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International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local No. 150 Fringe Benefit Funds
Local 150's Fringe Benefit Funds were established in 1956 as a Taft-Hartley defined-benefit plan jointly sponsored by IBEW Local 150 and the National...
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local No. 150 Fringe Benefit Funds
Local 150's Fringe Benefit Funds were established in 1956 as a Taft-Hartley defined-benefit plan jointly sponsored by IBEW Local 150 and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). The fund provides retirement, disability, and death benefits to union electricians whose employers contribute under collective bargaining agreements. A four-trustee board — Ted Disabato, Robert Merrick, Howard Simon, and Kyle Weaver — governs the fund, with Merrick serving as primary administrative contact. The fund pursues a multi-asset strategy combining direct real estate holdings, private credit, and venture-stage allocations. Known real estate assets include the IBEW 150 Core Fund Real Estate Allocation, a mixed-use portfolio, and the IBEW Local 150 Building Corp, a commercial property at 31290 N. US Highway 45 in Libertyville, Illinois. The fund also maintains private debt and alternative investment sleeves, deploying capital across co-investments, buyouts, mezzanine, and early-stage venture, including seed and startup rounds. Total plan assets are estimated at $233 million (Altss estimate), with deployment spanning Illinois and Michigan. The Libertyville building corp suggests a direct-ownership posture alongside pooled fund commitments. Recent trustee activity and plan communications are filed publicly through Department of Labor Form 5500 disclosures, though the fund does not maintain a commercial social media presence or an investor relations page beyond its benefits administration site. Structurally, the fund's differentiator is its Taft-Hartley sourcing model. Co-sponsored by NECA employers, it draws commitments from electrical contractors bound by union agreements — a captive contributor base with legally defined contribution obligations. This creates predictable inflow streams distinct from those of corporate or public pensions, while the union affiliation channels deal flow through contractor networks and labor-aligned investment vehicles.
General information
Firm type
Pension Fund
Year founded
1956
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Lansing
Corporate office
Lansing, MI, United States
Additional offices
Libertyville, IL, United States
Principals
Ted Disabato
Trustee
Robert Merrick
Trustee
Howard Simon
Trustee
Kyle Weaver
Trustee
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at IBEW Local 150 Fringe Benefit Funds?
Investment and administrative decisions are governed by a board of trustees: Ted Disabato, Robert Merrick, Howard Simon, and Kyle Weaver. Robert Merrick serves as the primary contact for the administrative office. Their oversight responsibilities are publicly documented in the fund's annual Department of Labor Form 5500 filings.
How does the IBEW Local 150 pension fund source investment opportunities?
As a Taft-Hartley plan jointly sponsored by IBEW Local 150 and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), the fund's primary sourcing advantage flows through signatory contractor relationships and labor-affiliated networks. The fund's real estate holdings, including the IBEW Local 150 Building Corp in Libertyville, Illinois, and its Core Fund Real Estate Allocation, demonstrate a willingness to originate and hold property directly rather than relying exclusively on third-party managers.
Is IBEW Local 150's pension fund invested in venture capital?
Yes. The fund's strategy includes early-stage venture, seed, startup, and expansion-stage commitments. These are part of a broader alternative investments sleeve that also encompasses buyout, mezzanine, co-investment, and secondaries strategies.
What is a Taft-Hartley plan, and how does that shape IBEW Local 150's structure?
A Taft-Hartley plan is a multi-employer benefit fund jointly administered by labor and management trustees. For IBEW Local 150, this means contributions come from NECA-affiliated electrical contractors under collective bargaining agreements. The structure creates a predictable contribution base and legally obligates equal representation from union and employer trustees on the plan's board.
How is IBEW Local 150 related to the national IBEW organization?
IBEW Local 150 is an autonomous local chapter of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, representing electrical workers primarily in northern Illinois and the Chicago metro area. Its fringe benefit funds are legally distinct from the national IBEW Pension Benefit Fund, though both serve IBEW members. Local 150's administration is based in Lansing, Michigan.
Does IBEW Local 150's pension fund participate in direct real estate investments?
Yes. The fund holds direct real estate through the IBEW 150 Core Fund Real Estate Allocation, a mixed-use portfolio, and through the IBEW Local 150 Building Corp, which owns a commercial property at 31290 N. US Highway 45 in Libertyville, Illinois. These direct holdings sit alongside allocations to private credit and venture strategies.
What is the relationship between IBEW Local 150 and NECA?
The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) is the employer bargaining party that jointly sponsors the fringe benefit funds with IBEW Local 150. NECA-member contractors contribute to the pension, health, and welfare funds as part of their collective bargaining agreements with the union. Both organizations share representation on the fund's board of trustees.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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