WELL DEF 14A Report ended May 7, 2015

PLEASE PROMPTLY VOTE YOUR SHARES WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING. You can vote by calling the toll-free number, scanning the QR code on your mobile device, or using the Internet. Voting instructions are included on your proxy card, voter instruction form or Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, as applicable. If you received a paper copy of the proxy materials, you can vote by any of these methods or by mail. If you vote by mail, please complete and sign the proxy card and return it promptly in the envelope provided. The proxy may be revoked by you at any time, and giving your proxy will not affect your right to vote in person if you attend the Annual Meeting. If you plan to attend the Annual Meeting and require directions, please call (419) 247-2800 or write to the Executive Vice President, Head of Human Capital and Corporate Secretary, Health Care REIT, Inc., 4500 Dorr Street, Toledo, Ohio 43615.

Notice of Electronic Availability of Proxy Materials

As permitted by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), Health Care REIT, Inc. (the “Company”) is making these proxy materials available to shareholders primarily via the Internet. By doing so, the Company reduces the printing and delivery costs and the environmental impact of its Annual Meeting. Accordingly, the Company is sending a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) to the Company’s shareholders. The Notice contains instructions on how to access the Company’s proxy materials and how to vote online or by telephone. If you would like to receive a paper copy of the proxy materials, please follow the instructions in the Notice.

Why am I receiving these materials?

The Board of Directors of the Company has made these materials available to you on the Internet or has delivered printed copies to you by mail in connection with the solicitation of proxies on its behalf to be used in voting at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”), which is scheduled to be held on Thursday, May 7, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time as set forth in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The approximate date on which these materials will be first made available or sent to shareholders is March 27, 2015.

What is included in these materials?

These materials include:

If you received printed copies by mail, these materials also include the proxy card for the Annual Meeting. A copy of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, including the financial statements and the schedules thereto, as filed with the SEC, is available on the Company’s website at www.hcreit.com or may be obtained without charge by writing to the Executive Vice President, Head of Human Capital and Corporate Secretary, Health Care REIT, Inc., 4500 Dorr Street, Toledo, Ohio 43615.

What proposals will be voted on at the Annual Meeting?

At the Annual Meeting, the shareholders will be asked to: (1) elect nine directors (Proposal 1), (2) ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year 2015 (Proposal 2), (3) approve, on an advisory or non-binding basis, the compensation of the Company’s Named Executive Officers (as defined below in the section “Executive Compensation”) (Proposal 3), and (4) transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

How does the Board of Directors recommend I vote?

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote:

Who may vote at the Annual Meeting?

As of March 10, 2015, the Company had outstanding 350,104,085 shares of common stock, $1.00 par value per share. The common stock constitutes the only class of voting securities of the Company entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Shareholders of record at the close of business on March 10, 2015 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting and any adjournments thereof. Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote on all matters to come before the Annual Meeting.

If I am a shareholder of record of the Company’s shares, how do I vote?

A shareholder of record can vote in one of four ways:

Via the Internet: You may vote by proxy via the Internet by following the instructions provided in the Notice or on your proxy card.

By telephone: You may vote by proxy by calling the telephone number provided in the Notice or on your proxy card.

By mail: If you receive printed copies of the proxy materials by mail, you will receive a proxy card and you may vote by proxy by filling out the proxy card and returning it in the envelope provided.

In person: You may vote in person at the Annual Meeting by requesting a ballot when you arrive. You must bring valid picture identification, such as a driver’s license or passport, and you may be requested to provide proof of stock ownership as of March 10, 2015.

All shares that have been properly voted by proxy and not revoked will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the instructions contained in the proxy. Shares represented by proxy cards that are signed and returned without any voting instructions will be voted consistent with the Board’s recommendations.

Once I have submitted my proxy, is it possible for me to change or revoke my proxy?

Any shareholder giving a proxy has the right to revoke it any time before it is voted by (1) filing a written revocation with the Executive Vice President, Head of Human Capital and Corporate Secretary of the Company, (2) filing a duly

executed proxy bearing a later date, or (3) attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. A written revocation, as described in (1) above, will not be effective until the notice thereof has been received by the Executive Vice President, Head of Human Capital and Corporate Secretary of the Company.

Who is paying for the cost of this proxy solicitation?

The Company is paying the costs of the solicitation of proxies. Proxies may be solicited by directors and officers of the Company by mail, in writing, by telephone, electronically, by personal interview, or by other means of communication. The Company will reimburse directors and officers for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection with such solicitation. The Company will request brokers and nominees who hold shares in their names to furnish these proxy materials to the persons for whom they hold shares and will reimburse such brokers and nominees for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection therewith. The Company has hired D.F. King to solicit proxies for a fee not to exceed $9,500, plus expenses and other customary charges.

What constitutes a quorum at the Annual Meeting?

The presence at the Annual Meeting, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the total number of shares of voting securities outstanding on the record date shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by such holders at the Annual Meeting.

How will votes be tabulated at the Annual Meeting?

