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): April 5, 2013

Cole Credit Property Trust III, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

2325 East Camelback Road, Suite 1100, Phoenix, Arizona 85016

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(602) 778-8700

(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:

On April 5, 2013, Cole Credit Property Trust III, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), issued a press release announcing the merger of Cole Holdings Corporation (“Holdings”) with and into CREInvestments, LLC, a Maryland limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub”), with Merger Sub surviving and continuing its existence under the laws of the State of Maryland as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. A copy of the press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference 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 the information set forth therein, is deemed to have been furnished to, and shall not be deemed to be “filed” with, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

The information provided in Item 7.01 is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 8.01.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

This Current Report on Form 8-K and the exhibit attached hereto may be deemed to be solicitation material in respect of the charter amendments to be presented to the Company’s stockholders for consideration at the 2013 annual stockholders’ meeting. The Company has filed a preliminary proxy statement and expects to file a definitive proxy statement with the SEC in connection with the 2013 annual stockholders’ meeting. STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Stockholders may obtain a free copy of the definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents filed with the SEC at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed by the Company with the SEC will be available free of charge by directing a written request to Cole Credit Property Trust III, Inc., 2325 East Camelback Road, Suite 1100, Phoenix, Arizona 85016, Attention: Investor Relations.

Participants in Solicitation

The Company and its directors and executive officers and other members of management may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the charter amendments to be considered at the 2013 annual stockholders’ meeting of the Company. Information regarding the interests of the Company’s directors and executive officers in the proxy solicitation will be included in the Company’s definitive proxy statement.

Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to historical information, this Current Report on Form 8-K and the exhibit attached hereto contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). These forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the industry and markets in which the Company operates, include beliefs of and assumptions made by the Company’s management, and involve risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect the financial results of the Company. Words such as “may,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “projects,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “would,” “could” and “should” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, which generally are not historical in nature. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the business combination transaction involving the Company and Holdings, future financial and operating results, and the combined company’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Although we believe the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that the Company’s expectations will be attained and therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Some of the factors that may affect outcomes and results include, but are not limited to: (i) national, international, regional and local economic climates, (ii) changes in financial markets, interest

rates, credit spreads, and foreign currency exchange rates, (iii) changes in the real estate markets, (iv) continued ability to source new investments, (v) increased or unanticipated competition for the Company’s properties, (vi) risks associated with acquisitions, (vii) maintenance of real estate investment trust status, (viii) availability of financing and capital, (ix) changes in demand for developed properties, and (x) those additional risks and factors discussed in reports filed with the SEC by the Company from time to time. The Company does not make any undertaking with respect to updating any forward-looking statements appearing in this Current Report on Form 8-K or the exhibit attached hereto.

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.

Exhibit Index