Entitled Aspen development parcel purchased by joint venture led by Alcion Ventures

BOSTON, MA – Alcion Ventures, in conjunction with Golub & Company of Chicago and Aspen based operating partner, Bald Mountain, announced this week that it has purchased a 2.4-acre parcel of land on South Aspen Street in Aspen, Colorado.

The acquisition of the land site was made in collaboration with the former owner Centurion Partners for $15 million.

The property is currently entitled for 14 luxury townhomes and 17 affordable housing units.

 The partnership is currently reviewing all development options including the viability of continuing with the previous owner’s plans for a 120,000-square-foot five-star luxury hotel project.

“Aspen is a unique and durable resort market and we pursued this parcel for several years before purchasing it at distressed pricing during its foreclosure.

"The property is the last major development parcel up against the mountain and we look forward to working with local constituents to have a lasting positive impact,” said Mark Potter, (middle right photo)  co-founder of Alcion.

Alcion is collaborating with Golub & Company and Bald Mountain Development, LLC, a local operator/developer with extensive knowledge in resort and residential real estate development.

The collective team is working with the Aspen City Community Development staff in finalizing its plans for the site. Golub & Company has been active in Aspen and Snowmass for decades.

“Our deep history in this region, combined with our 15-year relationship with Alcion principals, makes this opportunity a great fit,” said Michael Newman, (middle left photo)  President and CEO of Golub & Company. “We look forward to working with our partners and the Aspen community to create a vibrant and dynamic development.”

“Alcion has a thesis driven investment approach, and once Mark and I decided to focus our attention on the resort segment of the real estate industry, we quickly realized that Aspen was a unique place where we found multiple drivers of demand, constraints on supply and pricing power,” said Martin Zieff, (lower right photo)  Co-founder of Alcion.

“Since launching our search for a suitable investment more than a decade ago, we have reviewed or controlled almost every major parcel in downtown Aspen.

"With Bald Mountain, we undertook the development of the Hyatt Grand Aspen in 2000. We believe the Aspen Street land parcel will present us with an opportunity to produce superior risk adjusted returns.”

Contacts:

Mark Potter, Founding Partner, Alcion Ventures, 617.603.1002 mpotter@alcionventures.com

Mary Cerio, Associate, Alcion Ventures, 617.603.1020, mcerio@alcionventures.com

Laurie Fish McDowell, goFish! Communications, 617.875.5070, lkfish@hotmail.com

Alcion Ventures Adds Three Professionals to Investment Management Team

BOSTON, MA, Dec. 1, 2008 – Alcion Ventures announced today that it has added three professionals to its investment management team. These additions position Alcion to take advantage of distressed real estate investment markets.

David Ferrero (top right photo) oins Alcion as a Partner and is responsible for investment management, investor relations, and new business development.

Mr. Ferrero has more than 15 years of diversified real estate investment management experience. Prior to joining Alcion, he was the Director of Real Estate Investments for Harvard Management Company and a principal at Charlesbank Capital Partners.

Mr. Ferrero is a Chartered Financial Analyst and member of the Association for Investment Management and Research as well as the Boston Security Analysts Society. He has a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

Eugene DelFavero joins Alcion as a Partner and the Chief Financial Officer and is responsible for the financial, accounting and tax oversight of Alcion’s funds and investments. Mr. DelFavero has more than 20 years of real estate finance experience.

Prior to joining Alcion, he was a Managing Partner at RJ Gold & Company. Mr. DelFavero is a CPA in Massachusetts and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants.

He has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Northeastern University and a Master of Science in Taxation from Bentley College.

Meg Donahue joins Alcion as an Associate and is responsible for financial and investment analysis and investment management. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Donahue was an Associate at The Praedium Group LLC. She is a member of the Urban Land Institute and holds a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University.

“We are pleased that Gene and Dave are joining Mark Potter (bottom left photo) and me as Partners, and to have Meg as an Associate,” said Martin Zieff, (middle right photo) Founding Partner of Alcion.

“We are excited to expand the Alcion team with these talented individuals and position ourselves to manage our existing portfolio and take advantage of the current investment environment.”

Based in Boston, Alcion Ventures is a real estate private equity firm and the investment manager for all Alcion Funds. Alcion Ventures executes a high-yield strategy with uniquely positioned real estate in select markets. For more information about Alcion Ventures, visit the company's website, http://www.alcionventures.com/.

Contact:

Laurie F. McDowellgoFish! communications, lkfish@hotmail.com, 617-875-5070