<HTML><HEAD>
<TITLE>Form S-8</TITLE>
</HEAD>
 <BODY BGCOLOR="WHITE">

 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May&nbsp;7, 2015 </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="right"><B>Registration No.&nbsp;333-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </B></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:4pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="line-height:1.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="line-height:3.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:4pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>UNITED STATES </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549 </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Form <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">S-8</FONT> </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>REGISTRATION STATEMENT </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><I>UNDER </I></B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><I>THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 </I></B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:24pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>
<TD WIDTH="50%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="48%"></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>Maryland</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">27-0467113</FONT></B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(State or other jurisdiction of</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>incorporation or organization)</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(I.R.S. Employer</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Identification No.)</B></P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>c/o Apollo Global Management, LLC</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>9 West 57<SUP STYLE="font-size:85%; vertical-align:top">th</SUP> Street, 43<SUP STYLE="font-size:85%; vertical-align:top">rd</SUP>
Floor</B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>New York, NY</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><B>10019</B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>(Address of principal executive offices)</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>(Zip code)</B></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. 2009 Equity Incentive Plan </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Full title of the plan) </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>John J. Suydam, Esq. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Vice President&nbsp;&amp; Secretary </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>ACREFI Management, LLC </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>9
West 57<SUP STYLE="font-size:85%; vertical-align:top">th</SUP> Street, 43<SUP STYLE="font-size:85%; vertical-align:top">rd</SUP> Floor </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>New York, NY </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(212) <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">515-3200</FONT> </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Name and address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent
for service) </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">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 &#147;large accelerated filer,&#148; &#147;accelerated filer&#148; and &#147;smaller reporting company&#148; in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>
<TD WIDTH="16%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="60%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="20%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%"></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom">Large&nbsp;accelerated&nbsp;filer</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="FONT-FAMILY:WINGDINGS">&#120;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">Accelerated&nbsp;filer</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="FONT-FAMILY:WINGDINGS">&#168;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom">Non-accelerated filer</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="FONT-FAMILY:WINGDINGS">&#168;</FONT>&nbsp;&nbsp;(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">Smaller&nbsp;reporting&nbsp;company</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="FONT-FAMILY:WINGDINGS">&#168;</FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;page-break-before:always"></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE </B></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:4pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>
<TD WIDTH="44%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="13%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="13%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="13%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="13%"></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="font-size:1px; ">
<TD COLSPAN="9" VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE="border-top:1.00px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Title of Each Class of Securities</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>to be Registered</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Amount</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>to be</B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Registered<SUP
STYLE="font-size:85%; vertical-align:top">(1)</SUP></B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Proposed</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Maximum</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Offering&nbsp;Price</B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>per
Share<SUP STYLE="font-size:85%; vertical-align:top">(2)</SUP></B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Proposed</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Maximum</B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Aggregate</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Offering&nbsp;Price</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000"><B>Amount of<BR>Registration Fee<SUP STYLE="font-size:85%; vertical-align:top">(3)</SUP></B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">4,696,996</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">$17.08</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">$80,224,692</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">$9,322</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1px; ">
<TD COLSPAN="9" VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE="border-top:1.00px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="line-height:1.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(1)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &#147;Securities Act&#148;), this registration statement also covers an additional indeterminate amount of shares to be offered or sold pursuant to
the Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. 2009 Equity Incentive Plan and shares that may become issuable under the Plan by reason of certain corporate transactions or events, including any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or any
other similar transaction effected without the receipt of consideration which results in an increase in the number of the registrant&#146;s outstanding shares of Common Stock. </TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(2)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Represents the average of the high and the low sale prices of the registrant&#146;s common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on May&nbsp;6, 2015. </TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(3)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Computed in accordance with Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act. </TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="line-height:1.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="line-height:3.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P>

