Investors

SVG posts encouraging results ahead of buy-back

For SVG Capital, distributions outweighed capital calls last year for the first time since 2008, as buyout firm Permira delivered strong returns on its investments.

Virginia buys $100m in secondaries

The Virginia Retirement System engaged the secondary market as a buyer for the first time in 2011, purchasing three commitments for $100m.

CalSTRS prepares for customised accounts

The pension system, with $144.8bn in assets, is altering its private equity investment policy to allow for investments in separately managed accounts, a model that appears to be gaining popularity among large institutions.

LPs want to make dollar pledges to Euro funds

Europe tops the list of issues LPs are thinking about this year, along with the growing threat of ‘zombie funds’ and reputational risk brought on by the US Republican primary election.

Kansas commits to Ares as it builds portfolio

KPERS carved out a separate private equity allocation in 2007 and has been slowly working to build exposure to the asset class. At a time when many other US public pensions are trimming back their portfolios, Kansas has room to grow.

PE fuels returns for US endowments

A NACUBO-Commonfund study finds that alternative strategies averaged 14.1% returns for US colleges and universities in FY 2011.

Newly-incentivised Quilvest pledges to double AUM

Quilvest Private Equity’s parent, Quilvest Group, has agreed to management participating in the equity structure of the group for the first time as it begins raising its next generation of fund of funds.

Large pension plans nearly quadruple PE exposure

As critics in the US pour scorn on the private equity industry, one influential group appears to be doing the opposite. Research shows the returns generated by the asset class have caused large public pension plans to almost quadruple their exposure over the last decade.

Ares launches fourth opportunities fund

The firm has already picked up a $75m commitment from New Mexico’s State Investment Council, whose staff cited strong returns from Funds II and III.

Illinois politicians to ‘examine’ private equity

Private equity, along with other alternative asset classes, will be under the microscope in Illinois, where politicians have formed a committee to determine if the pension systems are taking on too much risk.