Australian superannuation funds have dispatched senior investors to France and the United Kingdom to chase private‑market deals in infrastructure and real assets. The tour aims to broaden exposure to Europe’s mature sectors and to match long‑duration liabilities with stable, income‑generating projects. Their itinerary includes meetings with local sponsors and government officials.

Australia’s pension pool is swelling fast; more than 60% of fresh retirement capital now sits abroad. Forecasts show investment into the EU and the UK will top A$660bn, roughly $430bn over the next ten years, underscoring the scale of money set to flow into European private markets.

The delegation features heavyweights such as IFM Investors, AustralianSuper, Australian Retirement Trust, Aware Super, CBUS, HESTA and Rest, backed by the Super Members Council. Together they control more than €750bn in retirement savings, giving them buying power to target energy, transport, digital infrastructure and logistics platforms across the region.

Australian funds already own renewable‑energy parks, toll‑road concessions, digital‑network operators and large‑scale urban regeneration schemes in London and elsewhere in continental Europe. The appeal lies in Europe’s stable regulatory framework and the ability to lock in long‑term cash flows that align with pension liabilities. Their growing footprint signals a decisive shift toward overseas infrastructure assets.