The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) is looking to invest up to $11bn with β€˜transition’ investment managers by 2020.

The move is an extention of the US pension fund’s , whereby the US pension fund invests in newly formed or relatively small companies.

Transition managers are emerging managers that have β€œdemonstrated early stage success” either wihin the programme or elsewhere, CalPERS said.

The US pension fund will hold a global solicitation process – starting in July next year – that will seek investment proposals from mid-size external investment managers.

Real estate is included in the programme. CalPERS plans commitments in the range of $50m to $300m for transition real estate managers.

Laurie Weir, investment director at CalPERS, said: β€œOur objective for investing with emerging and transition managers is to generate appropriate risk-adjusted investment returns by identifying early funds with strong potential for success; accessing unique investment opportunities that may otherwise be overlooked; and cultivating the next generation of external portfolio management talent.

β€œWe hope this advance notice will give managers time to learn more about CalPERS’ programs and prepare their proposals.”