Illinois State Board of Investment, Chicago, hired Harris Investment Management and Fort Washington Investment Advisors to manage $250 million each in high-yield bonds, said William Atwood, executive director. Funding will come from restructuring the $10.1 billion fund's core-plus fixed-income assignments with BlackRock, Harris and Western Asset Management. BlackRock and Western, which currently manage $469 million and $481 million, respectively, will have active portfolios benchmarked to the Lehman Aggregate index. Harris, which currently manages $199 million, will have its active portfolio benchmarked to the Lehman Intermediate Government/Credit index. Some money also will come from reducing a $790 million Lehman Intermediate Government/Credit index fund run by Northern Trust Global Investments. Exact reductions have not been determined, Mr. Atwood said.
Marquette Associates assisted.
