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:  June 15, 2020
(Date of earliest event reported)

Central Index Key Number of the issuing entity: 0001781089

Benchmark 2019-B12 Mortgage Trust

(exact name of the issuing entity as specified in its charter)

Central Index Key Number of the depositor: 0001258361

Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Securities Inc.

(exact name of the depositor as specified in its charter)

Citi Real Estate Funding Inc.

(Central Index Key Number: 0001701238)

German American Capital Corporation

(Central Index Key Number: 0001541294)

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association

(Central Index Key Number: 0000835271)

(Exact names of sponsors as specified in their respective charters)

c/o Citibank, N.A.

as Certificate Administrator

388 Greenwich Street, 14th Floor

New York, NY

(Address of principal executive offices of the issuing entity)

10013

(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

(212) 816-5614

Not Applicable

(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:

☐  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:

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 8.01  Other Events.

The Grand Canal Shoppes Mortgage Loan, an asset of Benchmark 2019-B12 Mortgage Trust (the “Issuing Entity”), is being serviced pursuant to the pooling and servicing agreement, dated as of July 1, 2019 (the “MSC 2019-H7 PSA”), by and among Morgan Stanley Capital I Inc., as depositor, Midland Loan Services, a Division of PNC Bank, National Association, as master servicer, LNR Partners, LLC, as special servicer, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as certificate administrator and trustee, and Pentalpha Surveillance LLC, as operating advisor and asset representations reviewer, which governs the issuance of the Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust 2019-H7, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2019-H7. The MSC 2019-H7 PSA was filed as Exhibit 4.7 to the Current Report on Form 8-K with respect to the Issuing Entity, dated August 8, 2019 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 8, 2019 under Commission File No. 333-228597-01.

Effective as of June 15, 2020, LNR Partners, LLC has been removed as special servicer with respect to the Grand Canal Shoppes Whole Loan (as defined in the MSC 2019-H7 PSA) under the MSC 2019-H7 PSA, and Situs Holdings, LLC has been appointed to act as successor special servicer with respect to the Grand Canal Shoppes Whole Loan (as defined in the MSC 2019-H7 PSA) under the MSC 2019-H7 PSA. A copy of the related Acknowledgement and Acceptance of Special Servicer dated June 15, 2020 is attached hereto as Exhibit 20.1.

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement dated as of August 1, 2019 relating to the Issuing Entity, filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K with respect to the Issuing Entity, dated August 8, 2019 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 8, 2019 under Commission File No. 333-228597-01.

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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.

Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Securities Inc.
(Depositor)

/s/ Richard Simpson

Richard Simpson, President

Date: June 15, 2020

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