Forge UK to Become a Registered Auction Agent on the London Stock Exchange's Private Securities Market
MWN-AI** Summary
Forge Global Holdings, Inc. has announced that its UK subsidiary, Forge Europe UK Ltd, has become a Registered Auction Agent (RAA) on the London Stock Exchange’s newly established Private Securities Market. This strategic partnership aims to expand access to private-market liquidity across Europe, offering a regulated pathway under the UK’s innovative PISCES (Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System) framework.
Kelly Rodriques, CEO of Forge Global, emphasized the significance of this development, asserting it enhances transparency and efficiency in private market dealings and provides access to innovative private companies. As an RAA, Forge UK plans to facilitate streamlined access for eligible investors to buy and sell shares of private firms via an auction-based market structure. This initiative is designed to democratize investment opportunities for institutional investors, high-net-worth individuals, and private company shareholders.
Charlie Walker, Deputy CEO of the London Stock Exchange, echoed the potential of this new platform, explaining it will enable private companies to utilize the exchange’s public market infrastructure for intermittent liquidity while diversifying their shareholder base. This innovation comes at a time when Europe’s private market ecosystem is experiencing rapid growth, with significant value identified in European private technology companies.
In this evolving landscape, the Private Securities Market serves as a pivotal mechanism, fostering increased participation from institutional investors and offering private companies a sophisticated alternative to IPOs. Charlie Grimes, Head of Capital Markets at Forge UK, noted that the PISCES framework provides companies and their investors predictable and flexible paths to liquidity.
Overall, this collaboration reinforces Forge’s commitment to creating accessible and efficient solutions for private market participants, positioning itself strongly within Europe’s burgeoning investment ecosystem.
MWN-AI** Analysis
The recent announcement of Forge UK becoming a Registered Auction Agent (RAA) on the London Stock Exchange's Private Securities Market represents a pivotal moment in the evolving landscape of private market liquidity in Europe. This move adheres to the UK's PISCES framework, which aims to facilitate regulated, innovative trading opportunities for private companies and their investors.
Investors should closely monitor this development, as it signifies a shift toward more transparent and predictable pathways for liquidity in private markets—an area traditionally characterized by opacity and limited access. The infrastructure provided by the London Stock Exchange enhances the credibility and efficiency of transactions, thereby potentially leveling the playing field for both institutional and high-net-worth investors.
With Europe's private technology sector valued at $1.7 trillion and a growing number of unicorns, Forge's entry into the Private Securities Market aligns with broader market trends, indicating that companies are staying private longer and postponing IPO timelines. This underlines the necessity for alternate liquidity solutions, making Forge UK’s services increasingly relevant for stakeholders looking to engage with high-growth private companies without the commitment of a public listing.
Moreover, Forge's broad network across private markets and its technological capabilities place it in a strong position to facilitate this transformative change. The structured auction mechanism enables tailored approaches to shareholder base evolution, benefitting private companies and investors alike.
In conclusion, investors seeking exposure to the burgeoning European private market may find opportunities through Forge UK’s newly established platform. As the landscape continues to mature, those who adapt to and embrace these innovative solutions may unlock valuable pathways for investment and liquidity that were previously unavailable. Hence, keeping a close watch on Forge’s developments could provide critical insights into future market dynamics and investment strategies.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
New partnership expands access to private-market liquidity in Europe and enables Forge UK customers to participate in the London Stock Exchange’s new Private Securities Market under the UK’s PISCES framework
Forge Global Holdings, Inc. (“Forge”), a leading global private securities marketplace, today announced that its UK subsidiary, Forge Europe UK Ltd, has become a Registered Auction Agent (RAA) on the London Stock Exchange’s newly launched Private Securities Market.
“The London Stock Exchange’s Private Securities Market marks a major milestone in unlocking regulated, technology-driven private-market liquidity in Europe,” said Kelly Rodriques, CEO of Forge Global. “Forge’s mission has always been to bring transparency, efficiency and access to private markets globally. By becoming a Registered Auction Agent, Forge will empower our customers with earlier, more consistent liquidity events and access to some of Europe’s most innovative private companies — within a framework that leverages the trusted infrastructure of one of the world’s leading exchanges.”
