Deutsche Borse partners with Forge to expand global private market platform into Europe

The partnership will see a new digital platform established for private growth company shares, driven by investor demand and interest in liquidity solutions from private growth companies.  

Private market infrastructure and market data provider Forge Global Holdings has announced plans to enter the European market through a strategic partnership with Deutsche Borse. Through Leveraging the Deutsche Borse network, the two firms will establish a digital marketplace for European companies and investors that provides access to Forge’s US liquidity network. 

Forge Europe product offerings will include liquidity programs for companies, a digital marketplace that brings together buyers and sellers and exclusive private market data.  

Forge Europe product offerings will include liquidity programs for companies, a digital marketplace that brings together buyers and sellers and exclusive private market data.  

The private market in Europe has demonstrated notable growth in recent years. More than 650 unicorn and pre-unicorn companies with a combined market cap of more than €625 billion fuel the growing demand from investors to access the thriving private market asset class. However, as private markets mature in the region, structural challenges persist – including a lack of liquidity, access for investors, transparent price discovery and digiti
szed transaction facilitation.  

In the US, Forge has to date facilitated more than $12 billion in transaction volume – with more than $600 million in trading volume coming from European investors and companies, a precedent that could bode well for the growth of the European market.  

“The growing interest in private market investing and the growing need for liquidity by private growth companies transcends geographic borders,” said Forge CEO Kelly Rodriques. “As Europe’s population of high-growth technology companies continues to grow rapidly, creating an efficient and trusted private marketplace that can meet the needs of those companies and investors across a complex regulatory landscape is a challenge Forge is uniquely positioned to solve. With our innovative technology platform, credible experience and private market expertise – and with a strategic partner in Deutsche Börse that understands local market requirements and how to run scaled and regulated market infrastructure – we believe Forge Europe can deliver to European participants the benefits of a liquid, transparent and efficient global private market.” 

As a strategic partner to Forge Europe, Deutsche Börse will further leverage its growth ecosystem, including its network of private European growth companies and international investors, as well as contribute a substantial minority investment in Forge Europe. 

“Investing in private markets has grown significantly in Europe over the last decade, with record investments in growth companies last year. Forge impresses with its renowned private market expertise. Deutsche Börse stands out for its ability to operate a scalable and reliable market infrastructure and has established an extensive capital markets ecosystem. Together, we will be a first mover in Europe to build up a trusted, efficient and technology-driven global private market platform. This is how we will address the liquidity needs of growth companies and venture investors,” said Eric Leupold, Managing Director of Deutsche Börse’s Cash Market business. “For us at Deutsche Börse, this is a promising opportunity to expand into a new asset class with high potential.” 

Headquartered in Berlin, Forge Europe plans to launch in mid-2023 in Germany, the UK and France, before expanding to the rest of Europe.  

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