ION launches the Premier Development Fund
Property developer ION launches the Premier Development Fund
“Our ambitions for growth are taking shape with a new name and a new development fund”
Property developer and investor Hecta has a new name: ION. The launch of the Waregem company’s new name marks the beginning of a new phase of growth. “We’ve drawn up an ambitious strategy for growth, and our new Premier Development Fund plays a crucial role in it,” explain ION’s managing partners Davy Demuynck and Kristof Vanfleteren. “Our company and our workforce are ready for this major challenge. The new name reflects this for the general public.”
In 2011, property specialists Davy Demuynck and Kristof Vanfleteren founded the company Hecta with the backing of two experienced businessmen, founding partners Paul Thiers and Jan Ruysschaert: “We’ve always aimed to specialise in complex mixed projects involving both residential and commercial properties. ION now has all the experience we need for project development, whether private or PPP: we can rely on a team of ten people with the necessary technical, legal, commercial, financial and fiscal knowledge.”
Hecta renamed ION
“The company has grown a great deal over the last few years. To continue this success, we’ve expanded our team and now we’re changing our name to ION. It’s a Greek word meaning going. We chose it because we are continually evolving,” explains Mr Demuynck. “There’s no change to our pledge to our clients and investors: highly professional service delivery for every property project.”
In a little over three years, ION has built up an extensive portfolio, today comprising fifteen property projects all over Belgium. The Village, for example, a project in the city of Leuven, combines construction of the new headquarters of the organisation Davidsfonds and 250 student rooms. In the city of Turnhout, ION is redeveloping a whole district close to the station and the new marina as part of an innovative urban PPP project. This autumn will see the beginning of work on Beau de l’Air, a project comprising 55 assisted living homes. This new build, covering an area of 6.000 m², involves investment of more than 20 million EUR.
More larger projects
ION is confident in the future, and remains ambitious. Mr Vanfleteren: “We want to add more larger projects to our portfolio. We recently established the Premier Development Fund to achieve this goal. The fund has a dual aim: on the one hand we want to offer our investors customised solutions, and on the other we’re determined to develop sustainable projects that provide substantial added value for end users.”
Sustainability is ION’s watchword. It places great emphasis on buildings’ architecture and environmental features in every one of its projects. “Buildings that blend into their surroundings represent direct, major added value for developments in urban areas,” add the managing partners, “What’s more, the environmental footprint of our buildings is identified right from the start. By using the latest technologies we can limit total costs for future users and environmental impact. This is the added value we want to create for all those involved.”
For more information please contact Davy Demuynck or Kristof Vanfleteren, ION, +32 056‑62 50 50, [email protected] or [email protected].