As an RAA, Forge UK will seek to provide eligible investors with streamlined access to buy and sell private company shares through the London Stock Exchange’s auction-based market structure, which is enabled by the UK government’s innovative PISCES (Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System) legislation. The Private Securities Market is designed to introduce efficient, intermittent trading windows for private companies — bringing the infrastructure, technology and safeguards of public markets to the private domain for the first time in the UK.
“We are delighted to welcome Forge UK as the latest RAA to join our Private Securities Market, and support its mission to broaden access to private markets globally,” said Charlie Walker, Deputy CEO of the London Stock Exchange. “For the first time, private companies will be able to utilise the London Stock Exchange’s public market infrastructure to offer intermittent liquidity to existing investors as well as evolve their shareholder base. The breadth of Forge UK’s network across private markets provides companies using the Private Securities Market with further choice to achieve this, as well as enable new investors access to growth companies.”
Following this announcement, Forge UK customers — institutional investors, qualified high-net-worth investors and private company shareholders — will gain access to a new channel of regulated European private-market liquidity and enhanced investment opportunities.
“Private companies, founders, employees and investors are increasingly seeking sophisticated, predictable paths to liquidity without the pressure to go public before they’re ready,” said Charlie Grimes, Head of Capital Markets at Forge and Head of Forge UK. “The PISCES framework creates precisely that opportunity. As an RAA, Forge UK aims to connect eligible investors to auctions on the Private Securities Market, help companies tailor their shareholder base through permissioned or open auctions, and provide a repeatable structure for liquidity that aligns with the evolving needs of Europe’s high-growth private sector.”
A New Era for Private Market Liquidity in Europe
Europe’s private market ecosystem continues to expand rapidly. According to industry analyses, European private technology companies are staying private longer and growing in value – accounting for $1.7T in value 1 , according to the State of European Tech report produced by venture firm Atomico. Europe is home to more than 180 unicorns, according to data collected by CBInsights 2 , and private-market investment participation among institutional and alternative investors continues to accelerate.
At the same time, Europe boasts a growing investor base—with more than €2 trillion in assets 3 managed across European private equity and venture capital firms, positioning the region as a natural next step for Forge’s global expansion.
The London Stock Exchange’s Private Securities Market represents one of the most significant structural evolutions in European private markets to date, creating a regulated, repeatable mechanism for liquidity in private company shares.
About Forge Global
Forge (NYSE:FRGE) is a leading provider of marketplace infrastructure, data services and technology and investment solutions for private market participants. Forge Securities LLC is a U.S. registered broker-dealer and a Member of FINRA that operates an alternative trading system. Learn more at www.forgeglobal.com . Forge UK is a majority-owned subsidiary of Forge Global. Forge Europe UK Ltd is an Appointed Representative of Sapeno Partners LLP which is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
1 State of European Tech , Nov 2025
2 CBInsights , Dec 8, 2025
3 Invest Europe , July 24, 2025
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251211344802/en/
Media Contact
Forge Global
Lindsay Riddell
press@forgeglobal.com
FAQ**
How does the new partnership between Forge Global Holdings Inc. (FRGE) and the London Stock Exchange enhance liquidity options for private-market investors in Europe?
What specific advantages does the PISCES framework provide for Forge Global Holdings Inc. (FRGE) customers in accessing the Private Securities Market?
Can you explain how Forge Global Holdings Inc. (FRGE) plans to utilize its position as a Registered Auction Agent to connect investors with private companies in this new market?
What implications does the growth of private market investment in Europe have for Forge Global Holdings Inc. (FRGE) and its strategic goals moving forward?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about Forge Global Holdings Inc. (NYSE: FRGE).
NASDAQ: FRGE
FRGE Trading
0.44% G/L:
$45.005 Last:
324,292 Volume:
$45 Open:
