You can find original article here WealthManagement. Subscribe to our free daily WealthManagement newsletters. (Bloomberg) -- Charles Schwab Corp. agreed to buy Forge Global Holdings Inc., a marketplace for buying and selling shares of private companies, for about $660 million. Under the terms of the transaction, Schwab will acquire all of Forge’s shares for $45 apiece, according a statement Thursday. That’s about 72% more than the closing price on Wednesday. The deal would be the first for Schwab under ...

Core Insights - Morgan Stanley has signed an agreement to acquire EquityZen, a platform specializing in private share transactions, with undisclosed financial terms [1] - The acquisition aims to enhance Morgan Stanley's service offerings for private companies and their stakeholders, including cap table management and liquidity events [2][5] Company Overview - EquityZen, launched in 2013, connects retail investors with shares in private companies and has over 800,000 registered users [2] - The platform has processed more than 49,000 transactions across over 450 firms and is based in New York with approximately 50 employees [2] Strategic Intent - The acquisition is intended to provide new liquidity options for participants in the Morgan Stanley at Work program and increase access to private shares for wealth management clients [4] - EquityZen's CEO emphasized that the partnership is about scaling and reaching more investors, aligning with the mission to bring private markets to the public [3] Market Context - The integration of EquityZen's model is expected to give private companies more control over the management and timing of their shares trading [3] - Morgan Stanley's Wealth Management head noted that the acquisition addresses client needs as companies remain private longer, providing seamless liquidity solutions for employees and early investors [5] Future Developments - The acquisition is anticipated to be finalized in early 2026, pending regulatory clearance and customary closing conditions [4] - Morgan Stanley is also involved in arranging a risk transfer linked to a $6 billion portfolio of loans to private market funds, which could involve around $750 million [6]