Capital at risk

Investment strategy

UK Core

The UK Equity Core Strategy invests in a collection of tremendously exciting UK businesses. Many may not be household names, but they are typically leaders in their fields with attractive competitive positions.  

We pride ourselves on the strength of our relationships with companies and the level of corporate access and insight this affords us. 

Rodel Saltmarsh on Isle of Harris, Outer Hebrides, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe.

Investing in Britain’s best

The UK Equity Core Strategy invests for at least five years in a range of carefully selected, high-quality British businesses which we believe have the potential to deliver superior earnings growth. 

View transcript
<p><strong>Your capital is at risk. Past performance is not a guide to future returns. The following update is based on a representative portfolio. As such, stock examples may not be held in every client portfolio, and performance may differ.</strong></p> <p data-start="33" data-end="580"><strong>Kathleen Hunter:&nbsp;</strong>Periods of significant relative underperformance are deeply uncomfortable. For those of you who have trusted us with your capital and feel disappointed by recent outcomes, we absolutely recognise that. While being at odds with the market is an inevitable part of long-term investing, the past five years have been unusually extreme. A challenging macroeconomic backdrop — marked by sharp rate rises, higher energy prices and geopolitical tension — has driven strong returns in large parts of the index, particularly Oil &amp; Gas, Banking and Defence.</p> <p data-start="582" data-end="1027">By contrast, the long-duration growth companies we invest in have firmly been out of favour, with sustained operational progress largely unrewarded by the market. Periods like this do test conviction, but they also create opportunity. While share prices have been weak, the earnings power of the companies we invest in has remained robust. As a result, valuations across many companies in the UK Core strategy are now at historically low levels.</p> <p data-start="1029" data-end="1530">This growing disconnect increasingly resembles a coiled spring — where short-term pressure is building, not eroding, the potential for future returns. The most recent quarter illustrates this clearly. While the FTSE All-Share Index finished ahead, there was a range of highly polarised share price moves beneath the surface. Oil &amp; Gas shares rose sharply, driven by the conflict in the Middle East, while a pronounced AI-related sell-off weighed heavily on software and technology businesses.</p> <p data-start="1532" data-end="2005">Against this backdrop, the UK Core strategy underperformed. Our lack of exposure to the oil majors, Shell and BP, detracted from performance. At the same time, shares in Bellway and Auto Trader struggled. In terms of the housebuilder, Bellway, its shares fell following a cautious update from their management team due to uncertainty driven by the conflict in the Middle East. For example, they flagged an increased risk of cost inflation and potential headwinds to demand.</p> <p data-start="2007" data-end="2342">That said, recent operational progress has been encouraging, and it remains on track to meet full-year expectations. Looking ahead, we believe Bellway is well-positioned for a recovery. It has a high-quality land bank, a strong balance sheet, and the shares trade at a significant discount to book value, which we find very compelling.</p> <p data-start="2344" data-end="2809">In terms of Auto Trader, there is a concern that AI could disintermediate its role in the car-buying journey. But Auto Trader sits at the centre of the UK automotive ecosystem, with the largest audience of buyers and the broadest network of dealers. The value it provides to both sides of this network is underpinned by a rich dataset spanning pricing, inventory and consumer behaviour — this is an asset that we believe should be strengthened, not weakened, by AI.</p> <p data-start="2811" data-end="3113">Finally, in terms of positive contributors, Rio Tinto performed well, supported by record production and favourable commodity dynamics. In terms of trading, activity picked up during the quarter as we took new holdings in HSBC and Softcat, while selling out of Ashtead, Just Group, Ocado and Trainline.</p> <p data-start="3115" data-end="3428">You will probably be familiar with HSBC. This is a well-established banking franchise with a strong balance sheet and leading positions in key Asian markets. Its exposure to structural growth in wealth and deposit gathering provides a clear pathway to sustained earnings growth and attractive shareholder returns.</p> <p data-start="3430" data-end="3696">Softcat is less well known. It provides IT infrastructure services and benefits from ongoing digital investment across its customer base. This is a company we have been monitoring for some time and took advantage of recent share price weakness to take a new holding.</p> <p data-start="3698" data-end="4140">To summarise: while recent performance has been challenging, we believe the current environment is reinforcing — not undermining — our approach. Markets today are increasingly driven by short-term narratives and narrow leadership. That is creating mispricing in businesses with strong long-term prospects. We are seeing this across the strategy and are leaning into it — deploying capital into high-quality companies at compelling valuations.</p> <p data-start="4142" data-end="4403">As I said at the start, when conviction is tested, opportunities are created. While this has been a difficult period, we would struggle to identify a time when the opportunity to generate long-term returns from UK growth companies has ever been more compelling.</p> <p data-start="4142" data-end="4403">&nbsp;</p> <h3 class="TABLEHEADER1212pt">UK Core</h3> <p><strong>Annual past performance to 31 March each year (%)</strong></p> <table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; border-width: 0px; height: 74px;"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 18.5px;"> <td style="border-width: 1px 1px 2px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: initial; padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">&nbsp;</td> <td style="border-width: 1px 1px 2px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: initial; padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;"><strong>2022</strong></td> <td style="border-width: 1px 1px 2px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: initial; padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;"><strong>2023</strong></td> <td style="border-width: 1px 1px 2px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: initial; padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;"><strong>2024</strong></td> <td style="border-width: 1px 1px 2px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: initial; padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;"><strong>2025</strong></td> <td style="border-width: 1px 1px 