Economic stimulus packages to make investing in infrastructure an even
    greater opportunityTORONTO, Jan. 22 /CNW/ - Governments worldwide are entering 2009 with an
enhanced focus on creating jobs and bolstering the economy through increased
spending on infrastructure initiatives. And as governments pick up the pace of
infrastructure spending - on projects ranging from roads to bridges, rail,
energy, public transit, and airports - infrastructure as an investment asset
class will become increasingly attractive to individual investors looking to
share in the growth.
    "We estimate that in the next 20 years, global spending on infrastructure
could be as high as US$20 trillion," says Nick Langley of Sydney,
Australia-based RARE Infrastructure, one of the world's most experienced
global infrastructure investment management teams and portfolio manager of the
Renaissance Global Infrastructure Fund.
    "Increased infrastructure spending has been the cornerstone of many
government stimulus packages announced in response to the global slow down. We
also expect regulators and governments to allow greater returns to
infrastructure investors to attract private sector capital given the
increasing pressure on public budgets."
    For retail investors, the opportunity lies in public-private
partnerships. As governments look to engage the private sector in their
infrastructure initiatives, private sector project financing is attracting
individual investors in droves to this emerging asset class which was once
restricted to institutional investors only.
    "Global infrastructure funds appeal to investors who want defensive
investments to generate stable long-term cash flow, especially throughout
retirement," said Steve Geist, President of CIBC Asset Management. "Where
there is a long-term need for investment, high returns can be sustainable and
since the beginning of the decade, global infrastructure portfolios have
consistently outpaced global equities indexes."
    Renaissance Investments offers the Renaissance Global Infrastructure
Fund, one of a few infrastructure funds on the market available to retail
investors in Canada. A concentrated portfolio of infrastructure stocks managed
by RARE Infrastructure, clients benefit from more than 70 years of combined
global infrastructure expertise.
    For those who prefer a broader blend of asset classes, the Renaissance
Optimal Income Portfolio is diversified across six distinct funds, with a 15%
concentration in the Renaissance Global Infrastructure Fund. "Talk to your
investment advisor about how investing in infrastructure could align with your
personal portfolio strategy," Geist advises.

    Renaissance Investments offers a line-up of high quality investment
solutions that offer investors the very best in choice, value and investment
management expertise. Renaissance Investments products include the Renaissance
Investments family of funds, Axiom Portfolios and Frontiers Pools. Renaissance
Investments is offered by CIBC Asset Management Inc., a wholly owned
subsidiary of CIBC. For additional information, visit our website at
www.renaissanceinvestments.ca.