The project is a major upgrade for the Military Police and will consist of 8 brand new physical servers, provided by HP, to replace the old server cluster. These servers will be setup and run using virtualization software to provide anywhere from 400 to 500 virtual servers to run the Military Police’s entire intranet environment.

This intranet environment must perform a wide variety of tasks, including: operational intelligence systems, email, monitoring end-to-end services, 190 call centers (equivalent to 911 in the United States), etc.  The old servers will not be discarded, but rather reused for the Military Police’s internet environment, which will be run on 50 to 60 virtual servers.

Nana Baffour, CEO and Co-Founder of Midas Medici said, “This is another major project for Midas and the CIMCORP brand in Brazil. Due to the sensitive nature of fighting crime, the Military Police will need a state-of-the-art system with sophisticated security architecture and data storage requirements, combined to protect mission-critical data and police records.”

“The company remains committed to providing the Military Police with CIMCORP’s industry recognized quality of service, and look forward to announcing additional projects with other government agencies and large businesses throughout the remainder of 2011 as its organic sales continue to increase, noted Baffour”.

The Military Police of Sao Paulo is the largest state police force in the country of Brazil, with over 100,000 personnel in its ranks, distributed across several battalions all over the state as well as within the Greater Sao Paulo region (Grande Sao Paulo) which itself comprises 40 cities and towns.

Operating in Brazil since 1988, Midas’ CIMCORP brand provides and manages a complete spectrum of IT infrastructure services and solutions to commercial and government markets.  CIMCORP specializes in data center services with an emphasis on complex solutions that enable Brazilian companies to virtualize and implement cloud-based systems.

CIMCORP has 8 regional offices, 12 distributorships, 3 partner data centers, and an international subsidiary in Miami, FL.

The 21 oil and gas exploration blocks, majority owned and operated by HRT O&G, cover an area of approximately 48,500 square kilometers, are located in the Amazon’s Solimoes basin. According to a Degolyer & MacNaughton reserves audit report, the blocks bring TNK-BP a net prospective and contingent resource of 789 Million barrels of oil equivalent (BOEs).

These include 11 discoveries, where oil and gas were tested. Initial production from the fields in the Solimoes basin is expected in 2012.

Commenting on the acquisition, Mikhail Fridman, Chief Executive Officer of TNK-BP said, “TNK-BP is pleased to have signed these agreements with HRT on the Solimoes Basin project, TNK-BP’s first venture in Brazil. The project will give the company access to significant new resources in one of the world’s fastest growing markets.

“TNK-BP is looking forward to a long and successful business partnership with HRT, as well as to new opportunities to deepen its footprint in the region,” said Fridman.

The companies intend to hold a formal ceremony and press conference in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil on 1 November, 2011 to officially mark the start of their new partnership.

TNK-BP is Russia’s third largest oil company, 50% held by BP and 50% held by the AAR Consortium (Alfa Group, Access Industries, and Renova). TNK-BP also owns close to 50% of another Russian oil and gas company, Slavneft. TNK-BP accounts for approximately 16% of Russia’s production (including its share of Slavneft). SEC proved reserves (life of field basis) were 8.794 billion boe as of December 31, 2010.

BP is one of the world’s leading international oil and gas companies, providing its customers with fuel for transportation, energy for heat and light, retail services and petrochemicals products for everyday items.

TNK-BP is a vertically integrated oil company with a diversified upstream and downstream portfolio in Russia and Ukraine. The company’s upstream operations are located primarily in West Siberia (Khanty-Mansiysk and Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Districts, Tyumen Region), East Siberia (Irkutsk Region), and Volga-Urals (Orenburg Region).

In 2010 the company produced on average 1.74 mboed (excluding its 50% share in Slavneft).

The Open Group’s new South American office and member network increase the organization’s footprint worldwide, with other local offices located in China, France, Japan, South Africa, Sweden, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

Brazil has experienced some of the world’s largest growth over the past decade, tripling its economy to become the seventh largest in the world.

Gartner projects Brazil’s IT end-user spending to reach $128 billion USD in 2013;(1) and IDC predicts that Cloud Computing adoption in Brazil will grow by 60 percent between 2011 and 2013, with 80 percent of the country’s IT funds invested in implementing Cloud environments by 2015.(2)

Commenting on the acquisition, Allen Brown, president and CEO for The Open Group said, “The establishment of The Open Group office in Brazil is indicative of the tremendous global demand among emerging nations for internationally accepted IT standards and certification programs that advance strategic business objectives and interoperability”.

“The Open Group hopes easy access to the development of open standards, as well as an opportunity to actively shape them, will be invaluable to enterprises and IT professionals throughout the region,” said Brown.

Brazil Country Manager Isabela Abreu will be tasked with growing membership throughout the region, encouraging engagement within The Open Group’s Forums and Work Groups, and raising awareness of certification programs, open standards, frameworks and disciplines such as enterprise architecture and information security.

