Since entering the sector in 2020, Redwheel has built a differentiated, Board-first model for Investment Trusts, treating each Trust as a standalone and truly independent entity and offering the sharper alignment and focus that Boards should expect from their Investment Manager.
Redwheel acts as Investment Manager for Temple Bar Investment Trust (TMPL), Ecofin Global Utilities and Infrastructure Trust (EGL), and Hydrogen Capital Growth plc (HGEN).
A different kind of Investment Trust manager.
Since Redwheel assumed our first Investment Trust mandate for Temple Bar Investment Trust in 2020, the sector has experienced a period of rapid change, disruption and consolidation, leading Boards to assess long-standing relationships and look for managers who both understand the structure and remain excited about its potential. With that very much in mind, Redwheel has developed a partnership-led approach that we feel offers something distinct to the market.
The foundation to that has been to listen; to our Boards, investors, and other service providers, and to then collaborate with all parties to develop each Trust as an enduring and unique entity. That philosophy has underpinned our journey so far and is central to how we want to grow from here.
Independence of Boards at the heart.
We regard the independence of Investment Trust Boards as a genuine strength of the structure, rather than a governance hurdle to be endured. The Board’s role in representing shareholders’ interests and holding the manager to account is something we actively welcome, along with an independent and experienced AIFM to provide oversight and advice to the Directors.
Alongside delivering performance outcomes, our starting point is always to understand the Board’s objectives for the Trust and how we can help to deliver them. When a Board knows they will be listened to, it leads to engaged and collaborative relationships, where complex issues such as mandate evolution, discount management and how best to engage with shareholders can be discussed openly.
Long‑term mind‑set, long‑term capital.
We believe that Redwheel’s culture of long-term, autonomous investment teams is a natural match for the fixed-capital, long-horizon nature of investment trusts. Our portfolio managers have the conditions to take genuinely long-term views and to back high-conviction ideas, aligned to both the wider business and their investors and unburdened by a central “house view”. As we have seen with both Temple Bar Investment Trust and Ecofin Global Utilities and Infrastructure Trust, the closed-ended structure and other benefits such as the considered use of gearing offers the ideal environment for our teams to deliver investment outcomes to Trust shareholders.
Alongside our investment teams, autonomy, ownership and collaboration sits at the core of everything Redwheel does. Our approach aligns well with Boards that want a high-touch, accountable relationship with their manager and direct engagement with senior members of the team who can act quickly when needed.
Supporting distinctive Trust identities.
Our experience with Investment Trusts has shown us that whilst good performance is important for long-term success, it is not sufficient in isolation. Distribution, branding, marketing, PR and governance all need to align behind a clear and credible story tailored to the specific Trust, rather than a generic template. We have therefore worked closely with each Board and other service partners to develop an individual identity for their Trust, including dedicated branding, websites and communication strategies – so that the vehicle can stand out and compete in a crowded market.
Redwheel’s portfolio managers are closely involved in telling that story, partnering with a range of service providers to engage with both professional and retail investors via a variety of channels. That collaborative approach ensures the investment strategy, messaging and shareholder communication are fully joined‑up and cover the key investor audiences, something which we believe is essential if a Trust is to grow its shareholder base, narrow its discount and build a loyal and diversified register over time.
A partner, not a product range.
Redwheel’s structure and approach is central to what we offer Boards. We do not seek to create a “Redwheel range” of Investment Trusts, but instead see each Trust as an independent entity with its own mandate, history and shareholder base, which we are there to support and grow. For our investment teams, this means treating Trust mandates as flagship strategies rather than one of many near‑identical products competing internally for attention and resources.
We see significant further potential in the sector and are committed to maximising the opportunities within our existing mandates, which we believe offer differentiated and relevant propositions for investors. At the same time, Redwheel remains open to additional Investment Trust mandates that align with our core capabilities and philosophy, as well as to new investment teams already managing Trusts who are seeking a supportive and aligned environment. In a period of ongoing consolidation and change across the sector, we believe our combination of long‑term culture, Board‑first mindset and operational readiness, positions us as a differentiated partner for Boards looking to secure the next chapter for their Trust.
Key Information
No investment strategy or risk management technique can guarantee returns or eliminate risks in any market environment. Past performance is not a guide to the future. The prices of investments and income from them may fall as well as rise and investors may not get back the full amount invested. Forecasts and estimates are based upon subjective assumptions about circumstances and events that may not yet have taken place and may never do so. The statements and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author as of the date of publication, and do not necessarily represent the view of Redwheel. This article does not constitute investment advice and the information shown is for illustrative purposes only.