The CEFC today announced its first pure play investment in the industrial property sector, a $50 million equity investment in one of Australia's largest industrial and logistics funds, Charter Hall Prime Industrial Fund (CPIF).
The $5.5 billion CPIF is one of Australia's largest industrial and logistics funds, with 75 assets across Australia, including warehouses, industrial estates and distribution centres.
CEFC CEO Ian Learmonth said: "Working with an industry leader like Charter Hall gives us the opportunity to use our capital to help transform the industrial property sector. We can drive sustainability measures across an extensive portfolio of assets, as well as positively influence the sustainability profile of a diverse range of large tenants.
"With long-term industrial tenants looking for more sustainable property to help meet their ESG targets, the industrial property sector provides important opportunities to further decarbonise the economy.
"This investment will also lead to the construction of new assets that make use of the latest in sustainable design and materials, potentially driving uptake of materials identified in the Federal Government's Technology Investment Roadmap such as green steel, aluminium and cement, and delivering long term benefits to Australia's emissions profile."
The CPIF will consider several initiatives that go beyond the scope of the emissions target by looking to influence tenant and supply-chain emissions including:
- looking at optimised solutions in the use of solar PV panels across the 2 million sqm of roof space in its portfolio, as well its potential to be converted into a renewable energy resource to supply clean energy and grid services
- opportunities to deliver carbon neutral developments whilst also targeting a 5 Star Green Star Design and As Built rating for the $900 million strong CPIF development pipeline of projects near major infrastructure roads, rail and ports
- working with tenants to improve their sustainability outcomes and reduce energy consumption
- the role of embedded networks, batteries, as well as waste diversion strategies
Charter Hall Chief Investment Officer Sean McMahon said the CEFC investment offered the CPIF an unprecedented opportunity to implement innovative sustainability solutions across its industrial and logistics assets.
"We are delighted to welcome the CEFC as an investor in our flagship industrial fund," Mr McMahon said.
The CPIF will work with the CEFC to identify demonstration projects to showcase exemplar energy efficiency solutions, clean energy enabling activities as well as carbon neutral developments.
Charter Hall Chief Experience Officer Natalie Devlin added: "The CEFC is playing a key role in supporting the property industry in the delivery of innovative technologies that improve the energy profile of Australia's built environment. The CEFC's purpose is aligned with Charter Hall and CPIF's sustainability strategies, which have set significant long-term emissions reduction targets for our property assets and ultimately future-proof the performance of our investments for all stakeholders."
About the CEFC
The CEFC has a unique role to increase investment in Australia's transition to lower emissions. With the backing of the Australian Government, we invest to lead the market, operating with commercial rigour to address some of Australia's toughest emissions challenges - in agriculture, energy generation and storage, infrastructure, property, transport and waste. We're also proud to back Australia's cleantech entrepreneurs through the Clean Energy Innovation Fund, and invest in the development of Australia's hydrogen potential through the Advancing Hydrogen Fund. With $10 billion to invest on behalf of the Australian Government, we work to deliver a positive return for taxpayers across our portfolio.
About Charter Hall Group
CPIF is managed by Charter Hall Group (ASX:CHC). With over 29 years' experience in property investment and funds management, we're one of Australia's leading fully integrated property groups. We use our property expertise to access, deploy, manage and invest equity across our core sectors - office, retail, industrial and social infrastructure. Operating with prudence, we've carefully curated a $40 billion diverse portfolio of over 1,100 high quality, long leased properties. Partnership and financial discipline are at the heart of our approach. Acting in the best interest of customers and communities, we combine insight and inventiveness to unlock hidden value.
