Essex Reports Characteristics of 2011 Dividend

January 17, 2012

PALO ALTO, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 01/17/12 -- Essex Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ESS), a real estate investment trust (REIT) that invests in apartment communities located in highly desirable, supply-constrained markets, announced today the income tax treatment for its 2011 distributions to shareholders. The 2011 distribution characteristics are as follows:

Common Stock - CUSIP Number 297178105:

                              Cash        Ordinary
  Record      Payment      Distribution   Taxable   Return of   Capital Gain
   Date        Date         Per Share     Dividend   Capital     (15% rate)
                         ---------------------------------------------------
 1/3/2011    1/14/2011      $1.032500    $0.657556  $0.252089    $0.115223
3/31/2011    4/15/2011      $1.040000    $0.662333  $0.253921    $0.116060
6/30/2011    7/15/2011      $1.040000    $0.662333  $0.253921    $0.116060
9/30/2011   10/14/2011      $1.040000    $0.662333  $0.253921    $0.116060
                         ---------------------------------------------------
                Totals:     $4.152500    $2.644554  $1.013851    $0.463404
           Percentages:       100%        63.6858%   24.4154%     11.1596%



   Unrecaptured
   Section 1250
   Capital Gain
    (25% rate)
---------------
    $0.007631
    $0.007687
    $0.007687
    $0.007687
---------------
    $0.030691
     0.7391%

For purposes of calculating alternative minimum taxable income under Sec. 55 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the Company apportions $0.09 per common share attributable to depreciation assuming a full year of ownership.

Series F Preferred - CUSIP Number 297178204:

                              Cash        Ordinary
  Record      Payment      Distribution   Taxable   Return of  Capital Gain
   Date        Date         Per Share     Dividend   Capital    (15% rate)
                         --------------------------------------------------
2/15/2011    3/1/2011       $0.488280    $0.488280  $0.000000    $0.000000
5/13/2011    6/1/2011       $0.488280    $0.488280  $0.000000   $0.000000
                         --------------------------------------------------
                Totals:     $0.97656      $0.97656   $0.00000    $0.00000
           Percentages:       100%       100.0000%   0.0000%      0.0000%



   Unrecaptured
   Section 1250
   Capital Gain
    (25% rate)
---------------
    $0.000000
    $0.000000
---------------
     $0.00000
     0.0000%

Series G Preferred - CUSIP Number 297178303:

                              Cash       Ordinary
  Record      Payment     Distribution    Taxable   Return of  Capital Gain
   Date        Date         Per Share     Dividend   Capital    (15% rate)
                         --------------------------------------------------
 1/3/2011    1/31/2011      $0.304690    $0.304690  $0.000000    $0.000000
 4/1/2011    5/2/2011       $0.304690    $0.304690  $0.000000    $0.000000
 7/1/2011    8/1/2011       $0.304690    $0.304690  $0.000000    $0.000000
10/3/2011   10/31/2011      $0.304690    $0.304690  $0.000000    $0.000000
                         --------------------------------------------------
                Totals:     $1.21876      $1.21876   $0.00000    $0.00000
           Percentages:       100%       100.0000%   0.0000%      0.0000%



   Unrecaptured
   Section 1250
   Capital Gain
    (25% rate)
---------------
    $0.000000
    $0.000000
    $0.000000
    $0.000000
---------------
     $0.00000
     0.0000%

Series H Preferred - CUSIP Number 297178402:

                              Cash        Ordinary
  Record      Payment      Distribution   Taxable   Return of   Capital Gain
   Date        Date         Per Share     Dividend   Capital     (15% rate)
                         ---------------------------------------------------
 7/1/2011    7/15/2011      $0.445310    $0.445310  $0.000000    $0.000000
10/3/2011   10/17/2011      $0.445310    $0.445310  $0.000000    $0.000000
                         ---------------------------------------------------
                Totals:     $0.89062      $0.89062   $0.00000     $0.00000
           Percentages:       100%       100.0000%   0.0000%      0.0000%



   Unrecaptured
   Section 1250
   Capital Gain
    (25% rate)
---------------
    $0.000000
    $0.000000
---------------
     $0.00000
     0.0000%

The Company did not incur any foreign taxes during 2011.

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

Essex Property Trust, Inc., located in Palo Alto, California and traded on the New York Stock Exchange (ESS), is a fully integrated real estate investment trust (REIT) that acquires, develops, redevelops, and manages multifamily residential properties in selected West Coast communities. Essex currently has ownership interests in 155 multifamily communities with an additional 5 properties in various stages of development. Additional information about Essex can be found on the Company's web site at www.essexpropertytrust.com. If you would like to receive future press releases via e-mail-please send a request to investors@essexpropertytrust.com.

Bryan Hunt
(650) 849-5823

Source: Essex Property Trust, Inc.