---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001193125-26-148793"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "WSR"
cik: "0001175535"
company_name: "Whitestone REIT"
filed_at: "2026-04-09T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-15T06:45:43.799638+00:00"
event_type: "m_and_a"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.95
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.95
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Whitestone REIT to be acquired by Ares affiliates for $19.00 per share in cash

## Summary
- All-cash deal: each common share cancelled for $19.00; OP units also get $19.00 per unit.
- Board unanimously approved; requires shareholder vote, regulatory clearances; expected close by Oct 5, 2026.
- Whitestone pays $36M termination fee if it accepts a superior proposal; Parent pays $77M fee if it fails to close.
- Whitestone to defer 2026 annual meeting; shares to be delisted from NYSE upon completion.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001193125-26-148793
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: WSR
- cik: 0001175535
- company_name: Whitestone REIT
- filed_at: 2026-04-09T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: m_and_a
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.95
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.95
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 1.01, 5.03, 7.01, 8.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1175535/000119312526148793/0001193125-26-148793-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1175535/000119312526148793/d898183d8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-26-148793
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-26-148793.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-26-148793.txt

## Source-grounded claims
- claim_id: 3f8391808b807a40dc223e2d1d9898eb917a6be3
  claim: Whitestone REIT: Adopted Bylaw Amendment No. 3 adding an exclusive forum provision for certain corporate and securities law actions (effective 2026-04-08).
  evidence_excerpt: On April 8, 2026, in connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, the Board adopted the Amendment No 3. to the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (the “Bylaw Amendment”). The Bylaw Amendment adds an exclusive forum provision providing that, unless the Company consents in writing to an alternative forum, the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, (or, if the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, does not have jurisdiction, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, Northern Division), to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall be the sole and exclusive forum for certain state corporate law or stockholder derivative actions, and that the federal district courts of the United States shall be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1175535/000119312526148793/0001193125-26-148793-index.htm
- claim_id: 7ae0a407bf6c040710ea7b72535170da79ea619f
  claim: Whitestone REIT entered into Agreement and Plan of Merger with AREG Wizard Parent LP, AREG Wizard Intermediate LP, AREG Wizard Operating Partnership LP valued at $19.00 (effective 2026-04-08).
  evidence_excerpt: with the Company, the “Company Parties”), AREG Wizard Parent LP (“Parent”), AREG Wizard Intermediate LP (“Merger Sub”), and AREG Wizard Operating Partnership LP (“Merger OP” and, collectively with Parent and Merger Sub, the “Parent Parties”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”). The Merger Agreement provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein and in accordance with the Maryland REIT Law and the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, Merger OP will merge with and into the Operating Partnership (the “Partnership Merger”), and, immediately following the Partnership Merger, the Company will merge with and into Merger Sub (the “Company Merger” and, together with the Partnership Merger, the “Mergers”).
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1175535/000119312526148793/0001193125-26-148793-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.