CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - June 10, 2014) -
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
Canoe EIT Income Fund ("EIT" or the "Fund") (TSX:EIT.UN) is pleased to confirm its current $0.10 per unit monthly distribution through the first quarter of 2016. The Fund also announces new initiatives intended to increase long-term, sustainable value for unitholders of the Fund.
The Canoe EIT value plan includes managing the Fund to ensure longer-term sustainability of the monthly distribution, enhancing disclosure and communication to unitholders and their advisors, and implementing a marketing and media campaign designed to increase awareness of the Fund's value proposition and the Fund's excellent performance under award-winning portfolio manager, Robert Taylor.
"After extensive discussions with investment advisors and EIT unitholders, we believe that the current market valuation of EIT does not reflect the strong investment returns and attractive features of the Fund," stated Nevin G. Markwart, president and CEO of the Fund's Manager, Canoe Financial LP.
The Fund is one of Canada's largest, most liquid, low-cost, income-producing investment funds. Since the change in portfolio manager to Mr. Taylor in August 2013, the Fund has produced a 22.4% return to May 31, 2014 outperforming the S&P/TSX Composite's return of 19.8% for the same period. The Fund's net asset value (NAV) has also outperformed its S&P/TSX Composite benchmark over each of 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year time periods as at May 31, 2014, net of fees. This strong performance has given the Manager of the Fund sufficient confidence to confirm the long-term sustainability of the monthly distribution. The Fund is actively managed to provide regular and sustainable distributions to investors, while minimizing costs.
| Fund Performance* |
| (NAV performance, net of fees) |
| YTD | 1 yr. | 3 yr. | 5 yr. | 10 yr. | |
| EIT.UN | 10.4% | 22.0% | 5.5% | 14.5% | 9.5% |
| S&P/TSX Composite | 8.5% | 19.0% | 5.0% | 10.2% | 8.5% |
| *As at May 31, 2014 | |||||
Key initiatives include:
Implementing a Long-term Distribution Plan
The Fund intends to pay a $0.10 per unit monthly distribution through the first quarter of 2016. Record, payment and ex-distribution dates for each distribution will continue to be provided via news release on a monthly basis.
The Fund's objective is to maximize monthly distributions and maximize net asset value, while maintaining and expanding a diversified investment portfolio. Since inception, the distribution has been funded from a variety of investment sources, including portfolio dividends, interest, capital gains and return of capital. Since taking over management of the Fund in August 2013, Robert Taylor has employed a total return investment strategy that generally seeks to generate return from dividend growth securities. Taylor's approach is to create a focused, high conviction portfolio of 40 to 60 securities - investments in solid companies with sustainable business models that typically generate in the range of 6% to 10% earnings growth and a 2% to 3% dividend yield, for a total return of 10% to 12% for these securities over time. The Manager believes that Robert Taylor's investment approach positions the portfolio to continue to deliver the current monthly distribution level.
Enhancing Disclosure and Investor Information
The Manager is committed to enhanced disclosure and transparency to ensure investors and their advisors are informed on Fund activities and direction, while at the same time maintaining the portfolio manager's competitive position. For example, we recently redesigned Canoe EIT Income Fund's online presence including improved website content, functionality and ease of navigation, making it easier and faster for investors to find relevant information. The Fund also has a dedicated investor relations team which is directly responsible for managing the Fund's relationships with unitholders and the investment community.
Raising Awareness
The Manager also intends to increase portfolio manager marketing activities to highlight the key features and benefits of the Fund, such as its liquidity, low fees, diversification, growth potential and annual redemption privilege which allows unitholders to redeem units at a price substantially above the Fund's current market price.
Current initiatives include implementing conference calls where the portfolio manager will provide investors and the market with an update on Fund activities, targeted cross-country roadshows/meetings with investment advisors and an active media campaign to raise the profile of the Fund within the investment community.
"We know that investors and their advisors have a wide range of investment choices. Each element of the value plan is designed with the long-term sustainability of the Fund in mind," said Mr. Markwart. "We believe these initiatives will inform investors and their advisors of the Fund's key features and benefits, leading to greater awareness of the Fund. We will continue to keep unitholders and their advisors updated on our progress with these value enhancing initiatives."
June 2014 Distribution
The June distribution will be $0.10 per unit to be paid on July 15, 2014 to unitholders of record on June 20, 2014. The ex-distribution date for this payment is June 18, 2014.
About the Fund
The Fund is one of Canada's largest, diversified closed-end investment funds and is listed on the TSX under the symbol EIT.UN. The Fund is actively managed and invests in a diversified portfolio of income-generating and capital growth-oriented securities listed primarily on the TSX. The Fund is designed to maximize distributions and net asset value for the benefit of its unitholders. The Fund is managed by Robert Taylor, Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager of Canoe Financial.
About the Manager, Canoe Financial LP
Canoe Financial is an investment management firm focused on building financial wealth for Canadians through investing in Canada. Its 'GO CANADA!®' investment thesis reflects Canoe's strategic confidence in Canada as a place to invest. With continued global urbanization, increasing worldwide demand for resources, and Canada's sound fiscal structure, Canoe believes this country provides long-term growth potential for investors.
Canoe is one of Canada's fastest-growing mutual fund companies and as at May 31, 2014, manages approximately $2.5 billion in assets through its investment products. To learn more about Canoe Financial, visit www.canoefinancial.com.
® 'GO CANADA!' is a registered trade-mark of Canoe Financial LP.
Forward Looking Statement: Certain statements included in this news release constitute forward looking statements which reflect Canoe Financial's current expectations regarding future results or events. Words such as "may," "will," "should," "could," "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "intend," "plan," "potential," "continue" and similar expressions have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties and a number of factors could cause actual results to materially differ from expectations discussed in the forward looking statements including, but not limited to, changes in general economic and market conditions and other risk factors. Although the forward-looking statements are based on what Canoe Financial believes to be reasonable assumptions, we cannot assure that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the current date and we assume no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances.
The Fund makes monthly distributions of an amount comprised in whole or in part of Return of Capital (ROC) of the net asset value per unit. A ROC reduces the amount of your original investment and may result in the return to you of the entire amount of your original investment. ROC that is not reinvested will reduce the net asset value of the fund, which could reduce the fund's ability to generate future income. You should not draw any conclusions about the fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution.
This communication is not to be construed as a public offering to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy securities. Such an offer can only be made by way of a prospectus or other applicable offering document and should be read carefully before making any investment. This release is for information purposes only. Investors should consult their Investment Advisor for details and risk factors regarding specific strategies and various investment products.
Contact Information:
Investor Relations
1-877-434-2796
info@canoefinancial.com
www.canoefinancial.com