Arkansas Teachers earmarks nearly $411 million to 8 alternatives funds

Arkansas Teacher Retirement System, Little Rock, approved up to $410.5 million total in commitments to eight alternatives funds, said George Hopkins, executive director of the $16.1 billion pension system, in an email.

At its meeting on Monday, the board committed up to $100 million each to CFM Institutional Systematic Diversified Trust and Man Alternative Style Risk Premia Fund, two open-end opportunistic funds managed by Capital Fund Management and Man Group, respectively, that focus on alternative risk premiums that seek to take advantage of pricing differences in global markets.

The board also agreed to commit €41 million ($50.5 million) to DIF Infrastructure V, an infrastructure fund; $50 million to MetLife Commercial Mortgage Income Fund, an open-end core real estate debt fund managed by MetLife Real Estate Investors; $30 million to Almanac Realty Securities VIII, a value-added real estate fund managed by Almanac Realty Investors; and $25 million each to two opportunistic real estate funds: Carlyle Group's Carlyle Realty Partners VIII and Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors' Kayne Anderson Real Estate Partners V.

Finally, the board agreed to commit $30 million to Riverside Fund VI, a buyout fund managed by Riverside Partners.

The commitment to Riverside was made at the recommendation of the board's private equity consultant, Franklin Park. The remaining commitments were made at the recommendation of the board's general investment and real assets consultant, Aon Hewitt Investment Consulting.