The Private Assets Options In India | Its Pros & Cons For Investors In India ?

“A private asset is one that is not listed on a public exchange and cannot be sold to the general public.” Privately-traded securities are frequently more stable and provide diversification advantages than their public equivalents because of their reduced volatility. The entire financial structure, from secured loan to private equity, is available on the market.

The below are some of the ways in which investments on the private market are distinct from securities that are traded on the public market.

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  Indian Investors and Private Assets

  • A growing number of people are becoming interested in the private sector. Larger institutional investors all across the world have recently become more interested in investments that offer bigger returns while also exhibiting reduced levels of reported volatility.                                                                                                                                                                           
  • Private markets make up less than 10-12% of global markets, thus capital can flow in without hurting returns. Despite this, there are still a few concerns that may have a negative impact on investments.                                                                           
  • Before moving forward with an allocation, it is essential to talk to your customers about the potential barriers that could arise.                                                                                                                                                                                                   
  • In the end, establishing whether or not an investment in the private market is the best choice for the future will require a formal conversation that places a primary emphasis on lengthy goals such as rate of return and cost.

Benefits

 Investing in the Private Market Has Many Benefits. Let us discuss with below points.

Consistent internationally

  • Private markets, on the other hand, tend to place a higher emphasis on the long term, in contrast to public corporations and markets, which have a tendency to concentrate significantly on the short term.                                                                           
  • Asset managers in the private market, often known as general partners, have complete power and discretion over the decision of when to sell an investment.                                                                                                                                                
  • It is also possible to speed up a company’s exit when numbers and demand are significant. In the end, it is beneficial to have a time horizon because private investment approaches are not required to rapidly react whenever the market is experiencing a crisis.

Reduced Risk or Volatility

  • Equities and fixed income tend to be more liquid, while private market investments tend to be more difficult to value immediately.                                                                                                                                                                                     
  • On the other hand, it was discovered when the returns were not smoothed that investments in the private market can be of assistance during challenging market situations and may help to reduce the overall volatility of a portfolio.                                                                         
  • If we compare the recent market fluctuations then private equity has done as well as, or even better than, equity indices that measure the performance of the public market.If we compare the recent market fluctuations then private equity has done as well as, or even better than, equity indices that measure the performance of the public market.

Diversification

  • The addition of asset classes from the private market to a standard equities and bond portfolio gives the investor with exposure to opportunities that are not available in the larger public marketplace.                                                                          
  • These options include venture capital, personal debt, and real assets. In addition, lower risks with other assets are advantageous, particularly in times of increased market volatility.

Disadvantages: 

When it comes to achievement, investments in private assets are the way to go but these assets are difficult to access, and investing in them is hard and bit gutsy. Let us also discuss the limitations attached to investing in private assets.

Limit per deal

  • A significant number of potential investors are deterred from participating in private markets due to the often high minimum investment levels required by these exchanges.

      Managers with a proven track record

  • Private market access to top investment expertise can be challenging for some investors.                                                                                        
  • The majority of funds that have the best performance have minimum investment requirements that are relatively expensive and may only be accessible to a select group of investors, such as those with sizable estates or foundations.                             
  • There is a far greater gap between great executives and those in the lowest bracket on the private market.

       Charges

  • Private investments are costly since most funds charge a management fee and reward fee. It is not uncommon for management fees to be between 2% and 15%, whereas reward fees might be up to 50% of total income generated from the investments.                                                                                                                                                                                     
  • In private market strategies, the payment of incentive fees does not often begin until after a predetermined return objective or threshold has been cleared. Before being eligible to charge an incentive fee, a fund could, for instance, need to achieve a return on investment of some pr-decided percentage on an annually basis.                                                                                                                                      
  • However, since the fees charged by funds investing in the public market are noticeably lower, asset classes that are traded on private markets are seen as having less attractiveness.

           Financial transparency and Cash Flow

  • Both of these things present significant obstacles for persons who have a significant amount of wealth. A significant number of people who have amassed significant wealth are opposed to the idea of keeping a long-term asset in their portfolio that does not have a liquidity option.                                                                                                                                                                             
  • Because of all of these problems, elevated investors have, in the end, made the decision to steer clear of the private market entirely. In an attempt to address these issues, some innovative new investment structures have emerged.

Conclusion

  • Over the course of the past few years, there has been a significant increase in the number of investors looking for private market assets due to the fact that these assets offer greater diversification and better returns.                                                         
  • In spite of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, many investors are still very active in the private equity sector as well as the private debt sector. Especially in venture capital, which is considered comparatively high risky.                                                                                                  
  • Always be clear and informed whenever you take investment decisions. We urge you to consult financial experts before any such decisions because this piece of writing is for education only.