Insights
Articles

Three Compelling Benefits Of Alternative Investments

Three Compelling Benefits Of Alternative Investments

Alternative investments are projected to increase 59% from 2018 to 2023 to a staggering US$14 trillion.[1] Once considered unconventional, alternative investments are fast becoming mainstream, generally offering better diversification than the public markets with significantly higher returns due to their illiquidity premium.

Nov 3, 2020Education- 5 min
hero

Serious investors who do not want to miss this burgeoning opportunity should act before it’s too late. In this article, we cover three unique characteristics that make alternative investments a better strategy for investors.

1. Enhanced diversification

Alternative investments are often referred to mistakenly as a single asset class, They are not. Unlike stocks or bonds, each alternative investment has a unique revenue source, strategy, risk and return. Private equity, private debt and private real estate differ from their public counterparts. Their performance is often independent from the swings of the public markets. Bad publicity will not slash their value overnight, nor will a celebrity endorsement raise it. Being distinct from the wider market, private investments can offer superior diversification.

Diversification is especially useful in times of market volatility or recession. When larger proportions of investors’ wealth are not in publicly traded assets, investors are better shielded against market fluctuations.

Alternative investments are more resistant to volatility because they’re generally less liquid and cannot be traded on a whim. This allows assets to realize their full long-term potential before they’re sold and entrenches the risk and return levels, so that rebalancing is required less often. At the core of alternative investments is practically unrivalled diversification and long-term strategic thinking, giving them a real edge over public market opportunities.

2. Superior returns

Alternative investments can also unlock fresh revenue sources. Private investments tend to do better than publicly traded assets. According to research by the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association released in September 2020, UK private equity has consistently outperformed public markets over the past 10 years.[2] Further research shows that these superior returns are set to continue in the aftermath of COVID-19 with attractive valuations.[3]

Experts have highlighted the significant return potential of private debt as companies rebuild. Our clients heard this first-hand during our insightful webinar with Mr Johannes Huth , Managing Director of global investment firm KKR. Mr Huth revealed that his firm is taking advantage of this trend by investing more than $16 billion in private markets this year, mostly in private debt.

Alternative investments tend to deliver better returns for several reasons. First, private companies do not have the same obligations as public ones, freeing them to focus on profits. Second, private investors tend to select larger, longer-term investments with much higher profit margin potential than publicly traded assets. This can drive up the figures considerably. Third, illiquidity generates superior returns due to the liquidity premium. Private markets tend to be more opaque than public markets and less efficiently priced. So, it’s much easier to find bargains in the world of private investing. There’s also more scope to negotiate and fewer market participants to drive prices up. Investors who buy at a good price and are willing to hold illiquid assets for a long time can achieve considerable returns.

3. Public markets are unstable

Anyone can invest in public markets, and that’s exactly the problem. Crowded markets and amateur investors can drive markets in unpredictable directions. In good times, investors flock to the hottest stock or sector, distorting the market with unrealistic valuations. At the first sign of trouble, they liquidate their position and send prices plummeting. This is frustrating for experienced strategic investors.

Market noise can create bubbles of exaggerated valuations that spark a chain of economic events when they pop. The Japanese real estate bubble of 1985, the 1990s dot com bubble, and the housing and credit crisis of 2007 were all triggered partly by emotional investing and herd mentality across the stock market.

Strategic investors can no longer rely on the tired old “60% equity and 40% bonds” approach. They need to invest alongside serious financiers, not good-time amateurs in exclusive opportunities that cannot be distorted or manipulated by crowds of new investors on cheap trading platforms. Such opportunities drive revenue and build value away from public eyes. Serious investors need access to the private markets.

Unlocking better investment opportunities

Here at The Family Office, our leading experts in the largest financial markets use their local contacts and global reach to unlock exclusive private equity and private debt opportunities to the right investors.

Talk to our investment professionals

Disclaimer:

This presentation is provided to you by The Family Office Co. BSC(c) (“The Family Office”) for informational purposes only, and contains proprietary information that may not be reproduced, distributed to, or used by, any third parties without The Family Office’s prior written consent.

All information, figures, calculations, graphs and other numerical representations appearing in this presentation have not been audited and may be subject to change over time. Furthermore, certain valuations (including valuations of investments) appearing in this presentation are subject to change as they may be based on either estimates or historical figures that do not reflect the latest valuation. Although all information and opinions expressed in this presentation were obtained from sources believed to be reliable and in good faith, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to their accuracy or completeness. The information contained herein is not a substitute for a thorough due diligence investigation. Past performance is not indicative of and does not guarantee future performance. Exit timelines, prices and related projections are estimates only, and exits could happen sooner or later than expected, or at a higher or lower valuation than expected, and are conditional, among other things, on certain assumptions and future performance relating to the financial and operational health of each business and macroeconomic conditions.

The Family Office makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, with respect to any statistics or historical or current financial data, whether created by The Family Office through its own research or quoted from other sources. With respect to any such statistics or data delivered or made available by or on behalf of The Family Office, it is acknowledged that (a) the investor takes full responsibility for making its own evaluation of the materiality of the information and the integrity of the quoted source and (b) the investor has no claim against The Family Office.

Amounts in currencies other than the US Dollar are translated using prevailing market rates as calculated by The Family Office or its service providers and may differ from the rates used by banks. The rates are indicative only and do not reflect the rates at which The Family Office would be prepared to enter into any transactions with other parties.

Certain information contained in this presentation constitutes “forward looking statements,” which can be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “plans,” “estimates,” “intend,” “continue,” or “believe,” or the negatives thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. To the extent this presentation contains any forecasts, projections, goals, plans and other forward looking statements, such forward looking statements are inherently subject to, known and unknown, significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory and other risks, contingencies and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond The Family Office’s control and may cause actual performance, financial results and other projections in the future to differ materially from any projections of future performance, results or achievements expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward looking statements. The Family Office undertakes no obligation to update any forward looking statements to conform to actual results or changes in The Family Office’s expectations, unless required by applicable law.

The Family Office makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, with respect to any financial projection or forecast With respect to any such projection or forecast delivered or made available by or on behalf of The Family office, it is acknowledged that (a) there are uncertainties inherent in attempting to make such projections and forecasts, (b) the investor is familiar with such uncertainties, (c) the investor takes full responsibility for making its own evaluation of the adequacy and accuracy of all such projections and forecasts so furnished to it and (d) the investor has no claim against The Family Office.

In addition, this presentation does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation to buy, any instrument or other financial product, nor does it amount to a commitment by The Family Office to make such an offer at present or an indication of The Family Office’s willingness to make such an offer in the future.

The Family Office is a Category 1 Investment Firm regulated by the Central Bank of Bahrain C.R.No.53871 dated 21/6/2004. Paid Up Capital: US$10,000,000. The Family Office only offers products and services to ‘accredited investors’ as defined by the Central Bank of Bahrain.

[1] https://docs.preqin.com/reports/Preqin-Future-of-Alternatives-Report-October-2018.pdf

[2] privateequitywire.co.uk/2020/09/07/289289/uk-private-equity-and-venture-capital-returns-outperform-public-markets

[3] https://www.pionline.com/investing/hamilton-lane-says-private-investment-will-do-well-post-covid-19

Are you seeking private market opportunities?

Join our digital investment platform for exclusive
private market opportunities

Create an account

About The Family Office

Since 2004, The Family Office has been the wealth manager of choice for more than 500 ultra-high-net worth families and individuals, helping them preserve and grow their wealth through customized solutions in diversified alternatives and more. Schedule a call with our financial experts and learn more about our wealth management process.


Keep reading