RNS Announcement
Edinburgh Worldwide Investment Trust plc
Legal Entity Identifier: 213800JUA8RKIDDLH380
Regulated Information Classification: Interim Financial Report
Results for the six months to 30 April 2026
|
NAV* |
8.4% |
|
Share Price* |
14.6% |
|
S&P Global Small Cap Index† |
9.4% |
Source: LSEG / Baillie Gifford and relevant underlying index providers. All figures are total return*. See disclaimer at the end of this announcement.
* See Glossary of terms and Alternative Performance Measures at the end of this announcement.
† In sterling terms.
On behalf of my fellow directors, I would like to begin by thanking shareholders for the confidence you have placed in Michael Joseph, Jassen Trenkow, and me in electing us to the Board of Edinburgh Worldwide. This is a company with a distinctive and storied place in the investment trust landscape, and it is an honour and privilege for each of us to be tasked with its stewardship on your behalf.
As this is my first statement to shareholders, I want to set out how we have begun our work, what we see as our immediate priorities, and how we intend to approach our responsibilities as your Directors. Above all, I want to convey our optimism: we believe there is a real opportunity to deliver meaningful value for shareholders, and we are determined to realise it.
Since our appointment on 30 April 2026, our immediate focus has been on ensuring an orderly transition. Your Directors bring a range of experience across investment management and governance, and we are eager to put it to work for the benefit of all shareholders. In our first two months, we have engaged with shareholders, met the Company's advisers, and familiarised ourselves with the portfolio, the valuation process, and the Company's governance and operating arrangements.
The Board has reviewed its governance arrangements and is satisfied that each Director exercises independent judgement and is committed to acting in the best interests of the Company and all shareholders. We have maintained the Company's committee structure: Jassen Trenkow has been appointed Chair of the Audit and Management Engagement Committee, and Michael Joseph has been appointed Chair of the Nomination Committee. I am grateful to my colleagues for appointing me Chair.
Since our appointment we have spoken with a wide range of shareholders to understand their priorities and to discuss the sequencing of our initiatives. The Company's retail shareholders are an important part of our investor base, and we will continue to have regard to their interests alongside those of all shareholders in every decision we take.
The consistent themes that we have heard in our shareholder meetings have been requests to review portfolio decisions (including historical decisions to divest of Space Exploration Technologies Corp. ("SpaceX") stock), and to afford stockholders the opportunity for liquidity at Net Asset Value ("NAV") less costs.
This report covers the six months to 30 April 2026, a period that precedes our appointment. Rather than comment on performance over a period for which we were not responsible, we will leave the Investment Manager to address it in its report, which follows.
Following the period end, the Royal Bank of Scotland International revolving credit facility fell due for renewal and the Board decided not to renew it. The Company retains access to a revolving credit facility with Bank of New York Mellon, and we will keep its use of borrowing under regular review.
The Board is committed to delivering the liquidity mandate requested by shareholders. As previously announced, our intention is to offer shareholders that opportunity as soon as reasonably practicable following the orderly realisation of the Company's holding in SpaceX.
The timing, structure and scale of any liquidity event will depend on a number of factors, including the proceeds available to the Company, prevailing market conditions and the orderly disposal of the SpaceX or other positions. Our objective is to deliver the outcome shareholders have asked for, and we will keep shareholders informed as our plans develop.
The Board has begun a review of portfolio oversight, governance and decision-making as part of a broader assessment of the Company's future direction. We are engaging constructively with the Investment Manager and the Company's other advisers as we determine the best path forward, and we will provide a further update in due course.
For a number of reasons, we determined that we should expand the board to also include UK-based directors and seek to promote diversity of viewpoints and professional skills when doing so. We will shortly be engaging a specialist recruitment firm to assist us in that search.
We are optimistic about what lies ahead. Our priorities are straightforward:
• deliver an appropriate liquidity opportunity for shareholders;
• maintain strong governance and oversight;
• protect and enhance shareholder value; and
• position the Company for long-term success.
Shareholders have entrusted us with an important responsibility, and we do not take it lightly.
Our responsibility is to act in the interests of the Company and all shareholders. We will continue to exercise independent judgement in carrying out that responsibility and intend to judge ourselves by our actions and results, not speculation as to what those may be. We ask shareholders to do the same.
We look forward to reporting on our progress.
We confirm that to the best of our knowledge:
a. the condensed set of Financial Statements has been prepared in accordance with FRS 104 'Interim Financial Reporting';
b. the Interim Management Report includes a fair review of the information required by Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rule 4.2.7R (indication of important events during the first six months, their impact on the Financial Statements and a description of the principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six months of the year); and
c. the Interim Financial Report includes a fair review of the information required by Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rule 4.2.8R (disclosure of related party transactions and changes therein).
On behalf of the Board
Gabi Gliksberg
Chair
24 June 2026
For a definition of terms see Glossary of terms and alternative performance measures at the end of this announcement
Past performance is not a guide to future performance.
The following information illustrates how Edinburgh Worldwide has performed for the six month period ended 30 April 2026.
Share price14.6% |
NAV8.4% |
Comparative index†9.4% |
|
|
30 April 2026 |
31 October 2025 |
change |
|
Total assets |
£905.6m |
£847.0m |
|
|
Borrowings |
£76.9m |
£78.1m |
|
|
Shareholders' funds |
£828.7m |
£769.0m |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value per ordinary share (borrowings at book value) |
239.58p |
220.97p |
8.4% |
|
Share price |
235.00p |
205.00p |
14.6% |
|
S&P Global Small Cap Index |
|
|
9.4% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dividends paid and proposed |
Nil |
Nil |
|
|
Revenue earnings per ordinary share |
(0.93p) |
(1.11p) |
|
|
Discount |
(1.9%) |
(7.2%) |
|
|
Active share* |
99% |
99% |
|
|
|
Six months to 30 April 2026 |
Year to 31 October 2025 |
||
|
Period's high and low |
High |
Low |
High |
Low |
|
Share price |
241.00p |
196.20p |
210.00p |
143.00p |
|
Net asset value per ordinary share (borrowings at book value) |
249.41p |
207.48p |
221.86p |
154.50p |
|
Premium/(discount) |
3.97% |
(11.27%) |
4.0% |
(11.3%) |
* Alternative Performance Measure - see Glossary of terms and Alternative Performance Measures at end of this announcement.
† The comparative index is the S&P Global Small Cap Index total return (in sterling terms).
Source: LSEG/Baillie Gifford and relevant underlying index providers. See disclaimer at end of this announcement.
For a definition of terms used see Glossary of terms and Alternative Performance Measures at end of this announcement.
Past performance is not a guide to future performance.
|
|
Six months to 30 April 2026 |
Six months to 30 April 2025 |
|
Net return per ordinary share |
|
|
|
Revenue |
(0.93p) |
(0.85p) |
|
Capital |
19.48p |
(4.02p) |
|
Total |
18.55p |
(4.87p) |
Over the six months to 30 April 2026, Edinburgh Worldwide delivered a positive absolute return. The Company's share price total return was 14.6%, while the net asset value per share increased by 8.4%. This compared with a total return of 9.4% from the S&P Global Small Cap Index, in sterling terms. The share price return was ahead of both the NAV return and the comparative index, reflecting a narrowing of the Company's discount over the period.
The closing months of 2025 and the first half of 2026 have provided another reminder that markets often struggle most when confronted by genuine uncertainty. We have become accustomed to short-term volatility being amplified by leverage, momentum-driven strategies and algorithmic trading, but even against that backdrop the dispersion of returns across our portfolio has been unusually wide.
