1. Overview

    The Emerging Markets Leading Companies Fund aims to outperform (after deduction of costs) the MSCI Emerging Markets 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 Emerging Markets Sector.

    Performance & Portfolio

    Periodic performance

    All figures to 31/03/2025

    6 Months

    1 Year

    3 Years

    5 Years

    Class B-Acc -2.5%3.2%1.4%6.8%
    Index* -1.3%6.3%2.6%7.5%
    Target Benchmark** -0.4%8.5%4.7%9.7%
    Sector Average*** -2.3%3.2%1.5%7.0%
    Sector Ranking 100/17194/17080/15977/142

    Figures for 3 and 5 years are shown as the annualised rate of return. This is the average yearly return over the specified period.


    Annual discrete performance 31 March each year

    Annual percentage return (Updated Quarterly)

    31/03/2020
    31/03/2021

    31/03/2021
    31/03/2022

    31/03/2022
    31/03/2023

    31/03/2023
    31/03/2024

    31/03/2024
    31/03/2025

    Class B-Acc 59.2%-16.2%-3.4%4.6%3.2%
    Index* 42.8%-6.8%-4.5%6.3%6.3%
    Target Benchmark** 45.7%-5.0%-2.5%8.4%8.5%
    Sector Average*** 46.8%-8.7%-4.4%6.0%3.2%

    Please bear in mind that past performance is not a guide to future returns. The value of your investment may go down as well as up, and you may not get back the amount you invested.

    Source: Revolution, FE, MSCI. Total return net of charges, in sterling.

    Share class returns calculated using 10am prices, while the Index is calculated close-to-close.

    *MSCI Emerging Markets Index.

    **MSCI Emerging Markets Index (in sterling) plus at least 2% per annum over rolling five-year periods.

    ***IA Global Emerging Markets Sector.

    Top ten holdings 31/03/2025

    Fund %
    1 TSMC 7.8%
    2 Samsung Electronics 7.3%
    3 Tencent 5.1%
    4 MercadoLibre 4.1%
    5 Petrobras 4.1%
    6 Ping An Insurance 3.7%
    7 HDFC Bank 3.6%
    8 Meituan 3.5%
    9 Reliance Industries 3.5%
    10 Naspers 3.3%
    Total 45.8%
    Geographic analysis of total assets 31/03/2025
    Created with Highcharts 4.2.2123456712

    Fund %

    • 1 China 32.56
    • 2 India 13.44
    • 3 Brazil 11.37
    • 4 South Korea 10.22
    • 5 Taiwan 8.71
    • 6 Mexico 3.81
    • 7 South Africa 3.29
    • 8 Poland 2.41
    • 9 Singapore 2.41
    • 10 Peru 2.24
    • 11 Chile 2.19
    • 12 Others 8.68
    • 13 Cash -1.32
    • Total 100.00
    Sector analysis of total assets 31/03/2025
    Created with Highcharts 4.2.212345678

    Fund %

    • 1 Consumer Discretionary 27.54
    • 2 Information Technology 22.91
    • 3 Financials 22.00
    • 4 Communication Services 10.08
    • 5 Energy 7.51
    • 6 Materials 5.58
    • 7 Consumer Staples 2.92
    • 8 Industrials 2.77
    • 9 Cash -1.32
    • Total 100.00

    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) can go down or up.

    As well as cash in the bank, this balance includes unsettled cash flows arising from both shareholder flows and outstanding trades. Therefore, a negative balance may arise from timing differences between shareholder flows and security trading and does not necessarily represent a bank overdraft.

    The information contained on this page is intended as a guide only and should not be relied upon when making investment decisions. Source Baillie Gifford & Co.

    Please note that totals may not sum due to rounding.

    Meet the Managers

    Will Sutcliffe

    Will is head of our Emerging Markets Equity Team. He joined Baillie Gifford in 1999 and became a partner of the firm in 2010. Prior to joining the team in 2001, he also spent time working in our UK and US equity teams. Will graduated MA in History from the University of Glasgow in 1996.

    Roddy Snell

    Roddy is an investment manager in the Emerging Markets Equity Team. He joined Baillie Gifford in 2006 and became a partner of the firm in 2023. He has managed the Baillie Gifford Pacific Fund since 2010 and Pacific Horizon Investment Trust since 2021 (having been deputy since 2013). Roddy became a member of the International Alpha Portfolio Construction Group in 2024. Prior to joining the Emerging Markets Equity Team in 2008, he also spent time in the UK and European equity teams. Roddy graduated BSc (Hons) in medical biology from the University of Edinburgh in 2006.

    Alex Summers

    Alex is an investment manager in the Emerging Markets Equity Team. He is also a member of the International All Cap Portfolio Construction Group. He joined Baillie Gifford in 2022 and prior to joining the firm, worked as a Senior Investment Analyst (EM/Asia) at Stewart Investors from 2013. Alex is a CFA Charterholder and graduated BBA (First Class Honours), in Accounting and Finance from the University of New Brunswick, Canada.

    FUND PLATFORMS/SUPERMARKETS

    You can invest in a range of our funds via a number of fund platforms and supermarkets, please see the links opposite.

    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

    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.

    Philosophy and process documents

    Sustainability-related disclosures and climate reports

    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, particularly in emerging markets, involves a risk of loss if a custodian becomes insolvent or breaches duties of care.

    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.

    Concentration

    The Fund’s concentrated portfolio relative to similar funds may result in large movements in the share price in the short term.

    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.

    Important Information

    Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited provides investment management and advisory services to non-UK clients and is authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority. Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited is not licensed under the Regulation of Investment Advising, Investment Marketing and Portfolio Management Law, 5755-1995 (the “Advice Law”) and does not carry insurance pursuant to the Advice Law.

    Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited markets and distributes Baillie Gifford’s range of collective investment schemes to Qualified Clients and Qualified Investors in Israel, as listed in the First Addendum to the [Regulation of Investment Advising, Investment Marketing and Portfolio Management Law, 5755-1995 (the “Advice Law”)]/[Advice Law] and in the First Addendum to the [Israel Securities Law, 5728-1968 (the “Securities Law”)]/ [Securities Law]. Detailed disclosure of the collective investment schemes can be found within this website and in the relevant scheme prospectus.

    Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited does not provide investment advice. If you are in any doubt about whether an investment is suitable, you should seek independent advice.

    No action has been or will be taken in Israel that would permit a public offering or distribution of the Funds mentioned in this website to the public in Israel. This website and the Funds mentioned herein have not been approved by the Israeli Securities Authority (the “ISA”). In addition, the Funds mentioned in this website are not regulated under the provisions of Israel’s Joint Investment Trusts law, 5754-1994 (the “Joint Investment Trusts Law”). This website and the Funds mentioned herein will only be distributed to Israeli residents in reliance on an exemption from any advice or marketing restrictions [in a manner that will not constitute “an offer to the public” under sections 15 and 15a of]/[in reliance on an exemption from the prospectus requirements under] the Israel Securities Law, 5728-1968 (the “Securities Law”) or the Joint Investment Trusts Law, and any guidelines, pronouncements or rulings issued from time to time by the ISA as applicable.