From a standing start in 1994, Rican Securities has discreetly built up a portfolio of assets valued in the tens of millions. Whilst early profits were derived from property trading, it was our diligent, analytical and professional approach that allowed us to grow through making what we believe were solid common sense business decisions.

Multiple transactions included acquiring properties such as the Japanese Consulate in Edinburgh and the Canadian Pacific Headquarters in Trafalgar Square, as well as becoming the freeholder and largest individual owner on a 3.5 acre estate in London’s Docklands. Similarly, previous tenants have included household names such as Post Office, The Metropolitan Police, DVLA, Legal & General, Bass (now Diageo), TSB, Boots and many others.

As a small tight-knit team, we take what we do very seriously and are resolutely single-minded in adding value. Now years on from our initial incorporation, it’s fair to say our business philosophy has changed slightly – and whilst it will always be one of continued growth and measured risk – we now couple this with the overriding desire to ensure the preservation of capital. This more conservative trading approach post the 2008 financial crash laid the foundation for our foray into the world of collateralized short term property lending. As such, we have since completed and been repaid on over 1,000 loans and deployed cash reserves aggregating in excess of £100m.

Whilst some of our business philosophy has altered, what has not is our determination to behave honourably, to do what we say we’re going to do and to honour our commitments. We also still research all potential projects quickly and thoroughly before making decisions; in this way, we ensure we maintain our track record of never having agreed a deal and not proceeded.

In 1991, and after a number of years working within the West End commercial property agency market, notably with Conrad Ritblat & Co (now Colliers International) Andrew Klein was invited to become Group Property Manager at Owners Abroad Group plc (now First Choice Holidays plc) where his father, Howard, was then Chairman and Group Chief Executive, with the specific brief to rationalise the Group’s many UK operational premises.

After successfully achieving this and later spearheading the relocation of the Group’s Headquarters from Central London to Gatwick where the Group’s Airline, Air 2000, was already located, Andrew then left Owners Abroad to set up Rican Securities Limited with his father’s backing.

Howard Klein qualified as a Solicitor in 1963 and spent some 16 years in private practice, principally in the field of property law and conveyancing, before joining Owners Abroad in its formative stage in 1979 as a Director and Company Secretary. He was engaged in taking the company from a small private company to a Public Company, initially on the Unlisted Securities Market, and later to a Full Listing on the London Stock Exchange, as well as spearheading the formation of the Group’s Airline, Air 2000.

In 1987, Howard was appointed Group Chairman and Chief Executive and during his tenure the Group grew to become the second largest holiday company in the UK (employing some 3,000 staff with annual revenue approaching £1bn) as well as one of the largest in Europe. In conjunction with Westdeutsche Landesbank, then owners of Thomas Cook, Howard also formulated a Strategic Alliance with Thomas Cook and the German Charter Airline LTU and was appointed a Global Main Board Director of Thomas Cook. Before leaving the Group in 1993, Howard successfully defended a contested bid for the Company from Airtours (later MyTravel plc – ironically subsequently acquired by Thomas Cook).

After leaving Owners Abroad, Howard’s decision to join Andrew at the newly created Rican Securities was prompted by his desire to remain active in business and to bring to the company his general business experience as well as his earlier property experience gained from his years as a practising solicitor.