U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 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): March 28, 2014

BRE PROPERTIES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

525 Market Street, 4^th Floor, San Francisco, California 94105-2712

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

(415) 445-6530

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

Item 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

BRE Properties, Inc. (“BRE”) held a special meeting of stockholders on March 28, 2014 (the “Special Meeting”). At the Special Meeting, BRE stockholders approved the two proposals described below. Stockholder action on a third proposal, to approve one or more adjournments of the Special Meeting to another date, time or place, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies in favor of Proposal 1, was not required and no vote was taken on that proposal. The final voting results with respect to the proposal voted upon at the Special Meeting is set forth below. The proposals are described in detail in the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus for the Special Meeting, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 14, 2014.

Proposal 1

BRE stockholders approved the merger (the “Merger”) and other transactions contemplated by an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 19, 2013 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Essex Property Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“Essex”), BEX Portfolio Inc., formerly known as Bronco Acquisition Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Essex, and BRE.

Proposal 2

BRE stockholders approved certain compensation that may be paid or become payable to the named executive officers of BRE in connection with the Merger.

Item 8.01. Other Events

On March 28, 2014, BRE issued a press release announcing the results of the Special Meeting. The full text of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

Forward Looking Statements

This Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements which are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the industry and markets in which Essex and BRE operate and beliefs of and assumptions made by Essex management and BRE management, involve uncertainties that could significantly affect the financial results of Essex or BRE or the combined company. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, which generally are not historical in nature. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the anticipated benefits of the business combination transaction involving Essex and BRE, including future financial and operating results, and the combined company’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions. All statements that address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future – including statements relating to expected synergies, improved liquidity and balance sheet strength – are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Although we believe the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be attained and therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Some of the factors that may affect outcomes and results include, but are not limited to: (i) national, regional and local economic climates, (ii) changes in financial markets and interest rates, or to the business or financial condition of BRE or its business, (iii) changes in market demand for rental apartment homes and competitive pricing, (iv) risks associated with acquisitions, including the proposed merger with Essex, (v) maintenance of real estate investment trust (“REIT”) status, (vi) availability of financing and capital, (vii) risks associated with achieving expected revenue synergies or cost savings, (viii) risks associated with the companies’ ability to consummate the merger on the terms described or at all and the timing of the closing of the merger, and (ix) those additional risks and factors discussed in reports filed with the SEC by Essex and BRE from time to time, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in their respective most recently filed reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q. BRE does not undertake any duty to update any forward-looking statements appearing in this Form 8-K.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits