REAL ESTATE - Composition Capital – the investment management firm set up by former MN Services real estate chief Erwin Stouthamer last year – is close to hiring an investment manager for its Composition Capital Europe fund.

The Dutch firm, which specialises in real estate fund of funds, is scouting investment managers for both due diligence and “proactive management of investments”. Likely candidates for the €60K post will have expertise in both macro- and real estate fundamentals.

Although the recruitment campaign is ongoing, Stouthamer said he was close to making an appointment.

He said: “It’s simple: we go out and hire when we need to. We’re expanding fast and we need to.”

Within 12 months he plans to add “a few more” to a seven-strong team spread across European and Asian offices.

The new appointment, when it comes, will mark an extended period of growth for Composition – and not just in Europe. In March Stouthamer opened an Asia regional office in Hong Kong to scout new investment opportunities.

Stouthamer set up Composition after quitting as head of international real estate for MN Services in January 2005. He took head of legal and fiscal affairs William Jan-Pelle with him.