<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001600626-20-000056.txt : 20200204
<SEC-HEADER>0001600626-20-000056.hdr.sgml : 20200204
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20200204192839
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001600626-20-000056
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20180216
FILED AS OF DATE:		20200204
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20200204

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Shields Kevin
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001519317

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-55605
		FILM NUMBER:		20575751

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		GRIFFIN CAPITAL PLAZA
		STREET 2:		1520 EAST GRAND AVENUE
		CITY:			EL SEGUNDO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90245

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	Shields Kevin A
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20110427

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001600626
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				464654479
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3104696100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1520 EAST GRAND AVENUE
		CITY:			EL SEGUNDO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90245

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT II, Inc.
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20140220
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>wf-form4_158086250070669.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-02-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001600626</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc.</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>N/A</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001519317</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Shields Kevin</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1520 E. GRAND AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EL SEGUNDO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90245</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>See Remarks</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class I OP Units of the GCEAR II OP</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-02-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>123779</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>123779.0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>123779</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Griffin Capital Vertical Partners, L.P.</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class I OP Units of the GCEAR II OP</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-02-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>403265</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>403265.0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>527044</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Griffin Capital Vertical Partners, L.P.</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class I Operating Partnership Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-04-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>527044</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>527044.0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>527044</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Griffin Capital Vertical Partners, L.P.</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class E Operating Partnership Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-04-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2334873.77</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2334873.77</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2334873.77</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class E Operating Partnership Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-04-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>24033509.07</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2020-11-30</value>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>24033509.07</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>24033509.07</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Griffin Capital, LLC</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class E Operating Partnership Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-04-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>22254.64</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>22254.64</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>22254.64</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Griffin Capital Company, LLC</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Reporting Person has the right to cause Griffin Capital Essential Asset Operating Partnership, L.P. (the &quot;Partnership&quot;), of which the Issuer is the general partner, to redeem all or a portion of the limited partnership units of the Partnership (the &quot;OP Units&quot;) reported in this Form 4 for cash in an amount equal to the value of an equivalent number of shares of common stock of the Issuer, or at the Issuer's option, shares of common stock of the Issuer on a one-for-one basis. The OP Units reported herein are immediately exercisable and have no expiration date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein, and the inclusion of these securities in this report shall not be deemed an admission of beneficial ownership of all of the reported securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The OP Units were issued to Griffin Capital Vertical Partners, L.P. (&quot;GCVP&quot;) as an annual distribution pursuant to the terms of the Griffin Capital Essential Asset Operating Partnership II, L.P. (the &quot;GCEAR II OP&quot;) Third Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement for the special limited partner interest in the GCEAR II OP held by Griffin Capital Essential Asset Advisor II, LLC (the &quot;Advisor&quot;), which the Advisor directed to be issued to GCVP. The Reporting Person indirectly owns and controls GCVP.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">GCVP received 527,044 Class I OP Units of the Partnership in exchange for its 527,044 limited partnership units of the GCEAR II OP in connection with the merger of Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc. into a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Issuer and the merger of the GCEAR II OP with and into the Partnership (collectively, the &quot;Merger&quot;). In the Merger, each limited partnership unit of the GCEAR II OP outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger converted into the right to receive one OP Unit in the Partnership. On April 30, 2019, the effective date of the Merger, the Issuer's net asset value per share was $9.56. The Reporting Person indirectly owns and controls GCVP.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The Reporting Person received 2,334,873.77 Class E OP Units of the Partnership in exchange for 2,227,784.18 limited partnership units of Griffin Capital Essential Asset Operating Partnership, L.P. in connection with the Merger. In the Merger, each OP Unit outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger converted into the right to receive 1.04807 Class E OP Units in the Partnership. On April 30, 2019, the effective date of the Merger, the Issuer's net asset value per share was $9.56.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">The Reporting Person has the right to cause the Partnership, of which the Issuer is the general partner, to redeem all or a portion of the OP Units reported on this row of this Form 4 for cash in an amount equal to the value of an equivalent number of shares of common stock of the Issuer, or at the Issuer's option, shares of common stock of the Issuer on a one-for-one basis. The OP Units reported on this row are exercisable beginning on November 30, 2020 and have no expiration date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Griffin Capital, LLC received 24,033,509.07 Class E OP Units of the Partnership in exchange for 22,931,206.00 limited partnership units of Griffin Capital Essential Asset Operating Partnership, L.P. in connection with the Merger. In the Merger, each OP Unit outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger converted into the right to receive 1.04807 Class E OP Units in the Partnership. On April 30, 2019, the effective date of the Merger, the Issuer's net asset value per share was $9.56. The Reporting Person indirectly owns and controls Griffin Capital, LLC.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">Griffin Capital Company, LLC received 22,254.64 Class E OP Units of the Partnership in exchange for 21,233.92 limited partnership units of Griffin Capital Essential Asset Operating Partnership, L.P. in connection with the Merger. In the Merger, each OP Unit outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger converted into the right to receive 1.04807 Class E OP Units in the Partnership. On April 30, 2019, the effective date of the Merger, the Issuer's net asset value per share was $9.56. The Reporting Person indirectly owns and controls Griffin Capital Company, LLC.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Kevin A. Shields</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-02-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