She will also be working to demonstrate to government officials and local IT executives the importance of establishing a strong IT infrastructure as Brazil’s economy and international influence grows.

Separately commenting, Abreu said, “Brazil’s development is being driven not only by its burgeoning economy, but also by upcoming large-scale global events such as the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics that will be hosted by Brazil in 2014 and 2016, respectively.”

“With events such as these, large scale IT systems will need to be built, and The Open Group’s guidance will ensure that IT standards and enterprise architectures will facilitate how Brazilian companies build their global IT infrastructures,” she said.

MZ Group is a multinational company and the world’s largest independent provider of investor relations (IR), corporate communications, governance, market intelligence and applied technology services.

The merger gives rise to @titude Global, a leading corporate communications group with global footprint and the world’s largest independent provider of investor relations services, with a particular focus on innovation and high growth markets.

With expected consolidated revenues of US$34 million in 2011, @titude Global provides exclusive services to more than 580 clients in 11 countries, through its offices located in Sao Paulo, New York, Chicago, San Diego, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai and Taipei.

MZ Group and MVL Communications’ shareholders and executives are joining forces and now share the same corporate vision: to be the world leader in their respective areas of operation based on innovation, perseverance, ethical conduct, merit-based culture and a firm determination to increase value for shareholders and society as a whole.

@titude Global is poised for the imminent convergence of all media and communications tools and the provision of multi-stakeholder platforms on a local and global scale.

As a result of the merger, MVL Comunicacao will take control of BRIC Integrated Corporate Communications and will be headed by Nilson de Oliveira, an MVL Comunicacao partner since 2005. All of MVL and BRIC’s client service teams will remain unaltered.

“There is growing worldwide demand for convergent solutions that eliminate the need to manage several unrelated suppliers, heralding an era of long-term strategic relationships,” explained Nilson de Oliveira.

According to Mauro Lopes, founding partner of MVL, “the merger is taking place at a historic moment when communications and relationships are no longer accessories but essential core activities of any organization: the new civilizing paradigm demands dialogue between individuals and companies.”

The leaders of @titude Global’s other business units in will remain in place.

Rodolfo Zabisky, founding partner of MZ Group and CEO of @titude Global, said, “The move is another important step towards assembling a major confederation of entrepreneurs that will catalyze and lead the consolidation of the corporate communications, investor relations and governance business on a global scale.”

The undertaking marks another major step toward the creation of a sustainable aviation biofuels industry in Brazil. Azul, GOL, TAM and Trip airlines will be strategic advisors in the program.

Under the partnership, Boeing, Embraer and FAPESP will lead the development of a detailed report outlining the unique opportunities and challenges of creating a cost-effective, bio-derived, and sustainable jet-fuel production and distribution industry in Brazil. When completed in late 2012, the report, which will include a technology and sustainability roadmap, will be made public.

The study will be guided by a series of public workshops during 2012 with input from a wide range of stakeholders, as well as a strategic advisory board, which will give the project wide-ranging guidance and institutional support. Members will include airlines, fuel producers and suppliers, environmental experts, community groups, and government agencies.

The study will frame the creation of a sustainable aviation biofuels research center in Brazil. This center will be jointly funded by FAPESP and industry in order to drive a long-term research agenda for the development of aviation biofuels technology in Brazil.

A special call for proposals by FAPESP to establish this center is expected to follow the initial study phase. The mission of the center will be to close the technical, commercial, and sustainability gaps needed to enable the creation of this new aviation fuel supply chain in Brazil.

Suely Vilela, member of FAPESP’s board of directors noted; “The partnership with Boeing and Embraer brings a new level of FAPESP efforts to foster research partnerships between universities and companies in Sao Paulo.”

Vilela further indicated that the research center will be created through public selection, according to FAPESP’s Research, Innovation and Diffusion Centers, which aim to establish long-term advanced core research that results in innovation.

Donna Hrinak, president of Boeing Brazil said; “Brazil already has shown global leadership in developing biofuels for ground transportation. Bringing together people from throughout Brazil who possess the leadership and expertise to create new, low-carbon energy sources for aviation is the right thing to do for the industry, for customers, for Brazil, and for future generations.”

Boeing and Embraer are focused on creating sustainable aviation biofuels produced from renewable resources that do not drive food competition in vulnerable regions by competing with land and water resources.

According to a company release, the new joint venture, which will be 80% owned by CAAS’s wholly own subsidiary, Hengsheng, will be based in Sao Paulo and established with two local Brazilian automotive partners, with ownership of 15% and 5%, respectively.