2px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: initial; padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;"><strong>2026</strong></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 18.5px;"> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">UK Core Composite (gross)</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">-4.2</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">-7.4</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">8.7</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">9.6</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">10.1</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 18.5px;"> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">UK Core Composite (net)</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">-4.7</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">-7.9</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">8.2</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">9.1</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">9.5</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 18.5px;"> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">FTSE All Share index*</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">7.9</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">-3.3</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">10.8</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">12.9</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">24.2</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Annualised returns to 31 March 2026 (%)</strong></p> <table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; border-width: 0px; height: 92.5px;"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 37px;"> <td style="border-width: 1px 1px 2px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: initial; padding: 10px; height: 37px; width: 61.3387%;">&nbsp;</td> <td style="border-width: 1px 1px 2px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: initial; padding: 10px; height: 37px; width: 13.1043%;"><strong>1 year</strong></td> <td style="border-width: 1px 1px 2px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: initial; padding: 10px; height: 37px; width: 12.713%;"><strong>5 years</strong></td> <td style="border-width: 1px 1px 2px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: initial; padding: 10px; height: 37px; width: 12.844%;"><strong>10 years</strong></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 18.5px;"> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px; width: 61.3387%;">UK Core Composite (gross)</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px; width: 13.1043%;">10.1</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px; width: 12.713%;">3.1</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px; width: 12.844%;">5.7</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 18.5px;"> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px; width: 61.3387%;">UK Core Composite (net)</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px; width: 13.1043%;">9.5</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px; width: 12.713%;">2.6</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px; width: 12.844%;">5.1</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 18.5px;"> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px; width: 61.3387%;">FTSE All Share index*</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px; width: 13.1043%;">24.2</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px; width: 12.713%;">10.1</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px; width: 12.844%;">7.7</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p> <div>Source: Revolution, FTSE. US dollars. Net returns have been calculated by reducing the gross return by the highest annual management fee for the composite. 1 year figures are not annualised.</div> <div></div> <div></div> <div><strong>Past performance is not a guide to future returns.</strong></div> <div></div> <div></div> <div>Legal notice: FTSE International Limited (“FTSE”) © FTSE 2025. “FTSE ®” is a trade mark of the London Stock Exchange Group companies and is used by FTSE International Limited under licence. All rights in the FTSE indices and/or FTSE ratings vest in FTSE and/or its licensors. Neither FTSE nor its licensors accept any liability for any errors or omissions in the FTSE indices and/or FTSE ratings or underlying data and no party may rely on any FTSE indices, ratings and/or data underlying data contained in this communication. No further distribution of FTSE Data is permitted without FTSE’s express written consent. FTSE does not promote, sponsor or endorse the content of this communication.</div> <div></div> <p><strong>Risk factors &nbsp;</strong> &nbsp;<br>This communication was produced and approved in April 2026 and has not been updated subsequently. It represents views held at the time and may not reflect current thinking.</p> <p>The views expressed should not be considered as advice or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a particular investment. They reflect opinion and should not be taken as statements of fact nor should any reliance be placed on them when making investment decisions.</p> <p>This communication contains information on investments which does not constitute independent research. Accordingly, it is not subject to the protections afforded to independent research, but is classified as advertising under Art 68 of the Financial Services Act (‘FinSA’) and Baillie Gifford and its staff may have dealt in the investments concerned.</p> <p>All information is sourced from Baillie Gifford &amp; Co and is current unless otherwise stated.&nbsp;</p> <p>The images used in this communication are for illustrative purposes only.</p> <p> <br><strong>Important information</strong><br>Baillie Gifford &amp; Co and Baillie Gifford &amp; Co Limited are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Baillie Gifford &amp; Co Limited is an Authorised Corporate Director of OEICs.</p> <p>Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited provides investment management and advisory services to non-UK Professional/Institutional clients only. Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited is wholly owned by Baillie Gifford &amp; Co. Baillie Gifford &amp; Co and Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited are authorised and regulated by the FCA in the UK.&nbsp;</p> <p>Persons resident or domiciled outside the UK should consult with their professional advisers as to whether they require any governmental or other consents in order to enable them to invest, and with their tax advisers for advice relevant to their own particular circumstances.</p> <p><strong>Financial intermediaries</strong><br>This communication is suitable for use of financial intermediaries. Financial intermediaries are solely responsible for any further distribution and Baillie Gifford takes no responsibility for the reliance on this document by any other person who did not receive this document directly from Baillie Gifford.</p> <p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>

