The merged apartment owner expects to trade as VMRK, though individual community names will stay in place at closing.

July 31, 2026

Equity Residential and AvalonBay Communities have settled on a name for the apartment company their merger of equals will create: Vivmark Residential, which expects to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker VMRK.

The two REITs announced the name jointly on July 30, 2026, less than two weeks before shareholders of both companies are scheduled to vote on the combination. The merger agreement had left the name to be agreed between the parties ahead of closing, making the disclosure one of the last open items in the deal’s architecture.

Scale of the Combined Platform

The companies describe Vivmark Residential as the preeminent multifamily real estate company, citing a pro forma equity market capitalization of roughly $53 billion and an enterprise value of approximately $71 billion. The platform would hold more than 180,000 rental apartments, with over 10,000 additional apartments under construction, and the companies argue that scale, combined capabilities, and balance sheet strength position it to accelerate growth.

The two portfolios remain distinct until closing:

• AvalonBay — as of June 30, 2026, owned or held direct or indirect ownership interests in 322 apartment communities containing 99,072 apartment homes across 11 states and the District of Columbia, of which 27 communities were under development and one was under redevelopment.
• Equity Residential — owns and manages 312 rental properties comprising 85,520 apartment units, concentrated in major coastal markets with a targeted presence in the higher-growth metros of Atlanta, Dallas/Austin, and Denver.

Both are members of the S&P 500.

The Reasoning Behind the Name

Benjamin Schall, AvalonBay’s chief executive and the incoming chief executive of the combined company, said the name reflects an ambition to set a new standard for the experience of home, built on foundations each organization has spent more than three decades establishing. Schall’s appointment was disclosed alongside the rest of the incoming leadership team earlier this summer.

The name draws on two elements. Viv derives from the Latin vivere, meaning to live fully, and is the root of vivid and vitality. Mark is intended to convey quality, distinction, and lasting impact. The companies frame the pairing as speaking simultaneously to residents, employees, and investors, signaling a platform built for disciplined long-term growth.

What Changes and What Does Not

Remaining brand elements, including the logo, typography, and visual identity, are expected in the coming weeks. The combined entity will begin operating as Vivmark Residential only upon completion of the merger. Notably for residents and on-site teams, the companies said the corporate rebrand will not trigger changes to individual community names at closing, leaving property-level identities intact.

The transaction still requires approval from both shareholder bases along with satisfaction of customary closing conditions. The registration statement covering the shares to be issued was declared effective on July 13, 2026, and definitive proxy materials were mailed to holders on or about that date. Until the merger closes, the two remain separate and independent companies, and their shares continue to trade under EQR and AVB.

The naming completes one of the few substantive items the merger agreement had deliberately left open, and it gives the combination a public identity of its own rather than a description as the sum of two incumbents. The move to the VMRK ticker would follow at closing.