The New York State Common Retirement Fund (NYSCRF) added several private equity and real estate funds in its latest round of recently announced activity.
The $310 billion state pension fund committed roughly $671 million into the funds in July, according to recent disclosures from the New York State Comptroller’s office. The allocations follow the investment portfolio gaining 6.2% in the first quarter of the year.
Private equity expands in Europe, VC and GP strategies
The $44 billion private equity portfolio continued to add-on to its Europe exposure following June’s commitments to PSG and Bridgepoint Group.
A €40 million ($46 million) allocation was made to Main Capital Management’s Co-Investment 2026 I C.V., which invests alongside Main Capital IX Feeder (A). The firm is a new relationship for the New York State Common Retirement Fund. Investments in the portfolio will primarily be made in Western Europe and the Nordic region. The firm targets control buyouts of lower-middle-market and middle-market software companies across the Benelux, DACH, and Nordic regions.
A larger commitment of $75 million was awarded to Awani Capital, another new manager for the pension fund. Awani Capital Fund is set to invest in business services and industrial companies, primarily in North America.
Other private equity allocations were concentrated in the opportunistic strategies portfolio, which invests with managers active across asset classes on an opportunistic basis or in direct transactions.
The largest commitment was $250 million to Excelsior Beyond CIV, a fund-of-one vehicle that will hold a minority stake in Arctos Partners, which is known for its investments in sports franchises and was recently acquired by KKR. The firm recently closed its first GP stakes fund, Arctos Keystone, at $6.2 billion in July.
Two venture capital commitments went to General Catalyst funds. The firm has an existing relationship with the New York pension.
A $60 million add-on commitment was made to General Catalyst Group XIII, a multistage venture strategy targeting investments in technology companies. Another $40 million add-on was made to GC Creation Fund III, which also targets technology companies across multiple stages of venture capital.
Real estate goes BIG
NYSCRF officials also selected two Basis Investment Group (BIG) funds for the pension’s $44 billion combined real estate and real assets program. The New York-based firm is an existing manager in the portfolio.
BIG Real Estate Fund III received a $150 million commitment. The strategy invests in real estate debt across U.S. markets and property types, according to the investment disclosure. Another $50 million commitment went to BIG Venture III, which will focus on investing additional capital alongside Fund III, with an emphasis on affordable housing.