Jennifer Harris

The Teachers’ Retirement System of the State of Illinois reported 2.31 percent returns for the first quarter of its 2008 fiscal year, a number which does not take into account private markets returns. Separately, the pension approved three new private equity commitments.

Following the lead of Tom Hicks and Michael Gross, US billionaire Ron Perelman plans to raise a $500 million blank-cheque pool to complete an unspecified acquisition.

The China-focussed venture firm has closed a second fund twice the size of its debut vehicle, just one year later.

The Pennsylvania State Employees’ Retirement System has named two longtime staffers, John Winchester and Leonard Knepp, as the pension’s new chief investment officer and executive director.

Conduit Capital Partners has sold three hydroelectric power plants in Mexico, the firm’s second successful exit this year from its 1999 vintage fund.

The US private equity firm has raised $2.5 billion for investments in the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry.

The lower middle market private equity firm has made its first Israel acquisition as an add-on for Hungarian portfolio company Diatron.

Advisory firm Evercore Partners has added an eighth member to its Europe team, one year after launching its business on the continent.

In the wake of a liquidity crisis that has affected megadeals, The Blackstone Group continues to expand its activities in other areas with the closing of its fourth European collateralised loan obligation fund.

Intel Capital has made an investment in rapidly growing security company InfoServer Informatica out of its $50 million Brazil fund.