Illinois SURS seeks investment managers for real assets portfolio

The $20.1 billion Illinois State Universities Retirement System (SURS) is seeking investment managers for its real assets portfolio.

In December 2019, Illinois SURS issued a request for information from qualified firms interested in providing investment services for its private real estate, agriculture and infrastructure assets. Illinois SURS has encouraged qualified female-owned, minority-owned and disabled-owned firms to submit information.

Callan is conducting the search on behalf of Illinois SURS and expects to make investment recommendations to the pension fund throughout the year. Investment priorities are oriented around private real estate equity funds, private real estate debt funds, private infrastructure equity funds and private agriculture equity funds.

According to Callan, the commitment pacing target is $475 million for 2020 across the core and noncore portfolio; however, this could vary. Illinois SURS expects to hire multiple investment managers i