1 CPP Investments

Private equity allocation: $88.7bn
Private equity allocation as % of AUM: 23.8%
AUM: $373.0bn
HQ: Toronto

CPP Investments, founded in 1997, invests the assets of Canada’s pension plan, which serves 20 million Canadians. It has committed to more than 300 funds. CPP’s commitments to vintage 2020 funds include $100 million to Iconiq Strategic Partners V, a venture and growth equity fund; $750 million to Silver Lake Partners VI, a buyout fund; €500 million to CVC Capital Partners VIII, a buyout fund; and ¥13.8 billion ($125.7 million; €103 million) to Polaris “Jewel” Capital Fund V, a buyout fund, according to PEI research.
2020 Rank: 1

2 Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec

Private equity allocation: $51.0bn
Private equity allocation as % of AUM 17.8%
AUM: $286.6bn
HQ: Québec

CDPQ, founded in 1965, manages money on behalf of 42 depositor groups, mostly pension plans and public and parapublic insurance plans that collectively pay benefits to more than two million Quebecers annually. It has committed to more than 230 funds, including three 2020-vintage funds and two 2021-vintage funds. The 2021 funds include CTI Life Sciences Fund III and MKB Partners Fund II, both of which make venture capital and growth equity investments, according to PEI research.
2020 Rank: 4

3 GIC Private Limited

Private equity allocation: $46.8bn
Private equity allocation as % of AUM: 13.0%
AUM: $360.0bn
HQ: Singapore

GIC, founded in 1981, is a sovereign wealth fund created by the government of Singapore to manage the country’s foreign reserves. It has committed to more than 60 funds. Most recently, it committed to WCAS XIII, a $4.3 billion, 2018-vintage buyout fund managed by Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, and Affinity Asia Pacific Fund V, a $6 billion, 2017-vintage buyout fund managed by Affinity Equity Partners, according to PEI research.
2020 Rank: 2

4 APG

Private equity allocation: $41.7bn
Private equity allocation as % of AUM: 6.0%
AUM: $695.8bn
HQ: Amsterdam

APG, founded in 2008, manages the assets of three Dutch pensions (ABP, bpfBOUW and SPW) that collectively serve 4.7 million pensioners working in government, education, construction and housing. APG has made at least 17 fund commitments. Most recently, it committed to Mayfair Equity Partners II, a £650 million ($917 million; €756 million), 2018-vintage buyout fund managed by Mayfair Equity Partners, and Investindustrial Fund VI, a €2.04 billion, 2016-vintage buyout fund managed by Investindustrial, according to PEI research.
2020 Rank: 5

5 Hong Kong Monetary Authority

Private equity allocation: $34.2bn
PE allocation as % of AUM: 6.3%
AUM: $540.0bn
HQ: Hong Kong

Founded in 1993, Hong Kong Monetary Authority is Hong Kong’s central banking institution. HKMA invests in private equity through buyout funds in Central/Eastern Europe, Western Europe and Asia-Pacific. Its investments include a commitment for an undisclosed amount to CVC European Equity Partners VI, a €10.91 billion, 2013-vintage buyout fund, according to PEI research. HKMA also made direct investments in mobility-as-a-service platform Kakao Mobility in 2018 and car-sharing service Hyundai Capital in 2021, according to PitchBook.
2020 Rank: 7

6 Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan

Private equity allocation: $32.8bn
Private equity allocation as % of AUM: 19.2%
AUM: $170.9bn
HQ: Toronto

Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, founded in 1917, serves more than 330,000 active and retired teachers in Ontario, Canada. It has a 39 percent allocation to alternatives, with 19 percent going to private equity, 12 percent to real estate and 8 percent to infrastructure, PEI research shows. OTPP has made more than 100 fund commitments. Its three most recent commitments were to Singular Fund, a €225 million, 2021-vintage venture capital and growth equity fund; Edelweiss’ Special Opportunity Fund III, a $900 million, 2019-vintage mezzanine debt fund; and Centurium Capital Partners, a $2 billion, 2018-vintage buyout fund.
2020 Rank: 6

7 California Public Employees’ Retirement System

Private equity allocation: $30.8bn
Private equity allocation as % of AUM: 7.0%
AUM: $442.7bn
HQ: Sacramento

California Public Employees’ Retirement System, founded in 1932, provides retirement and healthcare benefits to more than two million California public employees, retirees and their families. CalPERS has invested in more than 650 funds, including 15 2020-vintage funds, PEI research shows. Recent commitments include $600 million for Thoma Bravo Fund XIV, a $17.8 billion buyout fund; $500 million for Clayton, Dubilier & Rice Fund XI, a $16 billion buyout fund; and $800 million for Silver Lake Partners VI, a $20 billion buyout fund.
2020 Rank: 8

8 National Pension Service of Korea

Private equity allocation: $30.7bn
Private equity allocation as % of AUM: 4.0%
AUM: $766.0bn
HQ: Jeollabuk-do

National Pension Service of Korea, founded in 1988, is the second largest public pension in Asia, according to the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute. NPS has a 10.8 percent allocation to alternatives, with about 4 percent going to private equity, PEI research shows. The public pension has made at least 49 fund commitments. Among the 2020-vintage funds it backed are JKL 11th Private Equity Fund, a buyout fund managed by JKL Partners and Glenwood Private Equity Fund II, a buyout fund managed by Glenwood Private Equity.
2020 Rank: 12

9 Washington State Investment Board

Private equity allocation: $29.6bn
Private equity allocation as % of AUM: 23.1%
AUM: $127.8bn
HQ: Olympia

Washington State Investment Board, founded in 2005, manages investments for retirement plans for the state’s public employees, teachers, police and others. It has a 40 percent allocation to alternatives, with 23 percent going to private equity and about 17 percent to real estate, PEI research shows. WSIB has made more than 380 fund commitments, including four to 2021-vintage funds. Recent commitments include $750 million for KKR North America Fund XIII, a buyout fund targeting North America and $250 million for Blackstone Capital Partners Asia Fund II, a buyout fund targeting Asia-Pacific.
2020 Rank: 9

10 California State Teachers’ Retirement System

Private equity allocation: $29.3bn
Private equity allocation as % of AUM: 10.3%
AUM: $283.4bn
HQ: Sacramento

California State Teachers’ Retirement System, founded in 1913, provides retirement benefits to about 965,000 public school teachers and their families. The pension system has an alternatives allocation of about 26 percent, with 12 percent going to real estate, 10 percent to private equity and nearly 4 percent to infrastructure, PEI research shows. CalSTRS has made more than 500 fund commitments, most recently to three separate venture capital funds managed by GGV Capital. In 2020, it committed to 30 funds, including seven co-investment funds, according to PEI research.
2020 Rank: 10