23095052321715661284394680

  Stone Mountain Capital - Alternative Investment Advisory
  • About
    • Partners
    • Ventures
  • Team
    • Oliver Fochler
    • Ashvin Chotai
    • Pascal Hasler
    • Alexander Rothlin
    • Claudio Calonder
    • Joaquin Abos
    • Alliances
  • Advisory
    • Corporate Finance
    • Solutions
    • Mandates
  • Research
    • Perspective Subscription
    • News
    • Awards
  • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Anti-Bribery Policy
    • UK Stewardship Code
    • ESG Policy
    • Disclaimer
  • Login

The Battle Of The Alternatives: The Special Cases Of Hedge Funds, Private Debt And Private Equity

26/5/2016

 
stone_mountain_capital_research_vol.21.pdf
File Size: 456 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

RESEARCH PERSPECTIVE VOL.21
MAY 2016

Oliver Fochler
Managing Partner
Tel.: +44 7922 436360
Email: oliver.fochler@stonemountain-capital.com
Alexandros Kyparissis
Hedge Fund Analyst
Tel.: +44 7843 144007
Email: alexandros.kyparissis@stonemountain-capital.com
 
 

The Battle Of The Alternatives: The Special Cases Of Hedge Funds, Private Debt And Private Equity


Moving further into a challenging 2016, investors remain apprehensive about the global financial outlook and they are in the process of accepting the new state of markets, which is the low-returns in equities and fixed income. Extensive QE and negative interest rates inflate the markets and constitute the main reasons for the low-yielding scenery and for the rise of alternative investment allocations. Institutions like insurance companies and banks find themselves amid a difficult situation making alternative income-producing strategies appealing. Political issues add uncertainty to the ever-changing status of markets, such as the ongoing Greek debt and the upcoming Brexit referendum and concurrent U.S. elections. Even earnings in big corporations are lowering, signalling the need for rebalancing portfolios and shifting to alternative investments.

Alternative investments constitute a broad category, but this perspective focuses on three asset classes: hedge funds, private equity and private debt. Hedge funds constitute the most debated and controversial asset class gathering the lights of publicity for numerous reasons. With over $3.23tn of assets under management according to BarclayHedge and over 5 thousand institutional investors, hedge funds are considered to be the elite of money managers charging the infamous 2/20 structure to their investors. There is a lot of discussion since the beginning of 2016 regarding high fees and bad performance indicating the upcoming reshaping of the industry following the divesting of major pension funds. Despite, the exodus of big names in the institutional spectrum, more and more pensions are attracted to hedge funds according to Preqin research, which contrasts the recent assaults on the asset class.
Figure 1. U.S. Pension Fund investments in Hedge Funds, Source: Preqin Investor Profile
However, this pressure is likely to be sustained and resulted already in lowering of fees from some managers. But is it fair for some managers to take lower fees while they are delivering robust outperforming returns and while the costs for running a hedge fund are enormous? Recent regulatory changes and the need for alluring talent into the space gives rise to costs, which smaller managers have to charge their investors. The 'war on hedge funds' is based on the bad performance the asset class is exhibiting the last two years and this is merely explained by the overcrowding of managers. Hedge Fund Research database contains over 7,300 investment products, which manifests the over-competition in the space and attenuates the returns from α-focused strategies, making the pursuit of niche and unique strategies trivial. Hedge fund managers need to become creative and offer novel opportunities to the investors via exotic products and robust investment processes. Technology is the breakthrough the space is waiting for and new algorithmc and blockchain related strategies eye opportunities in a new unexplored investment arena.
 
Private equity, on the other side, is probably the biggest player in the “allocation battlefield” with assets under management exceeding $4.2tn and with investor appetite for the well established asset class. Private equity constitutes the biggest enemy of hedges funds in attracting capital and identifying investment opportunities. Private equity seems to be more appealing to long-term investors due to the illiquidity offered, which allows to realise higher returns than their peers in the hedge fund space.
Figure 2. Private Equity Returns, Source: Preqin Private Equity Report 2016
Investors appreciate the clawback provisions that PE managers offer them and prohibit managers from receiving fees when losses are experienced. The turbulent and volatile global markets add more uncertainty to the investments alongside the valuation challenges, which make the identification of the right investment opportunities hard and this will impact the long-term return of the funds. European PE is having another predicament to overcome, which is the AIFMD, a compliance burden that PE managers are not familiar with and makes them struggle. AIFMD will introduce depository and risk management processes to private equity funds. The next years are going to be challenging and constitute a period of adjustment to the new regulatory area.
 
