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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 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): June 18, 2024
EQUITY COMMONWEALTH
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Maryland
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1-9317 | | | 04-6558834 |
(Commission File Number) | | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
| | |
Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000 | Chicago | IL |
60606 |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
(312) 646-2800
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
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 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act: |
Title Of Each Class | | Trading Symbol | | Name of Each Exchange On Which Registered |
Common Shares of Beneficial Interest | | EQC | | New York Stock Exchange |
6.50% Series D Cumulative Convertible Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest | | EQCpD | | New York Stock Exchange |
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. o
Item 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
On June 18, 2024, Equity Commonwealth (the “Company”) held its 2024 annual meeting of shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”). At the Annual Meeting, the Company’s shareholders (i) elected 7 trustees to the Board of Trustees of the Company (the “Board”) to serve until the Company’s 2025 annual meeting of shareholders, (ii) approved, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation of the named executive officers, and (iii) ratified the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024. The proposals are described in the Company’s Proxy Statement. The final voting results for each proposal are set forth below.
Proposal 1: Election of Trustees
At the Annual Meeting, shareholders elected 7 trustees to the Board to serve until the 2025 annual meeting of shareholders and until their respective successors have been duly elected and qualified. The table below sets forth the voting results for each trustee nominee:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Nominee | | Votes For | | Votes Withheld | | Broker Non-Votes |
David A. Helfand | | 85,610,382 | | | 6,398,183 | | | 6,619,715 | |
Ellen-Blair Chube | | 83,706,960 | | | 8,301,605 | | | 6,619,715 | |
Martin L. Edelman | | 83,600,179 | | | 8,408,386 | | | 6,619,715 | |
Peter Linneman | | 85,786,346 | | | 6,222,219 | | | 6,619,715 | |
Mary Jane Robertson | | 86,407,594 | | | 5,600,971 | | | 6,619,715 | |
Gerald A. Spector | | 85,497,445 | | | 6,511,120 | | | 6,619,715 | |
James A. Star | | 79,386,933 | | | 12,621,632 | | | 6,619,715 | |
Proposal 2: Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation
At the Annual Meeting, the Company’s shareholders voted affirmatively on a non-binding resolution to approve the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers. The table below sets forth the voting results for this proposal:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Votes For | | Votes Against | | Abstentions | | Broker Non-Votes |
64,027,182 | | 27,329,930 | | 651,453 | | 6,619,715 |
Proposal 3: Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
At the Annual Meeting, the Company’s shareholders ratified the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024. The table below sets forth the voting results for this proposal:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Votes For | | Votes Against | | Abstentions |
95,732,898 | | 2,871,238 | | 24,144 |
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.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| | | | | | | | |
| EQUITY COMMONWEALTH |
| By: | /s/ Orrin S. Shifrin |
| Name: | Orrin S. Shifrin |
| Title: | Executive Vice President, General |
| | Counsel and Secretary |
Date: June 20, 2024