New Mexico Educational Retirement Board committed $285 million to four alternative investment funds, said Bob Jacksha, CIO for the $12.6 billion New Mexico Educational Retirement, Santa Fe.
The board committed $100 million each to a private equity fund EIG Energy Fund XVII managed by EIG Global Energy Partners and reinsurance fund 1609 Fund, managed by ILS Capital Management. The board has invested in two previous EIG funds; ILS is a new relationship.
The board also committed $50 million to Raith Real Estate II, a real estate fund managed by Raith Capital Partners. The board invested in Raith's first fund.
BP Natural Gas Opportunity Partners II, a natural resources fund managed by energy-focused private equity firm BP Energy Partners, received a $35 million commitment. The pension fund invested in BP's first fund.
Separately, the pension fund earned a net return of 11.1% for the year ended Sept. 30. U.S smidcap equity was the best performing asset class at 19.8%, and real estate investment trusts were the worst at -0.9%.