Howard County commits to buyout fund MPE Partners III. The joint committee for the Howard County Retirement Plan and the Howard County Police and Fire Employees' Retirement Plan approved the commitment to the lower-middle-market buyout fund at its Dec. 3 meeting, recently released meeting minutes show. The two plans have a combined $1.2 billion in assets. As of Sept. 30, the plans' actual allocation to private equity was 13.2%; the target is 10%. Investment consultant NEPC assisted. Related Articles