All votes will be tabulated by the inspector of election appointed for the Annual Meeting, who will separately tabulate affirmative and negative votes, abstentions and broker non-votes.

How are abstentions and broker non-votes treated?

Abstentions will be counted as present or represented for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum for the Annual Meeting. In the election of the directors (Proposal 1), you may vote “for,” “against” or “abstain” with respect to each of the nominees. If you elect to abstain in the election of directors, the abstention will not impact the election of directors. In tabulating the voting results for the election of directors, only “for” and “against” votes are counted. For the other items of business, you may vote “for,” “against” or “abstain.” If you elect to abstain, the abstention will have the same effect as an “against” vote.

A “broker non-vote” occurs when a broker or other nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner votes on one proposal, but does not vote on another proposal because the broker does not have discretionary voting power for the other proposal and has not received instructions from the beneficial owner. Broker non-votes will be counted as present or represented for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum for the Annual Meeting, but will not be counted for purposes of determining the number of shares entitled to vote with respect to any proposal for which the broker lacks discretionary authority. Brokers do not have discretionary authority with respect to

the election of the directors (Proposal 1) or the advisory vote to approve Named Executive Officer compensation (Proposal 3).

I share an address with another shareholder, and we received only one paper copy of the proxy materials. How may I obtain an additional copy of the proxy materials?

The Company has adopted an SEC-approved procedure called “householding.” Under this procedure, the Company delivers a single copy of the Notice and, if applicable, this Proxy Statement and the Annual Report to multiple shareholders who share the same address unless the Company receives contrary instructions from any shareholder at that address. This procedure is designed to reduce printing and mailing costs and the environmental impact of the Annual Meeting.

Shareholders residing at such an address who wish to receive separate copies of the Notice and, if applicable, this Proxy Statement and the Annual Report in the future and shareholders who are receiving multiple copies of these materials now and wish to receive just one set of materials in the future, should write to the Executive Vice President, Head of Human Capital and Corporate Secretary, Health Care REIT, Inc., 4500 Dorr Street, Toledo, Ohio 43615 or call (419) 247-2800 to request a change. These materials are also available on the Internet at www.hcreit.com/proxy.

Where are the Company’s principal executive offices located and what is the Company’s main telephone number?

The Company’s principal executive offices are located at 4500 Dorr Street, Toledo, Ohio 43615. The Company’s telephone number is (419) 247-2800.

What is the deadline to submit shareholder proposals intended for inclusion in the Company’s proxy materials for the 2016 Annual Meeting?

Any shareholder proposals intended for inclusion in the Company’s proxy materials for the 2016 Annual Meeting must be submitted to Erin C. Ibele, Executive Vice President, Head of Human Capital and Corporate Secretary of the Company, in writing no later than November 28, 2015. In addition, under the Company’s By-Laws, in order for a shareholder to present a proposal for consideration at an annual meeting other than by means of inclusion in the Company’s proxy materials for such meeting, the shareholder must provide a written notice to the Executive Vice President, Head of Human Capital and Corporate Secretary not more than 120 days prior to the meeting and not less than 45 days before the date on which the Company first mailed or otherwise gave notice for the prior year’s annual meeting. For purposes of the 2016 Annual Meeting, such a written notice must be received by the Executive Vice President, Head of Human Capital and Corporate Secretary by February 11, 2016. If a shareholder does not meet this deadline, (1) the officer presiding at the meeting may declare that the proposal will be disregarded because it was not properly brought before the meeting and (2) the persons named in the proxies solicited by the Board of Directors for the meeting may use their discretionary voting authority to vote “against” the proposal.

The shares represented by the proxies will be voted “for” the election of each of the nominees named below, unless you indicate in the proxy that your vote should be cast “against” any or all of them or that you “abstain.” Each nominee elected as a director will continue in office until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified, or until the earliest of his or her resignation, removal or death. If any nominee declines or is unable to accept such nomination to serve as a director, events which the Board does not now expect, the proxies reserve the right to substitute another person as a Board nominee, or to reduce the number of Board nominees, as they shall deem advisable. The proxy solicited hereby will not be voted to elect more than nine directors.

Except in a contested election, each Board nominee will be elected only if the number of votes cast “for” the nominee’s election exceeds the number of votes cast “against” such nominee’s election. In a contested election (where a determination is made that the number of director nominees is expected to exceed the number of directors to be elected at a meeting), the vote standard will be a plurality of the votes cast with respect to such director.

Under the Company’s By-Laws, any incumbent director nominee who receives a greater number of votes “against” his or her election than votes “for” such election will tender

his or her resignation for consideration by the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee. The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee will recommend to the Board the action to be taken with respect to such offer of resignation. The Board will then act on the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee’s recommendation within 90 days from the date of the certification of election results and publicly disclose its decision and the rationale behind it.

