Five of the biggest commercial property transactions to offshore buyers

Although we often hear about the involvement of foreign investors in our residential markets, they also play a substantial role in our commercial property sector.

Here are five commercial property investments from offshore buyers that have made a big impact on our local markets.

1. Leighton Headquarters, 177-199 Pacific Highway, North Sydney
   
   Price: $413.19 million
   Buyer: Suntec REIT
   
   The Singapore based Suntec Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) purchased the 30 storey, 40,000 square metre Leighton Headquarters tower late last year. However, Leighton Properties retains the lease on 76% of the office space. Suntec REIT was listed on the Singaporean stock exchange in 2004.
   
   
2. ATO Tower, 747 Collins Street, Melbourne
   
   Price: $279 million
   Buyer: CIMB TrustCapital Advisors Singapore
   
   CIMB TrustCapital Advisors Singapore spent $279 million on the ATO Tower in Lang Walker's Collins Square Project in Docklands. The ATO Tower is the central feature of the Collins Square precinct, valued at $1.5 billion.
   
   CIMB TrustCapital Advisors Singapore is a joint venture between CIMB, a Malaysian investment bank, and Trustcapital Advisors Singapore. The venture's initial fund, Australian Office Fund No. 1 (AOF1), centres around commercial office investments in Sydney and Melbourne, with Canberra and Brisbane as secondary markets.
   
   
3. 179 Turbot Street, Brisbane
   
   Price: $172 million
   Buyer: Kumpulan Wang Persaraan
   
   Kumpulan Wang Persaraan, Malaysia's second largest pension fund, purchased the Brisbane office tower at 179 Turbot Street late last year. The fund is also an investor in the CIMB TrustCapital Advisors Singapore managed AOF1, the vehicle used to purchase Melbourne's ATO Tower.
   
   
4. Ausgrid building, 570 George Street, Sydney
   
   Price: $151.8 million
   Buyer: Far East Organisation
   
   The Ng family's Far East Organisation, Singapore's largest private property developer, bought the Ausgrid building earlier this year. The developer has spent more than $700 million on Australian property. Last year, Philip Ng purchased Yamba in Pittwater for $7 million. The Ngs are Singapore's richest family. 
   
   
5. 277 Elizabeth Street, Sydney
   
   Price: $143 million
   Buyer: Far East Organisation
   
   After purchasing the 277 Elizabeth Street office complex, Far East Organisation is reportedly planning a luxury apartment redevelopment on the site. Other Australian acquisitions include Bob Ell's Clocktower Square in Sydney's Rocks district, and two Park Street buildings for $127 million. The Ng brothers, who inherited the development company from their father, are valued at $10 billion, according to Forbes.