1. Overview

    The Japanese Income Growth Fund aims to outperform (after deduction of costs) the TOPIX, as stated in Sterling, by at least 1% per annum over rolling five-year periods through a combination of income and capital growth whilst maintaining a portfolio yield higher than the TOPIX. 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 Japan Sector.

    Our fund aims to generate strong long-term total returns as well as provide investors with a higher yield than the Japanese market.

    Performance & Portfolio

    Periodic Performance

    All figures to 30/09/2024

    6 Months

    1 Year

    3 Years

    5 Years

    Class B-Inc -1.0%11.1%-1.2%2.0%
    Index* -3.6%10.7%3.3%5.5%
    Target Benchmark** -3.1%11.7%4.3%6.5%
    Sector Average*** -2.1%11.1%1.5%5.2%
    Sector Ranking 29/10247/10273/9778/92

    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 to 30 September each year

    Annual percentage return (Updated Quarterly)

    30/09/2019
    30/09/2020

    30/09/2020
    30/09/2021

    30/09/2021
    30/09/2022

    30/09/2022
    30/09/2023

    30/09/2023
    30/09/2024

    Class B-Inc 3.2%11.0%-13.2%0.0%11.1%
    Index* 2.4%15.6%-13.5%15.1%10.7%
    Target Benchmark** 3.4%16.8%-12.7%16.3%11.8%
    Sector Average*** 5.6%16.7%-15.4%11.3%11.1%

    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.

    Source: FE, Revolution, Tokyo Stock Exchange. Total return net of charges, in sterling.
    Share class returns calculated using 10am prices, while the Index is calculated close-to-close.
    *TOPIX.
    **TOPIX (in sterling) plus at least 1% per annum over rolling five-year periods (through a combination of income and capital growth).
    ***IA Japan Sector.

    Top Ten Holdings - 30/09/2024

    Fund %
    1 GMO Internet 4.2%
    2 SoftBank Group 3.9%
    3 MS&AD Insurance 3.8%
    4 Tokio Marine Holdings Inc 3.7%
    5 Sumitomo Mitsui Trust 3.7%
    6 SBI Holdings 3.5%
    7 Calbee 2.8%
    8 DMG Mori 2.6%
    9 PARK24 2.5%
    10 FANUC 2.5%
    Total 33.4%
    Sector analysis of total assets - 30/09/2024

    Fund %

    • 1 Manufacturing 46.86
    • 2 Finance & Insurance 16.35
    • 3 Transport And Communications 11.77
    • 4 Services 9.62
    • 5 Commerce 9.12
    • 6 Real Estate 5.26
    • 7 Cash 1.01
    • 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) 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.

    Meet the Managers

    Matthew Brett

    Matthew is an investment manager in the Japanese Equities Team. He is a manager of the Japanese Fund (and related All Cap Strategy segregated accounts), manager of the Baillie Gifford Japan Trust and co-manager of the Japanese Income Growth Fund. He joined Baillie Gifford in 2003 and became a partner in 2018. Matthew graduated BA (Hons) in Natural Sciences (Psychology) from the University of Cambridge in 2000 and holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Bristol.

    Karen See

    Karen is an Investment Manager in the Japanese Equities Team. Karen is a Co-Manager of the Japanese Income Growth Fund. Karen graduated BSc (Hons) in Economics with Japanese from University of Birmingham in 2011 and is a CFA Charterholder. Karen joined Baillie Gifford in 2012.

    How to Buy

    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.

    You can invest in our funds via a number of fund platforms. Information on the range of funds available through platforms can be obtained from platforms@bailliegifford.com

    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).

    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

    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.

    Single Country

    The Fund’s exposure to a single market and currency may increase share price movements.

    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 to capital

    For distribution purposes the ACD has the facility to allocate part or all of the Authorised Corporate Director’s (ACD) fee to capital. This will reduce the capital value of the Fund. For the year to 30 June 2020 100% of expenses were allocated to capital. The figure for the current financial period has not yet been determined however this number may vary from year to year.

    Tax Rates

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