Early Life
John Lim was born in Yeoju, Korea, and nearly died from tuberculosis as a child. He emigrated to the United States in 1966 with nothing. He later started several businesses including a real estate business.
Rise to Success
John Lim co-founded ARA Asset Management in 2002 with the backing of Li Ka-shing. ARA Asset Management focused on the management of REITs and private real estate funds. In 2016, Lim, along with U.S. private equity firm Warburg Pincus and China's AVIC Trust, took ARA private from the Singapore Stock Exchange in a $1.3 billion buyout. In 2022, ESR Group acquired ARA for $5.2 billion in stock and cash. Lim is now the chairman of JL Family Office.
Key Business Strategies
Lim's key strategies involved partnering with key figures like Li Ka-shing and capitalizing on opportunities in the Asian real estate market. He focused on building a strong management team and expanding ARA's assets under management. Lim also invested in the mid-market malls in China. He has a philosophy centered on partnership, people, and passion.
Philanthropy
John Lim and his son Andy Lim established the Lim Hoon Foundation, which provides scholarships to disadvantaged youths in Singapore. The foundation has granted over 1,600 bursaries totaling about $1 million to students. The foundation also donates to Singapore Management University (SMU), with a recent contribution of $3 million to set up the JLFO-LHF Scholarship.