H
amilton Lane has secured a significant partnership with the Virginia Retirement System, as the pension fund's board has greenlit a $250m commitment to a bespoke real estate separate account. This strategic move will enable the pension fund to tap into Hamilton Lane's expertise in identifying top-tier real estate managers operating below the $1bn threshold.

    The newly created separate account, dubbed the Hamilton Lane VA Real Estate SMA, will focus on North America while also exploring opportunistic investments in other developed markets. By pooling resources with Hamilton Lane, Virginia Retirement aims to diversify its portfolio and capitalize on emerging trends in the region.

    Notably, investment decisions for this separate account will be a collaborative effort between the pension fund's team and Hamilton Lane's professionals. This joint approach is expected to yield more informed and effective investment choices.

    In related news, Virginia Retirement has also made a $150m commitment to Pretium Homebuilder Finance Fund, a US-based residential credit fund that invests in transition loans and homebuilder finance. The fund, which closed with $550m in January, will benefit from the pension fund's support as it continues to grow its portfolio.

    By forging these strategic partnerships, Virginia Retirement System is demonstrating its commitment to diversifying its investment portfolio and staying ahead of the curve in the real estate market.