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EX-31.1 - EXHIBIT 31.1 - Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc.gcear12312015exhibit311.htm
EX-32.2 - EXHIBIT 32.2 - Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc.gcear12312015exhibit322.htm
EX-31.2 - EXHIBIT 31.2 - Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc.gcear12312015exhibit312.htm
EX-32.1 - EXHIBIT 32.1 - Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc.gcear12312015exhibit321.htm
EX-10.27 - EXHIBIT 10.27 - Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc.gcearfirstamendmenttounsec.htm

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K/A
(Amendment No. 1)
(Mark One)
ý
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015
OR
¨

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from              to             
Commission File Number: 000-54377
Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Maryland
26-3335705
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
Griffin Capital Plaza, 1520 E. Grand Avenue, El Segundo, California 90245
(Address of principal executive offices)
(310) 469-6100
(Registrant’s telephone number)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class
Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
None
None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  ¨    No  ý
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.     Yes  ¨    No  ý
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  ý    No  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).     Yes  ý    No  ¨

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Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of the Form 10-K or any amendment of this Form 10-K. x
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large Accelerated Filer
¨
Accelerated Filer
¨
Non-Accelerated Filer
x  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company
¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).     Yes  ¨    No  ý
The aggregate market value of voting common stock held by non-affiliates was $1,806,641,574 assuming a market value of $10.40 per share, as of June 30, 2015, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter.
As of March 4, 2016, there were 175,381,269 outstanding shares of common stock of the registrant.





























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EXPLANATORY NOTE
 
Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc. (the “Company”) is filing this Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A (this “Amendment No. 1”) to its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, which was originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 10, 2016 (the “Original Filing”), for the sole purpose of including a copy of the First Amendment to Unsecured Credit Agreement as Exhibit 10.27, which exhibit was inadvertently omitted from the Original Filing.

This Amendment No. 1 continues to speak as of the date of the Original Filing, and the Company has not updated the disclosures contained in the Original Filing to reflect any events that occurred at a date subsequent to the filing of the Original Filing. The filing of this Amendment No. 1 is not a representation that any statements contained in the Original Filing are true or complete as of any date subsequent to the date of the Original Filing. Accordingly, this Amendment No. 1 should be read in conjunction with the Original Filing and with our public filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission subsequent to the Original Filing.

Pursuant to Rule 12b-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the certifications pursuant to Section 302 and Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed and furnished, respectively, as exhibits to the Original Filing have been re-executed and re-filed as of the date of this Amendment No. 1 and are included as exhibits hereto.

Part IV
ITEM 15.
EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) List of Documents Filed.
1. Financial Statements
The following financial statements of the Company, and related report and notes, were filed as part of the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 10, 2016:
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2015 and 2014
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013
Consolidated Statements of Other Comprehensive Loss for the Year Ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013
Consolidated Statements of Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
2. Schedule III — Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation of the Company was filed as part of the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 10, 2016. All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the SEC are not required under the related instructions or are not applicable and therefore have been omitted.
3. The following exhibits are filed with this Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A or incorporated by reference as set forth therein(and are numbered in accordance with Item 601 of Regulation S-K).
(b) See (a) 3 above.
(c) See (a) 2 above.
Exhibit
No.
  
Description
3.1
  
Third Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc., incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-11, filed on October 29, 2009, Commission File No. 333-159167
3.2
  
Bylaws of Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc., incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-11, filed on May 12, 2009, Commission File No. 333-159167

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3.3
  
Articles of Amendment to Third Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc., incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 6 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-11, filed on July 12, 2011, Commission File No. 333-159167
3.4
 
Second Articles of Amendment to the Third Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc., incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s current report on Form 8-K filed on February 25, 2013, Commission File No. 000-54377
3.5
 
Third Articles of Amendment to the Third Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc., incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s current report on Form 8-K filed on June 14, 2013, Commission File No. 000-54377
4.1
  
Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc. Second Amended and Restated Distribution Reinvestment Plan, incorporated by reference to Appendix B to the prospectus contained in the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-3D, filed on September 22, 2015, Commission File No. 333-207075
4.2
 
Enrollment form for Distribution Reinvestment Plan, incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the prospectus contained in the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-3D, filed on September 22, 2015, Commission File No. 333-207075
10.1
  
Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc. 2009 Long Term Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-11, filed on May 12, 2009, Commission File No. 333-159167
10.2
  
Tax Protection Agreement by and among Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc., Griffin Capital Essential Asset Operating Partnership, L.P., Kevin A. Shields, Don G. Pescara and David C. Rupert, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-11, filed on May 12, 2009, Commission File No. 333-159167
10.3
  
Form of Master Property Management, Leasing and Construction Management Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on December 10, 2009, Commission File No. 333-159167
10.4
  
Fixed Rate Note for Plainfield Property, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on March 30, 2010, Commission File No. 333-159167
10.5
 
Tax Protection Agreement for Will Partners Property dated June 4, 2010, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on June 9, 2010, Commission File No. 333-159167
10.6
 
Tax Protection Agreement for LTI Property dated May 13, 2011, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on May 16, 2011, Commission File No. 000-54377
10.7
  
Promissory Note dated February 27, 2013 issued to Midland National Life Insurance Company, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on March 5, 2013, Commission File No. 000-54377
10.8
  
Open End Mortgage and Security Agreement for Westinghouse Property dated February 27, 2013, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on March 5, 2013, Commission File No. 000-54377
10.9
  
Separate Guaranty of Retained Liability Matters Agreement for Midland Mortgage Loan dated February 27, 2013, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on March 5, 2013, Commission File No. 000-54377
10.10
  
NUF Note for the Schlumberger Property, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on January 30, 2014, Commission File No. 000-54377
10.11
  
VALIC Note for the Schlumberger Property, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on January 30, 2014, Commission File No. 000-54377
10.12
  
First Deed of Trust for the Schlumberger Property, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on January 30, 2014, Commission File No. 000-54377
10.13
  
Second Deed of Trust for the Schlumberger Property, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on January 30, 2014, Commission File No. 000-54377
10.14
  
First Mortgage for the Verizon Property, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on January 30, 2014, Commission File No. 000-54377
10.15
  
Second Mortgage for the Verizon Property, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on January 30, 2014, Commission File No. 000-54377
10.16
  
Recourse Carve-Out Guaranty Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on January 30, 2014, Commission File No. 000-54377
10.17
 
Third Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on October 17, 2014, Commission File No. 000-54377
10.18
 
Third Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on October 17, 2014, Commission File No. 000-54377

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10.19
 
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 21, 2014, by and among Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc., Griffin SAS, LLC, and Signature Office REIT, Inc., incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on November 24, 2014, Commission File No. 000-54377
10.20
 
Board Observer and Indemnification Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 11, 2015, Commission File No. 000-54377
10.21
 
DreamWorks Purchase Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 23, 2015, Commission File No. 000-54377
10.22
 
Unsecured Credit Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 23, 2015, Commission File No. 000-54377
10.23
 
Revolving Loan Note, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 23, 2015, Commission File No. 000-54377
10.24
 
Term Loan Note, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 23, 2015, Commission File No. 000-54377
10.25
 
Guaranty, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 23, 2015, Commission File No. 000-54377
10.26
 
Schedule of Omitted Documents, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 23, 2015, Commission File No. 000-54377
10.27*
 
First Amendment to Unsecured Credit Agreement dated February 12, 2016
21.1
  
Subsidiaries of Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc., incorporated by reference to Exhibit 21.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed on February 3, 2015, Commission File No. 333-201835
23.1
 
Consent of Ernst & Young, LLP, Independent Registered Accounting Firm
31.1*
  
Certification of Principal Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2*
  
Certification of Principal Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1*
  
Certification of Principal Executive Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as created by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2*
  
Certification of Principal Financial Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as created by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101
  
The following Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc. financial information for the year ended December 31, 2015, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Equity, (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and (v) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
*
Filed herewith.

SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of El Segundo, State of California, on April 15, 2016.
 
 
 
GRIFFIN CAPITAL ESSENTIAL ASSET REIT, INC.
 
 
 
 
Dated: April 15, 2016
 
By:
/s/ Kevin A. Shields
 
 
 
Kevin A. Shields
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
/s/ Joseph E. Miller
 
 
 
Joseph E. Miller
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
(Principal Financial Officer)


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