The Carlyle Group and AlpInvest Partners announced they assumed management of two funds with a focus on Indiana life sciences companies: the Indiana Future Fund (IFF), a $72.6 million fund of funds, and its $58.0 million successor, the INext Program (INext). The transfer from a third party was approved October 1 by the funds’ limited partners, and brings assets managed by Carlyle and AlpInvest in the state to approximately $438 million.

The Indiana Future Fund was raised in 2003 to invest in venture capital funds that in turn would consider investments in life sciences companies in Indiana. Investors in the IFF include Eli Lilly and Company, the Indiana Public Retirement System, the Indiana University Foundation, Indiana University, Purdue University, Indiana State University, Ball State University Foundation, American United Life Insurance and WellPoint INext, raised in 2009, invests in private equity firms considering investments in Indiana life sciences companies. Investors include Eli Lilly and Company, the Indiana Public Retirement System, the Indiana State University Foundation, University of Notre Dame, Purdue Research Foundation, Purdue University and the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation.

Darren Carroll, Lilly’s vice president of corporate business development and chairman of the advisory committees of the two funds, said, “Carlyle and AlpInvest have shown a real commitment to our investment goals and to the state of Indiana with their establishment of an office and on-the-ground team as well as their stewardship of two other state-focused investment vehicles. We are excited to also have them managing IFF and INext, which together have brought the expertise of the venture capital firms to bear in the state.”

Jacques Chappuis, managing director and head of Carlyle Solutions, said, “We are pleased to take on IFF and INext with the goal of achieving superior risk-adjusted returns, and being part of Indiana’s innovative approach to supporting the development of life sciences businesses in the state. We look forward to supporting venture capital firms’ efforts to consider potential investment opportunities in Indiana life sciences companies, and as a consequence create lasting economic benefits for the Hoosier state.”