TRS invests in PE, eyes opportunistic real estate

The $30 billion Teachers’ Retirement System of the State of Illinois (TRS) will commit up to $1.2 billion to private equity, and will focus on opportunistic investments in real estate including emerging manager initiatives, as it aims to reach its new long-term allocations in those sectors by year end.

In real estate, where there is also a search underway for a consultant, the fund has a new strategic target of 14 per cent.

In private equity the new allocation will see an increase from 8 to 10 per cent of the fund, and the board has approved a tactical plan for the fiscal year that calls for commitments of between $700 million and $1.2 billion during the next year.

TRS hired an alternative investments officer, Zak Doehla, in June who will oversee the private equity portfolio which includes nearly 70 private equity relationships.

The fund has undergone a number of organisational changes, with a new law enacted in the summer which terminated the employment of TRS executive director, Jon Bauman, a provision that the fund was not consulted about in the final days before the law was approved.

Sponsored Content

The chief investment officer, Stan Rupnik, is acting exective director and there is a search underway for a permanent executive director under search firm, Hudepohl & Associates.

That law also saw the termination of three trustees, and six new trustees have been appointed.

The fund is also looking for a global macro and global large cap manager.

Leave a Comment

Sort content by

Abu Dhabi sovereign fund coughs up: first ever review published

With uncharacteristic fanfare, the big Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund has provided the first insight into its workings, illustrating an international outlook and an appetite for a sophisticated asset allocation strategy. The fund published its first ever “annual review” this week. mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

The benefits of US regulatory reform

US regulatory reform, such as the SEC’s plan to restore the uptick rule and the Volcker rule to restrict proprietary trading, are a step in the right direction for those advocating transparency. Amanda White explores the story with the chief executive of Principal Global Investors, Jim McCaughan, and head of research, analysis and strategy at

CalPERS considers new asset class classification

CalPERS is considering doing away with traditional asset class classifications in favour of classifying assets according to fundamental characteristics in a bid to provide a better understanding of portfolio risks and performance drivers and so move to a more effective portfolio construction and risk management framework. Amanda White reports. mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

Risk parity becomes bittersweet flavour of the month (2)

  “Understanding a program’s results involves attributing relative performance to active management, identifying any tactical asset allocation decisions and assessing mechanical factors such as leverage costs. “For most investors implementation of a leveraged strategy would likely require the retention of a beta overlay manager to execute and maintain the desired leveraged systematic exposures or an

Selective opportunities in private markets: Wurts

Private market investors should focus on distressed debt and to a lesser extent secondaries, according to the annual private equity outlook by consultant Wurts Associates, which contrary to other industry observers believes value can be added through top down analysis of the sector. mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

Strategic implications drive climate change study

The 14 institutional investors participating in the climate change strategic asset allocation study, a collaborative between Mercer, Carbon Trust and the IFC, will all receive individual portfolio scenario analysis of how physical and policy climate change-related events could affect their portfolio at an asset allocation level. mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

Previous