Wisconsin boosts commitments to Lindsay Goldberg, Providence Equity

The Wisconsin state pension system boosted its original commitments to Lindsay Goldberg and Providence Equity Partners in the first quarter, according to the State of Wisconsin Investment Board’s communication manager, Vicki Hearing.

The system committed an additional $100 million to Lindsay Goldberg’s fifth fund, which is targeting $4 billion. Wisconsin previously pledged $100 million to the fund late last year, Buyouts previously reported. The system also pledged an additional $150 million to Providence Equity Partners VIII, targeting $5 billion. Wisconsin previously committed $100 million to Providence Equity Partners’ eighth fund during the first quarter of 2017, Buyouts previously reported.

It’s not clear why the system increased its original commitments to the funds. Occasionally, funds will offer bigger allocations to LPs as fundraisings progress.

The system made a slew of additional commitments to private equity in the first quarter. The system pledged $250 million to Blackstone Capital Partners VIII, which is targeting$20 billion.

Wisconsin committed 45 million euros ($50.5 million) to Gilde Buy-Out Partners’ sixth fund, which focuses on European middle-market companies.

The system also committed $50 million to Blackstone Group’s credit platform, GSO Capital Partners’ Energy Select Opportunities Fund II, which closed earlier this month at $4.5 billion.

The system also committed $30 million to Tower Arch Capital’s second fund, which closed on its hard cap of $450 million, Buyouts reported in April.

The Board receives updates on investments every quarter and does not approve private-market commitments, according to Buyouts.

Private equity and debt make up 9 percent of Wisconsin’s $118 billion portfolio.

Wisconsin told Buyouts that it doesn’t generally disclose its investment strategy.