UK Core Q1 update

Investment specialist Kathleen Hunter reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.

Seeking out superior potential

We aim to outperform the FTSE All-Share Index by at least 1 per cent per annum over rolling five-year periods. 

To achieve this, we aim to identify well-managed, high-quality growth companies which enjoy sustainable competitive advantages. We seek out businesses that have the potential to deliver superior earnings growth over many years and hold onto them long enough for their strengths to emerge as the dominant influence on share prices.  

We also take stewardship seriously, meeting with management and boards regularly, voting thoughtfully at general meetings and advocating for change where needed. 

The performance target is aspirational and is not guaranteed. We don’t use it to compile the portfolio and returns will vary. A single performance target may not be appropriate across all vehicles and jurisdictions. We may not meet our investment objectives if, for example, our growth investment style is out of favour or we misjudge the long-term earnings growth of our holdings.

A diverse blend of growth companies

The portfolio has between 45-65 holdings. Therefore, it looks different to the broader UK equity index and has a high active share.  

This is because we believe that to add value over the long term, we need to take a differentiated approach.  

Given this is a core portfolio, it has a diverse blend of exposure to different types of growth companies – some will grow very rapidly, others will compound over time. Though we can group our holdings into several exciting themes, we aim to have a broad exposure to all. 

Meet the managers

Iain McCombie

Iain McCombie

Iain is the head of our UK Equity Team and co-manager of the UK Core Strategy. He is also the joint manager on our flagship Managed Strategy, which he has been involved in since 2000. Iain joined Baillie Gifford in 1994 and became a partner of the firm in 2005. He has previously spent time on the US Equities Team. Iain graduated MA in Accountancy from the University of Aberdeen and subsequently qualified as a Chartered Accountant.

James Smith

James Smith

Investment Manager

James is an investment manager in the UK Equity Team. He is co-manager of the UK Core Strategy and lead manager for Great British Growth. James joined Baillie Gifford in 2022, and prior to joining the firm, worked as a senior investment manager at ADIA in Abu Dhabi covering UK Equities. He began his career at Martin Currie in Edinburgh in 2012. James graduated BSc (Hons) in Economics from UCL in 2010.

Documents

Philosophy and process

Explore our investment philosophy and the processes around how the team constructs the portfolio.

View PDF

Explore further

Curious to learn more about our products and what we can offer you? Please get in touch.

Strategy portfolio holdings

A list of the top 10 holdings that the representative portfolio invests in.

