Scaled Investment Platform Expands Apollo’s Origination Capabilities in Residential and Industrial Real Estate

Bridge Manages $50 Billion of High-Quality AUM in Complementary Sectors Aligned with Apollo’s Long-Term Growth Strategy

Apollo and Bridge Investment Group Holdings announced they have entered into a definitive agreement for Apollo to acquire Bridge in an all-stock transaction with an equity value of approximately $1.5 billion.

Founded in 2009, Bridge is an established leader in residential and industrial real estate as well as other specialized real estate asset classes. Led by an experienced senior leadership team and over 300 dedicated investment professionals with significant real estate investment and operating expertise, Bridge’s forward-integrated model, nationwide operating platform and data-driven approach have fostered organic growth and consistently produced desirable outcomes across asset classes.

Bridge will provide Apollo with immediate scale to its real estate equity platform and enhance Apollo’s origination capabilities in both real estate equity and credit, which is expected to benefit Apollo’s growing suite of hybrid and real estate product offerings. Bridge manages approximately $50 billion of high-quality AUM in real estate products targeting both institutional and wealth clients and is expected to be highly synergistic with Apollo’s existing real estate equity strategies and leading real estate credit platform. The transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to Apollo’s fee-related earnings upon closing.

Apollo Partner and Co-Head of Equity David Sambur said, “We are pleased to announce this transaction with Bridge, which is highly aligned with Apollo’s strategic focus on expanding our origination base in areas of our business that are growing but not yet at scale. Led by a respected real estate team including Executive Chairman Bob Morse and CEO Jonathan Slager, Bridge brings a seasoned team with deep expertise and a strong track record in their sectors. Their business will complement and further augment our existing real estate capabilities, and we believe we can help scale Bridge’s products by leveraging the breadth of our integrated platform. We look forward to working with Bob and the talented Bridge team as we seek to achieve the strategic objectives we laid out at our recent Investor Day.”

Bridge Executive Chairman Bob Morse said, “We are proud to be joining Apollo and its industry-leading team, who share our commitment to performance and excellence. This transaction will allow the Bridge and Apollo teams to grow on the strong foundation that Bridge has built since 2009 as we work to pursue meaningful value and impact for our investors and communities. With Apollo’s global integrated platform, resources, innovation and established expertise, we are confident that Bridge will be positioned for the next phase of growth amid growing demand across the alternative investments space.”

Transaction Details
Under the terms of the transaction, Bridge stockholders and Bridge OpCo unitholders will receive, at closing, 0.07081 shares of Apollo stock for each share of Bridge Class A common stock and each Bridge OpCo Class A common unit, respectively, valued by the parties at $11.50 per each share of Bridge Class A common stock and Bridge OpCo Class A common unit, respectively.

Upon the closing of the transaction, Bridge will operate as a standalone platform within Apollo’s asset management business, retaining its existing brand, management team and dedicated capital formation team. Bob Morse will become an Apollo Partner and lead Apollo’s real estate equity franchise.

A special committee of independent directors for Bridge (the “Special Committee”), advised by its own independent legal and financial advisors, reviewed, negotiated and unanimously recommended approval of the merger agreement by the Bridge Board of Directors, determining that it was in the best interests of Bridge and its stockholders not affiliated with Bridge management and directors. Acting upon the recommendation of the Special Committee, the Bridge Board of Directors approved the merger agreement. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions for transactions of this nature, including approval by a majority of the Class A common stock and Class B common stock of Bridge, voting together and the receipt of regulatory approvals. Certain members of Bridge management and their affiliates, collectively owning approximately 51.4% of the outstanding voting power of the Class A common stock and Class B common stock of Bridge, have entered into voting agreements in connection with the transaction and have agreed to vote in favor of the transaction in accordance with the terms therein. Subject to and upon completion of the transaction, shares of Bridge common stock will no longer be listed on the New York Stock Exchange and Bridge will become a privately held company.

Further information regarding terms and conditions contained in the definitive merger agreement will be made available in Bridge’s Current Report on Form 8-K, which will be filed in connection with this transaction.

Bridge Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2024 Earnings
Bridge will no longer be holding its fourth quarter and full-year 2024 earnings conference call and webcast scheduled for February 25, 2025, due to the pending transaction.

Advisors
BofA Securities, Citi, Goldman, Sachs & Co. LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Newmark Group are acting as financial advisors, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is acting as legal counsel and Sidley Austin LLP is acting as insurance regulatory counsel to Apollo. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is serving as financial advisor to Bridge and Latham & Watkins LLP is acting as legal counsel. Lazard is serving as financial advisor to the special committee of the Bridge Board of Directors and Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP is acting as legal counsel.

Source: Apollo