<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
<HR  SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="toc921775_1"></A>EXPLANATORY NOTE </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. 2009 Equity Incentive Plan (the &#147;Plan&#148;) provides for grants of equity-based awards
up to an aggregate of 7.5% of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (&#147;Common Stock&#148;), of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. (the &#147;Company&#148;), on a fully diluted basis (assuming, if
applicable, the exercise of all outstanding Options and the conversion of all warrants and convertible securities into shares of Common Stock), at the time of the award. The Company initially registered 787,500 shares of Common Stock for issuance
under the Plan pursuant to Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-162246) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#147;SEC&#148;) on October&nbsp;1, 2009 (the &#147;Prior Registration Statement&#148;), based on the number of
shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding as of such date. The Registrant is filing this Registration Statement on Form S-8 to register an additional 4,696,996 shares of Common Stock for issuance under the Plan, based on the number of shares of
Common Stock issued and outstanding, on a fully diluted basis, as of May&nbsp;6, 2015. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">In accordance with General Instruction E of Form
S-8, the contents of the Prior Registration Statement are hereby incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8, except to the extent supplemented, amended or superseded by the information set forth herein. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="toc921775_5"></A>PART II </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="8%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><B><A NAME="toc921775_6"></A>Item&nbsp;3.</B></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><B>Incorporation of Documents by Reference. </B></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The following documents previously filed by
the Company with the SEC are incorporated by reference in this registration statement: </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(a) the Company&#146;s Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December&nbsp;31, 2014 filed with the SEC on February&nbsp;26, 2015; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(b) the Company&#146;s Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for the quarter ended March&nbsp;31, 2015 filed with the SEC on April&nbsp;30, 2015; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(c) the Company&#146;s Current Reports on Form
8-K filed with the SEC on January&nbsp;5,&nbsp;January&nbsp;13,&nbsp;January&nbsp;30,&nbsp;March&nbsp;10 and May&nbsp;1, 2015; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(d) the
Company&#146;s Definitive Proxy Statement, filed with the SEC on March&nbsp;19, 2015 (but only with respect to information required by Part III of the Company&#146;s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December&nbsp;31, 2014); and
</P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">1 </P>


<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
<HR  SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(e) the description of the Common Stock, contained in the Company&#146;s Registration Statement
on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">8-A</FONT> filed with the SEC on September&nbsp;10, 2009 to register the Common Stock under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &#147;Exchange Act&#148;), including any amendment or report
filed for the purpose of updating such description. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14
and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">post-effective</FONT> amendment to this registration statement which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities
then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to
be modified or superseded for purposes of this registration statement to the extent that a statement contained in this registration statement, or in any other subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in
this registration statement, modifies or supersedes such prior statement. Any statement contained in this registration statement shall be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a statement contained in a subsequently filed document
that is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement modifies or supersedes such prior statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part
of this registration statement. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="8%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><B><A NAME="toc921775_7"></A>Item&nbsp;8.</B></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><B>Exhibits. </B></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="6%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="93%"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; width:25.30pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Exhibit<BR>No.</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP> <P STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; width:39.50pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Description</B></P></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>&nbsp;&nbsp;3.1*</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>&nbsp;&nbsp;3.2*</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Bylaws of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>&nbsp;&nbsp;5.1</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Opinion of Clifford Chance US LLP (including consent of such firm)</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>10.1**</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. 2009 Equity Incentive Plan</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>10.2***</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>10.3*</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>23.1</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Consent of Clifford Chance US LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>23.2</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Consent of Deloitte &amp; Touche LLP</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="line-height:8.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;width:10%">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">*</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Incorporated by reference to the Company&#146;s Registration Statement on Form S-11, as amended (Registration No. 333-160533). </TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">**</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Incorporated by reference to the Company&#146;s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-162246). </TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">***</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Incorporated by reference to the Company&#146;s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on January&nbsp;5, 2015. </TD></TR></TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">- 2 - </P>


<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
<HR  SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="toc921775_8"></A>SIGNATURES </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of
the requirements for filing on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">S-8</FONT> and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on
this 7th day of May, 2015. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><DIV ALIGN="right">
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="40%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">


<TR>
<TD WIDTH="12%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="87%"></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3">Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">By:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">/s/ Stuart A. Rothstein</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Name:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">Stuart A. Rothstein</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Title:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">President and Chief Executive Officer</TD></TR>
</TABLE></DIV> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the
following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">


