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

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. By leveraging the Deutsche Borse network, the two companies will establish a digital marketplace for European companies and investors that will provide access to Forge’s US liquidity network.

Forge Europe’s product offerings will include liquidity programs for businesses, a digital marketplace that brings buyers and sellers together, and proprietary private market data.

Forge Europe’s product offerings will include liquidity programs for businesses, a digital marketplace that brings buyers and sellers together, and proprietary private market data.

The private market in Europe has grown significantly in recent years. More than 650 unicorn and pre-unicorn companies with a combined market capitalization of over €625 billion are fueling growing investor demand for access to 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 digitization.szfacilitation of transactions.

In the United States, Forge has facilitated more than $12 billion in transaction volume to date – with more than $600 million in transaction volume coming from European investors and companies, a precedent that could be good. bodes 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 boundaries,” said Kelly Rodriques, CEO of Forge. “As Europe’s population of high-growth technology companies continues to grow rapidly, creating an efficient and reliable private market capable of meeting the needs of these companies and investors in a complex regulatory landscape is a challenge that Forge is particularly keen on. well positioned to solve.With our innovative technology platform, credible experience and private market expertise – and with a strategic partner in Deutsche Börse who understands local market requirements and how to manage a market infrastructure locally. scale and regulated – we believe Forge Europe can offer European participants the benefits of a liquid, transparent and efficient global private market.

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

“Investment in private markets has increased significantly in Europe over the past decade, with record investment in growing companies last year. Forge impresses with its recognized expertise in the private market. Deutsche Börse is distinguished by its ability to operate a scalable and reliable market infrastructure and has established an extensive capital markets ecosystem. Together, we will be a forerunner in Europe to build a reliable, efficient and technology-driven global private market platform. This is how we will meet the liquidity needs of growing companies and venture capitalists,” 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 great potential.”

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