Close Brothers has a long and distinguished history, characterised by an innovative approach to financial services. William Brooks Close founded the business in 1878, initially providing farm mortgages in Iowa, and very quickly developed a pioneering approach financing the first railway in Alaska.
Almost a century later the company began a phase of significant expansion through the acquisition of a large number of high quality specialist businesses. Of note are the purchases of Winterflood Securities in 1993, and of Rea Brothers, which formed the basis of our current high net worth asset management and offshore businesses, in 1999. Meanwhile, today's Banking Division was built up via a series of smaller acquisitions and start-up businesses.
The company listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1984 and today ranks among the top 200 listed companies in the UK.
