Compass, Anywhere Merger Could Close Far Ahead of Schedule

Compass’ proposed merger with Anywhere Real Estate is coming.

Stockholders “overwhelmingly” approved the merger between the two residential giants, now expected to close by Jan. 9, the brokerage said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday. The deal, worth $1.6 billion, was announced in September and previously forecast to close in the second half of 2026.

Compass held a special stockholder meeting Wednesday, where investors approved the proposal to issue shares of
Compass Class A common stock to Anywhere stockholders, according to the SEC filing. Anywhere’s special stockholders meeting saw approximately 72.4 percent of the outstanding shares of common stock voted to approve the proposal to adopt the merger agreement.

The vote came days after the antitrust review waiting period for the potential deal expired on Jan. 2, the firms said in an earlier SEC filing. The waiting period provides the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission the opportunity to review proposed deals for antitrust concerns under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.

Compass’ stock price shot up over 12 percent to $12.16 in early morning trading Wednesday, its highest mark since the end of 2021. Anywhere’s stock is up over 20 percent to $17.48, its highest point since early 2022.

Barron’s first reported the news of the deadline passing.

The review period’s expiration comes despite Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden urging the DOJ and FTC to investigate the merger over concerns about listing transparency and market consolidation.

The companies announced the $1.6 billion deal in September. Compass, the largest brokerage in the country by deal volume, would add Anywhere’s more than 300,000 agents to its over 40,000 agents. The brokerages combined for roughly $415 billion in deal volume in 2024, according to RealTrends.

The deal would bring Anywhere brands like Corcoran, Sotheby’s International Realty, Coldwell Banker and Century 21 under the Compass banner. The brokerage helmed by Robert Reffkin previously shook the industry with a $444 million deal for Chicago-based @properties and Christie’s International Real Estate after a steady beat of acquisitions in recent years, completing deals for regional firms.