Blue Planet Investment Trust (BLP)

[Quint]

Just come across this one on the AIC web site.

Anybody hold this?

Apologies if this has been discusssed before.

[scotia]

I held this for a short period a long time ago (>10 years) so I haven't kept any records. At that time it seemed to specialise in Global financials, tended to run at a large discount, and was volatile. Looking at it again, it doesn't seem to have changed much.
The current 10% Bid/Offer spread, the discount history (approx. 23% a year ago, 10% now) and the ongoing charge of 3.68% would keep me well clear of it - and yet on a total return basis it has performed remarkably well over the past 5 years (115%).

[Quint]

I held this for a short period a long time ago (>10 years) so I haven't kept any records. At that time it seemed to specialise in Global financials, tended to run at a large discount, and was volatile. Looking at it again, it doesn't seem to have changed much.
The current 10% Bid/Offer spread, the discount history (approx. 23% a year ago, 10% now) and the ongoing charge of 3.68% would keep me well clear of it - and yet on a total return basis it has performed remarkably well over the past 5 years (115%).

Cheers. Not something i would rush to put money in to, especially with the Bid/Offer Spread, but an interesting approach holding a lot of South American debt. I think a strong stomach would be required.

I did like reading its last annual report and its comments on the economic policies of some countries, the UK especially.

[HillManMill]

Crikey there was a time some years back when Blue Planet was a stellar performer. I bought then and there was a sudden fall, well more of a plummet. I still hold. I have thought about topping up a couple of times over the last year or so but have resisted so far!

I think there used to be 3 Blue Planet trusts and now there is just one. Also if I remember correctly it is domiciled in Malta.

Yep you are right to pick up on the B/O spread. There are other trusts out there that are probably better buys.

[Quint]

Crikey there was a time some years back when Blue Planet was a stellar performer. I bought then and there was a sudden fall, well more of a plummet. I still hold. I have thought about topping up a couple of times over the last year or so but have resisted so far!

I think there used to be 3 Blue Planet trusts and now there is just one. Also if I remember correctly it is domiciled in Malta.

Yep you are right to pick up on the B/O spread. There are other trusts out there that are probably better buys.

Still domiciled in Malta.

[Alaric]

The current 10% Bid/Offer spread, the discount history (approx. 23% a year ago, 10% now) and the ongoing charge of 3.68% would keep me well clear of it - and yet on a total return basis it has performed remarkably well over the past 5 years (115%).

The link below is the KID
http://www.fundslibrary.co.uk/FundsLibr ... -PriipKids

It classifies the risk as a 6 (from 7) and warns of the ongoing charge. In the way that such regulatory documents can miss the blindingly obvious, it fails to mention the spread which will leave any investor 10% down before anything else. If you use past performance to generate values for the favourable etc. scenarios, similar data can generate the likely spread. It's all part of the cost of investing and a problem with more thinly traded instruments.

[eventide]

Here's the individual who owns the management company, and also around 30% of BLP itself, so in total control.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2891 ... ayoff.html

"Unreliable witness" is specific legal terminology.