Why Should I Invest With Platinum?
As an independent fund manager, majority-owned by the staff, we manage your money (and ours) to create wealth. We attempt to achieve systematic absolute returns; in the past our long-term returns have been better than most world-wide, but the future will tell...

Platinum has an independent and different style of investment management, which is driven by a thematic stock picking approach. The disposition of a Fund’s assets is determined largely by the availability of companies regarded as undervalued by Platinum rather than by macro economic modelling (so-called top down asset allocation) or by reference to global share index weightings (so-called benchmarking).

The Platinum Trust Funds can be used as stand-alone investment options for international exposure or may be used to complement the investment styles of other managers.

When Should I Invest?
Like starting a business, there is "always a better time" - but how do you identify it and when do you get started is the question.

Who Owns Platinum?
Platinum is owned by Platinum Asset Management Limited, a company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (code PTM). Staff interests hold the majority of the issued shares.

How Long Has Platinum Been Managing Money?
Platinum was founded in 1994 and launched its first funds in June 1994. The portfolio managers have worked together for between 14 and 20 years.

Do Management Invest In Platinum's Funds?
The firm and its management, personally, have funds invested in Platinum's investment products. Many of the staff have their superannuation also invested in the funds alongside Platinum's clients.

Is Platinum A "Value" Manager?
Platinum seeks a broad range of exciting companies with prices that are well below what we perceive to be their intrinsic values. As such, we call ourselves stock pickers. Shares selling below their intrinsic values are not confined to those with low PEs or low price-to-book ratios. A company’s growth prospects are an important element of a company’s intrinsic value.

Is Platinum A Hedge Manager?
No. We only partially hedge our share holdings with short sales and will generally have net long positions of 50% or more.

What Is Platinum's View On Ethical Investing?
Platinum regards the subject of ethical investing as highly complex and points to the contradictions and conflicts that are an essential element of the capitalist system. Platinum has no way to assess the individual beliefs and values of our investors. This is made all the more difficult as multiculturalism has become a way of life in this increasingly globalised world.

Cognisant of a diversity of views on these subjects, Platinum has no formalised policy of considering labour standards or environmental, social or other ethical investment criteria in selecting, retaining and realising investments. On occasion, Platinum does take these matters into account; however, the extent to which Platinum does so is limited.

To take more than a limited account of such matters, Platinum would need to develop a template of ethical values and considerations that satisfies the majority of unit holders on matters including, but not limited to, labour standards, environmental impacts, social intercourse, governance behaviour and standards, and national institutions. In Platinum's view it is not possible to create such a template without unduly imposing a common set of values and considerations across disparate investors.

Surely Small Firms Are At A Disadvantage To The Big Multi-Nationals?
This can be true, but often the large juggernauts surrender flexibility and have difficulty in bringing their substantial resources to bear.

How Can You Invest Globally While Based In Sydney?
Remote locations can contribute to filtering information and remove the hustle and bustle of day to day market noise. Nevertheless, the investment teams spend many weeks a year travelling to visit companies.

Do "Foreign" Languages Cause You Problems?
Almost never, apart from having our own linguists, the universal language of business is increasingly English.

How Can You Possibly Cover So Many Companies When Running Global Funds?
You should note two things. Firstly, we are looking for neglected companies and, secondly, our cut-off point is companies with a market capitalisation of over US$1 billion. These two factors, combined with looking at the world according to approximately 12 industry categories such as financials, information technology etc, and in combination with our proprietary screening process, make the job manageable.

When Will Size Start To Reduce Your Investment Returns?
We don't know. However, our main focus is on developing the investment team to maintain maximum flexibility and responsiveness.

Where Are Platinum’s Offices?
Platinum has a single office located in Sydney, Australia. Platinum does not have any affiliations other than MLC in Australia and Optima Fund Management in New York.

What Is The Relationship Between Platinum Asset Management And Platinum Capital Limited?
Platinum Asset Management is the investment manager of Platinum Capital Limited.

Is Platinum Part Of MLC?
No. Platinum has a joint venture arrangement with MLC with respect to the MLC - Platinum Global Fund where Platinum is the investment manager and MLC takes care of the client servicing and marketing.

What Is The Difference In Investment Mandates Between Your Three Global Offerings ~ Platinum International Fund, Platinum Capital Limited And The MLC - Platinum Global Fund?
The differences in each product's investment mandates primarily relates to market risk management. The MLC - Platinum Global Fund cannot short sell individual companies, only indices such as the S&P or Nasdaq, whereas the Platinum International Fund and Platinum Capital Limited can short sell both indices and individual companies. In addition, the products' portfolios hold similar stocks, but there are differences in weightings owing to cash inflows and the fact that the listed company (Platinum Capital) is a closed end fund.

Does Platinum Use Active Selling/Marketing Techniques (e.g. Cold Calling, Junk Mail)?
No. Platinum does not use active selling techniques for any of its products. Platinum has a client liaison department, but no sales or marketing staff. Platinum will not contact you to induce you to invest in any financial product. Should you receive a suspect phone call, we recommend that you contact the Australian Securities and Investments Commission on 1300 300 630.

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