By SIMON MOORE 05/11/2010
This new Guernsey registered, London-listed infrastructure investment company invests in public infrastructure projects (through the private finance initiatives (PFI) set up by governments as "public–private partnerships" (PPPs)). These deliver long-term stable income and thus allow the fund to pay a dependable bi-annual dividend yield to investors, initially set at 6%. It will be listed on the main LSE exchange from 29th November 2010. It will be fully invested at launch with a £270m portfolio of 19 mature, income-producing assets bought from the John Laing Group, who will maintain a 20-25% holding in the listed investment company. This fund also has first refusal on newly completed projects from the John Laing Group. There is a current pipeline of 17 such projects, valued at £325m, which should be complete in 3 years.
John Laing are well known for their infrastructure work and the completed projects in this portfolio are major, high quality assets. We like the long term and secure income streams from the portfolio which, though having little prospect for material capital growth, should produce a dependable dividend for investors.
3 star rating awarded.