riscatto

Riscatto is an Italian term that denotes redemption or buyback, the act of reclaiming possession or obtaining freedom through a payment. It is used in several contexts, ranging from law and property to finance and pension systems. The word derives from riscuotere, meaning to collect or redeem.

In finance, riscatto refers to the redemption of financial instruments. For bonds and loans, it is the repayment of principal at maturity or on a call date, often described as the redemption price (prezzo di riscatto). In investment funds or banks, the term can also denote the withdrawal or redemption of invested units or deposits by the holder.

In real estate and property law, the droit de riscat or “right of redemption” allows a seller or a former owner to reacquire a property within a defined period by paying a stipulated amount. Historically, riscatto clauses enabled staged repurchases in certain markets or circumstances, and modern contracts may preserve or limit such rights.

In the Italian pension system, riscatto contributes to the calculation of pension rights. Riscatto contributivo enables individuals to purchase additional years of contributions to count toward retirement. Variants include riscatto laurea (crediting years spent studying) and other periods of non-work activity, upon payment to the system.

Common uses of the term also appear in civil and contractual language, where riscatto denotes the act of redeeming a debt, a pledge, or a restrictive condition through payment.

See also: redemption, right of redemption, bond redemption, pension contributions, riscatto contributivo.