As discussed in more detail below under “Corporate Governance,” the Board believes that its directors and nominees for director should, among other things, (1) have significant leadership experience at a complex organization, (2) be accustomed to dealing with complex problems, and (3) have the education, experience and skills to exercise sound business judgment. In evaluating its directors and nominees for director, the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee looks at the overall size and structure of the Board and strives to assemble a Board that is skilled, diverse, well-rounded and experienced. The specific experiences, qualifications, skills and attributes of each of the directors are described in this proposal. These experiences, along with the directors’ integrity, sound judgment and commitment to the Company, led the Board to conclude that each of these directors should be elected to serve on the Board.

DIRECTOR STOCK OWNERSHIP GUIDELINES

In February 2013, the Compensation Committee revised the Company’s minimum stock ownership policy to require each non-employee director, within five years of joining the Board or February 7, 2013, whichever is later, to own shares of common stock or deferred stock units with a fair market value of at least four times his or her annual cash fee.

Mr. DeRosa, as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, is required, within five years of his date of hire, to own shares of the Company’s common stock with a fair market value at least five times his annual base salary.

BOARD LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE

The Board is responsible for the selection of the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer. The Board believes it is in the best interests of the Company for the Board to make a determination regarding whether to separate the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer based upon the circumstances. Accordingly, these roles may be filled by one individual or by two different individuals (and during the course of its history, the Company has utilized each leadership model).

In April 2014, the Board separated the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and appointed Jeffrey H. Donahue, formerly the Board’s independent Lead Director, to serve as the Company’s non-executive Chairman and Mr. DeRosa, who has served on the Board since 2004, to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. With the appointment of a non-executive Chairman, the role of independent Lead Director will remain unfilled.

The Board believes the current separation of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer roles allows the Chief Executive Officer to focus his time and energy on operating and managing the Company and increases the Board’s independent oversight.

The Board periodically reviews and assesses the Company’s leadership structure in connection with its review of succession planning. During this review, the Board, in addition to its consideration of the separation of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer roles, consults with Mr. DeRosa regarding future candidates for senior leadership positions, succession timing for those positions, and development plans for the candidates with the greatest potential. This process facilitates a meaningful discussion regarding all senior leadership positions, ensures continuity of leadership over the long term and forms the basis on which the Company makes ongoing leadership assignments. See “Executive Officers” below for a description of the roles, background and experience of the executive officers of the Company.

Mr. Donahue, the non-executive Chairman, presides at all meetings of the shareholders and of the Board of Directors. The Board met five times during the year ended December 31, 2014. Executive sessions of non-employee directors are held after regularly scheduled meetings of the Board and an executive session of independent directors is held at least once each year. Mr. Donahue, the non-executive Chairman, presides at all such sessions or meetings of the independent directors.

INDEPENDENCE AND MEETINGS

The Board has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines that meet the listing standards adopted by the New York Stock Exchange and a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that meets the New York Stock Exchange’s listing standards and complies with the rules of the Securities and Exchange

Commission. The Corporate Governance Guidelines and Code of Business Conduct and Ethics are available on the Company’s website at www.hcreit.com/investor-relations/governance.

Pursuant to the Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Board undertook a review of director independence in February 2015. During this review, the Board considered transactions and relationships between each director, or any member of his or her immediate family, and the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates. The purpose of this review was to determine whether any relationships or transactions were inconsistent with a determination that a director is independent.

The Board determined that other than Mr. DeRosa, all of the directors (Mr. Ballard, Mr. Donahue, Mr. Grua, Mr. Klipsch, Mr. Meyers, Mr. Naughton, Ms. Oster, Ms. Pelham, Mr. Rivera and Mr. Trumbull) meet the specific minimum independence requirements of the New York Stock Exchange. The Board also determined that other than Mr. DeRosa, all of the directors (Mr. Ballard, Mr. Donahue, Mr. Grua, Mr. Klipsch, Mr. Meyers, Mr. Naughton, Ms. Oster, Ms. Pelham, Mr. Rivera and Mr. Trumbull) have no material relationship with the Company (either directly or as a partner, shareholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the Company) and are therefore independent under the general independence standards of the New York Stock Exchange and the Corporate Governance Guidelines. The Board also determined that Jeffrey R. Otten, a former director, was independent prior to his retirement from the Board on May 1, 2014 and George L. Chapman, the former Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company, was not independent prior to his resignation from the Board on April 13, 2014 because he was the Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company. Mr. DeRosa is not independent because he is the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

The Board determined that all of the members of the Audit Committee (Mr. Ballard, Mr. Klipsch, Mr. Naughton, Mr. Rivera and Mr. Trumbull) are independent under the general independence standards of the New York Stock Exchange and the Corporate Governance Guidelines and under the separate independence standards for audit committee members under Rule 10A-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Additionally, the Board determined that all of the members of the Compensation Committee (Mr. Grua, Mr. Meyers, Ms. Oster and Ms. Pelham) are independent, non-employee and outside directors, as the case may be, under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, Securities and Exchange Commission and Internal Revenue Service. Finally, the Board determined that all of the members of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee (Mr. Donahue, Mr. Klipsch, Ms. Oster and Ms. Pelham) are independent under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange.

