AustralianSuper to spend big in Europe
AustralianSuper is targeting Europe through investments in real estate, infrastructure, and direct private credit, and will add £15.4 ($24.3 billion) billion in assets to its Europe portfolio and £8 billion to the UK over the next four years.
This would bring total global investment for the nation’s largest superannuation fund, which managed more than $260 billion on behalf of its 2.6 million members, to £300 billion by June 2026.
Speaking to Super Review, AustralianSuper head of investments international, Damian Moloney, said expanding in the UK and Europe would enable the fund to access a greater volume and range of investment opportunities.
“The fund has had a very positive experience in the UK, investing in assets like Heathrow, Peel Ports and the King's Cross Estate redevelopment,” Moloney said.
“In both the UK and Europe there are a wide range of like-minded partners that we can work with, so it makes perfect sense to look at opportunities here. There is also a strong pipeline of opportunities for high quality assets across the UK and Europe including in the growing digital infrastructure space.
“There are also the benefits of a stable and reliable legal and regulatory environment and a deep talent pool.”
Moloney said there were opportunities in real estate, infrastructure, and direct private credit and that the fund was currently looking at a variety of purchases in high-quality mixed-use real estate investments that were, or could be, carbon neutral.
He said the fund would continue to invest in a diversified portfolio of assets globally that helped members achieve their best financial position in retirement.
“This includes sourcing new opportunities in the North American market as we build our capability there from our New York base,” he said.
“By 2024 the fund will have just over 100 people in London and just under 100 in New York."
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