The ultimate advantage in asset management, used by Warren Buffett and Bill Ackman, is 'permanent capital.' This structure, often a public company, prevents investors from withdrawing funds during market downturns. It eliminates the existential risk of forced selling that plagues traditional hedge funds.
Recognizing that top companies compound long after going public, Sequoia created the "Sequoia Capital Fund." Instead of distributing shares to LPs who often sell immediately, this vehicle holds positions in their best public companies. This strategy has generated an additional $6.7 billion in gains simply through patience.
The key innovation of evergreen funds for individual investors isn't just liquidity, but the upfront, fully-funded structure. This removes the operational complexity of managing capital calls and distributions—a major historical barrier for even wealthy individuals who found the process too complicated.
A hybrid evergreen fundraising model, combining periodic standard funds with continuous managed accounts, eliminates fundraising cliffs. This allows a firm to deploy capital counter-cyclically, buying when assets are on sale, rather than being forced to deploy or liquidate based on an artificial timeline.
Eagle Capital's competitive edge isn't just stock picking; it’s built on 'duration'—a 35-year history, 5+ year holding periods, and long-term clients. This structural stability attracts top talent and creates a flywheel effect for sustained success in an increasingly short-term world.
Top-tier VC firms like Andreessen Horowitz are evolving beyond traditional venture investing. They are mirroring the playbook of private equity giants like Blackstone by acquiring other asset managers, expanding into new verticals like wealth management, and preparing to go public, prioritizing AUM growth.
A skilled investor avoided a winning stock because his Limited Partner (LP) base wouldn't tolerate the potential drawdown. This shows that even with strong conviction, a fund's structure and client base can dictate its investment universe, creating opportunities for those with more patient or permanent capital.
Unlike typical sovereign funds that manage reserves, Temasek directly owns its assets. This structure necessitates actively selling assets ("recycling capital") to fund new investments, creating a disciplined trade-off between holding long-term winners and pursuing new opportunities.
Superior returns can come from a firm's structure, not just its stock picks. By designing incentive systems and processes that eliminate 'alpha drags'—like short-term pressures, misaligned compensation, and herd behavior—a firm can create a durable, structural competitive advantage that boosts performance.
The best investment opportunities are often with managers who have strong demand and don't need any single LP's capital. The allocator's core challenge is proving their value to gain access. Conversely, managers who are too eager to negotiate on terms may be a negative signal of quality or demand.
Unlike sovereign wealth funds like GIC that manage government reserves, Temasek operates as an investment holding company that owns its assets. This fundamental difference means Temasek must actively sell assets ('recycle capital') to fund new investments, creating a unique tension between holding long-term winners and pursuing new opportunities.