Gabon

Fitch Ratings has downgraded Gabon's Long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) to 'B+' from 'BB-'. The Outlook is Stable. The issue ratings on Gabon's senior unsecured foreign currency bonds have also been downgraded to 'B+' from 'BB-'. Fitch has affirmed Gabon's Short-term IDR at 'B'. Fitch has also affirmed the Country Ceiling for the Communaute Economique et Monetaire d'Afrique Centrale (CEMAC) and for Gabon at 'BBB-'.

Fitch Ratings affirmed Gabon's Long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) at 'BB-' and its Short-term foreign currency IDR at 'B'. The Outlooks on the Long-term IDRs are Stable. Fitch has also affirmed the Country Ceiling for Gabon at 'BBB-', in line with the Country Ceiling for Communaute Economique et Monetaire d'Afrique Centrale (CEMAC) and for the Union Economique et Monetaire Ouest-Africaine (UEMOA) at 'BBB-'.

Standard & Poor's affirmed on Friday the sovereign credit ratings on the Gabonese Republic at 'BB-/B', citing the country's persistent current account surpluses and the government's modest debt burden.

Harvest Natural Resources Inc. today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, HNR Global Holding B.V. has entered into exclusive negotiations with Vitol S.A. (Vitol), to sell the Company's 66.667 percent interest in the Dussafu Marine Permit PSC, offshore Gabon for $137.0 million in cash.  Net proceeds from the sale are estimated to be approximately $123.0 million after deductions for transaction related costs and taxes.  The effective date of the transaction will be October 1, 2013, and will be subject to agreed adjustments.