Globacap

Globacap Limited (est. 2017) is a UK-based financial technology firm that supplies digital securities infrastructure and workflow automation software-as-a-service (SaaS) for private capital markets. The firm states its platform supports issuance, ongoing administration, transferability and settlement of private securities, and it exited the FCA sandbox in 2019 as an early regulated digital securities platform.

Regulatory status: Globacap Limited is listed on the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Register with Firm Reference Number 811661 and is a directly authorised firm (not an appointed representative) — meaning it is directly responsible for meeting FCA requirements. The FCA Register entry also includes a note that the firm "has applied to cancel its authorisation but must still meet our standards in dealing with its customers"; this is an active statement on the register and users should confirm the current position on the live FCA Register before relying on it.

Corporate changes: Globacap's website states that its technology has become part of Apex Group and that Apex launched ApexInvest Markets utilising capabilities from Globacap and other technology partners. The company website also cites historical usage metrics for the technology (see "Track record" below).

Globacap operates as a B2B infrastructure provider: it licences white‑label SaaS technology to financial institutions (exchanges, private banks, platforms and asset managers) which then use that infrastructure to offer digitised private market services to their clients. This means individual investors do not normally open accounts with Globacap directly; their interaction is typically through a partner firm that uses Globacap's technology.

Platform capabilities (as described by the firm): issuance and administration of digital securities; cap table management; investor onboarding (KYC/AML); and technology to enable secondary trading and automated settlement of private securities. The firm references use of blockchain representations for securities in some implementations and automation of processes such as investor onboarding and transfer mechanics. These are infrastructural features that matter because they determine which operational tasks (e.g. compliance checks, settlement, custody) are handled by the platform and which remain with the partner firm or regulated custodian.

Primary proposition: a white‑label technology platform for private market issuance, equity management, investor onboarding and secondary market functionality — sold to institutional clients rather than retail investors. Key capabilities the firm highlights include:

• Digital securities issuance and cap table management — allows companies and their advisers to issue and maintain registers electronically. This matters because digital registers can reduce manual errors and speed corporate actions when properly integrated with company law processes.
• Investor onboarding (KYC/AML) and investor onboarding workflows — intended to reduce the administrative burden for institutional issuers and platforms.
• Secondary trading and automated settlement — the platform claims to facilitate transfers and settlement for private securities, which can increase transactability where partner firms permit secondary liquidity. The existence of the capability does not guarantee liquidity — access and terms remain subject to the partner platform and market demand.

Track record (company‑reported, historical figures): Globacap's website states the technology has been used in over 200 primary placements, matched and settled over $800m of secondary transactions, and has administered over $30bn of private markets assets. These figures are reported by the company on its website and should be treated as company‑reported metrics rather than independently audited industry statistics.

Globacap's customers are primarily institutional: exchanges, private banks, asset managers, and platforms seeking a regulated infrastructure provider to digitise issuance and back‑office workflows for private market instruments. For individual investors, access is typically indirect — provided by the institutions that licence Globacap's technology — so investor‑facing terms (minimum investments, fees, liquidity and client protections) are set by those partner firms rather than by Globacap itself.

Strengths

• Infrastructure focus: As a B2B technology provider, Globacap concentrates on software and operational processes for private markets, which can reduce administrative complexity for partner firms.
• Direct FCA authorisation (historical/registered): The firm is directly authorised by the FCA (FRN 811661), which means it is subject to FCA rules while authorised.
• Corporate backing/scale claims: The company website and corporate announcement state the platform's technology has been integrated into Apex Group's capabilities and cite substantial historical usage metrics, which — if accurate — indicate meaningful commercial adoption of the software.

Risks and watch points

• FCA Register note regarding cancellation: The FCA Register entry includes a statement that Globacap "has applied to cancel its authorisation but must still meet our standards in dealing with its customers". This is a current register note and introduces uncertainty about the firm's future status; users should verify the live FCA Register and ask partner platforms how services and regulatory obligations are affected.
• B2B model limits investor transparency: Because Globacap supplies infrastructure to intermediaries, investor‑facing information such as fee schedules, minimum investments and performance history for particular offerings is controlled by those intermediaries, not by Globacap. This complicates due diligence for retail investors.
• FSCS and investor protection: The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) may consider claims if a regulated firm fails, but FSCS protection normally does not cover the economic performance of alternative or private market investments. Investors should not assume FSCS protection applies to private asset exposures offered via platforms using Globacap technology — check the partner firm's disclosures and custody arrangements.
• Company‑reported metrics: The volumes cited on the corporate website (200+ placements, $800m secondaries, $30bn assets administered) are company statements and have not been independently verified in the materials supplied here.

Recommendation: For investors or institutional clients considering services based on Globacap technology, verify regulatory status on the FCA Register, request partner platform disclosures about custody, custody counterparties, client money arrangements, fee schedules and how secondary liquidity is provided and priced.

Key items to verify before relying on the platform or its partners:

1. FCA authorisation status — confirm the live entry on the FCA Register (the register currently shows an application to cancel authorisation) and obtain clarity from the partner platform on who is responsible for regulated activities and client protections.
2. FSCS coverage and custody — do not assume FSCS protection for private market exposures; ask partner firms for written confirmation of custody arrangements and whether client money or custody assets are protected under any scheme.
3. Volume claims — the company website reports specific cumulative figures for primary placements, secondaries and assets administered; request supporting detail or independent verification if those metrics are material to a decision.
4. Investor access and fees — because Globacap is a B2B supplier, each partner controls investor terms; perform due diligence on the partner platform's fees, minimums, liquidity terms and complaints process.