The Company’s policy is to schedule a meeting of the Board on the date of the annual meeting of shareholders and all of the directors are encouraged to attend that meeting. All directors attended last year’s annual meeting of shareholders.

The Board has standing Audit, Compensation, Executive, Investment, Nominating/Corporate Governance and Planning Committees. In 2014, all incumbent directors (except for Mr. Rivera) attended at least 75% of the aggregate of the meetings of the Board and the committees on which they served. Mr. Rivera, a new director who joined the Board in August 2014, only had the opportunity to attend two meetings in 2014—a joint meeting of the Board of Directors and the Investment Committee and a meeting of the Audit Committee. He was unable to attend the joint meeting of the Board of Directors and the Investment Committee because of obligations existing prior to his appointment as a director, so his attendance was below 75%. Mr. Rivera was able to attend the meeting of the Audit Committee. In 2015, Mr.  Rivera has attended all of the meetings of the Board and the committees on which he serves.

COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS AND ROTATION

The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee periodically reviews committee assignments and makes recommendations to the Board for rotations of assignments and appointment of committee chairs, as appropriate. During 2014 and 2015, the Board, upon the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee’s recommendations, made a number of changes to committee assignments and chairs as a result of Mr. Chapman’s retirement and to otherwise address appropriate committee needs.

AUDIT COMMITTEE

The Audit Committee has the authority and responsibility to engage and discharge the independent registered public accounting firm, pre-approve all audit and non-audit services to be provided by such firm, review the plan and results of the auditing engagement, review management’s evaluation of the adequacy of the Company’s system of internal control over financial reporting, direct and supervise investigations into matters within the scope of its duties, and perform the duties set forth in its written charter and such other duties as are required by applicable laws or securities exchange rules.

The Audit Committee met six times during the year ended December 31, 2014. The members of the Audit Committee are Mr. Ballard, Mr. Klipsch, Mr. Naughton, Mr. Rivera and Mr. Trumbull, with Mr. Trumbull serving as Chair.

The Audit Committee is comprised solely of directors who are not officers or employees of the Company and who the Board has determined have the requisite financial literacy to serve on the Audit Committee. Additionally, the Board determined that no member of the Committee has any material relationship with the Company that might interfere with the exercise of the member’s independent judgment and that each member meets the standards of independence established by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange. See “Independence and Meetings” above for a discussion of independence determinations.

The Board, after reviewing all of the relevant facts and circumstances, determined that Mr. Ballard, Mr. Klipsch, Mr. Naughton, Mr. Rivera and Mr. Trumbull are “audit committee financial experts.”

The Audit Committee is governed by a written charter approved by the Board of Directors. The charter is available on the Company’s website at www.hcreit.com/investor-relations/governance.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

The Compensation Committee is responsible for determining the nature and amount of compensation for executive officers. The Compensation Committee met six times during the year ended December 31, 2014. The members of the Compensation Committee are Mr. Grua, Mr. Meyers, Ms. Oster and Ms. Pelham, with Ms. Oster serving as Chair. The Board determined that the members of the Compensation Committee are independent, non-employee and outside directors, as the case may be, under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, Securities and Exchange Commission and Internal Revenue Service. The Compensation Committee is governed by a written charter approved by the Board of Directors. The charter is available on the Company’s website at www.hcreit.com/investor-relations/governance. See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” for additional information regarding the Compensation Committee.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The function of the Executive Committee is to exercise all the powers of the Board (except any powers specifically reserved to the Board) between meetings of the Board. The Executive Committee is also responsible for reviewing and approving the Company’s investments between meetings of the Investment Committee. The Executive Committee met seven times during the year ended December 31, 2014. The members of the Executive Committee are Mr. DeRosa, Mr. Donahue, Ms. Oster and Mr. Trumbull, with Mr.  Donahue serving as Chair.

INVESTMENT COMMITTEE

The function of the Investment Committee is to review and approve the Company’s investments in health care and seniors housing real estate. During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Investment Committee met four times. Each member of the Board is a member of the Investment Committee. The Executive Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving the Company’s investments between meetings of the Investment Committee.

NOMINATING/CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE

Responsibilities and Members. The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for reviewing and interviewing qualified candidates to serve on the Board, making nominations to fill vacancies on the Board and selecting the nominees for the directors to be elected by the shareholders at each annual meeting. In addition, the Committee is responsible for evaluating, implementing and overseeing the standards and guidelines for the governance of the Company, including monitoring compliance with those standards and guidelines, developing and implementing succession plans and evaluating the performance of the Board. The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee met six times during the year ended December 31, 2014. The members of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee are Mr. Donahue, Mr. Klipsch, Ms. Oster and Ms. Pelham, with Mr. Donahue serving as Chair.

The Committee is comprised solely of directors who are not officers or employees of the Company. The Board has determined that no member of the Committee has any material relationship with the Company that might interfere with the member’s exercise of his or her independent judgment and that each member meets the standards of independence established by the New York Stock Exchange.

The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee is governed by a written charter approved by the Board of Directors. The charter is available on the Company’s website at www.hcreit.com/investor-relations/governance.

