Super fund investment chiefs say they are still “unquestionably open” to privatising some of the listed companies they hold if the right opportunity presented itself and that they are not worried about the concentration risk of a shrinking ASX.

It comes amid predictions that the value of Australia’s sharemarket is on track to contract this year for the first time since 2005, to the tune of $43 billion, because of an uptick in takeovers and a two-year drought of new floats.