Equity Residential completed its merger with AvalonBay Communities on 17 August 2026. AvalonBay shareholders received 2.793 shares of Equity Residential stock for each AVB share. The combined company then took the name Vivmark Residential and the ticker symbol was changed to VMRK.

The Vivmark Residential (then Equity Residential) Form S-4/A SEC filing for this merger can be found through the SEC EDGAR web site at: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/906107/000114036126028129/ny20076479x2_s4a.htm  

Resolution: The companies intend to have the merger qualify as a non-taxable reorganization. We will assume the IRS does not dispute this opinion and will treat this merger as a simple merger. The information below is based on the information available from a form S-4 filed with the SEC. Price information is from websites offering historical prices.

NOTE: The companies state they will endeavor to satisfy the conditions necessary to make this transaction non-taxable and may get legal advice that the transaction qualifies for non-taxable treatment. However, there is the possibility the IRS will disagree with their characterization. These instructions assume the companies succeed in their efforts. New instructions will be written, if and when it becomes known the merger should be treated as a taxable event.

For Equity Residential Shareholders

This transaction can be entered as a simple name and ticker symbol change.

Go to Accounting > Securities > Change Security Name or Ticker Symbol

• Select EQR from the drop down menu. Click Continue.
• Change the name to Vivmark Residential and the ticker symbol to VMRK.
• Be sure Security Type is REIT.
• Click the Submit button to save the changes

OR

Go to Accounting > Securities > Update security settings

• Click the edit icon to the left of the Equity Residential name
• Change name and ticker symbol as above.

For AvalonBay Shareholders

This is a simple merger transaction.

The Merger Entry Go to Accounting > Securities > Record merger of securities in myICLUB. If you are unfamiliar with merger transactions you can get help at this URL: https://www.myiclub.com/faq/article.aspx?id=52

Here is the information needed to complete the merger entry in myICLUB.

Step 1

• Date: 8/17/2026
• Merging Company: AvalonBay Communities (AVB)
• Number of daughter companies : 1 (keep this default)

Step 2

• Symbol of new company: VMRK (Vivmark Residential)
• Shares received : 2.793 x (# of AVB shares owned).
  • (Remember to enter fractional shares, if the calculation shows them)
  • For example, if you owned 100 AVB shares, you should receive 2.793 x 100 = 279.3 VMRK shares.
• Price per share: 64.10  (Average of open and close price on 8/18/2026, the first trading day)
• Cash received:  See your broker statement for cash-in-lieu
  • Any fractional share entered will be sold for the cash amount entered as part of the merger transaction. No need to enter a separate sell transaction. If no cash amount is entered, the fractional share will remain in your portfolio.

Click the Submit button  and the merger transaction has been entered.

After the merger is entered, be sure Security Type is REIT for Vivmark. See instructions for Equity Residential shareholders for how to change a security setting.