Arkansas Teachers commits $90m to PE

Arkansas Teachers Retirement System recently committed $90 million to Mason Wells, Audax and Franklin Park.

The $10.2 billion pension plan committed up to $40 million to the Mason Wells Buyout Fund III, up to $25 million in the Audax Mezzanine Fund III and up to $25 million to the Franklin Park International Fund 2010. Mason Wells is targeting $500 million for its third fund. Audax is trying to raise $750 million for its third mezzanine fund. It could not be determined by press time how much Franklin Park is looking to raise for its international fund, which will focus investments in emerging markets.

Arkansas Teachers allocates 7.2 percent of its portfolio to private equity, according to its website. George Hopkins, executive director, could not be reached by press time.

Other large public pension funds have made recent commitments to Mason Wells and Audax. The Ohio School Employees Retirement System committed $40 million to Mason Wells in January. The $34 billion Alaska Permanent Fund invested $250 million in Audax Mezzanine III in March.

Separately, Arkansas Teachers also committed to real estate funds, adding $50 million each to UBS Trumbull Property Fund and J.P. Morgan’s Strategic Property Fund. Arkansas already had $109 million invested with UBS and $94 million with J.P. Morgan. According to the plan’s website, the pension fund allocates 6.2 percent of its portfolio to real estate, with a target of 10 percent.