While investors spent much of the period tracking short-term developments in the Middle East, we think the more important story has been a market grappling with two juxtaposed realities. On one hand, artificial intelligence is rapidly expanding what is technologically possible. On the other, physical constraints, including energy, infrastructure, security and supply chains, remain stubbornly important. Understanding how these forces interact and evolve over the coming years will prove far more important than trying to predict the next move in markets.
Over the past year, large language models have evolved from impressive conversational tools into increasingly capable problem-solvers. Their growing ability to write software may ultimately prove one of the most consequential technological advances of the decade.
We have long believed that AI would place pressure on simpler software businesses whose products offered limited differentiation. What has surprised us is the speed with which both the technology and investor sentiment have evolved. The prospect of software increasingly creating software has led many investors to conclude that code itself is becoming commoditised. We think that interpretation risks missing the bigger opportunity.
Periods of technological acceleration often trigger fears of disruption before the benefits become visible. The arrival of open-source software in the late 1990s was widely viewed as a threat to the industry. Instead, it helped create an industry many times larger than before. The internet reduced the cost of distributing information. Cloud computing reduced the cost of deploying software. Artificial intelligence may dramatically reduce the cost of creating it. The question, then, is not whether software becomes cheaper. It is what happens when software becomes abundant.
Businesses do not buy software because they value code. They buy it because they want reliable solutions to operational problems. As software creation becomes easier, the value may increasingly shift towards those companies that help govern, secure and orchestrate increasingly complex digital systems.
This is why we continue to see opportunity in businesses such as Appian, JFrog and our recent purchase of Rubrik. In a world where AI agents become commonplace, organisations are unlikely to prioritise unrestricted experimentation. They will prioritise control, resilience and trust.
Yet the same technological progress that is creating digital abundance is simultaneously exposing new physical bottlenecks. Recent events in the Middle East have provided another reminder that modern economies remain deeply dependent on secure access to energy and critical infrastructure. While the immediate military escalation has eased, the broader geopolitical backdrop remains fragile. More importantly, it highlights a reality that extends far beyond the region itself: technology does not remove the need for energy. It often increases it.
Across conversations with companies involved in artificial intelligence infrastructure, data centres and advanced manufacturing, one theme repeatedly emerges. The limiting factor is no longer computing ambition but access to power. The rapid build-out of AI infrastructure is colliding with ageing grids, lengthy permitting processes and extended lead times for new generation capacity.
In many respects, this is the defining paradox of the current moment. The digital economy is becoming dramatically more productive precisely when the physical economy is struggling to expand capacity quickly enough to support it.
That tension is already beginning to reshape behaviour. Businesses are becoming more willing to consider alternative energy solutions that would have struggled for adoption only a few years ago. Technologies such as fuel cells, long viewed as promising but commercially marginal, are benefiting from a world where energy availability is becoming as important as energy cost.
This dynamic interplay between technological possibility and physical constraint is visible across many of the portfolio's positions, from artificial intelligence and defence to advanced manufacturing and energy infrastructure. It is also one reason why we remain cautious about simplistic narratives. To that end, we find it perplexing that markets currently appear willing to believe that artificial intelligence will disrupt every industry, while simultaneously expressing the view that many of the businesses driving that transformation will struggle to create long-term value.
We strongly suspect reality will be far more nuanced than this blunt, contradictory perception. The greatest opportunities often emerge not from technological breakthroughs alone, but from understanding the second-order consequences they create: the changes they drive, the entrepreneurs they empower and the businesses that make the most of the new tools. That is a process that unfolds over decades.
Geopolitical uncertainty, elevated interest rates and changing expectations around artificial intelligence will likely continue to drive market volatility. Yet beneath that noise, the businesses we own continue to make progress across AI infrastructure, defence technology, space, synthetic biology and digital services. The frontiers do not pause while markets debate the future.
Space Exploration Technologies, held in the portfolio since 2018, was the largest contributor to performance over the period. Operationally, the business continues to execute at a remarkable pace. The Falcon launch system has now surpassed 600 launches while continuing to push the boundaries of booster reuse and launch frequency. Meanwhile, Starlink has expanded to more than 10,000 satellites in orbit and has continued to grow its customer base rapidly, reaching more than 10 million subscribers globally.
Alongside this, the Starship rocket platform has continued to make meaningful technical progress through a series of increasingly ambitious test flights. While significant engineering challenges remain, each iteration moves the company closer to its long-term ambition of dramatically reducing the cost of accessing space. Taken together, these developments reinforce our view of Space Exploration Technologies not simply as a launch provider, but as a company building critical infrastructure across launch, communications and, in time, future computing networks in low Earth orbit. Investor attention has also increased following the combination of Space Exploration Technologies and xAI, highlighting growing interest in the strategic value of the broader ecosystem being assembled around the business.
Elsewhere, AEHR Test Systems and ASPEED Technology were among the strongest listed contributors. Both continue to benefit from the substantial investment taking place across the artificial intelligence infrastructure stack. In AEHR Test Systems' case, the delivery of its first production wafer-level burn-in systems for AI processors represents an important commercial validation of technology that addresses a growing bottleneck in semiconductor manufacturing. More broadly, the continued build-out of AI infrastructure reinforces our belief that the effects of artificial intelligence will extend well beyond software and increasingly shape investment decisions across the physical economy.
One notable feature of the period was an increase in corporate activity. Three portfolio companies, Confluent, Exact Sciences and SkyWater Technology, agreed to be acquired. Such outcomes were not central to our investment cases, but they do provide an interesting signal. Across parts of the market, particularly among smaller and mid-sized growth businesses, valuations remain disconnected from the strategic value that industrial buyers and private investors appear willing to recognise. While acquisitions inevitably bring mixed emotions for long-term shareholders, they can serve as a useful reminder that periods of uncertainty often create opportunities for patient capital.
We have also continued to refresh the portfolio with businesses that reflect our conviction in long-term structural change. While operating across very different industries, our recent purchases share a common characteristic: they are helping customers adapt to a world that is becoming more digital, more autonomous and increasingly complex.
One area where this is particularly evident is in resilience and automation. French-listed Exail Technologies sits at the intersection of advanced navigation, autonomous marine systems and defence modernisation. As governments place greater emphasis on surveillance and operational resilience in GPS-denied environments, we believe demand for Exail Technologies' combination of navigation expertise and autonomous systems positions it well within this evolving landscape.
A second theme is the ongoing transformation of financial infrastructure. Circle Internet Group is helping build the foundations of a more digital payments ecosystem through its regulated stablecoin network. Upstart Holdings is applying advances in artificial intelligence to consumer lending, seeking to improve how credit decisions are made and expanding access to financial services. Metaplanet offers a different angle on the same theme, providing exposure to the growing role of digital assets while seeking to build a broader financial services platform around them. Although these businesses address different parts of the financial system, each reflects our belief that the movement and management of money is likely to change significantly over the coming decade.
Advances in biology remain another important source of opportunity. Revolution Medicines and Stoke Therapeutics are pursuing highly targeted approaches to diseases that have historically proved difficult to treat. Both are built around a deep scientific understanding of disease mechanisms and seek to address underlying causes rather than simply managing symptoms. While drug development is inherently uncertain, we believe advances in genetics and molecular biology are expanding the range of conditions that are becoming more rationally treatable over time.
