UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 21, 2020

EMPIRE STATE REALTY TRUST, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Maryland	001-36105	37-1645259
(State or other Jurisdiction<br> of Incorporation)	(Commission<br> <br>File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer<br> Identification No.)

EMPIRE STATE REALTY OP, L.P.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Delaware	001-36106	45-4685158
(State or other Jurisdiction<br> of Incorporation)	(Commission<br> <br>File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer<br> Identification No.)
111 West 33<br>rd<br> Street, 12thFloor<br> <br>New York, New York	10120
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 687-8700

n/a

(Former name or former address, if changed from last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule <br>14a-12<br> under the Exchange Act (17 CFR <br>240.14a-12)
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☐	Pre-commencement<br> communications pursuant to Rule <br>14d-2(b)<br> under the Exchange Act (17 CFR <br>240.14d-2(b))
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☐	Pre-commencement<br> communications pursuant to Rule <br>13e-4(c)<br> under the Exchange Act (17 CFR <br>240.13e-4(c))
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading<br> <br>Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange<br> <br>on which registered
Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.
Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share	ESRT	The New York Stock Exchange
Empire State Realty OP, L.P.
Series ES Operating Partnership Units	ESBA	NYSE Arca, Inc.
Series 60 Operating Partnership Units	OGCP	NYSE Arca, Inc.
Series 250 Operating Partnership Units	FISK	NYSE Arca, Inc.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.   ☐

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This Current Report on Form 8-K is filed by Empire State Realty Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and Empire State Realty OP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership through which the Company conducts substantially all of its operations (the “Operating Partnership”). The Company is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership.

Item 5.02	Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On April 21, 2020, the board of directors of the Company appointed Christina Chiu as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and the Operating Partnership, effective on the date to be set by her and the Company for her commencement of services. Ms. Chiu will also serve as the principal financial officer of the Company and the Operating Partnership.

Ms. Chiu, age 39, will join the Company following an 18-year career at Morgan Stanley, where she has been a Managing Director since 2014. She currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of the Global Listed Real Assets business at Morgan Stanley Investment Management, where she is responsible for business development and capital raising efforts, investor relationships, overseeing the day-to-day business, and execution of strategic initiatives. In addition, she is responsible for Canadian REIT sector coverage and serves as a member of the MSIM Sustainability Council and Listed Real Assets Investment Committee. She began her career as a real estate investment banking analyst where she worked on both principal investing and strategic advisory transactions. Ms. Chiu earned a B.S. in Finance and Accounting summa cum laude from New York University Stern School of Business.

Ms. Chiu will receive an annual base salary of $475,000, be eligible for a 2020 annual cash bonus targeted at $475,000, and receive $750,000 of 2020 equity long-term incentive compensation subject to vesting requirements (50% time-based and 50% performance-based), all to be pro-rated for the period of 2020 during which Ms. Chiu is employed by the Company. She will also receive a one-time initial equity grant of approximately $320,000 subject to time-based vesting requirements.

On commencement of her services to the Company, an indemnification agreement and a change in control severance agreement will be in effect for Ms. Chiu, in each case substantially similar to the corresponding agreements in effect for other named executive officers of the Company, providing for (i) indemnification by the Company for certain liabilities and expenses incurred as a result of actions brought, or threatened to be brought, against Ms. Chiu in connection with her status or service as an executive officer of the Company and (ii) certain severance and other benefits, including acceleration of vesting of outstanding equity awards, upon qualifying terminations of employment following a change in control.

There were no arrangements or understandings between Ms. Chiu and any other persons pursuant to which Ms. Chiu received her appointment. Ms. Chiu does not have any family relationships subject to disclosure under Item 401(d) of Regulation S-K or any direct or indirect material interest in any transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

Item 7.01	Regulation FD Disclosure.

On April 23, 2020, the Company issued a press release announcing the above-described appointment. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

The information in Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section. Such information shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, unless it is specifically incorporated by reference therein.

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Item 9.01	Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit No.		Description
	99.1	Press release dated April 23, 2020
	104	Cover Page Interactive File (the cover page tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, the registrants have duly caused this report to be signed on their behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	EMPIRE STATE REALTY TRUST, INC.
Date: April 23, 2020	By:	/s/ Thomas N. Keltner, Jr.
		Name: Thomas N. Keltner, Jr.
		Title: Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
	EMPIRE STATE REALTY OP, L.P.
	By:	Empire State Realty Trust, Inc., as general partner
Date: April 23, 2020	By:	/s/ Thomas N. Keltner, Jr.
		Name: Thomas N. Keltner, Jr.
		Title: Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

EMPIRE STATE REALTY TRUST ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF

CHRISTINA CHIU AS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF

FINANCIAL OFFICER

New York, New York,April 23, 2020—Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:ESRT) (the “Company”), a real estate investment trust with office and retail properties in Manhattan and the greater New York metropolitan area, today announced the appointment of Christina Chiu as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Ms. Chiu will lead the Company’s finance function and will be responsible for financial reporting, capital markets, financial planning and analysis, investor relations, tax, treasury and information technology.

Anthony E. Malkin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer stated, “We have stated for many months our intention to work with Korn Ferry International to identify a CFO who will complement well our current business and our plans for the future. The Board of Directors and I are very pleased to welcome Christina to our leadership team. Christina’s experience, knowledge, and personality are a great fit for ESRT, not just for today, but for the future.”

Ms. Chiu stated, “I am thrilled to join Empire State Realty Trust with its high-quality portfolio and strong balance sheet. I look forward to working with the entire team to contribute to the future success of the Company.”

Ms. Chiu will join Empire State Realty Trust following an 18-year career at Morgan Stanley, where she has been a Managing Director since 2014. She currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of the Global Listed Real Assets business at Morgan Stanley Investment Management, where she is responsible for business development and capital raising efforts, investor relationships, overseeing the day-to-day business, and execution of strategic initiatives. In addition, she is responsible for Canadian REIT sector coverage and serves as a member of the MSIM Sustainability Council and Listed Real Assets Investment Committee. She began her career as a real estate investment banking analyst where she worked on both principal investing and strategic advisory transactions. Ms. Chiu earned a B.S. in Finance and Accounting summa cum laude from New York University Stern School of Business.

Mr. Malkin added, “The ESRT team and its stakeholders owe great thanks to Senior Vice Presidents John Hogg and Drew Prentice, respectively our head of FP &A and our Chief Accounting Officer, Treasurer, and Acting Chief Financial Officer, who have done outstanding work over several quarters in the timely and accurate reporting of our financial statements, operation of our financial planning amidst business conditions both normal and extraordinary, our recently concluded unsecured notes issuance and the expansion and extension of our term loan. Additionally, special thanks to our Vice President of Investor Relations Greg Faje for his work, and to President and COO John Kessler for his leadership of our transition team and the work they have done. ESRT never missed a beat.”

About Empire State Realty Trust

Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ESRT), a leading real estate investment trust (REIT), owns, manages, operates, acquires and repositions office and retail properties in Manhattan and the greater New York metropolitan area, including the Empire State Building, the world’s most famous building. Headquartered in New York, New York, the Company’s office and retail portfolio covers 10.1 million rentable square feet, as of March 31, 2020, consisting of 9.4 million rentable square feet in 14 office properties, including nine in Manhattan, three in Fairfield County, Connecticut and two in Westchester County, New York; and approximately 700,000 rentable square feet in the retail portfolio.

Contact:

Investors

Empire State Realty Trust InvestorRelations

(212) 850-2678

IR@empirestaterealtytrust.com

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