<TR>
<TD WIDTH="2%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="37%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="33%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="5%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="15%"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="3" NOWRAP ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; width:33.30pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Signature</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; width:15.95pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Title</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; width:16.00pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Date</B></P></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">By:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">/s/ Stuart A. Rothstein</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Stuart A. Rothstein</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">President, Chief Executive Officer,</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">and Director</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">(Principal Executive
Officer)</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center">May&nbsp;7, 2015</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">By:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">/s/ Megan B. Gaul</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Megan B. Gaul</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">and Secretary</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">(Principal Financial
Officer and</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Principal Accounting Officer)</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center">May&nbsp;7, 2015</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">By:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">/s/ Jeffrey M. Gault</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Jeffrey M. Gault</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center">Chairman</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center">May&nbsp;7, 2015</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">By:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">/s/ Mark C. Biderman</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Mark C. Biderman</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center">Director</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center">May&nbsp;7, 2015</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">By:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">/s/ Robert A. Kasdin</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Robert A. Kasdin</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center">Director</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center">May&nbsp;7, 2015</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">By:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">/s/ Eric L. Press</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Eric L. Press</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center">Director</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center">May&nbsp;7, 2015</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">By:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">/s/ Scott S. Prince</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Scott S. Prince</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center">Director</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center">May&nbsp;7, 2015</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">By:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">/s/ Michael E. Salvati</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Michael E. Salvati</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center">Director</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center">May&nbsp;7, 2015</TD></TR>
</TABLE>

