First Trust Energy Infrastructure Fund Declares its Monthly Common Share Distribution of $0.10 Per Share for January

Rhea-AI Summary

First Trust Energy Infrastructure Fund (FIF) has declared a monthly common share distribution of $0.10 per share payable on January 16, 2024, to shareholders of record as of January 3, 2024. The distribution rate based on the December 19, 2023 NAV is 6.88% and based on the closing market price is 7.31%. The Fund has approved a managed distribution policy to make periodic distributions of long-term capital gains as frequently as monthly each tax year.

Financial Analyst

The announcement by First Trust Energy Infrastructure Fund (FIF) regarding its monthly common share distribution of $0.10 per share is a reflection of the fund's current distributable cash flows and its managed distribution policy. The distribution rates based on NAV and closing market price indicate the yield investors can expect from holding the shares. It is crucial for investors to note that the distribution includes not only income but potentially also long-term capital gains, which can affect the tax implications of the investment.

While the distribution rate provides an immediate return on investment, it's important to consider the sustainability of these payouts, especially since the distribution rate is independent of the Fund's performance within any particular period. This could imply that distributions are not solely tied to the Fund's operational success but might also include return of capital, which could erode the asset base over time if not supported by equivalent fund growth.

Tax Advisor

Investors should be aware that the Fund's managed distribution policy allows for the periodic distribution of long-term capital gains. This approach may have significant tax implications, as the character of distributions for tax purposes can vary from the composition of distributions reported by the Fund. The advance distribution of long-term capital gains could potentially alter an investor's tax liability throughout the year rather than at year-end. Therefore, shareholders should consult with tax professionals to understand the impact on their individual tax situations and plan accordingly.

Investment Strategist

From an investment strategy perspective, the Fund's distribution policy may appeal to income-focused investors seeking regular cash flows. However, it is essential to assess the Fund's underlying assets and the energy infrastructure sector's performance to determine the long-term viability of such distributions. Factors such as commodity price volatility, regulatory changes and shifts in energy consumption patterns can all impact the sector and, consequently, the Fund's ability to maintain its distribution levels. Investors should balance the attractive distribution rates with the potential risks inherent in the energy infrastructure sector.

WHEATON, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- First Trust Energy Infrastructure Fund (the "Fund") (NYSE: FIF) has declared the Fund’s regularly scheduled monthly common share distribution in the amount of $0.10 per share payable on January 16, 2024, to shareholders of record as of January 3, 2024. The ex-dividend date is expected to be January 2, 2024. The monthly distribution information for the Fund appears below.

First Trust Energy Infrastructure Fund (FIF):
Distribution per share:		$0.10
Distribution Rate based on the December 19, 2023 NAV of $17.45:		6.88%
Distribution Rate based on the December 19, 2023 closing market price of $16.41:		7.31%

The Fund's Board of Trustees has approved a managed distribution policy for the Fund (the "Plan") in reliance on exemptive relief received from the Securities and Exchange Commission which permits the Fund to make periodic distributions of long-term capital gains as frequently as monthly each tax year. Under the Plan, the Fund intends to continue to pay a recurring monthly distribution that reflects the distributable cash flow of the Fund. A portion of this monthly distribution may include long-term capital gains. This may result in a reduction of the long-term capital gain distribution necessary at year end by distributing long-term capital gains throughout the year. The annual distribution rate is independent of the Fund's performance during any particular period. Accordingly, you should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of any distribution or from the terms of the Plan.

The distribution may consist of net investment income earned by the Fund, net short-term and long-term capital gains and/or tax-deferred return of capital. Tax-deferred return of capital, if any, is primarily due to the tax treatment of cash distributions made by master-limited partnerships ("MLPs") in which the Fund invests. The final determination of the source of tax status of all 2024 distributions will be made after the end of 2024 and will be provided on Form 1099-DIV.

The Fund is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide a high level of total return with an emphasis on current distributions paid to shareholders. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objectives by investing primarily in securities of companies engaged in the energy infrastructure sector. These companies principally include publicly-traded MLPs and limited liability companies taxed as partnerships, MLP affiliates, YieldCos, pipeline companies, utilities, and other companies that derive at least 50% of their revenues from operating or providing services in support of infrastructure assets such as pipelines, power transmission and petroleum and natural gas storage in the petroleum, natural gas and power generation industries (collectively, "Energy Infrastructure Companies"). To generate additional income, the Fund expects to write (or sell) covered call options on up to 35% of the managed assets held in the Fund's portfolio.

First Trust Advisors L.P. ("FTA") is a federally registered investment advisor and serves as the Fund's investment advisor. FTA and its affiliate First Trust Portfolios L.P. ("FTP"), a FINRA registered broker-dealer, are privately-held companies that provide a variety of investment services. FTA has collective assets under management or supervision of approximately $201 billion as of November 30, 2023 through unit investment trusts, exchange-traded funds, closed-end funds, mutual funds and separate managed accounts. FTA is the supervisor of the First Trust unit investment trusts, while FTP is the sponsor. FTP is also a distributor of mutual fund shares and exchange-traded fund creation units. FTA and FTP are based in Wheaton, Illinois.

Energy Income Partners, LLC ("EIP") serves as the Fund's investment sub-advisor and provides advisory services to a number of investment companies and partnerships for the purpose of investing in MLPs and other energy infrastructure securities. EIP is one of the early investment advisors specializing in this area. As of November 30, 2023, EIP managed or supervised approximately $5.1 billion in client assets.