All figures up to: 30 April 2026

#Holding% of total assets
1AstraZeneca6.5%
2Rio Tinto5.3%
3HSBC5.0%
4Standard Chartered4.9%
5Prudential4.0%
6Marks and Spencer Group3.2%
7Babcock International Group3.1%
8Legal & General2.9%
9Unilever2.7%
10Bunzl2.7%

Please note

The information contained on this page is intended as a guide only and should not be relied upon when making investment decisions. All holdings information is unaudited. Source Baillie Gifford & Co. Please note that totals may not add due to rounding.

Explore further

Curious to learn more about our products and what we can offer you? Please get in touch.

Insights

Key articles, videos and podcasts relating to the strategy:

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Insights

Viewing 17 of 17
  1. UK Core Q1 update

    Investment specialist Kathleen Hunter reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.
    April 2026
    Video6 minutes
  2. alt=""

    UK Core Q4 update

    Investment manager James Smith reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.
    January 2026
    Video0 minute
  3. UK Core Q3 update

    Investment manager James Smith reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.
    October 2025
    Video5 minutes
  4. Our best UK ideas

    Chloe Darling-Stewart on why the UK’s Autotrader, Moonpig and Genus are hidden treasures.
    September 2025
    Video3 minutes
  5. UK Core Q2 update

    Investment manager Iain McCombie reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.
    July 2025
    Video5 minutes
  6. “”

    Actual investing revisited

    In this keynote paper Partner Stuart Dunbar reaffirms the importance of active management to healthy capitalism.
    May 2025
    ArticleLong read
  7. UK growth: opportunities amid tariff turbulence

    How adaptable firms in growth-driving sectors can prosper over the long term despite trade restrictions.
    April 2025
    Podcast33 minutes
  8. UK Core Q1 update

    The UK Core Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.
    April 2025
    Video11 minutes
  9. Saving when sending abroad: a Wise move

    With international payments a profitable afterthought for the banks, it’s been left to a newcomer to build the best way of moving money around the world.
    October 2024
    Article4 minutes
  10. Wise: Money Without Borders

    Co-founder and CEO of digital payments platform Wise explains how a customer-centric approach is helping revolutionise global money movement.
    October 2024
    Video37 minutes
  11. Iain McCombie

    Stock story: Diploma

    Iain McCombie explores Diploma's journey to distribution excellence
    September 2024
    Video4 minutes
  12. Ashtead: hiding in plain sight

    This little-known equipment rental company is one of the UK’s most exciting growth stories.
    December 2023
    Article5 minutes
  13. Why growth, why now?

    Tough times play to the partnership’s strengths: analysing what enables us to adapt and thrive amid rapid change.
    December 2023
    Article17 minutes
  14. UK equities: growth on our doorstep

    Our specialist approach is well-placed to take advantage of early-stage British businesses.
    December 2023
    Article5 minutes
  15. The case for UK equities

    Baillie Gifford’s Iain McCombie discusses UK equities on Hymans Robertson’s investment podcast.
    September 2023
    Podcast30 minutes
  16. Joiners’ mate

    Iain McCombie on how Howdens’ kitchens won the building trade’s trust.
    September 2023
    Article
  17. UK equities: Home focus

