Recent Release | 20 Apr 2022

Geographic Diversification in Private Equity Markets

Innes McFee

Innes McFee

Managing Director of Macro and Investor Services

Investors in private markets can benefit from geographic diversification to help minimize their specific market downside risks, to participate in global economic growth, as well as to reduce their exposure to inflation risks and stretched valuations. Investors are starting to take notice, with allocations to traditional U.S. based private markets showing signs of decline.

The Beneficient Company Group, L.P. (Ben) uses its Total Portfolio Management (TPM) framework and private market risk/return forecasts to illustrate the potential diversification benefits to investors. Three broad themes emerge from allocation analysis over the next five years. First, our analysis makes a clear case for geographical diversification in private equity markets, showing that it can help to deliver higher risk-adjusted returns compared to a domestic-focused portfolio. Second, we see an increased exposure to Asia as a key consideration for most investors. Third, our bear scenario analysis illustrates that a simple shift of allocation toward advanced European economies can help mitigate key inflation risks while maintaining a high level of risk-adjusted returns.

Foreign Exchange (FX) risk represents a significant hurdle to investing outside the U.S. The dollar can move in long swings that magnify non-dollar returns and add substantially to their downside risk. The outlook for the dollar remains highly uncertain. Although it is strong on an historical basis and relative to some fundamental anchors, its ongoing position as the reserve currency and the depth of its capital markets are important supportive factors.

The potential for an extended bout of inflation also supports the case for diversification. Inflation risks are higher in the U.S. than elsewhere in the global economy, given the speed of the recovery, and could lead to different correlation structures between asset classes. In that environment, greater geographical diversification could help investors pursue their financial goals while minimizing their downside risk.

About the team

Our Macro & Investor Services team are world leaders in quantitative economic analysis, working with clients around the globe and across sectors to build models, forecast markets and evaluate interventions using state-of-the art techniques. Lead consultants on this project were:

Innes McFee
Innes McFee

Managing Director of Macro and Investor Services

+44 (0) 203 910 8028

Innes McFee

Innes McFee

Managing Director of Macro and Investor Services

London, United Kingdom

Innes McFee is the Managing Director of Macro and Investor Services, based in London. Innes oversees the activities of the Macro & Investor Services teams globally, including the Global Macro Forecast and Global Macro Service.

Innes joined Oxford Economics in 2017 after 6 years at Lloyds Banking Group as a Senior Economist. At Lloyds Innes was responsible for the economic scenarios underpinning the Group’s internal planning and stress testing; analysis of key risks; and developing Lloyds’ approach to multiple economic scenarios for IFRS9. In addition, Innes’ role included developing the Group’s capability in modelling macroeconomic fundamentals and UK banking markets and advising the Group Corporate Treasury on financial market developments.

Prior to joining Lloyds Innes was an Economic Advisor at HM Treasury where his roles included management of the UK’s foreign currency reserves; US economist; and G20 macroeconomic policy advisor. Innes has a first class undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Durham and a MSc in Economics from Warwick University.

Adam Slater
Adam Slater

Lead Economist

+44 (0) 1865 26 8934

Adam Slater

Adam Slater

Lead Economist

Oxford, United Kingdom

Adam Slater is a lead economist at Oxford Economics, responsible for contributing to and helping to communicate Oxford Economics’ global macroeconomic view, including writing for and helping edit regular publications. He has a particular interest in developments in financial markets. Before joining Oxford Economics, Adam spent more than ten years working as an economist and strategist in the City of London for Nomura, Rabobank, and Calyon.

Related Services

globe

Service

Global Macro Service

Monitor macro events and their potential impact.

Find Out More
various country flags

Service

Global Economic Model

Our Global Economic Model provides a rigorous and consistent structure for forecasting and testing scenarios.

Find Out More
Tactical - chess

Service

Global Macro Strategy Service

Global insight and opportunity at your fingertips.

Find Out More