Sec Form 4 Filing - Loftus Daniel R @ HEALTH CARE REIT INC /DE/ - 2012-11-01

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 Loftus Daniel R 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) Senior Vice President (Last) (First) (Middle) 4500 DORR STREET 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 11/01/2012 (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 11/01/2012 F 4,613 ( 1 ) D $ 59.37 33,262.34 D Common Stock 11/01/2012 M 3,270 ( 2 ) A $ 0 ( 2 ) 36,532.34 D Common Stock 11/01/2012 F 1,191 ( 3 ) D $ 59.37 35,341.34 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 ( 4 ) 11/01/2012 M 3,270 11/01/2012( 4 ) 11/01/2012 Common 3,270 ( 4 ) $ 0 ( 4 ) 0 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other Loftus Daniel R 4500 DORR STREET TOLEDO, OH43615 Senior Vice President Signatures By: Erin C. IbeleAttorney-in-FactFor: Daniel R. Loftus 11/02/2012 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )Tax withholding in shares of common stock on 926 shares of common stock granted on January 21, 2008, 2,204 shares of common stock granted on January 29, 2009, 2,547 shares of common stock granted on January 28, 2010, 3,080 shares of common stock granted on January 27, 2011 and 4,449 shares of common stock granted on January 26, 2012, which grants vested on November 1, 2012. ( 2 )In connection with Mr. Loftus' termination of employment on November 1, 2012, the reported transaction was a vesting of 3,270 deferred stock units on November 1, 2012, resulting in the issuance of 3,270 shares of common stock. No amount was payable in connection with the vesting or the common stock issuance. 339 performance shares were forfeited in connection with Mr. Loftus' termination of employment on November 1, 2012. The performance shares are neither equity securities nor derivative securities as defined by the Commission for purposes of this form and, accordingly, are not reported separately herein. ( 3 )Tax withholding in shares of common stock on 3,270 deferred stock units granted on January 26, 2012, which grant vested on November 1, 2012. ( 4 )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. In connection with Mr. Loftus' termination of employment on November 1, 2012, (i) 3,270 deferred stock units vested on November 1, 2012 and (ii) 25,834 stock options vested on November 1, 2012. All vested options are exercisable by Mr. Loftus until November 1, 2013.

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