Support for investing in Latin American medium-sized companies

(Caracas, January 15, 2008).- With the objective of supporting business growth and development in Latin America, the Andean Development Corporation announced a US$15 million investment in Aureos Latin American Fund – ALAF. The new fund aims for long-term capital appreciation by investing in the capital of medium-sized Latin American companies.

The initiative is promoted by Aureos Capital, a company dedicated to managing private capital funds which specialize in SMEs in emerging countries. By forming a professional team backed by the commitment of high-level and experienced local partners, and the know-how of a firm with more than 25 offices in Asia, Africa and Latin America, ALAF management is expected to generate results that are attractive for its partners and impressive in terms of development.

CAF President & CEO Enrique García said, "Our participation in ALAF will strengthen the Corporation's role in promoting the region and raising private capital. During the next 12 months, the fund will try to attract new institutional investors from the region and other parts of the world." CAF will also be able to evaluate the social impact of its activity because the fund uses an innovative methodology for measuring the impact of its operations on the quality of life and generation of wealth in its area of influence.

The fund’s activity will focus on offering medium- and long-term capital and quasi-capital facilities to the most promising medium-sized companies in Mexico, Central America and the Andean countries.

Aureos Capital, created in 2001, is one of the leading companies in private capital fund management specializing in providing capital for operations of expansion and acquisition of unlisted small- and medium-sized companies in emerging markets. Aureos aims to double the funds under its management to US$1.20 billion in the next 18 months, and is currently establishing a new generation of regional private capital funds in Latin America, Central Asia and Africa. For more information visit the website: www.aureos.com