PROXY STATEMENT
2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
Tuesday, May 14, 2024
ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC.
1100 Park Place, Suite 200
San Mateo, California 94403
Information Concerning Solicitation and Voting
This proxy statement is furnished to the holders of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value $.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), of Essex Property Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company” or “Essex”), in connection with the solicitation by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) of proxies in the accompanying form for exercise at the virtual 2024 Annual Meeting to be held online on May 14, 2024 at 1:00 p.m., Pacific Time, at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/ESS2024, and any postponement or adjournment thereof.
This proxy statement and the accompanying notice of annual meeting, proxy card and 2023 Annual Report to Stockholders are first being made available to stockholders on or about March 28, 2024.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholder Meeting to Be Held on May 14, 2024.
The proxy statement, notice of annual meeting, proxy card, and 2023 Annual Report to Stockholders are available electronically at http://materials.proxyvote.com/297178.
Pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), we have elected to provide access to our proxy materials over the Internet, instead of mailing paper copies to each stockholder. Accordingly, on or about March 28, 2024, we are mailing to many of our stockholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (“Notice”), while brokers and other nominees who hold shares on behalf of beneficial owners will be sending their own similar notice, containing instructions on how to access our proxy materials and 2023 Annual Report to Stockholders and how to vote. The Notice is not itself a proxy and cannot itself be used to vote your shares. If you received only a Notice this year, you will not receive paper copies of the proxy materials unless you request the materials by following the instructions on the Notice or on the website referred to in the Notice. Some stockholders may, if they have so requested previously, receive these materials via email or receive paper copies by mail.
How to Participate in the Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting will again be a completely virtual meeting of stockholders, which will be conducted via live webcast. You are entitled to participate in the Annual Meeting only if you were a stockholder of the Company as of the close of business on March 1, 2024 (the “Record Date”) or if you hold a valid proxy for the Annual Meeting.
You will be able to participate in the Annual Meeting online and all verified stockholders will be able to submit questions during the meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/ESS2024. To participate in and/or ask questions at the Annual Meeting, you will need the 16-digit control number included on your Notice of Internet Availability of the Proxy Materials, on your proxy card, or on the instructions from your broker that accompanied your proxy materials. Questions may be submitted throughout the Annual Meeting via the question box provided on the webpage and may be addressed by the Company prior to the conclusion of voting. The Company will answer stockholder questions directly related to the business conducted at the Annual Meeting, as determined by the Chairman of the Board.
You may access copies of the Company’s proxy statement and annual report by visiting www.proxyvote.com.
The meeting will begin promptly at 1:00 p.m., Pacific Time, on May 14, 2024. Online access will begin at 12:45 p.m., Pacific Time, and we encourage you to access the meeting prior to the start time. If you encounter any difficulties accessing the virtual meeting or during the meeting time, please call the VSM Shareholder Meeting Basic Support Line - TFN: 844-986-0822 / International: 303-562-9302.
