Following the merger of the two leading US residential property companies, AvalonBay Communities and Equity Residential, the new corporate name has been announced: Vivmark Residential. This new entity creates a formidable real estate company with an enterprise value of USD 71 billion.
The merged entity, which will operate as a publicly traded Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), will adopt the ticker symbol VMRK on the New York Stock Exchange. Benjamin Schall, CEO of AvalonBay Communities and now also CEO of the merged company, commented on the new name. He said Vivmark Residential reflects what the company is building – a firm determined to set a new standard for the residential experience.
The name Vivmark Residential is composed of two terms: 'Viv' is derived from the Latin word 'vivere', meaning 'to live fully', while 'mark' in English stands for 'quality, distinction and lasting impact'. Schall emphasised that Vivmark Residential builds upon the exceptional foundations that AvalonBay and Equity Residential have established over more than 30 years as trusted market leaders.
Vivmark Residential will significantly shape the residential REIT landscape and establish itself as the largest player in this segment. The combined portfolio comprises more than 180,000 rental apartments across 600 different residential communities. Additionally, a further 10,800 units with a development volume of USD 4.4 billion are in the construction pipeline.
AvalonBay's stock traded at USD 187 per share at the time of the announcement, a 2 per cent decrease over the past five days. Equity Residential's stock traded at USD 67 per share, also with a 2 per cent decrease in the last week. The closing of the transaction is expected in the second half of 2026.
