Who we serve
From building a business to building a legacy
For founders whose wealth is bound up in what they have created, and who are deciding what comes next.
Most of an entrepreneur's net worth sits inside a single illiquid asset: the company itself. That concentration is the source of the upside, and also of the risk. Whether a sale is years away, in active negotiation, or recently completed, the questions are the same — how to protect what has been built, how to convert it into lasting financial security, and how to think about purpose once the daily demands of running a business fall away.
Riesant advises founders across the full arc of a liquidity event. We begin well before any transaction, so that ownership structures, personal liquidity and family arrangements are considered with care rather than under deadline. After an exit, our work turns to translating a one-off windfall into a diversified, durable portfolio and a clear plan for the years ahead. Our advice is suitability-led under MiFID II, and we coordinate closely with your corporate, legal and tax advisers without seeking to replace them.
What we hear
The questions that bring clients to us
Wealth concentrated in one asset
A single private holding represents both your life's work and an undiversified, illiquid exposure that is difficult to hedge or unwind.
Getting the pre-sale planning right
Decisions on shareholding structure, personal liquidity and estate arrangements are far easier to make calmly before a transaction than in the weeks around completion.
What to do with the proceeds
Moving from one large, familiar asset to a portfolio of liquid investments raises real questions about diversification, time horizon and how much risk is now appropriate.
Identity and purpose after an exit
Many founders find the years after a sale bring a search for new direction, whether that means re-investing, supporting other businesses, or formalising their philanthropy.
“The hard part was not the sale. It was knowing what the money was for once the company was no longer mine.”
Relevant services
How we would help
Wealth Management
A single relationship, two routes to managing your capital: a discretionary mandate run by our investment committee, or advisory support where the decisions remain yours.
Lending & Credit
Considered credit for established clients, structured around the balance sheet you already hold and the timing of the decisions in front of you.
Investment Management & Markets
Open-architecture access to global markets, supported by our own research and executed by a dedicated dealing desk.
Wealth & Estate Planning
The hardest part of wealth is rarely making it. It is arranging for it to pass to the next generation, and to the causes you care about, without friction, dispute or unnecessary cost.
Questions, answered
Should we talk before a sale, or wait until it completes?
Before, ideally. The most valuable planning — on ownership structure, personal liquidity, family arrangements and estate matters — is far easier to do calmly in advance than in the pressured weeks around completion. We are glad to engage at any stage, but earlier conversations tend to produce better outcomes.
Can I borrow against my shareholding rather than selling it?
In many cases, yes. Lombard facilities allow you to raise liquidity against listed securities, and against private shares where they meet our eligibility criteria, so you can meet a need without crystallising a sale or disturbing a long-term position. Terms depend on the asset and your circumstances; current rates are set out on our rates page.
Several founders relocate to Malta after an exit. Can you help with that?
We can. As a Maltese private bank, we are well placed to support founders who choose to base themselves here, coordinating banking, lending and investment arrangements locally. Residency, immigration and the tax treatment of a relocation sit with your specialist advisers, with whom we are happy to work alongside.
Begin a conversation
Let us understand your circumstances
A relationship manager will be in touch to arrange an introduction, discreetly and without obligation.