Equity Commonwealth Sets 2024 Virtual Special Meeting of Shareholders

Rhea-AI Summary

Equity Commonwealth (NYSE: EQC) has announced a Virtual Special Meeting of Shareholders scheduled for November 12, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. Central Time. The meeting's primary purpose is to vote on the Plan of Sale and Dissolution of the Company, which includes the complete liquidation and dissolution of EQC. Shareholders will also vote on an advisory, non-binding basis regarding potential compensation for named executive officers in connection with the Plan of Sale.

The Company's Board of Trustees has determined that this plan is in the best interests of EQC and its shareholders. The Plan of Sale authorizes the Company to sell all remaining properties, wind down affairs, and distribute net proceeds to shareholders. Shareholders of record as of October 1, 2024, will be eligible to vote at the meeting. Details on how to participate, vote, and ask questions during the virtual meeting are included in the definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC.

Positive

• Board of Trustees supports the Plan of Sale and Dissolution, believing it's in the best interest of the company and shareholders
• Plan includes selling all remaining properties and distributing net proceeds to shareholders

Negative

• Proposed complete liquidation and dissolution of the company
• Potential compensation payouts to named executive officers in connection with the Plan of Sale

Insights

Financial Analyst

The announcement of Equity Commonwealth's Plan of Sale and Dissolution is a significant development for investors. This move signals the company's intention to liquidate all assets and distribute proceeds to shareholders, effectively ending its operations. While this could potentially unlock value for shareholders in the short term, it also means the end of EQC as an ongoing investment.

Investors should carefully consider the implications:

• The liquidation value of assets versus current market cap ($2.13 billion)
• Potential tax implications of the distribution
• The timeline for asset sales and distributions
• Market conditions that may affect property values

The non-binding vote on executive compensation is also noteworthy, as it may impact the final distribution amount. Overall, this decision represents a major shift in strategy and warrants close attention from shareholders.

Real Estate Expert

Equity Commonwealth's decision to liquidate its portfolio is a significant move in the real estate investment trust (REIT) sector. This strategy suggests that the company's management believes that selling individual properties will yield more value than continuing operations or seeking a merger.

Key considerations for investors include:

• The current real estate market conditions, which may affect the speed and value of property sales
• Potential premium or discount to net asset value (NAV) that the liquidation might achieve
• Comparison to similar REIT liquidations or strategic alternatives

The decision to liquidate rather than pursue other options like mergers or continued operations indicates that management sees this as the best way to maximize shareholder value. However, the success of this strategy will depend heavily on execution and market conditions over the next year.

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Equity Commonwealth (NYSE: EQC) (the “Company”) today announced that it has filed a definitive proxy statement (the “Definitive Proxy”) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) related to a Special Meeting of Shareholders (the “Special Shareholder Meeting”) for the following purpose: (i) to consider and vote upon the Plan of Sale and Dissolution of the Company (the “Plan of Sale”), including the wind-down and complete liquidation of the Company, and the dissolution and termination of the Company, including the establishment of a Liquidating Entity (as defined in the Definitive Proxy), and (ii) on an advisory, non-binding basis, to consider and vote upon compensation that may become payable by the Company to its named executive officers in connection with the Plan of Sale. The Plan of Sale, which the Company’s Board of Trustees has determined is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders, authorizes the Company to sell all of its remaining properties, wind-down the Company’s affairs and distribute the net proceeds to shareholders.

As disclosed in the Definitive Proxy, the Special Shareholder Meeting will be held virtually on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. Central Time. Shareholders of record at the close of business on October 1, 2024 will be entitled to vote at the meeting.

Other details of the virtual special meeting, including how shareholders can participate in the virtual meeting, vote and ask questions, are included in the Definitive Proxy.

About Equity Commonwealth

Equity Commonwealth is a Chicago based, internally managed and self-advised real estate investment trust (REIT) with commercial office properties in the United States. EQC’s portfolio is comprised of four properties totaling 1.5 million square feet.

Regulation FD Disclosures

We use any of the following to comply with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD: press releases, SEC filings, public conference calls, or our website. We routinely post important information on our website at www.eqcre.com, including information that may be deemed to be material. We encourage investors and others interested in the Company to monitor these distribution channels for material disclosures.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release are intended to be made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. You can identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology, including but not limited to, “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” or “potential” or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases which are predictions of or indicate future events or trends and which do not relate solely to historical matters. You can also identify forward-looking statements by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release reflect our current views about future events and are subject to numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and changes in circumstances that may cause our actual results to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. We do not guarantee that the transactions and events described will happen as described (or that they will happen at all). We disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, of new information, data or methods, future events or other changes. For a further discussion of these and other factors that could cause our future results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements, see the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

This communication is not a substitute for the Definitive Proxy or any other document that the Company has filed or may file with the SEC or send to the Company’s shareholders in connection with the Special Shareholder Meeting. The Definitive Proxy and any such other document will be made available to the Company’s shareholders at no expense to them and copies may be obtained free of charge on the Company’s website at www.eqcre.com or on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Shareholders of the Company are urged to read the Definitive Proxy and any other relevant materials when they become available before making any voting or investment decision with respect to the proposed Plan of Sale because they will contain important information about the Company and the proposed Plan of Sale.

Participants in the Proxy Solicitation

The Company and its trustees and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies of the Company shareholders in connection with the Special Shareholder Meeting. Shareholders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of the Company’s trustees and executive officers by reading the Definitive Proxy and other relevant materials that will be filed with the SEC by the Company in connection with the Special Shareholder Meeting.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241002534819/en/

Bill Griffiths

(312) 646-2801

ir@eqcre.com

Source: Equity Commonwealth

FAQ

When is Equity Commonwealth (EQC) holding its Virtual Special Meeting of Shareholders?

Equity Commonwealth (EQC) is holding its Virtual Special Meeting of Shareholders on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. Central Time.

What is the main purpose of EQC's Special Shareholder Meeting?

The main purpose is to vote on the Plan of Sale and Dissolution of the Company, which includes the complete liquidation of EQC, and to vote on potential executive compensation related to the plan.

Who is eligible to vote at EQC's Special Shareholder Meeting?

Shareholders of record at the close of business on October 1, 2024 will be entitled to vote at the meeting.

What does the Plan of Sale for EQC involve?

The Plan of Sale authorizes EQC to sell all of its remaining properties, wind-down the Company's affairs, and distribute the net proceeds to shareholders.