Edinburgh-based asset management giant Baillie Gifford survived a downturn in its fortunes in the final quarter of 2021 to cling on to top spot in the net retail sales league table for 2021, according to The Pridham Report, a quarterly report for the fund management industry.

Baillie Gifford took in £3.76 billion in net retail sales in 2021, ahead of Liontrust on £3.65 billion and HSBC Asset Management on £3.26 billion.

Baillie Gifford funds did very well in the first half of the year as the group’s “growth” style of investing sent its funds soaring.

But The Pridham Report said that “… as the year progressed and some investors decided to switch to value investing, its business slowed, though the company says it is determined to ‘stick to its knitting’.”

Blackrock topped the gross retail sales league table in 2021 with £27.97 billion collected, with Legal & General Investment Management in second place with £15.21 billion, and Baillie Gifford third with £14.21 billion.

Baillie Gifford & Co had £290 billion under management and advice in active equity and bond portfolios for clients in the UK and throughout the world as at January 24, 2022.