CHICAGO & NEW YORK—Equity Residential (NYSE: EQR) and Blackstone (NYSE: BX) announced that Equity Residential has agreed to acquire 11 apartment properties from Blackstone Real Estate strategies in separate transactions, including Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust, Blackstone Real Estate Partners and Blackstone Property Partners, for approximately $964 million.
The transactions, which remain subject to customary closing conditions, are expected to close in the third quarter of 2024.
The properties, which are located in Equity Residential’s expansion markets of Atlanta, Dallas/Ft. Worth and Denver, total 3,572 apartment units and are on average eight years old. These properties are attractive to Equity Residential’s higher end renter demographic and accelerate its growth in these markets. Through its industry leading operating platform, Equity Residential expects to unlock additional opportunities and value with these properties. The portfolio consists of four properties with 1,357 apartment units in Atlanta, four properties with 1,237 apartment units in Dallas/Ft. Worth and three properties with 978 apartment units in Denver. In connection with this transaction, Equity Residential is reaffirming the earnings guidance provided in its Second Quarter 2024 Earnings Release on July 29, 2024.
“We are pleased to add these high-quality, well-located properties to our growing portfolios in Atlanta, Dallas/Ft. Worth and Denver at pricing that is attractive compared to replacement costs,” said Alec Brackenridge, Equity Residential’s Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer. “This transaction is a significant step in our goal of generating a higher percentage of our annual net operating income from these strong growth expansion markets. We appreciate partnering with Blackstone on this mutually beneficial transaction and look forward to continuing to grow the relationship.”
Asim Hamid, Senior Managing Director at Blackstone Real Estate, said, “This transaction represents an excellent outcome for our investors and demonstrates the strong institutional demand for high quality assets. Rental housing remains one of our highest-conviction themes, and we continue to see strong fundamentals in attractive markets. We’re pleased to have worked with EQR on this transaction, who will be an excellent steward of these properties going forward.”
Eastdil Secured, RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Santander and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) acted as Blackstone’s financial advisors. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP served as Blackstone’s legal counsel. Neal Gerber & Eisenberg LLP, Hogan Lovells, and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP served as Equity Residential’s legal counsel.