Finally, we continue to find opportunities in software businesses that enable companies to operate more effectively. Rubrik helps organisations recover rapidly from cyberattacks in a world where digital resilience is becoming a necessity. PDF Solutions provides software and specialised inspection tools that help semiconductor manufacturers manage the growing complexity of advanced chip production. In both cases, the value lies not simply in automation, but in helping customers make better decisions and operate with greater confidence in increasingly demanding environments.
Taken together, these purchases reflect a consistent approach to finding long-term growth opportunities. We are less interested in predicting precisely how industries will evolve than in identifying the businesses providing the tools, infrastructure and capabilities that make that evolution possible. During the period, we exited nine positions, including MarketAxess, Upwork, Schrödinger and the holdings that announced they were being acquired.
We aim to hold our private company investments at 'fair value' i.e. the price that would be paid in an open-market transaction. Valuations are adjusted both during regular valuation cycles and on an ad hoc basis in response to 'trigger events'. Our valuation process ensures that private companies are valued in both a fair and timely manner.
The valuation process is overseen by a valuations group at Baillie Gifford, which takes advice from an independent third party (S&P Global). The valuations group is independent from the portfolio team with all voting members being from different operational areas of the firm, and the investment managers only receive final notifications once they have been applied.
We revalue the private holdings on a three‑month rolling cycle, with one third of the holdings reassessed each month. During stable market conditions, and assuming all else is equal, each investment would be valued four times in a twelve-month period. For investment trusts, the prices are also reviewed in detail twice per year by the respective investment trust boards and are subject to the scrutiny of external auditors in the annual audit process.
Beyond the regular cycle, the valuations group also monitors the portfolio for certain 'trigger events'. These may include: changes in fundamentals; a takeover approach; an intention to carry out an Initial Public Offering ('IPO'); company news which is identified by the valuation team or by the portfolio managers, or meaningful changes to the valuation of comparable public companies. Any ad hoc change to the fair valuation of any holding is implemented swiftly and reflected in the next published net asset value. There is no delay.
The valuations group also monitors relevant market indices on a weekly basis and updates valuations in a manner consistent with our external valuer's (S&P Global) most recent valuation report where appropriate.
Periods of market volatility during the period have meant that valuations continue to be reviewed much more frequently, in some instances resulting in a further valuation movement. The data below quantifies the revaluations carried out during the six months to 30 April 2026, but does not reflect the ongoing monitoring of the private investment portfolio that has not resulted in a change in valuation.
|
Edinburgh Worldwide Investment Trust* |
% |
|
Percentage of portfolio revalued up to 2 times |
38.1 |
|
Percentage of portfolio revalued 3+ times |
61.9 |
* Data reflecting period 1 November 2025 to 30 April 2026 to align with the Company's reporting period end.
The average movement in company valuations and share prices across the portfolio for six months to 30 April 2026 are shown below.
|
Valuation movement |
£'000 |
|
Value of private company investments as at 31 October 2025 |
186,625 |
|
Loss on disposal* |
(2,031) |
|
Change in categorisation† |
(4,601) |
|
Capitalisation of accrued interest‡ |
1,141 |
|
Investment revaluation gains in the period |
114,274 |
|
Investment revaluation losses in the period |
(21,905) |
|
Value of private company investments as at 30 April 2026 |
273,503 |
|
Valuation movement |
% |
|
Average movement in investee company securities price |
7.6 |
|
Average movement in investee company valuation |
26.5 |
* 4D Pharma written off during the year.
† BillionToOne listed on 6 November 2025.
‡ Represents capitalised accrued interest on Shine Technologies.
Baillie Gifford's overarching ethos is that we are 'Actual' investors. That means we seek to invest for the long term. Our role as an engaged owner is core to our mission to be effective stewards for our clients. As an active manager, we invest in companies at different stages of their evolution across many industries and geographies, and focus on their unique circumstances and opportunities. Our approach favours a small number of simple principles rather than overly prescriptive policies. This helps shape our interactions with holdings and ensures our investment teams have the freedom and retain the responsibility to act in clients' best interests.
We believe that companies that are run for the long term are more likely to be better investments over our clients' time horizons. We encourage our holdings to be ambitious, focusing on long-term value creation and capital deployment for growth. We know events will not always run according to plan. In these instances we expect management to act deliberately and to provide appropriate transparency. We think helping management to resist short-term demands from shareholders often protects returns. We regard it as our responsibility to encourage holdings away from destructive financial engineering towards activities that create genuine value over the long run. Our value will often be in supporting management when others don't.
Corporate governance is a combination of structures and behaviours; a careful balance between systems, processes and people. Good governance is the essential foundation for long-term company success. We firmly believe that there is no single governance model that delivers the best long-term outcomes. We therefore strive to push back against one-dimensional global governance principles in favour of a deep understanding of each company we invest in. We look, very simply, for structures, people and processes which we think can maximise the likelihood of long-term success. We expect to trust the boards and management teams of the companies we select, but demand accountability if that trust is broken.
Alignment is at the heart of our stewardship approach. We seek the fair and equitable treatment of all shareholders alongside the interests of management. While assessing alignment with management often comes down to intangible factors and an understanding built over time, we look for clear evidence of alignment in everything from capital allocation decisions in moments of stress to the details of executive remuneration plans and committed share ownership. We expect companies to deepen alignment with us, rather than weaken it, where the opportunity presents itself.
A company's ability to grow and generate value for our clients relies on a network of interdependencies between the company and the economy, society and environment in which it operates. We expect holdings to consider how their actions impact and rely on these relationships. We believe long-term success depends on maintaining a social licence to operate and look for holdings to work within the spirit and not just the letter of the laws and regulations that govern them. Material factors should be addressed at the board level as appropriate.
|
|
Geographical |
% at 30 April 2026 |
% at 31 October 2025 |
|
1 |
North America |
68.7 |
74.7 |
|
|
USA |
68.7 |
74.7 |
|
2 |
Europe |
11.0 |
13.6 |
|
|
United Kingdom |
5.7 |
8.3 |
|
|
Eurozone |
3.1 |
0.2 |
|
|
Developed Europe (non euro) |
2.2 |
5.1 |
|
3 |
Asia |
10.4 |
8.7 |
|
|
China |
3.3 |
3.3 |
|
|
Taiwan |
3.1 |
1.0 |
|
|
Japan |
3.1 |
3.5 |
|
|
South Korea |
0.9 |
0.9 |
|
4 |
Australasia |
2.6 |
0.9 |
|
|
Australia |
2.6 |
0.9 |
|
5 |
South America |
1.2 |
1.1 |
|
|
Brazil |
1.2 |
1.0 |
|
6 |
Net liquid assets |
6.1 |
1.0 |
|
|
Sectoral |
% at 30 April 2026 |
% at 31 October 2025 |
|
1 |
Industrials |
34.6 |
28.7 |
|
2 |
Information technology |
30.7 |
30.4 |
|
3 |
Healthcare |
20.8 |
26.0 |
|
4 |
Financials |
2.5 |
2.1 |
|
5 |
Real estate |
1.6 |
1.9 |
|
6 |
Consumer discretionary |
1.5 |
1.9 |
|
7 |
Materials |
1.4 |
1.1 |
|
8 |
Consumer staples |
0.9 |
1.1 |
|
9 |
Net liquid assets |
6.1 |
6.8 |
* Total assets before deduction of borrowings.
