Business Wire·Nov 9, 2026, 9:15 AM ET

Morgan Stanley to Acquire Digital-Native Transfer Agent Vinyl Equity

Morgan Stanley announced an agreement to acquire Vinyl Equity, a digital-first SEC-registered transfer agent & shareholder recordkeeping platform.
The acquisition expands the Morgan Stanley at Work ecosystem by integrating cap table management, equity administration, share transfer, & wealth management into a single platform for private-to-public transitions.
Vinyl's technology is designed to modernize transfer agency operations through digital workflows, real-time reporting, & streamlined administration to support companies during complex events like IPOs.
The deal aims to strengthen the digital asset ecosystem by preparing infrastructure for future tokenization initiatives, blockchain technology, & atomic settlement.
Morgan Stanley at Work currently serves over 3,400 corporate clients, supports 6.7 million participants, covers roughly 50% of the S&P 500, & acts as the largest provider of Rule 144 & Rule 10b5-1 transaction services.
Vinyl will complement Morgan Stanley's existing private market solutions, including the Private Markets Transaction Desk, EquityZen private share marketplace, & its exclusive referral partnership with Carta.
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions & is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027.
Morgan Stanley served as its own financial advisor & legal counsel for the deal, while FT Partners acted as Vinyl's exclusive financial advisor & Cooley LLP served as Vinyl's legal counsel.