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<title>Document</title></head><body><div id="i1169438c5f3349aa82c3f407bda5c95e_1"></div><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="-sec-extract:summary;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:16pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">UNITED STATES </font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:16pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION </font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Washington, D.C. 20549 </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:7pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#160;</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:20pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Form 8-K </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:7pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#160;</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:14pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Current Report </font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:14pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#160;</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)&#58;&#160;&#160;November 9, 2020</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:22pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc. </font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:7pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#160;</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Commission File Number&#58;&#160;&#160;000-55605</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:7pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#160;</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:5pt;text-align:center"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;vertical-align:top;width:91.228%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:57.874%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:1.944%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:36.882%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Maryland</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:7pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">46-4654479</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(State or other jurisdiction of</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">incorporation)</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:7pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(IRS Employer</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Identification No.)</font></div></td></tr></table></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:7pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#160;</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">1520 E. Grand Avenue, El Segundo, CA 90245</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:7pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#160;</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">(310) 469-6100 </font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">None</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(Former name or former address, if changed since last report) </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:7pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#160;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </font></div><div style="margin-bottom:12pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">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&#58;</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">&#91;X&#93;&#160;&#160; Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">&#91;&#160;&#160;&#93;&#160;&#160; Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">&#91;&#160;&#160;&#93;&#160;&#160; Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">&#91;&#160;&#160;&#93;&#160;&#160; Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) </font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-top:2pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act&#58;</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:5pt;text-align:center"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;vertical-align:top;width:87.719%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:37.733%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:15.566%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:43.401%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:7.5pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Title of each class</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:7.5pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Trading Symbol(s)</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:7.5pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Name of each exchange on which registered</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">____________________</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">____________________</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">____________________</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">None</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">None</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">None</font></td></tr></table></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (&#167;230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (&#167;240.12b-2 of this chapter).</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-bottom:9pt;margin-top:3pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Emerging Growth Company </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Wingdings',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#168;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="margin-bottom:9pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Wingdings',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#168;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#160; </font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Item 5.03. &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws&#59; Change in Fiscal Year</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-bottom:11pt;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">On November 9, 2020, Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc. (the &#34;Registrant&#34;) filed with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the &#34;Department&#34;) Articles Supplementary to its First Articles of Amendment and Restatement, as amended, reclassifying and designating&#58; (i) 50,000,000 authorized but unissued shares of Class T common stock, $0.001 par value per share, (ii) 50,000,000 authorized but unissued shares of Class S common stock, $0.001 par value per share, (iii) 50,000,000 authorized but unissued shares of Class D common stock, $0.001 par value per share, and (iv) 50,000,000 authorized but unissued shares of Class I common stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Registrant (collectively, the &#34;Shares&#34;) as authorized but unissued shares of Class E common stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Registrant. The Articles Supplementary were effective upon filing with the Department. </font></div><div style="margin-bottom:11pt;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Following the reclassification and designation of the Shares pursuant to the Articles Supplementary, the total numbers of shares of Class T common stock, Class S common stock, Class D common stock, Class I common stock, Class A common stock, Class AA common stock, Class AAA common stock, Class E common stock and Series A cumulative perpetual convertible preferred stock which the Registrant has authority to issue are 60,000,000 60,000,000, 60,000,000, 60,000,000, 40,000,000, 75,000,000, 5,000,000, 440,000,000 and 10,000,000, respectively.There has been no increase in the authorized shares of stock of the Registrant effected by the Articles Supplementary. </font></div><div style="margin-bottom:11pt;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The foregoing summary of the material terms of the Articles Supplementary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Articles Supplementary, which is attached as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Item 7.01.