GIC has again backed ESR Australia in the launch of its third iteration of the ESR Australia Logistics Partnership (EALP) series, which has raised A$600m (€407m).

Similar to EALP I and EALP II, the latest fund will focus on developing industrial logistics assets along the Eastern Seaboard, primarily in NSW and Victoria.

Philip Pearce, ESR Australia CEO told Âé¶¹Ó³»­ Real Assets that a number of assets had been identified and were under due diligence for the new fund.

The first two funds will have assets totalling more than A$3bn when their development projects are fully built out, said Pearce.

EALP III is likely to have assets under management on completion of around A$1.4bn when fully built out.

ESR will have a cornerstone investment of around 10% in the latest fund. The funds are open-ended, but they have a liquidity window in the seventh year.

Commenting on the industrial real estate sector’s outlook, Pearce said: “It is better than some other asset classes. Obviously, it depends on how hard the Reserve Bank goes [on interest rate hikes].

“Land is constrained in the major markets, and demand has remained strong. In the last few months, rents have been growing at mid-20s%. “We have never seen a market like this before.

“We build our warehouses on spec and they are full on completion. The vacancy in Sydney is 0.3%�

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