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<P STYLE="margin: 0">&nbsp;&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">UNITED STATES</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>FORM 8-K</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">CURRENT REPORT</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
<B>April 25, 2012 (April 20, 2012)</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>American Realty Capital Trust III, Inc.</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in
Charter)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

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    <TD STYLE="width: 31%; border-bottom: black 1.5pt solid; padding-right: 3.2pt; font-weight: bold; text-align: center"><B>Maryland</B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 1%; padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 37%; border-bottom: black 1.5pt solid; padding-right: 3.2pt; font-weight: bold; text-align: center"><B>333-170298</B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 1%; padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 30%; border-bottom: black 1.5pt solid; padding-right: 3.2pt; font-weight: bold; text-align: center"><B>27-3515929</B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 3.2pt 0pt 0; text-align: center">(State or other jurisdiction</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 3.2pt 0pt 0; text-align: center">of incorporation or organization)</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 3.2pt; text-align: center">(Commission File Number)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 3.2pt; text-align: center">(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)</TD></TR>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

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    <TD STYLE="width: 100%; border-bottom: black 1.5pt solid">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 3.2pt 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>405 Park Avenue, 15th Floor</B></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 3.2pt 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>New York, New York 10022</B></P></TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 3.2pt 0pt 0; text-align: center">(Address, including zip code,
        of Principal Executive Offices)</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 3.2pt 0pt 0; text-align: center">Registrant's telephone number,
        including area code: <B>(212) 415-6500</B></P></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">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:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT> &nbsp;Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under
the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT> &nbsp;Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under
the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT> &nbsp;Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT> &nbsp;Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

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<TD STYLE="width: 0in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 1in; text-align: left"><B>Item 2.03.</B></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify"><B>Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation
under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.</B></TD>
</TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;On April 20, 2012, American Realty
Capital Trust III, Inc. (the &ldquo;Company&rdquo;), through its indirect wholly owned subsidiaries, entered into mortgage loans
in an amount equal to $39.2 million in connection with the second tranche of a $54.3 million two-tranche mortgage loan agreement
with Citigroup Global Markets Realty Corp. (the &ldquo;Citi Mortgage Loan&rdquo;) to provide the post-acquisition funding
for 48 properties previously acquired. The Citi Mortgage Loan has a 10-year term. The Citi Mortgage Loan requires monthly interest
payments with the principal balance under all mortgage loans due on the maturity date in May 2022. Each tranche of the Citi Mortgage
Loan bears interest at a per annum fixed rate of 6.048%. The mortgages for each of the properties will be cross-collateralized
with one another and in the event that the Company defaults on one of the mortgages, the lender may look to the other properties
as collateral.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">The Citi Mortgage Loan may be prepaid
beginning three months prior to the maturity date of the Citi Mortgage Loan, in whole or in part, and, in connection with a
partial prepayment, paying a premium equal to the greater of (a) 1.0% of the amount prepaid and (b) an amount equal to (A)
the present value of the scheduled monthly payments of principal and interest from the date of such prepayment to the
maturity date multiplied by (B) a fraction equal to the amount prepaid divided by the outstanding principal balance. The Citi
Mortgage Loan is guaranteed by the Company&rsquo;s operating partnership, American Realty Capital Operating Partnership III,
L.P.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">Including this loan, as of April 24, 2012,
the Company&rsquo;s leverage ratio, defined as secured mortgage financings as a percentage of total real estate investments, was
45.8%. The weighted average interest rate on mortgage debt was 4.68%.&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>SIGNATURES</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">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.</P>

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    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="3" STYLE="padding-right: 10.5pt; padding-left: 9pt; font-weight: bold"><B>AMERICAN REALTY CAPITAL TRUST III, INC.</B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 47%; padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 11%; padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 8%; padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 34%; padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 2.4pt; padding-left: 9pt">Date: April 25, 2012</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 2.4pt; padding-left: 9pt">By:</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="border-bottom: black 1.5pt solid; padding-right: 6.5pt; padding-left: 9pt">/s/ Nicholas S. Schorsch&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 2.4pt; padding-left: 9pt">Name:</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 2.4pt; padding-left: 9pt">Nicholas S. Schorsch</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 2.4pt; padding-left: 9pt">Title:</TD>
    <TD>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 2.4pt 0pt 9pt">Chief Executive Officer and</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 2.4pt 0pt 9pt">Chairman of the Board of Directors</P></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "American Realty Capital Trust III, Inc.", "cik": "0001503828", "assigned-sic": "6798", "irs-number": "000000000", "state-of-incorporation": "MD", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "333-170298", "film-number": "12778902"}, "business-address": {"street1": "405 PARK AVE", "city": "NEW YORK", "state": "NY", "zip": "10022", "phone": "(212) 415-6500"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "405 PARK AVE", "city": "NEW YORK", "state": "NY", "zip": "10022"}}
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):
April 25, 2012 (April 20, 2012)
American Realty Capital Trust III, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in
Charter)
Maryland
333-170298
27-3515929
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
(Commission File Number)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
405 Park Avenue, 15th Floor
New York, New York 10022
(Address, including zip code,
        of Principal Executive Offices)
Registrant's telephone number,
        including area code:
(212) 415-6500
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:
¨
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 2.03.
Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation
under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.
On April 20, 2012, American Realty
Capital Trust III, Inc. (the "Company"), through its indirect wholly owned subsidiaries, entered into mortgage loans
in an amount equal to $39.2 million in connection with the second tranche of a $54.3 million two-tranche mortgage loan agreement
with Citigroup Global Markets Realty Corp. (the "Citi Mortgage Loan") to provide the post-acquisition funding
for 48 properties previously acquired. The Citi Mortgage Loan has a 10-year term. The Citi Mortgage Loan requires monthly interest
payments with the principal balance under all mortgage loans due on the maturity date in May 2022. Each tranche of the Citi Mortgage
Loan bears interest at a per annum fixed rate of 6.048%. The mortgages for each of the properties will be cross-collateralized
with one another and in the event that the Company defaults on one of the mortgages, the lender may look to the other properties
as collateral.
The Citi Mortgage Loan may be prepaid
beginning three months prior to the maturity date of the Citi Mortgage Loan, in whole or in part, and, in connection with a
partial prepayment, paying a premium equal to the greater of (a) 1.0% of the amount prepaid and (b) an amount equal to (A)
the present value of the scheduled monthly payments of principal and interest from the date of such prepayment to the
maturity date multiplied by (B) a fraction equal to the amount prepaid divided by the outstanding principal balance. The Citi
Mortgage Loan is guaranteed by the Company's operating partnership, American Realty Capital Operating Partnership III,
L.P.
Including this loan, as of April 24, 2012,
the Company's leverage ratio, defined as secured mortgage financings as a percentage of total real estate investments, was
45.8%. The weighted average interest rate on mortgage debt was 4.68%.
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.
Date: April 25, 2012
By:
/s/ Nicholas S. Schorsch
Name:
Nicholas S. Schorsch
Title:
Chief Executive Officer and
Chairman of the Board of Directors