Minto Apartment Real Estate Investment Trust has agreed to a buyout deal that will see the firm taken private by Crestpoint Real Estate Investments and the Minto Group. The transaction values the REIT at approximately $2.3 billion when including existing debt and retained interests.

Under the terms of the agreement, investors will receive $18.00 per unit in cash. This price represents a 32 per cent premium over the closing price on the Toronto Stock Exchange as of 2 January 2026. It also offers a 35 per cent increase on the 20 day volume weighted average price. While Crestpoint will acquire the majority of outstanding units, Minto and certain senior officers will keep their existing stakes.

The board of the REIT has unanimously recommended the move following a review by a special committee of independent trustees. A formal valuation by Desjardins Capital Markets placed the fair market value of the units between $17.00 and $19.00. The deal already has significant backing with voting support agreements covering roughly 44.3 per cent of the total voting interest. This includes a major commitment from Minto itself which holds 42.7 per cent of the interest.

Leadership at the REIT noted that while their portfolio remains high quality, current market conditions have made it difficult to grow as a public entity. President and CEO Jonathan Li stated: “We have great confidence in the high-quality, well-located portfolio we have built, however capital markets constraints have hindered our ability to achieve our long-term growth objectives. This transaction provides Trust Unitholders with near-term liquidity at a significant premium to the current trading price at a time when the operating environment is challenging and the capital markets remain sub-optimal for the Canadian multi-family sector. This is a strong result for all stakeholders.”

The deal is expected to be finalised in the second half of 2026. It still requires approval from two thirds of the votes cast at a special meeting in March. Regulators and lenders must also sign off on the plan. If successful, the units will be removed from the Toronto Stock Exchange. Minto Group will continue to manage the properties once the transition is complete. Michael Waters, Chief Executive Officer of Minto Group, commented: “This partnership is a decisive, forward-looking move that prepares us to lead in the next phase of market evolution. We are proactively structuring our portfolio to capitalize on emerging opportunities, and Crestpoint’s proven expertise in strategic real estate partnerships makes them the ideal partner with which to execute this strategy. Minto will continue to manage the portfolio moving forward and this partnership allows us to continue to grow.”