge in the solar power market and the silicon industry, CSI has become a major global provider of solar power products for a wide range of applications. For more information, please visit http://www.csisolar.com .

Safe Harbor/Forward-Looking Statements for Canadian Solar

Certain statements in this press release including statements regarding expected future financial and industry growth are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These statements are made under the "Safe Harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by such terms as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "estimates," the negative of these terms, or other comparable terminology. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include general business and economic conditions and the state of the solar industry; governmental support for the deployment of solar power; future shortage or availability of the supply of high-purity silicon; demand for end-use products by consumers and inventory levels of such products in the supply chain; changes in demand from significant customers, including customers of our silicon materials sales; changes in demand from major markets such as Germany; changes in customer order patterns; changes in product mix; capacity utilization; level of competition; pricing pressure and declines in average selling price; delays in new product introduction; continued success in technological innovations and delivery of products with the features customers demand; shortage in supply of materials or capacity requirements; availability of financing; exchange rate fluctuations; litigation and other risks as described in the Company's SEC filings, including its annual report on Form 20-F originally filed on June 3, 2008. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee future results, level of activity, performance, or achievements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. All information provided in this press release is as of today's date, unless otherwise stated, and Canadian Solar undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

    For more information, please contact:

    In Toronto, Canada
     Alex Taylor, IR Director
     Canadian Solar Inc.
     Phone: +1-905-530-2334
     Fax:   +1-905-530-2001
     Email: ir@csisolar.com

    In the U.S.
     Joseph Villalta
     The Ruth Group
     Phone: +1-646-536-7003
     Email: jvillalta@theruthgroup.com

Minera Andes Continuous Disclosure review

    TSX: MAI
    NASD-OTCBB: MNEAF

SPOKANE, WA, Feb. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Minera Andes Inc. (the "Corporation" or "Minera Andes", TSX:MAI and US OTC:MNEAF) intends to file substantially revised management discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations for the nine and three month periods ended September 30, 2008 (the "Revised MD&A") and annual information form for the financial year ended December 31, 2007 (the "Revised AIF").

The nature and substance of the Revised MD&A and the Revised AIF include amendments to comply with the form requirements of National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations and to provide additional information regarding the Corporation's joint venture interest in the San Jose Project and update the Corporation's financial position.

Title to the San Jose Project is held by Minera Santa Cruz S.A. ("MSC"), an Argentinean corporation which is owned, as to 49%, by Minera Andes, and as to 51%, by Hochschild Mining plc ("Hochschild").

    Specifically, the Revised MD&A and Revised AIF will make it clear that:

    -   MSC has made a cash call of $23 million (all amounts are in US
        dollars), of which the Corporation's share is $11.3 million, due on
        February 17, 2009 and a failure by the Corporation to pay such amount
        may result in a reduction of our interest in the San Jose Project;
    -   by the terms of the Corporation's credit agreement (the "Credit
        Agreement") with Macquarie Bank Limited ("Macquarie"), the sum of
        $7.5 million is scheduled to be repaid in March 2009;
    -   the Corporation currently has approximately $2.5 million in cash and
        cash equivalents;
    -   the Corporation's lack of available cash and cash equivalents,
        constitutes an event of default under the Credit Agreement entitling
        Macquarie to demand payment of the entire principal amount of
        $17.5 million due thereunder (plus accrued interest), which it has
        not done;
    -   the Corporation's obligations under the Credit Agreement are secured
        by all of the Corporation's present and after-acquired property;
    -   Hochschild has made project loans to MSC, in the aggregate principal
        amount of $65 million for the development of the project which loans
        (plus accrued interest) are to be repaid from the operating cash of
        MSC in priority to any other distributions to the shareholders of
        MSC;
    -   the Corporation has no control or influence over the strategic
        operating, investing and financing policies of MSC, including the
        amount and timing of any cash call, and that in the past, decisions
        have been made, notwithstanding the Corporation's opposition; and
    -   there can be no assurance that additional cash calls will not be made
        or that the Corporation will have the funds available to satisfy any
        such cash call, as and when due, and that our interest in the San
        Jose Project will not be reduced as a result.

The Corporation is assessing all of the options available to it to raise the required financing to pay the cash call of $11.3 million, satisfy our debt obligation to Macquarie and maintain our ability to meet our planned growth and development. There can be no assurance that the Corporation will be successful in securing the required funding.

The refiling of this disclosure is part a result of the Corporation's response to a review of its continuous disclosure record by the Alberta Securities Commission. When completed, the Revised MD&A, the Revised AIF and the restated interim financial statements will be available for review on www.sedar.com.

Minera Andes is a gold, silver and copper exploration company working in Argentina. The Company holds approximately 304,000 acres of mineral exploration land in Argentina. Minera Andes is also exploring the Los Azules copper project in San Juan province, where an exploration program has defined a resource and a scoping study is underway. Other exploration properties, primarily silver and gold, are being evaluated in southern Argentina. The Corporation presently has 190,158,851 shares issued and outstanding.

This news is submitted by Allen V. Ambrose, President and Director of Minera Andes Inc.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains certain forward-looking statement and information. The forward-looking statements and information express, as at the date of this press release, the Corporation's plans, estimates, forecasts, projections, expectations or beliefs as to future events and results. Forward-looking statements involve a number of 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. In particular, there can be no assurance that financing will be secured within the time required. Risks and uncertainties that could cause results or future events to differ materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, factors associated with fluctuations in the market price of precious metals, mining industry risks, risks associated with foreign operations, the state of the capital markets, environmental risks and hazards, uncertainty as to calculation of mineral reserves and other risks.

Frutarom Completed the Acquisition of the Business of UK Company Oxford

HAIFA, Israel, February 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Frutarom Industries Ltd. (LSE: FRUTq)(TASE: FRUT)(OTC: FRUTF) ("Frutarom") announced today that it has completed the acquisition of the assets and business of the UK Company Oxford Chemicals Ltd. ("Oxford") for consideration of approximately US$ 12 million (GBP 8.25 million). The acquired activity 2007 sales were approximately US$ 14 million (approximately GBP 10 million). The acquisition will be financed through a long-term bank loan.

Established in 1973 and employing some 70 employees, Oxford develops, produces and markets specialty ingredients for the flavor and fragrance industry, and is a leading company in its field. Oxford's activity is highly synergetic with Frutarom's global Fine Ingredients Division, whose development laboratories and production facilities are located in the U.S., UK, Switzerland and Israel. The acquisition is expected to enhance the product offering of Frutarom's Fine Ingredients Division and its customer base around the world. Oxford has hundreds of customers, including leading multinational flavor and fragrance companies, with which Frutarom and Oxford have excellent long-term relationships. Frutarom intends to utilize the many cross-selling opportunities which arise from the acquisition by selling its products to Oxford's customers around the world as well as selling Oxford's products to Frutarom's existing customers, especially in markets where Oxford has not had any significant activities until now.

Oxford and its management have decades of accumulated knowledge and experience in the field of specialty ingredients for the flavor and fragrance industry. With the integration of the activities of Frutarom and Oxford, Frutarom will benefit from the addition of excellent, high quality personnel, especially in the area of research and development, production, marketing and sales. Oxford's management will join the management of Frutarom's Fine Ingredients Division, contributing its experience and expertise. Oxford has a pipeline of innovative products with emphasis on natural flavors.

Frutarom and Oxford have production and development plants located in close proximity in Northern England. Frutarom will take steps to achieve the greatest commercial and operational efficiency from the integration with Oxford's activities in England, while achieving operational savings and maximizing the synergy, including with other Frutarom's plants around the world. Frutarom will act to integrate its research and development, operations, marketing, purchasing and sales infrastructure with that of Oxford.

In 2007, sales of the acquired activity were approximately US$ 14 million (GBP 10 million) and operating profit totaled US$ 0.9 million (GBP 0.6 million). The estimated operating profit from the acquired activity for 2008 is expected to increase by more than 50% to over US$ 1.45 million (GBP 1.0 million). Frutarom will act to achieve operational savings from the integration of the activities, as mentioned above, achieving margins higher than Frutarom's average margins.

According to Ori Yehudai, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Frutarom Group, "The acquisition of Oxford continues the implementation of Frutarom's rapid growth strategy, and further supports Frutarom's position, which is already one of the ten largest companies in the world in the flavors' field. Frutarom will act immediately to integrate Oxford's activity with that of Frutarom's Fine Ingredients Division while realizing and utilizing the extensive commercial and operational synergy that exists between Frutarom's operations and Oxford's operations in order to take maximum advantage of the cross-selling opportunities and achieving maximum cost savings." Yehudai added, "thanks to Frutarom's proven experience in acquisitions and synergy realization, we are certain that this acquisition will also contribute to Frutarom's continued rapid and profitable growth and that it will create high value for our customers, our employees and our investors."

According to Yehudai Frutarom continues to implement its rapid growth strategy combining internal growth in its core activities, at rates above the industry average, with strategic acquisitions. Frutarom continues working to identify and implement additional strategic acquisitions of companies and activities and believes that its solid capital structure and its ability to generate cash from operating activities, together with available credit lines from leading banks in the world, will enable it to utilize acquisition opportunities created due to the global economic crisis.

About Frutarom

Frutarom is a multinational company which operates in the global markets of flavors and fine ingredients. Frutarom has significant production and development centers in three continents and it markets its products to five continents and more than 5,000 customers in 120 countries. Frutarom's products are designated for the industries of food and beverage, flavor and fragrance, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, health food and functional food, food supplements and cosmetics.

    Frutarom operates through two divisions:

    - Flavors Division, which develops, produces and markets
      flavor compounds and food systems.

    - Fine Ingredients Division, which develops, produces and
      markets natural flavor extracts, functional food ingredients, natural
      pharmaceutical/nutraceutical extracts, specialty essential oils, citrus
      products and aroma chemicals.

Frutarom's products are produced in its plants in the US, the UK, Switzerland, Germany, Israel, Denmark, China and Turkey. Its global marketing system includes the marketing divisions in Israel, the US, the UK, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, France, Hungary, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Turkey, Brazil, Mexico, China, Japan, Hong Kong, India and Indonesia. In addition, the Company operates local agents and distributors throughout the world. Frutarom employs approximately 1,500 people around the worlds.

    Company Contact

    Ori Yehudai, President & CEO
    Frutarom Ltd.
    Tel: +97299603800
    Email: oyehudai@frutarom.com

Infinito Announces $42.5 Million Convertible Debenture Financing Involving Debt Restructuring And up to $8 Million in Further Convertible Debt

Trading Symbol: TSX-V: IG

CALGARY, Feb. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Infinito Gold Ltd. (the "Company") announces that it has agreed to terms to raise, on a non-brokered private placement basis, an aggregate of up to CDN$50.5 million upon the sale of secured convertible notes (the "Notes") to Exploram Enterprises Ltd. ("Exploram") and Auro Investments Ltd. ("Auro") (collectively, the "Holders"). The Holders have agreed to a subscription of an initial aggregate principal amount of CDN$42.5 million in Notes and to subsequent drawdowns on the Note held by Exploram up to CDN$8 million, subject to certain conditions. Under such subscriptions for Notes, the Holders shall also be issued, concurrently with the issue of the Notes, one detachable common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant") for each share that can be acquired on conversion of the Notes. The proceeds of $42.5 million shall be used to retire all outstanding Notes and Debentures of the Company totaling $37,500,000, to pay interest on such outstanding debt of approximately $910,000 with the balance for working capital and corporate general and administrative expenses.

The Notes mature five years after their date of issue and are convertible at any time up to maturity into shares of the Company. The conversion price for the initial $42.5 million subscription of Notes is $0.204 per share, being the 20-day volume weighted average price of the shares of the Company for the previous 20 trading days (the "20-Day VWAP") and the conversion price for subsequent drawdowns will be the 20-Day VWAP at the date of drawdown. If, after the Notes are issued however, the Company issues shares for cash at a price below the conversion price of the Notes (a "Subsequent Issuance"), the Holders shall be entitled to concurrently convert into shares at that lower issue price an aggregate principal amount of the Notes as is equal to the amount of the Subsequent Issuance. Shares issued for cash upon the exercise of stock options, interest payments on the Notes or on conversion of principal of a Note with a lower conversion price do not trigger this right.

The Notes bear interest at 15% per year, payable quarterly, except that after March 31, 2010 the Holders have the discretion to require interest to be paid monthly. The first interest payment is due on the earlier of the first drawdown of a project development debt financing for the Company's Crucitas Project and September 30, 2009. (The Company announced in August of 2008 that it had signed an engagement letter giving BNP Paribas an exclusive mandate to act as lead arranger on the project development financing for the Crucitas Project (the "Project Development Financing"), but financing work has been suspended pending resolution of the Costa Rican legal challenge in respect of the grant of a change of land use permit for the mine announced on October 21, 2008.) Interest is payable in cash or shares of the Company, at each Holders' election, such shares to be issued at the 20-Day VWAP at the time the interest payment is due.

Each Warrant issued concurrently with the issue of Notes, or a subsequent drawdown, is exercisable for a period of five years and entitles the Holder to acquire one share of the Company at a price equal to the conversion price of the concurrent Note. Since the Company has agreed to issue one Warrant for each share that can be acquired on conversion of a Note, concurrently with the issue of the initial $42.5 million in Notes the Company shall issue 208,333,334 Warrants.

The Company's obligations under the Notes will be secured by: (i) a general security agreement over all of the Company's assets and a pledge of the shares of each of the Company's direct subsidiaries; (ii) a guarantee of the Company's obligations under the Notes by each of the Company's subsidiaries; and (iii) a pledge of the shares of any indirect subsidiary of the Company.

The Company has the right to prepay the principal amount of the Notes, in full or in part, at any time after three years from the issue date of the Notes, subject to each Holders' right to convert before prepayment. Prepayment is subject to other conditions, including that the 20-Day VWAP prior to prepayment must be 15% greater than the conversion price of the principal amount of the Note to be prepaid. The Notes will include negative covenants, positive covenants and conversion right adjustments that are standard for transactions of this nature. The Notes also contain events of default to be expected in financings under these circumstances, including a breach of the terms of the Notes, bankruptcy, insolvency or receivership proceedings, a change of control of the Company, a change of business of the Company's Costa Rican subsidiary, a failure to obtain and maintain regulatory approvals in respect to the Crucitas project, a failure to make the initial drawdown under the Project Development Financing before September 30, 2009 and a court decision that impairs or prevents the ability to construct the Crucitas project.

The Company has agreed to pay a cash structuring fee to the Holders of 3% of funds advanced at closing not utilized to retire existing debt, 3% on funds advanced in subsequent drawdowns and 1% of all funds used to retire existing debt.

Subsequent drawdowns on the Note held by Exploram to a maximum of $8,000,000 may be made at the Issuer' request in increments of between $500,000 and $2,000,000 subject to specified conditions precedent to subsequent drawdowns, including the rendering of a favorable ruling in the Costa Rican legal challenge referred to above.

The Company requires the $42.5 million to be raised in order to continue its current operations. On January 31, 2009, $5,000,000 came due to a Holder under an outstanding secured debenture of the Company and the Company did not have the funds to repay it. As a result of cross default provisions in its other outstanding debt that is not payable on demand, the Holders are entitled to demand repayment of the entire $37,500,000 principal amount of outstanding debt of the Company, plus accrued interest. The Company has not identified other sources of an adequate amount of funds to allow it to meet its obligations.

The financing is a related party transaction under MI 61-101 as each of Exploram and Auro are related parties. As such, the Company formed a Special Committee of independent directors to consider and negotiate the terms of the transaction. The Company is exempt from the formal valuation requirements of MI 61-101 as its shares are only listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and the Company is exempt from the minority shareholder approval requirement under MI 61-101 as both the Board of Directors and the independent directors each determined, in good faith, that (i) the Company is in serious financial difficulty, (ii) the transaction is designed to improve the financial position of the Company, and (iii) the terms of the transaction are reasonable in the circumstances of the Company. These determinations were based in part upon the advice of its financial advisors. Due to the potential dilution to minority shareholders under this transaction, the Special Committee also recommended that the Company make available to minority shareholders an opportunity to mitigate the dilutive impact through participation in an offering of units priced at a comparable level. Accordingly, the Company plans to approach certain of its minority shareholders to see if there is interest in such an offering on a private placement basis.

