Overview of Transaction

• Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) has entered into an agreement to acquire Vinyl Equity, a digital-first transfer agent and shareholder recordkeeping platform
• Founded in 2022 and headquartered in Chicago, Vinyl has built a digital-native platform that modernizes transfer agency through digital workflows, real-time reporting and streamlined administration, working alongside issuers, counsel and banking partners through the IPO process
• Vinyl is an SEC-registered transfer agent serving companies across the NYSE, Nasdaq and OTC Markets, and is a DTC-authorized DWAC/FAST Agent and DRS Participant
• Morgan Stanley is a leading global financial services firm; its Morgan Stanley at Work business covers roughly 50% of the S&P 500 and over 70% of the Top 100 unicorns by market cap, serving 3,400+ corporate clients and 6.7 million participants, and is the largest provider of Rule 144 and 10b5-1 transaction services

Significance of Transaction

• The acquisition expands Morgan Stanley at Work’s ecosystem with transfer agency capabilities, giving companies a single platform for cap table management, equity administration, share transfer and wealth management infrastructure across private and public markets
• Vinyl’s digital-first technology positions Morgan Stanley to advance how ownership is recorded, transferred and managed as blockchain, atomic settlement and tokenization reshape the industry

FT Partners' Role

• FT Partners served as the exclusive strategic and financial advisor to Vinyl Equity in this transaction
• This transaction underscores FT Partners’ leading role in advising high-growth, founder-led businesses and its ability to generate highly successful outcomes with leading strategic acquirers
• FT Partners continues to demonstrate deep domain expertise across capital markets infrastructure, transfer agency and wealth technology