Australian asset manager IFM Investors, owned by major Australian pension funds, is establishing a Singapore office in March 2026. This move aligns with Singapore's efforts to strengthen its position in the burgeoning $1.7 trillion private credit market and follows IFM's partnership with the Australian government to explore investment opportunities in Southeast Asia. Singapore is attracting a growing number of international asset managers, including Sixth Street Partners, Global Infrastructure Partners LP (BlackRock Inc.'s private markets unit), and Pentagreen Capital, who have recently set up private credit teams in the city-state.
The expansion is supported by the Monetary Authority of Singapore's $6 billion private markets program, which aims to attract private equity, infrastructure, and private credit managers. The MAS has also allocated $400 million to develop local financial talent. IFM Investors managed $172.6 billion on behalf of 814 institutional investors as of October 31, 2025. The firm was founded in 1990 as Industry Funds Management and was renamed IFM Investors in 2013, with its ownership comprising 16 pension funds.
Key hires for the Singapore office include Hong Ern Lee, who will join as a director to source credit deals across the region. Lee previously served as the origination lead for Asia credit at Ascertis Credit. Additionally, Hiran Wanigasekera, executive director and co-head of Asia-Pacific diversified credit for debt investments, may relocate from Australia to Singapore. IFM Investors confirmed plans for the new office but declined to provide specific hiring details. The firm believes APAC private credit offers compelling opportunities due to a structural mismatch in capital supply and demand, strong economic fundamentals, and potential for robust risk-adjusted returns.
