2. Overview

    The International Fund aims to outperform (after deduction of costs) the MSCI ACWI ex-UK Index, as stated in Sterling, by at least 2% per annum over rolling five-year periods. There is no guarantee that this objective will be achieved over any time period and actual investment returns may differ from this objective, particularly over shorter time periods.

    The manager believes this is an appropriate benchmark given the investment policy of the Fund and the approach taken by the manager when investing. In addition, the manager believes an appropriate performance comparison for this Fund is the Investment Association Global Sector.

    Stocks are picked on the basis of fundamental attractions, irrespective of location. Industry and regional exposure are a derivative of the stock selection process. We focus on companies that we believe can deliver above average growth.

    Portfolio

    Top Ten Holdings - 30/09/2020

    Fund %
    1 Amazon.com 3.3%
    2 Naspers 3.1%
    3 Alibaba 2.8%
    4 Moody's 2.7%
    5 Alphabet 2.6%
    6 Mastercard 2.4%
    7 Microsoft 2.3%
    8 Shopify 2.2%
    9 AIA 2.0%
    10 SoftBank 2.0%
    Total 25.4%
    Fund %
    1 Amazon.com 3.3%
    2 Naspers 3.1%
    3 Alibaba 2.8%
    4 Moody's 2.7%
    5 Alphabet 2.6%
    6 Mastercard 2.4%
    7 Microsoft 2.3%
    8 Shopify 2.2%
    9 AIA 2.0%
    10 SoftBank 2.0%
    Total 25.4%
    As the Fund invests in overseas securities, changes in the rates of exchange may cause the value of your investment (and any income it may pay) to go down or up.
    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.
    Geographic Analysis of Total Assets - 30/09/2020
    As the Fund invests in overseas securities, changes in the rates of exchange may cause the value of your investment (and any income it may pay) to go down or up.
    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.
    Unfortunately we were unable to load the chart. Please try again later.

    Insights

    View all Insights.
    September 2020

    Asking the right questions.

    Integrating ESG into company research requires rigour, nuance and a long-term perspective says Marianne Harper Gow.

    Read more
    June 2020

    A View from the Midst of the Pandemic.

    Technological developments over recent decades mean reality has outpaced the science fiction of his youth since Mark Urquhart joined Baillie Gifford almost 25 years ago. Now, scanning the Covid-19 driven global economy, he sets out his enthusiasm and expectations for the next decade and beyond.

    Read more
    April 2020

    How to Invest in Equities and Stay Sane.

    The best investment advice doesn’t grow old. When former Baillie Gifford Partner Edward Hocknell wrote ‘How to Invest in Equities and Stay Sane’ back in 2012, ‘global pandemic’ was just one on a list of scenarios for business continuity managers and civil servants to plan for.

    Read more
    April 2020

    Why We Care About Diversity and Inclusion.

    Baillie Gifford’s first company-wide diversity and inclusion magazine about the individuals who make up our firm.

    Read more
    April 2020

    Fighting a Pandemic with Technology.

    Medical developments are increasingly dependent on technology. Baillie Gifford investors look at some of the more innovative companies and their importance in the current pandemic, as well as considering how the situation we are living through will lay the foundations for a new era in healthcare, underpinned by data.

    Read more

    View all Insights.

    Meet the Managers

    Charles Plowden

    Since the inception of Global Alpha in 2005, Mr. Plowden has been one of the three portfolio managers for the strategy. After becoming a Partner in 1988, he became Joint Senior Partner with overall responsibility for the investment departments in 2006. Mr. Plowden is also Chair of the Strategic Leadership Group. He joined Baillie Gifford in 1983 and was a portfolio manager in the UK Equity Team for over 20 years notably developing Baillie Gifford’s specialist UK capabilities, and was latterly head of the team. Charles graduated BA in Modern History from the University of Oxford in 1983.

    Mr. Plowden is expected to retire from the Manager and cease to serve as Portfolio Manager for the Fund effective on or about April 30, 2021.

    Spencer Adair

    Spencer joined Baillie Gifford in 2000 and is an Investment Manager in the Global Alpha Team. He became a Partner in 2013 and has also spent time working in the Fixed Income, Japanese, European and UK Equity Teams. Spencer graduated BSc in Medicine from the University of St Andrews in 1997, followed by two years of clinical training in Edinburgh.

    Malcolm MacColl

    Malcolm is an Investment Manager in the Global Alpha Team, having been involved with Global Alpha since the product’s inception in 2005. He became a Partner of the firm in 2011. Malcolm joined Baillie Gifford in 1999 and has spent time working in the UK Small Cap and North American Teams. He is a member of the UK Society of Investment Professionals. Malcolm graduated MA in Economics and History in 1998 and MLitt in Economics, Politics and Management in 1999, both from the University of St Andrews.

    How to Invest

    You can invest in our funds via a number of fund platforms and supermarkets, please see the links opposite. Information on the range of funds available through platforms can be found in our Platform Matrix

    Further information on our funds can be found in the relevant Key Investor Information and Prospectus Documents, which are available in English and will be sent to you free of charge on request.

    Baillie Gifford does not sponsor, maintain or have any control over the content of any other websites. Therefore, we are not responsible for the adequacy or accuracy of any of the information you may view, nor do we undertake to ensure successful transmission to any linked website.

    How to Invest

    Getting Financial Advice

    At Baillie Gifford we don’t provide financial advice, but we do try our best to provide you with all the information we think you might need to make investment decisions. Of course, we realise there are occasions when you may want the advice of an expert.

    Using professional financial advice

    An authorised intermediary can give you advice and help on how best to manage your financial affairs based on your circumstances and investment aspirations. They can also help keep track of all your different investment interests, saving you a lot of time and bookkeeping.

    Finding a financial adviser near you

    If you want to use an authorised intermediary, MyLocalAdviser is a website that allows you to search for authorised intermediaries in your area. You can visit their site on www.mylocaladviser.co.uk

    Documents

    You can access any literature about the Fund here, either by downloading or requesting a copy by post (where available). To download any document you will need Adobe Reader.  Please note that we can now provide you with Braille and audio transcriptions of our literature on request. It may take up to 10 days for the transcription to be completed dependent on the size of the document.

    Risks

    General Investment Risk

    Investment markets can go down as well as up and market conditions can change rapidly. The value of an investment in the Fund, and any income from it, can fall as well as rise and investors may not get back the amount invested.

    Custody

    Custody of assets involves a risk of loss if a custodian becomes insolvent or breaches duties of care.

    Foreign Currency

    The Fund has exposure to foreign currencies and changes in the rates of exchange will cause the value of any investment, and income from it, to fall as well as rise and you may not get back the amount invested.

    Emerging Markets

    The Fund invests in emerging markets where difficulties in dealing, settlement and custody could arise, resulting in a negative impact on the value of your investment.

    Volatility

    The Fund’s share price can be volatile due to movements in the prices of the underlying holdings and the basis on which the Fund is priced.

    Dilution

    A dilution adjustment may apply when you buy or sell shares in the Fund. This is applied to the share price and may reduce the return on your investment.

    Fees from Revenue

    Where possible, charges are taken from the Fund's revenue. Where there is insufficient revenue, the remainder will be taken from capital. This will reduce the capital value of your investment.

    Tax Rates

    Tax rates and the tax treatment of OEICs can change at any time.