According to the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority's (APRA), Annual Superannuation Bulletin for 2012, super funds had little invested in infrastructure, with their primary focus towards equities followed by fixed income holdings.
"I think the time has come of superannuation to be more heavily involved and the Botany Kembla deal is clear evidence of that maturity," Michael Deegan, national infrastructure coordinator for Infrastructure Australia, told InvestorDaily.
The consortium is led by Industry Funds Management (IFM) and includes investors from Australian Super, Cbus, Hesta, Hostplus and Tawreed Investments.
They will pay $5.07 billion to acquire the 99-year leases for the ports.
Botany and Kembla are key economic drivers, which serve as the primary import and export gateways to New South Wales, home to approximately a third of the nation's population.
IFM chief executive Brett Himbury said the investment would have a positive impact on the retirement savings of millions of Australians.
"With over 80 per cent ownership by Australian industry superannuation funds, the investment will benefit the superannuation savings of an estimated five million Australians," he said.
Mr Deegan said the deal would offer a template for future investments from super funds.
"I think as Australia wants more and more new infrastructure assets, the recycling of capital in old assets to the superannuation industry in particular is the way to go," he said.
Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) chief executive Pauline Vamos said super funds' first priority should be making investments that are in the best interests of members, but as long-term investors, infrastructure should be a good fit.
"Increasingly, Australian governments and other participants in financial markets are looking at the potential of superannuation funds to be core investors in major deals and projects," she said.
"Given the superannuation pool of funds is $1.5 trillion and growing, it will increasingly play an important part in financing infrastructure and other productive investments in Australia and overseas. This will have benefits for both fund members and the Australian economy now and into the future."
Over the next couple of months, the NSW Ports consortium, in coordination with the state government, will transfer the docks' operations to the new management.
