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The Power of Compounding in Evergreen Solutions

  • Strategy insight

September 26, 2025 | 4 min read

Drew Snow

Principal,
Portfolio Manager
US Evergreens

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Key takeaway

Evergreen solutions can offer immediate, accessible exposure to private markets’ historically higher compounded returns, providing a potential “running start” for certain investors.

Compounding returns are a powerful engine for portfolios. It’s no wonder that Albert Einstein called compound interest and its exponential growth “the eighth wonder of the world.”

Historically, private equity has demonstrated its ability to help investors access compounding’s potential. The asset class generally compounds capital efficiently because of its lower downside volatility and upside potential.

Global buyout private equity has historically generated higher compounded returns with lower downside risk compared to public equity

Annual Compound Returns*

Maximum Cumulative Negative Returns

For illustrative purposes only.  Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. One cannot invest directly into an index. Over the past five years, global buyout private equity strategies have demonstrated higher compound annual growth rate (CAGR) with lower downside risk compared to the MSCI World Index.

*Trailing periods ending 3/31/25.

Source: MSCI and MSCI Private Capital Solutions

How compounding impacts portfolio outcomes

What does private equity’s compounding potential look like in a portfolio? To tangibly understand its impact, consider the 10.1% average annual return of the S&P 500 since 1945. If an investor can outperform that figure by even small percentages, we see return potential accumulate over time.

Outperformance of Even 2% or 4% May Create Compelling Compounding Outcomes

The Power of Compounding Over 20 Years

A comparison of total compounded returns over 20 years of a $100 investment with a 10%, 12% and 14% average annual return (AAR).

To pursue these kinds of outcomes in their own portfolio, an investor can take two approaches. They can construct and maintain a traditional drawdown program that builds and maintains exposure in a highly diversified way. Or, they can look to evergreen solutions, which provide a mechanism for investors to acquire perpetual private equity asset class exposure with a single commitment and lower operational complexity.

Drawdown and evergreen solutions are complementary, and the right mix of both will depend on an investor’s goals and preferences.

However, evergreen solutions are notable for the immediacy and flexibility with which they allow investors to access private equity and its compounding potential.

How compounding impacts portfolio outcomes

To understand evergreen solutions’ ability to compound, it’s important to understand what qualities fuel compounding.

In simple terms, to effectively compound, we believe an investor must:

  1. Gain exposure to the market …
  2. Through a diversified pool of assets …
  3. Stay invested across market cycles and,
  4. When aligned with their goals, invest regularly over time to take advantage of cost averaging.

Evergreen solutions provide immediate exposure to a diversified, mature pool of private equity assets, with an open-ended timeline and the ability to redeem on a periodic basis.    

Thus, we believe the central tenants of evergreen solutions are designed to facilitate the compounding of capital, offering a “running start” for certain investors.

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Why invest in evergreen solutions?

Ultimately, evergreen solutions outsource the operational complexity of building and managing a private equity portfolio “from scratch.” With one allocation, an investor can step into a mature, highly diversified pool of private equity.

Every single day that an investor has these kinds of assets in the market fuels the potential for compounded value. So, if long-term compounded returns are a marathon, then an evergreen structure can help a portfolio sprint from the starting line – and keep going toward your optimal finish line.

Footnotes
  1. Diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against a lose
Disclosure

HarbourVest Partners, LLC (“HarbourVest”) is a registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. This material is solely for informational purposes; the information should not be viewed as a current or past recommendation or an offer to sell or the solicitation to buy securities or adopt any investment strategy.  In addition, the information contained in this document (i) may not be relied upon by any current or prospective investor and (ii) has not been prepared for marketing purposes. In all cases, interested parties should conduct their own investigation and analysis of the any information set forth herein and consult with their own advisors. HarbourVest has not acted in any investment advisory, brokerage or similar capacity by virtue of supplying this information.  The opinions expressed herein represent the current, good faith views of the author(s) at the time of publication, are not definitive investment advice, and should not be relied upon as such. This material has been developed internally and/or obtained from sources believed to be reliable; however, HarbourVest does not guarantee the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of such information. The information is subject to change without notice and HarbourVest has no obligation to update you.  There is no assurance that any events or projections will occur, and outcomes may be significantly different than the opinions shown here. This information, including any projections concerning financial market performance, is based on current market conditions, which will fluctuate and may be superseded by subsequent market events or for other reasons. The information contained herein must be kept strictly confidential and may not be reproduced or redistributed in any format without the express written approval of HarbourVest.

