2. Overview

    Global Discovery aims to outperform (after deduction of costs) the S&P Global Small Cap 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.

    Small is fleet footed. We invest in immature companies because they are more nimble when it comes to exploiting change.

    Performance & Portfolio

    Periodic Performance
    All figures to 31/03/2021
      6 Months 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years
    Class B-Acc 8.5% 74.1% 27.3% 26.4%
    Index* 25.1% 61.1% 11.3% 14.1%
    Target Benchmark** 25.8% 63.5% 13.4% 16.2%
    Sector Average*** 13.1% 40.6% 12.9% 13.7%
    Sector Ranking 270/366 10/356 6/311 4/268
    Annual Discrete Performance figures to 31 March each year
    Annual percentage return (Updated Quarterly)
      31/03/2016
    31/03/2017    		 31/03/2017
    31/03/2018    		 31/03/2018
    31/03/2019    		 31/03/2019
    31/03/2020    		 31/03/2020
    31/03/2021
    Class B-Acc 24.3% 25.3% 19.9% -0.9% 74.1%
    Index* 35.2% 3.9% 4.9% -18.4% 61.1%
    Target Benchmark** 37.6% 5.6% 7.3% -16.9% 63.5%
    Sector Average*** 28.6% 2.7% 9.0% -6.0% 40.6%
    Please bear in mind that past performance is not a guide to future performance.
    The value of your investment may go down as well as up, and you may not get back the amount you invested.
    Performance source: FE and relevant underlying index provider, single pricing basis, total return.
    Returns reflect the annual charges but exclude any initial charge paid.
    *S&P Global Small Cap Index.
    **S&P Global Small Cap Index +2%.
    ***IA Global Sector.
    Performance - 31/03/2021
    Source: FE and relevant underlying index provider, single pricing basis, total return.
    Please bear in mind that past performance is not a guide to future performance.
    The graph is rebased to 100.
    Unfortunately we were unable to load the chart. Please try again later.

    Top Ten Holdings - 31/03/2021

    Fund %
    1 Tesla Inc 4.3%
    2 Ocado 4.0%
    3 Zillow 3.7%
    4 Alnylam Pharmaceuticals 3.4%
    5 STAAR Surgical 3.3%
    6 Chegg 3.0%
    7 Appian 2.7%
    8 Upwork 2.7%
    9 Exact Sciences 2.7%
    10 Teladoc 2.7%
    Total 32.5%
    Fund %
    1 Tesla Inc 4.3%
    2 Ocado 4.0%
    3 Zillow 3.7%
    4 Alnylam Pharmaceuticals 3.4%
    5 STAAR Surgical 3.3%
    6 Chegg 3.0%
    7 Appian 2.7%
    8 Upwork 2.7%
    9 Exact Sciences 2.7%
    10 Teladoc 2.7%
    Total 32.5%
    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.
    Sector Analysis of Total Assets - 31/03/2021
    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.
    Third Quarter 2019

    Episode 6 - Space: The Final Investment Frontier.

    Fifty years on from the first moon landing, entrepreneurs on the west coast of America are stepping up spending on space. To discuss how this new space race might impact investment, Malcolm Borthwick is joined by Luke Ward – space enthusiast and deputy manager of Edinburgh Worldwide Investment Trust and the Global Discovery Fund.

    Listen now (15 minutes)
    Second Quarter 2019

    Bricks and Clicks.

    With online companies currently dominating sales, it is widely expected that the need for tangible stores will continue to decrease, but Baillie Gifford has spotted a rise in forward-thinking companies who are utilising physical spaces to provide an innovative and interactive shopping experience.

    Read more

    View all Insights.

    Meet the Managers

    Douglas Brodie - Manager

    Douglas joined Baillie Gifford in 2001 and is Head of the Global Discovery Team. Douglas became a Partner in 2015 and is a CFA Charterholder. He graduated BSc in Molecular Biology & Biochemistry from the University of Durham in 1997 and attained a DPhil in Molecular Immunology from the University of Oxford in 2001.

    Svetlana Viteva - Deputy Manager

    Svetlana joined Baillie Gifford in 2012 and is an Investment Manager in the Global Discovery Team. She is a CFA Charterholder. Svetlana is also a Deputy Manager of our global small cap investment trust, Edinburgh Worldwide Investment Trust. She graduated BA in Economics and BA in Business Administration from the American University in Bulgaria in 2008, MSc in Investment Analysis in 2009 and PhD in Accounting and Finance in 2012, both from the University of Stirling.

    Luke Ward - Deputy Manager

    Luke joined Baillie Gifford in 2012 and is an Investment Manager in the Global Discovery Team. He is a Deputy Manager of our Global small cap investment trust, Edinburgh Worldwide Investment Trust. Luke graduated MEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Edinburgh in 2012.

    How to Buy

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

    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.

    Fund Platforms/Supermarkets

    OEIC Terms of Business

    To buy and sell our funds, you must complete and return a copy of the document below, if you don't already have an agreement with us. In order for us to accept your business for our range of OEICs, please complete and return the Terms of Business Acceptance Form.

    Documents

    You can access any literature about the Fund here, either by downloading or requesting a copy by post (where available). Please note that, due to current government restrictions, we have a limited number of staff in our office. As a result, if posting instructions to us, there may be a delay in processing these due to these current restrictions.

    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.

    Immature Companies

    Investment in smaller, immature companies is generally considered higher risk as the market for their shares may be less liquid and more difficult to trade than that for more established companies. As a result, share price fluctuations may be greater. In addition smaller, immature companies may not do so well in periods of adverse economic conditions. Where such companies have business models and competitive positions which are less well established, this could result in an increased likelihood of loss for investors.

    Market Conditions 

    Any value assigned to illiquid securities which are difficult to trade, such as those in smaller, immature companies, may not accurately reflect the price the Fund might receive upon their sale.

    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.

    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.