Press Releases

OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

A.M. Best Co. has commented that the ratings of Oman Insurance Company (PSC) (OIC) (United Arab Emirates) are unchanged following the acknowledgement that OIC has no direct investment exposure to Dubai World group's issued securities, whereas its underwriting exposure is limited to properties.

OIC's interim results at the end of third quarter 2009 confirm the company's strong technical profitability, as it remains one of the primary insurers in the region.

A.M. Best is monitoring the potential impact on Mashreqbank following the recent events on Dubai World's standstill agreement and its potential effect on OIC's financial strength.

Mashreqbank is the main shareholder of OIC, owning 63.65% of its shares. Mashreqbank is exposed to Dubai World's debt, which the government of Dubai has confirmed is not necessarily state-guaranteed; however, the exact magnitude of Mashreqbank's exposure to Dubai World's securities still needs to be clarified.

In A.M. Best's opinion, Mashreqbank's situation is unlikely to have an immediate negative impact on OIC's financial strength. OIC operates its business autonomously from its main shareholder, which does not have representation on OIC's board of directors. A.M. Best believes that OIC's dividends or lending strategy is unlikely to be affected by Mashreqbank's potential financial distress. Furthermore, the limited size of OIC's total assets (AED 5.2 billion at the end of September 2009), compared to those of Mashreqbank (AED 99.9 billion at the end of September 2009), is likely to deter the bank from considering OIC as a good source of funding should the need arise. Going forward, A.M. Best's opinion on OIC's ratings could be affected by major changes to the shareholders' composition, with Mashreqbank not remaining the main shareholder or if A.M. Best's view on Mashreqbank's financial position deteriorates.

For Best's Credit Ratings, an overview of the rating process and rating methodologies, please visit www.ambest.com/ratings.

The principal methodologies used in determining these ratings, including any additional methodologies and factors that may have been considered, can be found at www.ambest.com/ratings/methodology.

Founded in 1899, A.M. Best Company is a global full-service credit rating organization dedicated to serving the financial and health care service industries, including insurance companies, banks, hospitals and health care system providers. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

    Source: A.M. Best Company

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/6fd9eb/china_petroleum) has announced the addition of the "China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation: Corporate Analysis" company profile to their offering.

This company profile is a premium company information product offering an unmatched depth and breadth of content. It analyzes the strategic positioning of the company - how the company has evolved and how it has been performing over the years.

Sectional Highlights:

    --  Structure of the organization, partnerships, mergers & acquisitions and
        recent developments have been examined
    --  Business segments of the company have been explored along with analysis
        of key products and services
    --  SWOT Analysis highlights the weaknesses of the company and the threats
        to which it is exposed; the strengths of the company and the way the
        company has positioned itself to take advantage of the opportunities
    --  Business and marketing strategies boosting earnings, brand value and
        competitive edge have been discussed
    --  Key financial indicators have been analyzed
    --  Competitive positioning of the company has been evaluated in terms of
        sales, profitability and stock performance, as compared to its
        competitors

Key Benefits:

    --  Provides input for strategic business planning
    --  Targets business opportunities & risks
    --  Exploits competitive intelligence

Target Audience:

    --  Investment Managers
    --  Venture Capitalists
    --  Management Consultants
    --  Research Companies
    --  Other Industry Professionals

Key Topics Covered:

Company Backgrounder

    --  Corporate Overview
    --  Key Facts
    --  Corporate Timeline

Business Focus

    --  Major Segments
    --  Products & Services

Corporate Overview

    --  Organizational Structure
    --  Executive Biographies
    --  Ownership Structure
    --  Subsidiaries
    --  Key Partnerships
    --  Mergers & Acquisitions
    --  Significant Developments

Strategic Analysis

    --  SWOT
    --  Strategic Focus

Financial Analysis

    --  Financial Performance
    --  Sales and Earnings Analysis
    --  Ratio Analysis
    --  Stock Performance

Competitor Analysis

    --  Major Competitors
    --  Peer Comparison at a Glance
    --  Financial Comparison
    --  Stock Chart

Company Outlook

    --  Revenue & Income Estimates

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/6fd9eb/china_petroleum

    Source: Research and Markets Ltd.

CALGARY, Alberta, Dec. 4, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Emerging Stock Report, a leading provider of sector specific independent investment research, today initiated coverage on Dell Inc. (Nasdaq: DELL). Emerging Stock Report is currently offering a complimentary trial subscription to the investment community.

To view the Report in its entirety visit: http://www.emergingstockreport.com

To get our alerts AHEAD of the market follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/EmergingStockRe

About ESR:

Emerging Stock Report is a leading provider of independent investment research for North American companies. Our services include research analysis on emerging growth companies, sector specific research, real-time news and financial data, market commentary and the ESR newsletter. Emerging Stock Report's staff of investment professionals are dedicated to providing the the tools and resources necessary to help make important investment decisions. To view our research reports on a complimentary trial basis and take advantage of our other services, visit http://www.emergingstockreport.com and click on the complimentary trial subscription button on our home page, or go directly to our registration page at http://emergingstockreport.com/register.php

About Dell Inc.:

Dell is a leading technology provider to commercial enterprises around the world. For more information, visit www.dell.com/servicedescriptions.

ESR Disclosure :

Emerging Stock Report is not a registered investment advisor and nothing contained in any materials should be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell any securities. Emerging Stock Report has not been compensated by any of the above mentioned companies. Please read our report and visit our Web site, http://www.EmergingStockReport.com, for complete risks and disclosures.

