The deal included $1.6 billion in debt assumption and $30 pershare in cash. According to a December release about thetransaction, the price is an 18% premium over the previous week'sclosing stock price and a 26% premium over the company's averagestock price since Realogy separated from CendantCorp. on Aug. 1. Realogy is considered to be one of thelargest real estate franchisors in the world and includes suchbrands as Century 21, Coldwell Banker, Coldwell Banker Commercial,Sotheby's International Realty, NRT Inc., Cartus and Title ResourceGroup..

The merger was first made public in December,at which time Realogy's CEO and chairman Henry Silverman said,"After careful consideration, our board of directors has concludedthat this transaction is in the best interests of Realogy and outstockholders. It will enable stockholders to realize the value ofRealogy's fundamentally strong businesses. At the same time, thevaluation takes into account the substantial pressures anduncertainties facing the residential real estate markets that maywell continue for some time."

The deal then received shareholder approval at the end ofMarch.