Stock Markets February 23, 2026

Veris Residential Agrees $3.4 Billion Take-Private Deal; Shares Rise 13%

Investor group led by Affinius Capital and Vista Hill Partners to acquire multifamily REIT at $19.00 per share; financing includes $2.08 billion bridge loan

By Hana Yamamoto VRE
Veris Residential Agrees $3.4 Billion Take-Private Deal; Shares Rise 13%
VRE

Veris Residential will be taken private in a $3.4 billion cash transaction led by an investor consortium headed by Affinius Capital in partnership with Vista Hill Partners. The $19.00 per-share offer represents a 13% premium to the most recent close and follows a strategic review supported by J.P. Morgan and Morgan Stanley.

Key Points

  • Acquisition terms: Investor group led by Affinius Capital with Vista Hill Partners agreed to acquire Veris Residential for $3.4 billion in cash at $19.00 per share.
  • Transaction premiums and valuation: Offer represents a 13% premium to the most recent close of $16.77 and a 23.2% premium to Veris’ Feb. 4, 2026 closing price; implied enterprise value is $3.4 billion.
  • Sectors impacted: The deal affects the multifamily REIT sector and broader real estate investment community, and involves substantial lending activity in the debt markets through a $2.08 billion committed senior secured bridge loan facility.

Shares of Veris Residential (NYSE:VRE) climbed 13% on Monday after the company reached an agreement to be acquired for $3.4 billion in cash by an investor consortium led by Affinius Capital, in partnership with Vista Hill Partners.

Under the terms of the merger agreement, Veris will be taken private at a price of $19.00 per share in cash. That per-share consideration equals a 13% premium to the company’s closing price of $16.77 on the preceding Friday. The transaction values the company at an implied enterprise value of $3.4 billion and represents a 23.2% premium to Veris’ closing share price on February 4, 2026.

The merger agreement provides that holders of Veris common stock will receive $19.00 in cash for each share they own. Similarly, holders of common units in Veris’ operating partnership will be paid $19.00 in cash for each common unit held.

The sale follows a comprehensive review of strategic alternatives that Veris conducted with financial advisors J.P. Morgan and Morgan Stanley. During that process, the company engaged with a range of potential counterparties including financial sponsors, sovereign wealth funds, pension funds and multifamily investment platforms.

Bow Street LLC, which manages funds that beneficially own approximately 5.6% of Veris’ outstanding shares, has agreed to vote in favor of the transaction.

The company’s board of directors unanimously approved the deal. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, subject to shareholder approval and other customary closing conditions. Financing for the transaction will include equity investments and debt facilities, among them a committed senior secured bridge loan facility totaling $2.08 billion.

Veris expects to pay its regular quarterly cash dividend for the first quarter of 2026, but has agreed to suspend dividends after that distribution. Upon closing of the transaction, Veris’ common stock will be delisted and will no longer trade on the New York Stock Exchange.


Context and implications

The transaction moves Veris from a public multifamily REIT to a privately held platform under the ownership of a sponsored investor group. The financing mix and the planned suspension of dividends signal the consortium’s operational and capital plans for the company once the deal is completed.

Risks

  • Regulatory and shareholder approvals: The transaction remains contingent on shareholder approval and other customary closing conditions, creating uncertainty about timing and completion - impacts the real estate and capital markets if delayed or not approved.
  • Financing risk: The deal’s financing structure includes a $2.08 billion committed senior secured bridge loan facility; any changes to financing terms or market conditions could affect closing - implications for credit and lending markets.
  • Dividend suspension: Veris has agreed to suspend dividends after the first-quarter 2026 distribution, which affects income-focused investors and may influence valuation dynamics in the REIT sector.

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