Open-ended investment company (OEIC)
An open-ended investment company, or OEIC (pronounced 'oik'), is a modern and more flexible version of a unit trust.
An open-ended investment company, or OEIC (pronounced 'oik'), is a modern and more flexible version of a unit trust. It uses the basic structure for collective investments commonly used in Europe and the US. As with unit trusts, the size of the fund is variable - more units or shares can be issued if there is demand for them - and the price of shares or units in the fund is fixed by the value of its underlying assets.
However, instead of having two prices for its shares (one for buying and one for selling), as a traditional unit trust does, an OEIC has one price for both; management fees and commissions are charged separately. This is designed to make it easier for you to see exactly what you are getting. OEICS can be operated as an 'umbrella' structure, which means that, within each, there can be various sub-divisions of funds, each with their own objectives and the ability to invest in different financial products.
MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
See Ed Bowsher's video tutorial: Why we like investment trusts.
-
Revealed: The 10 UK locations which could see the biggest house price growth in 2026Scotland leads the way for house price growth in 2026 according to Zoopla, but what regions will do the best in 2026?
-
Could pensions inheritance tax rule change create liquidity crisis for Sippholders?Pension inheritance tax rule changes from April 2027 could create a liquidity crisis for some self-invested personal pensions (Sipps) holding commercial property. We reveal what you can do to mitigate the impact.
