Sec Form 4 Filing - Dreixler Julie M. @ VENTAS INC - 2011-02-25

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

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, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person Dreixler Julie M. 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol VENTAS INC [ VTR] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) SVP-Human Resources (Last) (First) (Middle) 111 SOUTH WACKER DRIVE, SUITE 4800 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 02/25/2011 (Street) CHICAGO, IL60606 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 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) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 02/25/2011 A 1,441 ( 1 ) A $ 0 6,530.841 D Common Stock 02/25/2011 F 151 ( 2 ) D $ 57.19 6,379.841 D Common Stock 02/26/2011 F 188 ( 3 ) D $ 57.19 6,191.841 D Common Stock 02/27/2011 F 413 ( 4 ) D $ 57.19 6,000.547 ( 5 ) ( 6 ) 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 (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 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 (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (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 of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 57.19 02/25/2011 A 2,873 ( 7 ) 02/25/2011( 8 ) 02/25/2021 Common Stock 2,873 $ 0 9,641 ( 9 ) D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other Dreixler Julie M. 111 SOUTH WACKER DRIVE, SUITE 4800 CHICAGO, IL60606 SVP-Human Resources Signatures Julie M. Dreixler, By: T. Richard Riney, Attorney-In-Fact 03/01/2011 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )Restricted stock granted by Issuer pursuant to the Ventas, Inc. 2006 Incentive Plan (the "Plan"). These shares vest in three equal annual installments beginning on the date of grant. ( 2 )Represents shares withheld to pay the taxes on the vesting of restricted stock granted on February 25, 2011 under the Plan. ( 3 )Represents shares withheld to pay the taxes on the vesting of restricted stock granted on February 26, 2010 under the Plan. ( 4 )Represents shares withheld to pay the taxes on the vesting of restricted stock granted on February 27, 2009 under the Plan. ( 5 )Includes 115.925 shares acquired between March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2010 under the Ventas, Inc. Distribution Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan. ( 6 )Includes 105.781 shares acquired between March 2, 2010 and February 28, 2011 under the Ventas Employee and Director Stock Purchase Plan. ( 7 )Stock options granted by Issuer pursuant to the Plan. ( 8 )These options vest in three equal annual installments beginning on the date of grant. ( 9 )Represents total number of unexercised stock options held by the Reporting Person as of February 27, 2011.

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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