RealVantage appoints senior banker to strengthen investment oversight

Global real estate investment platform RealVantage, which operates as RV SG Pte. Ltd. in Singapore with a Capital Markets Services licence and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, names former Hong Kong senior banker Edmund Ho as newly-minted member of its investment committee.

“Direct real estate investing has traditionally been limited to ultra-high-net-worth investors. At RealVantage, we democratise access by offering curated opportunities previously reserved for institutions,” stated Keith Ong, co-founder and CEO of RealVantage. “Very few investment opportunities make the cut. Ho’s appointment, backed by his strong background in banking, will add to the scrutiny and validation of real estate debt opportunities before being offered on our platform,” added Keith. “With decades of leadership experience under his belt, Ho will be pivotal in driving deeper global industry insights and shaping strategic decisions as RealVantage continues on a path of accelerated growth across developed markets.”

Ho joins industry luminaries including Ng Beng Tiong, former deputy group CEO and group CEO of ARA Asset Management, Ang Wee Gee, previously CEO of Keppel Land, Anthony Ang Meng Huat, ex-CEO of Sasseur REIT, Fortune REIT and ARA’s flagship $1.3 billion Asia Dragon Fund, and Richard Tan Liat Chew having been chief financial officer for Suntec REIT, Sasseur REIT and ARA Private Funds.

Ho's career spans over 30 years in corporate and investment banking; specialising in capital markets and real estate finance across Asia. Throughout his tenure at Standard Chartered Bank, Citibank, JPMorgan and Jardine Fleming, Ho cultivated a deep understanding of the capital markets and real estate finance landscape; and demonstrated strategic leadership in driving growth and innovation within the sector.

Ho’s experience underscores his ability to navigate complex financial transactions, deliver tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of his clients, and identify risks and mitigants. “It is exciting to be appointed onto RealVantage’s investment committee. RealVantage offers individual, professional investors access to direct real estate investment opportunities across different regions that are not normally available to them,” said Ho. “The track record of RealVantage speaks for itself. The scrutiny that the platform has deployed across all of its investment opportunities have worked well. RealVantage continues to provide a very unique proposition to its members; particularly targeting the young and affluent who want to make their own investment decisions and who like to see what they are putting their money into.”

According to Ho, “Evaluation of investments needs to be both returns- and risk-driven. RealVantage’s investors enjoy making their own investment decisions based on their returns aspirations, risk appetites and diversification needs. As an investment committee member, I will contribute to the evaluation process with my experience in real estate financing; particularly in assessing and managing risk.”

As former regional head of real estate at Standard Chartered Bank from 2009 to 2023, Ho played a key role in steering strategic initiatives, delivering innovative financial solutions that addressed the evolving needs of businesses in Asia. Ho has worked with a diverse portfolio of local and international clients, including property developers, private equity sponsors and sovereign funds. His experience encompasses equity and debt capital markets, credit/risk management, mergers and acquisitions, leveraged and structured finance; and the provision of loans.

In addition to his professional achievements, Ho was actively involved in the Asia Pacific Real Estate Association (APREA) and the REIT Committee of the Hong Kong Securities & Futures Commission (HKSFC). Ho, a CFA Charterholder, holds an MBA from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and a Bachelor's degree in Engineering Physics from Queen's University in Canada.

Re-disseminated by  Wealth and Society