OREANDA-NEWS. January 18, 2016. Gravis Capital Partners LLP ("GCP"), the manager of the FTSE 250 investment trust GCP Infrastructure Investments, is pleased to announce the launch of an exciting new OEIC: the VT UK Infrastructure Income Fund ("UKIIF"). The fund is advised by GCP Advisory and will launch on 25 January with an initial offer period opening on 18 January 2016; it is expected to deliver a 5% pa dividend on its ?1 per share launch price.

This fund is the first of its kind, enabling investors to invest in the UK's listed infrastructure sector - a sector which has grown dramatically and shown superior capital preservation and income characteristics in recent years - through an open-ended structure.

The fund will invest in the UK's listed infrastructure companies, which generate cashflows arising from such socially and economically critical areas as healthcare, education, and power generation and distribution.

UKIIF, which is an FCA authorised OEIC regulated under UCITS IV, seeks to achieve its income and long-term capital appreciation targets by:

·     Only investing in LSE-listed infrastructure funds, infrastructure equities and bonds;

·     Delivering a dividend of 5% per annum, to be paid quarterly;

·     Shielding investors from the volatility of the wider equity market whilst providing inflation protection, a dependable income and modest capital appreciation;

·     Capping the Ongoing Charges Figure (OCF) at the Annual Management Charge (AMC) ensuring all investors will face the same modest charges, irrespective of when they invest.

To date, investing in the infrastructure sector in the UK has only been accessible to non-institutional investors through closed-ended investment trust structures, which has frequently proved a challenge. UKIIF will be the only UK-focused infrastructure fund available on fund platforms in the UK and the only fund in the sector which will qualify for inclusion in Offshore Bonds. There are a limited number of existing open-ended Global, Emerging Market and European Infrastructure Funds, but these offer only modest yields whilst displaying significant volatility due to their exposure to both currency risk and emerging markets, both factors negating the central case for allocating to infrastructure; namely visibility, low volatility and dependable income generation.

UKIIF can be held in ISAs, SIPPs, Offshore Bonds or directly and will be available on all the major platforms from launch.

Valu-Trac Investment Management Limited will act as Authorised Corporate Director for the fund and Highland Capital Partners will be responsible for sales and marketing for UKIIF.

Commenting on UKIIF, Stephen Ellis, senior partner of GCP said: "The creation of this fund will enable investors who prefer to invest in OEICs an alternative way to access solid growth asset classes and we expect UKIIF to look after investors' capital, deliver consistent growth above the rate of inflation and pay a stable, dependable income from assets which are critical to the UK's society and economy."

Rob Burdett, Co-Head F&C Multi-Manager Solutions, further commented: "Much of the world's infrastructure is likely to be financed via the capital markets for the foreseeable future, but it is a complex area involving long-term commitments and requiring specialised detailed contractual and legal knowledge of the various forms of infrastructure asset.  This means a diversified managed approach with specialised management is required for the vast majority of investors. I can think of no better qualified an adviser than GCP for such an approach."