Commission File Number 32297

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  Press Release

 

CPFL Renováveis announces acquisition of

Usina Ester co-generation assets

 

As a result of the transaction, the company now has eight biomass co-generation projects in its portfolio. Acquisition value of R$ 111.5 million.

 

São Paulo, March 12, 2012 – CPFL Energia S.A. (“CPFL Energia”) informs that CPFL Energias Renováveis S.A. (“CPFL Renováveis”) have released, on the date hereof, the following Press Release:

 

CPFL Energias Renováveis acquired on March 9, 2012, 100% of the co-generation assets of electric energy and steam from SPE Lacenas Participacoes Ltda., a controlled company of Usina Açucareira Ester. About 7 average MW of co-generation power from Usina Ester were sold at the alternative sources auction (LFA) of 2007, with a term of 15 years and at an average sales price of R$ 177 per MWh (base date of January 2012). The remaining energy will be sold on the free market.

 

The acquisition value is R$ 111.5 million, comprising, on the date of signing the agreement, (i) R$ 50.9 million to be paid to the sellers; and (ii) the assumption of net debt in the amount of R$ 60.6 million. The transfer of the shares is subject to prior approval of the National Electric Energy Agency (ANEEL) and other relevant regulatory bodies.

 

Located in Cosmópolis, in the country side of the State of São Paulo, Usina Ester already has authorization from ANEEL to exploit energy from biomass produced by crushing sugarcane, with an installed capacity of 40 MW and injected power limited to 30 MW. Usina Ester began the commercial process of co-generation in 2010.

 

The transaction also provides that CPFL Renováveis will carry out investments to increase production and co-generation efficiency of the plant, increasing the volume of exportable power from 11 average MW in 2012 to 16.3 average MW in 2016.

 

This acquisition, together with other 3 plants in operation, now give CPFL Renováveis a portfolio of 175 MW of capacity from biomass. Additionally, another 4 plants with installed capacity of 195 MW are under construction, scheduled to start operations by 2013.

 

The company's portfolio in the three sources in which it operates - small hydroelectric power plants, wind farms and biomass plants - now consists of 850 MW in operation and 885 MW under construction, as well as 2,703 MW under development, comprising total installed capacity of 4,438 MW.

 

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The largest company in Latin America in the segment of small and medium-sized electric energy generation from renewable sources, such as hydro, wind and biomass, CPFL Renováveis is partnered with CPFL Geração, CPFL Brasil, Pátria Investimentos, Eton Park (a U.S. funds manager), FIP Brasil Energia (fund managed by BTG Pactual), Banco Bradesco de Investimento (through BBI FIP Multisetorial Plus), DEG (development bank that is part of German financial group KfW) and GMR Empreendimentos Energéticos. 

About Usina Açucareira Ester.

 

Usina Ester is located in the city of Cosmópolis, State of São Paulo. Founded in 1898, today the Plant has crushing capacity of approximately 2.0 million tons of sugarcane per year. 

 

 

Investor Relations at CPFL Energia

Phone: 55-19-3756-6083

Fax: 55-19-3756-6089

E-mail: ri@cpfl.com.br

website: www.cpfl.com.br/ir

 

 

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CPFL ENERGIA S.A.
	By:	/S/  LORIVAL NOGUEIRA LUZ JUNIOR
	Name: Title:	Lorival Nogueira Luz Junior  Chief Financial Officer and Head of Investor Relations