An investor who is an active participant in a business, as well as providing capital. Such participation may vary between appointing some members of the board of directors and informal consultation on a continuing basis. It involves a long-term connection between the investor and the company; a relationship investor is not in the business of selling out to make short-term speculative gains. Relationship investment is contrasted with the view that investors should merely hold shares, and let the existing management get on with the task of running a company.

• acquisition company
• ACT
• action
• actuarially fair odds
• actuary
• adaptive expectations
• adequacy, capital
• adjustable peg
• adjustment
• adjustment costs
• adjustment, price and quantity
• adjustment programme
• adjustment to factor cost
• administered price
• administration
• ad valorem tax
• Advance Corporation Tax
• advances
• advantage
• adverse selection
• adverse supply shock
• advertising
• Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service
• AFDC
• AFL-CIO