The company, a division of the Orion Group, is a focused property services business that has successfully managed the Orion Group’s commercial property portfolio since 2003.

OFM was initially established to provide its clients in the Orion Group with a self-sufficient, innovative, flexible and cost effective approach to a wide spectrum of facilities and asset management services, thereby enabling them to focus on core business activities.

“Our team recognises the importance of facility and asset management as a strategic partnership between OFM and the asset owner to ensure optimal functionality and asset appreciation,” says Johan Coetzee OFM CEO, who officially inaugurated the company last year.

“We supply a wide range of hard and soft facilities management services including infrastructural maintenance and repair, security and cleaning.  In terms of property asset management, we specialise in the full spectrum of disposals, acquisitions, brokering, rental and property administration and portfolio optimisation.  We currently manage all property aspects of 50  buildings with a total building area of 162 000m² that are situated on approximately 50 sites in South Africa.

“We aim to add value by assisting the asset owner to develop strategies to enhance asset performance and growth,” says Coetzee.  “We continually strive to increase net operating income and asset appreciation.”

OFM is mandated to further grow the investment portfolio of the Orion Group by 28% per annum and to expand internationally.  The company currently employs 150 staff in South Africa.  It is committed to socio-economic transformation and broad-based black economic empowerment and is currently seeking a BEE partner.

“We have achieved significant success within the Orion Group and have developed strong competencies and expertise.  We have recognised that facility and asset management is a rapidly growing sector and we are now focusing on contracts outside the group.  We expect to generate 50% of our income from this source by 2010,” Coetzee adds.

"Although we have an aggressive growth strategy, we are totally committed to meeting and exceeding all our clients’ expectations.  Our overall mandate and vision is to consistently enhance the strategic, business and bottom-line objectives of our clients.  Our cost effective, structured and efficient facility and asset management strategies are aligned with, and always responsive to, clients’ business plans and objectives.”

OFM has a strong client-focused approach, which ensures consistent and personalised service delivery.  They give considerable attention to detail and expense control and every effort is made to give maximum return for every rand spent.

The company also emphasises good communication and excellent change management and contingency planning.  “We are always mindful of the fact that strategy development and planning are ongoing processes.  Conditions change and the facility strategy must be able to adapt,” says Coetzee.  “As organizations change the way they work and become more profitable, it is increasingly important that the property portfolio responds to and reflects business needs.”