Consideration of Director Nominees. The Board believes that a nominee for director should be or have been a senior manager, chief operating officer, chief financial officer or chief executive officer of a complex organization such as a corporation, university, foundation or governmental entity or unit or, if in a professional capacity, be accustomed to dealing with complex problems, or otherwise have obtained and excelled in a position of leadership. In addition, directors

and nominees for director should have the education, experience, intelligence, independence, fairness, reasoning ability, practical wisdom and vision to exercise sound business judgment and should have high personal and professional ethics, strength of character, integrity and values. Also, directors and nominees for director should be available and willing to attend regularly scheduled meetings of the Board and its committees and otherwise able to contribute a reasonable amount of time to the Company’s affairs, with participation on other boards of directors encouraged to provide breadth of experience to the Board. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, no person shall be nominated for election as a director after his or her 75 ^th birthday.

In identifying and evaluating nominees for director, the Committee first looks at the overall size and structure of the Board each year to determine the need to add or remove directors. Second, taking into consideration the characteristics mentioned above, the Committee determines if there are any specific qualities or skills that would complement the existing strengths of the Board. The Committee takes diversity into account in identifying and evaluating nominees for director. The Committee considers diversity in terms of (1) professional experience, including experience in the Company’s primary business segments and in areas of possible future expansion, (2) educational background and (3) age, race, gender and national origin.

The Committee uses multiple sources for identifying and evaluating nominees for director, including referrals from current directors and management, and may seek input from third party executive search firms retained at the Company’s expense. If the Committee retains one or more search firms, such firms may be asked to identify possible nominees, interview and screen such nominees and act as a liaison between the Committee and each nominee during the screening and evaluation process.

The Committee will review the résumé and qualifications of each candidate based on the criteria described above, and determine whether the candidate would add value to the Board. With respect to candidates that are determined by the Committee to be potential nominees, the Committee will obtain such background and reference checks as it deems necessary, and the Chair of the Committee and the Chairman of the Board will interview qualified candidates. Once it is determined that a candidate is a good prospect, the candidate will be invited to meet the other members of the Committee. If the candidate is approved by the Committee, the candidate will have an opportunity to meet with the remaining directors and management. At the end of this process, if the Committee determines that the candidate will be able to add value to the Board and the candidate expresses his or her interest in serving on the Board, the Committee will then recommend to the Board that the candidate stand for election by the shareholders or fill a vacancy or newly created position on the Board. Each year, the Board and the Committee evaluate the size, composition and diversity of the Board as part of the Board and Committee self-evaluation process. These self-evaluations help the Committee assess the effectiveness of the foregoing procedures for identifying and evaluating nominees for director.

A third-party recruiting firm retained by the Committee identified, evaluated and recommended Mr. Meyers and Mr. Rivera as potential nominees for director. The Committee, through the process described above, recommended to the Board that each of Mr. Meyers and Mr. Rivera be appointed as a director. The Board appointed Mr. Meyers as a member of the Board in June 2014 and Mr. Rivera as a member of the Board in August 2014.

The Committee will consider qualified nominees recommended by shareholders who may submit recommendations to the Committee in care of the Executive Vice President, Head of Human Capital and Corporate Secretary, Health Care REIT, Inc., 4500 Dorr Street, Toledo, Ohio 43615. The Committee requires that shareholder recommendations for director nominees be submitted by November 28, 2015 and be accompanied by (1) the name, age, business address and, if known, residence address of the nominee, (2) the principal occupation or employment of the nominee for at least the last five years and a description of the qualifications of the nominee, (3) the class or series and number of shares of the Company’s stock that are owned beneficially or of record by the nominee and (4) any other information relating to the nominee that is required to be disclosed in solicitations for proxies for election of directors under Regulation 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, together with a written statement from the nominee that he or she is willing to be nominated and desires to serve, if elected.

Also, the shareholder making the nomination should include (1) his or her name and record address, together with the name and address of any other shareholder known to be supporting the nominee and (2) the class or series and number of shares of the Company’s stock that are owned beneficially or of record by the shareholder making the nomination and by any other supporting shareholders. Nominees for director who are recommended by shareholders will be evaluated in the same manner as any other nominee for director.

In addition to the right of shareholders to recommend director nominees to the Committee, the By-Laws provide that a shareholder entitled to vote for the election of directors may make nominations at a meeting of shareholders of persons for election to the Board if the shareholder has complied with specified prior notice requirements. To be timely, a shareholder’s notice of an intent to nominate a director at a meeting of shareholders must be in writing and delivered to the Executive Vice President, Head of Human Capital and Corporate Secretary not more than 120 days prior to the meeting and not less than 45 days before the date on which the Company first mailed or otherwise gave notice for the prior year’s annual meeting of shareholders. With respect to the 2015 Annual Meeting, such a notice must be received by the Executive Vice President, Head of Human Capital and Corporate Secretary by February 11, 2016. The By-Laws further require that such a notice include all of the information specified in the preceding paragraph for shareholder recommendations to the Committee for director nominees.

