Ziegler launches fund for assisted-living.(New assisted-living industry fund)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)

Ziegler Cos. Inc. is hoping to generate healthy returns for investors through a fund that invests in the ailing assisted-living industry.

The Ziegler Healthcare Fund I will likely make its first investment in an assisted-living facility by year-end, company executives said.

Because of the perceived risk of investing in long-term care facilities, the fund needs to deliver returns approaching 30 percent to attract investors, said fund manager Douglas Korey of West Bend-based Ziegler. And Ziegler promises it will do just that.

Many people have shunned investing in the long-term care sector because of troubles it had during the late 1990s due to overly aggressive expansion. …