Guinness Asset Management’s third EIS fund, Guinness EIS Fund 3, is now open for investment. This fund will invest in UK sustainable infrastructure companies through the tax-efficient EIS structure.
The Guinness EIS Fund 3 will target attractive risk-weighted returns by making investments in Sustainable Infrastructure companies which have predictable revenues, low technology risk and low correlation with other asset classes.
Guinness believes it has identified investment opportunities in renewable energy and energy efficiency companies which have these investment characteristics. Renewable energy investment opportunities include hydroelectric and biomass projects, while energy efficiency projects focus on reducing energy costs in office and commercial buildings. This is achieved by making improvements such as installing LED lighting or insulation for buildings, and sharing the cost saving benefits of these installations with the user of the building. We aim to deliver returns in excess of GBP1.50 to investors (including £0.30 EIS Income Tax Relief) net of all fees per GBP1.00 invested.
The fund will be managed by Shane Gallwey (pictured), Tom Hill-Norton and Edward Guinness who bring extensive private equity and renewable energy experience and have raised and invested the Guinness Renewable Energy Funds 1 and 2. They are supported by an Investment Committee that complements the team with the experience of Tim Guinness, Andrew Martin Smith and Lord Flight, Chairman of the EIS Association.
Gallwey says: “Not only did the government enhance EIS Income Tax relief from 20% to 30% in last year’s budget, but the introduction of a 50% income tax band and a capping of pension contributions at £50,000 per annum has brought the benefits of EIS into sharp relief for many High Net Worth investors. We expect many new investors to make EIS investments in 2012 as a means of diversifying their portfolios, generating returns with low correlations to the equity markets and making investments that have attractive tax benefits. The Guinness EIS Fund 3 is making investments at the lower-risk end of the universe of EIS funds and is therefore an attractive place for investors to make their first foray into EIS investing.”