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Regulation FD Disclosure</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-bottom:11pt;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">On November 10, 2020, the Registrant issued a press release discussing the Registrant&#8217;s financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2020. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein solely for purposes of this Item&#160;7.01 disclosure.</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:11pt;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">In addition, the Registrant released a quarterly update presentation and uploaded the presentation to its website at www.gcear.com. A copy of the quarterly update presentation is attached as Exhibit 99.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein solely for purposes of this Item 7.01 disclosure.</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:11pt;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the information in this Item&#160;7.01 disclosure, including Exhibit 99.1 and Exhibit 99.2 and information set forth therein, is deemed to have been furnished and shall not be deemed to be &#8220;filed&#8221; under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:11pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Item 9.01.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Financial Statements and Exhibits</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:11pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(d)&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Exhibits.</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:11pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="a2020articlessupplemen.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">3.1</a></font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="a2020articlessupplemen.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline"> </a><a href="a2020articlessupplemen.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Articles Supplementary to First Articles of Amendment and Restatement, as Amended</a></font></div><div style="margin-bottom:11pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="a991-gcearx09302020ear.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">99.1</a></font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="a991-gcearx09302020ear.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc. Press Release, dated November 10, 2020</a></font></div><div style="margin-bottom:11pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="ea-iuq3_20investorupdate.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">99.2</a></font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="ea-iuq3_20investorupdate.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Quarterly Update Presentation of Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc.</a></font></div><div style="margin-bottom:11pt;padding-left:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-bottom:11pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Signature(s) </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#160;</font></div><div style="text-indent:24.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">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. </font></div><div style="text-indent:24.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:5pt;text-align:center"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;vertical-align:top;width:480.00pt"><tr><td style="width:1.0pt"></td><td style="width:214.00pt"></td><td style="width:1.0pt"></td><td style="width:1.0pt"></td><td style="width:36.25pt"></td><td style="width:1.0pt"></td><td style="width:1.0pt"></td><td style="width:223.75pt"></td><td style="width:1.0pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc.</font></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Date&#58; November 10, 2020</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">By&#58;</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#47;s&#47; Javier F. Bitar</font></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Javier F. Bitar</font></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer</font></td></tr></table></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div></div></body></html>
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Document
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):  November 9, 2020
Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Commission File Number:  000-55605
Maryland
46-4654479
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
1520 E. Grand Avenue, El Segundo, CA 90245
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(310) 469-6100
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
None
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
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:
[X]   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))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
____________________
____________________
____________________
None
None
None
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging Growth Company
¨
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
¨
Item 5.03.     Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year
On November 9, 2020, Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc. (the "Registrant") filed with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the "Department") Articles Supplementary to its First Articles of Amendment and Restatement, as amended, reclassifying and designating: (i) 50,000,000 authorized but unissued shares of Class T common stock, $0.001 par value per share, (ii) 50,000,000 authorized but unissued shares of Class S common stock, $0.001 par value per share, (iii) 50,000,000 authorized but unissued shares of Class D common stock, $0.001 par value per share, and (iv) 50,000,000 authorized but unissued shares of Class I common stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Registrant (collectively, the "Shares") as authorized but unissued shares of Class E common stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Registrant. The Articles Supplementary were effective upon filing with the Department.
Following the reclassification and designation of the Shares pursuant to the Articles Supplementary, the total numbers of shares of Class T common stock, Class S common stock, Class D common stock, Class I common stock, Class A common stock, Class AA common stock, Class AAA common stock, Class E common stock and Series A cumulative perpetual convertible preferred stock which the Registrant has authority to issue are 60,000,000 60,000,000, 60,000,000, 60,000,000, 40,000,000, 75,000,000, 5,000,000, 440,000,000 and 10,000,000, respectively.There has been no increase in the authorized shares of stock of the Registrant effected by the Articles Supplementary.
The foregoing summary of the material terms of the Articles Supplementary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Articles Supplementary, which is attached as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 7.01.
Regulation FD Disclosure
On November 10, 2020, the Registrant issued a press release discussing the Registrant's financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2020. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein solely for purposes of this Item 7.01 disclosure.
In addition, the Registrant released a quarterly update presentation and uploaded the presentation to its website at www.gcear.com. A copy of the quarterly update presentation is attached as Exhibit 99.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein solely for purposes of this Item 7.01 disclosure.
Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the information in this Item 7.01 disclosure, including Exhibit 99.1 and Exhibit 99.2 and information set forth therein, is deemed to have been furnished and shall not be deemed to be "filed" under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Item 9.01.
Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d)    Exhibits.
3.1
Articles Supplementary to First Articles of Amendment and Restatement, as Amended
99.1
Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc. Press Release, dated November 10, 2020
99.2
Quarterly Update Presentation of Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc.
Signature(s)
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.
Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc.
Date: November 10, 2020
By:
/s/ Javier F. Bitar
Javier F. Bitar
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer