Steps and process of investments

Viola Funding Limited has been successfully helping corporate clients from all over the world at various stages and  steps and process investments for many years. We offer project finance and long-term loans and lending, and also provide financial engineering services (including the development of financial models), management and control over the implementation of investment projects.

Steps and process of investments is applicable to joint strategic asset allocation, security analysis, risk management, and ongoing monitoring, all of which have evolved significantly over the years to meet the needs of investors in an ever-changing financial landscape.

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Steps and process of investment: definition, elements, facts and figures

Different financial scholars, theorists and successful entrepreneurs have put different meanings into this formal definition, leaving their mark on the dynamic concept of the investment process.

Steps and process of investments refers to the systematic series of steps and strategies used by private individuals, institutions, and businesses to allocate capital with the expectation of generating returns.

Throughout history, various events have shaped the investment process. For example, the Wall Street Crash of 1929, followed by the Great Depression, led to the development of stricter securities regulations and the establishment of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in 1934. This regulatory body aimed to restore investor confidence and maintain market integrity.

In 2022, global Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows totaled approximately $1.28 trillion, while the United States and China remained the most popular destinations for foreign direct investment with indicators at $318 and $180 billion, respectively. Last year, total global real estate investment (including all types of investment) exceeded $7 trillion. At the same time, in recent years the investment process has changed significantly, becoming more flexible and intensively using innovative technologies and more sophisticated financial instruments.

Today, global investments play a crucial role in the world economy, facilitating capital flow across borders, fostering economic growth, and diversifying investment portfolios.

Developing countries such as China, India, Indonesia and Brazil have experienced robust economic growth and attracted significant foreign investment. Technology has revolutionized the investment landscape, with fintech platforms and algorithmic trading making it easier for individuals and institutions to invest globally. These innovations have democratized access to global markets.

Steps and process of investments are briefly described hereunder with some interesting facts and numbers.

Asset allocation: The investment process begins with determining the appropriate allocation of capital among different asset classes, such as stocks, bonds, real estate, and cash equivalents.

Strategic asset allocation involves setting long-term target allocations to various asset classes and periodically rebalancing the portfolio to maintain those targets.

Tactical asset allocation, on the other hand, involves making short-term adjustments based on market conditions or economic outlook.

Security analysis: Notably, Benjamin Graham, often considered the father of value investing, published his influential book “Security Analysis” in 1934. Graham’s work emphasized the importance of intrinsic value and margin of safety when selecting securities. Warren Buffett often emphasizes the importance of thoroughly understanding the businesses behind securities and investing for the long term.

Security analysis is the process of evaluating financial instruments (such as stocks, bonds, and derivatives) to determine their investment potential, including their intrinsic value, risks, and suitability for a portfolio. This analysis is essential for investors, portfolio managers, and analysts to make informed decisions.

Fundamental analysts examine official financial statements, industry trends, and economic factors to evaluate securities. Technical analysts primarily analyze price and volume data to make investment decisions. Security analysis is not limited to domestic markets.

Investment selection: Investment selection is the process of choosing specific financial assets or securities to include in an investment portfolio based on factors such as risk-return potential, diversification, and alignment with the investor’s strategy. It involves analyzing individual investments within classes, industries, or regions to make informed decisions that contribute to the overall portfolio’s objectives.

In practice, modern investment selection can involve choosing between active and passive management. Active management aims to outperform the market by selecting individual securities, while passive management involves replicating the performance of a market index. Passive strategies have gained popularity due to lower costs and the efficient market hypothesis.

In 1973, the first index fund, pioneered by John Bogle and his firm Vanguard, was launched.

This innovation provided a passive investment strategy that aimed to match the performance of a broad market index, reducing the need for active stock picking.

Risk management: The development of modern risk management techniques, including options and futures contracts, gained momentum in the 20th century. Since the time of Robert Merton, who made significant contributions to financial derivatives in the 1970s, the concept of risk management has evolved with the development of more sophisticated financial instruments and risk modeling techniques.

It now incorporates complex mathematical models, computer technology, and a broader understanding of financial market dynamics to better quantify and manage risk. Additionally, risk management practices have become more integrated into financial institutions and investment processes to address a wider range of risks, including market, credit, liquidity, and operational risks.

Globalization and innovations: In 1971, the Nasdaq Stock Market became the world’s first electronic stock exchange, paving the way for high-frequency trading and algorithmic investing. The proliferation of the so-called online brokerage platforms in the late 20th century greatly democratized access to financial markets, allowing individuals to execute trades from their computers or mobile devices.

With globalization, angel investors have access to a broader range of investment opportunities. The integration of financial markets accelerated in the late 20th century, leading to increased cross-border investments and the growth of international mutual funds and exchange-traded funds.

The main stages of the investment process explained

Steps and process of investments involves several standard steps that help individuals or institutions make informed decisions about allocating capital and managing investments. The popular concept of the “main stages of the investment process” has evolved over time to address the complexities of modern financial markets. It draws from decades of research and experience in investment management.

We should remember, that any business process is highly customizable. It can be tailored to particular investors, and various financial goals and opportunities. These steps may be applicable to varying degrees to processes organized by private investors, funds or companies of various sizes.

Steps and process of investments are explained hereunder:

Step 1 – Setting investment goals: This could include general goals such as achieving a certain level of wealth. Establishing these goals is crucial both for individuals and for companies because they determine the time horizon, risk tolerance, and return expectations.

Setting investment goals includes the following:

• Determining investment horizon: Companies establish their investment time horizon based on the nature of their projects. Whether it’s a short-term capital injection for a product launch or a long-term investment in research and development, the time frame is critical.

• Quantifying financial targets: Precise financial targets are assigned to each investment goal. Large companies use these targets to formulate comprehensive financial plans, which detail the amount of capital required and the expected returns on investment.

• Defining corporate objectives: In this initial stage, large corporations and institutions set clear investment objectives that align with their strategic goals. These objectives revolve around capital allocation for business expansion, innovation, mergers and acquisitions, or optimizing financial performance of the company and its projects.

Step 2 – Risk assessment:  Upon setting investment goals, it’s essential to assess the risk tolerance. This involves evaluating your willingness and ability to take on risk. Factors such as financial situation of the company, and market trends play a role in determining your risk tolerance.

High-quality risk assessment helps guide asset allocation decisions:

• Business life stage: The stage of a company’s lifecycle plays a role in determining risk tolerance. Start-ups may embrace higher risk for rapid growth, while mature corporations may adopt a more conservative approach to protect assets and shareholder value.

• Evaluating risk tolerance: Large corporations assess their risk tolerance in a corporate context. This involves gauging their willingness and capacity to withstand some financial fluctuations and market uncertainties. It’s a critical aspect of strategic planning.

Step 3 – Asset allocation: The allocation should align with your investment goals and risk tolerance. Typically, higher-risk assets like stocks are favored for long-term goals, while lower-risk assets like bonds are chosen for short-term objectives.

Asset allocation involves determining how to distribute capital among different asset classes, such as stocks, bonds, real estate, and so on.

There are two elements to an asset allocation strategy in the context of the Steps and process of investments:

• Balancing growth and stability: Asset allocation for corporations considers the trade-off between growth and stability. High-growth investments may involve product development or market expansion, while stable investments could include maintaining cash reserves for operational needs.

• Strategic diversification: Large companies strategically allocate their resources among various investment categories, including research and development, capital expenditures, market expansion, and cash reserves. Diversification is a key to balance risk and reward.

Step 4 – Portfolio construction: Diversification helps spread risk by investing in different assets or securities to reduce the impact of poor performance in any one investment. Portfolio construction aims to achieve a balance between risk and return based on previous asset allocation decisions.

Portfolio construction principles for large companies:

• Optimizing risk exposure: Portfolio construction involves strategically managing overall corporate risk. Understanding how different projects or investments interact with each other helps corporations optimize risk exposure across their portfolio.

• Strategic capital allocation: Large businesses construct portfolios by allocating capital to various projects or initiatives.

About venture capital investment process

Venture capital refers to the provision of capital to early-stage, high-potential, and growth-oriented companies or startups that have the potential to become significant players in their respective industries. Venture capitalists (VCs) are institutional or individual investors who provide funding to startups in exchange for an ownership stake in the company. They often have expertise in identifying promising startups and helping them grow.

The list of the companies associated with significant venture capital investments includes world-famous brands like Ant Group, ByteDance (TikTok), SpaceX, WeWork (The We Company), Uber, Airbnb, Stripe and a number of others.

For example, Uber, the ride-hailing and transportation company, raised approximately $3.5 billion from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund in 2016. This investment was one of the largest single investments in a private tech company at the time.