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<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">&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>May 17, 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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<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <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>000-54690</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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<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"><B>Item 2.02.&nbsp;&nbsp;Results of Operations and Financial
Condition.</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">On May 17, 2012, American Realty Capital Trust III, Inc. (the
&ldquo;company&rdquo;) issued a press release discussing its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012. A copy
of the press release, which is hereby incorporated into this filing in its entirety, is attached to this Current Report on Form
8-K as Exhibit&nbsp;99.1.</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">The information furnished under this Item 2.02 of this Current
Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed to be &ldquo;filed&rdquo; for the purposes of Section 18 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section.</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"><B>Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.</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 0pt 1.5in; text-indent: -1.5in">Exhibit 99.1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Press
Release dated May 17, 2012</P>

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

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</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: May 17, 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": "000-54690", "film-number": "12851993"}, "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):
May 17, 2012
American Realty Capital Trust III, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in
Charter)
Maryland
000-54690
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 2.02.  Results of Operations and Financial
Condition.
On May 17, 2012, American Realty Capital Trust III, Inc. (the
"company") issued a press release discussing its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012. A copy
of the press release, which is hereby incorporated into this filing in its entirety, is attached to this Current Report on Form
8-K as Exhibit 99.1.
The information furnished under this Item 2.02 of this Current
Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
Exhibit 99.1.                   Press
Release dated May 17, 2012
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: May 17, 2012
By:
/s/ Nicholas S. Schorsch
Name:
Nicholas S. Schorsch
Title:
Chief Executive Officer and
Chairman of the Board of Directors