Traditional merits of Close Brothers

Not so long ago, Close Brothers - one of the last remaining traditional British merchant banks - looked an uninspiring prospect. It had acquired a reputation for being excessively cautious and producing relatively low growth - hardly ideal characteristics in the boom before 2008's financial meltdown. In today's more austere times, however, Close's cautious reputation isn't such a drawback. Moreover, Close appears to have emerged from the financial crisis in decent health.