A real estate investment trust (REIT) is a company that owns, operates, or finances income-producing real estate, like shopping centers, apartments, or office buildings. For investors, REITs offer a way to invest in real estate without having to buy property directly, often providing regular income through dividends. They function like a mutual fund for real estate, making it easier for people to add property investments to their portfolio.
operating partnership unitsfinancial
Operating partnership units are ownership stakes in a limited partnership that typically sits under a real estate investment trust or similar corporate structure; each unit represents a claim on the partnership’s cash flow and assets and is often convertible into the parent company’s common shares. For investors, these units matter because they convey economic interest and potential voting influence, can be used to compensate managers, and may dilute or change the value of common shares — think of them as second-layer shares that interact with the main stock like shares in a holding company.
8-kregulatory
An 8-K is a public report companies must file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to disclose major events or changes that shareholders should know about, such as leadership changes, mergers, financial surprises, or legal developments. It matters to investors because it acts like a breaking-news alert for a company’s health and prospects—providing timely facts that can affect stock value and investment decisions.
fairness opinionfinancial
A fairness opinion is a professional assessment that evaluates whether the terms of a financial deal, such as a merger or acquisition, are fair from a financial point of view. It helps investors and stakeholders understand if the deal is reasonable and balanced, much like an independent expert giving an unbiased judgment on whether a price or agreement is fair. This assurance can increase confidence that the transaction is fair for all parties involved.
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NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES), a leading global alternative investment manager, announced today that certain Ares Real Estate funds (“Ares”) have completed the previously announced acquisition of all outstanding Whitestone REIT (“Whitestone”) common shares and operating partnership units for $19.00 per share or unit in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $1.7 billion.
The transaction expands Ares Real Estate’s portfolio with 54 high-quality, convenience-focused retail properties totaling approximately 4.8 million square feet across fast-growing markets in the United States, including Phoenix, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio.
With the completion of the acquisition, Whitestone will no longer be traded or listed on any public securities exchange.Additional information regarding the disbursement of the merger consideration to Whitestone shareholders is available in an 8-K filed by Whitestone with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Advisors
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. acted as lead financial advisor and financing provider to Ares, with Morgan Stanley also acting as financial advisor and financing provider. Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal advisor to Ares. Dechert LLP served as legal advisor to Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Morgan Stanley.
BofA Securities served as Whitestone’s financial advisor and provided a fairness opinion to Whitestone’s Board of Trustees, and Jones Lang LaSalle Securities also served as a financial advisor. Bass Berry & Sims served as Whitestone’s legal advisor.
About Ares Management Corporation
Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES) is a leading global alternative investment manager offering clients complementary primary and secondary investment solutions across the credit, real estate, private equity and infrastructure asset classes. We seek to advance our stakeholders' long-term goals by providing flexible capital that supports businesses and creates value for our investors and within our communities. By collaborating across our investment groups, we aim to generate consistent and attractive investment returns throughout market cycles. As of March 31, 2026, Ares Management Corporation's global platform had over $644 billion of assets under management, with operations across North America, South America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. For more information, please visit www.ares.com.
