The investment landscape is witnessing an upsurge in alternative investments, colloquially referred to as ‘alts’. These investment avenues, traditionally favored by institutional investors, are now finding their way into the portfolios of qualified high-net-worth individuals. This shift is attributed to enhanced transparency, reporting, and accessibility. Alternative investments comprise a vast array of asset types and strategies, each with its unique set of returns, liquidity profiles, and volatility levels.
Benefits and Risks of Alts
The appeal of alternative investments lies in the potential to offer four primary benefits to a portfolio: diversification, income, capital appreciation, and inflation protection. However, these advantages come with certain inherent risks, such as lower transparency compared to traditional investments, potential liquidity issues due to capital lockup periods, higher fees, the use of leverage, and varying degrees of concentration that can influence volatility.
Future Outlook
Despite the challenges, the role of alternative investments is projected to grow. The emergence of product innovation and new investment vehicles suggest a future where alts are a significant part of many investment portfolios. A research commissioned by the Carne Group involving over 200 alternative asset equity and fixed income fund managers in 10 countries revealed that 83% of managers anticipate an increase in the inflow of new capital into their funds in 2024. Private equity, renewable energy, and hedge funds are expected to witness the most substantial increase in fundraising this year. KKR, a leading global investment firm, raised a record $6.4 billion for its second Asia-focused infrastructure fund, indicating sustained investor interest in private markets. Similarly, Benefit Street Partners closed its fifth flagship direct lending vehicle with $4.7 billion of investable capital.
Performance of Alts
Alternative investment firms are also seeing positive financial outcomes. For instance, KKR posted higher quarterly earnings, driven by stronger appreciation in the value of its investments. The company recorded record fee-related earnings and raised and invested more capital during the period than in any other in 2023. This affirms the growing role of alternative investments in the global financial landscape.
