iTrust Partners Inc. today announced the launch of the world’s first Shari’a compliant fund targeted at Canadian assets, the Canadian Enhanced Income Fund I, Ltd.

“The Canadian Enhanced Income Fund will appeal to investors who have an interest in a Shari’a compliant fund that invests in an asset class pays monthly cash distributions and invests in a country with a growing economy and positive operating surplus. For investors that fit that profile, Canada is a priority country, the strongest G7 economy for the past decade”, said Gary Bartholomew, iTrust Partners’ CEO, in a news release. “Furthermore, given its enormous natural resources and very strong currency, the interest from the Shari’a compliant investor in the Gulf States to invest in Canada, is tremendous. As a result, we tailored an investment product specifically for this market.”

The fund is targeted to be a $400 million open ended fund that invests in some of Canada’s most profitable companies in the oil & gas, energy, utilities and business sectors. The focus is mainly companies that distribute monthly cash flows through income and royalty trust structures and dividend paying equities. The target yield of the fund is 8% annually. The fund distributes cash flows received from its portfolio on a monthly basis.

The portfolio’s security selection is informed by iTrustRatings, a patent pending process developed by the fund’s portfolio manager, Leslie Hayman. This system has consistently outperformed Canadian income trust indices and funds focused on the income trust market over the last three years. The ratings methodology is combined with the risk management and compliance framework developed by iTrust Partners with a view to providing consistent returns for our institutional investors.

Partners has engaged Al-Mashora House for Shari’a Consultations in Kuwait to act as the Shari’a Advisory Board to provide an ongoing screening review of the investments by the fund to ensure adherence to Shari’a compliance provisions.

The fund is available to Gulf State and European investors with the first closing scheduled for June 30. CIBC Bank and Trust Company (Cayman) Ltd. is providing custodial and administration services to the Fund. BMO Capital Markets will be providing prime brokerage services. KPMG (Cayman) is the fund’s auditors and Walkers (Cayman) is counsel to the Fund. Al-Mashora House for Shari’a Consultations in Kuwait is acting as Partners’ Shari’a Advisory Board.

iTrust Partners Inc., a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands, is a value based investment manager for global investors with interest in Canada and the goal of positive absolute returns along with monthly cash income.