Jon Millin, executive director for fixed interest at Challenger Financial Services Group, said superannuation funds could fill a gap in the medium-term funding market.
Speaking at SuperRatings Day of Confrontation conference, Millin said the 5-10 year loan market cost banks more to hold financing beyond the traditional 3-5 year tenures.
Companies are over-reliant on short-term bank funding arrangements, while the local bond market has not matured in light of a decline in equities, according to Millin.
"How can it be possible that Australian investment-grade companies can't get five-year debt funding?" he said.
Millin said super funds could use floating notes and senior secured notes, that were traditionally used in leveraged buyout financing arrangements, to access the medium-term loan market.
A major super fund has defended its use of private markets in a submission to ASIC, asserting that appropriate governance and information-sharing practices are present in both public and private markets.
A member body representing some prominent wealth managers is concerned super funds’ dominance is sidelining small companies in capital markets.
Earlier this month, several Australian superannuation funds fell victim to credential stuffing attacks, which saw a small number of members lose more than $500,000.
Small- to medium-sized funds have become collateral damage in an "imperfect" model for super industry levies, a financial institution has said.