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): February 14, 2013

AMERICAN REALTY CAPITAL TRUST III, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Maryland

000-54690

27-3715929

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(Commission File Number)

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

405 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10022

(Address, including zip code, of principal executive offices)

(212) 415-6500

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:

x Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01. Other Events.

On February 14, 2013, American Realty Capital Trust III, Inc. (the “Company”) and American Realty Capital Properties, Inc. (“ARCP”) issued a joint press release announcing that they intend to close their proposed merger in the first quarter of 2013, subject to stockholder approval. Upon the close of the merger, the Company’s stockholders will receive an increase to their monthly distribution.

A copy of the joint press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

About the Company

The Company is a publicly registered, non-traded real estate investment program that qualified as a real estate investment trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes for the taxable year ended December 31, 2011, focused on acquiring primarily free-standing single-tenant retail properties net leased to investment grade and other creditworthy tenants with long-term lease durations that contain non-cancelable lease terms of ten or more years. Additional information about the Company can be found on its website at www.arct-3.com.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed merger, the Company and ARCP have filed a definitive proxy statement with the SEC on January 22, 2013 and commenced mailing the definitive proxy statement and a form of proxy to the stockholders of the Company. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, INVESTORS ARE URGED TO READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT REGARDING THE PROPOSED MERGER CAREFULLY AND IN ITS ENTIRETY BECAUSE THE PROXY STATEMENT CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED MERGER. Investors will be able to obtain, without charge, a copy of the definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents filed with the SEC from the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed by the Company with the SEC are also available free of charge on the Company’s website at http://www.arct-3.com, and copies of the documents filed by ARCP with the SEC are available free of charge on ARCP’s website at http://www.americanrealtycapitalproperties.com.

Participants in Solicitation

The Company, ARCP and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the Company’s and ARCP’s stockholders in respect of the proposed merger. Information regarding the Company’s directors and executive officers can be found in the Company’s definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 24, 2012. Information regarding ARCP’s directors and executive officers can be found in ARCP’s definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on May 4, 2012 and its Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Sec on October 16, 2012. Stockholders may obtain additional information regarding the interests of the Company and its directors and executive officers in the proposed merger, which may be different than those of the Company’s stockholders generally, by reading the definitive proxy statement filed in connection with the proposed merger with the SEC on January 22, 2013 and other relevant documents regarding the proposed merger filed with the SEC. These documents are available free of charge on the SEC’s website and from the Company or ARCP, as applicable, using the sources indicated above.

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this Current Report on Form 8-K (including information included or incorporated by reference herein) contains “forward-looking statements” (as defined in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), which reflect the Company’s and ARCP’s expectations regarding future events. The forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, whether and when the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement will be consummated, the new combined company’s plans, market and other expectations, objectives, intentions, as well as any expectations or projections with respect to the combined company, including regarding future dividends and market valuations, and other statements that are not historical facts.

The following additional factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements: the ability of the Company and ARCP to obtain the stockholder approvals required to consummate the proposed merger; market volatility, unexpected costs or unexpected liabilities that may arise from the transaction, whether or not consummated; the inability to retain key personnel; continuation or deterioration of current market conditions; whether or not ARCP common stock will be included in REIT and public exchange indices; uncertainty regarding the level of demand for ARCP common stock that inclusion in such indices would generate; future regulatory or legislative actions that could adversely affect the companies; and the business plans of the tenants of the respective parties. Additional factors that may affect future results are contained in Company's and ARCP’s filings with the SEC, which are available at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The Company and ARCP disclaim any obligation to update and revise statements contained in these materials based on new information or otherwise.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit No.		Description
99.1		Joint Press Release dated February 14, 2013 issued by American Realty Capital Properties, Inc. and American Realty Capital Trust III, Inc.

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.

	AMERICAN REALTY CAPITAL TRUST III, INC.

February 14, 2013	By:	/s/ Edward M. Weil, Jr.
	Name:	Edward M. Weil, Jr.
	Title:	President and Chief Operating Officer

American Realty Capital Trust III, Inc. 8-K