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):  October 24, 2016

American Finance Trust, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

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:

Item 8.01. Other Events.

On October 24, 2016, American Finance Trust, Inc. (the “Company”), issued a press release announcing the expiration of the 45-day “go shop” period set forth in the previously announced merger agreement entered into on September 6, 2016, by and among the Company, American Finance Operating Partnership, L.P., American Realty Capital – Retail Centers of America, Inc. (“RCA”), American Realty Capital Retail Operating Partnership, L.P., and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Merger Agreement”).

A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Additional Information About the Proposed Transaction and Where to Find It

This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval. In connection with the proposed transaction, the Company and RCA filed a joint preliminary proxy statement/prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on October 20, 2016. BOTH THE COMPANY’S AND RCA’S STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT (INCLUDING ALL AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION.

Investors may obtain free copies of the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents filed by the Company and RCA with the SEC (if and when they become available) through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov.

Copies of the documents filed by the Company with the SEC are also available free of charge on the Company’s website at www.americanfinancetrust.com and copies of the documents filed by RCA with the SEC are available free of charge on RCA’s website at www.retailcentersofamerica.com.

The Company and RCA and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from both companies’ stockholders in respect of the proposed transaction. Information regarding the Company’s directors and executive officers can be found in the Company’s definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 29, 2016. Information regarding RCA’s directors and executive officers can be found in RCA’s definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 29, 2016. Additional information regarding the interests of such potential participants will be included in the joint proxy statement and other relevant documents filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction if and when they become available. These documents are available free of charge on the SEC’s website and from the Company and RCA, as applicable, using the sources indicated above.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this letter are “forward-looking statements” (as defined in Section 21E of the Exchange Act), which reflect the expectations of the Company and RCA regarding future events. The forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, whether and when the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement between the Company and RCA, among others, will be consummated, the new combined company’s plans, market and other expectations, objectives, intentions, as well as any expectations or projections with respect to the combined company, including regarding future dividends and market valuations, and other statements that are not historical facts.

The following additional factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements: the ability to obtain regulatory approvals for the transaction and the approval by the Company’s and RCA’s stockholders of the transactions contemplated in the Merger Agreement; unexpected costs or unexpected liabilities that may arise from the transaction, whether or not consummated; the inability to retain key personnel; continuation or deterioration of current market conditions; future regulatory or legislative actions that could adversely affect the companies; and the business plans of the tenants of the respective parties. Additional factors that may affect future results are contained in the Company’s and RCA’s filings with the SEC, which are available at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The Company and RCA disclaim any obligation to update and revise statements contained in these materials based on new information or otherwise.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

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.