Company Release - 2/20/20155:50 PMET

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Equity Commonwealth (NYSE: EQC) provided additional information regarding the alternative minimum tax treatment of its 2014 common and preferred share distributions. The tax treatment of distributions as a capital gain is unchanged and is as follows:

Series D Preferred Shares (CUSIP No. 294628201, formerly 203233408)

Record Date		Payable Date		Distribution Per Share		Capital Gain
10/31/2014	11/17/2014	$0.4063	$0.4063
08/05/2014	08/15/2014	$0.8125	$0.8125
02/01/2014		02/18/2014		$0.4063		$0.4063
		Total		$1.6251		$1.6251

Series E Preferred Shares (CUSIP No. 294628409, formerly 203233606)

Record Date		Payable Date		Distribution Per Share		Capital Gain
10/31/2014	11/17/2014	$0.4531	$0.4531
08/05/2014	08/15/2014	$0.9063	$0.9063
02/01/2014		02/18/2014		$0.4531		$0.4531
		Total		$1.8125		$1.8125

Common Shares (CUSIP No. 294628102, formerly 203233101)

Record Date		Payable Date		Distribution Per Share		Capital Gain
1/13/2014		2/21/2014		$0.2500		$0.2500
		Total		$0.2500		$0.2500

Alternative Minimum Tax (additional information)

The Company has determined that 15.41% of each distribution to its shareholders for the tax year ended December 31, 2014 consists of an alternative minimum tax adjustment (i.e., for each $1 of dividend reportable by a shareholder, $0.1541 represents a positive alternative minimum tax adjustment). To determine your share of the Company's positive alternative minimum tax adjustment, multiply the aggregate dollar amount of your reportable 2014 dividend from the Company (the sum of the amounts shown in Boxes 1a and 2a of the Company's 2014 Form 1099-DIV) by 0.1541.

Shareholders are encouraged to consult with their tax advisors as to the specific tax treatment of the distributions they received from the Company. Investors should refer to their Federal Form 1099 which has been mailed and contact Wells Fargo Shareowner Services at 1-855-235-0840 for further information.

The CUSIP numbers for EQC's preferred and common shares changed when EQC changed its name on July 31, 2014. Both the current and former CUSIP numbers are noted above.

This release is based on the preliminary results of work on the Company's tax filings and is subject to correction or adjustment when the filings are completed. The Company is releasing information at this time to aid those required to distribute Forms 1099 on the Company's distributions. No material change in these classifications is expected.

About Equity Commonwealth

Equity Commonwealth (NYSE: EQC) is an internally managed and self-advised real estate investment trust, which primarily owns office buildings located in central business districts and suburban locations across the country, with executive offices in Chicago, Il.

Equity Commonwealth
Sarah Byrnes, (312) 646-2801

Source: Equity Commonwealth