The investment trusts managed by Baillie Gifford & Co Limited are listed UK companies. The value of their shares, and any income from them, can fall as well as rise and investors may not get back the amount invested. The specific risks associated with the Trust include:
Currency
The Trust invests in overseas securities. Changes in the rates of exchange may also cause the value of your investment (and any income it may pay) to go down or up.
Investing in China
The Trust invests in China, often through contractual structures that are complex and could be open to challenge, where potential issues with market volatility, political and economic instability including the risk of market shutdown, trading, liquidity, settlement, corporate governance, regulation, legislation and taxation could arise, resulting in a negative impact on the value of your investment.
Emerging markets
The Trust invests in emerging markets where difficulties in dealing, settlement and custody could arise, resulting in a negative impact on the value of your investment.
Private companies
Unlisted investments such as private companies can increase risk. These assets may be more difficult to sell, so changes in their prices may be greater.
Gearing
The Trust can borrow money to make further investments (sometimes known as “gearing” or “leverage”). The risk is that when this money is repaid by the Trust, the value of the investments may not be enough to cover the borrowing and interest costs, and the Trust will make a loss. If the Trust's investments fall in value, any invested borrowings will increase the amount of this loss.
Liquidity
Market values for securities which have become difficult to trade may not be readily available and there can be no assurance that any value assigned to such securities will accurately reflect the price the Trust might receive upon their sale.
Derivatives
The Trust can make use of derivatives which may impact on its performance.
Premium risk
Share prices may either be below (at a discount) or above (at a premium) the net asset value (NAV). The Company may issue new shares when the price is at a premium which may reduce the share price. Shares bought at a premium may have a greater risk of loss than those bought at a discount.
Buy-backs
The Trust can buy back its own shares. The risks from borrowing, referred to above, are increased when a trust buys back its own shares.
Income is less important
The aim of the Trust is to achieve capital growth. You should not expect a significant, or steady, annual income from the Trust.
Regulation
The Trust is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Suitability for retail distribution
Please note that the Company currently conducts its affairs, and intends to continue to conduct its affairs, so that the Company’s ordinary shares can be recommended by Independent Financial Advisers to ordinary retail investors in accordance with the FCA’s rules in relation to non-mainstream pooled investment products (NMPI). The Company’s ordinary shares are excluded from the FCA’s restrictions which apply to non-mainstream pooled investment products because they are shares in an investment trust.