The Board of Directors has also approved an increase in the authorized capital of the Company from 250,000,000 to an unlimited number of Common Shares in order to allow it to complete this transaction. In its circumstances the Company considers it necessary to close the Note financing as soon as possible. Completion of the Note financing is subject to approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Upon completion of the sale of the Notes, Exploram shall advance $34 million and Auro shall advance $8.5 million. Exploram shall also be issued 166,666,667 Warrants and Auro shall be issued 41,666,667 Warrants. Exploram presently holds 61,154,490 shares of the Company and, upon conversion in full of its Notes at $0.204 per share and exercise of all of its Warrants, could acquire a further 333,333,334 shares of the Company. Auro presently holds 5,714,285 shares of the Company and, upon conversion in full of its Notes at $0.204 per share and exercise of all of its Warrants, could acquire a further 83,333,334 shares of the Company. The Company presently has 121,429,289 shares outstanding.

    Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements
    ------------------------------------------------------------

Certain statements in this press release address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. These factors include, among others, the inherent risks involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties, the uncertainties involved in interpreting drilling results and other geological data, fluctuating metal prices, the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, the possibility that all necessary governmental and regulatory approvals will not be received, and the availability of a qualified workforce and third party contractors necessary for the development and operation of a mine. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking information or statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements.

INFINITO GOLD LTD.

John Morgan

President

    "The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy
    or accuracy of this release."

CBS\323901\Debt Restructuring 08\1065

U. S. Steel Completes Sale of a Major Portion of EJ&E to CN

PITTSBURGH, Feb. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) announced today that it has completed the previously announced sale of a major portion of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway Company (EJ&E) to a subsidiary of the Canadian National Railway Company.

For more information about U. S. Steel, visit www.ussteel.com.

Dubai Mercantile Exchange Contracts Migrate to CME Group Platform

Transition puts world's three crude oil benchmark products onto CME Globex

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates and CHICAGO, Feb. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CME Group, the world's largest and most diverse derivatives exchange, and the Dubai Mercantile Exchange Limited (DME), the premier international energy futures and commodities exchange based in the Middle East, announced today that they have successfully completed the migration of DME's contracts to the CME Globex(R) electronic trading platform.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070712/AQTH147LOGO)

The successful transition enables the world's three crude oil benchmarks - WTI, Brent and Oman - to trade on the same platform alongside CME Group products across all major asset classes. The DME contracts will be accessible for trading beginning 18:00 EST on Sunday, February 1, equivalent to 03:00 Dubai and 07:00 Singapore on Monday, February 2. Clearing will continue to process through the NYMEX clearing house until it is integrated with CME Clearing.

Welcoming the move, Ahmad Sharaf, Chairman, DME, commented, "This migration is not only a strong step forward in the growth of the DME's existing contracts but is also a mark of the success that the DME has achieved in building robust contracts recognized and traded by leading industry participants. The visibility and reach offered by the CME Globex platform will dramatically increase the global exposure of both the DME Oman Crude Oil Futures Contract, and the DME Oman Crude Oil Financial Contract, which also successfully migrated to the CME Globex platform on February 2."

"The transition of DME's contracts to CME Globex further represents the benefits of merging the NYMEX businesses with CME Group, not only increasing the distribution of the contracts to a global set of hedgers and investors, but also opening up new possibilities for arbitrage and other sophisticated trading strategies on a single, virtually 24-hour platform," said Terry Duffy, CME Group Executive Chairman. "These benefits are available to established users of our markets as well as the new participants we welcome along with the DME contracts."

DME CEO Thomas Leaver added, "The DME Crude Oil Futures Contract is recognized as the crude oil benchmark for the East of Suez region, and as such is increasingly used for efficient price risk management as well as affording arbitrage opportunities with the other crude oil pricing regions. This next step in our development will open the contract to a new and diverse set of market participants, and we will continue to work with our core stakeholders, strategic partners, and existing customers and traders to build on this momentum throughout 2009 to identify avenues of growth that will drive the DME to new heights."

"As the world's leading energy exchange, we are pleased to add the DME Oman Crude Oil Futures Contract to our CME Globex platform. With this addition, we now offer our global energy trading customers all of the leading oil benchmark products, including our WTI and Brent products," said Craig Donohue, CME Group Chief Executive Officer. "We are also very pleased with the continued growth in CME ClearPort, which provides central counterparty clearing services for a broad range of energy products. The DME Oman contract, which is the most widely recognized benchmark for East of Suez markets, offers additional long-term growth potential, especially when coupled with the extensive distribution of CME Globex."

