The Charles Schwab Corporation announced its agreement to acquire Forge Global Holdings in a transaction valued at approximately $660 million, marking a major step in expanding access to private market investments. Forge operates a leading private market platform where investors have traded more than $17 billion in private company shares.
The acquisition will combine Schwab’s reach across 46 million accounts and $11.6 trillion in client assets with Forge’s marketplace expertise to create a unified platform for private stock plan administration and liquidity access. Schwab’s leadership stated that the deal would help enhance transparency, deepen liquidity, and provide more investment choices for founders, employees, and qualified investors.
The acquisition aligns with Schwab’s strategy to expand its alternative investment offerings and meet increasing investor demand for private market opportunities. Schwab plans to integrate Forge’s solutions with its existing platforms, including Schwab Alternative Investments Select and Schwab Private Issuer Equity Services. Under the terms of the agreement, Schwab will acquire all of Forge’s common shares for $45 per share, with the transaction expected to close in the first half of 2026, pending regulatory and shareholder approvals.
