Chris Cheah, Executive Chairman of TrustCapital, a leading private equity real estate firm headquartered in Singapore and widely recognised for its deep expertise in Australian real estate.
Since its inception 17 years ago, TrustCapital has completed more than A$4 billion of transactions in Australia, and was notably the most prolific Asian investor in the Australian office sector between 2011 and 2017.
Its Australian Office Fund 1, established in 2010, and Australian Office Fund 2, established in 2013, achieved IRRs of 11% and 24% respectively upon exit in 2017.
In 2022, TrustCapital completed a landmark Purpose-Built Student Accommodation transaction, involving a sovereign wealth fund acquiring a 49% stake in an Australian portfolio valued at A$1.1 billion, which was successfully exited in 2024 at an IRR of 35%.
More recently, TrustCapital launched its Australian Office Fund 3, targeting to raise A$500 million, to invest up to A$1 billion. It has already acquired its first asset, 750 Collins Street, Melbourne for A$383 million.
TrustCapital’s investor base includes sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, insurance companies, listed corporates and private funds, underscoring the institutional confidence in its strategy and execution.
Prior to TrustCapital, Chris was with ANZ Bank, where he spent 16 years and held the role of Head of Property Asia. During his tenure, he was instrumental in establishing ANZ as the leading bank financing and advising major Asian investors into Australian real estate.
Chris holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Queensland, is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, and is widely regarded as one of the most experienced Asia-based experts in Australian real estate investment.