3 November 2021
Always here for you and your clients
Despite lockdown restrictions easing, there is understandably significant variations in people’s comfort level with travelling, desire for in-person meetings and frequency of communications required.
We want to re-iterate that our team are always willing to work with you and your clients to ensure that business can continue whilst adapting to everyone’s unique situation.
Whether that involves the support you receive prior to any investment, your experience on application or progress updates on portfolios that we manage on your behalf.
If you have any questions or concerns, please get in touch with a member of the Stellar team today by calling 020 3195 3500 or emailing enquiries@stellar-am.com.
22 January 2021
Our CEO gives his review of 2020
As we are now a few weeks into the new year, I wanted to take this opportunity to reflect on the challenges and opportunities of the past year as well as look forward to what we have planned for 2021 and beyond.
When I look back on 2020, I don’t think we have had a busier year. It has been a testing time but one in which that I am certain we could never have achieved so much without the dedication and inspiration of the entire Stellar team.
Click the link below to read my review of 2020 in full.
Read Jonathan’s article5 November 2020
An update from our CEO as the UK re-enters lockdown
It is now 35 weeks since all staff left our office in London which was ahead of the national lockdown. We were fully prepared for its inevitability.
During this difficult time, we believe we have worked in a highly efficient and effective way and have continued business as usual. Our priorities are always centred on providing the best outcome for our clients. Whether that is the support you receive prior to any investment, the experience on application and then progress updates on your portfolios we manage.
We have recognised that communication has been vital during this time and have sought to increase the frequency of our communication wherever possible.
We have kept the office open and, as restrictions were lifted, we have welcomed small numbers of the company wherever possible. Our post is collected at least twice a week and is quickly and efficiently distributed to the appropriate team member.
Contacting us
We have introduced a digital contact system during lockdown to track all items of incoming correspondence howsoever received; phone, email, letter. We have response times tracked and met to ensure you receive the answers you were expecting in a timely manner.
Digital applications
We are accepting digital application forms for all our services to make it really easy for new investors to do business with us. If you need any help with accessing these documents, please contact enquiries@stellar-am.com or 020 3195 3500. We want to ensure that there is no need for additional face-to-face contact with us and your financial adviser to reduce any possibility of the virus spreading.
Adviser meetings
For financial advisers, our business development and adviser support teams are able to host digital meetings on any platform such as Zoom, Teams, Go to Meeting etc. The team is available from 8am to 6pm (Mon-Fri) and we have found these meetings extremely effective for both parties. Please do get in touch with your usual contact if you haven’t spoken to us for a while.
Investment management
We continue to believe that our philosophy of portfolio diversification has come to the fore in these difficult times. The nature of many of our physical assets have shown little correlation to the market uncertainties and with the exception of our hotels, our portfolios have performed well in lockdown.
We have continued to seek new opportunities and have also sought to dispose of those where we could generate significant profit for investors. Further details will be published on our website and directly to the relevant portfolio owners.
In the last quarter we have recruited our dedicated AiM portfolio management team as we seek to build on the strong profile we have created, particularly in the wrap platform market. We have opened an office in Liverpool to accommodate them and look forward to building a presence in the northern powerhouse region.
Our team
We are working well in these ‘new normal’ times and I thank every member of the Stellar team for their dedication and hard work. We don’t see a return to London any time soon, but I am not certain that is what anybody wants currently.
Open for business
As we enter a widespread lockdown once again, we want to assure you all that we remain open for business and here to help you in any way we can.
Our main telephone number is 020 3195 3500 and email address enquiries@stellar-am.com.
I hope you all continue to stay safe and well in these extraordinary times.
26 August 2020
An update from our CEO on H1 2020 investment performance
Jonathan Gain describes how our physical assets performed during the initial peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Click the link below to watch the rest of this interview series, which offers overviews of our forests and hotels performance so far this year as well the key takeaways our investment team have from the challenges of the past few months.
Watch our latest interviews17 June 2020
Sector review and performance update
Twelve weeks since measures were first introduced in the UK, lockdown restrictions continue to ease across the country. This has allowed for a number of our assets to re-open. Paulton’s Golf Centre is now running safe 3 and 4-ball rounds as well as its Toptracer driving range. Murrayshall is also open for golf through its courses and driving ranges.
Our joint venture with Homegrown Property Development to convert the former Barker Shoe factory in Northamptonshire continues to see considerable progress. Similarly, all of our residential and commercial property developments are back up and running, following strict social-distancing guidelines.
Despite announcements that the 4th July will the earliest point at which some of the hospitality industry could reopen to the general public, a number of our hotels continue to remain open to support key workers throughout this time.
Finally, over the month to close of business on 5 June 2020, our ESP AiM Portfolio Service gained 6.9%. Our benchmark index also improved, registering a 12.6% rise.
The market continued to appreciate strongly in May as it digested the overwhelming fiscal and monetary stimulus issued by Central Banks and the easing of the lockdown as viral transmission slowed.