The last case is private debt, which is a nearly $500bn asset class and one of the most intriguing in the investment arena. Private debt is looking to capitalise new opportunites created by the global economic outlook and offers investors an amazing tool for diversification and downside protection as it is collateralised by real assets. Due to the nature of business, investors know what to expect in terms of returns and the asset class is growing steadily alongside the investor appetite as seen below.
Figure 3. Long-term Investors’ Intentions For Their Private Debt Allocations, Source: Preqin Private Debt 2016
What comes as big surprise is the appetite in Europe for private debt products and the regulation which is changing in favour of private debt managers in some countries, facilitating the loan origination from funds.  The growing demand for private debt and especially direct lending funds has a solid rationale behind it and this is Basel III for banks and Solvency II for insurance companies.  Despite the incentives from EU politicians to boost banking lending, corporations appear to seek alternative financing highlighting the decreased need for bank loans. Under regulatory capital considerations, like RWA for banks and solvency capital for insurers, lending to SME and lower middle market is prohibitive due to increased capital requirements.
Figure 4. Need For Bank Loans In The Euro Area From 2009 To 2015H1, Source: ECB Data Warehouse
The above figure indicates the change of landscape in corporate financing in the Euro area and welcomes the rise of direct lending funds, which appear to be extremely successful in fundraising as seen below.
Figure 5. Direct Lending Fundraising: North America vs. Europe Funds, 2006 - 2016 April, Source: Preqin Private Debt Report 2016
Potential comeback from banks regarding lending especially in the SMEs area could only prove beneficial for the direct lending arena, because it will help the asset class become bigger, more competitive and sustainable. Apart from banks and insurers, pension funds could find a great fit for their asset liability matching portfolios due to the illiquidity of several private debt funds, which is a crucial consideration due to the risky nature of this business. The Dodd-Frank Act and AIFMD provide investors with confidence when it comes to investing in such funds due to the stringent compliance and risk management rules.

Private debt is positioned strategically somewhere in the middle field between the battling alternative asset classes of hedge funds on one side, with mostly up to monthly liquidity for single managers and up to quarterly for fund of hedge funds, and illiquid private equity on the other side, with typical 5, 7 and 10 year terms plus potential yearly extensions e.g. in real estate. The fee model is lower than the 2/20 in hedge funds and private equity and more tight to the long only fixed income fund space with performance fees. In general, we recognise a melting pot of alternatives and particularly private debt and direct lending strategies demonstrate how hedge funds and private equity are growing together. Mostly long only, un-levered and with low volatility, those strategies seem to assist family offices, fund of funds and slowly as well institutionals like pensions, insurers and sovereign wealth in the search for yield. Most of the largest GPs in PE have long opened private debt strategies and various credit and high yield related hedge funds started direct lending into corporates, speciality finance, trade finance, consumer credit and real estate. Extensive due diligence is required in analysing direct lending strategies, as not only the underlying lending activity to individual, firm or transaction, but as well the level of debt as LTV and the seat in the capital structure from senior secured, mezzanine, convertible, unittranche or preferred equity requires dedicated credit experience and structuring capabilities combined with extensive risk management, credit scoring, restructuring and workout experience. Plenty of direct lenders do not posses a credit scoring mechanism, are unregulated as no formal registration is yet required and particularly in the online peer-to-peer (P2P) and marketplace lending space follow 'no cherry picking' policies from senior management down to the credit analysts. Those policies combined very low decline rates of loan applications - meaning almost every applicant gets a loan - lead to volume based lending practices, in part comparable with with pre-crisis 'originate-to-distribute' subprime mortgage lending, but now from non-bank lenders in the shadow banking system. Certain direct lending strategies provide liquidity like hedge funds and face an underlying asset and liability mismatch in their portfolios. In stressed markets, investors will want to redeem their investments according to liquidity provision in the fund prospectus, but will likely have to queue with their peers until GP's have liquidity available. The direct lending market has risen 100-150% p.a. since 2009 on both sides of the Atlantic and a recent resurrection of bank senior loan provision to lending funds combined with the securitisation of marketplace and P2P loans in the US and Europe for funding purposes, with the engagement of tier 1 rating agencies, seems like a recipe for upcoming stress in this industry. From an investor perspective, private debt and direct lending are welcome sectors with high yielding and low volatility strategies. Extensive investment and operational due diligence is required in order to survive periods with stressed solvency levels during the next credit cycle turn, as the direct lending space has not yet been tested in a downward credit market.
 
