PALO ALTO, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 01/27/15

Essex Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ESS) announced today the income tax treatment for its 2014 distributions to shareholders. The 2014 distribution characteristics are as follows:

Common Stock - CUSIP Number 297178105:

                                                                Unrecaptured
                         Cash     Ordinary  Return    Capital   Section 1250
  Record    Payment  Distribution  Taxable    of       Gain     Capital Gain
   Date      Date      Per Share  Dividend  Capital (20% rate)   (25% rate)
                     ------------ -------- -------- ---------- -------------
 1/2/2014  1/15/2014   $1.21000   $0.84738 $0.00000  $0.26564     $0.09697
3/14/2014  3/31/2014   $1.21000   $0.84738 $0.00000  $0.26564     $0.09697
6/30/2014  7/15/2014   $1.30000   $0.91041 $0.00000  $0.28540     $0.10419
9/30/2014 10/15/2014   $1.30000   $0.91041 $0.00000  $0.28540     $0.10419
                     ------------ -------- -------- ---------- -------------
             Totals:   $5.02000   $3.51558 $0.00000  $1.10208     $0.40232
        Percentages:     100%     70.0316%  0.0000%  21.9539%     8.0145%

For purposes of calculating alternative minimum taxable income under Sec. 55 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the Company apportions $0.08 per common share attributable to depreciation assuming a full year of ownership.

Series G Preferred - CUSIP Number 297178303:

                                                                Unrecaptured
                       Cash      Ordinary             Capital   Section 1250
 Record   Payment  Distribution  Taxable  Return of    Gain     Capital Gain
  Date      Date     Per Share   Dividend  Capital  (20% rate)   (25% rate)
                   ------------ --------- --------- ---------- -------------
1/2/2014 1/31/2014   $0.30469    $0.21338  $0.00000  $0.06689     $0.02442
4/1/2014 4/30/2014   $0.30469    $0.21338  $0.00000  $0.06689     $0.02442
                   ------------ --------- --------- ---------- -------------
           Totals:   $0.60938    $0.42676  $0.00000  $0.13378     $0.04884
      Percentages:     100%      70.0316%  0.0000%   21.9539%     8.0145%



Series H Preferred - CUSIP Number 297178402:


                                                                Unrecaptured
                         Cash     Ordinary  Return    Capital   Section 1250
  Record    Payment  Distribution  Taxable    of       Gain     Capital Gain
   Date      Date      Per Share  Dividend  Capital (20% rate)   (25% rate)
                     ------------ -------- -------- ---------- -------------
 1/2/2014  1/15/2014   $0.44531   $0.31186 $0.00000  $0.09776     $0.03569
 4/1/2014  4/15/2014   $0.44531   $0.31186 $0.00000  $0.09776     $0.03569
 7/1/2014  7/15/2014   $0.44531   $0.31186 $0.00000  $0.09776     $0.03569
10/1/2014 10/15/2014   $0.44531   $0.31186 $0.00000  $0.09776     $0.03569
                     ------------ -------- -------- ---------- -------------
             Totals:   $1.78124   $1.24744 $0.00000  $0.39104     $0.14276
        Percentages:     100%     70.0316%  0.0000%  21.9539%     8.0145%

The Company did not incur any foreign taxes during 2014.

Shareholders are encouraged to consult with their tax advisors as to their specific tax treatment of Essex Property Trust, Inc. dividends.

About Essex Property Trust, Inc.
Essex Property Trust, Inc., an S&P 500 company, is a fully integrated real estate investment trust (REIT) that acquires, develops, redevelops, and manages multifamily residential properties in selected West Coast markets. Essex currently has ownership interests in 240 apartment communities with an additional 14 properties in various stages of active development. Additional information about Essex can be found on the Company's web site at www.essex.com.

Contact Information
Barb Pak
Director of Investor Relations
(650) 494-3700
bpak@essex.com