If you would like any more information about our assets or how are services are continuing to operate in this time, please contact a member of the Stellar team on 020 3195 3500 or email us at enquiries@stellar-am.com.
12 May 2020
Lockdown restrictions ease and gradual re-opening
As you have probably seen or heard in the past few days, the government have announced plans which will begin a “return to normal” in the coming weeks. This strategy has brought about changes to a number of our assets.
Paultons Golf Centre re-opens for golf today with very limited access to other facilities. Murrayshall Golf Club remains closed for a further three weeks as Scotland is now working to a different timetable.
Our residential and commercial development sites at Great Oakley, Northampton, Haddenham and Troon will return to action this week and in the coming weeks.
At Shakespeare Court Care Home testing kits have finally arrived. The intention is to test all staff and residents weekly although this is subject to being supplied with sufficient kits.
From the entire Stellar team, we hope you are staying safe and are doing as well as could be expected in these uncertain times. If there is anything that we can do to help you, or if you have any further questions, please contact a member of the Stellar team on 020 3195 3500 or email us at enquiries@stellar-am.com.
18 May 2020
An update from Transact
After more than 6 weeks in lockdown, we hope that this update finds you safe and well.
While Transact continue to operate remotely, please note that their central switchboard, accessed by dialling (020) 7608 4900, is fully operational and their Client Service team phone lines are open.
Clients are receiving their Annual Statements this month, posted to their TOL Pickup Page and, where selected, sent by post.
Transact also ask that you ensure that they hold your clients’ email addresses and contact telephone numbers on TOL. This will help them to access new functionality, such as forgotten password, and help to deliver their service.
Thank you for your continued support in these challenging times.
20 March 2020
A Message from our CEO
Given the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus on our country, Jonathan Gain describes how Stellar is adapting to the rapidly evolving situation.
Find out moreHow the Coronavirus has impacted our Inheritance Tax Services
Stellar AiM Inheritance Tax and ISA Service
Our Stellar AiM IHT Service is invested across a well-diversified portfolio of 40 companies listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AiM). These portfolios are actively managed by an experienced team of AIM specialists.
These companies are established and profitable and we look for those with a sound business model and which are typically previously experienced times of crisis.
The companies in which we invest are at the larger end of those companies on AIM and we have minimal exposure to leisure and retail sectors and no exposure at all to the banking or oil and gas sectors.
We seek to take a medium-term view of at least three years and believe this is important to consider this as the situation develops in the coming days and weeks.
Markets do not like the uncertain environment in which we find ourselves and assets are priced accordingly. Today we have little or no clarity on the future path of the coronavirus other than those experiences in China where it started. In this regard we reasonably expect to see prices begin to normalise once the peak of the virus has passed.
Stellar Growth Inheritance Tax Service
Our Growth IHT Portfolio Service commits investors capital to a diverse range of asset backed businesses in the UK. The blend of businesses which we operate are typically less impacted directly by the wider market volatility we are seeing in the world at the moment. However, whilst there will inevitably be some difficult experiences for some of our businesses in the coming weeks and months, our overall optimism in the medium and long term is undiminished.
One example is our hotels which are currently experiencing very low occupancy levels. However, we are already in advanced discussions with the NHS to deploy these assets for the benefit of the wider community so that hospital beds can be released for those needing treatment for the virus. This shows the advantages of asset management and how, with an open mind, and a pro-active approach, we can continue to generate value for our investors. Click here to read more about how we have been proactive in ensuring our hotels remain open to support key workers during this time.
With our care homes we continue to follow government guidance and are now limiting access to the properties. In time this may affect our revenue streams. Click here to read more about the latest measures we have taken to preserve the health and wellbeing of residents and staff.
With our golf courses, the closure of our bars and restaurants will inevitably see a reduction in revenues although golfers were able to continue to play the courses whilst adhering to the safety guidelines for everyone’s protection.
Our other businesses such as forests, farms, renewable energy, bridging finance and property development so far are largely unaffected. We will continue to monitor this, in conjunction with our specialist management teams, on a daily basis.
We are confident that the diversified approach to our Stellar Growth IHT portfolio will limit exposures and continue to work hard at this difficult time. We also recognise the value of teamwork and the efforts of those employed in the businesses in which we invest and they have our upmost admiration, respect and full support.
Updates to our application process
Please see the updated application process opposite for new subscriptions to Stellar Income Inheritance Tax Service, Stellar Growth Inheritance Tax Service and Stellar Business Service in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic.
**Given the recent outbreak, scanned copies of applications are to be accepted during this period only, given they have been certified by a regulated person e.g. financial adviser.**
Key points to note:
- We are now accepting scanned applications.
- Please do not post anything to either Woodside directly or Stellar’s Registered Office: Kendal House, 1 Conduit Street, London.
- All applications must be emailed to applications@woodsidesecretaries.co.uk, copying in both enquiries@stellar-am.com and the client.
- This will be in place until further notice.
Here to help
As ever, if there is anything we can help with or any questions you have, then please get in touch with one of the team on 020 3907 6984 or email enquiries@stellar-am.com.