Morgan Stanley to Acquire Private Shares Platform EquityZen
Morgan Stanley has entered into an agreement to acquire EquityZen, a leading private shares platform, reinforcing its dominance in private markets. The deal enables clients to access and trade shares in private companies more efficiently, combining EquityZen's cap table expertise with Morgan Stanley's scaled marketplace.
The acquisition aligns with Morgan Stanley's strategy to deepen relationships with private market companies through its Integrated Firm. EquityZen's issuer-aligned model will enhance liquidity options for Morgan Stanley at Work participants and expand private share access for Wealth Management clients.
"This announcement comes at a critical time in the development of the private markets ecosystem," said Jed Finn, Head of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. The integration aims to address growing client demand as companies remain private longer.
