About us
The Association of Investment Companies (AIC) is the trade organisation for the closed-ended investment company industry. We represent a broad range of closed-ended investment companies, incorporating investment trusts, offshore closed-ended investment companies, venture capital trusts (VCTs) which are traded on the London Stock Exchange, AIM, Euronext and the Channel Islands Stock Exchange.
The Association was established in 1932 and in October 2006 we changed our name from The Association of Investment Trust Companies (AITC) to reflect the increased diversity of the sector.
The AIC is accountable to its Members through an elected Board. It comprises twelve directors drawn from Member directors, fund management group representatives and other industry stakeholders as well as the AIC’s Director General. AIC Members nominate and annually vote for future Board members.
The AIC's Members believe that the industry is best served if it is united and speaks with one voice. We seek to support the development of the investment company market and our mission is to help Members add value for shareholders over the longer term.
Our Members are the investment companies themselves so much of the work is designed to help directors more effectively discharge their obligations to shareholders but we also work closely with the management groups and the wider industry.
- Public affairs and lobbying
The AIC monitors and analyses the political and regulatory developments that affect investment companies and their boards and represents the industry to ensure the best regulatory, tax and legislative environment for investment companies. This involves dealing with issues from a UK, EU and Channel Islands perspective.
- Technical advice and guidance
Technical support and guidance is provided to Members and their advisers in areas such as accounting, tax, company law and regulation. In addition to providing formal written guidance, Members also benefit from being able to contact us directly to discuss issues of concern.
- Support Services for directors
This includes our Handbook for Directors, online Member Director centre, annual conference for directors and regular director roundtables as well as guidance to assist directors meet their regulatory obligations and reduce the potential for personal liability.
- Communication and media relations
The AIC aims to enhance the awareness and reputation of the investment company sector through proactive media and industry engagement. As well as promoting the investment company structure as an excellent means to invest, our media work has also included promoting specific sectors such as VCTs, private equity and property.
- Website and statistics
The AIC publishes a broad range of statistics and information and aims to ensure that investors and their advisers are able to find and compare investment companies within an industry agreed framework. Our website, www.theaic.co.uk, is our key communication tool for all our activity and aims to be a one-stop resource providing the sector’s audiences with information according to their needs. Currently, we have on average over 18,000 unique visitors to the site each month.
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