Ex-Close Brothers employees reunite with Stellar launch

Four former senior Close Brothers employees have joined forces to establish a specialist property in...

Four former senior Close Brothers employees have joined forces to establish a specialist property investment company.

Stellar Asset Management will be headed by former Close investment director Jonathan Gain.

The other founders are Craig Reader as chairman, Stephen McKeever as property director and Gordon Pugh as sales and marketing director.

Stellar's first fund, to launch in the coming weeks under McKeever, will focus on emerging European real estate, targeting returns of 15% each year.

Stellar has been created to provide investments that exploit diverse and interesting markets.

"The Stellar directors have experience of developing and launching products that invest in both the commercial and residential property sectors," he added.

"We want to offer investors the chance to diversify their portfolios with opportunities where significant gains can still be generated."