This week, I added John Lim, CEO of ARA Asset Management into my “List of Admired People”.
I first came to know about ARA Asset Management Ltd listed in SGX, when I invested in Suntec Reit last year.
While I heard and read positive things about ARA, I had never delved deeper
into this company until few days ago when I read ARA’s annual report.
While I heard and read positive things about ARA, I had never delved deeper
into this company until few days ago when I read ARA’s annual report.
ARA is an Asian real estate fund management company
focused on the management of REITs and private real estate funds. ARA currently
manages a diversified portfolio of REITs spanning the office/retail
(commercial), industrial/office, logistics and hospitality sectors. These
include Fortune REIT (dual-listed in SG and HK), Suntec REIT and Cache
Logistics Trust (listed in SG), Hui Xian REIT and Prosperity REIT (listed in HK)
and AmFIRST REIT (listed in M’sia) and two privately-held REITs in South Korea.
In addition, the Group manages several private funds investing in real estate
in Asia.
focused on the management of REITs and private real estate funds. ARA currently
manages a diversified portfolio of REITs spanning the office/retail
(commercial), industrial/office, logistics and hospitality sectors. These
include Fortune REIT (dual-listed in SG and HK), Suntec REIT and Cache
Logistics Trust (listed in SG), Hui Xian REIT and Prosperity REIT (listed in HK)
and AmFIRST REIT (listed in M’sia) and two privately-held REITs in South Korea.
In addition, the Group manages several private funds investing in real estate
in Asia.
Looking at ARA ten years track records below, it
is pretty obvious why it is undeniably one of the best in the business. ARA started from almost zero 10 years ago to S$1.5 billion in market cap
today. ARA was named as one of “Asia’s 200 Best Under A Billion” by Forbes Asia in 2010 and 2011.
is pretty obvious why it is undeniably one of the best in the business. ARA started from almost zero 10 years ago to S$1.5 billion in market cap
today. ARA was named as one of “Asia’s 200 Best Under A Billion” by Forbes Asia in 2010 and 2011.
Source: ARA Annual Report 2013
What catches my attention more, is not the company itself, but the man behind
the success story. He is John Lim, CEO of ARA. Lim left his salaried job at the age
of 45, invested S$700k of his own money while Hong Kong property
conglomerate Li Ka-Shing-backed Cheung Kong Holdings pour in $300,000 to start
ARA in 2002. Read more of John Lim here.
What I
like about John Lim
like about John Lim
- His self-made success having grown up from HDB-two room flat with parents
and 5 siblings worked
during all the school holidays when he was a student, doing odd jobs in
factories and such, just to earn pocket money. - His strong emphasis on integrity, hard
work and responsibility. - His engineering background going into
real estate by chance and excel in it. - His courage to leave his high paying job
at the age of 45 to pursue his entrepreneurial dream. - His never-say die attitude having needed
to overcome the SARs crisis, the same year he incorporated ARA. Lim triumphs
over the crisis with success in Asia first cross-border listing of ARA’s
Fortune Reit in Aug 2003. - His ability
to learn from the both Asian Financial Crisis and SARs Crisis and navigate the later crisis better. During Global Financial
Crisis, ARA grew its assets under management from S$12 billion to S$17 billion. - His many Firsts. First Asian Cross
Border Reit (Fortune Reit – 2003), First Commercial Reit (Suntec – 2004), First
Private Sector Reit on HKG (Prosperity Reit – 2005), First Renminbi Reit on HKG
(Hui Xian Reit – 2011). - His ability to rolled
out at least one new Reit or private fund every year since its inception. - His recipe for success: Passion, People
and Partners. - His give back to society via Lim Hoon
Foundation to support education in Singapore - Albeit not
having to worry about money anymore, he continues to work hard
and remains very hands-on in the business, and feels a great sense of
responsibility towards his investors, shareholders and staff – people who have worked
for him for years, people who believe in him and people who invest with him - He is still the same John Lim, he proclaimed.
Do not be Arrogant and Do not Give Up
“In every career cycle there are ups and
downs. When you are at the top, don’t be too arrogant. When at your low point,
don’t give up. I never gave up. That’s my simple philosophy,” – John Lim.
downs. When you are at the top, don’t be too arrogant. When at your low point,
don’t give up. I never gave up. That’s my simple philosophy,” – John Lim.
Passion, Success & Sacrifice
What drives the self-described workaholic?
“Passion,” he answers definitively. “But behind the passion and
success is sacrifice. You especially sacrifice time spent with the family. At
least with passion, you will find that all this blood, sweat and tears are
worth it.” – John Lim.
“Passion,” he answers definitively. “But behind the passion and
success is sacrifice. You especially sacrifice time spent with the family. At
least with passion, you will find that all this blood, sweat and tears are
worth it.”
Be yourself
Yet for all of Lim’s material achievement – he is
one of Singapore’s 40 Wealthiest according to Forbes – he has this to say: “I still
go to Jalan Tua Kong for bak chor mee or Tiong Bahru Market for kway
chap. Life doesn’t change. Why should it?” – John Lim.
one of Singapore’s 40 Wealthiest according to Forbes – he has this to say: “I still
go to Jalan Tua Kong for bak chor mee or Tiong Bahru Market for kway
chap. Life doesn’t change. Why should it?”
Rolf’s View
It is without a question that I cannot hold a candle to John Lim and
also never dream of being as successful as him. Yet, we do share some very very small similarity at the least.
also never dream of being as successful as him. Yet, we do share some very very small similarity at the least.
I also grew up in a two room HDB flat, have an engineering
degree but find success in sales and management, gone through GFC at important points of my
career and overcome it. Coincidentally we share the same family name
“Lim”.
degree but find success in sales and management, gone through GFC at important points of my
career and overcome it. Coincidentally we share the same family name
“Lim”.
John Lim is an inspiration to me. With his philosophy of integrity,
passion and hard work as benchmark, I will continue to search and work hard for
“my happiness” in life. In any case, I still have 10 years before I reach 45!
passion and hard work as benchmark, I will continue to search and work hard for
“my happiness” in life. In any case, I still have 10 years before I reach 45!
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