Mr. Hanlin Chen, Chairman of China Automotive Systems, stated, “Brazil is the most important economic engine in South America, and China has surpassed the United States as Brazil’s leading trade partner. The automotive market is on the rise in Brazil, with current annual OEM demand estimated at 3.5 million vehicles and a rapidly growing aftermarket sector.

CAAS has seen Chinese automakers, such as Chery Auto, one of its largest customers, successfully penetrate the Brazilian market with high quality, value-added vehicles and believes it can also leverage this trend.

According to Chen, CAAS local partners have proven track records in production and distribution.

“The company believes its strong product development capabilities and high quality control processes for mass production will create tremendous value for local OEM and aftermarket customers. This joint venture will enable the company to capitalize on the significant growth opportunities presented by Brazil and South America, as a whole,” said Chen.

Based in Hubei Province, the People’s Republic of China, China Automotive Systems, Inc. is a leading supplier of power steering components and systems to the Chinese automotive industry, operating through nine Sino-foreign joint ventures. The Company offers a full range of steering system parts for passenger automobiles and commercial vehicles.

The Company currently offers four separate series of power steering with an annual production capacity of over 3.5 million sets, steering columns, steering oil pumps and steering hoses.

Its customer base is comprised of leading Chinese auto manufacturers, such as China FAW Group, Corp., Dongfeng Auto Group Co., Ltd., BYD Auto Company Limited, Beiqi Foton Motor Co., Ltd., Chery Automobile Co., Ltd. and Chrysler North America outside of North America.

The Brazilian foray will serve as a platform from where to launch the Chinese auto manufacturer’s products in Latin America.

Brazil is the world’s seventh largest economy with an average annual GDP growth rate of over five percent. In 1999, Brazil established a tire collection framework and has passed legislation dealing with scrap tires, setting targets for collection and proper disposal for all participants of the tire market through the National Council of the Environment (CONAMA).

According to ANIP (Association of Tire Manufacturers), US$143.6 million has been invested for proper disposal of 3,770 million pounds of end-of-life tires from 1999 to June, 2011.

Alan Barton, Lehigh chief executive officer said; “Geographic expansion is key component of Lehigh’s growth strategy. Brazil is a growing economy with many of the company’s key customers and segments present and thriving.”
Responsibility toward end-of-life tire collection is an important element in determining where Lehigh expands its footprint, indicating market interest in sustainability, said Barton.

Kedar Murthy, general manager and vice president of tire and industrial rubber noted; “Brazil’s experience and history in establishing legislation and associations that support the industry of recycling end-of-life tires indicates that the market is interested in increasing its use of sustainable materials. Moreover, there is a sophisticated and diversified industrial base that embraces new technology.”

De Ranieri’s, Lehigh Technologies’ new country manager for Brazil, experience includes Gilbarco Veeder-Root and Argent Trading as well as business ventures involving the automotive industry.

Lehigh Technologies’ proprietary manufacturing process takes end-of-life tire and other post-industrial rubber material and “upcycles” it into micron-scale, high quality, sustainable powders that are compatible with customers’ existing formulations, making it easy to integrate into new or existing products.

This material not only helps companies achieve sustainability goals, but also can improve performance attributes such as water resistance, energy savings and flexibility, while delivering significant costs savings over virgin raw materials.

Lehigh Technologies is a leading green materials manufacturer that turns end-of-life tire materials and other post-industrial rubber into sustainable powders that can be used in a wide range of industrial and consumer applications.

Today there are 100 million tires manufactured containing its products.  Lehigh Technologies is a World Economic Forum 2010 recipient of The Technology Pioneer Award for its visionary leadership and transformational technology.

Headquartered in Tucker, GA, Lehigh Technologies is privately held and backed by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Index Ventures and NGP Energy Technology Partners.

Under the terms of the alliance, Cobalt and Rhodia will work together to deploy Cobalt’s technology for the conversion of sugar cane bagasse into n-butanol for the chemicals and fuels market.  The parties will initially develop options for deploying Cobalt’s technology at a sugar mill.

Following this first step, the partners will jointly develop a demonstration plant to demonstrate Cobalt’s technology on site in Brazil.  Following the demonstration plant the parties intend to construct multiple bio-refineries co-located with sugar mills, first in Brazil and then in other Latin American countries.

Rick Wilson, Ph.D., and CEO of Cobalt Technologies said; “The relationship establishes a clear path to commercialization for Cobalt’s technology.  Rhodia is the perfect partner for expansion into Brazil and Latin America.”

“Rhodia has a long history of successful operations in Brazil and have significant experience in sugar mill operations through their ownership of a bagasse-based power plant co-located with a sugar mill.  Additionally, Rhodia is a renowned global chemical company, providing Cobalt a unique opportunity to market its products internationally through the partnership,” said Wilson.

