Seattle University Looks To Increase Alternatives –

Seattle University is considering increasing its alternative asset allocation to as much as 15% from its current level of 5%, according to Denis Ransmeier, the endowment’s vice president of finance.

Mr. Ransmeier said the $115 million endowment already has investments in a number of venture capital funds and a hedge fund, but he favors expanding this asset class. He said the board of trustees, to whom he reports, is fairly conservative and will require further “hand-holding” until a change is made.

Mr. Ransmeier will make new recommendations to the board in about six months, he said.

Mr. Ransmeier said the endowment will consider investing in buyouts, but added the size of Seattle University’s endowment lent itself better to buyout funds-of-funds than to the funds themselves. “For a school of our size, that may be the way to go,” he said.