CONTACT: Emerging Stock Report
         Dylan Anderson
         1 (206) 905 9680
         info@emergingstockreport.com

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZIOP) announced the pricing of its previously announced underwritten public offering of 15,484,000 shares of its common stock and warrants to purchase 7,742,000 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $3.10 per unit. The warrants, which represent the right to acquire 0.50 of a share of the Company's common stock for each share of common stock purchased in the offering, will have a five-year term from the date of issuance and will be exercisable at a price of $4.02 per share. JMP Securities LLC and Rodman & Renshaw, LLC, a subsidiary of Rodman & Renshaw Capital Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RODM), are acting as co-lead managers for the offering.

The offering will result in gross proceeds of approximately $48.0 million and net proceeds, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other estimated offering expenses are expected to be approximately $45.2 million. The offering is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close on Wednesday, December 9, 2009.

The Company plans to use net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, which may include ongoing clinical development of its three product candidates, palifosfamide (ZymafosTM or ZIO-201), darinaparsin (ZinaparTM or ZIO-101), and indibulin (ZybulinTM or ZIO-301).

The offering is being made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (File No. 333-161453). A prospectus supplement relating to the offering will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. When available, copies of the prospectus supplement relating to this offering may be obtained by contacting JMP Securities LLC at Equity Syndicate, 600 Montgomery Street, Suite 1100, San Francisco, CA 94111, (415) 835-8900, or Rodman & Renshaw, LLC at 1251 Avenue of the Americas, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10020, (212) 356-0530.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, shares of common stock and warrants. Furthermore, ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. will not sell any of the common stock or warrants and has been advised by JMP Securities LLC and Rodman & Renshaw, LLC that the underwriters and their affiliates will not sell any of the common stock or warrants in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification of the securities under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.:

ZIOPHARM Oncology is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development and commercialization of a diverse portfolio of cancer drugs. The Company is currently focused on three clinical programs.

Palifosfamide (ZymafosTM or ZIO-201) references a novel composition (tris formulation) that is the functional active metabolite of ifosfamide, a standard of care for treating sarcoma, lymphoma, testicular, and other cancers. Palifosfamide delivers only the cancer fighting component of ifosfamide. It is expected to overcome the resistance seen with ifosfamide and cyclophosphamide, two of the most commonly used alkylating drugs used to treat certain cancers. Palifosfamide does not have the toxic metabolites of ifosfamide that cause the debilitating side effects of "fuzzy brain" (encephalopathy) and severe bladder inflammation.

Darinaparsin (ZinaparTM or ZIO-101) is a novel organic arsenic being developed for the treatment of various hematologic and solid cancers. Preclinical and clinical studies to date have demonstrated that darinaparsin is considerably less toxic than inorganic arsenic, particularly with regard to cardiac toxicity.

Indibulin (ZybulinTM or ZIO-301) is a novel, oral tubulin binding agent that targets both mitosis and cancer cell migration. Indibulin is expected to have several potential benefits, including oral dosing, application in multi-drug resistant tumors, no neuropathy and minimal overall toxicity. In multiple Phase I trials in cancer patients, oral indibulin has been administered both as a single agent and in combination with favorable activity and a promising safety profile that does not include the neurotoxicity seen with all of the other classes of tubulin binding agents.

ZIOPHARM's operations are located in Boston, MA with an executive office in New York. Further information about ZIOPHARM may be found at www.ziopharm.com.

ZIOP-G

Forward-Looking Safe Harbor Statement:

This press release contains forward-looking statements for ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results and expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from these statements. Among other things, there can be no assurance that any of the Company's development efforts relating to its product candidates will be successful, or such product candidates will be successfully commercialized. Other risks that affect forward-looking information contained in this press release include the possibility of being unable to obtain regulatory approval of the Company's product candidates, the risk that the results of clinical trials may not support the Company's claims, risks related to the Company's ability to protect its intellectual property and its reliance on third parties to develop its product candidates, risks related to the sufficiency of existing capital reserves to fund continued operations for a particular amount of time and uncertainties regarding the Company's ability to obtain additional financing to support its operations thereafter. The Company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

    Source: ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.

CALGARY, Alberta, Dec. 4, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Emerging Stock Report, a leading provider of sector specific independent investment research, today initiated coverage on Intel Corporation, (Nasdaq: INTC). Emerging Stock Report is currently offering a complimentary trial subscription to the investment community.

To view the Report in its entirety visit: http://www.emergingstockreport.com

To get our alerts AHEAD of the market follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/EmergingStockRe

About ESR:

Emerging Stock Report is a leading provider of independent investment research for North American companies. Our services include research analysis on emerging growth companies, sector specific research, real-time news and financial data, market commentary and the ESR newsletter. Emerging Stock Report's staff of investment professionals are dedicated to providing the the tools and resources necessary to help make important investment decisions. To view our research reports on a complimentary trial basis and take advantage of our other services, visit http://www.emergingstockreport.com and click on the complimentary trial subscription button on our home page, or go directly to our registration page at http://emergingstockreport.com/register.php

About Intel Corporation:

Intel, the world leader in silicon innovation, develops technologies, products and initiatives to continually advance how people work and live. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom and blogs.intel.com

ESR Disclosure:

Emerging Stock Report is not a registered investment advisor and nothing contained in any materials should be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell any securities. Emerging Stock Report has not been compensated by any of the above mentioned companies. Please read our report and visit our Web site, http://www.EmergingStockReport.com, for complete risks and disclosures.

CONTACT:  Emerging Stock Report
          Dylan Anderson
          1 (206) 905 9680
          info@emergingstockreport.com