|
Name |
Business |
Country |
Fair value 2026 £'000 |
% of total assets * |
Absolute † performance % |
Relative † performance % |
|
Space Exploration |
Designs, manufactures and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft |
USA |
170,884 |
18.9 |
140.2 |
119.5 |
|
PsiQuantum# u |
Developer of commercial quantum computing |
USA |
45,744 |
5.1 |
(17.2) |
(24.3) |
|
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals |
Drug developer focussed on harnessing gene silencing technology |
USA |
37,674 |
4.2 |
(34.4) |
(40.0) |
|
AEHR Test Systems |
Semiconductor testing systems provider |
USA |
24,947 |
2.8 |
241.9 |
212.5 |
|
ASPEED Technology |
Server management SoCs and remote management solutions |
Taiwan |
23,328 |
2.6 |
183.1 |
158.7 |
|
Twist Bioscience |
Biotechnology company |
USA |
21,674 |
2.4 |
71.8 |
57.0 |
|
Xometry |
On-demand digital manufacturing marketplace |
USA |
20,217 |
2.2 |
2.2 |
(6.6) |
|
Axon Enterprise |
Law enforcement equipment and |
USA |
18,619 |
2.1 |
(46.9) |
(51.5) |
|
American Superconductor |
Designs and manufactures power systems and superconducting wire |
USA |
17,833 |
2.0 |
(12.6) |
(20.1) |
|
Echodyne |
Metamaterial radar sensors and software |
USA |
17,199 |
1.9 |
131.6 |
111.7 |
|
AeroVironment |
Small unmanned aircraft and tactical missile systems |
USA |
16,715 |
1.8 |
(49.0) |
(53.4) |
|
JFrog |
Software development tools and management |
Israel |
15,000 |
1.7 |
(5.3) |
(13.5) |
|
Astera labs |
Connectivity hardware for cloud and AI infrastructure |
USA |
14,502 |
1.6 |
0.9 |
(7.8) |
|
Oxford Nanopore Technologies |
Novel DNA sequencing technology |
UK |
14,226 |
1.6 |
(17.7) |
(24.7) |
|
Zillow# |
US online real estate portal |
USA |
14,071 |
1.6 |
(42.6) |
(47.5) |
|
BillionToOne |
Molecular diagnostics for prenatal screening and liquid biopsy |
USA |
13,221 |
1.5 |
39.5 |
27.5 |
|
Iren |
Renewable energy and data-centre infrastructure provider |
Australia |
12,732 |
1.4 |
(28.6) |
(34.7) |
|
Guardant Health |
Blood-based cancer diagnostics |
USA |
12,605 |
1.4 |
(9.5) |
(17.3) |
|
Shine Technologies#u |
Medical radioisotope production |
USA |
12,445 |
1.4 |
8.8 |
(0.5) |
|
Upstart Holdings |
AI-driven consumer lending marketplace |
USA |
11,962 |
1.3 |
(22.2) |
(29.0) |
|
|
|
|
535,598 |
59.5 |
|
|
* Total assets before deduction of borrowings.
† Absolute and relative performance has been calculated on a total return basis over the period 1 November 2025 to 30 April 2026.
Absolute performance is in sterling terms; relative performance is against S&P Global Small Cap Index (in sterling terms).
# Denotes more than one line of stock held.
u Denotes private company investment.
Source: Baillie Gifford/StatPro and relevant underlying index providers. See disclaimer at end of this announcement.
Past performance is not a guide to future performance.
at 30 April 2026 (unaudited)
|
Name |
Business |
Country |
Fair value £'000 |
% of total assets * |
|
Space Exploration Technologies u |
Designs, manufactures and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft |
USA |
170,884 |
18.9 |
|
PsiQuantum Series C Preferred u |
Developer of commercial quantum computing |
USA |
27,950 |
3.1 |
|
PsiQuantum Series D Preferred u |
Developer of commercial quantum computing |
USA |
17,794 |
2.0 |
|
|
|
|
45,744 |
5.1 |
|
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals |
Drug developer focussed on harnessing gene silencing technology |
USA |
37,674 |
4.2 |
|
AEHR Test Systems |
Semiconductor testing systems provider |
USA |
24,947 |
2.8 |
|
ASPEED Technology |
Server management SoCs and remote management solutions |
Taiwan |
23,328 |
2.6 |
|
Twist Bioscience |
Biotechnology company |
USA |
21,674 |
2.4 |
|
Xometry |
On-demand digital manufacturing marketplace |
USA |
20,217 |
2.2 |
|
Axon Enterprise |
Law enforcement equipment and software provider |
USA |
18,619 |
2.1 |
|
American Superconductor |
Designs and manufactures power systems and superconducting wire |
USA |
17,833 |
2.0 |
|
Echodyne u |
Metamaterial radar sensors and software |
USA |
17,199 |
1.9 |
|
AeroVironment |
Small unmanned aircraft and tactical missile systems |
USA |
16,715 |
1.8 |
|
JFrog |
Software development tools and management |
Israel |
15,000 |
1.7 |
|
Astera labs |
Connectivity hardware for cloud and AI infrastructure |
USA |
14,502 |
1.6 |
|
Oxford Nanopore Technologies |
Novel DNA sequencing technology |
UK |
14,226 |
1.6 |
|
Zillow Class C |
US online real estate portal |
USA |
12,566 |
1.4 |
|
Zillow Class A |
US online real estate portal |
USA |
1,505 |
0.2 |
|
|
|
|
14,071 |
1.6 |
|
BillionToOne |
Molecular diagnostics for prenatal screening and liquid biopsy |
USA |
13,221 |
1.5 |
|
Iren |
Renewable energy and data-centre infrastructure provider |
Australia |
12,732 |
1.4 |
|
Guardant Health |
Blood-based cancer diagnostics |
USA |
12,605 |
1.4 |
|
Shine Technologies Series C-5 Preferred u |
Medical radioisotope production |
USA |
6,425 |
0.7 |
|
Shine Technologies Series E-2 Preferred u |
Fusion technology for medical isotopes and nuclear applications |
USA |
6,020 |
0.7 |
|
|
|
|
12,445 |
1.4 |
|
Upstart Holdings |
AI-driven consumer lending marketplace |
USA |
11,962 |
1.3 |
|
Ceres Power Holdings |
Developer of fuel cells |
UK |
11,682 |
1.3 |
|
Harmonic Drive Systems |
Precision motion-control components |
Japan |
11,161 |
1.2 |
|
dLocal |
Latin American developer of cross border payments platform |
Uruguay |
10,751 |
1.2 |
|
Exail Technologies |
Maritime robotics and navigation systems |
France |
10,288 |
1.1 |
|
Raspberry Pi |
Technology company |
UK |
9,848 |
1.1 |
|
MP Materials |
Rare Earth Materials Company |
USA |
9,716 |
1.1 |
|
Astranis Space Technologies Series C Preferred u |
Communication satellite manufacturing and operation |
USA |
8,907 |
1.0 |
|
Astranis Space Technologies Series C Prime Preferred u |
Communication satellite manufacturing and operation |
USA |
742 |
0.1 |
|
|
|
|
9,649 |
1.1 |
|
LiveRamp Holdings |
Marketing technology company |
USA |
9,178 |
1.0 |
|
Revolution Medicines |
Targeted medicines for RAS-addicted cancers |
USA |
9,016 |
1.0 |
|
Park Systems |
Manufacturer of atomic force microscopy systems |
South Korea |
8,325 |
0.9 |
|
Ocado Group |
Online grocery retailer and technology provider |
UK |
8,198 |
0.9 |
|
Impinj |
RFID solutions connecting physical items to the cloud |
USA |
7,827 |
0.9 |
|
Genmab |
Antibody based drug development |
Denmark |
7,716 |
0.9 |
|
IPG Photonics |
High-power fibre lasers |
USA |
7,675 |
