Australia's Future Fund May Buy Stakes in Companies, Age Says

By Madelene Pearson

Sept. 21 (Bloomberg) -- The Australian Government's A$64 billion ($53.4 billion) Future Fund is studying buying stakes in companies and discounted shares amid chaos in global financial markets, the Age newspaper said, without citing anyone.

The Melbourne-based fund, set up to cover the cost of public servants' retirement benefits, is studying a range of private equity deals under which it would buy slices of companies whose shares are not traded on the Australian stock exchange, the newspaper said. It is also looking to invest in shares and infrastructure deals, the report said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Madelene Pearson in Melbourne on mpearson1@bloomberg.net