Private equity funds are targeting KiwiSaver and other pension funds for capital by highlighting their success in the last 18 years.
Research by the New Zealand Venture Investment Fund shows that since 1994 investments made by Australasian private equity funds have more than doubled.
In that time, 13 funds have invested $1.36 billion into 92 unlisted New Zealand companies, returning $2.85 billion.
Deals ranged between $1 million - $200 million, with an average investment of $14 million.
Fund chief executive Francesca Banga said most KiwiSaver and pension funds have little or no interest in private equity funds.
She said it's time for a change and that the aim should be for institutional investors to hold 10% to 20% of their assets in private equity funds.
The New Zealand Private Equity and Venture Capital Association says it plans to provide the industry with more data about private equity.
