The top 100 alternative investment managers globally manage assets exceeding $3 trillion. According to the Global Alternatives Survey, produced by Towers Watson in conjunction with Financial Times, shows that of the top alternative investment managers, real estate managers have the largest share of assets or $1.1 trillion, followed by private equity managers, $696 billion, hedge funds, $643 billion, private equity fund of funds, $288 billion), fund of hedge funds, $187 billion, infrastructure, $119 billion, and commodities, $101 billion.

The research also found that total global alternative assets under management are now $4.9 trillion and are split between asset classes in similar portions as the Top 100 investment managers.

“The ongoing global economic crisis has driven all types of institutional investors toward having more diversified investment portfolios, with investment managers offering significant alternative capabilities being the clear beneficiaries. Notably, allocations to alternative assets now account for 20 percent of all pension fund assets globally, up from 5 percent 15 years ago,” said Craig Baker, global head of research at Towers Watson Investment.