Multi-asset: the universe is the limit

The investment universe is expanding. Asset classes once considered highly niche and specialist are seeing a sharp rise in interest as investors from pension funds to wealth managers look for new ways to achieve the yield they need in an ultra low-rate world.

Renewable infrastructure, insurance-linked securities and global loans, among others, are becoming more accessible, supported by improved governance and regulation, more competitive fees and greater investor familiarisation. Plus new investment classes continue to emerge and grow.

From healthcare royalties to peer-to-peer lending to social infrastructure, each has its own source of potential return, risk profile and performance drivers – allowing investors to achieve better diversification throughout the economic cycle.

Judging the universe on its merits

With bond yields already at historic lows and as equity volatility increases, we believe that diversification across these and other non-traditional asset classes is key to generating long-term performance and decent income, while keeping risk and volatility at acceptable levels.

But diversification should never be undertaken for diversification’s sake. Asset classes have to be judged on their merits and their risks fully understood. This requires experience, good judgement and extensive resources which is why we believe investment is best approached through a proven and global investment manager like Aberdeen which has deep research capabilities but can also offer these developing asset classes as part of a highly-diversified and actively-managed multi-asset portfolio.

Three asset classes considered as part of our multi-asset strategies:

Renewable infrastructure funds

Renewable power sources such as wind, solar, tidal and geothermal are becoming central to global energy policy as climate change concerns force a move away from carbon-based energy. With governments struggling to provide the necessary financing, private capital in the form of closed-end listed funds have become critical to funding, building and managing projects.

Why we think they are good diversifiers:

- Relatively stable cashflows are supported by long-term contracts with utilities and energy providers, alongside additional government subsidies

- Returns are not generally affected by economic conditions and have low correlation to economically-sensitive assets like equities

- By holding funds with fully operational assets we avoid the risks associated with project design and development

Potential return: Renewable infrastructure funds aim for annual returns of 7-9% and can offer dividend yields of 6%.

Peer-to-peer lending

As higher capital requirements have forced traditional banks to pare back their lending activities, so peer- peer lending has stepped in. Using online platforms, peer-to-peer lending companies match potential lenders with borrowers and make their money by charging an arrangement fee. With borrowers classified by creditworthiness, investors can decide on their preferred level of risk and potential return.

Why we think it is a good diversifier:

- Maturing industry that is becoming increasingly transparent – and benefiting from fundamental shifts in global banking

- Range of potential fund investments that can provide effective access to a diversified portfolio of loans

- Modest loss rates – and the typically short duration of loans – means interest rates can be adjusted if credit conditions deteriorate

Potential return: Peer-to-peer lending funds are typically targeting a total return of 8-9%pa.

Insurance-linked securities

Insurance-linked securities (sometimes known as catastrophe bonds) transfer some of the financial risks of natural catastrophes from insurers to investors. A term contract is issued and if no natural disasters or other specified events occur during the term, investors receive back their capital. In the interim, insurance-linked securities typically provide an attractive yield to compensate for the risk of the investment.

Why we think they are good diversifiers:

- No economic exposure and so is uncorrelated to equities and other asset classes

- Performance determined by investor’s ability to appraise risks and determine level of exposure to them

- Can be diversified across potential disasters to mitigate impact of any one extreme event

Potential return: Insurance-linked securities are priced relative to the probability of loss that they are covering. We believe that there are some attractive opportunities being priced to deliver an expected return of 7% p.a. net of fees and expected losses.

The value of investments and the income from them can go down as well as up and investors may get back less than the amount invested. To find out more about Aberdeen’s multi asset capability visit our website at: multimultiasset.co.uk

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Important information

For professional investors and financial advisers only – not for use by retail investors

The above marketing document is strictly for information purposes only and should not be considered as an offer, investment recommendation, or solicitation, to deal in any of the investments or funds mentioned herein and does not constitute investment research as defined under EU Directive 2003/125/EC. Aberdeen Asset Managers Limited (“Aberdeen”) does not warrant the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of the information and materials contained in this document and expressly disclaims liability for errors or omissions in such information and materials. Any research or analysis used in the preparation of this document has been procured by Aberdeen for its own use and may have been acted on for its own purpose.

The results thus obtained are made available only coincidentally and the information is not guaranteed as to its accuracy. Some of the information in this document may contain projections or other forward looking statements regarding future events or future financial performance of countries, markets or companies. These statements are only predictions and actual events or results may differ materially. The reader must make their own assessment of the relevance, accuracy and adequacy of the information contained in this document and make such independent investigations, as they may consider necessary or appropriate for the purpose of such assessment. Any opinion or estimate contained in this document is made on a general basis and is not to be relied on by the reader as advice. Neither Aberdeen nor any of its employees, associated group companies or agents have given any consideration to nor have they or any of them made any investigation of the investment objectives, financial situation or particular need of the reader, any specific person or group of persons. Accordingly, no warranty whatsoever is given and no liability whatsoever is accepted for any loss arising whether directly or indirectly as a result of the reader, any person or group of persons acting on any information, opinion or estimate contained in this document. Aberdeen reserves the right to make changes and corrections to any information in this document at any time, without notice.

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