The Company may require that the proposed nominee furnish other information as the Company may reasonably request to assist in determining the eligibility of the proposed nominee to serve as a director. At any meeting of shareholders, the Chairman of the Board may disregard the purported nomination of any person not made in compliance with these procedures.

PLANNING COMMITTEE

The function of the Planning Committee is to assist management with identifying strategic opportunities for the Company. The Planning Committee met one time during the year ended December 31, 2014. Each member of the Board is a member of the Planning Committee.

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

The function of the Management Committee is to provide leadership in the organization and the marketplace and to position the Company to deliver on its commitments to growth and excellence. The Management Committee consists of six members of senior management, including the Chief Executive Officer.

RISK MANAGEMENT

The Board of Directors and Management Committee play a vital role in overseeing the management of the Company’s risks. The Board reviews the Company’s significant risk exposure, including operational, strategic, financial, legal and regulatory risks. The Management Committee oversees management of material risks and sets policy regarding enterprise risk management (“ERM”).

In order to manage these risks, the Management Committee has established a comprehensive Enterprise Risk Management Program (“ERM Program”) led by an experienced Director, Enterprise Risk Management, who reports to the Chief Operating Officer. The Director, working collaboratively with the leaders of all of the Company’s business functions, identifies and evaluates enterprise risk throughout the organization. After review and input from those business function leaders and the Management Committee, the Director works with the various business units to mitigate risks that are deemed material or are otherwise determined to be priorities by the Management Committee. Additionally, a report detailing the risks identified and the results of mitigation efforts are reported to the Board on a regular basis, including results of risk mitigation testing performed by Internal Audit.

SUCCESSION PLANNING

The Board of Directors and the Management Committee continue to be actively engaged in succession planning for the Company. Succession planning addresses both succession in the ordinary course of business and contingency planning in case of unexpected events. In 2014, this resulted in a seamless transition of the Chief Executive Officer role. The Compensation Committee conducts an annual review of the Chief Executive Officer’s performance and oversees the evaluation of other members of the Management Committee. At least annually, the

Board reviews succession plans for the Chief Executive Officer and members of the Management Committee. Each member of the Management Committee meets quarterly with the Chief Executive Officer to discuss development plans and opportunities. From time to time, the Chief Executive Officer makes his recommendations and evaluations of potential successors, along with a review of any development plans for such individuals. Additionally, the Company is developing an annual process for evaluating and developing the next generation of leaders.

SUSTAINABILITY

In 2014, the Company completed its second Carbon Disclosure Project survey, the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark survey, and the Company’s Global Reporting Initiative guided annual sustainability report. The Company views its sustainability program as an important means to minimize the environmental impact of its real estate portfolio, proactively address climate change, engage stakeholders, and to align the Company’s buildings with the delivery of healthcare. To view the Company’s latest sustainability report and learn more about its corporate responsibility actions, visit www.hcreit.com/sustainability.

PLEDGING AND HEDGING

The Company’s insider trading policy prohibits the Company’s directors and executive officers from entering into hedging or monetization transactions with respect to the Company’s securities and from holding the Company’s securities in margin accounts or otherwise pledging such securities as collateral for loans.

C LAWBACK POLICY

If the Company is required to prepare a financial restatement due to the Company’s material non-compliance with any financial reporting requirement, the Compensation Committee may require any of the Company’s executive

officers and certain other covered officers to repay to the Company that part of the incentive compensation received by such officer during the three-year period preceding the publication of the restated financial statement that the Compensation Committee determines was in excess of the amount that such officer would have received had such incentive compensation been calculated based on the financial results reported in the restated financial statement. The amount and form of the compensation to be recouped is determined by the Compensation Committee in its discretion.

COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BOARD

Shareholders and other parties interested in communicating with the Board of Directors or any specific directors, including the non-executive Chairman or the non-employee or independent directors as a group, may do so by writing to the Board of Directors, Health Care REIT, Inc., 4500 Dorr Street, Toledo, Ohio 43615. The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee has approved a process for handling letters received by the Company and addressed to members of the Board. Under that process, the Executive Vice President, Head of Human Capital and Corporate Secretary of the Company reviews all such correspondence and regularly forwards to the Board a summary of the correspondence (with copies of the correspondence attached) that, in the opinion of the Executive Vice President, Head of Human Capital and Corporate Secretary, relates to the functions of the Board or committees thereof or that she otherwise determines requires their attention (for example, if the communication received relates to questions, concerns or complaints regarding accounting, internal control over financial reporting and auditing matters, it will be summarized and forwarded to the Chair of the Audit Committee for review). Directors may at any time review a log of all correspondence received by the Company that is addressed to members of the Board and request copies of such correspondence.

GOOD GOVERNANCE PRACTICES

A commitment to strong and sustainable governance practices is a hallmark of the Board’s stewardship on behalf of shareholders. As such, the Company continuously reviews its practices to ensure effective collaboration of management and the Board.

