Global credit giant Carlyle will facilitate superannuation fund lending to Australian companies as banks reduce exposure to longer-term corporate loans due to regulation.

Carlyle’s head of European credit says the firm’s global credit unit will invest more than $1 billion in Australia under a joint venture with local credit investment firm amicaa, seizing an opportunity to mobilise big pools of super money as major banks struggle to make profits lending to unrated private companies due to Basel III capital rules.