ACON Investments Leads Investment in Hidrotenencias – A Hydro Power Holding Company Based in Panama

Washington, D.C. – March 12, 2012 – ACON Latin America Opportunities Fund (“ALAOF”), a private equity investment fund managed by an affiliate of ACON Investments LLC, (“ACON”), announced today that it has led a consortium of co-investors that includes the Netherlands Development Finance Company (“FMO”) (Dutch development bank) and Société de Promotion et de Participation pour la Coopération Economique (“PROPARCO”) (French development bank) to invest in a controlling stake in Hidrotenencias, S.A. (“Hidrotenencias” or the “Company”).  Asergen, S.C., the largest developer of mini-hydro projects in Mexico, will support the Company with technical and operational assistance.  Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Hidrotenencias currently owns three run-of-the-river hydroelectric projects located in the Chiriqui province, western Panama, with a total capacity of 30MW. Each of these power plants has an installed capacity of 10MW.  Its first plant started operations and has been generating since 2008, while two new plants are expected to start operations by the end of this year. In addition to completing the current projects, the Company has an identified pipeline of renewable energy projects to further grow Hidrotenencias in Panama and other countries in Latin America.  Banco General, S.A. and Banco Aliado, S.A. provided debt financing in connection with the development of the projects.

“Latin America is a region of the world with a very high potential for hydro power generation. Within Latin America, Panama is the fastest growing economy and one with limited access to fossil fuels” said Jorge Dickens, a Partner at ACON. “We are very enthusiastic about the possibilities of this investment and delighted to partner with FMO, PROPARCO, Asergen and the group of local investors and lenders to develop Hidrotenencias as a regional renewable energy platform.”

“We are very pleased to join ACON and the Hidrotenencias’ local investors to provide clean energy that meets the highest standards for efficiency and protection of the environment to support economic growth in Panama and the region. This partnership will enhance our commitment in the region to promote renewable energy and fight against climate change. The three existing hydro projects will help avoid 60,000 tCO2eq emissions per year.” said Etienne Viard, Chief Executive Officer of PROPARCO.  “We are excited to participate in the Hidrotenencias investment which contributes to the expansion of reliable and clean access to energy in Panama. We look forward to continue to support the company in its development into a broader platform for renewable energy generation in the region.” said Jurgen Rigterink, Chief Investment Officer of FMO.

 “This partnership with ACON opens an array of opportunities for Hidrotenencias by providing additional capital and experience to expand the portfolio of renewable energy assets throughout the region.  We are currently evaluating additional opportunities to achieve this goal.” said Alejandro Hanono, President of Hidrotenencias, who has led the development of the Company since it was founded 8 years ago. “As a committed long-term investor with 16 years of experience investing in Latin America, we believe ACON is an ideal partner as we continue in our path of profitable growth”.

The Woodbridge Group LLC acted as financial advisor to Hidrotenencias on this transaction.

ACON was one of the earliest private equity firms to invest in Latin America and has invested successfully in both energy and energy services, which continue to be ACON’s most significant target sectors both in Latin America and the US.  In 2007, ACON invested in the largest manufacturer of electricity transmission towers in the western hemisphere, SAE Towers, which was sold to KEC International in September 2010.  In addition, over the last decade, ACON has invested in a number of energy and energy services companies including, Mariner Energy, Signal International, Chroma Oil &Gas, Milagro Exploration, Northern Tier Energy and Saga Resources, among others.

Hidrotenencias is the fourth investment completed by ALAOF, which had a final close in February 2011. In July, ALAOF closed an investment in Grupo SALA one of the largest waste management companies in Colombia. In October 2010, ALAOF completed an investment in Invercap, a holding company that owns and operates one of the leading private pension fund managers in Mexico.  Early in 2010, ALAOF made an investment in Credivalores, the largest non-bank consumer lender in Colombia. As part of its investment strategy, ALAOF is actively seeking to complete additional investments throughout Latin America.

About ACON Investments
Founded in 1996, ACON Investments is a private equity investment firm focused on the middle market in both the United States and Latin America that has managed approximately $2.25 billion of capital through various funds.  ALAOF is ACON’s third institutional pool of capital focused on Latin America. The Fund invests throughout the region with a focus on industries or companies at key inflection points in their development and pursues these opportunities in close partnership with established management teams.  Headquartered in Washington, D.C., ACON has offices and investment professionals throughout the Americas including Mexico City and Sao Paulo as well as in Madrid, Spain.
www.aconinvestments.com

About FMO
FMO (the Netherlands Development Finance Company) is the Dutch development bank. FMO supports sustainable private sector growth in developing and emerging markets by investing in ambitious entrepreneurs. FMO believes a strong private sector leads to economic and social development, empowering people to employ their skills and improve their quality of life. FMO focuses on four sectors that have high development impact: financial institutions, energy, housing, and agribusiness. With an investment portfolio of EUR 5 billion, FMO is one of the largest bilateral private sector development banks.
WWW.FMO.NL

About PROPARCO
PROPARCO is a Development Finance Institution jointly held by Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and public and private shareholders from the North and South. Its mission is to catalyze private investment in emerging and developing countries with the aim of supporting growth, sustainable development and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). PROPARCO finances investments that are economically viable, socially equitable, environmentally sustainable and financially profitable. PROPARCO is one of the main bilateral development finance institutions in the world. It invests on four continents encompassing the major emerging countries and the poorest countries, particularly in Africa, and has a high level of requirements in terms of social and environmental responsibility.
WWW.PROPARCO.FR

About Asergen, S.C.
Based in Mexico City, ASERGEN is Mexico’s leading developer and operator of small hydro projects.  Starting in 1999, it has built, operated and sold 3 power plants and has 6 additional plants in various stages of development.
www.asergen.com.mx

Contact:
Jorge Dickens, ACON Investments +1 (202) 454 1137
Mauricio Cortes, ACON Investments, +52 (55) 5570-6476