Commenting separately, Vincent Kamel, president of Rhodia Coatis Business Unit said; “Bio n-butanol based on bagasse will enlarge Rhosia’s Augeo® range of biosourced solvents and perfectly fits with Rhodia’s sustainable development strategy.”

“Rhodia is convinced that Cobalt’s bagasse-based leading-edge technology will provide an unmatched cost advantage over the long term. There is undoubtedly a huge potential for bio n-butanol in Latin America and beyond and Rhodia is looking forward to building a large international business with Cobalt,” said Kamel.

Cobalt is the leading company in the production of low cost bio n-butanol, a platform molecule for the production of renewable chemicals and fuels, from cellulosic feedstocks.

Bio n-butanol is a widely used industrial chemical found in paints, lacquers and other surface coatings, with a global market of over $5 billion, approximately eight times the size of the market for isobutanol.

Rhodia is an international chemical company and leader in its businesses. The Group aims to improve its customers’ performance through the pursuit of operational excellence and its ability to innovate. The Group employs around 14,000 people worldwide and generated sales of euro 5.23 billion in 2010.

Terphane is currently owned by Vision Capital, an international investment firm. The company currently produces over 38,000 tons per year.

The approximate purchase price of $188 million will be funded using available cash on hand and financing from Tredegar’s existing $300 million credit facility. Tredegar expects that the acquisition will be accretive within the first year following the acquisition. Closing of the acquisition, which is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain customary closing conditions, is expected later this month.

With revenues of approximately $160 million for the last twelve months, as of June 30, 2011, Terphane is a market leading producer of thin polyester films in Latin America with a growing presence in strategic niches in the United States. Polyester films have specialized properties, such as heat resistance and barrier protection, which make them uniquely suited for the fast-growing flexible packaging market.

Terphane is headquartered in São Paulo, Brazil and operates two manufacturing facilities in Cabo, Pernambuco Brazil and Bloomfield, New York. It enjoys long-standing relationships with prominent Latin American and multinational customers.

Nancy Taylor, Tredegar’s President and CEO, commented, “Tredegar has been working for some time to find an acquisition that meets its stated goals for market expansion and customer and product diversification.”

“Terphane’s high-value, differentiated products will extend Tredegar’s product offerings into adjacent specialty films markets and allow the company to expand in Latin America, which is one of the fastest growing and dynamic geographic markets in the world,” said Taylor.

Tredegar Corporation is primarily a manufacturer of plastic films and aluminum extrusions. A global company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, Tredegar had sales of $740 million in 2010. With approximately 2,000 employees, the company operates manufacturing facilities in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.

Vision Capital is an innovative private equity investor focused on delivering comprehensive strategic transactions for sellers. Vision Capital has operations in Europe and the Americas and a multi-sector approach with specialist expertise in Financials and Real Estate, Industrials and Manufacturing, and Business Services and Consumer.

Tredegar was advised by Deloitte Corporate Finance LLC.

Battery Holding S.A. is the parent company of EnerSystem, a market leader in the South American motive power and reserve power battery markets. EnerSystem has more than 20 years of experience in manufacturing, marketing and servicing industrial batteries and is headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina with manufacturing plants in Argentina and Brazil as well as operations in Chile.

John D. Craig, chairman, president and chief executive officer of EnerSys commented, “The acquisition builds on EnerSys’ strategy of geographic expansion into rapidly growing markets such as South America and the company’s recently announced transaction in South Africa.”

According to Craig, This is the company’s third transaction completed in as many weeks with the other being its investment in the German lithium-ion joint venture, which builds on EnerSys’ strategy of investing in non lead-acid battery technologies. These investments will allow EnerSys to continue to provide supporting its customers globally with solutions to that best fit their needs.”

EnerSys, the world leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications, manufactures and distributes reserve power and motive power batteries, chargers, power equipment, and battery accessories to customers worldwide.  Motive power batteries are utilized in electric forklift trucks and other commercial electric powered vehicles.

Reserve power batteries are used in the telecommunication and utility industries, uninterruptible power supplies, and numerous applications requiring stored energy solutions including aerospace and defense systems.

EnerSys® operates manufacturing and assembly facilities worldwide for customers in over 100 countries. Worldwide and Americas headquarters are located in Reading, Pennsylvania, USA with regional headquarters in Europe and Asia.

Since 2002, the company has embarked on an acquisition expansion spree, beginning with the acquisition of the reserve power and motive power business of the Energy Storage Group of Invensys plc. In June 2005, EnerSys acquired the motive power battery business of FIAMM, S.p.A. (FIAMM), which complemented its then existing European motive power business.

The company also made smaller acquisitions of a producer of specialty nickel-based batteries based in Germany; a producer of lithium power sources, primarily for aerospace & defense applications located in the USA; a lead-acid battery business in Switzerland; a manufacturing facility in China, and a 97% interest in a producer of industrial batteries, located in Bulgaria.