Arkansas Teachers Adds $200M to Real Estate, Infra, PE Portfolios

The Arkansas Teacher Retirement System, which oversees $21 billion in assets, expanded its alternative investment programs with more than $200 million in new capital commitments approved earlier this month.

The latest round focuses on real estate, infrastructure, private equity and venture capital investments.

In real estate, a $50 million investment was made to Kayne Anderson’s opportunistic real estate fund, which has previously attracted capital from other pensions, notably the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana.

Kayne Anderson Real Estate Partners VII is a closed-end fund that intends to invest in alternative real estate sectors with favorable demographic patterns, such as healthcare-related real estate and student housing.

Trustees authorized another $50 million investment in KKR’s latest infrastructure fund. KKR Global Infrastructure Investors V has reportedly raised more than half of its $20 billion target. KKR’s venture into global infrastructure began in 2008 and has grown to $56 billion in assets across over 80 investments.

The Macquarie GIC Energy and Climate Opportunities Fund, managed by Macquarie Asset Management, received a $50 million commitment. The fund invests in solar, wind, energy storage and natural climate solutions.

Lastly, two $40 million commitments were made to Franklin Park Corporate Finance Access Fund III and Franklin Park Venture Capital Opportunity Fund II, both are private equity strategies from Franklin Park Associates.