0.8 |
|
Silergy |
Designs and manufactures a broad range of high performance analog integrated circuits |
China |
7,598 |
0.8 |
|
Wireless Facilities |
Wireless network engineering and deployment services |
USA |
7,528 |
0.8 |
|
TransMedics Group |
Medical device company |
USA |
7,370 |
0.8 |
|
Besi |
Semiconductor assembly equipment |
Netherlands |
7,091 |
0.8 |
|
Rubrik |
Data security and cyber resilience software |
USA |
7,043 |
0.8 |
|
Universal Technical Institute |
Technical education for automotive and skilled trades |
USA |
6,758 |
0.7 |
|
Horizon Robotics |
Edge AI chips and autonomous driving solutions |
China |
6,661 |
0.7 |
|
Progyny |
Fertility benefits management company |
USA |
6,536 |
0.7 |
|
Shanghai United Imaging Healthcare |
Medical imaging and radiotherapy equipment |
China |
6,452 |
0.7 |
|
InfoMart |
Online platform for restaurant supplies |
Japan |
6,421 |
0.7 |
|
Stoke Therapeutics |
RNA medicines for genetic diseases |
USA |
5,980 |
0.7 |
|
Appian |
Enterprise software developer |
USA |
5,613 |
0.6 |
|
Lightning Labs u |
Lightning software that enables users to send and receive money |
USA |
5,386 |
0.6 |
|
Doximity |
Online healthcare resource and interactive platform developer |
USA |
5,356 |
0.6 |
|
Novocure |
Manufacturer of medical devices for cancer treatment |
USA |
5,149 |
0.6 |
|
Tandem Diabetes Care |
Manufacturer of insulin pumps for diabetic patients |
USA |
5,106 |
0.6 |
|
Shibaura Mechatronics |
Semiconductor and flat panel display manufacturing equipment |
Japan |
4,963 |
0.5 |
|
Amplitude |
Product analytics software |
USA |
4,922 |
0.5 |
|
Kingdee International Software Group |
Enterprise management software provider |
China |
4,887 |
0.5 |
|
Silex Systems |
Australian pioneer of laser enrichment technology |
Australia |
4,853 |
0.5 |
|
Circle Internet Group |
Stablecoin and blockchain payments platform |
USA |
4,699 |
0.5 |
|
Kornit Digital |
Manufacturer of digital inkjet printers |
Israel |
4,665 |
0.5 |
|
PDF Solutions |
Semiconductor manufacturing analytics software |
USA |
4,652 |
0.5 |
|
E Ink Holdings |
Develops, manufactures and sells electronic paper technology-related materials and display products |
Taiwan |
4,350 |
0.5 |
|
Epic Games u |
Video game platform and software developer |
USA |
4,324 |
0.5 |
|
QuantumScape |
Solid-state batteries for electric vehicles |
USA |
3,874 |
0.4 |
|
Catapult Group International |
Analytics and data collection technology for sports teams and athletes |
Australia |
3,834 |
0.4 |
|
Procept BioRobotics |
Robotics for minimally invasive urological procedures |
USA |
3,817 |
0.4 |
|
PeptiDream |
Peptide based drug discovery platform |
Japan |
3,723 |
0.4 |
|
Snyk Series F Preferred u |
Security software |
UK |
2,586 |
0.3 |
|
Snyk Ordinary Shares u |
Security software |
UK |
802 |
0.1 |
|
|
|
|
3,388 |
0.4 |
|
Zai Lab - HK Line |
Chinese bio-pharmaceutical development and distribution company |
China |
3,149 |
0.3 |
|
KSQ Therapeutics |
Biotechnology target identification company |
USA |
2,923 |
0.3 |
|
PureTech Health |
IP commercialisation focused on healthcare |
UK |
2,858 |
0.3 |
|
EHang Holdings |
Autonomous aerial vehicle developer |
China |
2,680 |
0.3 |
|
IperionX |
Low-carbon titanium metal and critical minerals |
USA |
2,570 |
0.3 |
|
Metaplanet |
Bitcoin treasury company |
Japan |
2,509 |
0.3 |
|
Sensirion Holding |
Manufacturer of gas and flow sensors |
Switzerland |
2,235 |
0.2 |
|
DNA Script Series C Preferredu |
Synthetic DNA fabricator |
France |
945 |
0.1 |
|
C4X Discovery Holdings u |
Software to aid drug design |
UK |
616 |
0.1 |
|
C4X Discovery - Warrants u |
Software to aid drug design |
UK |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
616 |
0.1 |
|
China Lumena New Materials - Delisted |
Mines, processes and manufactures natural thenardite products |
China |
- |
- |
|
Chinook Therapeutics - CVR Line |
Immunotherapy drug development |
USA |
- |
- |
|
New Horizon Health u |
Cancer screening company |
China |
- |
- |
|
Reaction Engines u |
Advanced heat exchange company |
UK |
- |
- |
|
Relativity Space u |
3D printing and aerospace launch company |
USA |
- |
- |
|
Total equities |
|
|
850,112 |
93.9 |
|
Net liquid assets |
|
|
55,483 |
6.1 |
|
Total assets |
|
|
905,595 |
100.0 |
* Total assets before deduction of borrowings.
u Denotes private company investment.
|
|
Listed equities % |
Unlisted securities # % |
Net liquid assets % |
Total assets % |
|
30 April 2026 |
63.7 |
30.2 |
6.1 |
100.0 |
|
31 October 2025 |
71.2 |
22.0 |
6.8 |
100.0 |
Figures represent percentage of total assets.
# Includes holdings in private companies ordinary shares and preference shares.
|
|
|
For the six months ended 30 April 2026 |
For the six months to 30 April 2025 |
For the year ended 31 October 2025 (audited) |
||||||
|
|
Notes |
Revenue £'000 |
Capital £'000 |
Total £'000 |
Revenue £'000 |
Capital £'000 |
Total £'000 |
Revenue £'000 |
Capital £'000 |
Total £'000 |
|
Gains/(losses) on sales of investments |
|
- |
22,295 |
22,295 |
- |
4,400 |
4,400 |
- |
40,063 |
40,063 |
|
Movements in investment holding gains |
|
- |
49,323 |
49,323 |
- |
(17,255) |
(17,255) |
- |
145,849 |
145,849 |
|
Currency (losses)/gains |
|
- |
(811) |
(811) |
- |
1,119 |
1,119 |
- |
1,444 |
1,444 |
|
Income from investments and interest receivable |
|
1,003 |
- |
1,003 |
540 |
- |
540 |
1,448 |
- |
1,448 |
|
Investment management fee |
3 |
(591) |
(1,771) |
(2,362) |
(504) |
(1,512) |
(2,016) |
(1,051) |
(3,152) |
(4,203) |
|
Other administrative expenses |
4 |
(3,096) |
- |
(3,096) |
(2,615) |
- |
(2,615) |
(3,289) |
- |
(3,289) |
|
Net return before finance costs and taxation |
|
(2,684) |
69,036 |
66,352 |
(2,579) |
(13,248) |
(15,827) |
(2,892) |
184,204 |
181,312 |
|
Finance cost of borrowings |
|
(524) |
(1,573) |
(2,097) |
(548) |
(1,644) |
(2,192) |
(1,061) |
(3,184) |
(4,245) |
|
Net return before taxation |
|
(3,208) |
67,463 |
64,255 |
(3,127) |
(14,892) |
(18,019) |
(3,953) |
181,020 |
177,067 |
|
Tax |
|
(19) |
|
(19) |
(14) |
- |
(14) |
(64) |
- |
(64) |
|
Net return after taxation |
|
(3,227) |
67,463 |
64,236 |
(3,141) |
(14,892) |
(18,033) |
(4,017) |
181,020 |
177,003 |
|
Net return per ordinary share |
5 |
(0.93p) |
19.48p |
18.55p |
(0.85p) |
(4.02p) |
(4.87p) |
(1.11p) |
49.96p |
48.85p |
The total column of this statement represents the profit and loss account of the Company. The supplementary revenue and capital columns are prepared under guidance published by the Association of Investment Companies.
