Sec Form 4 Filing - ESTES SCOTT A @ HEALTH CARE REIT INC /DE/ - 2012-01-31

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 ESTES SCOTT A 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol HEALTH CARE REIT INC /DE/ [ HCN] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) EVP and CFO (Last) (First) (Middle) 4500 DORR STREET 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 01/31/2012 (Street) TOLEDO, OH43615 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 01/31/2012 A 1,356 ( 1 ) A $ 0 ( 1 ) 69,452 D Common Stock 01/31/2012 M 4,361 ( 2 ) A $ 0 ( 2 ) 73,813 D Common Stock 01/31/2012 F 446 ( 3 ) D $ 57.21 73,367 D Common Stock 01/31/2012 F 1,436 ( 4 ) D $ 57.21 71,931 D Common Stock 02/01/2012 M 15 A $ 37 71,946 D Common Stock 02/01/2012 M 1,485 A $ 34.88 73,431 D Common Stock 02/01/2012 S( 5 ) 1,500 D $ 57.3 71,931 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 Deferred Stock Units $ 0 ( 6 ) 01/31/2012 M 4,361 01/31/2012( 6 ) 01/31/2012( 6 ) Common 4,361 ( 2 ) $ 0 ( 6 ) 13,082 D Option (Right to Buy) $ 37 02/01/2012 M 15 01/15/2009( 7 ) 01/26/2014 Common 15 ( 7 ) $ 0 ( 8 ) 0 D Option (Right to Buy) $ 34.88 02/01/2012 M 1,485 01/15/2006( 9 ) 01/24/2015 Common 3,139 ( 9 ) $ 0 ( 8 ) 1,654 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other ESTES SCOTT A 4500 DORR STREET TOLEDO, OH43615 EVP and CFO Signatures By: Erin C. IbeleAttorney-in-FactFor: Scott A. Estes 02/02/2012 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )The reported transaction was the satisfaction of a performance contingency applicable to 1,356 performance shares granted without cash consideration on January 27, 2011 under the Amended and Restated Health Care REIT, Inc. 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan. No amount was payable in connection with the vesting or the common stock issuance. ( 2 )The reported transaction was a vesting of 4,361 deferred stock units on January 31, 2012, resulting in the issuance of 4,361 shares of common stock. No amount was payable in connection with the vesting or the common stock issuance. ( 3 )Tax withholding in shares of common stock on 1,356 performance shares granted on January 27, 2011, which grant vested on January 31, 2012. ( 4 )Tax withholding in shares of common stock on 4,361 deferred stock units granted on January 26, 2012, which grant vested on January 31, 2012. ( 5 )The shares coverd by this Form 4 have been sold pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 Sales Plan dated September 20, 2011. ( 6 )These deferred stock units were granted without cash consideration on January 26, 2012 under the Amended and Restated Health Care REIT, Inc. 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan. Each deferred stock unit represents a right to receive one share of common stock of Health Care REIT, Inc. at the time of vesting of the unit. These deferred stock units vest in four installments with 4,361 units having vested on January 31, 2012, 4,361 units vesting on January 31 of each of 2015 and 2016 and 4,360 units vesting on January 31, 2017. ( 7 )Options for the purchase of 6,015 shares of common stock at $37.00 per share were granted to Mr. Estes on January 26, 2004, which grant has previously been reported. The partial exercise of these options for the purchase of 6,000 has previously been reported. Of the remaining options, options for the purchase of 15 shares vested on January 15, 2009. ( 8 )The options were granted under the Health Care REIT, Inc. 1995 Stock Incentive Plan and had no acquisition price. ( 9 )Options for the purchase of 3,139 shares of common stock at $34.88 per share were granted to Mr. Estes on January 24, 2005, which grant has previously been reported. Options for the purchase of 628 shares vested on January 15 of each 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 and options for the purchase of 627 shares vested on January 15, 2010.

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