NEW YORK (Business Wire) -- Standard & Poor's announced today that it has commenced Factual Stock Report coverage on Minera Andes Inc.

Minera Andes Inc. (OTC:MNEAF; TSX: MAI), in the exploration stage at December 31, 2007, acquires, explores and evaluates mineral properties, consisting of mineral rights and applications for mineral rights, covering approximately 304,221 acres (123,133 hectares) in three provinces in Argentina. Following exploration, the company either seeks to enter joint ventures to further develop these properties or disposes of them if the properties do not meet its requirements. The properties are all early stage exploration properties, except for the San Jose mine. The company's focus is primarily on gold, silver and copper mineralized targets. Its material properties are the San Jose project and the Los Azules project.

The company owns a 49% equity interest in Minera Santa Cruz (MSC), which owns the San Jose gold/silver property in Santa Cruz province in southern Argentina. The San Jose mine commenced production during the second quarter of 2007 and approached full production by year-end 2007. It is anticipated that the gold and silver produced in the first quarter of 2008 will be sold in Q2 2008 at the prevailing market prices. Based on a gold price of $850 per ounce and silver price of $16 per ounce the total metal production for Q1 2008 at the San Jose mine has a gross metal value of $26 million. The processing plant, which is still in the commissioning phase, is forecast to reach full capacity in the first half of 2008. The mine comprises more than 13 km of underground workings accessed by ramps accessing the Huevos Verdes and Frea veins. A third ramp has also been constructed to access the Kospi vein, where 173 meters of the vein have been developed.

On the basis of 750 tons-per-day of production, the San Jose mine is estimated to produce about 60,000 ounces of gold and 3 million ounces of silver per year. Production is unhedged and 49 percent of the production value accrues to Minera Andes' account. Based on an independent technical review in late 2007, ore reserves were increased by 100 percent, and mine life extended from 5.2 to nine years at the 750 tpd rate.

This report will also be accessible on an ongoing basis to the investment community ---- scores of buy-side institutions and sell-side firms that utilize S&P research and information platforms daily. Millions of self-directed investors also have access to the report via their e-brokerage accounts.

About Standard & Poor's Factual Stock Reports

This Standard & Poor's service provides factual research coverage enabling information about Minera Andes Inc. and other securities to reach a wide investor audience of Buy and Sell-side investors, helping them understand a company's fundamentals and business prospects. Currently profiling over 1,000 issuers, S&P Factual Stock Reports increase market awareness for issuers in the investment community with insightful commentary and key statistics/information. Updated weekly with the latest pricing, trading volume, and other data, the reports include recent developments, a financial review, key operating information, Industry and peer comparisons, institutional holdings analysis, Street Consensus and opinions, performance charts, business summary, fundamental data, and news. Because coverage of these reports is sponsored by the issuer, S&P does not offer investment opinions concerning the advisability of investing in these stocks.

Standard & Poor's Factual Stock Reports are produced separately from any other analytic activity of Standard & Poor's. Standard & Poor's Factual Report research has no access to non-public information received by other units of Standard & Poor's. Standard & Poor's does not trade on its own account.

Note: All U.S. and Canadian Companies listed on a National Exchange (not covered by S&P's STARS research) are eligible to obtain this coverage.

About Standard & Poor's

Standard & Poor's, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP), is the world's foremost provider of financial market intelligence, including independent credit ratings, indices, risk evaluation, investment research and data. With approximately 7,500 employees, including wholly owned affiliates, located in 21 countries, Standard & Poor's is an essential part of the world's financial infrastructure and has played a leading role for more than 140 years in providing investors with the independent benchmarks they need to feel more confident about their investment and financial decisions. For more information, visit http://www.standardandpoors.com.

Minera Andes Inc.
Art Johnson, 509-921-732
artjohnson@minandes.com
or
Standard & Poor's
Customers:
Richard Albanese, 212-438-3647
richard_albanese@standardandpoors.com
or
Media Relations:
Michael Privitera, 212-438-6679
michael_privitera@standardandpoors.com