CME Group, through its acquisition of NYMEX Holdings, holds a 26.25 percent equity stake in DME, alongside core shareholders Tatweer (a Dubai Holding company), and the Oman Investment Fund. A strategic investor group including leading global financial institutions and energy trading firms such as Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan, Vitol, Shell, Concord and Casa Energy, holds up to a 28 per cent equity stake in the DME.

CME Group (www.cmegroup.com) is the world's largest and most diverse derivatives exchange. Building on the heritage of CME, CBOT and NYMEX, CME Group serves the risk management needs of customers around the globe. As an international marketplace, CME Group brings buyers and sellers together on the CME Globex electronic trading platform and on trading floors in Chicago and New York. By acting as the buyer to every seller and the seller to every buyer, CME Clearing virtually eliminates counterparty credit risk. CME Clearing also offers $7 billion in financial safeguards to help mitigate systemic risk, providing the security and confidence market participants need to operate, invest and grow. CME Group offers the widest range of benchmark products available across all major asset classes, including futures and options based on interest rates, equity indexes, foreign exchange, energy, agricultural commodities, metals, and alternative investment products such as weather and real estate. CME Group is listed on Nasdaq under the symbol "CME."

The Globe logo, CME, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, CME Group, Globex and E-mini, are trademarks of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. CBOT and Chicago Board of Trade are trademarks of the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago. NYMEX, New York Mercantile Exchange, and ClearPort are trademarks of New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. COMEX is a trademark of Commodity Exchange, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Further information about CME Group and its products can be found at www.cmegroup.com.

About the Dubai Mercantile Exchange

The Dubai Mercantile Exchange Limited (DME), a joint venture between the New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. (NYMEX) (whose parent, NYMEX Holdings Inc, was recently acquired by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange), Tatweer, a member of Dubai Holding, and the Oman Investment Fund (OIF), is the premier international energy futures and commodities exchange in the Middle East, providing a financially secure, well-regulated and transparent trading environment.

The Exchange has developed and trades the DME Oman Crude Oil Futures Contract, addressing the growing market need for price discovery of sour crude oil destined for East of Suez markets, while simultaneously bridging the time-zone gap between Europe and Asia. Launched in June 2007, the contract hit record volumes of 6,484 contracts on January 13th 2009.

The DME is a fully electronic exchange. The DME is authorized and regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), a world class, independent regulator, and all trades executed on the Exchange are cleared through, and guaranteed by, NYMEX's AA+ rated clearinghouse which is licensed as a Recognized Body by the DFSA.

For the latest trading volumes on the DME, please visit: www.dubaimerc.com

Historical DME trading data can be found at: www.dubaimerc.com/historical.aspx

To register for daily updates, please visit: www.dubaimerc.com/daily_updates_reg.asp

CME-G

DuPont Installs its Largest Solar Panel Array to Generate Energy Needs at Research Facility

The Company's Installation Advances Clean Renewable Energy

KAUAI, Hawaii, Jan. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- DuPont today announced the installation of its largest photovoltaic solar energy facility at its Pioneer Hi-Bred Waimea Research Center in Kauai, Hawaii.

The Waimea photovoltaic installation is comprised of 1,500 panels - made from several DuPont photovoltaic materials -- produced by Evergreen Solar and installed by REC Solar. The one-acre array is capable of generating about 85 percent of the energy needs of the research facility. It is expected to generate 706,205 kilowatt hours (kwh) annually, or enough power for 64 average-size homes. By using renewable energy, the facility will avoid the emissions (equivalent carbon dioxide) from approximately 100 cars annually, saving Pioneer about $200,000 per year in avoided purchased electricity costs. The installation was completed and fully operational in December 2008.

DuPont has already installed photovoltaic solar power systems for its R&D and business facilities in Wilmington, Del., and Taoyuan, Taiwan.

"This installation is a great example of our commitment to be both a key materials and technology supplier to the photovoltaic industry, and also a leader of solar power use," said Marc Doyle, global business director - DuPont Photovoltaic Solutions. "Our products can help make clean renewable energy a reality while also powering our facilities as part of DuPont's sustainability goals."

REC Solar chief executive officer Angiolo Laviziano commented on the positive business and environmental reasons for companies to embrace solar power to meet their energy needs. "Companies like DuPont are turning to solar power because it makes good business sense and supports their environmental initiatives," said Angiolo Laviziano, chief executive officer of REC Solar. "DuPont is an innovative business leader that has chosen the most reliable solar technology available today to maximize the amount of clean, renewable solar power generated at its Kauai facility."

Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., a DuPont business, uses innovative technology to carry out crop seed research and development. Randal Francisco, President of the Kauai Chamber of Commerce, noted Pioneer recently celebrated their 40th year as part of Kauai's business and agriculture community. "The Kauai Chamber of Commerce salutes and congratulates Pioneer Hi-Bred in its investment and commitment to renewable energy thereby reducing its dependence on fossil-fuel and returning energy back to Kauai's power grid. It's also economic sense that Pioneer Hi-Bred joins a growing list of Kauai Chamber of Commerce members such as Costco Wholesale Warehouse and Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa as Kauai companies who in the past year invested significant amounts of time and money to join Kauai's ever growing list of businesses and residents who believe in the benefits of renewable energy and a sustainable Kauai future."

Mattie Yoshioka, president and chief executive officer of Kauai Economic Development Board Inc. noted the enthusiasm of participants at its recent Kauai renewable energy conference, complimented Pioneer Hi-Bred International for continuing the momentum generated at the conference. "Pioneer is a committed member of the science and technology community on Kauai, and they are a demonstrated leader in advancing renewable clean energy here with the establishment of the largest ground solar panel installation on Kauai. What could be better for our island than a renewable energy project using one of Kauai's best clean energy resources, sunlight."

DuPont offers the broadest portfolio in the solar energy market with eight essential products. DuPont is a leading material and technology supplier to the photovoltaic industry with more than 25 years of experience in photovoltaic materials development. DuPont technologies enable higher power output with improved productivity and increased solar module lifetime. The company offers a broad and growing portfolio of materials solutions for both crystalline silicon and thin film cells and modules including:

• DuPont(TM) Elvax(R) EVA resins for the encapsulant sheet: cushions individual cells from impact and enables the transmission of sunlight to the cells;
• DuPont PV Encapsulant Sheets: Ranging from soft to structural, clear DuPont(TM) PV5200 and PV5300 Series encapsulant sheets offer proven safety and laminating performance, and deliver long-term protection for the most sensitive portions of photovoltaic modules;
• DuPont(TM) Teflon(R) fluoropolymer film for front sheets and flexible panels: offers mechanical strength and durability against cracking and abrasion, flexibility and nearly 100 percent transparency;
• DuPont(TM) Tedlar(R) polyvinyl fluoride films: delivers long-lasting UV and weather-resistant back sheets;
• DuPont(TM) Solamet(R) thick film metallization pastes: increases the efficiency and yield of solar cells;
• DuPont(TM) Rynite(R) PET thermoplastic resins: increases safety, eliminates corrosion, and provides long-lasting performance for junction boxes and structural supports in harsh environments;
• DuPont(TM) Kapton(R) polyimide film for thin film substrates: provides excellent electrical and thermal properties to thin film modules;
• DuPont Teijin Films (Mylar(R), Melinex(R) and Tetoron(R) polyester films) for backsheet interlayers: provides added protection from the environment;
• Kalrez(R) perfluoroelastomer parts from DuPont Performance Elastomers: provides excellent resistance to aggressive chemicals and high temperatures to help reduce the risk of unplanned maintenance.

DuPont - one of the first companies to publicly establish environmental goals 19 years ago - has broadened its sustainability commitments beyond internal footprint reduction to include market-driven targets for both revenue and research and development investment. The goals are tied directly to business growth, specifically to the development of safer and environmentally improved new products for key global markets.

DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.

Photo: http://www2.dupont.com/Media_Center/en_US/assets/images/releases/nr_Solar_Panel_Solar_Installation_PHB.jpg

Caption: DuPont has installed a 1,500 panel solar power system at its Pioneer Hi-Bred Waimea Research Center in Kauai, Hawaii.

For photos, graphics and more information on DuPont Photovoltaic Solutions visit: http://photovoltaics.dupont.com.

The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont(TM), The miracles of science(TM), Elvax(R), Teflon(R), Tedlar(R), Solamet(R), Rynite(R), Kapton(R), and Kalrez(R) are registered trademarks or trademarks of DuPont or its affiliates.

Mylar(R), Melinex(R) and Tetoron(R) are registered trademarks of DuPont Teijin Films.