AIC launches 2019 VCT seminar series

With interest in VCTs showing no sign of abating, the Association of Investment Companies (AIC) is running three VCT seminars in the New Year for advisers and wealth managers (for dates and booking details, see below).

Led by the AIC’s Head of Intermediary Communications Nick Britton, the events in Birmingham, Leeds and London will help attendees keep up with the implications of recent rule changes and understand VCTs’ differing investment strategies so they can make better informed decisions on behalf of their clients. The line-up of guest speakers comprises Rodney Appiah (Foresight VCTs), Robert Davis (Calculus VCT), Eliot Kaye (Puma VCTs), Andrew Garside (Baronsmead VCTs), Ian McLennan (Triple Point VCTs), Alan Wallace (Octopus VCTs) and Andrew Wolfson (Pembroke VCT).

Since the introduction of the tapered annual allowance for pensions, fundraising for VCTs has been strong, with £542m raised in the 2016/17 tax year and £728m raised in 2017/18. This latter figure was the second-highest ever (the highest was in 2005/06 when the rate of upfront tax relief was 40%, and £779m was raised).

Nick Britton, Head of Intermediary Communications at the AIC said, “VCTs’ tax benefits tend to be well known among advisers, but there is an appetite to understand more about how they behave as investments. This is all the more important given that we’ve just seen a raft of rule changes that affect the companies in which VCTs can invest, focusing their future activity squarely on young, ambitious UK companies.

“Our seminars will look at the impact of these rule changes, review the current state of the market and provide pointers for how to research and analyse VCTs. We have an exciting line-up of guest speakers including several who have not presented at our seminars before, so there should be plenty of interest whatever your level of experience with VCTs.”

The seminars are free to attend and places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. They are accredited by the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI) and provide at least 2 hours 15 minutes of structured CPD.

How to book

To book, advisers can use the online booking form, email [email protected] or call 020 7282 5572.

Dates, times and venues

Leeds – Wednesday 16 January 2019, 11.30-14.30

• Oulton Hall Hotel, Rothwell Lane, Oulton, Leeds LS26 8HN
• Guest speakers: Ian McLennan (Triple Point VCTs), Robert Davis (Calculus VCT), Eliot Kaye (Puma VCTs)

Birmingham – Thursday 17 January 2019, 9.30-12.30

• Forest of Arden Marriott Hotel & Country Club, Maxstoke Lane, Meriden CV7 7HR
• Guest speakers: Ian McLennan (Triple Point VCTs), Robert Davis (Calculus VCT), Andrew Wolfson (Pembroke VCT)

London – Thursday 31 January 2019, 9.00-12.00

• Chartered Accountants' Hall, One Moorgate Place, London EC2R 6EA
• Guest speakers: Alan Wallace (Octopus VCTs), Rodney Appiah (Foresight VCTs), Andrew Garside (Baronsmead VCTs)

You can find full programmes for each event here.

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Notes

1. The Association of Investment Companies (AIC) was founded in 1932 to represent the interests of the investment trust industry – the oldest form of collective investment. Today, the AIC represents a broad range of closed-ended investment companies, incorporating investment trusts and other closed-ended investment companies and VCTs. The AIC’s members believe that the industry is best served if it is united and speaks with one voice. The AIC’s mission statement is to help members add value for shareholders over the longer term. The AIC has 355 members and the industry has total assets of approximately £182 billion.