In our latest podcast, the team are delighted to welcome our very first guest, Mark Northway of Share Soc. Mark is a board member of the retail investor advocate organisation and was previously chairman from April 2016 to December 2021.
Mark gives us the elevator pitch as to what ShareSoc is and its objectives. Then he discusses investment trust mergers and the ongoing campaign by activist Saba. We talk through whether Saba is acting as a force for good for investors. Alternatively, we consider if it is becoming a big distraction for trust managers.
Trusts in focus
Mark explains why recent voting at Edinburgh Worldwide (EWI) was a bit worrying. He also explains why such votes are crucial for retail investors.
The chaps talk through trust mergers and touch on share buybacks and dividends. This is a topic that clearly needs more time to cover. They also discuss if Smithson Investment Trust’s (SSON) planned switch to an open-ended investment company makes sense.
Furthermore, they consider if it opens the door to a wider shift for similar trusts in future. Given trusts are suited to long-duration, less liquid assets such as infrastructure, property or private equity, should they own public equity?
In other words, is there a case for funds owning publicly-quoted stocks to be operating companies rather than closed-end trusts?
If you want to get involved, email us your thoughts, suggestions and questions at editorial@sharesify.com. For those tuning in via YouTube directly, please remember to click Like and subscribe to our channel.
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And if you’re a company, fund or investment trust, and you’d like to get your voice heard on the podcast, here’s your chance. Just email us at editorial@sharesify.com and we’ll do the rest.
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