The Company has a written policy requiring all material transactions with related parties to be approved or ratified by the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee. The policy covers any transaction, arrangement or relationship or series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships (including any indebtedness or guarantee of indebtedness) in which (1) the aggregate amount involved will or may be expected to exceed $100,000 in any calendar year, (2) the Company is a participant, and (3) any related party has or will have a direct or indirect interest (other than solely as a result of being a director or a less than 10% beneficial owner of another entity).

In determining whether to approve or ratify a transaction, the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee will take into account, among other factors it deems appropriate, whether the transaction is on terms no less favorable than terms generally available to an unaffiliated third party under the same or similar circumstances and the extent of the related party’s interest in the transaction. The Board has determined that transactions that involve any employment by the

Company of an executive officer of the Company shall be deemed to be pre-approved if the related compensation is required to be reported in the Company’s proxy statement under Item 402 of Regulation S-K because the person is a Named Executive Officer, or if the executive officer is not a Named Executive Officer and the compensation would have been reported in the Company’s proxy statement if the executive officer had been a Named Executive Officer (and the Company’s Compensation Committee approved or recommended that the Board approve such compensation). The Board also has pre-approved certain transactions that involve any compensation paid to a director if the compensation is required to be reported in the Company’s proxy statement under Item 402 of Regulation S-K, certain charitable contributions by the Company if the related party is an employee or a director of the charitable institution, and any transaction where the related party’s interest arises solely from the ownership of the Company’s common stock and all holders of the Company’s common stock receive the same benefit on a pro rata basis.

The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, retention, compensation, evaluation and oversight of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee has selected Ernst & Young LLP to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2015. Ernst & Young LLP has served as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm since the Company’s inception in 1970. The Audit Committee periodically considers whether, in order to assure continuing auditor independence, it should adopt a policy requiring the regular rotation of the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee (and in particular the Chair of the Audit Committee) ensures the rotation of the lead (or coordinating) audit partner and is directly involved in the selection of Ernst & Young LLP’s lead audit partner. The Audit Committee and the Board believe that the continued retention of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.

Although the submission of this matter for approval by shareholders is not legally required, the Board believes that such submission follows sound business practice and is in the best interests of the shareholders. If this appointment is not ratified by the holders of a majority of the shares of voting securities present in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting, the Audit Committee will consider the selection of another accounting firm. If such a selection were made, it may not become effective until 2016 because of the difficulty and expense of making a substitution. Representatives of the firm of Ernst & Young LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting and will have an opportunity to make a statement if they so desire and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Fees for professional services provided by Ernst & Young LLP in each of the last two fiscal years, in each of the following categories, are as follows:

Audit fees include fees associated with the annual audit, the review of the Company’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and services that generally only the independent registered public accounting firm can provide such as comfort letters, consents and assistance with review of documents to be filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Audit-related fees include fees associated with assurance and related services that are traditionally performed by an independent accountant, and include access to research databases and consultations concerning financial accounting and reporting standards.

Tax fees include fees for tax compliance and tax planning and tax advice services. Tax compliance involves the preparation of original and amended tax returns, claims for refund and tax payment-planning services and assistance with tax audits and appeals. Tax planning and tax advice encompass a diverse range of services, including advice related to acquisitions, and requests for rulings or technical advice from taxing authorities.

The increase in tax fees in 2014 is primarily due to changes in tax laws affecting the Company and the increase in tax reporting and tax planning requirements as a result of significant acquisition activity in 2013 and 2014, including large, complex transactions in 2014 that required significant tax planning. In 2014, the Company engaged a third-party tax consultant and transitioned certain tax compliance and planning services from Ernst & Young LLP to this tax consultant. The Company anticipates that this transition will result in a significant decrease in the tax fees paid to Ernst & Young LLP in 2015.

All other fees include fees for insurance and risk management advisory services.

None of the foregoing fees were paid for services, the sole business purpose of which was tax avoidance, or the tax treatment of which would not be supported by the Code and related regulations.

The Audit Committee has developed policies and procedures concerning its pre-approval of the performance of audit and non-audit services for the Company by Ernst & Young LLP and is responsible for the audit fee negotiations associated with the engagement of Ernst & Young LLP. At its quarterly meetings, the Audit Committee gives its prior approval for particular audit and non-audit services within the following categories of services that it desires the independent registered public accounting firm to undertake: audit services, audit-related services, tax compliance services, tax planning and tax advice services and other services. Prior to giving its approval, the Committee reviews the written descriptions of these services provided by Ernst & Young LLP and the estimated fees for these services. All other non-audit services must be pre-approved on an individual engagement basis. If there is any question as to whether a proposed

service has been pre-approved, management and the independent registered public accounting firm together must contact the Audit Committee to obtain clarification or, if necessary, pre-approval.

All of the audit services, audit-related services, tax compliance services, tax planning and tax advice services and other services provided to the Company by Ernst & Young LLP during the year ended December 31, 2014 were pre-approved by the Audit Committee.

Where specific Audit Committee approval of non-audit services is required, the Chair of the Audit Committee may pre-approve the engagement subject to a presentation to the full Audit Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting.

