314: Money Makers Investment Trusts Podcast - with Ashley Thomas (17 Jan 2026)

In this edition of the Money Makers Investment Trusts Podcast, Jonathan Davis, editor of the Investment Trusts Handbook and winner of the AIC Best Broadcast Journalist Award (2024 and 2025), is joined by Ashley Thomas, renewables infrastructure analyst at Winterflood Securities, to discuss the latest UK offshore wind auction and why the business model of the renewable energy investment trusts is broken This discussion was recorded on Friday 16 January 2026. *** OUT NOW: The 2026 Investment Trusts Handbook *** Available to order from Harriman House: https://harriman-house.com/authors/jonathan-davis/the-investment-trusts-handbook-2026/9781804094358 The Investment Trusts Handbook 2026 is the ninth edition of the highly regarded annual handbook for anyone interested in investment trusts – often referred to as the City’s best-kept secret, or the connoisseur’s choice among investment funds. It is expertly edited by well-known author and professional investor Jonathan Davis, founder and editor of the Money Makers newsletter and podcast. The Investment Trusts Handbook 2026 is an independent educational publication, available through bookshops and extensively online. With articles by 30 different authors, including analysts, fund managers and investment writers, plus more than 80 pages of detailed data and analysis, the latest edition is an indispensable companion for anyone looking to invest in the investment trust sector. *** Section Timestamps: 0:00:24 - Introduction 0:00:39 - The latest offshore wind auction 0:07:35 - The offshore wind industry in general 0:09:54 - The health of the renewables investment trusts sector 0:12:33 - The relationship with gilt yields 0:16:30 - Dealing with discounts and debt capacity 0:23:30 - A short break 0:24:33 - Consolidation clues from the abandoned HICL-TRIG merger? 0:26:49 - Bluefield Solar Income Fund (BSIF) 0:29:26 - Other elements of the renewable energy sector 0:39:31 - Close If you enjoy the weekly podcast, why not also try the Money Makers Circle? This is a membership scheme that offers listeners to the podcast an opportunity, in return for a modest monthly or annual subscription, to receive additional premium content, including interviews, performance data, links to third party research, market/portfolio reviews and regular comments from the editor. A subscription costs £12 a month or £120 for one year. The latest profile available to Circle subscribers is of BH Macro (BHMG/BHMU). Future profiles include Achilles Investment Company (AIC) and Aberforth Geared Value & Income (AGVI). Our new expanded weekly subscriber email includes a comprehensive summary of all the latest news plus the week's biggest share price, NAV and discount movements. Subscribe and you will never miss any important developments from the sector. For more information please visit https://money-makers.co/circle. Membership helps to cover the cost of producing the weekly investment trust podcast, which will continue to be free for the foreseeable future. We are very grateful for your continued support and the enthusiastic response to our more than 310 podcasts since launch. You can find more information, including relevant disclosures, at www.money-makers.co. Please note that this podcast is provided for educational purposes only and nothing you hear should be considered as investment advice. Our podcasts are also available on the Association of Investment Companies website, www.theaic.co.uk. Produced by Ben Gamblin - www.bgprofessional.co.uk