How to Evaluate Alternative Investment Opportunities

Alternative investments offer diversification and potential returns that may differ from traditional investments. They typically have a lower correlation with traditional markets and can include a wide range of assets and strategies. Here’s an overview of alternative investments, considerations to make while evaluating them, and types of alternative investment opportunities to begin your investment journey with.

Alternative investments encompass a broad spectrum of assets, strategies, and structures. Examples of alternative investments include:

1. Hedge Funds

Private investment funds employ various strategies, such as long-short equity, global macro, or event-driven, to generate returns irrespective of market conditions.

2. Private Equity

Investments in privately held companies, often involving buyouts, venture capital, or growth capital, with the aim of achieving significant returns over the long term.

3. Real Estate

Investments in properties, such as residential, commercial, or industrial real estate, as well as real estate investment trusts (REITs) or real estate crowdfunding platforms.

4. Commodities

Investments in physical goods like precious metals, oil, natural gas, agricultural products, or futures contracts are based on these assets.

5. Infrastructure

Investments in infrastructure projects like toll roads, airports, energy facilities, or renewable energy projects that offer long-term income streams.

6. Private Debt

Loans are provided to companies or individuals, often through direct lending, mezzanine debt, or distressed debt strategies.

7. Art and Collectibles

Investments in art, rare coins, fine wine, classic cars, or other valuable collectible items.

8. Invoice discounting

Invoice Discounting can be a beneficial alternative investment for business growth,  especially for companies that have a consistent stream of accounts receivable.

Things to Consider When Evaluating Alternative Investments

When evaluating alternative investments, consider the following factors:

1. Risk and Return

Assess the potential risks associated with the investment and evaluate the expected returns. Alternative investments often involve higher risk profiles than traditional assets, so understanding the risks is crucial.

2. Liquidity

Determine the liquidity of the investment. Some alternative investments may have limited liquidity, meaning they are not easily converted into cash. Understand the time horizon and potential restrictions on accessing your investment.

3. Diversification

Consider how the alternative investment adds diversification to your portfolio. It should have a low correlation with your existing investments, helping to reduce overall portfolio risk.

4. Expertise and Due Diligence

 Evaluate your knowledge and expertise in the specific alternative investment. Conduct thorough due diligence on the investment manager, strategy, track record, and associated costs.

5. Costs and Fees

 Understand the fees associated with the investment, including management fees, performance fees, or transaction costs. Assess how these costs may impact your overall returns.

6. Regulatory and Legal Consideration

 Be aware of any regulatory requirements or legal implications associated with the investment. Some alternative investments may have specific regulatory frameworks or restrictions.

These alternative investments can provide diversification, the potential for higher returns, and exposure to different asset classes and strategies. However, it’s important to conduct thorough research, evaluate risks, and consider your investment

Here’s how Invoice Discounting works and why it can be advantageous as an Alternative Investment:

ID allows businesses to sell their outstanding invoices to a third-party finance provider, often called a factor, at a discount. Instead of waiting for customers to pay their invoices, the business receives immediate access to a portion of the invoice value, typically around 80-90%. The factor then collects the full payment from the customers and pays the remaining balance to the business, minus a fee or interest.

Here are some reasons why invoice discounting can be a valuable alternative investment for business growth:

1. Improved Cash Flow

Invoice discounting accelerates cash flow by providing immediate access to a significant portion of the outstanding invoices. This allows businesses to cover their operational expenses, invest in growth initiatives, or take advantage of time-sensitive opportunities that require upfront capital.

2. Working Capital Management

 By converting accounts receivable into cash, businesses can better manage their working capital. They can use the released funds to finance inventory, pay suppliers promptly, or invest in marketing and expansion strategies, which are crucial for driving business growth.

3. Flexibility

 Invoice discounting offers more flexibility compared to other traditional loans or lines of credit. The amount of funding is directly linked to the value of outstanding invoices, meaning businesses can access more capital as their sales grow. It is a revolving form of financing that adapts to the business’s needs, making it suitable for managing fluctuating cash flows.

4. Reduced Dependency on Debt

 Unlike traditional debt financing, where businesses take on additional debt with fixed repayment terms, invoice discounting does not create additional debt. Instead, it unlocks the value of the business’s existing assets (invoices). This can be particularly advantageous for businesses that want to avoid additional debt burdens or have limited access to traditional bank loans.

5. Streamlined Collections

 When using invoice discounting, the responsibility of collecting payments from customers typically shifts to the factor. This allows businesses to save time and resources that would have been spent on collections, enabling them to focus on core operations and growth strategies.

Conclusion

Overall, invoice discounting can be an effective alternative investment for business growth, providing improved cash flow, working capital management, and flexibility. However, it’s important to carefully evaluate the costs, eligibility criteria, customer relationships, and confidentiality implications before pursuing invoice discounting as a financing solution. Consulting with financial professionals or invoice discounting providers can help determine if it aligns with your business’s specific needs and growth objectives.