An investment in the private markets involves high degree of risk, and therefore, should be undertaken only by prospective investors capable of evaluating the risks of the Fund and bearing the risks such an investment represents.

Risks of Private Investments Strategies. A fund’s investment portfolio will include Direct Investments, Secondary Investments and Primary Partnership Investments. The private funds (“Portfolio Funds”) and special purpose vehicles that the Fund invests in will hold securities issued primarily by private companies. Operating results for private companies in a specified period may be difficult to determine. Such investments involve a high degree of business and financial risk that can result in substantial losses.

Risks of Direct Investments. A fund’s investment portfolio will include Direct Investments, which are direct or indirect investments in the equity of private companies, alongside private equity funds and other private equity firms. There can be no assurance that the fund will be given Direct Investment opportunities, or that any specific Direct Investment offered to the fund would be appropriate or attractive to the fund in the Adviser’s judgment. In addition, the Adviser may have little to no opportunities to negotiate the terms of such Direct Investments. The fund’s ability to dispose of Direct Investments may be severely limited.

Risks of Secondary Investments.  A fund may make Secondary Investments in Portfolio Funds by acquiring the interests in the Portfolio Funds from existing investors in such Portfolio Funds. In such instances, it is generally not expected that the Fund will have the opportunity to negotiate the terms of the interests being acquired, other than the purchase price, or other special rights or privileges. Moreover, there is no assurance that the fund will be able to purchase interests at attractive discounts to net asset value, or at all. The overall performance of the fund will depend in large part on the acquisition price paid by the Fund for its Secondary Investments, the structure of such acquisitions and the overall success of the Portfolio Fund.

Risks Related to the Structure and Terms of a Private Markets Fund. Investments in a fund of funds structure may subject investors to additional risks which would not be incurred if such investor were investing directly in private equity funds. Such risks may include but are not limited to (i) multiple levels of expense; and (ii) reliance on third-party management. In addition, a Portfolio Fund may issue capital calls, and failure to meet the capital calls can result in consequences including, but not limited to, a total loss of investment.

Illiquidity of Interests; Limitations on Transfer; No Market for Interests. An investment in a drawdown fund, unlike an investment in a traditional listed closedend fund, should be considered illiquid. The Shares are appropriate only for investors who are comfortable with investment in less liquid or illiquid portfolio investments within an illiquid fund. Unlike openend funds (commonly known as mutual funds), which generally permit redemptions on a daily basis, the Shares will not be redeemable at a Shareholder’s option. Unlike stocks of listed closedend funds, the Shares are not listed, and are not expected to be listed, for trading on any securities exchange, and the fund does not expect any secondary market to develop for the Shares in the foreseeable future.

Risk of Loss. There can be no assurance that the operations of a strategy will be profitable or that the strategy will be able to avoid losses or that cash from operations will be available for distribution to the limited partners. The possibility of partial or total loss of capital of the strategy exists, and prospective investors should not subscribe unless they can readily bear the consequences of a complete loss of their investment.

Evergreen Investing Risk. An evergreen fund is an alternative investment fund that has an indefinite life span and continuously raises capital rather than having a predetermined fundraising period and lifecycle, as do traditional private equity or venture capital funds. Prospective investors should be aware that an investment in an alternative investment is speculative and involves a high degree of risk. Alternative Investments often engage in leveraging and other speculative investment practices that may increase the risk of investment loss; can be highly illiquid; may not be required to provide periodic pricing or valuation information to investors; may involve complex tax structures and delays in distributing important tax information; are not subject to the same regulatory requirements as mutual funds; and often charge high fees. There is no guarantee that an alternative investment will implement its investment strategy and/ or achieve its objectives, generate profits, or avoid loss. An investment should only be considered by sophisticated investors who can afford to lose all or a substantial amount of their investment.