This perspective aims at analysing three of the major asset classes inside the alternative investment space, which provide investors with options for diversification and return enhancement amid a changing and low-yielding economic environment. This analysis will be different if the upcoming political scenery changes with specific mentioning of a potential Brexit.
 
This perspective is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy an interest in any investment or advisory service by Stone Mountain Capital LTD. For queries please contact Oliver Fochler under email: 
oliver.fochler@stonemountain-capital.com and Tel.: +44 7922 436360 and Alexandros Kyparissis under email: alexandros.kyparissis@stonemountain-capital.com and Tel.: +44 7843 144007.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, Stone Mountain Capital LTD. Readers should refer to the 
Disclaimer.  
 
Stone Mountain Capital is a limited company (LTD) registered in England & Wales with registered number 8763463. The registered address is: 31 Compayne Gardens, London NW6 3DD, England, United Kingdom. Stone Mountain Capital LTD (FRN: 729609) is an Appointed Representative of LNG Capital LLP (FRN: 454402), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (‘FCA’). Stone Mountain Capital LTD is the Distributor of foreign collective investment schemes distributed to qualified investors in Switzerland. Certain of those foreign collective investment schemes are represented by First Independent Fund Services LTD, which is authorised and regulated by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority ('FINMA') as Swiss Representative of foreign collective investment schemes pursuant to Art 13 para 2 let. h in the Federal Act on Collective Investment Schemes (CISA).

Copyright © 2016 Stone Mountain Capital LTD. All rights reserved.
 
Any business communication, including the content of this research perspective, sent by or on behalf of Stone Mountain Capital LTD or one of its affiliated firms or other entities (together "Stone Mountain"), is confidential and may be privileged or otherwise protected. This e-mail message is for information purposes only, it is not a recommendation, advice, offer or solicitation to buy or sell a product or service nor an official confirmation of any transaction. It is directed at persons who are professionals and is not intended for retail customer use. This e-mail message and any attachments are for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). Our LTD accepts no liability for the content of this email, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided, unless that information is subsequently confirmed in writing. Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the limited company. Any unauthorised review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message and any attachments. By replying to this e-mail, you consent to Stone Mountain monitoring the content of any e-mails you send to or receive from Stone Mountain. Stone Mountain is not liable for any opinions expressed by the sender where this is a non-business e-mail. Emails are not secure and cannot be guaranteed to be error free. Anyone who communicates with us by email is taken to accept these risks. This message is subject to our terms at: 
www.stonemountain-capital.com/disclaimer.

Comments are closed.
    British Pound Exchange Rate
    Tweets by @stonemountainuk
    Tweets by @stonemountainch
    Tweets by @stonemountainae
    Tweets by @stonemountaincp
    Tweets by @stonemountaincp
    Tweets by @OliverFochler
    Tweets by @ChotaiAshvin
    Tweets by @hasler_pascal


    ​Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    August 2018
    May 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    June 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015

    Categories

    All
    Bitcoin
    Blockchain
    China
    Corporate
    Credit
    Cryptocurrency
    CTA
    Direct Lending
    Emerging Markets
    Equity
    ETF
    Ethereum
    Fund Of Hedge Fund
    Global Macro
    Hedge Fund
    Index
    Middle Market
    Private Debt
    Private Equity
    Rating
    Real Estate
    Risk Premia
    SME
    State Owned Enterprise
    Stocks
    UCITS
    Venture Capital
    VIX
    Volatility
    VSTOXX

    RSS Feed

PRIVACY POLICY
ANTI-BRIBERY POLICY
UK STEWARDSHIP CODE
CONTACT
DISCLAIMER
ESG POLICY
Picture

​Stone Mountain Capital LTD is authorised and regulated with FRN: 929802 by the Financial Conduct Authority (‘FCA’) in the United Kingdom. 
The website content is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy an interest in any investment or advisory service by​
Stone Mountain Capital LTD and should be read with the DISCLAIMER.
© 2023 Stone Mountain Capital LTD. All rights reserved.
  • About
    • Partners
    • Ventures
  • Team
    • Oliver Fochler
    • Ashvin Chotai
    • Pascal Hasler
    • Alexander Rothlin
    • Claudio Calonder
    • Joaquin Abos
    • Alliances
  • Advisory
    • Corporate Finance
    • Solutions
    • Mandates
  • Research
    • Perspective Subscription
    • News
    • Awards
  • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Anti-Bribery Policy
    • UK Stewardship Code
    • ESG Policy
    • Disclaimer
  • Login