SEC FORM 4

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

MIKL MARK J

(Last)

(First)

(Middle)

C/O ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST

925 E MEADOW DR

(Street)

PALO ALTO

94303

(City)

(State)

(Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST INC [ ESS ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director	10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)	Other (specify below)
	First Vice Pres. Controller

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
03/31/2004

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price		6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Common Stock	03/31/2004	03/31/2004	J⁽⁵⁾		3,827	A	$26.125	13,048	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)		10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Employee Stock Option	$26.125	03/31/2004	03/31/2004	J⁽⁵⁾			3,827	03/31/2000	03/31/2009	Common Stock	3,827	$26.125	173	D
Series Z-1 Incentive Unit⁽¹⁾	$65.5⁽³⁾	03/31/2004	03/31/2004	J⁽¹⁾		4,569		03/31/2019⁽²⁾	03/31/2019⁽²⁾	Series Z-1 Incentive Unit	4,569⁽³⁾	$1⁽⁴⁾	4,569	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Represents the grant of Series Z-1 Incentive Units pursuant to the Essex Portfolio, L.P. Long Term Incentive Plan. Subject to the Conversion Ratchet Percentage, described below, the Series Z-1 Incentive Units are convertible or redeemable, as the case may be, upon the occurrence of certain events, into either (i) Operating Partnership units in Essex Portfolio, L.P. (“OPUs”), and such OPUs are convertible into shares of common stock of Essex Property Trust, Inc. (“Common Stock”) or (ii) shares of Common Stock. The Conversion Ratchet Percentage, initially set at 20%, will increase by up to 10% on January 1 of each year for each holder of Series Z-1 Incentive Units who remains employed by Essex Property Trust, Inc. if Essex Property Trust, Inc has met a specified “funds from operations” per share target, or such other criteria established by the Compensation Committee, for the prior year, up to a maximum Conversion Ratchet Percentage of 100%.

2. The Series Z-1 Incentive Units will automatically convert into OPUs (1) if the Conversion Ratchet Percentage reaches the maximum level of 100%, (2) if none of the participating executives remain employed by Essex Property Trust, Inc., (3) if Essex Property Trust, Inc. dissolves or is liquidated or, (4) at the latest, fifteen years from the issuance date. In certain change of control situations, the participating executives will also be given the option to convert their units at the then-effective Conversion Ratchet Percentage. In addition, Essex Portfolio, L.P. has the option to redeem Series Z-1 Incentive Units held by any executive whose employment has been terminated for any reason and the obligation to redeem any such units following the death of the holder. In such event, Essex Portfolio, L.P. will redeem the units for, at its option, either OPUs or shares of Common Stock based on the then-effective Conversion Ratchet Percentage.

3. The Series Z-1 Incentive Units are convertible into the number of OPUs calculated by dividing (1) the remainder resulting from (a) the portion of the adjusted capital account balance properly allocable to such Series Z-1 Incentive Units minus (b) the product of (i) such adjusted capital account balance allocable to such Series Z-1 Incentive Unit multiplied by (ii) (x) 100% less (y) the Conversion Ratchet Percentage applicable to such Series Z-1 Incentive Unit, minus (c) any unpaid capital commitment by (2) the average adjusted capital account balance properly allocable to one OPU determined immediately prior to such conversion.

4. A capital contribution of $1.00 per Series Z-1 Incentive Unit.

5. Represents the exercise of employee stock options and acquisition of common stock at $26.125 per share.

	/s/ Mark J. Mikl	04/01/2004
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
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