History1981 to 1990Klaus W. Bender establishes ACRON's head office in Düsseldorf, Germany, in 1981. ACRON begins doing business in the United States in 1988 with the launch of its first private placement. The Swiss branch in Zurich opens in the same year. 1991 to 2000After opening of the U.S. branch in Dallas, Texas, in 1991, investments in the tenth investment company are placed privately as early as 1993. The first public offering in the United States follows in 1997. The company's activities in Switzerland receive a boost in 1997 after amendment of the Lex Koller law which allows non-Swiss citizens to invest in commercial real estate. The 20th U.S. investment is completed in 1999. Due to the steady growth in U.S. activities, ACRON (USA) L.P. and ACRON U.S. Management, Inc. are formed in 1999. Greg W. Wilson, who has been involved in the real estate business since 1986, becomes President of ACRON (USA) L.P. and ACRON U.S. Management, Inc., in 1998. ACRON AG is founded in 1999 and takes over the activities of ACRON's office in Zurich, which was established in 1988. The first Swiss investment company, ACRON HELVETIA I, is founded in Zurich in 2000. Kai Bender, the oldest son of the company's founder, joins ACRON in 2000. 2001 to 2010In 2002, Peer Bender joins ACRON on the operations side. ACRON makes its 30th investment in the United States in 2006. The Reserve at Westchase in the attractive market of Houston, Texas, opens its doors as the first investment acquired in Houston. In 2006, the ACRON Group marks 25 years of doing business in Germany. In the United States, ACRON sells the Lincoln II supermarket in Lincoln, Nebraska, as of December 31, 2007, which generated an average return of 6 percent per year. In 2008 the President of ACRON (USA) L.P., Greg W. Wilson, celebrates his 10th year with ACRON. In the first quarter of 2008, the ACRON Group liquidates its U.S.-based investment ACRON Lawrence L.P. and sells the supermarket, which generated an average return of 12.7 percent per year. In 2009 ACRON HELVETIA I, II and III shares are listed on the BX Berne eXchange stock exchange in Bern, Switzerland. The merger between ACRON Holding AG, Zurich and ACRON AG, Zurich takes place in 2010. Thus, Swiss based ACRON AG, Zurich becomes the parent company of the ACRON Group. 2011 to 2013In 2011 ACRON celebrates its 30th anniversary. Establishment of ACRON Lux Invest S.à r.l. in 2012: Foundation for the initiation of international real estate investments according to Luxembourgian company structures. In 2011 ACRON purchases the Class A office property 10 United Nations Plaza in San Francisco, CA. Full placement of the ACRON Berlin Brandenburg International Airporthotel (ABBIA) AG. Investment property is the Four-Star Superior Steigenberger Hotel at the new BER airport. ACRON is responsible for the asset- and property management. ACRON do Brasil (ACRON do Brasil Assessoria de Negocios e Financas Limitada), headquartered in São Paulo, starts operations in Brazil. The company launches promising real estate investments for international investors. Acquisition of the Wien Westbahnhof /A3 property on October 31, 2012. This is a mixed-use commercial property consisting of hotel, office, and retail space in BahnhofCity Wien West, an absolute prime location in Vienna, Austria. In early November, ACRON HELVETIA X Immobilien AG acquires the four-star Superior Radisson Blu Hotel + Casino in St. Gallen, Switzerland. Sale of office property of ACRON Reserve at Westchase L.P. as of December 2012. Calculated over a six-year investment period (holding period) investors of ACRON Reserve at Westchase L.P. realized an average return of 6.1 percent annually (pre-tax IRR). Sale of office property held by the US investment company ACRON Boston Place L.P. as of December 2012. Following the liquidation of the fund assets, the fund generated an average return of 8.5 percent annually (pre-tax IRR), calculated over a sixteen-year investment period (holding period).
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