Image source: Shutterstock

Highlights

  • Guild Holdings to be acquired for USD 20 per share, marking a 56% premium.
  • The company to remain independent post-acquisition, retaining leadership and brand identity.
  • GHLD plans special dividend of up to USD 0.25; deal closing expected in Q4 20.

Guild Holdings Co. (NYSE: GHLD) is a national mortgage lender and servicer operating through a network of retail branches and direct channels. The company primarily focuses on residential mortgage loan origination and servicing, offering a range of government and conventional loan products. Guild has built a reputation for servicing its own originated loans, which allows it to maintain long-term relationships with borrowers. The company went public in 2020 and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker GHLD.

The company has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by a fund managed by Bayview Asset Management in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately USD 1.3 billion. The announcement, made on June 19, 2025, outlines a plan under which Guild shareholders will receive USD 20.00 per share in cash, representing a 56% premium to the company's closing stock price as of May 23, 2025, and a 27% premium to its tangible book value as of March 31, 2025.

The agreement has been unanimously approved by Guild’s Board of Directors. As part of the transaction plan, the Board also intends to authorize a special dividend of up to USD 0.25 per share in 2025, with the possibility of additional quarterly dividends should the deal not be finalized by the end of the calendar year. The special dividend will not reduce or impact the agreed acquisition price of USD 20.00 per share.

Upon completion of the transaction, Guild will become a privately held company, continuing to operate independently under its existing brand. Its current leadership team will remain in place, and the company will maintain its distributed retail origination and retained servicing model. The deal is projected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

Bayview Asset Management, the acquirer, is an investment firm that manages funds across a range of real estate-backed strategies. The acquisition of Guild aligns strategically with Bayview's affiliate, Lakeview Loan Servicing, one of the largest residential mortgage servicers in the U.S. with 2.8 million loans under management. According to the announcement, the alignment between Guild and Lakeview is expected to enhance operational capacity, scale, and customer engagement across both organizations.

Guild's shareholders will receive further information regarding the transaction in the coming months, including details of the shareholder vote required to approve the acquisition. If approved and completed as expected, GHLD shares will be delisted from the NYSE, and investors will receive cash payments in exchange for their equity.

Until the transaction closes, Guild will continue normal operations. The company has stated it will maintain its commitment to its existing business approach, including direct origination and loan servicing. No changes are expected for Guild customers or business partners during the transition. The company stated it will continue to focus on providing mortgage solutions while leveraging potential synergies from its future relationship with Lakeview Loan Servicing.

Further updates are anticipated as regulatory reviews and shareholder communications progress over the coming months.