Value assessment forces two Baillie Gifford funds closures

UK government bond funds shut down

Baillie Gifford has closed three of its UK government bond funds, according to its inaugural Assessment of Value (AoV) report, which found two of the products - the Baillie Gifford Active Gilt and Active Long Gilt funds - failed to consistently meet their investment objectives.

The report - which requires firms to conduct a value assessment of their funds outlining seven criteria including costs, economies of scale and performance - found that a further five of Baillie Gifford's 37 funds either provided value after action was taken or are being monitored closely. These were the Baillie Gifford British Smaller Companies, Emerging Markets Bond, Investment Grade Bond, Sterling Aggregate Bond and Sterling Aggregate Plus Bond funds. Baillie Gifford overhauled the portfolio, management team and investment process of its £174.8m  British Smaller Companies fund afte...