Investment Perspectives

How Will the Secondary Market React to Persistent Volatility?
We address three commonly asked questions about expectations for the secondary market in the current environment.

Diverse Manager Investing: Shining a Light on Potential Blind Spots
In our latest post, we shine a light on potential “blind spots” that may be hindering the flow of capital to diverse investment managers.

Why an Increasingly Volatile Market Environment Can Favor Middle Market Co-Investments
In our latest post, we discuss why we believe the case for co-investing in middle market companies is even more compelling amid the current, increasingly volatile, market conditions.

Elements of Success for Digital Infrastructure
In the Infrastructure Investor 2022 Digital Infrastructure Special Report, Ravi Parekh discusses several key components for success in digital infrastructure investing.

The Case for Accessing Infrastructure through Co-Investment Programs
We believe co-investing can be a fee-efficient way to gain diversified, appropriately risk-adjusted exposure to infrastructure, especially given current market conditions and volatility.

Absolute Return Strategies – Navigating Market Turmoil
We address three commonly asked questions about how absolute return strategies are faring in today’s rapidly evolving investment landscape.

All About Alpha
The beginning of 2022 has weighed heavily on investments reliant on beta. Therefore, we believe investors should shift their focus to alpha generation by investing in alternatives. Here, we highlight 5 key areas of opportunity in alternatives for 2022.

Structured Securities in Growth Equities: An Emerging Opportunity Set
In our latest post, we discuss how structured securities can be an attractive option for both investors and stressed growth companies looking to generate capital prior to an IPO.

Capitalizing on the Growing GP-Led Secondary Market
We explore the reasons for the sharp increase in GP-led secondaries deals and highlight some of the advantages presented to secondary investors who pursue them.

The Value of Being a Lead Co-Investor
We discuss the advantages that come with being a lead co-investor in a middle market buyout deal as well as the benefits that partnering with an efficient lead co-investor can bring to a sponsor.

The Role of Small and Emerging Managers in the Evolving Alternatives Industry
The 2021 Small and Emerging Managers Conference continues to advance the alternatives industry by providing a clear assessment of where it is today and identifying some of the forces driving change.

The Case for Absolute Return Strategies – Part Four
In this fourth and final installment, we look at a variety of opportunities we are seeing across absolute return strategies today.

Evaluating Cybersecurity Preparedness at Asset Managers – Part Two
Here, we discuss another component of a well-designed cybersecurity framework: readiness and mitigation –steps that help to effectively respond to a cyberattack and mitigate potential impact and/or losses.

GCM Grosvenor’s Co-Investment Deal Sourcing Platform Profiled in Buyouts Insider Special Report
Buyouts Insider’s October 2021 Deal Sourcing in the Mid-Market Special Report includes a keynote interview by GCM Grosvenor’s co-investment team, detailing the importance and process of sourcing the right deals, choosing the right co-invest partner, and highlighting GCM Grosvenor’s experience in doing both.

Evaluating Cybersecurity Preparedness at Asset Managers – Part One
Here, we evaluate cybersecurity preparedness, highlighting some of the key prevention measures we look for in asset managers in today’s environment.

Multi-Asset Class Investments: Where is the Best Fit?
We discuss the different ways investors can think about their allocations and compare case studies of how clients have categorized multi-asset investments.

The Case for Absolute Return Strategies – Part Three
In this installment, we present our view that top decile hedge fund managers remain among the best available investments globally, without regard to the name “hedge fund.” We also look at how top managers continue to attract talent and capital, while underperforming managers contract, underscoring the importance of manager selection.

The Case for Absolute Return Strategies – Part Two
In the first part of the series, we looked at how traditional assets are facing headwinds for future returns from factors such as near-record valuations, historically low interest rates and credit spreads, and elevated risks. In the second part of the series we observe that, despite these challenges for traditional investments, tailwinds exist that we believe can contribute to alpha within absolute return strategies.

The Case for Absolute Return Strategies – Part One
In the series, “The Case for Absolute Return Strategies” we discuss why we believe ARS investments are important components of a properly diversified portfolio. In this post, we look at indicators of how traditional asset markets are highly valued and future returns appear constrained.

The Rise of the GP-Led Secondary Investment
We explore the growth and evolution of the secondary market, compare complex non-traditional transactions with traditional secondaries, and discuss the importance of a robust platform of manager relationships to access GP-led deals. Refreshed with 2020 data.

How Rigid Asset Allocations Can Challenge Excess Return Generation
Alternative investment asset class categories are effective for asset allocation purposes, but can block opportunities. We look at how investors with flexible mandates can access sources of return by pursuing opportunities that strict-mandate investors cannot.

The Overlooked Alternative
As institutional investors crowd into alternatives in search of returns and diversification, the search for alpha becomes more challenging. One idea that investors might consider: Maybe it’s not what you’re investing in, but who you’re investing with.

Drivers of Opportunities in Digital Infrastructure
The telecommunications sector represents a compelling infrastructure opportunity. Here, we highlight some market developments that are impacting digital infrastructure, explore positive characteristics of each subsector, and share insights from our pipeline of current opportunities.

Absolute Return Strategies Mid-Year Market Commentary and Outlook
We believe the current market environment supports the case for active management generally and prudent, less market-sensitive investment strategies implemented by hedged strategies. Here, we provide a brief overview of the year so far and explore where potential opportunities exist.

How Investment Programs Can Become More Diverse
Many investors want to incorporate investments with diverse managers into their portfolios — but the implementation can present a variety of challenges. Our private equity diverse manager investment team outlines what it takes.

Effective Due Diligence in a Virtual World
We explore some challenges and unforeseen benefits of performing remote due diligence, and discuss what we believe makes a well-resourced, sophisticated investor properly positioned to conduct due diligence in this environment.

Seeking to Capitalize on Market Dislocation through Flexible Multi-Asset Class Investing
As market dislocations evolve, compelling opportunities have emerged across assets, including credit, equities, and sub-segments of the private capital markets. We share how a flexible, multi-asset class approach seeks to capitalize on current and future dislocations and deliver attractive risk-adjusted returns.

Assessing Private Equity Fund Amendments in the Current Environment
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt the global economy, many private equity general partners are approaching their limited partners with proposed amendments designed to provide funds with added flexibility to deploy capital. Here, we discuss these amendments and how best to evaluate them.

Finding Opportunity in the Secondary Market Amid Dislocation
The global COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected the economy, financial markets and individuals around the world. During and following such market downturns, an increased number of LPs and GPs face pressure to raise liquidity at the same time that traditional avenues tend to freeze up. Here, we review what’s happening in the secondary marketplace in response to the crisis and highlight the compelling secondary opportunities.

A Missed Opportunity? 3 Infrastructure Tailwinds for U.S. Investors to Consider
Institutions seeking long-term yields may consider increasing their infrastructure allocation to capitalize on the strategy’s tailwinds — particularly those U.S. institutions who have committed less capital to the strategy compared to their non-U.S. peers.

Creating a Private Equity Program for Any Market Cycle
As the current market cycle matures, investors should look back at historical peaks – and ensuing fallouts – to better understand today’s private equity market. Here, we provide five considerations for creating a balanced private equity program for any market cycle.

Unlocking Alpha in a Maturing Private Equity Co-Investment Market
In seeking opportunities in a growing market, private equity co-investors need broad access to deals, and selection of these deals can be a matter of both manager quality and individual deal potential. We explain why diligence on both fronts is imperative.

Flexibility: Our Strategic Investment Group’s Edge
Watch the video to learn more about how our Strategic Investments Group seeks to capitalize on compelling risk-adjusted return opportunities by leveraging the full power of our platform.

Countering Today’s Headwinds with Opportunistic Credit Strategies
Despite a challenging fixed income environment, we see a wide range of investment opportunities in the non-traditional portion of the global credit markets. Here, we explore some of the attributes that can drive value in opportunistic credit and outline key investment themes that address the current headwinds for fixed income and credit investors.

360˚ Buy-In: Aligning Key Stakeholder Interests on Infrastructure Investments
Getting infrastructure deals across the finish line can be challenging. Three GCM Grosvenor experts with key stakeholder perspectives – labor, government and private capital – discuss how to gain the necessary buy-in for successful projects.

Mitigating “Risk without Reward”: The Role of Operational Due Diligence
Two GCM Grosvenor professionals discuss the importance of performing operational due diligence (“ODD”) in seeking to mitigate uncompensated risks, highlighting key elements of an effective ODD program.

The Infrastructure Landscape: Evolution, Growth and Opportunities
In assessing the global need for new or improved infrastructure, we believe there is a compelling opportunity for private investors with a long-term horizon.

Multi-Asset Investing: An Alternative Approach
An increasing number of investors have begun to embrace a multi-asset approach to alternative investing; we discuss the benefits, differences and commonly asked questions of this approach.