Becoming an AIC member
From technical guidance to our PR work and lobbying on your behalf, the AIC offers a range of valuable services to members – and the first year of membership is free.
Who can join the AIC?
Our members are companies which are closed-ended funds, investing in a portfolio of assets and with their shares traded on a stock exchange. Member companies assist investors in building diversified portfolios by offering access to a range of asset classes or through diversification within a specific asset class.
The benefits of AIC membership
Over 92% of investment companies are members of the AIC.
Your membership helps us represent the whole industry, making the case that retail and institutional investors should use companies like yours to meet their investment objectives.
What you get from membership
We offer our members:
Lobbying
We engage with government departments and regulators to develop the best possible tax and legal position for our members and their shareholders.
We achieve this by opening a dialogue at the earliest stage of regulation, right through to implementation. Our goals include reducing unnecessary compliance burdens, maintaining and enhancing market access and securing free and fair competition.
Advice and guidance
We keep members up to date with legal and regulatory changes and provide guidance and advice on how to comply with them.
Our guidance includes our comprehensive investment company handbook, our guide to directors' and officers' (D&O) insurance and our Marketing matters guides and resources.
Our guidance is tailored to the specific needs of our members and copyrighted solely for their use.
AIC Corporate Governance Code
The AIC Corporate Governance Code helps members to comply with their corporate governance reporting requirements in a way which is sympathetic to the special features of investment companies. The AIC Code is endorsed by the Financial Reporting Council and we have received similar statements of support from both the Guernsey and Jersey Financial Services Commissions.
The AIC Code is copyrighted and only members of the AIC may state that they are following it.
Events
We hold regular conferences, seminars and roundtables on key topical issues which are free for members to attend. These take place both digitally and in person.
Our flagship UK conference attracts over 400 attendees. Focusing on the headline strategic issues facing the investment company sector, it features both internal and external speakers covering a broad range of topics. In addition, we run specialist events for segments of our membership, such as VCTs and alternative asset investment companies, as well as educational insight seminars for new directors.
Presence on the AIC website
We calculate and publish performance information on our members in accordance with robust methodologies which we develop with industry stakeholders. This information is distributed primarily through the AIC’s website, which is used by thousands of investors to get reliable and up-to-date information and news about investment companies.
Each AIC member company has its own profile page, offering full statistical details and a range of resources for investors, such as news, research and multimedia content. Users of the AIC website are able to conduct peer group analysis on AIC members and AIC sectors by using various website comparison tools and functions, including the AIC's Income Finder.
Inclusion in our promotional work
We lead the news agenda for investment companies, emphasising their benefits and promoting our members. We do this through regular press releases, media webinars and frequent contact with journalists and opinion formers.
We promote our members through our annual Investment Company Showcase for private investors, and by participating in other investor events, podcasts and webinars. We foster strong relationships with professional investors including financial advisers and wealth managers.
The AIC’s social media programme is a vital component in our communication with investors and the media.
Membership fees
So you can see the benefits of membership before you make a financial commitment, the first year of membership is free.
Our current membership fees are:
| Members (excluding VCTs) | |
|---|---|
| Minimum fee | £4,000 |
| First tier | 0.85bps |
| Charged on net assets up to | £300m |
| Second tier | 0.15bps |
| On next | £200m |
| Maximum tiered fee | £28,500 |
| On net assets up to | £500m |
| Additional charge if net assets between | |
| £750m - £1bn | £500 |
| £1bn - £1.5bn | £1,000 |
| £1.5bn - £2bn | £1,500 |
| £2bn + | £2,000 |
Our membership fees for VCTs are:
| VCT members | |
|---|---|
| Minimum fee | £4,000 |
| First tier | 1.7bps |
| Charged on net assets up to | £150m |
| Second tier | 0.3bps |
| On next | £100m |
| Maximum fee | £28,500 |
| On net assets of | £250m+ |
How to join
Contact the Membership & Statistics Director, David Michael, on [email protected]
David will check whether your company is eligible to join and, if it is, he’ll then agree a membership start date with you. At this point, we’ll ask you to complete a brief membership form to give us contact details and some statistical information. (The membership form does not need to be submitted before membership commences.)
Professional advisers
Professional advisers to investment companies can access guidance papers through our Member Centre. Please access this area by registering with us using the registration form found here or in the top right of your screen by clicking 'Sign in' and selecting 'Member' from the registration options.
