#United States #San Francisco #Silicon Valley Bank #Market Liquidity #Forge Securities

Silicon Valley Bank Collaborates with Forge to Enhance Private Market Liquidity

In an important move to support innovation economy clients, Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), now part of First Citizens Bank, has announced a strategic partnership with Forge Securities LLC. This collaboration will leverage Forge's advanced platform to provide tailored liquidity solutions, enabling SVB's clients to navigate the complexities of private market transactions.

A Growing Need for Liquidity

The financial landscape has witnessed a notable shift as companies tend to remain private for longer periods. This trend has amplified the demand for secondary market liquidity, a critical element that SVB recognizes as essential for its clients. Marc Cadieux, President of Silicon Valley Bank, pointed out this evolving trend, stating, "As we continue to see companies staying private longer, the need for secondary market liquidity has become a key need for our client base."

By integrating with Forge's platform, SVB aims to facilitate access to liquidity, allowing clients to confidently scale their businesses while also providing their employees with valuable liquidity options.

Key Benefits of the Partnership

This partnership presents numerous advantages:

• - Issuer-led structured liquidity events: Companies can initiate organized events such as tender offers and secondary sales, streamlining the process of liquidating assets.
• - Controlled transactions for shareholders: The collaboration ensures that transactions for employees, founders, or early investors are conducted in a controlled manner, preserving the integrity of the share structure.
• - Access to a broad investor network: SVB clients will gain access to a robust network of over 19,000 institutional investors, significantly expanding their potential for capital influx.
• - Secure transaction environment: Clients will benefit from engaging in private market transactions through a trusted and established platform, providing peace of mind.

Eric Thomassian, Executive Vice President of Private Company Relations at Forge, emphasized the increasing demand for reliable liquidity solutions, stating, "Demand for trusted, flexible liquidity solutions is growing—and this partnership is a powerful response to that demand."

Forge’s Role in the Partnership

Forge is known for its robust marketplace infrastructure, data services, and investment technology tailored specifically for private market participants. By combining these capabilities with SVB's expansive banking services, clients will find enhanced avenues for managing their capital and investments effectively.

The features of Forge include proprietary data and analytics that support investment strategies, along with custody services that simplify transactions for companies and investors alike, ensuring compliance and security in the often-complex realm of private equity and venture capital investments.

About Silicon Valley Bank

Silicon Valley Bank serves some of the most innovative companies and investors globally, providing niche banking solutions in sectors like technology, life sciences, and healthcare. Understanding the unique challenges that startups face, SVB offers deep sector expertise to its dynamic clients, further solidified by this new partnership.

As part of First Citizens BancShares, Inc., Silicon Valley Bank continues to thrive amidst a competitive landscape, maintaining over $200 billion in assets while fulfilling its mission to drive growth for innovative firms.

Conclusion

The partnership between Silicon Valley Bank and Forge is set to unlock new pathways towards capital accessing for private companies. As the need for private market liquidity continues to rise, initiatives like this will be vital in supporting sustainable growth in the innovation economy. Companies looking to thrive in this space can look forward to leveraging these new resources to navigate their financial landscapes effectively.