University of Kansas endowment returns 5.6%

University of Kansas' $1.6 billion endowment returned a net 5.6% for the fiscal year ended June 30, below its benchmark return of 6.7%.

For the three, five and 10 years ended June 30, the Lawrence-based endowment returned an annualized net 9.4%, 5.5% and 8.7%, respectively, compared to benchmark returns of 9.4%, 5.3% and 8.5%, confirmed James G. Clarke, senior vice president of investments and treasurer at KU Endowment, in an email.

The private equity/venture capital allocation led all categories for the fiscal year with a net return of slightly less than 23%, according to an investment report emailed by Mr. Clarke.

The endowment's opportunistic strategies and marketable alternatives asset class were also top performers for the fiscal year, returning a respective net 9.3% and 7.7%.

Mr. Clarke referred questions to the report, which did not provide additional asset class return information.

As of June 30, the endowment's actual allocation was 18% private investments 16.7% real assets; 16.6% marketable alternatives; 13.8% international equities; 12.6% domestic equities; 8% fixed income; 7.4% emerging markets equities; 4.9% opportunistic strategies; and 2% cash equivalents.

The target allocation is 21% real assets; 15% marketable alternatives; 14.5% international equities; 13% domestic equities; 12% private investments; 8.5% emerging markets equities; 8% fixed income; 7% opportunistic strategies; and 1% cash equivalents.