GLOBAL – AustralianSuper, the AUD60bn (€42.3bn) Australian pension fund, has selected Henderson Global Investors to manage its emerging UK retail property strategy, the investment manager said.

This mandate is part of a wider global strategy for AustralianSuper, according to Henderson.

It said AustralianSuper had recently announced a direct international investment programme aiming to expand its property investment portfolio significantly over the next five years.

Within UK retail property, the pension fund is focusing on the prime and super prime sectors, Henderson said.

At the moment, the fund owns an AUD4.6bn real estate portfolio.

Henderson specialises in retail property, with around 60% of the £12.7bn (€15bn) of property assets under management within the retail sector.

It opened its Australian office last year as part of its strategic plan to develop an investment management business in the country.