The Audit Committee oversees the Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of the Board of Directors. Management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting process, including the system of internal controls. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities this past year, the Committee reviewed the audited financial statements with management, including a discussion of the quality, not just the acceptability, of the accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments and the clarity of disclosures in the financial statements.

The Committee reviewed with the independent registered public accounting firm, which is responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of the audited financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles, its judgments as to the quality, not just the acceptability, of the Company’s accounting principles and such other matters as are required to be discussed with the Committee under generally accepted auditing standards (including Auditing Standard No. 16, “Communications with Audit Committees” issued by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board). In addition, the Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accounting firm required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding such firm’s communications with the Committee concerning independence. The Committee has also discussed with the

independent registered public accounting firm such firm’s independence from management and the Company and considered the compatibility of non-audit services with such firm’s independence.

The Committee discussed with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm the overall scope and plans for its audit. The Committee met with such firm, with and without management present, to discuss the results of its examinations, its evaluations of the Company’s internal controls, and the overall quality of the Company’s financial reporting. The Committee held six meetings during the year ended December 31, 2014.

In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Committee recommended to the Board of Directors (and the Board has approved) that the audited financial statements be included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Committee and the Board have also recommended, subject to shareholder ratification, the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. Mr. Ballard, Mr. Klipsch, Mr. Naughton, Mr. Rivera and Mr. Trumbull were each members of the Committee in 2014 and participated in the reviews and discussions described above.

The Company enhanced the compensation program structure in 2014.

The Company believes that these changes will improve shareholder returns and create meaningful shareholder value over the long term. In addition, as described above, the Company is in the process of transitioning to what will be an entirely new three-year forward-looking long-term incentive program that the Company believes will further enhance the link between pay and performance.

No shareholders questioned the rigor of the Company’s annual cash bonus program or long-term incentive program during the 2014 shareholder outreach efforts.

Source: SNL Financial, data as of 12/31/14.

Source: Key Banc, data as of 12/31/14.

Findings from the Peer Group review indicated that the current place for Mr. DeRosa’s total target remuneration (sum of base salary, cash bonus and equity awards) is the lowest among the CEOs in the Peer Group. The review also indicated that the target total remuneration for the NEOs (other than Mr. DeRosa and Mr. Chapman, in the aggregate) is approximately at the 46 ^th percentile relative to the non-CEO named executive officers (in the aggregate) in the Peer Group. The market median is the desired competitive position for Mr. DeRosa and the other NEOs (in the aggregate), respectively, with higher pay opportunities if performance achievements exceed expectations on an absolute and relative basis. The current placement is below the desired market median for Mr. DeRosa (because 2014 was his first year as CEO for the Company) and for the Company’s NEOs in the aggregate. The Compensation Committee will continue to evaluate and adjust target compensation over time to make sure the Company’s compensation programs are competitive and consistent with the Company’s compensation philosophy. For HCN and the peers, the Company included the annualized, target value of any participation in future programs.

The Company’s relative compensation levels compared to relative enterprise growth, total capitalization growth and total shareholder return during the period 2012 – 2014 is depicted in the chart to the right.

Sources: Key Banc, data as of 12/31/14.

SNL Financial, data as of 12/31/14.

48.5% ONE-YEAR AND 17.2% THREE-YEAR ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS

$3.7 BILLION 2014 GROSS INVESTMENTS

The Company completed $3.7 billion in gross new investments in 2014, including $1 billion of international investments.

Demonstrating the success of our relationship investing approach, excluding the HealthLease acquisition, 77% of HCN’s 2014 investments were with existing partners.

175 CONSECUTIVE DIVIDENDS

The Company paid a cash dividend of $3.18 per share in 2014, which represents a 4% increase over dividends paid in 2013.

The Board of Directors also approved a new 2015 cash dividend of $3.30, which represents a 4% increase, commencing with the February 2015 dividend.

The dividend paid in February 2015 represents the Company’s 175th consecutive dividend payment.

CONTINUED GEOGRAPHIC EXPANSION

The Company continued international expansion in high-quality, strategically-aligned properties by investing $965 million internationally in 2014, positioning the Company to deliver substantial returns to shareholders in the future.

In addition, the Company opened an office in London and currently has eight professionals working there.

OPERATED EFFICIENTLY

The Company operated efficiently in 2014 as total general and administrative expenses as a percent of average gross assets were only 0.46%, 0.02% below the peer group average.

*Actual results year to date – as of 12/31/14.

BEST PRACTICES CEO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

During the consulting period and in some instances after the end of that period, Mr. Chapman will be subject to non-competition, non-disparagement, non-solicitation and confidentiality covenants. The Company may terminate his service as a consultant, seek the return of certain payments and pursue other remedies if he violates these provisions. Any further consulting fees and payments subject to his continued service would cease.

In August 2014, the Compensation Committee revised the compensation structure of the NEOs (other than Mr. DeRosa) in light of the restructuring of the Management Committee and the resulting changes in individual responsibilities. Please see page 31 for more details.