All revenue and capital items in the above statements derive from continuing operations.
A Statement of Comprehensive Income is not required as the Company does not have any other comprehensive income and the net return after taxation is both the profit and comprehensive income for the period.
The accompanying notes below are an integral part of the Financial Statements.
|
|
Notes |
At 30 April 2026 £'000 |
At 31 October 2025 £'000 |
|
Fixed assets |
|
|
|
|
Investments held at fair value through profit or loss |
7 |
850,112 |
789,855 |
|
Current assets |
|
|
|
|
Debtors |
|
761 |
1,218 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
56,903 |
59,326 |
|
|
|
57,664 |
60,544 |
|
Creditors |
|
|
|
|
Amounts falling due within one year |
8 |
(79,090) |
(81,442) |
|
Net current liabilities |
|
(21,426) |
(20,898) |
|
Net assets |
|
828,686 |
768,957 |
|
Capital and reserves |
|
|
|
|
Share capital |
9 |
4,058 |
4,058 |
|
Distributable capital reserve |
10 |
499,723 |
499,723 |
|
Special reserve |
|
35,220 |
35,220 |
|
Capital reserve |
|
308,210 |
245,254 |
|
Revenue reserve |
|
(18,525) |
(15,298) |
|
Shareholders' funds |
|
828,686 |
768,957 |
|
Net asset value per ordinary share* |
|
239.58p |
220.97p |
|
Ordinary shares in issue |
9 |
345,884,292 |
347,984,292 |
* See Glossary of Terms and Alternative Performance Measures at the end of this announcement.
The accompanying notes below are an integral part of the Financial Statements.
|
|
Notes |
Share capital £'000 |
Distributable capital reserve £'000 |
Special reserve £'000 |
Capital reserve * £'000 |
Revenue reserve £'000 |
Shareholders' funds £'000 |
|
Shareholders' funds at 1 November 2025 |
|
4,058 |
499,723 |
35,220 |
245,254 |
(15,298) |
768,957 |
|
Ordinary shares bought back |
9 |
- |
- |
- |
(4,507) |
- |
(4,507) |
|
Net return after taxation |
|
- |
- |
- |
67,463 |
(3,227) |
64,236 |
|
Shareholders' funds at 30 April 2026 |
|
4,058 |
499,723 |
35,220 |
308,210 |
(18,525) |
828,686 |
|
|
Notes |
Share capital £'000 |
Share premium account £'000 |
Distributable capital reserve £'000 |
Special reserve £'000 |
Capital reserve * £'000 |
Revenue reserve £'000 |
Shareholders' funds £'000 |
|
Shareholders' funds at 1 November 2024 |
|
4,058 |
499,723 |
- |
35,220 |
106,883 |
(11,281) |
634,603 |
|
Ordinary shares bought back |
9 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
(10,926) |
- |
(10,926) |
|
Cancellation of share premium account |
10 |
|
(499,723) |
499,723 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Net return after taxation |
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
(14,892) |
(3,141) |
(18,033) |
|
Shareholders' funds at 30 April 2025 |
|
4,058 |
- |
499,723 |
35,220 |
81,065 |
(14,422) |
605,644 |
* The Capital Reserve balance at 30 April 2026 includes investment holding gains of £248,831,000 (30 April 2025 - holding gains of £36,405,000).
|
|
Six months to 30 April 2026 £'000 |
Six months to 30 April 2025 £'000 |
|
Cash flows from operating activities |
|
|
|
Net return before taxation |
64,255 |
(18,019) |
|
Net (gains)/losses on investments |
(71,618) |
12,855 |
|
Currency (losses)/gains |
810 |
(1,119) |
|
Finance costs of borrowings |
2,097 |
2,192 |
|
Overseas withholding tax incurred |
(20) |
(14) |
|
Changes in debtors and creditors |
(736) |
(1,257) |
|
Cash from operations* |
(5,212) |
(5,362) |
|
Interest paid |
(2,320) |
(2,813) |
|
Net cash outflow from operating activities |
(7,532) |
(8,175) |
|
Net cash inflow from investing activities |
12,516 |
39,566 |
|
Financing |
|
|
|
Ordinary shares bought back |
(5,415) |
(10,796) |
|
Bank loans drawn down |
154,759 |
147,848 |
|
Bank loans repaid |
(154,759) |
(184,848) |
|
Net cash outflow from financing activities |
(5,415) |
(47,796) |
|
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents |
(431) |
(16,405) |
|
Exchange movements |
(1,992) |
763 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents at start of period |
59,326 |
22,783 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period† |
56,903 |
7,141 |
* Cash from operations includes dividends received in the period of £156,000 (30 April 2025 - £344,000).
† Cash and cash equivalents represent cash at bank and short term money market deposits repayable on demand.
The accompanying notes below are an integral part of the Financial Statements.
The condensed Financial Statements for the six months to 30 April 2026 comprise the statements set out above together with the related notes below. They have been prepared in accordance with FRS 104 'Interim Financial Reporting' and the AIC's Statement of Recommended Practice issued in October 2019 and updated in July 2022 with consequential amendments. They have not been audited or reviewed by the Auditor pursuant to the Auditing Practices Board Guidance on 'Review of Interim Financial Information'. The Financial Statements for the six months to 30 April 2026 have been prepared on the basis of the same accounting policies as set out in the Company's Annual Report and Financial Statements at 31 October 2025.
The Directors have considered the nature of the Company's principal risks and uncertainties, as set out below. In addition, the Company's investment objective and policy, assets and liabilities, and projected income and expenditure, together with the dividend policy have been taken into consideration and it is the Directors' opinion that the Company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. The Board has, in particular, considered the ongoing impact of geopolitical and macroeconomic challenges. The Company's assets, the majority of which are investments in quoted securities which are readily realisable, exceed its liabilities significantly. All borrowings require the prior approval of the Board. Gearing levels and compliance with borrowing covenants are reviewed by the Board on a regular basis. The Company has continued to comply with the investment trust status requirements of section 1158 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 and the Investment Trust (Approved Company) (Tax) Regulations 2011. Accordingly, the Directors consider it appropriate to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing these Financial Statements and confirm that they are not aware of any material uncertainties which may affect the Company's ability to continue to do so over a period of at least twelve months from the date of approval of these Financial Statements.
