Public Storage has made a hostile bid for Life Storage worth $11 billion, in an effort to expand its presence in the self-storage sector. The bid comes at a time when the industry is facing unprecedented demand as customers shift away from traditional housing to more flexible and affordable options. Public Storage's offer includes $3.3 billion in cash and $7.6 billion in stock, and if accepted, would create one of the largest real estate investment trusts in the world. The merger would give Public Storage more than 2,500 facilities across the U.S. and Canada and could help the company dominate the competitive self-storage market. The combination of the two companies would result in cost savings, increased efficiency and improved customer service, which could benefit both companies in the long run.