    Companies solving big problems in healthcare, fintech and AI, are proving the UK is an exciting place to invest.
    December 2022
    Article
View transcript
<p><strong>Your capital is at risk. Past performance is not a guide to future returns. The following update is based on a representative portfolio. As such, stock examples may not be held in every client portfolio, and performance may differ.</strong></p> <p data-start="33" data-end="580"><strong>Kathleen Hunter:&nbsp;</strong>Periods of significant relative underperformance are deeply uncomfortable. For those of you who have trusted us with your capital and feel disappointed by recent outcomes, we absolutely recognise that. While being at odds with the market is an inevitable part of long-term investing, the past five years have been unusually extreme. A challenging macroeconomic backdrop — marked by sharp rate rises, higher energy prices and geopolitical tension — has driven strong returns in large parts of the index, particularly Oil &amp; Gas, Banking and Defence.</p> <p data-start="582" data-end="1027">By contrast, the long-duration growth companies we invest in have firmly been out of favour, with sustained operational progress largely unrewarded by the market. Periods like this do test conviction, but they also create opportunity. While share prices have been weak, the earnings power of the companies we invest in has remained robust. As a result, valuations across many companies in the UK Core strategy are now at historically low levels.</p> <p data-start="1029" data-end="1530">This growing disconnect increasingly resembles a coiled spring — where short-term pressure is building, not eroding, the potential for future returns. The most recent quarter illustrates this clearly. While the FTSE All-Share Index finished ahead, there was a range of highly polarised share price moves beneath the surface. Oil &amp; Gas shares rose sharply, driven by the conflict in the Middle East, while a pronounced AI-related sell-off weighed heavily on software and technology businesses.</p> <p data-start="1532" data-end="2005">Against this backdrop, the UK Core strategy underperformed. Our lack of exposure to the oil majors, Shell and BP, detracted from performance. At the same time, shares in Bellway and Auto Trader struggled. In terms of the housebuilder, Bellway, its shares fell following a cautious update from their management team due to uncertainty driven by the conflict in the Middle East. For example, they flagged an increased risk of cost inflation and potential headwinds to demand.</p> <p data-start="2007" data-end="2342">That said, recent operational progress has been encouraging, and it remains on track to meet full-year expectations. Looking ahead, we believe Bellway is well-positioned for a recovery. It has a high-quality land bank, a strong balance sheet, and the shares trade at a significant discount to book value, which we find very compelling.</p> <p data-start="2344" data-end="2809">In terms of Auto Trader, there is a concern that AI could disintermediate its role in the car-buying journey. But Auto Trader sits at the centre of the UK automotive ecosystem, with the largest audience of buyers and the broadest network of dealers. The value it provides to both sides of this network is underpinned by a rich dataset spanning pricing, inventory and consumer behaviour — this is an asset that we believe should be strengthened, not weakened, by AI.</p> <p data-start="2811" data-end="3113">Finally, in terms of positive contributors, Rio Tinto performed well, supported by record production and favourable commodity dynamics. In terms of trading, activity picked up during the quarter as we took new holdings in HSBC and Softcat, while selling out of Ashtead, Just Group, Ocado and Trainline.</p> <p data-start="3115" data-end="3428">You will probably be familiar with HSBC. This is a well-established banking franchise with a strong balance sheet and leading positions in key Asian markets. Its exposure to structural growth in wealth and deposit gathering provides a clear pathway to sustained earnings growth and attractive shareholder returns.</p> <p data-start="3430" data-end="3696">Softcat is less well known. It provides IT infrastructure services and benefits from ongoing digital investment across its customer base. This is a company we have been monitoring for some time and took advantage of recent share price weakness to take a new holding.</p> <p data-start="3698" data-end="4140">To summarise: while recent performance has been challenging, we believe the current environment is reinforcing — not undermining — our approach. Markets today are increasingly driven by short-term narratives and narrow leadership. That is creating mispricing in businesses with strong long-term prospects. We are seeing this across the strategy and are leaning into it — deploying capital into high-quality companies at compelling valuations.</p> <p data-start="4142" data-end="4403">As I said at the start, when conviction is tested, opportunities are created. While this has been a difficult period, we would struggle to identify a time when the opportunity to generate long-term returns from UK growth companies has ever been more compelling.</p> <p data-start="4142" data-end="4403">&nbsp;</p> <h3 class="TABLEHEADER1212pt">UK Core</h3> <p><strong>Annual past performance to 31 March each year (%)</strong></p> <table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; border-width: 0px; height: 74px;"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 18.5px;"> <td style="border-width: 1px 1px 2px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: initial; padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">&nbsp;</td> <td style="border-width: 1px 1px 2px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: initial; padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;"><strong>2022</strong></td> <td style="border-width: 1px 1px 2px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: initial; padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;"><strong>2023</strong></td> <td style="border-width: 1px 1px 2px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: initial; padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;"><strong>2024</strong></td> <td style="border-width: 1px 1px 2px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: initial; padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;"><strong>2025</strong></td> <td style="border-width: 1px 1px 2px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: initial; padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;"><strong>2026</strong></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 18.5px;"> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">UK Core Composite (gross)</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">-4.2</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">-7.4</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">8.7</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">9.6</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">10.1</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 18.5px;"> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">UK Core Composite (net)</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">-4.7</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">-7.9</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">8.2</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">9.1</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">9.5</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 18.5px;"> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">FTSE All Share index*</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">7.9</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">-3.3</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">10.8</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">12.9</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px;">24.2</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Annualised returns to 31 March 2026 (%)</strong></p> <table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; border-width: 0px; height: 92.5px;"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 37px;"> <td style="border-width: 1px 1px 2px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: initial; padding: 10px; height: 37px; width: 61.3387%;">&nbsp;</td> <td style="border-width: 1px 1px 2px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: initial; padding: 10px; height: 37px; width: 13.1043%;"><strong>1 year</strong></td> <td style="border-width: 1px 1px 2px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: initial; padding: 10px; height: 37px; width: 12.713%;"><strong>5 years</strong></td> <td style="border-width: 1px 1px 2px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: initial; padding: 10px; height: 37px; width: 12.844%;"><strong>10 years</strong></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 18.5px;"> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px; width: 61.3387%;">UK Core Composite (gross)</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px; width: 13.1043%;">10.1</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px; width: 12.713%;">3.1</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px; width: 12.844%;">5.7</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 18.5px;"> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px; width: 61.3387%;">UK Core Composite (net)</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px; width: 13.1043%;">9.5</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px; width: 12.713%;">2.6</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px; width: 12.844%;">5.1</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 18.5px;"> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px; width: 61.3387%;">FTSE All Share index*</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px; width: 13.1043%;">24.2</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px; width: 12.713%;">10.1</td> <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 10px; height: 18.5px; width: 12.844%;">7.7</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p> <div>Source: Revolution, FTSE. US dollars. Net returns have been calculated by reducing the gross return by the highest annual management fee for the composite. 1 year figures are not annualised.</div> <div></div> <div></div> <div><strong>Past performance is not a guide to future returns.</strong></div> <div></div> <div></div> <div>Legal notice: FTSE International Limited (“FTSE”) © FTSE 2025. “FTSE ®” is a trade mark of the London Stock Exchange Group companies and is used by FTSE International Limited under licence. All rights in the FTSE indices and/or FTSE ratings vest in FTSE and/or its licensors. Neither FTSE nor its licensors accept any liability for any errors or omissions in the FTSE indices and/or FTSE ratings or underlying data and no party may rely on any FTSE indices, ratings and/or data underlying data contained in this communication. No further distribution of FTSE Data is permitted without FTSE’s express written consent. FTSE does not promote, sponsor or endorse the content of this communication.</div> <div></div> <p><strong>Risk factors &nbsp;</strong> &nbsp;<br>This communication was produced and approved in April 2026 and has not been updated subsequently. It represents views held at the time and may not reflect current thinking.</p> <p>The views expressed should not be considered as advice or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a particular investment. They reflect opinion and should not be taken as statements of fact nor should any reliance be placed on them when making investment decisions.</p> <p>This communication contains information on investments which does not constitute independent research. Accordingly, it is not subject to the protections afforded to independent research, but is classified as advertising under Art 68 of the Financial Services Act (‘FinSA’) and Baillie Gifford and its staff may have dealt in the investments concerned.</p> <p>All information is sourced from Baillie Gifford &amp; Co and is current unless otherwise stated.&nbsp;</p> <p>The images used in this communication are for illustrative purposes only.</p> <p> <br><strong>Important information</strong><br>Baillie Gifford &amp; Co and Baillie Gifford &amp; Co Limited are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Baillie Gifford &amp; Co Limited is an Authorised Corporate Director of OEICs.</p> <p>Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited provides investment management and advisory services to non-UK Professional/Institutional clients only. Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited is wholly owned by Baillie Gifford &amp; Co. Baillie Gifford &amp; Co and Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited are authorised and regulated by the FCA in the UK.&nbsp;</p> <p>Persons resident or domiciled outside the UK should consult with their professional advisers as to whether they require any governmental or other consents in order to enable them to invest, and with their tax advisers for advice relevant to their own particular circumstances.</p> <p><strong>Financial intermediaries</strong><br>This communication is suitable for use of financial intermediaries. Financial intermediaries are solely responsible for any further distribution and Baillie Gifford takes no responsibility for the reliance on this document by any other person who did not receive this document directly from Baillie Gifford.</p> <p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>

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