HarbourVest Partners, LLC (“HarbourVest”) is a registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. This material is solely for informational purposes; the information should not be viewed as a current or past recommendation or an offer to sell or the solicitation to buy securities or adopt any investment strategy.  In addition, the information contained in this document (i) may not be relied upon by any current or prospective investor and (ii) has not been prepared for marketing purposes. In all cases, interested parties should conduct their own investigation and analysis of the any information set forth herein and consult with their own advisors. HarbourVest has not acted in any investment advisory, brokerage or similar capacity by virtue of supplying this information.  The opinions expressed herein represent the current, good faith views of the author(s) at the time of publication, are not definitive investment advice, and should not be relied upon as such. This material has been developed internally and/or obtained from sources believed to be reliable; however, HarbourVest does not guarantee the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of such information. The information is subject to change without notice and HarbourVest has no obligation to update you.  There is no assurance that any events or projections will occur, and outcomes may be significantly different than the opinions shown here. This information, including any projections concerning financial market performance, is based on current market conditions, which will fluctuate and may be superseded by subsequent market events or for other reasons. The information contained herein must be kept strictly confidential and may not be reproduced or redistributed in any format without the express written approval of HarbourVest.      

An investment in the private markets involves high degree of risk, and therefore, should be undertaken only by prospective investors capable of evaluating the risks of the Fund and bearing the risks such an investment represents. 

Risks of Private Investments Strategies. A fund’s investment portfolio will include Direct Investments, Secondary Investments and Primary Partnership Investments. The private funds (“Portfolio Funds”) and special purpose vehicles that the Fund invests in will hold securities issued primarily by private companies. Operating results for private companies in a specified period may be difficult to determine. Such investments involve a high degree of business and financial risk that can result in substantial losses. 

Risks of Direct Investments. A fund’s investment portfolio will include Direct Investments, which are direct or indirect investments in the equity of private companies, alongside private equity funds and other private equity firms. There can be no assurance that the fund will be given Direct Investment opportunities, or that any specific Direct Investment offered to the fund would be appropriate or attractive to the fund in the Adviser’s judgment. In addition, the Adviser may have little to no opportunities to negotiate the terms of such Direct Investments. The fund’s ability to dispose of Direct Investments may be severely limited. 

Risks of Secondary Investments. A fund may make Secondary Investments in Portfolio Funds by acquiring the interests in the Portfolio Funds from existing investors in such Portfolio Funds. In such instances, it is generally not expected that the Fund will have the opportunity to negotiate the terms of the interests being acquired, other than the purchase price, or other special rights or privileges. Moreover, there is no assurance that the fund will be able to purchase interests at attractive discounts to net asset value, or at all. The overall performance of the fund will depend in large part on the acquisition price paid by the Fund for its Secondary Investments, the structure of such acquisitions and the overall success of the Portfolio Fund. 

Risks Related to the Structure and Terms of a Private Markets Fund. Investments in a fund of funds structure may subject investors to additional risks which would not be incurred if such investor were investing directly in private equity funds. Such risks may include but are not limited to (i) multiple levels of expense; and (ii) reliance on third-party management. In addition, a Portfolio Fund may issue capital calls, and failure to meet the capital calls can result in consequences including, but not limited to, a total loss of investment. 

Illiquidity of Interests; Limitations on Transfer; No Market for Interests. An investment in a drawdown fund, unlike an investment in a traditional listed closedend fund, should be considered illiquid. The Shares are appropriate only for investors who are comfortable with investment in less liquid or illiquid portfolio investments within an illiquid fund. Unlike openend funds (commonly known as mutual funds), which generally permit redemptions on a daily basis, the Shares will not be redeemable at a Shareholder’s option. Unlike stocks of listed closedend funds, the Shares are not listed, and are not expected to be listed, for trading on any securities exchange, and the fund does not expect any secondary market to develop for the Shares in the foreseeable future. 

Risk of Loss. There can be no assurance that the operations of a strategy will be profitable or that the strategy will be able to avoid losses or that cash from operations will be available for distribution to the limited partners. The possibility of partial or total loss of capital of the strategy exists, and prospective investors should not subscribe unless they can readily bear the consequences of a complete loss of their investment. 

