Gregory Roth

Solamere Capital, Romneys' PE Firm, Launches Fund II

Solamere Capital, the private equity fund-of-funds and co-investment firm co-founded by Mitt Romney’s eldest son, Taggart Romney, has begun raising its second vehicle, Solamere Capital Fund II LP, according to a government filing. The filing indicates that the new fund carries a $250 million target.

Illinois Teachers' Head of PE Steps Down

Zachary Doehla, who headed up private equity investing at the $40 billion Illinois Teachers’ Retirement System, decided to leave the pension in early May, according to spokesman David Urbanek. Doehla, whose official title was “Senior Investment Officer—Alternatives and Co-Investments,” reported to R. Stanley Rupnik, the pension’s chief investment officer.

FIVE QUESTIONS WITH... Benoit Verbrugghe, Head of AXA Private Equity, North America

Gatekeepers Trumpet Variety Of Strategies

Besides the investment bankers, the law firms and placement agents that form the ranks of firms that provide services to private equity investors, the closest outside relationship an institutional investor usually has is with its adviser or consultant.

N.Y. Pensions Aim To Grow PE Staffs

Two of the Empire State’s biggest pension systems, the $160 billion New York State Common Retirement Fund and the $95 billion New York State Teachers Retirement System, have laid out goals to expand their in-house private equity teams.

UPDATE 1: Offering PE For 401(k)s, Pantheon Crosses New Frontier

Pantheon Ventures has become the latest firm to announce plans to manage private equity for retail investors, in this case through target-date retirement funds whose sponsors wish to offer exposure to the asset class.

Brown, Tulane Have Changes At Senior Level

Two of the nation’s largest university endowments saw executive-level changes in the last week, including the surprise decision by Cari Lodge, the director of alternative investments at Tulane University, to join Commonfund, Lodge confirmed in an e-mail message. Lodge joined Tulane only in June 2012. It is not known when Lodge will assume her new duties at Commonfund, nor who will replace her at Tulane. Calls to both Tulane and Commonfund were not returned.

Oregon Commits $950M To 3 Funds

The Oregon Investment Council, which manages $81 billion in assets, committed $950 million to funds at three private equity firms, including Apollo Global Management, Lone Star Funds and The Blackstone Group, confirmed James Sinks, the council’s spokesman.

N.C. Moves Toward Raising Alternative Caps

The North Carolina Retirement Systems, which manages $78 billion in pension assets, is a step closer to increasing its overall cap on alternative investments to 40 percent from 34 percent after the state senate voted overwhelmingly in favor of such a move. So far, the North Carolina house has not yet scheduled a vote on the measure, which also would need Gov. Patrick McCrory’s signature to be put into law.

Pantheon To Manage PE For 401(K) Investors

Pantheon Ventures has become the latest firm to announce plans to manage private equity for ordinary investors, in this case through target-date retirement funds whose sponsors wish to offer exposure to the asset class.