Deal to propel strategic opportunities in the US, in Latin America, Europe and Asia
NEW YORK – Recognizing the opportunity to expand internationally, Merchant Investment Management has partnered with Brainvest Wealth Management, a $3 billion multi-shore firm offering wealth planning services and sophisticated, alternative investment solutions to complex, international families and entrepreneurs. Brainvest has accepted a durable, long-term, minority stake investment from Merchant, along with strategic engagement from Merchant’s deep bench of financial industry veterans.
Founded in 2003, Brainvest has led the way for nearly two decades with a wealth management offering and full-service family office experience tailored to the specialized needs of families who span continents, generations, and cultures. Brainvest offers institutional solutions for private clients from their offices in Geneva, Zurich, Miami, São Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro. In addition to its liquid and illiquid wealth offering, Brainvest also offers trust services for estate and family succession planning work.
Dany Roizman, Founding Partner of Brainvest, sees the business expanding across geography, client type, and value proposition. The strategic partnership with Merchant is a natural evolution as Brainvest brings its talent to the U.S. and Merchant, in turn brings its capabilities into the local markets of Brainvest to help drive broader international expansion.
“The DNA of Merchant fits very well with our team – their experience, overall approach to client engagement, and understanding of sophisticated alternative investments rings true with how we’ve built our firm,” Roizman said. “Their support will be invaluable as Brainvest establishes itself as an attractive, independent destination for bankers and wealth managers.”
The partnership culminates years of searching, as Brainvest sought to broaden its strategic reach and magnify its strength in sourcing and underwriting alternative opportunities such as private debt, private equity, real estate, hedge funds, and venture capital. Many of these capabilities are close to home for the Merchant team, most specifically Marc Spilker and Scott Prince, Merchant’s Executive Chairmen.
Spilker and Prince’s time prior to Merchant was spent at Goldman Sachs. Marc running the global wealth and asset management businesses, after which he was President of Apollo Global Management, and Prince ran Equity Trading and the Global Equity Derivatives business, and subsequently was a Partner at Eton Park. Both will draw on their experience of building and running international operations for the benefit of Brainvest.
“Over decades of working and building businesses globally, it’s great to partner with a team that truly understands the Merchant value proposition and is as excited as we are to expand into new regions and markets. Brainvest opens up a new lane of opportunity for Merchant and we look forward this next chapter of growth,” said Spilker.
Brainvest has tapped Managing Partner Alexander Gorra to lead strategic growth initiatives, supervise key client engagements and recruit top caliber advisors to the Brainvest family.
“We’ve become very close with the Merchant team, and we both see the path ahead not only in Latin America, the USA and Europe, but Asia as well,” Gorra said. “The Merchant team brings a new degree of expertise that enhances our capabilities to be a primary partner for sophisticated global clients and for the advisors and teams who serve them. Merchant will help us accelerate our organic and inorganic strategy deeper into existing and new markets.”
Fernando Gelman, Brainvest’s CEO, said, “The Merchant partnership will benefit our clients and stakeholders giving unparalleled access into the US market. Brainvest will have access to Merchant’s ecosystem of investment opportunities and be a primary destination for the most talented financial advisors while maintaining our independence. “
Tim Bello, Managing Partner at Merchant, stated, “We’ve always wanted to see Merchant touch down in Latin America and Europe. And now with our new family members at Brainvest, we’ve gotten there. This has been hard work given the distance, but with that the two management teams have become close friends and see the opportunity to become a real force together.”
About Brainvest
Brainvest, founded in 2003, is a full-service multi-family office and investment firm managing $3 billion USD in assets for families and entrepreneurs. Brainvest has a presence in the U.S., Switzerland and Brazil, serving both international and U.S. clients.
Brainvest provides global and independent solutions in areas including Investment Management (liquid and private assets), Succession Planning, Estate/Financial Planning, Consolidation Systems, Risk Management, and Tax and Offshore Entity Management. In addition, to meet our clients’ needs, Brainvest also provides concierge and family governance solutions to ensure a complete bespoke solution.
Though its ACM (Alternative Capital Management) division, Brainvest has invested significantly in private assets for over 12 years, managing over $1.5 billion USD in real estate, private credit and PE and VC investments. Brainvest has a dedicated private asset team on three continents to originate, structuring, manage and oversee with governance all investments.
About Merchant Investment Management, LLC
Merchant is a private partnership providing growth capital, management resources, strategic opportunities, and direction to independent financial services companies, particularly those focused on wealth and asset management. For additional information, please visit www.merchantim.com.
Media Contact
Ann Marie Gorden
Gregory FCA for Merchant
merchant@gregoryfca.com
267.249.7765