Capital at risk

Investment strategy

Europe ex UK

Europe has no shortage of fantastic businesses, it just takes a deeper look to find them. The Europe ex UK strategy does just that to construct high-conviction portfolios of 30 to 50 companies which we think have large growth opportunities. By investing in such companies, we hope to deliver long-term capital appreciation for our clients.

A view of three terraced houses by the canal side in Amsterdam.

Investing in the exceptional

We don’t want to own a collection of ‘slightly better than average’ companies. Instead, we aspire to own Europe’s ‘outliers’ – special companies which have the potential to return a multiple of our investment.

European equities: our philosophy

Investment manager Stephen Paice introduces European equities, reflecting on the exciting opportunities ahead.

Aiming to outperform

Our objective is to outperform the MSCI Europe ex UK index by 2-3 per cent per annum over rolling five-year periods. We believe the best way to meet this target is to find companies with the common characteristics that usually go along with great growth potential. These include being managed by exceptional capital allocators, as well as having the ability to grow revenues faster than peers, expand profit margins and possess sustainable competitive advantages.

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 chance to deliver with a difference

We do not construct our portfolios in relation to the benchmark, rather we construct our portfolios according to where we think the best opportunities are. As a result, we typically have a very high active share and look different to many of our peers. We also know that a small number of companies tend to drive market and portfolio returns, but patience is required to let compounding work its magic. We think this approach gives us the best chance to deliver on our performance objectives for clients.

For outstanding returns, you must invest in outstanding companies. Not all will work out. What’s important is not how often you are right, but how much you make when you are.
Stephen Paice

Meet the managers

Documents

Philosophy and process

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

Quarterly update

Get the latest investment commentary, portfolio overview, transactions and performance information alongside governance engagement and voting. 

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: 31 October 2024

#Holding% of portfolio
1DSV6.2%
2Prosus5.9%
3Topicus.com5.2%
4Schibsted5.1%
5Ryanair4.8%
6Nexans4.3%
7ASML3.6%
8Kingspan Group3.6%
9Allegro.eu3.4%
10Atlas Copco3.3%

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:

Filters

Insights

Viewing 13 of 13
  1. European Equities Q3 update

    The European Equities Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.
    October 2024
    Video11 minutes
  2. Investment specialist Thomas Hodges

    Future Stocks: Our best ideas in Europe

    Thomas Hodges uncovers three of Europe’s hidden growth champions: Lonza, Topicus and Soitec.
    September 2024
    Video3 minutes
  3. European Equities Q2 update

    The European Equities Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.
    July 2024
    Video10 minutes
  4. European Equities Q1 update

    The European Equities Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.
    April 2024
    Video11 minutes
  5. Moncler: from mountain to street

    How the outerwear pioneer innovated its way into the fashion elite.
    March 2024
    Article4 minutes
  6. European Equities Q4 update

    The European Equities Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.
    January 2024
    Video14 minutes
  7. HelloFresh: changing how people eat forever

    HelloFresh’s CEO explains the art and science of meal kit delivery at a global scale.
    December 2023
    Article
  8. 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
  9. European Equities Q3 update

    The European Equities Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.
    October 2023
    Video12 minutes
  10. European Equities

    Investment manager, Stephen Paice, discusses the Baillie Gifford approach to European Equities.
    September 2023
    Video3 minutes
  11. Europe: why now?

    Chris Davies is joined by Thomas Hodges to discuss why he sees reasons for optimism in European equities, and why he believes now is the time to start paying attention.
    October 2022
    Video34 minutes
  12. Why are Swedish companies world leaders?

    Sweden tops the charts for original thinking, from family businesses to founder-run companies.
    July 2022
    Podcast22 minutes
  13. Resurgence of European ambition

    Head of European Equities Stephen Paice explains why investors should evolve their mindsets in order to capture the growth opportunity in Europe.
    October 2021
    Video27 minutes

European Equities Q3 update

The European Equities Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.

  1. European Equities Q3 update

    The European Equities Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.
    October 2024
    Video11 minutes
  2. Investment specialist Thomas Hodges

    Future Stocks: Our best ideas in Europe

    Thomas Hodges uncovers three of Europe’s hidden growth champions: Lonza, Topicus and Soitec.
    September 2024
    Video3 minutes
  3. European Equities Q2 update

    The European Equities Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.
    July 2024
    Video10 minutes
  4. European Equities Q1 update

    The European Equities Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.
    April 2024
    Video11 minutes
  5. Moncler: from mountain to street

    How the outerwear pioneer innovated its way into the fashion elite.
    March 2024
    Article4 minutes
  6. European Equities Q4 update

    The European Equities Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.
    January 2024
    Video14 minutes
  7. HelloFresh: changing how people eat forever

    HelloFresh’s CEO explains the art and science of meal kit delivery at a global scale.
    December 2023
    Article
  8. 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
  9. European Equities Q3 update

    The European Equities Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.
    October 2023
    Video12 minutes
  10. European Equities

    Investment manager, Stephen Paice, discusses the Baillie Gifford approach to European Equities.
    September 2023
    Video3 minutes
  11. Europe: why now?

    Chris Davies is joined by Thomas Hodges to discuss why he sees reasons for optimism in European equities, and why he believes now is the time to start paying attention.
    October 2022
    Video34 minutes
  12. Why are Swedish companies world leaders?

    Sweden tops the charts for original thinking, from family businesses to founder-run companies.
    July 2022
    Podcast22 minutes
  13. Resurgence of European ambition

    Head of European Equities Stephen Paice explains why investors should evolve their mindsets in order to capture the growth opportunity in Europe.
    October 2021
    Video27 minutes

Explore further

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

Important information

The information on this website is intended for institutional investors and accredited investors (as defined in the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore, as amended) and consultants in Singapore only. It is not intended for use by any other persons including members of the general public or investors from other jurisdictions.
The information contained in this website has been compiled with considerable care to ensure its accuracy at the date of publication. However, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made to its accuracy or completeness. Nothing in this information or elsewhere in this website shall exclude, limit or restrict our duties and liabilities to you the United Kingdom's Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 or any conduct of business rules which we are bound to comply with. These Terms and any non-contractual obligations arising from or connected with them shall be governed by, and these Terms shall be construed in accordance with, the laws of Singapore.
Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited is wholly owned by Baillie Gifford & Co. Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited provides investment management and advisory services to non-UK clients. Both are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Baillie Gifford Asia (Singapore) Private Limited is wholly owned by Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited and holds a Capital Markets Services Licence from the Monetary Authority of Singapore to conduct fund management activities for institutional investors and accredited investors in Singapore. Baillie Gifford Asia (Singapore) Private Limited can be contacted at Singapore Land Tower, Level 46, Unit 4616-17, 50 Raffles Place, Singapore 048624.
This website is informative only and the information provided should not be considered as investment or other advice or a recommendation or offer to buy, sell or hold a particular investment. You can read details of our Legal and Important Information here.