Evergreen Investing Risk. An evergreen fund is an alternative investment fund that has an indefinite life span and continuously raises capital rather than having a predetermined fundraising period and lifecycle, as do traditional private equity or venture capital funds. Prospective investors should be aware that an investment in an alternative investment is speculative and involves a high degree of risk. Alternative Investments often engage in leveraging and other speculative investment practices that may increase the risk of investment loss; can be highly illiquid; may not be required to provide periodic pricing or valuation information to investors; may involve complex tax structures and delays in distributing important tax information; are not subject to the same regulatory requirements as mutual funds; and often charge high fees. There is no guarantee that an alternative investment will implement its investment strategy and/ or achieve its objectives, generate profits, or avoid loss. An investment should only be considered by sophisticated investors who can afford to lose all or a substantial amount of their investment.  

Tax Risks. An investment in the strategy involves tax risks, which may be material, including the risk of tax payments and tax filing obligations in multiple jurisdictions, which may apply both to the investor and the strategy.  The taxation of the strategy and investors in the strategy is complex and subject to uncertainty.  Prospective investors should consult with their tax, legal, and accounting advisers prior to making an investment in the strategy in light of their specific circumstances. 

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Professional Investor Definition

“Professional Investor” under the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (the “SFO”) and its subsidiary legislation) means:

(a) any recognised exchange company, recognised clearing house, recognised exchange controller or recognised investor compensation company, or any person authorised to provide automated trading services under section 95(2) of the SFO;

(b) any intermediary, or any other person carrying on the business of the provision of investment services and regulated under the law of any place outside Hong Kong;

(c) any authorized financial institution, or any bank which is not an authorised financial institution but is regulated under the law of any place outside Hong Kong;

(d) any insurer authorized under the Insurance Ordinance (Cap. 41 of the Laws of Hong Kong), or any other person carrying on insurance business and regulated under the law of any place outside Hong Kong;

(e) any scheme which-

(i) is a collective investment scheme authorised under section 104 of the SFO; or

(ii) is similarly constituted under the law of any place outside Hong Kong and, if it is regulated under the law of such place, is permitted to be operated under the law of such place,

or any person by whom any such scheme is operated;

(f) any registered scheme as defined in section 2(1) of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance (Cap. 485 of the Laws of Hong Kong), or its constituent fund as defined in section 2 of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes (General) Regulation (Cap. 485A of the Laws of Hong Kong), or any person who, in relation to any such registered scheme, is an approved trustee or service provider as defined in section 2(1) of that Ordinance or who is an investment manager of any such registered scheme or constituent fund;

(g) any scheme which-

(i) is a registered scheme as defined in section 2(1) of the Occupational Retirement Schemes Ordinance (Cap. 426 of the Laws of Hong Kong); or

(ii) is an offshore scheme as defined in section 2(1) of that Ordinance and, if it is regulated under the law of the place in which it is domiciled, is permitted to be operated under the law of such place,

or any person who, in relation to any such scheme, is an administrator as defined in section 2(1) of that Ordinance;

(h) any government (other than a municipal government authority), any institution which performs the functions of a central bank, or any multilateral agency;

(i) except for the purposes of Schedule 5 to the SFO, any corporation which is-

(i) a wholly owned subsidiary of-

(A) an intermediary, or any other person carrying on the business of the provision of investment services and regulated under the law of any place outside Hong Kong; or

(B) an authorized financial institution, or any bank which is not an authorised financial institution but is regulated under the law of any place outside Hong Kong;

(ii) a holding company which holds all the issued share capital of-

(A) an intermediary, or any other person carrying on the business of the provision of investment services and regulated under the law of any place outside Hong Kong; or

(B) an authorized financial institution, or any bank which is not an authorised financial institution but is regulated under the law of any place outside Hong Kong; or

(iii) any other wholly owned subsidiary of a holding company referred to in subparagraph (ii); or

(j) any person of a class which is prescribed by rules made under section 397 of the SFO for the purposes of this paragraph as within the meaning of this definition for the purposes of the provisions of the SFO, or to the extent that it is prescribed by rules so made as within the meaning of this definition for the purposes of any provision of the SFO.