The financial information contained within this Interim Financial Report does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in sections 434 to 436 of the Companies Act 2006. The financial information for the year ended 31 October 2025 has been extracted from the statutory accounts which have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The Auditor's Report on those accounts was not qualified but included a reference to Note 18 (Subsequent events) to which the Auditor drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying the report. The Auditor's Report did not contain a statement under sections 498(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006.
Baillie Gifford & Co Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Baillie Gifford & Co, has been appointed by the Company as its Alternative Investment Fund Manager and Company Secretary. The investment management function has been delegated to Baillie Gifford & Co. Dealing activity and transaction reporting have been further sub-delegated to Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited and Baillie Gifford Asia (Hong Kong) Limited. The management agreement is terminable on not less than three months' notice. The annual management fee is 0.75% on the first £50 million of net assets, 0.65% on the next £200 million of net assets and 0.55% on the remaining net assets.
The other administrative expenses have increased due to increased professional fees incurred in the requisitioning of a General Meeting by Saba Capital.
|
|
Six months to 30 April 2026 £'000 |
Six months to 30 April 2025 £'000 |
Year to 31 October 2025 £'000 |
|
Revenue return after taxation |
(3,227) |
(3,141) |
(4,017) |
|
Capital return after taxation |
67,463 |
(14,892) |
181,020 |
|
Total net return |
64,236 |
(18,033) |
177,003 |
|
Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue |
346,353,629 |
370,469,199 |
362,327,898 |
Net return per ordinary share is based on the above totals of revenue and capital and the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue (after the deduction of shares held in treasury) during each period.
There are no dilutive or potentially dilutive shares in issue.
No interim dividend has been declared.
The Company's investments are financial assets held at fair value through profit or loss. The fair value hierarchy used to analyse the basis on which the fair values of financial instruments held at fair value through the profit or loss account are measured is described below. Fair value measurements are categorised on the basis of the lowest (that is the least reliable or least independently observable) level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
Level 1 - using unadjusted quoted prices for identical instruments in an active market;
Level 2 - using inputs, other than quoted prices included within Level 1, that are directly or indirectly observable (based on market data); and
Level 3 - using inputs that are unobservable (for which market data is unavailable).
An analysis of the Company's financial asset investments based on the fair value hierarchy described above is shown below.
|
As at 30 April 2026 |
Level 1 £'000 |
Level 2 £'000 |
Level 3 £'000 |
Total £'000 |
|
Listed equities |
576,609 |
- |
- |
576,609 |
|
Unlisted ordinary shares |
- |
- |
5,742 |
5,742 |
|
Unlisted preference shares* |
- |
- |
267,761 |
267,761 |
|
Total financial asset investments |
576,609 |
- |
273,503 |
850,112 |
|
As at 31 October 2025 (audited) |
Level 1 £'000 |
Level 2 £'000 |
Level 3 £'000 |
Total £'000 |
|
Listed equities |
603,230 |
- |
- |
603,230 |
|
Unlisted ordinary shares |
- |
- |
10,285 |
10,285 |
|
Unlisted preference shares* |
- |
- |
172,534 |
172,534 |
|
Unlisted convertible promissory note/convertible loan note |
- |
- |
3,806 |
3,806 |
|
Total financial asset investments |
603,230 |
- |
186,625 |
789,855 |
* The investments in preference shares are not classified as equity holdings as they include liquidation preference rights that determine the repayment (or multiple thereof) of the original investment in the event for a liquidation event such as a take-over.
There have been no transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy during the period. The fair value of listed investments is either bid price or, depending on the convention of the exchange on which the investment is listed, last traded price. Listed investments are categorised as Level 1 if they are valued using unadjusted quoted prices for identical instruments in an active market and as Level 2 if they do not meet all these criteria but are, nonetheless, valued using market data. Unlisted investments are valued at fair value by the Directors following a detailed review and appropriate challenge of the valuations proposed by the Managers. The Managers' unlisted investment policy applies methodologies consistent with the International Private Equity and Venture Capital Valuation guidelines ('IPEV'). The principal methodologies can be categorised as follows: (a) market approach (price of recent investment, multiples, industry valuation benchmarks and available market prices); (b) income approach (discounted cash flows); and (c) replacement cost approach (net assets). The Company's holdings in unlisted investments are categorised as Level 3 as unobservable data is a significant input to their fair value measurements.
At 30 April 2026 creditors falling due within one year include borrowings of £76,909,000 (31 October 2025 - £78,091,000) drawn down under a five year £100 million multi-currency revolving credit facility with The Royal Bank of Scotland International Limited which expires on 9 June 2026.
At 30 April 2026 the drawings were €5,969,393, US$43,261,318 and £39,919,370 (31 October 2025 - €5,969,393, US$43,261,318 and £39,919,370) drawn down under the £100 million multi-currency revolving credit facility.
At 30 April 2026 there were no drawings under the £36 million multi-currency revolving credit facility with the Bank of New York Mellon with an expiry date of 30 October 2026 (31 October 2025 - nil).
The fair value of the bank loans at 30 April 2026 was £76,909,000 (31 October 2025 - £78,091,000).
|
|
As at 30 April 2026 |
As at 31 October 2025 |
||
|
|
Number |
£'000 |
Number |
£'000 |
|
Allotted, called up and fully paid ordinary shares of 1p each |
345,884,292 |
3,459 |
347,984,292 |
3,480 |
|
Treasury shares of 1p each |
59,869,403 |
599 |
57,769,403 |
578 |
|
|
405,753,695 |
4,058 |
405,753,695 |
4,058 |
In the six months to 30 April 2026, no shares were issued (in the six months to 30 April 2025 - no shares were issued). Over the period from 30 April 2026 to 23 June 2026 the Company issued no shares.
In the six months to 30 April 2026, 2,100,000 shares with a nominal value of £21,000 were bought back at a total cost of £4,507,000 and held in treasury (in the six months to 30 April 2025 - 6,338,487 shares were bought back and held in treasury). At 30 April 2026 the Company did not have authority to buy back any of its own shares during the period, as the resolution authorising the Directors to make market purchases of the Company's own shares was not passed at the Annual General Meeting held on 30 April 2026.
On 11 February 2025 The Court of Session approved the cancellation of the amount standing to the credit of the Company's share premium account and the crediting of an equivalent amount to the Company's Distributable Capital Reserve. The Court Order became effective when it was filed with the Registrar of Companies on 20 February 2025.
During the period the Company incurred transaction costs on purchases of investments of £35,000 (30 April 2025 - £43,000; 31 October 2025 - £96,000) and transaction costs on sales of £39,000 (30 April 2025 - £45,000; 31 October 2025 - £70,000).
There have been no transactions with related parties during the first six months of the current financial year that have materially affected the financial position or the performance of the Company during that period and there have been no changes in the related party transactions described in the last Annual Report and Financial Statements that could have had such an effect on the Company during that period.
Principal risks and uncertainties
The principal risks facing the Company are investment strategy risk, financial risk, smaller company risk, private company (unlisted) investments risk, discount risk, political and associated economic financial risk, cyber security risk, climate and governance risk, regulatory risk, custody and depositary risk, operational risk, leverage risk and emerging risks. An explanation of these risks and how they are managed is set out on pages 43 to 48 of the Company's Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year to 31 October 2025 which is available on the Company's website: edinburghworldwide.co.uk. The principal risks and uncertainties have not changed since the date of the Annual Report.
None of the views expressed in this document should be construed as advice to buy or sell a particular investment.
An alternative performance measure is a financial measure of historical or future financial performance, financial position, or cash flows, other than a financial measure defined or specified in the applicable financial reporting framework.
