Early Life
Lim Chap Huat, the son of a rickshaw driver, started his entrepreneurial journey at the age of 22. In 1976, he co-founded Soilbuild as a construction company with two partners, using savings of $4,000. Lim supplemented his income by teaching math part-time while attending school. He studied civil engineering at a polytechnic.
Rise to Success
Lim's career evolved from construction to property development in 1981, addressing the challenges of late payments. He expanded Soilbuild Group into property development and set up a REIT. In 2021, Lim, along with Blackstone Real Estate, privatized Soilbuild Business Space REIT, delisting it from the Singapore stock exchange. In 2024, Lim and Blackstone sold their office and industrial properties in Singapore to Warburg Pincus and Lendlease for $1.2 billion. Lim's company diversified into building business parks and industrial buildings, switching largely to these projects.
Key Business Strategies
Lim focused on long-term goals and oversaw all facets of Soilbuild's operations and projects to ensure these were met. He has been instrumental in shaping Soilbuild's growth, serving as Group Managing Director and then Executive Chairman. His strategy included diversification into business parks and industrial buildings.
Philanthropy
Lim has been actively involved in community service for over 15 years, focusing on the poor and needy, especially students. He serves as the Chairman of the Chong Pang Community Club Management Committee.