--- schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1" accession: "0001564590-21-060503" form_type: "8-K" ticker: "IRT" cik: "0001466085" company_name: "INDEPENDENCE REALTY TRUST, INC." filed_at: "2021-12-16T23:59:59+00:00" generated_at: "2026-06-28T00:29:15.726688+00:00" event_type: "m_and_a" sentiment: "positive" materiality_score: 0.85 calibrated_materiality_score: 0.85 confidence: "high" source: SEC EDGAR --- # IRT completes merger with STAR, creating $5.6B equity value multifamily REIT focused on Sunbelt ## Summary - Each STAR share converted to 0.905 IRT shares; former STAR holders own ~47% of combined company. - IRT assumed ~$1.7B mortgage debt on 49 properties; weighted avg interest 3.9%, maturity 6.7 yrs. - Five former STAR directors join board; Ella S. Neyland appointed COO; Scott Schaeffer remains CEO. - IRT sold/plans to sell nine non-core assets for ~$404M gross (3.8% cap); proceeds plus $271.8M equity to reduce debt. - Expected to generate ~$28M in annual cost synergies; Core FFO accretion. ## SEC filing metadata - accession: 0001564590-21-060503 - form_type: 8-K - ticker: IRT - cik: 0001466085 - company_name: INDEPENDENCE REALTY TRUST, INC. - filed_at: 2021-12-16T23:59:59+00:00 - event_type: m_and_a - sentiment: positive - materiality_score: 0.85 - calibrated_materiality_score: 0.85 - confidence: high - sec_items: 1.01, 2.01, 2.03, 3.02, 5.02, 7.01, 8.01, 9.01 - EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1466085/000156459021060503/0001564590-21-060503-index.htm - EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1466085/000156459021060503/irt-8k_20211214.htm ## Machine-readable alternates - HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001564590-21-060503 - JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001564590-21-060503.json - Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001564590-21-060503.txt ## Key facts - Executive change Ella S. Neyland was appointed as Director at INDEPENDENCE REALTY TRUST, INC.. - Action: appointed - Role: Director source text: the Board consists of the following ten directors: (i) Scott F. Schaeffer, Melinda H. McClure, Richard D. Gebert, DeForest Blake Soaries Jr. and Lisa Washington, each a continuing director of the Board, and (ii) Stephen R. Bowie, Ned W. Brines, Ana Marie del Rio, Ella S. Neyland and Thomas H. Purcell, each a former director of STAR. evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1466085/000156459021060503/0001564590-21-060503-index.htm - Executive change William C. Dunkelberg resigned as Director at INDEPENDENCE REALTY TRUST, INC.. - Action: resigned - Role: Director source text: William C. Dunkelberg resigned as a member of the board of directors of IRT evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1466085/000156459021060503/0001564590-21-060503-index.htm - Executive change Ana Marie del Rio was appointed as Director at INDEPENDENCE REALTY TRUST, INC.. - Action: appointed - Role: Director source text: the Board consists of the following ten directors: (i) Scott F. Schaeffer, Melinda H. McClure, Richard D. Gebert, DeForest Blake Soaries Jr. and Lisa Washington, each a continuing director of the Board, and (ii) Stephen R. Bowie, Ned W. Brines, Ana Marie del Rio, Ella S. Neyland and Thomas H. Purcell, each a former director of STAR. evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1466085/000156459021060503/0001564590-21-060503-index.htm - Executive change Thomas H. Purcell was appointed as Director at INDEPENDENCE REALTY TRUST, INC.. - Action: appointed - Role: Director source text: the Board consists of the following ten directors: (i) Scott F. Schaeffer, Melinda H. McClure, Richard D. Gebert, DeForest Blake Soaries Jr. and Lisa Washington, each a continuing director of the Board, and (ii) Stephen R. Bowie, Ned W. Brines, Ana Marie del Rio, Ella S. Neyland and Thomas H. Purcell, each a former director of STAR. evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1466085/000156459021060503/0001564590-21-060503-index.htm - Executive change Ella S. Neyland was appointed as Chief Operating Officer at INDEPENDENCE REALTY TRUST, INC.. - Action: appointed - Role: Chief Operating Officer source text: Ella S. Neyland became the Chief Operating Officer of IRT evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1466085/000156459021060503/0001564590-21-060503-index.htm - Executive change Ned W. Brines was appointed as Director at INDEPENDENCE REALTY TRUST, INC.. - Action: appointed - Role: Director source text: the Board consists of the following ten directors: (i) Scott F. Schaeffer, Melinda H. McClure, Richard D. Gebert, DeForest Blake Soaries Jr. and Lisa Washington, each a continuing director of the Board, and (ii) Stephen R. Bowie, Ned W. Brines, Ana Marie del Rio, Ella S. Neyland and Thomas H. Purcell, each a former director of STAR. evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1466085/000156459021060503/0001564590-21-060503-index.htm - Executive change Stephen R. Bowie was appointed as Director at INDEPENDENCE REALTY TRUST, INC.. - Action: appointed - Role: Director source text: the Board consists of the following ten directors: (i) Scott F. Schaeffer, Melinda H. McClure, Richard D. Gebert, DeForest Blake Soaries Jr. and Lisa Washington, each a continuing director of the Board, and (ii) Stephen R. Bowie, Ned W. Brines, Ana Marie del Rio, Ella S. Neyland and Thomas H. Purcell, each a former director of STAR. evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1466085/000156459021060503/0001564590-21-060503-index.htm This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.