<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
<HR  SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><A NAME="toc921775_9"></A>INDEX TO EXHIBITS </B></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="6%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="93%"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; width:25.30pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Exhibit<BR>No.</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP> <P STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; width:39.50pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Description</B></P></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>&nbsp;&nbsp;3.1*</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>&nbsp;&nbsp;3.2*</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Bylaws of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>&nbsp;&nbsp;5.1</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Opinion of Clifford Chance US LLP (including consent of such firm)</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>10.1**</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. 2009 Equity Incentive Plan</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>10.2***</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>10.3*</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>23.1</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Consent of Clifford Chance US LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>23.2</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Consent of Deloitte &amp; Touche LLP</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="line-height:8.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;width:10%">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">*</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Incorporated by reference to the Company&#146;s Registration Statement on Form S-11, as amended (Registration No. 333-160533). </TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">**</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Incorporated by reference to the Company&#146;s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-162246). </TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">***</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Incorporated by reference to the Company&#146;s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on January&nbsp;5, 2015. </TD></TR></TABLE>
</BODY></HTML>
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "d921775ds8.htm", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 43846}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc.", "cik": "0001467760", "assigned-sic": "6798", "irs-number": "270467113", "state-of-incorporation": "MD", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-203972", "film-number": "15843170"}, "business-address": {"street1": "C/O APOLLO GLOBAL MANAGEMENT, LLC", "street2": "9 WEST 57TH STREET, 43RD FLOOR", "city": "NEW YORK", "state": "NY", "zip": "10019", "phone": "(212) 515-3200"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "C/O APOLLO GLOBAL MANAGEMENT, LLC", "street2": "9 WEST 57TH STREET, 43RD FLOOR", "city": "NEW YORK", "state": "NY", "zip": "10019"}}
Form S-8
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 7, 2015
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form
S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Maryland
27-0467113
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
c/o Apollo Global Management, LLC
9 West 57
th
Street, 43
rd
Floor
New York, NY
10019
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip code)
Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. 2009 Equity Incentive Plan
(Full title of the plan)
John J. Suydam, Esq.
Vice President & Secretary
ACREFI Management, LLC
9
West 57
th
Street, 43
rd
Floor
New York, NY
(212)
515-3200
(Name and address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent
for service)
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.
Large accelerated filer
x
Accelerated filer
¨
Non-accelerated filer
¨
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company
¨
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of Each Class of Securities
to be Registered
Amount
to be
Registered
(1)
Proposed
Maximum
Offering Price
per
Share
(2)
Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price
Amount of
Registration Fee
(3)
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share
4,696,996
$17.08
$80,224,692
$9,322
(1)
Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), this registration statement also covers an additional indeterminate amount of shares to be offered or sold pursuant to
the Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. 2009 Equity Incentive Plan and shares that may become issuable under the Plan by reason of certain corporate transactions or events, including any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or any
other similar transaction effected without the receipt of consideration which results in an increase in the number of the registrant's outstanding shares of Common Stock.
(2)
Represents the average of the high and the low sale prices of the registrant's common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on May 6, 2015.
(3)
Computed in accordance with Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. 2009 Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan") provides for grants of equity-based awards
up to an aggregate of 7.5% of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share ("Common Stock"), of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. (the "Company"), on a fully diluted basis (assuming, if
applicable, the exercise of all outstanding Options and the conversion of all warrants and convertible securities into shares of Common Stock), at the time of the award. The Company initially registered 787,500 shares of Common Stock for issuance
under the Plan pursuant to Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-162246) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on October 1, 2009 (the "Prior Registration Statement"), based on the number of
shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding as of such date. The Registrant is filing this Registration Statement on Form S-8 to register an additional 4,696,996 shares of Common Stock for issuance under the Plan, based on the number of shares of
Common Stock issued and outstanding, on a fully diluted basis, as of May 6, 2015.
In accordance with General Instruction E of Form
S-8, the contents of the Prior Registration Statement are hereby incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8, except to the extent supplemented, amended or superseded by the information set forth herein.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3.
Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
The following documents previously filed by
the Company with the SEC are incorporated by reference in this registration statement:
(a) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2014 filed with the SEC on February 26, 2015;
(b) the Company's Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 filed with the SEC on April 30, 2015;
(c) the Company's Current Reports on Form
8-K filed with the SEC on January 5, January 13, January 30, March 10 and May 1, 2015;
(d) the
Company's Definitive Proxy Statement, filed with the SEC on March 19, 2015 (but only with respect to information required by Part III of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014); and
1
(e) the description of the Common Stock, contained in the Company's Registration Statement
on Form
8-A
filed with the SEC on September 10, 2009 to register the Common Stock under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), including any amendment or report
filed for the purpose of updating such description.
All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14
and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a
post-effective
amendment to this registration statement which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities
then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.
Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to
be modified or superseded for purposes of this registration statement to the extent that a statement contained in this registration statement, or in any other subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in
this registration statement, modifies or supersedes such prior statement. Any statement contained in this registration statement shall be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a statement contained in a subsequently filed document
that is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement modifies or supersedes such prior statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part
of this registration statement.
Item 8.
Exhibits.
Exhibit
No.
Description
3.1*
Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc.
3.2*
Bylaws of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc.
5.1
Opinion of Clifford Chance US LLP (including consent of such firm)
10.1**
Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. 2009 Equity Incentive Plan
10.2***
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement
10.3*
Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement
23.1
Consent of Clifford Chance US LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
23.2
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
*
Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-11, as amended (Registration No. 333-160533).
**
Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-162246).
***
Incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on January 5, 2015.
- 2 -
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of
the requirements for filing on Form
S-8
and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on
this 7th day of May, 2015.
Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc.
By:
/s/ Stuart A. Rothstein
Name:
Stuart A. Rothstein
Title:
President and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the
following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
By:
/s/ Stuart A. Rothstein
Stuart A. Rothstein
President, Chief Executive Officer,
and Director
(Principal Executive
Officer)
May 7, 2015
By:
/s/ Megan B. Gaul
Megan B. Gaul
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer
and Secretary
(Principal Financial
Officer and
Principal Accounting Officer)
May 7, 2015
By:
/s/ Jeffrey M. Gault
Jeffrey M. Gault
Chairman
May 7, 2015
By:
/s/ Mark C. Biderman
Mark C. Biderman
Director
May 7, 2015
By:
/s/ Robert A. Kasdin
Robert A. Kasdin
Director
May 7, 2015
By:
/s/ Eric L. Press
Eric L. Press
Director
May 7, 2015
By:
/s/ Scott S. Prince
Scott S. Prince
Director
May 7, 2015
By:
/s/ Michael E. Salvati
Michael E. Salvati
Director
May 7, 2015
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit
No.
Description
3.1*
Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc.
3.2*
Bylaws of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc.
5.1
Opinion of Clifford Chance US LLP (including consent of such firm)
10.1**
Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. 2009 Equity Incentive Plan
10.2***
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement
10.3*
Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement
23.1
Consent of Clifford Chance US LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
23.2
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
*
Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-11, as amended (Registration No. 333-160533).
**
Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-162246).
***
Incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on January 5, 2015.