Washington State Investment Board , Olympia, committed up to $350...

Washington State Investment Board, Olympia, committed up to $350 million to Cherokee Investment Partners IV, which invests in "environmentally tainted properties" that are restored and sold to developers, said Liz Mendizabal, spokeswoman. The $61.2 billion system also committed up to $250 million in Menlo Ventures X, a private equity fund; and up to $130 million each to Bridgepoint Europe III, a pan-European buyout fund, and Palamon European Equity II, a pan-European middle-market private equity fund. Funding will come from cash. All investments are subject to contract negotiations.