Principal Risk Factors: Risks are inherent in all investing. Certain risks applicable to the Fund are identified below, which includes the risk that you could lose some or all of your investment in the Fund. The principal risks of investing in the Fund are spelled out in the Fund's annual shareholder reports. The order of the below risk factors does not indicate the significance of any particular risk factor. The Fund also files reports, proxy statements and other information that is available for review.

Past performance is no assurance of future results. Investment return and market value of an investment in the Fund will fluctuate. Shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. There can be no assurance that the Fund's investment objectives will be achieved. The Fund may not be appropriate for all investors.

Market risk is the risk that a particular security, or shares of a fund in general may fall in value. Securities are subject to market fluctuations caused by such factors as general economic conditions, political events, regulatory or market developments, changes in interest rates and perceived trends in securities prices. Shares of a fund could decline in value or underperform other investments as a result. In addition, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, spread of infectious disease or other public health issues, recessions, natural disasters or other events could have significant negative impact on a fund.

Current market conditions risk is the risk that a particular investment, or shares of the fund in general, may fall in value due to current market conditions. As a means to fight inflation, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have raised interest rates and expect to continue to do so, and the Federal Reserve has announced that it intends to reverse previously implemented quantitative easing. Recent and potential future bank failures could result in disruption to the broader banking industry or markets generally and reduce confidence in financial institutions and the economy as a whole, which may also heighten market volatility and reduce liquidity. Ongoing armed conflicts between Russia and Ukraine in Europe and among Israel, Hamas and other militant groups in the Middle East, have caused and could continue to cause significant market disruptions and volatility within the markets in Russia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States. The hostilities and sanctions resulting from those hostilities have and could continue to have a significant impact on certain fund investments as well as fund performance and liquidity. The COVID-19 global pandemic, or any future public health crisis, and the ensuing policies enacted by governments and central banks have caused and may continue to cause significant volatility and uncertainty in global financial markets, negatively impacting global growth prospects.

The Fund is subject to risks, including the fact that it is a non-diversified closed-end management investment company.

Because the Fund is concentrated in securities issued by energy infrastructure companies, it will be more susceptible to adverse economic or regulatory occurrences affecting that industry, including high interest costs, high leverage costs, the effects of economic slowdown, surplus capacity, increased competition, uncertainties concerning the availability of fuel at reasonable prices, the effects of energy conservation policies and other factors. Investments in securities of MLPs involve certain risks different from or in addition to the risks of investing in common stocks. The number of energy-related MLPs has declined since 2014. The industry is witnessing the consolidation or simplification of corporate structures where the MLP sleeve of capital is being eliminated. As a result of the foregoing, the Fund's MLP investments could become less diverse and the Fund may increase its non-MLP investments consistent with its investment objective and policies. Changes in tax laws or regulations, or interpretations thereof in the future, could adversely affect the Fund or the MLPs, MLP-related entities and other energy sector and energy utility companies in which the Fund invests.

The Fund invests in securities of non-U.S. issuers which are subject to higher volatility than securities of U.S. issuers. Because the Fund invests in non-U.S. securities, you may lose money if the local currency of a non-U.S. market depreciates against the U.S. dollar.

There can be no assurance as to what portion of the distributions paid to the Fund's Common Shareholders will consist of tax-advantaged qualified dividend income.

The London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") has ceased to be made available as a reference rate. Any potential effects of the transition away from LIBOR on the fund or on certain instruments in which the fund invests is difficult to predict and could result in losses to the fund. The unavailability or replacement of LIBOR may affect the value, liquidity or return on certain fund investments and may result in costs incurred in connection with closing out positions and entering into new trades.

As the writer (seller) of a call option, the Fund forgoes, during the life of the option, the opportunity to profit from increases in the market value of the portfolio security covering the option above the sum of the premium and the strike price of the call option but retains the risk of loss should the price of the underlying security decline. The value of call options written by the Fund may be adversely affected if the market for the option is reduced or becomes illiquid. There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist when the Fund seeks to close out an option position.

If short-term interest rates are lower than the Fund's fixed rate of payment on an interest rate swap, the swap will reduce common share net earnings. In addition, a default by the counterparty to a swap transaction could also negatively impact the performance of the common shares.

Use of leverage can result in additional risk and cost, and can magnify the effect of any losses.

The risks of investing in the Fund are spelled out in the shareholder reports and other regulatory filings.

The information presented is not intended to constitute an investment recommendation for, or advice to, any specific person. By providing this information, First Trust is not undertaking to give advice in any fiduciary capacity within the meaning of ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code or any other regulatory framework. Financial professionals are responsible for evaluating investment risks independently and for exercising independent judgment in determining whether investments are appropriate for their clients.

The Fund's daily closing New York Stock Exchange price and net asset value per share as well as other information can be found at https://www.ftportfolios.com or by calling 1-800-988-5891.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231220384651/en/

Press Inquiries

Ryan Issakainen

630-765-8689

Analyst Inquiries

Jeff Margolin

630-915-6784

Broker Inquiries

Sales Team

866-848-9727

Source: First Trust Energy Infrastructure Fund

FAQ

What is the monthly common share distribution declared by First Trust Energy Infrastructure Fund (FIF)?

First Trust Energy Infrastructure Fund (FIF) has declared a monthly common share distribution of $0.10 per share payable on January 16, 2024, to shareholders of record as of January 3, 2024.

What is the distribution rate based on the December 19, 2023 NAV and closing market price for First Trust Energy Infrastructure Fund (FIF)?

The distribution rate based on the December 19, 2023 NAV is 6.88% and based on the closing market price is 7.31%.

What is the managed distribution policy approved by First Trust Energy Infrastructure Fund (FIF)?

The Fund has approved a managed distribution policy to make periodic distributions of long-term capital gains as frequently as monthly each tax year.