This is the Company's definition of Adjusted Total Assets, being the total value of assets held less all liabilities (other than liabilities in the form of borrowings).
Also described as shareholders' funds, net asset value is the value of total assets less liabilities (including borrowings). Net asset value can be calculated on the basis of borrowings stated at book value and fair value. An explanation of each basis is provided below. The net asset value per share is calculated by dividing this amount by the number of ordinary shares in issue excluding any shares held in treasury.
Borrowings are valued at nominal book value (book cost).
Borrowings are valued at an estimate of their market worth.
|
|
30 April 2026 £'000 |
31 October 2025 £'000 |
|
Net asset value per ordinary share (borrowings at book value) |
239.58p |
220.97p |
|
Shareholders' funds (borrowings at book value) |
828,686 |
768,957 |
|
Add: book value of borrowings |
76,909 |
78,091 |
|
Less: fair value of borrowings |
(76,909) |
(78,091) |
|
Shareholders' funds (borrowings at fair value) |
828,686 |
768,957 |
|
Number of shares in issue |
345,884,292 |
347,984,292 |
|
Net asset value per ordinary share (borrowings at fair value) |
239.58p |
220.97p |
At 30 April 2026 and 31 October 2025 all borrowings are in the form of short term floating rate borrowings and their fair value is considered equal to their book value, hence there is no difference in the net asset value at book value and fair value.
Net liquid assets comprise current assets less current liabilities, excluding borrowings.
As stockmarkets and share prices vary, an investment trust's share price is rarely the same as its net asset value. When the share price is lower than the net asset value per share it is said to be trading at a discount. The size of the discount is calculated by subtracting the net asset value per share from the share price and is usually expressed as a percentage of the net asset value per share. If the share price is higher than the net asset value per share, this situation is called a premium.
|
|
|
30 April 2026 |
31 October 2025 |
|
Net asset value per share |
(a) |
239.58p |
220.97p |
|
Share price |
(b) |
235.00p |
205.00p |
|
Discount ((b)-(a)) ÷ (a) expressed as a percentage |
|
(1.9%) |
(7.2%) |
The total return is the return to shareholders after reinvesting the dividend on the date that the share price goes ex-dividend. The Company does not pay a dividend, therefore, the one year total returns for the share price and NAV per share at book and fair value are the same as the percentage movements in the share price and NAV per share at book and fair value as detailed above.
For the purposes of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Regulations, leverage is any method which increases the Company's exposure, including the borrowing of cash and the use of derivatives. It is expressed as a ratio between the Company's exposure and its net asset value and can be calculated on a gross and a commitment method. Under the gross method, exposure represents the sum of the Company's positions after the deduction of sterling cash balances, without taking into account any hedging and netting arrangements. Under the commitment method, exposure is calculated without the deduction of sterling cash balances and after certain hedging and netting positions are offset against each other.
Active share, a measure of how actively a portfolio is managed, is the percentage of the portfolio that differs from its comparative index. It is calculated by deducting from 100 the percentage of the portfolio that overlaps with the comparative index. An active share of 100 indicates no overlap with the index and an active share of zero indicates a portfolio that tracks the index.
At its simplest, gearing is borrowing. Just like any other public company, an investment trust can borrow money to invest in additional investments for its portfolio. The effect of the borrowing on the shareholders' assets is called 'gearing'. If the Company's assets grow, the shareholders' assets grow proportionately more because the debt remains the same. But if the value of the Company's assets falls, the situation is reversed. Gearing can therefore enhance performance in rising markets but can adversely impact performance in falling markets.
Net gearing is the Company's borrowings less cash and cash equivalents expressed as a percentage of shareholders' funds.
Gross gearing is the Company's borrowings expressed as a percentage of shareholders' funds.
|
|
|
As at 30 April 2026 |
As at 31 October 2025 |
||
|
|
|
Net gearing* £'000 |
Gross gearing† £'000 |
Net gearing* £'000 |
Gross gearing† £'000 |
|
Borrowings |
|
76,909 |
76,909 |
78,091 |
78,091 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
56,903 |
- |
59,326 |
- |
|
Shareholders' funds |
|
828,686 |
828,686 |
768,957 |
768,957 |
|
Gearing |
|
2.4% |
9.3% |
2.4% |
10.2% |
* Net gearing: ((a) - (b)) divided by (c), expressed as a percentage.
† Gross gearing: (a) divided by (c), expressed as a percentage.
The Company has the authority to make market purchases of its ordinary shares for retention as treasury shares for future reissue, resale, transfer, or for cancellation. Treasury shares do not receive distributions and the Company is not entitled to exercise the voting rights attaching to them.
An unlisted or private company means a company whose shares are not available to the general public for trading and are not listed on a stock exchange.
No third party data provider ('Provider') makes any warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of the data contained herewith nor as to the results to be obtained by recipients of the data. No Provider shall in any way be liable to any recipient of the data for any inaccuracies, errors or omissions in the index data included in this document, regardless of cause, or for any damages (whether direct or indirect) resulting therefrom.
No Provider has any obligation to update, modify or amend the data or to otherwise notify a recipient thereof in the event that any matter stated herein changes or subsequently becomes inaccurate.
Without limiting the foregoing, no Provider shall have any liability whatsoever to you, whether in contract (including under an indemnity), in tort (including negligence), under a warranty, under statute or otherwise, in respect of any loss or damage suffered by you as a result of or in connection with any opinions, recommendations, forecasts, judgements, or any other conclusions, or any course of action determined, by you or any third party, whether or not based on the content, information or materials contained herein.
The S&P Global Small Cap Index ('Index') is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, a division of S&P Global, or its affiliates ('SPDJI'). Standard & Poor's® and S&P® are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC, a division of S&P Global ('S&P'); Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC ('Dow Jones'). Neither S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC, their affiliates nor their third party licensors make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the ability of any index to accurately represent the asset class or market sector that it purports to represent and neither S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC, their affiliates nor their third party licensors shall have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions of any index or the data included therein.
Past performance is not a guide to future performance.
Edinburgh Worldwide aims to achieve long-term capital growth by investing primarily in listed companies throughout the world. The Company has total assets of £905.6 million (before deduction of borrowings of £76.9 million) as at 30 April 2026.
Edinburgh Worldwide is managed by Baillie Gifford, the Edinburgh-based investment management firm and one of the largest investment trust managers in the UK. Baillie Gifford manages closed-ended and open-ended investment companies, together with investment portfolios on behalf of pension funds, charities and other institutional clients in the UK and overseas.
Edinburgh Worldwide Investment Trust plc is a listed UK company. The value of its shares and any income from them can fall as well as rise and investors may not get back the amount invested. This is because the share price is determined by the changing conditions in the relevant stock markets in which the Company invests and by the supply and demand for the Company's shares. Investment in investment trusts should be regarded as medium to long-term. The Company's risk could be increased by its investment in unlisted investments. These assets may be more difficult to buy or sell, so changes in their prices may be greater. The Company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. You can find up to date performance information about Edinburgh Worldwide on the Edinburgh Worldwide page of the Managers' website at edinburghworldwide.co.uk‡
‡ Neither the contents of the Managers' website nor the contents of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Managers' website (or any other website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.
24 June 2026
For further information please contact:
Naomi Cherry, Baillie Gifford & Co
Tel 0131 275 2000
Jonathan Atkins, Four Communications
Tel: 020 3920 0555 or 07872 495396
- Ends -