Whitestone REIT to Be Acquired by Ares for $1.7 Billion

HOUSTON and NEW YORK, April 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Whitestone REIT (NYSE: WSR) (“Whitestone” or the “Company”) and Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES) today announced that Whitestone has entered into a definitive merger agreement (the “Merger Agreement”) with certain Ares Real Estate funds (“Ares”) pursuant to which Ares will acquire all outstanding Whitestone common shares and operating partnership units for $19.00 per share or unit in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $1.7 billion.