Investors

Corporate finance lawyer Jacques Demers will lead OMERS Strategic Investments, a new investment division tasked with making very large investments for the pension in 'global asset companies' including airports, real estate and energy projects.

Voting has begun in the third annual Global PERE Awards. Which people, firms, funds and deals stood out in 2008? Cast your nominations now in the only industry awards that are voted on entirely by the participants in the private equity real estate market.

The second-largest pension fund in the UK is increasing its headcount as it seeks to grow its private equity allocation.

A firm set up by Perry Kurash, who cut his teeth at private property company Topland, has established a corporate finance house with four others to source Middle Eastern capital looking for a home in property.

While stressing it continues to honour capital calls, CalPERS has said it is not atypical for it to ask GPs to delay requests for funds. The pension has confirmed it sold more than $2bn in private equity holdings on the secondary market last year, including interests in Carlyle and Landmark funds.

Robert Bertram will step down from the C$108.5bn pension fund at the end of 2008, to be replaced by current senior VP Neil Petroff. Bertram led Ontario’s purchase in 2000 of the real estate operating company, Cadillac Fairview, which now evaluates all of OTPP's real estate investments.

The San Francisco-based firm, launched by CalPERS last year, has hired former Goldman Sachs healthcare specialist Christopher McFadden to head its first East Coast presence. Health Evolution has already invested and exited one portfolio company with a markup 'north of 25%'.

The $184bn pension, struggling with the denominator effect, committed $750m to Blackstone’s previous buyout vehicle. CalPERS documents confirmed rumours that Blackstone has lowered its fund target to between $15bn and $20bn.

The Teacher Retirement System of Texas has hired former Summit Properties president Steve LeBlanc to lead its real asset and private equity portfolios. Lee Partridge, the pension's strategic research managing director has been promoted to deputy chief investment officer.

The US retirement plan insists it will keep the majority of the assets as a long-term owner, despite having seen more than $3bn wiped off the value of the housing stock.