8-K

UNITED STATES

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) February 29, 2012

Health Care REIT, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	1-8923	34-1096634
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)
4500 Dorr Street		43615
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (419) 247-2800

(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):

¨ 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))

Item 8.01 Other Events.

Health Care REIT, Inc. announced that it will redeem all 7,000,000 shares of its 7 5/8% Series F Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock on April 2, 2012 at a redemption price of $25.00 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends through April 2, 2012. The redemption price does not include the $0.47656 per share quarterly dividend that will be paid separately on or after April 16, 2012 to holders of record of the Series F Preferred Stock on March 30, 2012. The press release announcing the redemption is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

99.1 Press release dated February 29, 2012

SIGNATURE

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.

HEALTH CARE REIT, INC.
By:	/s/ George L. Chapman
	George L. Chapman
Its:	Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President

Dated: February 29, 2012

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

F O R   I M M E D I A T E   R E L E A S E

February 29, 2012

For more information contact:

Scott Estes (419) 247-2800

Jay Morgan (419) 247-2800

HEALTH CARE REIT, INC. CALLS SERIES F

PREFERRED STOCK FOR REDEMPTION

Toledo, Ohio, February 29, 2012… Health Care REIT, Inc. (NYSE:HCN) today announced that it will redeem all 7,000,000 shares of its 7 5/8% Series F Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (NYSE: HCN PrF, CUSIP: 42217K 403) on April 2, 2012 at a redemption price of $25.00 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends through April 2, 2012. The redemption price does not include the $0.47656 per share quarterly dividend that will be paid separately on or after April 16, 2012 to holders of record of the Series F Preferred Stock on March 30, 2012.

The Notice of Redemption will be mailed to holders of record of the Series F Preferred Stock on March 2, 2012. Questions related to the Notice of Redemption should be directed to the redemption agent, BNY Mellon Shareowner Services, Attn: Corporate Action Dept., 27th Floor, 480 Washington Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ 07310 or by calling 1-800-777-3674.

About Health Care REIT, Inc. Health Care REIT, Inc., an S&P 500 company with headquarters in Toledo, Ohio, is a real estate investment trust that invests across the full spectrum of seniors housing and health care real estate. The company also provides an extensive array of property management and development services. As of December 31, 2011, the company’s broadly diversified portfolio consisted of 937 facilities in 46 states.

Forward-Looking Statements

This document may contain “forward-looking” statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When the company uses words such as “may,” “will,” “intend,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “estimate” or similar expressions, it is making forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties. The company’s expected results may not be achieved, and actual results may differ materially from expectations. This may be a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, the completion of the redemption as and when anticipated by the company. Additional factors are discussed in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and in its other reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements.

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