The first of such classes of additional “professional investor”, under the Securities and Futures (Professional Investor) Rules (Cap. 571D of the Laws of Hong Kong), are:

(k) any trust corporation (registered under Part VIII of the Trustee Ordinance (Cap. 29 of the Laws of Hong Kong) or the equivalent overseas) having been entrusted under the trust or trusts of which it acts as a trustee with total assets of not less than HK$40 million or its equivalent in any foreign currency at the relevant date (see below) or-

(i) as stated in the most recent audited financial statement prepared-

(A) in respect of the trust corporation; and

(B) within 16 months before the relevant date;

(ii) as ascertained by referring to one or more audited financial statements, each being the most recent audited financial statement, prepared-

(A) in respect of the trust or any of the trust; and

(B) within 16 months before the relevant date; or

(iii) as ascertained by referring to one or more custodian (see below) statements issued to the trust corporation-

(A) in respect of the trust or any of the trusts; and

(B) within 12 months before the relevant date;

(l) any individual, either alone or with any of his associates (the spouse or any child) on a joint account, having a portfolio (see below) of not less than HK$8 million or its equivalent in any foreign currency at the relevant date or-

(i) as stated in a certificate issued by an auditor or a certified public accountant of the individual within 12 months before the relevant date; or

(ii)  as ascertained by referring to one or more custodian statements issued to the individual (either alone or with the associate) within 12 months before the relevant date;

(m) any corporation or partnership having-

(i) a portfolio of not less than HK$8 million or its equivalent in any foreign currency; or

(ii) total assets of not less than HK$40 million or its equivalent in any foreign currency, at the relevant date, or as ascertained by referring to-

(iii) the most recent audited financial statement prepared-

(A) in respect of the corporation or partnership (as the case may be); and

(B) within 16 months before the relevant date; or

(iv) one or more custodian statements issued to the corporation or partnership (as the case may be) within 12 months before the relevant date; and

(n) any corporation the sole business of which is to hold investments and which at the relevant date is wholly owned by any one or more of the following persons-

(i) a trust corporation that falls within the description in paragraph (k);

(ii) an individual who, either alone or with any of his or her associates on a joint account, falls within the description in paragraph (k);

(iii) a corporation that falls within the description in paragraph (m);

(iv) a partnership that falls within the description in paragraph (m).

For the purposes of paragraphs (k) to (n) above:

  • “relevant date” means the date on which the advertisement, invitation or document (made in respect of securities or structured products or interests in any collective investment scheme, which is intended to be disposed of only to professional investors), is issued, or possessed for the purposes of issue;
  • “custodian” means (i) a corporation whose principal business is to act as a securities custodian, or (ii) an authorised financial institution under the Banking Ordinance (Cap. 155 of the Laws of Hong Kong); an overseas bank; a corporation licensed under the SFO; or an overseas financial intermediary, whose business includes acting as a custodian; and
  • “portfolio” means a portfolio comprising any of the following (i) securities; (ii) certificates of deposit issued by an authorised financial institution under the Banking Ordinance (Cap, 155 of the Laws of Hong Kong) or an overseas bank; and (iii) except for trust corporations, cash held by a custodian.

Institutional Investor / Accredited Investor Definition

An institutional investor as defined in Section 4A of the SFA and Securities and Futures (Classes of Investors) Regulations 2018 is:

(a) the Singapore Government;

(b) a statutory board as may be prescribed by regulations made under section 341 of the SFA, as prescribed in the Second Schedule of the Securities and Futures (Classes of Investors) Regulations 2018;

(c) an entity that is wholly and beneficially owned, whether directly or indirectly, by a central government of a country and whose principal activity is —

(i) to manage its own funds;

(ii) to manage the funds of the central government of that country (which may include the reserves of that central government and any pension or provident fund of that country); or

(iii) to manage the funds (which may include the reserves of that central government and any pension or provident fund of that country) of another entity that is wholly and beneficially owned, whether directly or indirectly, by the central government of that country;

(d) any entity —

(i) that is wholly and beneficially owned, whether directly or indirectly, by the central government of a country; and

(ii) whose funds are managed by an entity mentioned in sub‑paragraph (c);

(e) a bank that is licensed under the Banking Act 1970;

(f) a merchant bank that is licensed under the Banking Act 1970;

(g) a finance company that is licensed under the Finance Companies Act 1967;

(h) a company or co‑operative society that is licensed under the Insurance Act 1966 to carry on insurance business in Singapore;

(i) a company licensed under the Trust Companies Act 2005;

(j) a holder of a capital markets services licence;

(k) an approved exchange;

(l) a recognised market operator;

(m) an approved clearing house;

(n) a recognised clearing house;

(o) a licensed trade repository;

(p) a licensed foreign trade repository;

(q) an approved holding company;

(r) a Depository as defined in section 81SF of the SFA;

(s) a pension fund, or collective investment scheme, whether constituted in Singapore or elsewhere;

(t) a person (other than an individual) who carries on the business of dealing in bonds with accredited investors or expert investors;

(u) a designated market‑maker as defined in paragraph 1 of the Second Schedule to the Securities and Futures (Licensing and Conduct of Business) Regulations;

(v) a headquarters company or Finance and Treasury Centre which carries on a class of business involving fund management, where such business has been approved as a qualifying service in relation to that headquarters company or Finance and Treasury Centre under section 43D(2)(a) or 43E(2)(a) of the Income Tax Act 1947;

(w) a person who undertakes fund management activity (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) on behalf of not more than 30 qualified investors;

(x) a Service Company (as defined in regulation 2 of the Insurance (Lloyd’s Asia Scheme) Regulations) which carries on business as an agent of a member of Lloyd’s;

(y) a corporation the entire share capital of which is owned by an institutional investor or by persons all of whom are institutional investors;

(z) a partnership (other than a limited liability partnership within the meaning of the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2005) in which each partner is an institutional investor.

An accredited investor as defined in Section 4A of the SFA and Securities and Futures (Classes of Investors) Regulations 2018 is:

(i)  an individual —

(A) whose net personal assets exceed in value $2 million (or its equivalent in a foreign currency) or such other amount as the Authority may prescribe in place of the first amount;

(B) whose financial assets (net of any related liabilities) exceed in value $1 million (or its equivalent in a foreign currency) or such other amount as the Authority may prescribe in place of the first amount, where “financial asset” means —

(BA) a deposit as defined in section 4B of the Banking Act 1970;

(BB) an investment product as defined in section 2(1) of the Financial Advisers Act 2001; or

(BC) any other asset as may be prescribed by regulations made under section 341; or

(C) whose income in the preceding 12 months is not less than $300,000 (or its equivalent in a foreign currency) or such other amount as the Authority may prescribe in place of the first amount;

(ii)  a corporation with net assets exceeding $10 million in value (or its equivalent in a foreign currency) or such other amount as the Authority may prescribe, in place of the first amount, as determined by —

(A) the most recent audited balance sheet of the corporation; or

(B) where the corporation is not required to prepare audited accounts regularly, a balance sheet of the corporation certified by the corporation as giving a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the corporation as of the date of the balance sheet, which date must be within the preceding 12 months;

(iii) A trustee of a trust which all the beneficiaries are accredited investors; or

(iv) A trustee of a trust which the subject matter exceeds S$10 million; or

(v) An entity (other than a corporation) with net assets exceeding S$10 million (or its equivalent in a foreign currency) in value. “Entity” includes an unincorporated association, a partnership and the government of any state, but does not include a trust; or

(vi) A partnership (other than a limited liability partnership) in which every partner is an accredited investor; or

(vii) A corporation which the entire share capital is owned by one or more persons, all of whom are accredited investors.

Continuation solutions encompass a host of transaction types in which a GP secures interim liquidity and/or additional primary capital for their LPs in a strongly performing asset, or set of assets, that the GP will continue to own and control. Specifically, they include continuation funds, new funds created by GPs for the purpose of acquiring the asset(s) that continue to be managed by the same GP and capitalized by one or several secondary buyers, or equity recapitalizations involving a direct equity or structured equity investment into a portfolio company. These transactions can also include a parallel investment from the GP’s latest fund into that same pool of assets (a “cross-fund trade”).